Stuck
In
Somebody's Frame
Credits
Created by Hatte,
Saburo
Music by: Miki, Takashi & Yokoyama, Seiji
Character |
|
Actor/Actress |
Tsurugi, Ryuusei |
|
Senou, Hiroshi |
Metalder |
|
Yamada, Kazuyoshi |
Metalder |
|
Kaneda, Noriiaki |
Metalder (voice) |
|
Iida,
Michirou |
Springer (voice) |
|
Hayashiya, Genpei |
Kirihara, Gouzou |
|
Toudou,
Shinji |
Emperor Neros (voice) |
|
Watanabe,
Takeshi |
Ohgi, Mai |
|
Hiroko, Aota |
Spy K |
|
Mitsui, Yuuko |
Spy S |
|
Yamamoto, Emiko |
Top Gunder (voice) |
|
Mori, Atsuo |
Coolgin (voice) |
|
Mori, Atsuo |
Barusuki (voice) |
|
Kuwahara, Takeshi |
Gerudoringu (voice) |
|
Yoda, Eisuke |
Doranga (voice) |
|
Īzuka,
Shozo |
Kita, Hakkou |
|
Kawai,
Hiroshi |
Narrator |
|
Musemune, Issei |
Choujinki
Metalder (Super Manchine Metalder) originally aired in Japan
from March 16, 1987 through January 17, 1988. There were 39 episodes
and one short movie.
During
the
second world war robotics expert Doctor Koga, Ryuuichirou (Uehara, Ken)
is assigned by the Japanese military to design robotic soldiers which
could be turned lose against the Alies. While working on his assignment
Doctor Koga receives news that his son has been killed in the Pacific.
Swearing off war, the doctor abandons the project, vanishing with his
plans, leaving the prototype robot hidden away.
Forty
years
later Kirihara, Gouzou former member of Doctor Koga's research team has
become the head of a terrorist orginzation, the Neros
Empire. Learning of the existance of Neros, Dr. Kogo, who had
been living in the USA, working for NASA, returns to Japan. Emperor
Neros orders the assination of his former superior.
The
doctor
survives the attempt on his life, makes his way to his hidden lab and
activates his artificial human, Tsurugi, Ryuusei/Metalder (Senou,
Hiroshi). In human form Metalder is a duplicate for the doctor's son,
Tatsuo. Like the earlier jinzo ningen, Jiro and Ichiro, Tsurugi is
musical, plays the violin and the saxaphone.
When
the Neros Empire attackes the lab Tsurugi, Ryuusei shows little
reaction. The doctor leaves the lab and is captured. His cries for help
finally stir Tsurugi, but too late. Finding his "father" has been
murdered Tsurugi becomes the sworn enemy of the Neros Empire. Tsurugi
"shuntens" (moment-shifts) into Metalder by saying "Ikaru!" (Rage).
Choujinki Metalder was
different
from Kikaida
and Kikaida 01 in that Metalder had to learn his
powers and practice combat. In fact he loses his first battle, with
Kurugin, leader of the Neros Armor Army.
Metalder
was
powered by "super gravitational energy". His special combat techniques
were "Super Oscillation Laser Arm", "G[ravity] Kick", "Metal Tornado"
Spinning Kick, "Head Crash", "Plasma Punch", "Metal Bomber" (punching
attack from above), and "Thousand Hand Punches".
Returning
to the
lab, for repairs, Metalder meets Springer (voice by Genpei Hayashiya),
a robotic dog left by the doctor to assist Metalder.
Metalder's
first
human companion, first person outside the Neros Empire to discover that
Ryusei is a robot, is nature photographer Ohgi, Mai (Hiroko, Aota). At
first she seems frightened of Ryusei after discovering "he" is not
human.
Metalder
will
later be joined by Top Gunder, a member of the Neros Empire who changes
sides after Metalder spares him, because it would be dishonorable to
kill an unarmed enemy.
Metalder's
final
friend is motorcycle racer Kita, Hakkou; a young man who falls for
Ohgi, Mai.
Metalder
drives
a motorcycle with sidecar, Side Phantom. (It's not clear in these
photos of Side Pantom, but Toei had "METALDER" printed on the front of
the sidecar, which I why I spell the character's name "Metalder"
instead of "Metalda" as the actors (and singers) pronounce it.
In
addition to
the motorcycle Metalder also has a car, Metal Charger, which was driven
by both Tsurugi, Ryuusei and Metalder. Metal Charger looked like an
ordinary Mazda Familia but its doors could unfold into wings so the car
could fly.
Side
Phantom and
Metal Charger are kept in Metalder's undergound base, Silver Carcass,
which emerges above ground to launch them.
Choujinki Metalder
Songs
Choujinki
Metalder
Episode
Titles
Choujinki
Metalder
Ratings
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Last modified Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Choujinki Metalder © 1987 Toei Co., Ltd.
Images are for viewing only.
Some
information
taken from The Metal Hero Manual, Version 1.2 © 1995 Marc H. Miyake