Morning animelanders!

Anime title : Hundred Beast King Go lion!



Originally aired: 1981-82



What is it about:

Five young Human astronauts get captured by an evil Galactic empire....who turns them into slaves. The young men eventually escape in one of the Empire's slaveships....and crash land on a planet called Altea. They make their way to an abandoned castle where they meet a young Princess and her elderly adviser, who beg them to pilot five space lions that can be combined into one big robot called Golion.



Wait a minute, doesn't that sound familiar?

Yes...the anime would be known to Nigerian fans of a certain age as Voltron, Defender of the Universe...which was the name given to the English dub of the original Japanese anime.And personally for me, it was my first ever anime....of many anime.


So, is the anime interesting?

I have just started watching Go lion again after a very long time. It is a typical giant robot anime, where Go lion (Voltron) fights whatever robot monster the Galrans (the evil empire) send.

Looking at the anime again, I was struck by how formulaic it looks. Galra sends evil robot, robot wrecks havoc, the lions are sent out, lions ineffectually fight evil robot, then lions combine, form Go-lion...and then use the King's Sword Jyoukhen to destroy robot by cutting it in half.

Fortunately, that isn't all that the anime is about. There is some focus on the team members, their day to day lives, struggles, and personal growth. And it is a bit realistic(spoiler alert)..it does not shy away from death, and from injury.(Of course...na Japanese cartoon...someone sometimes has to pass on to the higher realms). Of course...most of the violence was cut for the English dub version (that is Voltron).

Fans of Voltron...at least the bit aired on NTA in the 80's and 90's...would note some changes watching the original Japanese production...apart from the realism. The five astronauts are 1) All Japanese (Kogane Akira, Takashi Shirogane,Isamu Kurogane, Tsuyoshi Seidō,Hiroshi Suzuishi) and the Princess is called Farla 2) The five astronauts were not sent by the alliance to bring back voltron...they were escaping a Planet Earth wrecked by WW3 and 3) The astronauts may appear crude initially, before they settle down, and work well with their hosts.

And the animation may appear a bit somehow(it is an early 80's anime after all!) but still looks mostly good. And the overall story line is ok....if not too simplistic.

Where to watch: Over here

Should you watch it: Oh yes....if you are looking for a good 1980's anime to pass the time with...especially if you love your robots.

So till next time animelanders...lets Go-lion!