Wakusei Robo Danguard Ace (56 episodes, 1977-78)
Philip Nino Tan-Gatue

Introduction

Leiji Matsumoto has been a prolific creator, coming up with anime legends Uchu Senkan Yamato, Galaxy Express 999, and so many others. During the super robot boom of the 1970's, the venerable Matsumoto contributed an entry of his own into the genre so dominated by Go Nagai (Mazinger and Getter series, Jeeg and Gloizer X...) and Tadao Nagahama (Combattler V, Voltes V, Daimos and Daltanious). This series would gain even further exposure by being part of Jim Terry's Force Five series of dubbed anime. I am, of course, referring to that classic Wakusei (Planet) Robo Danguard Ace.

Synopsis

The premise of Danguard Ace is a familiar one - the struggle between the Elite and the Masses for scant natural resources. In Danguard, the elite are represented by Doppler Soto (usually translated as Chancellor Doppler) and his Doppler Gundan (army). The "masses" are represented by the UN backed (I presume) crew of the Jasdam base, headed by Professor Ooedo. The natural resource being fought for is not merely land, or oil, but a whole planet! This is the 10th planet Promete, and Danguard Ace revolves around the race to get there first.

The story begins years back, with Doppler still "merely" a scientist working with the rest of the world in the Promete Project. The young lad Takuma Ichimonji watches as his father, Dantetsu Ichimonji, launches with 3 other pilots on a mission to send some ships to the planet promete. Doppler makes his intentions public to Ichimonji and Professor Ooedo, saying that Promete belongs to the elite. At this time, Takuma's father suddenly shoots down his compatriots and himself disappears, ruining the initial mission. Dantetsu Ichimonji is branded a traitor. Doppler secedes from the Promete Project and forms his own army. Takuma grows up under the care of Prof. Ooedo.

Years later, the mobile base JASDAM is being constructed for a full scale expedition to Promete, but Doppler works hard to destroy Jasdam through his giant robots called Mechasatans. Episode one thus begins with Danguard Ace being constructed to repel the Mechasatans, and Takuma being a trainee in Jasdam hoping to one day be pilot of Danguard Ace, hence bringing honor
back to his name.

Then a man in an iron mask arrives. He first appears to help Takuma fight a mechasatan using only a fighter plane. The next time they meet is when the masked man lands at Jasdam, where he claims to have escaped from Doppler. Pressed for his name the masked man claims his memory is wiped out by the mask. Investigations reveal that he was one of the four original pilots sent to promete. Takuma wonders if this masked man knows his father.

As it becomes evident that the mystery man is on Jasdam's side, it also becomes evident that he is the best pilot Ooedo hadever seen. Thus he is given the name Captain Dan and assigned to train the future pilots of Danguard Ace. Takuma is unrelenting in trying to find out information about his father, and has to undergo rigorous training to win the position of Danguard Ace pilot...

Characters

Takuma is obviously the main character, and the story revolves around him, even when he wasn't the Danguard pilot yet.  Takuma's personality is an amalagam of many hero types - from cocky and brash to hesitant and unsure to (at rare times) being a total wuss.  But for me, it is this variation that makes him likeable as a character.  Played by giant robo anime verteran Akira Kamiya (Akira in Raideen, Ryo in Getter Robo and G, Sanshiro in Gaiking, Prince Sinclair in Golion, Jimmy Orion in Mechander Robo, Roll Kulan in Dangaioh...)

Captain Dan - the masked man who eventually serves as trainer to Takuma.  Much of the series tension actually revolves around his relationship with Takuma.  Many dark secrets lie beneath that (literally) cold demeanor.  Yet, he is probably the greatest pilot ever.

Professor Ooedo - Commander and Chief scientist of Jasdam.  It is he who uncovers the mysteries of the first Promete mission, Chancellor Doppler and Captain Dan.

Lisa - typical blonde haired Matsumoto female - see Maeter from Galaxy Express 999 and Yuki from Space Cruiser Yamato.  I think she has the best hairstyle among Matsumoto's females, though.

Bunta - big, brawny repair crew chief with a soft heart.  Aren't all anime robot big guys big, brawny with soft hearts?

Hideto - comes in later in the series to become Danguard's secondary pilot.

Other Jasdam residents include little girl Miyu-chan, egg shaped robot Tomaga, Dr. Sato the sake loving physician, Dr. Tanuki, the shorter scientist, Futoshi the maintenance man with glasses, Azuma the communications officer, and other pilots Kubo and Kanaya.

The Doppler army is led by Chancellor Doppler.  Most of his staff has Vulcan like pointed ears, and some sources imply alien origin.  Chief Engineer Flogg, who has human ears, later tries to defect - which would imply disgruntled human employees?  Other Doppler staff include the blue-skinned Vice Chancellor Hetchi, the one-eyed Captain Gudon, and later, the charismatic pilot squad leader Tony Harken.

Mecha Design and Weapons

In a word, wow.  I've always liked the Danguard design.  It's basic mode is the Sattellizer, so named for it acts as a satellite protector to the space bound Jasdam.  To convert to Danguard, the main cockpit area opens and launches, the Sattelizer splits in two, reconfigures, then the main cockpit area forms Danguard's "helmet".  This makes for a short yet impressive transformation sequence.  To merely describe it doesn't do it justice.  Weapon wise, Danguard tried to be different from the plethora of other robot anime weapons.  It's chest beam was fired after the chest plate opened (Pulsar Cannon) and two beams merged into one.  Ditto for the Eye Blaster Rifle.  His Teleportion Punch involved the forearm and fist charging with energy and launching it (although in one episode he launched the actual fist.)  My favorite is the Double Shaft (no pun intended) where the arrows on his legs shoot and form a double pointed staff.

Music and Songs

Shunsuke Kikuchi composed a very "outer space opera" (but not as cosmic as Grendizer) and militaristic set of theme music for Danguard Ace.  The opening song came as a shock to me when I first heard it as it was very kiddy and happy go lucky.  The ending theme "I am Takuma, Space Pilot" is simply magnificent, capturing Takuma's spirit of trying to redeem his family name and reach Promete.  Isao Sasaki lends his magnificent voice to the songs.

Conments (SPOILER ALERT)

Plotwise, designwise and animationwise, Danguard Ace is one of the better 70s robot anime...until after they launch the Jasdam and head off to space.  That's when Captain Dan is revealed as Takuma's father and is killed off.  This even takes away much of the tension and character interaction I fell in love with during the first 3/5 of the series.  The rest became simple giant robot fare.  The ending feels rushed to me...I predict ratings went down when Dan died...

A shame, because Danguard dared to be different.  The Danguard robot itself wasn't completed until episode 3, and didn't even transform for another 10 or so episodes!  This pattern emphasized storytelling and character interaction, duplicated by Dancouga 8 years later.

Still, this is a great series and I recommend it to anyone interested in Matsumoto and 70s robots.

Philip Nino Tan-Gatue