QUOTE (Jenskott @ Mar 28 2011, 11:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Okay, still another update and I am not TOO far behind this time. Hooray!
Jokes aside, this topic's subject is about one of my favorite manga genres, and several shows pushed it forward or tried making something different:
It is also named the Tadao Nagahama Trilogy. They were three independent series usually are credited with helping the genre to evolve. They were created by Saburo Yatsude (a collective name for a group of Toei animators. Later they created Voltron, another popular super robot show) and directed by Tadao Nagahama. It is also worth of mentioning Yoshiyuki Tomino, one of the creators of Gundam, worked on Voltes V.
Combattler V was the first show. It narrates how thousand years ago the inhabitants of the planet Campbell left their planet and sought new worlds to inhabit. One group led by the scientist Oreana landed on Earth but they were delayed. In the XXI century they finally awaken and begin the conquest of the Earth using their bio-mechanical creatures. The only thing can defeat them is the super-electromagnetic robot, Combattler V.
The plot was pretty simple and straight-forward, but the show was nice to watch and the characters weren’t void of inner conflicts: Hyoma Aoi (the tema’s captain) got his arms destroyed in a battle and needed getting cybernetic replacements; Chizuru Nanbara (team’s female member and granddaughter of the builder of Combattler. She eventually fell in love with Hyoma) was ill with valvula heart disease but she tried hiding it because she didn’t want leaving her teammates alone…
Voltes V was the next series in the Trilogy, and it was more serious and darker than Combattler, with superior character development, specially among the villains. The history begins in the planet Boazan, an Empire has achieved a highly advanced technological level, but with a society held in a strict caste-system. Boazans born with horns are the ruling class, whereas hornless Boazans are slaves.
An aristocratic child was born hornless, but their family fitted him with fake ones in order to prevent him from being sold in slavery. Eventually he became a great scientific genius, and he was the next in line for the imperial throne. Though, Zambojil found out the truth, exposed him and became emperor while the young genius became a slave. The ex-aristocrat led a rebellion of slaves, but they were defeated, and he had to flee to Earth.
After arriving to our planet, he took the name of Go Kentaro, got married and had three children: Kenichi, Daihiro and Hiyoshi. However, he knew sooner or later Boazan forces would strike Earth and to slave its inhabitants. In order to prevent that future, he started working alongside the Earth defense forces, including General Oka and Professor Hamaguchi to create a new weapon: the super robot Voltes V, piloted by the three sons of Kentaro, Megumi Oka –General’s daughter and expert kunoichi-, and the former rodeo star, Mine Ippei.
At last the Boazan armada strikes Earth. They deploy their beast fighters all over the world and easily beat most of the armies of the planet. However, they are defeated by the Voltes Team. Thus starts a long war, with the Boazan invaders focusing their attacks on Japan, and the Voltes V struggling for defending Earth as the Go siblings search their long-lost father and several important characters –from either sides- die.
Later in the series, the Go brothers discover their half-alien heritage and struggle to deal with it as the Voltes Team comes to a realization: in order to end the war it is not enough with defeating the invading army. They must strike Boazan and liberate the slaves from the oppression of the Emperor Zu Zambojil.
Toushou Daimos was the last series in the Trilogy (and it is worth noting Daimos was one of the first mechas fought using martial arts). This series also showed a conflict where no side was actually evil, trying giving a message about the evils of war.
After the destruction of the planet Baam, the survivors are forced to emigrate in search of a new place where live. During their journey they arrive to Earth, and their leader, Emperor Leon wishes purchasing land where his people can peacefully settle down. With that goal he meets with a delegation from Earth in order to negotiate the buyout. Unfortunately, during the negotiations, Georiya, Leon’s second in command, assassinates the Emperor and frames the delegation from Earth for the murder. In the ensuing chaos, Doctor Isamu Ryuzaki from Earth is shot and killed.
Shortly after the disastrous council, Olban (Leon’s personal counsellor. Georiya is his right hand, and assassinated the Emperor under his orders) usurps the throne and begins a campaign of conquest in order to take over Earth, led by Admiral Richter, Leon’s son. Richter is pained and furious due to his father’s death and he hates the Earth people whom he believes responsible. He wants taking revenge on them, but he also is worried about his people’s safety and need for a new homeland. Thus, he launches a brutal offensive against Earth, deploying several types of Mecha Soldiers effectively overwhelm the Earth army.
The only thing capable to prevent the annihilation of the Earthlings is Daimos, a transforming super robot and its pilot, Kazuya Ryuzaki, son of the assassinated Doctor Ryuzaki. However, he meets a beautiful girl named Erika during one battle. The mysterious girl is amnesiac and can’t remember anything, and he takes her in and falls in love with her. And she falls in love with him.
However Erika gradually regains her missing memory and it turns out she is Richter’s sister.
Oops.
And she –wrongly- believes she is guilty of the death of the Doctor Ryuzaki, and she is afraid of confessing that to Kazuya.
Double oops.
Over the course of their struggles to reunite, Kazuya and Erika each learn that the other’s people are not all evil... and that their own people are not all good.
The end also is quite bittersweet. Kazuya and Erika reunite, the conspirators are exposed and defeated and Baam makes peace with Earth. However many good people died cause a conflict neither side wanted.
The three series ran from 1976 to 1979, right before Gundam started. Combattler V consists of fifty-four episodes, Voltes V of forty episodes and Daimos of forty-four. There is at least a manga involving the three series and they have consistently showed up on Super Robot Wars video games and manga based on that franchise.
To watch Combattler V: Anime
To watch Voltes V: Anime
To watch Tosho Daimos: Anime
To read manga: Manga
This manga is actually a crossover blending the threes shows and another series named Daltanias.
I have mentioned Tomino –the father of Mobile Suit Gundam- worked on Voltes V. Before making Gundam he worked on more shows. And one of them was:
There once existed a planet named Beal, until it was wiped out by the mysterious entity known as Gaizok. The few remaining survivors escaped to Earth and split into three families, named Jin, Kamie, and Kamikita respectively. While attempting to start a new life, the collectively known "Jin Family" prepared for the inevitable Gaizok invasion on Earth and its giant mechanical beasts known as "Mecha Boosts". In order to defend their new home, they have built three vehicles which when combined form the mighty Zambot 3. The Jin Family must not only defend against Gaizok attacks, but also harsh criticisms from the very people they protect, who blame the Jin Family for the invasion in the first place.
At first glance the plot seems pretty standard. However it stood out for several things: the pilots are very young, nearly children, which did their trials and suffering more appalling (moreover, not all of them survive the war). Death and destruction counts and it isn’t shrugged off (sometimes they fought on the ruins of cities obliterated in a previous battle). The enemy is unusually blood-thirsty and doesn’t wish conquering Earth but simply wiping out humankind (and it is even worst when you learn their motives. In order to avoid spoilers, let’s tell they think Earthlings are the bad guys and a menace), levelling entire cities to ruins, and it isn’t above of using other means other than super robots (such like capturing innocent people, turning them into human bombs and letting them return to their houses and families… before making them exploding). The Zambot pilots and their families not only have to fight aliens but also face the reject of the humankind, who blames them for the Gaizok attacks. And the end is very bittersweet (I don’t want spoiling it, but somehow it managed be sad, dark, gloomy, mind-screwing… and unexpectedly heart-warming).
This was one of the shows earned Tomino the nickname “Kill’em All”. It was aired in 1977 and it is twenty-three episodes long. It is worth of being watched, even if it can be slightly depressing.
To watch the anime: Anime
Labor: The common name for robots designed for heavy industrial use. The rise of labors sparked a revolution in construction and civil engineering, but labor-related crime skyrocketed as well. To combat this new threat, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police created a patrol labor unit, the Special Vehicles Unit Second Section. This was the origin of Patlabor.
In the near future, robots called Labors, designed for heavy industrial work are mass-produced in Japan. However, some people use labors to commit crimes. In order to fight that kind of criminals, it is created a special elite police squad: the Special Vehicles Unit. That Special Unit is composed of 2 divisions: Division 1 is a squad of highly-competent and hard-working cops led by a serious, nonsensical boss; Division 2 is a band of rookies with a propensity for property damage, led by a slouch, sleepy-looking boss.
The story is focused on the cops of the Division 2 and their daily lives as they combat crime using his Patrol Labors… also as known as Patlabor.
Patlabor is a blend of cop show, political thriller, comedy, drama, slice of live series and mecha show.
Nearly all super robot anime have used Mazinger Z or Mobile Suit Gundam like templates, including parodies (Daiturn-3) or deconstructions (Evangelion). Patlabor is one of the few series entirely ditches either of those templates and associated tropes. The labours are not glorified war vehicles or battle-suits but real-looking vehicles with limitations, that may break up and need constant maintenance, and often they aren’t human-alike. They are so completely blended in the environment and in such a realistic way you have nearly forgotten about their existence till the action begins. And the battles between robots are very well animated and thrilling, but they also use to be brief. And the show isn’t focused on them but in the people working in the Division 2 and their daily troubles.
The characters are deep and charismatic: the main character is Noa Izumi, a young woman is fresh off the Academy and is a robot otaku has applied for the job only so she could pilot a giant robot (she was grief-stricken when she learnt labors are NOT built for flight). Other characters are: Asuma Shinohara, Noa’s partner who is in love with her but is unable to spit it out; Isao Ota, a (very) trigger-happy, gun-loving, impulsive, hot-headed and gruff-looking police who refuses to admit he is soft-hearted deep-down; Kiichi Gotoh, Division 1’s captain, who is apparently lazy and carefree but is incredibly observant, devilishly clever and DOWNRIGHT Machiavellian…
I absolutely love to bits this series, and it is highly recommended even if you don’t like robot shows.
To read the manga: Manga
To watch the anime: Anime
Hitomi is an apparently ordinary high school student who read tarot cards and belongs to her school’s track team… if it wasn’t because sometimes she has odd, unusually vivid dreams.
One say she learns her crush, Amano Susumu is leaving for studying abroad, and ask him kissing her if she can run one hundred meters in 13 seconds. Before she can finish the sprint, though, a pillar of light appears from nowhere, and a dragon emerges out from it, chased by a young, armoured warrior. The warrior –Prince Van, rescues Hitomi and her friends from the dragon, slays the beast and cuts its heart off the corpse to take something glowing form it. Suddenly, another pillar of light flares up and sends Hitomi and Van away to Van’s world, Gaea, where Earth itself hovers in the night sky.
Once there, Hitomi quickly learns that world is being torn apart by a terrible war. Fanelia –Van’s kingdom- and other many countries are at war with the Zaibach Empire. Emperor Dornkirk intends using his technology and army of giant robots –named “Guymelefs” to conquer Gaea and create a world without uncertainty. The best chance to defeat his army is the mighty Escaflowne, a guymelef guarded by Fanelia, which must be powered by an object found only in the heart of a dragon. The heir to the kingdom must slay a dragon and retrieve that object in order to be acclaimed king.
Shortly after arriving to Fanelia Van is crowned, but the Zaibach Empire abruptly attacks the capital city, decimating its army and burning it to cinders. Hitomi and Van are barely capable to power up the Escaflowne and fleeing from the mighty Zaibachian army. Since that time, their lives become a race not only for saving Gaea, but also for staying alive…
Tenku no Escaflowne (also known as Vision of Escaflowne or simply Escaflowne) was a successful twenty-six episodes long anime broadcast in 1996. It gained critical acclaim by its engaging plot, great animation and spectacular music.
To watch the anime: Anime
Ok. Done.
I hope I can update soon. I think I will try something different instead of writing reviewes about mostly action shows. Maybe I should take advantage of Madoka's current popularity and making a post about other magical girls series.
Jokes aside, this topic's subject is about one of my favorite manga genres, and several shows pushed it forward or tried making something different:
Romance Robot Trilogy: Combattler V, Voltes V, Tosho Daimos --Click here to view--
It is also named the Tadao Nagahama Trilogy. They were three independent series usually are credited with helping the genre to evolve. They were created by Saburo Yatsude (a collective name for a group of Toei animators. Later they created Voltron, another popular super robot show) and directed by Tadao Nagahama. It is also worth of mentioning Yoshiyuki Tomino, one of the creators of Gundam, worked on Voltes V.
Combattler V was the first show. It narrates how thousand years ago the inhabitants of the planet Campbell left their planet and sought new worlds to inhabit. One group led by the scientist Oreana landed on Earth but they were delayed. In the XXI century they finally awaken and begin the conquest of the Earth using their bio-mechanical creatures. The only thing can defeat them is the super-electromagnetic robot, Combattler V.
The plot was pretty simple and straight-forward, but the show was nice to watch and the characters weren’t void of inner conflicts: Hyoma Aoi (the tema’s captain) got his arms destroyed in a battle and needed getting cybernetic replacements; Chizuru Nanbara (team’s female member and granddaughter of the builder of Combattler. She eventually fell in love with Hyoma) was ill with valvula heart disease but she tried hiding it because she didn’t want leaving her teammates alone…
Voltes V was the next series in the Trilogy, and it was more serious and darker than Combattler, with superior character development, specially among the villains. The history begins in the planet Boazan, an Empire has achieved a highly advanced technological level, but with a society held in a strict caste-system. Boazans born with horns are the ruling class, whereas hornless Boazans are slaves.
An aristocratic child was born hornless, but their family fitted him with fake ones in order to prevent him from being sold in slavery. Eventually he became a great scientific genius, and he was the next in line for the imperial throne. Though, Zambojil found out the truth, exposed him and became emperor while the young genius became a slave. The ex-aristocrat led a rebellion of slaves, but they were defeated, and he had to flee to Earth.
After arriving to our planet, he took the name of Go Kentaro, got married and had three children: Kenichi, Daihiro and Hiyoshi. However, he knew sooner or later Boazan forces would strike Earth and to slave its inhabitants. In order to prevent that future, he started working alongside the Earth defense forces, including General Oka and Professor Hamaguchi to create a new weapon: the super robot Voltes V, piloted by the three sons of Kentaro, Megumi Oka –General’s daughter and expert kunoichi-, and the former rodeo star, Mine Ippei.
At last the Boazan armada strikes Earth. They deploy their beast fighters all over the world and easily beat most of the armies of the planet. However, they are defeated by the Voltes Team. Thus starts a long war, with the Boazan invaders focusing their attacks on Japan, and the Voltes V struggling for defending Earth as the Go siblings search their long-lost father and several important characters –from either sides- die.
Later in the series, the Go brothers discover their half-alien heritage and struggle to deal with it as the Voltes Team comes to a realization: in order to end the war it is not enough with defeating the invading army. They must strike Boazan and liberate the slaves from the oppression of the Emperor Zu Zambojil.
Toushou Daimos was the last series in the Trilogy (and it is worth noting Daimos was one of the first mechas fought using martial arts). This series also showed a conflict where no side was actually evil, trying giving a message about the evils of war.
After the destruction of the planet Baam, the survivors are forced to emigrate in search of a new place where live. During their journey they arrive to Earth, and their leader, Emperor Leon wishes purchasing land where his people can peacefully settle down. With that goal he meets with a delegation from Earth in order to negotiate the buyout. Unfortunately, during the negotiations, Georiya, Leon’s second in command, assassinates the Emperor and frames the delegation from Earth for the murder. In the ensuing chaos, Doctor Isamu Ryuzaki from Earth is shot and killed.
Shortly after the disastrous council, Olban (Leon’s personal counsellor. Georiya is his right hand, and assassinated the Emperor under his orders) usurps the throne and begins a campaign of conquest in order to take over Earth, led by Admiral Richter, Leon’s son. Richter is pained and furious due to his father’s death and he hates the Earth people whom he believes responsible. He wants taking revenge on them, but he also is worried about his people’s safety and need for a new homeland. Thus, he launches a brutal offensive against Earth, deploying several types of Mecha Soldiers effectively overwhelm the Earth army.
The only thing capable to prevent the annihilation of the Earthlings is Daimos, a transforming super robot and its pilot, Kazuya Ryuzaki, son of the assassinated Doctor Ryuzaki. However, he meets a beautiful girl named Erika during one battle. The mysterious girl is amnesiac and can’t remember anything, and he takes her in and falls in love with her. And she falls in love with him.
However Erika gradually regains her missing memory and it turns out she is Richter’s sister.
Oops.
And she –wrongly- believes she is guilty of the death of the Doctor Ryuzaki, and she is afraid of confessing that to Kazuya.
Double oops.
Over the course of their struggles to reunite, Kazuya and Erika each learn that the other’s people are not all evil... and that their own people are not all good.
The end also is quite bittersweet. Kazuya and Erika reunite, the conspirators are exposed and defeated and Baam makes peace with Earth. However many good people died cause a conflict neither side wanted.
The three series ran from 1976 to 1979, right before Gundam started. Combattler V consists of fifty-four episodes, Voltes V of forty episodes and Daimos of forty-four. There is at least a manga involving the three series and they have consistently showed up on Super Robot Wars video games and manga based on that franchise.
To watch Combattler V: Anime
To watch Voltes V: Anime
To watch Tosho Daimos: Anime
To read manga: Manga
This manga is actually a crossover blending the threes shows and another series named Daltanias.
I have mentioned Tomino –the father of Mobile Suit Gundam- worked on Voltes V. Before making Gundam he worked on more shows. And one of them was:
Zambot 3 --Click here to view--
There once existed a planet named Beal, until it was wiped out by the mysterious entity known as Gaizok. The few remaining survivors escaped to Earth and split into three families, named Jin, Kamie, and Kamikita respectively. While attempting to start a new life, the collectively known "Jin Family" prepared for the inevitable Gaizok invasion on Earth and its giant mechanical beasts known as "Mecha Boosts". In order to defend their new home, they have built three vehicles which when combined form the mighty Zambot 3. The Jin Family must not only defend against Gaizok attacks, but also harsh criticisms from the very people they protect, who blame the Jin Family for the invasion in the first place.
At first glance the plot seems pretty standard. However it stood out for several things: the pilots are very young, nearly children, which did their trials and suffering more appalling (moreover, not all of them survive the war). Death and destruction counts and it isn’t shrugged off (sometimes they fought on the ruins of cities obliterated in a previous battle). The enemy is unusually blood-thirsty and doesn’t wish conquering Earth but simply wiping out humankind (and it is even worst when you learn their motives. In order to avoid spoilers, let’s tell they think Earthlings are the bad guys and a menace), levelling entire cities to ruins, and it isn’t above of using other means other than super robots (such like capturing innocent people, turning them into human bombs and letting them return to their houses and families… before making them exploding). The Zambot pilots and their families not only have to fight aliens but also face the reject of the humankind, who blames them for the Gaizok attacks. And the end is very bittersweet (I don’t want spoiling it, but somehow it managed be sad, dark, gloomy, mind-screwing… and unexpectedly heart-warming).
This was one of the shows earned Tomino the nickname “Kill’em All”. It was aired in 1977 and it is twenty-three episodes long. It is worth of being watched, even if it can be slightly depressing.
To watch the anime: Anime
Patlabor --Click here to view--
Labor: The common name for robots designed for heavy industrial use. The rise of labors sparked a revolution in construction and civil engineering, but labor-related crime skyrocketed as well. To combat this new threat, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police created a patrol labor unit, the Special Vehicles Unit Second Section. This was the origin of Patlabor.
In the near future, robots called Labors, designed for heavy industrial work are mass-produced in Japan. However, some people use labors to commit crimes. In order to fight that kind of criminals, it is created a special elite police squad: the Special Vehicles Unit. That Special Unit is composed of 2 divisions: Division 1 is a squad of highly-competent and hard-working cops led by a serious, nonsensical boss; Division 2 is a band of rookies with a propensity for property damage, led by a slouch, sleepy-looking boss.
The story is focused on the cops of the Division 2 and their daily lives as they combat crime using his Patrol Labors… also as known as Patlabor.
Patlabor is a blend of cop show, political thriller, comedy, drama, slice of live series and mecha show.
Nearly all super robot anime have used Mazinger Z or Mobile Suit Gundam like templates, including parodies (Daiturn-3) or deconstructions (Evangelion). Patlabor is one of the few series entirely ditches either of those templates and associated tropes. The labours are not glorified war vehicles or battle-suits but real-looking vehicles with limitations, that may break up and need constant maintenance, and often they aren’t human-alike. They are so completely blended in the environment and in such a realistic way you have nearly forgotten about their existence till the action begins. And the battles between robots are very well animated and thrilling, but they also use to be brief. And the show isn’t focused on them but in the people working in the Division 2 and their daily troubles.
The characters are deep and charismatic: the main character is Noa Izumi, a young woman is fresh off the Academy and is a robot otaku has applied for the job only so she could pilot a giant robot (she was grief-stricken when she learnt labors are NOT built for flight). Other characters are: Asuma Shinohara, Noa’s partner who is in love with her but is unable to spit it out; Isao Ota, a (very) trigger-happy, gun-loving, impulsive, hot-headed and gruff-looking police who refuses to admit he is soft-hearted deep-down; Kiichi Gotoh, Division 1’s captain, who is apparently lazy and carefree but is incredibly observant, devilishly clever and DOWNRIGHT Machiavellian…
I absolutely love to bits this series, and it is highly recommended even if you don’t like robot shows.
To read the manga: Manga
To watch the anime: Anime
Vision of Escaflowne --Click here to view--
Hitomi is an apparently ordinary high school student who read tarot cards and belongs to her school’s track team… if it wasn’t because sometimes she has odd, unusually vivid dreams.
One say she learns her crush, Amano Susumu is leaving for studying abroad, and ask him kissing her if she can run one hundred meters in 13 seconds. Before she can finish the sprint, though, a pillar of light appears from nowhere, and a dragon emerges out from it, chased by a young, armoured warrior. The warrior –Prince Van, rescues Hitomi and her friends from the dragon, slays the beast and cuts its heart off the corpse to take something glowing form it. Suddenly, another pillar of light flares up and sends Hitomi and Van away to Van’s world, Gaea, where Earth itself hovers in the night sky.
Once there, Hitomi quickly learns that world is being torn apart by a terrible war. Fanelia –Van’s kingdom- and other many countries are at war with the Zaibach Empire. Emperor Dornkirk intends using his technology and army of giant robots –named “Guymelefs” to conquer Gaea and create a world without uncertainty. The best chance to defeat his army is the mighty Escaflowne, a guymelef guarded by Fanelia, which must be powered by an object found only in the heart of a dragon. The heir to the kingdom must slay a dragon and retrieve that object in order to be acclaimed king.
Shortly after arriving to Fanelia Van is crowned, but the Zaibach Empire abruptly attacks the capital city, decimating its army and burning it to cinders. Hitomi and Van are barely capable to power up the Escaflowne and fleeing from the mighty Zaibachian army. Since that time, their lives become a race not only for saving Gaea, but also for staying alive…
Tenku no Escaflowne (also known as Vision of Escaflowne or simply Escaflowne) was a successful twenty-six episodes long anime broadcast in 1996. It gained critical acclaim by its engaging plot, great animation and spectacular music.
To watch the anime: Anime
Ok. Done.
I hope I can update soon. I think I will try something different instead of writing reviewes about mostly action shows. Maybe I should take advantage of Madoka's current popularity and making a post about other magical girls series.
Ah, can't believe I forgot about Escaflowne, it was one of my fav childhood mecha anime (Seriously Escaflowne is just bad-ass) not to mention that it prob was one of the first anime that introduced multi-mode mecha (Robot form and Flight Form) and Living Mecha.
Todays topic is: Living Mecha
When it comes to Living Mecha, there is only 1 title that springs to my mind:
Zoids Series:
The zoids series actually started as a model kit toys line but its popularity is largely owed to their anime series. So far there are 4 Anime series on the Zoids line but as far as Classic is concerned, only two can be called classic which the other two are actually quite new
Zoids: Chaotic Century and Zoids: Guardian Force --Click here to view--
Zoids: Chaotic Century follows a boy named Van Flyheight (romanised as Freiheit in the Japanese version); the series starts with him being chased by bandits into some old ruins, where he finds a girl named Fiona (Fine in the Japanese) and a small silver Zoid, which he names Zeke (Sieg), in old capsules. Zeke, who is later found to be an Organoid, helps Van and Fiona escape the bandits by reactivating a broken Shield Liger and helping Van pilot it out. As the series progresses, Van meets various opponents, such as Raven, and friends, like Moonbay and Irvine, and eventually ends up helping Fiona in her quest to regain her memory and to find the Zoid Eve.
Three to four years after the defeat of the Death Saurer, the second story arc, Zoids: Guardian Force, begins. Van has been training for the past few months under the direction of Colonel Kreuger in the Helic Republic Army. Because of several events and assumed terrorists arising, the Helic Republic and Guylos Empire form a joint military task force called the Guardian Force. Van soon meets up with Fiona, who has been searching for Zoid Eve along with Dr. D., a seemingly insane and childish genius. They set out to find Zoid Eve together again, and, along the way, meet up with both old and new friends and foes.
Three to four years after the defeat of the Death Saurer, the second story arc, Zoids: Guardian Force, begins. Van has been training for the past few months under the direction of Colonel Kreuger in the Helic Republic Army. Because of several events and assumed terrorists arising, the Helic Republic and Guylos Empire form a joint military task force called the Guardian Force. Van soon meets up with Fiona, who has been searching for Zoid Eve along with Dr. D., a seemingly insane and childish genius. They set out to find Zoid Eve together again, and, along the way, meet up with both old and new friends and foes.
Zoids: New Century Zero --Click here to view--
Zoids: New Century Zero takes place several centuries after Guardian Force, where Zoid battles have become a tournament-based league. The main character is Bit Cloud, a junk dealer, who runs into the Blitz Team. As Bit interferes in a match with the Blitz Team he comes across the Liger Zero, a Zoid possessed by the Blitz Team which no one can pilot. Bit and Liger form a partnership and end up joining the Blitz Team in their various league matches. He is aided by his teammates, Leena Toros, Brad Hunter, Jamie Hemeros, as well as their leader, Dr. Steve Toros.
The Liger Zero is revealed to be a unique Zoid, an Ultimate X; it contains an "Integrated Organoid System", or "black box"—a self-supporting artificial intelligence program that allows the Liger Zero to learn and adapt on its own. Only special "chosen ones" can pilot an Ultimate X.
Along the way, Bit's unique Zoid gets the attention of the Backdraft Group, an organization who is trying to take over Zoid battles and make them more "interesting." The Backdraft attempts to acquire the Liger Zero by any means possible. They eventually unearth the Berserk Fury, a powerful Zoid that also contains an Integrated Organoid System.
The Liger Zero is revealed to be a unique Zoid, an Ultimate X; it contains an "Integrated Organoid System", or "black box"—a self-supporting artificial intelligence program that allows the Liger Zero to learn and adapt on its own. Only special "chosen ones" can pilot an Ultimate X.
Along the way, Bit's unique Zoid gets the attention of the Backdraft Group, an organization who is trying to take over Zoid battles and make them more "interesting." The Backdraft attempts to acquire the Liger Zero by any means possible. They eventually unearth the Berserk Fury, a powerful Zoid that also contains an Integrated Organoid System.