Japanese Name

Suupa Roboto Redo Baronu

English Name

Super Robot Red Baron

Air Dates

7/3/1973 – 3/27/1974; Wednesdays 7:00-7:30 PM, Nihon TV

Number of Episodes

39

Production Company

Nihon Gendai Kikaku

Cast

- Okada Yousuke (Kurenai Ken)
- Oshita Tetsuya (Daigo Makoto)
- Kato Hisashi (Sakai Tetsuya)
- Hozure Pei Pei (Hori Daisaku)
- Maki Rei (Matsubara Mari)
- Ushio Tetsuya (Mikami Shiro)
- Tamagawa Isao (Kuruma Ippei)
- Amamiya Sadako (Mizuki Hikaru)
- Yoshikada Hiroshi (President Devilar)

Story

The world is in a technological boom. An exhibition opens in Japan celebrating the robotic achievements of the world. Massive Robots from around the world are showcased and displayed for all to see. Suddenly and without a warning, a mysterious army appears and steals all the robots. This army is under the command of President Devilar and mysterious despot who leads an evil faction called the Tetsumen Tou (Steel Mask Party). Their mission is the total conquest of earth through use of robots.

To this end President Devilar has also kidnapped various scientists to assist him in the “modifications” of these robots. One of those scientists being targeted is the brilliant Kurenai Kenichiro.

Kenichiro has been working on a secret project to build the most power robot the world has ever seen, here to named Red Baron. He entrusts this secret to only one person, his younger brother Ken, who just so happens to be a member of the elite special forces unit known as SSI (Super Science Institute).

Kenichiro is kidnapped by Tetsumen Tou and has a bomb implanted into his chest. They force him into revealing the location of Red Baron. Before Tetsumen Tou is able to steal Red Baron, Ken activates the robot and uses it to battle the Tetsumen Tou agents and their monster mecha Troy Horse.

For his betrayal, President Devilar detonates the bomb impeded in Kenichiro and kills him before the horrified eyes of Ken.

Red Baron
Statistics:
Size/Weight (Metric): 45 Meters/150 Metric Tons Size/Weight (American/British): 147 Ft./165 Tons
Constructed from the metal “Baron-ium”, Red Baron is able to withstand heat with an intensity of 100,000 degrees.

Red Baron Is powered by one million horse-power engines that uses Nuclear Energy for fuel. A special lubrication oil (B.R. 70) is needed for Red Baron to perform properly.

As a method of security, Kurenai Kenichiro designed the cockpit controls to record the fingerprints and “voice print” of the very first person who takes control of Red Baron. Once recorded that person alone becomes the pilot of Red Baron and no one else.

Red Baron is controlled mainly by voice activation from its pilot. With a voice command of “Red Baron Shutsudou!” (Red Baron Go!) the robot is activated. With a cry of “Fight Lever On!” and one simple gear shift, Red Baron can be put into “Fight Mode”.

Various other voice commands control the armaments and attachments of the robot:
“Baron Punch” – Activates Red Baron’s “Fist Launchers” (i.e. Mazinger Z’s Rocket Punch)
“Baron Missiles” – Activates Red Baron’s Chest “Missile Launchers”.
“Baron Beam” – Activates Red Baron’s Chest “Laser Beams”.
“Electro Trigger” – Activates Red Baron’s most power weapons, twin canons which shot out over 100 Million Bolts of High Voltage Electricity.

Later in the series Red Baron was equipped with a Jet Harness, which would attach to his back called “Space Wings”.

Red Baron was also modified with “Arm Missile” attachments, which he could fire while in-flight.

The “Drill Missile” was yet another missile attachment Red Baron could be equipped with in space.

SSI
The SSI (Secret Science Institute) is an elite squad of soldiers who are trained in the ancient arts of ninjitsu but utilize hi-tech weaponry and gadgets in their battles (ummm…sounds like another team, GatchMan). Taking on unassuming normal disguises and occupations they stand ready to fight the forces of Tetsumen Tou at a moment’s notice, donning colorful “cowboy” inspired uniforms and armed with heavy weapons like bazookas and rocket launchers.

Their “special” fighting skills enable them to battle the metallic “Mecha Robos” with ease.

Testumen Tou
Lead by the mysterious President Devilar, this “Steel Mask Party” is devoted to enslaving mankind and having robots rule the world.

Using the stolen robots from other countries, Tetsumen Tou is able to launch a series of attacks again Japan and the World.

President Devilar is attended by an army of artificial men called “Mecha Robos” whom he has created. The Mecha Robos are human sized robots designed to be the footmen of the Tetsumen Tou Army. They have wicked sickles in the place of hands and have no human features.

The Tetsumen Tou headquarters are located deep below the ocean’s surface.

Another faction of the Tetsumen Tou organization is the “Space Tetsumen Tou”. Lead by the robot Giras Q, they are headquartered on Mars from which they launch their vicious space-based attacks.

Review

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Trivia/Factoids

Creator/Producer Nobohiro Yashiro was also responsible for the Tokusatsu Projects, “Gekko Kamen” (1958), “Silver Kamen” (1971), “Silver Kamen Giant” (1972), and “Iron King” (1973).

Mistakenly perceived as a direct rip-off of Go Nagai’s Mazinger Z Anime, the fact is Red Baron was produced almost half a year before the Mazinger Z Anime debuted. None-the-less, Red Baron was able to take advantage of the popularity of Mazinger Z and the robot boom.

Former child star and character actor Hozure Pei Pei (Tobidase! Seishun [Escape! My Youth]) was also in the obscure but seminal Tokusatsu Hero Show “Megalo Man.”

Tokusatsu Fan Favorite, Maki Rei played Iriei Nami in the “Outer Limits” like “Kenkyu Shirei 10-4-10-10” and also high kicking female cop Nagatani Rie in the “Playgirl” sequel “Super Gals”.

The beautiful Maki Rei also appeared in episodes of “InazuMan Flash”, “G-Men ’75”, “The Gorilla 7”, “Ninja Captor”, “Taiyo Ni Hoero [Howl at the Sun]”, and “Hatori Hanzo – Kage No Gundan [Shadow Army]”.

Ushio Tetsuya was also Shishi Maru in the series “Kaiketsu! Lion Maru” (Resolved! Lion Maru)

THE ROBOTS of TETSUMEN TOU:
The following is a list of the robots that appeared in Red Baron and their national origin. When possible the origins and/or significance of their names are also noted. Most of the robots seem to be named after atypical objects, people or place names associated with the country that they represent:

Robot Name/Origin Country/Name Influence:
Troy Horse (Original) – Possibly based on the Greek Legend.
Big Bison (America)
Black Masai (Kenya) – The Masai are a famous Warrior Tribe in Kenya.
AguGaruda (Indonesia) – Garuda is a place name in Indonesia.
Tobi Ryu (Japan)
Gou Ryu (China)
Viking III (Sweden)
Blizzard 7 (Iceland)
Bedouin G (Arabia) – The Bedouin are a tribe of Sinai Desert.
Vesbios (Italy) – Napoli-Vesbios is a region in Italy.
Mau Mau (Tanzania) – The Mau Mau are a tribe of the Tanzania/Kenya territory.
Gu Nizon Ace (Canada) – Nizon may be a place in Canada.
Elec Amazon (Brazil) – Amazon River
McKinley V6 (America) – Mt. McKinley (Denali) is a slope in Alaska.
King Joe Bull (U.K.) – John Bull is the old British caricature equivalent to America’s Uncle Sam.
Proto Andes (Peru) – The Andes are a Mountain Range in Peru.
Iron Cross G (Germany) – The Iron Cross was a medal of honor in Germany.
Grand Matador (Spain)
Rajasthan (India) – Place in India
Magma Wolf (Japan)
Sphinxa (Egypt) – Taken from the Sphinx
Escargos (France) – Taken from Escargot (Snails)
Mongo Star (Mongolia)
Sky Jack
King Devilar
Mars Satan
Gold Finger
Bem Panther Nos. 1-3 -
Donkey One (Japan) -
Spider Robo
Dracu Bat
Deimos Z
Unnamed Robot

RED BARON spawned a inferior direct sequel called MACH BARON.

During the Retro Anime boom of the 90’s, RED BARON was remade into an anime along the lines of GIANT ROBO. Taking its queue from shows such as DRAGON BALL, G - GUNDAM and STREET FIGHTER 2, RED BARON the Animation dealt with the exploits of a hotheaded youth who pilots the “Metal Fighter” combat robot RED BARON. While the Animated Series was in no way connected in story to the Tokusatsu Series, many familiar names and characters from the series appeared in the anime, albeit with different origins (Kurenai Ken, Tetsumen Tou).