Special Armored Battalion Dorvack
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| Special Armored Battalion Dorvack | |
 Promotional artwork | |
| 特装機兵ドルバック (Tokusō Kihei Dorubakku) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Mecha, military science fiction |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Masami Anno (series director) Jutaro Oba (chief director) |
| Written by | Shigemitsu Taguchi |
| Studio | Ashi Productions |
| Licensed by | |
| Original network | FNS (Fuji TV) |
| Original run | October 7, 1983 – July 6, 1984 |
| Episodes | 36 |
Special Armored Battalion Dorvack (Japanese: 特装機兵ドルバック, Hepburn: Tokusō Kihei Dorubakku) is a 36 episode anime series aired from 1983 to 1984 in Japan and also aired in Hong Kong at roughly the same time. The show is also known as Special Armored Trooper Dorvack and Powered Armor Dorvack.[1][2]
Story[edit]
The year is 1999. The Idelians, whose colony-ship has been wandering in space for tens of thousands of years, are nearing exhaustion. Their sole hope is to settle on the nearest habitable planet, Earth. Soon after their arrival in orbit, they launch an invasion, landing a large attack force in the Alps.
The Earth Defense Forces valiantly fight in their powered armor against the enemy, but with little success. Only one unit is able to inflict significant damage, the Special Armored Battalion Dorvack. Under the command of Colonel Takagi, Masato Mugen, Pierre Bonaparte and Louie Oberon fight to defeat the invaders. They are equipped with special variable mecha that are able to convert from rugged all-terrain vehicles to humanoid forms.
Concept[edit]
The show was essentially a showcase for the toyline released by Takatoku. The mecha designs were created by Katsumi Itabashi and Nobuyoshi Habara, while the models were made by the model company Gunze Sangyo. The plot was kept simple, but filled with high levels of animation and action.
Staff[edit]
- Planning, Production: Ashi Productions, Yomiuri
- Director: Masami Anno
- Story editor: Shigemitsu Taguchi
- Original creator: Takeshi Shudo
- Character Design: Osamu Kamijo
- Mecha design: Katsumi Itabashi, Nobuyoshi Habara
Music[edit]
- Opening Theme: "Chikyuu Ni I Love You" by WELCOME
- Ending Theme: "Kimi Ni Okuru Lullaby" by WELCOME
Voice cast[edit]
| Name | Japanese Name | Voiced by |
|---|---|---|
| Masato Mugen | 無限真人 | Tōru Furuya |
| Louie Oberon | ルイ・オベロン | Hiromi Tsuru |
| Pierre Bonaparte | ピエール・ボナパルト | Sukekiyo Kameyama |
| Stanley Hilton | スタンレー・ヒルトン | Hirotaka Suzuoki |
| Col. Yōichi Takagi | 高木洋一 | Kiyoshi Kobayashi |
| Bob Floyd | ボブ・フロイド | Yutaka Shimaka |
| Jackie Frank | ジャッキー・フランク | Asami Mukaidono |
| Peter | ピーター | Masako Katsuki |
| Henry | ヘンリー | Yūsaku Yara |
| Idel | イデル | Show Hayami |
| Amov | アモフ | Osamu Saka |
| Aroma | アロマ | Keiko Toda |
| Zelar | ゼラー | Eiji Kanie |
Merchandise[edit]
The series featured some solid mechanical designs, but the slow-moving storyline failed to move fans. The line of 1/24, 1/72 and 1/100 scale toys and models sat on Japanese toy store shelves. Toymaker Takatoku Toys, already suffering from the poor performances of the merchandise lines from the previous Super Dimension Century Orguss and Galactic Whirlwind Sasuraiger series, went under as a result.
American toy company Hasbro acquired the molds for two of the deluxe toys, the Mugen Calibur and the Ovelon Gazzette. They were re-released in North America as part of the Transformers line as "Deluxe Autobots", under the names "Roadbuster" and "Whirl", respectively.[3] While both Roadbuster and Whirl featured heavily in British-written stories for Marvel UK's Transformers comics (even though, ironically, their toys were never released in the UK) neither character appeared in the American animated series or in U.S. Marvel stories. Due to their fame in the English stories, Dreamwave Productions made use of them in their Transformers comics, produced some 16–17 years later. They also had prominent roles in Transformers (IDW Publishing). Bonaparte Tulcas would later appear in a cameo role in the 'Fun Publication' run, getting the name "Headcannon".
The American firm Select also repackaged two color variations each of the smaller Variable Machine Collection toys under the name "Convertors". Mugen Calibur became "Wheels", Oberon Gazzette became "Chopper", and Bonaparte Tulcas became "Tanker".
Episodes[edit]
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (Japanese: 1999年戦いの序曲) | Directed by : Jutaro Oba Storyboarded by : Rei Hidaka | Shigemitsu Taguchi | October 7, 1983 |
| 2 | (Japanese: 総攻撃・スタンバイ!) | Directed by : Hiroyuki Yokoyama Storyboarded by : Hiroshi Yoshida | Shigemitsu Taguchi | October 14, 1983 |
| 3 | (Japanese: 鳥が死んだ日) | Directed by : Kazuhiko Ikegami Storyboarded by : Masayuki Ozeki | Shigemitsu Taguchi | October 21, 1983 |
| 4 | (Japanese: 霧に消えたルイ) | Directed by : Jutaro Oba Storyboarded by : Mitsuo Kusakabe | Shigemitsu Taguchi | October 28, 1983 |
| 5 | (Japanese: 理由なき失脚) | Directed by : Hiroyuki Yokoyama Storyboarded by : Kozo Takagaki | Shigemitsu Taguchi | November 4, 1983 |
| 6 | (Japanese: 密林の戦士ミランダ) | Hiroshi Yoshida | Kenji Terada | November 11, 1983 |
| 7 | (Japanese: 走れ!ジャッキー) | Mitsuo Kusakabe | Kazumi Koide | November 18, 1983 |
| 8 | (Japanese: 潜入!イデリア基地) | Directed by : Kazuhiko Ikegami Storyboarded by : Saki Noda | Saki Noda | December 2, 1983 |
| 9 | (Japanese: 地下道のメロディー) | Directed by : Jutaro Oba Storyboarded by : Mitsuo Kusakabe | Shigemitsu Taguchi | December 9, 1983 |
| 10 | (Japanese: ボブの向けた銃口) | Directed by : Hiroyuki Yokoyama Storyboarded by : Mitsuo Kusakabe | Kenji Terada | December 16, 1983 |
| 11 | (Japanese: 悪魔の赤い花) | Directed by : Hiroshi Yoshida Storyboarded by : Mitsuo Kusakabe | Kazumi Koide | December 23, 1983 |
| 12 | (Japanese: 烈火のイースター島) | Directed by : Kazuhiko Ikegami Storyboarded by : Masayuki Ozeki | Shigemitsu Taguchi | January 13, 1984 |
| 13 | (Japanese: 地獄におちたチャンプ) | Hiroyuki Yokoyama | Kenji Terada | January 20, 1984 |
| 14 | (Japanese: 響け!野性の叫び) | Hiroshi Yoshida | Shigemitsu Taguchi | January 27, 1984 |
| 15 | (Japanese: 戦火に散った恋) | Mitsuo Kusakabe | Kenji Terada | February 3, 1984 |
| 16 | (Japanese: 秘められた警告) | Directed by : Kazuhiko Ikegami Storyboarded by : Masayuki Ozeki | Shigemitsu Taguchi | February 10, 1984 |
| 17 | (Japanese: レーニア神殿の謎) | Directed by : Hiroyuki Yokoyama Storyboarded by : Mitsuo Kusakabe | Kenji Terada | February 17, 1984 |
| 18 | (Japanese: あばかれたイデリアの秘密) | Hiroshi Yoshida | Shigemitsu Taguchi | February 24, 1984 |
| 19 | (Japanese: 脱出!アルプスの拠点) | Directed by : Kazuhiko Ikegami Storyboarded by : Rei Hidaka | Kenji Terada | March 2, 1984 |
| 20 | (Japanese: 緊急指令!北海の要塞をつぶせ) | Mitsuo Kusakabe | Shigemitsu Taguchi | March 9, 1984 |
| 21 | (Japanese: さらば友よ!戦士が死ぬ瞬間) | Hiroshi Yoshida | Kenji Terada | March 16, 1984 |
| 22 | (Japanese: モアイの光放つ時) | Osamu Kamijo | Shigemitsu Taguchi | March 23, 1984 |
| 23 | (Japanese: 1999年地球最後の日) | Directed by : Hiroyuki Yokoyama Storyboarded by : Mitsuo Kusakabe | Shigemitsu Taguchi | April 6, 1984 |
| 24 | (Japanese: 暗黒への序章) | Hiroshi Yoshida | Shigemitsu Taguchi | April 13, 1984 |
| 25 | (Japanese: 恐怖!新たなる敵) | Directed by : Kazuhiko Ikegami Storyboarded by : Mitsuo Kusakabe | Shigemitsu Taguchi | April 20, 1984 |
| 26 | (Japanese: ひとりぼっちのアロマ) | Hiroshi Yoshida | Kenji Terada | April 27, 1984 |
| 27 | (Japanese: 墓標に隠された過去) | Mamoru Hamatsu | Satoshi Namiki | May 4, 1984 |
| 28 | (Japanese: はるかなる想い) | Directed by : Hiroyuki Yokoyama Storyboarded by : Mitsuo Kusakabe | Yoshihisa Araki | May 11, 1984 |
| 29 | (Japanese: 愛と憎しみの谷) | Hiroshi Yoshida | Keiji Kubota | May 18, 1984 |
| 30 | (Japanese: 肖像画のジャンヌ) | Directed by : Jutaro Oba Storyboarded by : Rei Hidaka | Kenji Terada | May 25, 1984 |
| 31 | (Japanese: 恐怖!閃光に浮かぶ影) | Kazuhiko Ikegami | Shigemitsu Taguchi | June 1, 1984 |
| 32 | (Japanese: 絶叫の淵からの脱出) | Hiroshi Yoshida | Satoshi Namiki | June 8, 1984 |
| 33 | (Japanese: 悪魔につかれた男達) | Directed by : Jutaro Oba Storyboarded by : Mitsuo Kusakabe | Yoshihisa Araki | June 15, 1984 |
| 34 | (Japanese: 終末へのイリュージョン) | Hiroyuki Yokoyama | Keiji Kubota | June 22, 1984 |
| 35 | (Japanese: 決断!最後の上陸作戦) | Hiroshi Yoshida | Yoshihisa Araki | June 29, 1984 |
| 36 | (Japanese: 復活への奇跡) | Directed by : Jutaro Oba Storyboarded by : Rei Hidaka | Shigemitsu Taguchi | July 6, 1984 |
References[edit]
- ^ Ragone, August (1982). "Far East Report". Japanese Fantasy Film Journal. No. 14. p. 7.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (25 April 2022). "Discotek Releases Heart and Yummie, Holmes of Kyoto, Case Closed: The Fist of Blue Sapphire, Violence Jack Anime on BD on July 26". Anime News Network. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ 1985 Transformers Scan. "Autobot Deluxe Vehicles, in Upper Left corner." Transformers Scan. Retrieved on 2006-11-15.
External links[edit]
- Special Armored Battalion Dorvack (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Special Armored Battalion Dorvack at IMDb
- Geneon DVD (in Japanese)
- Convertors section at Toy Archive
- Convertors section at Counter-x
- 1983 anime television series debuts
- 1983 Japanese television series debuts
- 1984 Japanese television series endings
- Action anime and manga
- Ashi Productions
- Discotek Media
- Drama anime and manga
- Fuji TV original programming
- Real robot anime and manga
- Television series set in 1999
- Toy mecha
- Transforming toy robots