Beginning in 1982, this awesome robotic line of toys hit the United States through Bandai America. The line of toys originally released in Japan as part of a Chogokin series of toys. These Chogokin toys, originally inspired by various anime robotic characters, released again in America through Bandai until 1985. The Godaikin toys released in two series, with the characters from the original toys and television shows represented. Follow along with us in our Retrospective of Godaikin as we mention the origins of these big and tough robot toys made out of the iconic super durable metal. Along with this, we will also mention the different toys released as well as the animated and live-action series these incredible characters come from.
Join Us In A Retrospective of Godaikin
Join us in our Godaikin Retrospective. With many animated series and many live-action series that depict the toys, we take our journey through the years and stories to see the different characters in action. Along with this, the characters also appear in a comic book series. These transformative robots from the 1980s sparked many other robot toys throughout the years. Godaikin toys continue to bring nostalgia to fans for decades through the transforming play as well as the intricate, memorable design.
Godaikin Toys
Coming up first on our Retrospective of Godaikin, we have the robot toys from Bandai. Originally, Bandai released these toys in the US under the name Shogun Warriors. However, as a second attempt to release the Chogokin toys in the United States, they took on the name Godaikin with the intention to control the costs on the high priced items. These robot toys divide into four categories of size including: mini, standard, deluxe, and also big scale. Godaikin toys resulted in high prices due to the quality of materials used. The toys ranged from $40-$80 USD at the time of their release. The construction consisted of large die-cast metal parts, pre-applied stickers, and vacuum-metalized chrome detailing on accessories. Although the earlier Godaikin toys included the ability to fire items, the later ones removed the feature after a supposed lawsuit.
Four Godaikin toys that released early include Daitetsujin 17, Leopardon, Daimos, and Daidejin. Then released the most well-known, including Tetsujin 28, Voltes V, Combattra, Goggle V, and Guardian. Along with these, Sun Vulcan, God Marz, Godsigma, GoLion, and Daltanious released. The later releases include Goggle Ceasar, Daileion, Vavilos, Dancougar, Bioman, Albegas Ships, and BioDragon. Also, Dynaman, Dynagarry, Laserion, Machineman, and Machine Dolphin came out. Godaikin released mini versions of some popular characters as well. Some of these include Voltes V, Leopardon, Combattra, Mazinga Z, and Daitetsujin 28. All toys came packaged in bright colored boxes and cardboard that feature an image of the item in detail. Along with this, the toys themselves feature bright colored paint, corresponding to the character. They came in various sizes and high quality material ensuring the durability through many play possibilities.
Animated Series
Next up on our Retrospective of Godaikin, we have the animated shows that feature the characters. These Japanese television shows may not feature all Godaikin robots at one time, but they allow fans to get a glimpse of the characters in action while on screen. Many of the television shows feature just one character which gives people the opportunity to watch a whole show about a toy they own. These shows did not air for the first time in the United States with the release of the toys. However, fans viewed the already made Japanese anime with the characters while they appeared on the television through an accessible Japanese-language UHF channel. Continue following along with us as we dive into the many anime shows featuring the powerful Godaikin characters.
Force Five
First up for the anime shows, Force Five includes five sperate animated series instead of just one. These five shows became packaged all together into one for American audiences. All five series released at the same time, each airing on a separate day of the week. The shows originally produced in Japan by Toei Animation in the mid 1970s. The shows, titled Gaiking, Grandizer, Starvengers (Geter Robo G), and Spacekeeters (previously called SF Saiyuki Starzinger), consisted of 26 episodes each. These episodes remained on air until 1983 but the series continued to live on through home video. Family Home Entertainment created compilations of the episodes to put in local video rentals across the country. This allowed many families and children to continue enjoying these characters for years after the shows came to a close.
These series featured many of the loved Godaikin characters produced by Bandai as toys. Many fans, in fact, referred to this series as “Shogun Warriors” with the same name of the original toys released by Bandai that later turned into the Godaikin name we know today. Another reason for the “Shogun Warriors” reference includes the listing on the TV guides under this name instead of Force Five. Either way, the animated episodes aired on televisions across North America thanks to Jim Terry which allowed more children to enjoy the world of Godaikin.
Chōdenji Robo Combattler V
Chōdenji Robo Combattler V (also known as Combattler V) takes the next spot on our Retrospective of Godaikin under the anime. This series, released on April 17, 1976 in Japan, consisted of 54 episodes. Program created by Saburo Yatsude, Combattler V first aired on the ANN network (NET/ TV Asahi). This television series, produced by Toei Company and animated by Soeisha, aired for one year until 1977. It takes place as the first series in the Robot Romance Trilogy directed by Tadao Nagahama.
Combattler V features the character Combattra, one of the characters included in the Godaikin robot toys. During this series, the Combattler V character takes on the important role as the only one to sufficiently defend against the Campbellians’ ginormous biomechanical beasts. Combattler V, the robot with electromagnetic super abilities, takes this task on along with it’s team of pilots.
Chōdenji Machine Voltes V
Coming in next as the second part in the Robot Romance Trilogy, we have Chōdenji Machine Voltes V. Just like the previous series, Saburo Yatsude program created this one with Tadao Nagahama as the director. The 40 episode series first aired on June 4, 1977 and ran through March 25, 1978. This series follows the storyline of five heroes who use their volt machines to fight off the Boazanian Empire. These heroes include Steve, Mark, Big Bert, Little John, and Jamie. In order to save the day, these five heroes join together to create the tough battle machine super robot, Voltes V. The popular character, Voltes V appears in the Godaikin toy line for children to play with and get to experience the detailed, well thought out character in action.
Tōshō Daimos
Tōshō Daimos takes the next place in the anime section of our blog. This series sits as the third and final series within the Robot Romance Trilogy. Nihon Sunrise produced this series of 44 episodes. It ran from April 1, 1978 to January 27, 1979. The Godaikin, Daimos, appears within this anime series as a super mecha fighter. This character defends Earth while the Baamian evil aliens invade and cause trouble. Daimos, along with its pilot Kazuya Ryuzaki, stand between the people on Earth and the aliens to fight and protect the world. However, Kazuya falls in love with a character named Erika. With troubles occurring, both Kazuya and Erika learn that both sides are not entirely evil or entirely good. This adventure-packed series makes a great conclusion to the trilogy and features another epic character featured in the Godaikin toy line.
Space Emperor God Sigma
This next television series that appears on our Retrospective of Godaikin includes Space Emperor God Sigma. The character in the Godaikin toy line, God Sigma, gets featured in this anime series. The series ran for a total of 50 episodes and aired from March 19, 1980 to March 25, 1981. The series originally aired on Tokyo Channel 12 and featured many other awesome characters. Some of these include Toshiya Dan, Juri Noguchi, Meisa, Commander Teraru, Marchino, and Ritsu. Along with these also included Rie Haruhi, Kensaku Kira, Gagan, Minako, Professor Kazami, and Jeerah.
The super robot, God Sigma, featured in this animated series includes many incredible abilities. These include its sigma flash, musouken, photon beam, god string, finger needle, and rocket punch. Along with these powers, the robot also uses more of it’s abilities and weapons to help fight. The character uses it’s mini jet scrander, jet thrusters, shield, big wing, wing crash, and chodenji blade during times of defense. This robot also appears in season 1 of The Knights of the Multiverse. The evil L.O.S.R organization created this character with the intention to use it’s powers and ability to take over the world. However, this did not happen as the Crystal Knights captured the super robot. The character proves its power and great design with it’s appearance in this series as well as in The Knights of the Multiverse series.
Future Robo Daltanious
The Future Robo Daltanious anime series takes the next spot here on our Retrospective of Godaikin blog. This series aired on Tokyo channel 12 from March 21, 1979 to March 5, 1980. Hyota Ezu, along with Takashi Iijima and Takayuki Suzuki produced this 47 episode television series. Fuyunori Gobu and Masaki Tsuji took the role as the co-writers and Nippon Sunrise took on the animation aspect. The Godaikin robot, Daltanious appears in this series. The plot of Future Robo Daltanious begins in the year 1995 when the Zaar Empire conquers the entire planet here on Earth. Akron, the planet, originally houses the Zaar Empire until they leave and take over Earth, destroying everything in sight. All of Earth’s cities begin crashing to the ground, leaving any survivors to live in cruel villages and towns.
While hiding in a cave, the war orphan, Kento, discovers the secret base of Doctor Earl. Doctor Earl came from another planet conquered by the Zaar Empire and took with him the most prized invention, Atlas the super robot. When robots Atlas and Beralios combine with the heroic fighter, Gumper, they form the powerful robot Daltanious.
Six God Combination Godmars
This next series, Six God Combination Godmars, released from 1981 to 1982 in Japan, Hong Kong, and Italy. This action-adventure anime show featured 64 episodes of sci-fi drama with more awesome robot characters. The robot Godaikin character, God Mars, appears in this series. The plot begins in episode 1 in the year 1999. During this time, the human race began advancing beyond the solar system. Emperor Zool, from the planet Gishin, plans to conquer the universe. However, the emperor finds conflict with Earth and develops a plan to destroy it. In order to complete this plan, Emperor Zool sends a baby named Mars to live with humans. Along with the baby, Zool sends a robot named Gaia as a bomb to destroy the planet after Mars grows up.
However, Mars gains the name Takeru after a Japanese family takes him in. Takeru grows up with humans and realizes he won’t operate the bomb in Gaia to destroy the planet like originally planned. Takeru also learns that whenever the Earth becomes in danger, Takeru summons five other robots to combine with Gaia. These robots include Sphinx, Uranus, Titan, Shin, and Ra. When these robots come together, they create the ultimate powerful robot, Godmars.
Dancougar
Dancougar takes the next spot on our Retrospective of Godaikin. This series released on the TBS network from April 5 to December 27, 1985. Dancougar the character in the series also appears as a powerful robot toy in the Godaikin line. The plot of the series begins when the Muge Empire attacks Earth. The Muge Empire not only begins to attack the planet, but they also take it over as they continually gain information from Earth’s resources. This leaves the Earth with its last hope, the Cyber Beast Force. The Cyber Beast Force pilots include Shinobu Fujiwara, Sara Yuuki, Masato Shikibu, and Ryou Shiba. As this story moves forward with the Cyber Beast Force defending the planet, the pilot’s machines merge together to create the giant robot, Dancougar.
Beast King GoLion
Beast King GoLion features the GoLion Godaikin robot. This anime series consists of 52 episodes, each running for 23 minutes. Beast King GoLion originally released on March 4th, 1981. The animation from this anime series got cut down and edited to become the Lion version of the U.S. Voltron: Defender of the Universe series.
The plot of Beast King GoLion begins thousands of years ago when the robot GoLion tried to defeat the Goddess of the Universe but failed. From this, the goddess taught the robot humility by splitting it up into five smaller lion robot characters. These five robots traveled through space until they crash-landed on Altea. While on Altea, the robots stayed there until someone came by to reawaken them to battle once again. The main story then picks up in 1999 when five space pilots return to Earth from a mission. However, the five discover the Earth’s war in progress and get captured. They eventually escape and land on Altea where they discover the long lost power of GoLion.
The New Adventures of Gigantor
This next anime, The New Adventures of Gigantor, adapted from Tetsujin 28-go which features the robot character Tetsujin 28. The story begins with the character named Shotaro Kaneda, a young boy who’s father creates the giant robot Tetsujin 28. His father created this fierce robot after hearing about the possibility of attacks coming from other galaxies. Shotaro Kaneda possesses the only controller for the robot, leaving the power all in his hands. This storyline of Tetsujin 28 released through 4 different anime series from the years 1963 to 2004. This story comes from the 1956 manga written and illustrated by Mitsuteru Yokoyama. With the release of the first series in 1963, Gigantor became the first Japanese anime series to feature a giant robot. Many other Japanese robot shows released throughout the years from which a lot of our cherished Godaikin toys originate from.
Gordian Warrior
Gordian Warrior, the anime series that aired from October 7, 1979 to February 22, 1981. The series consists of 73 action-filled episodes and was written by Yu Yamamoto. Masamune Ochiai and Kunihiko Okazaki co-directed it while Masatsugu Nagai and Tomoyuki Miyata co-produced it. Gordian Warrior features the robot character, The Guardian. The plot of this series begins when the “Big Catastrophe” brought from a comet and two outside planets, causes natural disasters on earth and wipes out all civilization. Then, as people begin building the towns back up and restoring the planet, a Madoctor comes in and begins invading each town. This leaves it up to the young man named Daigo Otaki who protects a town in the United States with the Gordian left behind by his father. Daigo Otaki, with his Gordian fight against Madoctor and defend the earth.
Mazinger Z
Mazinger Z, coming in last for the anime on our Retrospective of Godaikin, first aired on December 3, 1972. This series quickly became recognized as one of the most popular in giant robot anime and became known as featuring the first piloted robot character. The plot of this series begins with a scientist on Mount Fuji during a mining expedition who discovered the ultimate new material, Japanium. However, one of the scientist’s colleagues developed an evil plan to use the Mechanical Beasts to dominate the world.
After an escape back to Japan from the assassination attempt, Doctor Kabuto planned a defense against the Mechanical Beasts using the super strong materials discovered prior to the attack. The battle robot created gained the name Mazinger Z which gets featured as a Godaikin toy. However, in the anime series, after Mazinger Z’s design completion, a hit squad came and murdered Kabuto. His grandson then discovered this and took over Mazinger Z to defend Earth in his grandfather’s place.
Tokusatsu
The next category on our Retrospective of Godaikin featuring these loved robot characters includes tokusatsu. Tokusatsu, the Japanese term, translates to “special filming” or “special effects”. It refers to the genre of live-action television series and film where they heavily utilize special effects. Tokusatsu usually associates with genres such as horror, fantasy, and sci-fi. These next series listed consist of live action, special effect television shows that include robots featured in the Godaikin toy line.
Daitetsujin 17
Daitetsujin 17 takes the first spot under the tokusatsu for our Retrospective of Godaikin. This Japanese series originally aired in 1977 and consisted of 35 action-packed episodes. Created by Shotaro Ishinomori and produced by Toei, this series centers around a young boy who controls a giant robot to fight against other giant robots. Many episodes of this animated series became edited together into one TV movie and released in America under different titles, including Brain 17 and The Defenders and the Great Brain. Minoru Yamada directed the series along with Miki Wakabayashi and Issaku Uchida. Masaru Igami and Shozo Uehara took the role as screen writers for the series.
The plot of the show begins with the greatest smart-computer, Brain. One day, this super intelligent computer being decides to abandon it’s original inhabitance. This leaves it up to the team of Defenders to locate Brain. However, Brain created an army of powerful and deadly giant robots, including Daitetsujin 17. A young boy locates this robot and befriends it, using it to defend Brain’s evil team.
Spider-Man
Spider-Man, this tokusatsu superhero series, aired from May 17, 1978 to March 14, 1979. The series consists of 41 episodes as well as a side-story film. Robot characters that appear in the Godaikin toy line also appear in this live action drama series. Marvel comics and Toei company co-developed this series, bringing the popular Spider-Man superhero to the screen in Japan through this tokusatsu series.
In the story, a young boy sees a spaceship from the planet “Spider” falling to the Earth. Takuya Yamashiro, the young boy, follows after the ship to discover the last survivor of Spider. This survivor gives the boy a bracelet with the ability of awesome spider-like powers. Along with this, Takuya Yamashiro also now holds the ability to control the ship and transform it into a giant, powerful robot named Leopardon. During the time of the ship crash, another incident took place. The character, Professor Monster, brings forth an alien group called the Iron Force Army he plans to use to destroy the entire universe. Under the name of Spider-Man, Takuya Yamashiro fights of the evil army and defends earth with the robot at his control.
Super Sentai
Next up in the tokosatsu section of our Godaikin Retrospective, we have Super Sentai. Many series released for this series including Himitsu Sentai Gorenger (1975-1977), J.A.K.Q Dengekitai (1977), and Battle Fever J (1979-1980). Along with these, Denshi Sentai Denziman (1980-1981), Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan (1981-1982), and Dai Sentai Goggle-V (1982-1983) released. Although many other Super Sentai series released over the years, the ones from the 1970s and 1980s include the robot characters we see in the Godaikin toy line. The popular kids show in the United States, Power Rangers, adapted from this Super Sentai series with the team of five costumed superheroes who fight together with their special powers, weapons, martial art skills, and robots to defend earth.
Metal Hero
The final tokusatsu we will mention, Metal Hero, take place as a franchise TV series produced by Toei. Metal Heroes focused on a solo hero or smaller teams rather than the bigger teams we see in other Toei produced tokusatsu shows. These series began releasing in 1982 and continued through 2018, bringing more action to the screen through these metal superhero characters. Outside of Japan, Metal Hero proved its popularity throughout other countries. These include Brazil, France, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Some episodes edited together to create different shows which released with new names also in America.
Shogun Warriors Comics
The last thing to mention on our Retrospective of Godaikin are the Shogun Warriors Marvel Comics. This series of comic books released in 1979 including 20 separate issues, each with epic action robot stories. Doug Meonch wrote the stories while Herb Trimpe and Dan Green illustrated them. The comics featured the robot characters Raydeen, Combartra, and Dangard Ace. With 32 pages in each comic, packed with an awesome storyline and detailed artwork, these brought to life Godaikin characters through the pages of multiple comics.
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About the Author
Chris Ingledue is the founder and owner of Wheeljack’s Lab pop Culture and Toy Shop. His vision has always been to reunite customers with their favorite childhood toys and pop culture, triggering fond memories, and reigniting their imaginations. Every day he works in the “lab” where it’s Christmas 365 days a year; scouring the internet – like we did the Sears Catalog of yesteryear – for the next great treasure, awaiting the arrival of the postman as if he was Santa Claus himself and helping collectors worldwide with their own versions of Christmas. For Chris, every day as a vintage toy buyer is an absolute joy!