Dai-Guard: Hostile Takeover (1999)
Production: Xebec production
Released by: ADV Films
Episodes: 5
By Keith "JC" Hayward

Introduction

Dai-Guard is the most fun I've had enjoying a super robot anime since, Martian Successor Nadesico. It's been called by many (and rightly so.) the Office Space of giant robot anime, and I'm inclined to agree. And since I absolutely adore Office Space and I of course love giant robot anime, this unlikely marriage of business comedy and classic
robot action is just what the doctor ordered.

The Story

"Twelve years go, the Earth was attacked by giant invaders. To defend our planet, the Earth’s greatest minds and corporations assembled to design a giant robot of incredible power. Unfortunately, as with most government projects, the contract went to the lowest bidder. Fortunately, by the time the robot was ready, the mysterious invaders had already disappeared without a trace. The giant robot became first a curiosity, then tourist attraction. But now the invaders are back and the only thing in their way is Dai-Guard and young team of office workers who’ve been supplementing their regular incomes as part time pilots and tour guides. Can these reluctant heroes halt their alien foes while simultaneously concealing the defects in their giant robot?" -- ADV's Dai-Guard Page

Review

The action and fun of Dai-Guard are instantly accessible to anyone. You don't need to take your time to get used to the setting or style. Its presentation is immediately fun, the action kicks into gear fast, the characters are charismatic out of the box leaving you wanting to get to know them all and the animation is consistently top of the line. If you like fun, if you like good animation, if you like great characters and you like giant robots standing on the shores of Japan waiting to defend it against the next monstrous thread, Dai-Guard is your anime.

The action is fun as hell, with excellent one-liners and well planned out attacks. The structure of Dai-Guard reminds me a lot of the fun side of groundbreaking masterpiece Neon Genesis Evangelion, sans the gravity and hidden psychological/political intrigue that hid waiting to strike just below the surface. Dai-Guard has mystery about it, but the characters don't exchange hidden looks that hold volumes of depth and terror. The way it mirrors NGE is in the set up of the Robot vs. Monster attacks that happen ever episode. Out of seemingly nowhere a randomly and well-designed creepy monster floats into Japan with an agenda you can't tell. No villain speaks from the shadows and the monsters have no facial expressions. Team Dai-Guard mobilizes and proceeds to smash both city and monster in an all out free for all, where the monster seems unstoppable 'til the heroes and their back up in communications shout out a plan that gets executed with failure, but grit and determination pull victory out of certain defeat. And this never gets old. It's never carried out as formulaic as I make it sound and it's always done in a way that'll leave a permanent grin on your grill.

The comedy comes from all the pitfalls and bureaucratic boo-shiggety that us unfortunate wage slaves have to put up with in the day-to-day grind working in the office place. Paper work, supervisors who care more about procedure and promotions than they care about doing what needs to be done, gossip about the direction of the company and ten thousand dead ends that you smile at as long as your paycheck comes in on time. So how cool is it that if any of us in this situation, wondering if we should hit on the new temp or intern, are suddenly called away to pilot the company giant robot to repel another monster attack! Save the world and make the news on a weekly basis! Sure you have to return back to all the damage claims and paper work afterwards, but it beats filing. ^_-

The animation is nothing short of excellent, using the crisp digital effects that keep all colors bright and vibrant and all animation looking solid and smooth. And when I say digital effects, I don't mean the kind that jarringly divides traditional animation with CGI, but the kind you see in anime lately that makes the best of it look traditionally animated, but at the same time just more vivid. So, those who won't watch anything that looks like second-string animation need not worry with this pick.

The music is good. very good. It keeps pace with the action, comedy and everything else. Never sounds over bearing or trite. I don't think any of use will be rushing out to purchase it, but it fits the anime well. Only song that is completely unforgettable and will stick in your head for days on end is the Opening Theme. Its "Ba, ba-ba, ba! Ba-ba, ba! Baba, bada-badda-bada!" will sing in your head long after you've seen your first episode and you'll no doubt find yourself bursting into song as you make your way to class or to your cubicle.

The Extras on the DVD are production sketches that show the development of the character design and the beginnings of each characters range of emotion. You also get ADV "Do It Now!" promos abound.

The English voice acting is nothing short of excellent. This is one of those rare and great anime finds where you might just prefer the English dub to the Japanese sub. For myself, this is one of those anime. As always the Japanese dub job is excellent, but the English one in this anime matches them and the one-liners come through more instantly and clearer.

Conclusion

Around when this anime was first coming out, those who were following were on the edge of their seat waiting for the release of the next volume and now I see why. Dai-Guard is fun, action packed, beautifully animated and filled to the brim with likable characters from which you can take your pick and choose as to who's your favorite. Only fan I can think that might not dig this anime is those who like their anime ultra Gasaraki/Gundam realistic or those how don't dig on giant robots. Here's a buy you won't be disappointed with. If you work in an office, you owe it to yourself to check out this anime and if you're a Mazinger, Big O, or Getter Robo fan, this is also for you. Now, I have to go to work. Those TPS Reports are going to process themselves. -_-

Keith "JC" Hayward