History Anime / CombattlerV

* KillerYoYo: '''Super Electromagnetic (Chodenji) Yo-Yo'''!.. Combattler V can release from the arms a pair of powerful yo-yos that are each equipped with a powerful buzzsaw. It was actually inspired when Prof. Yotsuya (and the Combattler team) saw a yo-yo exhibition on TV.

* KillerYoYo: '''Super Electromagnetic (Chodenji) Yo-Yo'''!.. Combattler V can release from the arms a pair of powerful yo-yos that are each equipped with a powerful buzzsaw.

* NothingCanStopUsNow: This is used ''disturbingly'' frequently by Prince Garuda. When he [[spoiler:blew [[TheHero Hyoma's]] arms off]], when he blackmailed the Japanese Government in blowing up the Nanbara Connection -the HQ of the heroes-, when he deceiving the Japanese police to get the Combattler team under arrest... You would think he would learn to STOP TemptingFate after the first time...

* EenieMeenieMinyMoai: Robots (called Dormane) shaped like these are used to defend Oreana's island stronghold in the climactic showdown against her forces.

* BerserkButton: Hyoma lost his parents when he was barely a toddler. Kill one child (even if it is an animal cub) or leave him/her/it parentless, and he will go nuts before beating the crap out of you. And also, don't badmouth or do something bad on an orphan, he's an orphan so he felt their pain.

* PantyShot: Chizuru gives a considerable amount of these.
* TheProfessor: Dr. Nanbara and Dr. Yotsuya.

* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Chizuru Nanbara has bluish-green hair while the rest of the Earthlings has normal black/brown hairs.

* FiveManBand: The first example (and most imitated) in a robot series:
** TheLeader: Hyoma Aoi.
** TheLancer: Juzo Naniwa.
** TheBigGuy: Daisaku Nishikawa.
** TheSmartGuy: Kosuke Kita.
** TheChick: Chizuru Nanbara.

The series was brought over to the US in a fashion... As part of a toyline called ''Shogun Warriors'' that also included other super Robots such as {{Anime/Raideen}} and Anime/GreatMazinger In 1979 Creator/MarvelComics licensed it as part of the 20-part miniseries ''Shogun Warriors'', along with ''{{Anime/Raideen}}'' and ''Anime/PlanetRoboDanguardAce'', under the name Combattra. One of the latter issues in the series even featured the standard [[LetsYouAndHimFight "Heroic misunderstanding"]] with the ComicBook/FantasticFour.

Thousands of years ago, the people of the planet Campbell decided to leave their planet and seek out new worlds to inhabit. One group, lead by the scientist [[BigBad Oreana]], landed on Earth, [[{{SealedEvilInACan}} but was delayed from their mission]]. In the early 21st century, Oreana's group reawakens and begins their plan to [[TakeOverTheWorld conquer the Earth]].

The entire series follows the then-standard MonsterOfTheWeek format packed up in two seasons (but they didn't use 'Season' moniker). The first season pit the Combattler team against Oreana and his protege Garuda and their Slave Beasts. The second season switched the enemy into a greater force of Campbellians under Empress Janera and her generals, brothers Dungele and Warchimedes, who boast a new type of MonsterOfTheWeek called Magma Beasts.

* FaceDeathWithDignity: After Janera was defeated, the team found out that [[spoiler:they're too late to stop an eventual EarthShatteringKaboom devised by Janera on her defeat. Knowing that they're doomed, they chose to stand proud that they did their best to protect Earth and they'll live and die together.]] But then, [[spoiler:cue [[DeusExMachina sudden interference by Deus to save the day]], so they end up subverting it.]]

* GreaterScopeVillain: Empress Janera is the power behind Oreana and her son General Garuda and the eventual foe of the Combattler Team.

* TheDeterminator: Hyoma. What if [[spoiler:Garuda]] shot [[spoiler:his arms]] off? What if he is ill and dying? He'll still get on the Battle Jet and kick butt!

* WhatDoesThisButtonDo: In episode 16, Kotaro -a little kid of [[TheHero Hyoma]]'s acquaintance- visited the [[HomeBase Nanbara Connection]]. When [[RobotBuddy Ropetto]] shows him the team's vehicles, Kotaro can't help to get in Hyoma's jet fighter, point at a random button and ask what it does. Ropetto tried to talk him out of touching it, but Kotaro pressed it anyway.

* AirborneAircraftCarrier: Graydon, Garuda's personal aircraft, which used slave monster production, missiles from its top, levitation, even underwater, an underside tractor beam, teleportation, a buzzsaw hidden in one of its six wings, and a pink heat ray; Bromber, Warchamides' attack saucer which had the aforementioned levitation and tractor beam, yellow eye lasers, and missile launchers at the midsection; and Santomagma, Empress Janera's warship used in the final episode. It was heavily armour-plated and its capabilities included creating tornadoes from its underside, firing spike missiles from the carapace, a flamethrower mounted in its mouth, freezing wind from its front and side mouths, detachable front and side heads, fangs strong enough to break Combattler's weapons, and laser beam bolts from all four heads.
* AlwaysChaoticEvil: For a while it seemed the trope was being played straight, but it was ultimately averted. The Campbellians that were attacking Earth were not representative of the entire race, but a rebel faction led by leaders constantly indoctrinating their troops into believing it's ''[[HumansAreTheRealMonsters HUMANS]]'' who are AlwaysChaoticEvil. For the most part, the Campbellians were not presented as evil or harbouring ill will towards humans, and actually at the end [[spoiler:Deus, the Campbellians' true leader, came to Earth to stop BigBad Empress Janera personally, and vowed he would help to rebuild what Janera destroyed of Earth.]]

* BerserkButton: Hyoma lost his parents when he was barely a toddler. Kill one child (even if it is an animal cub) or leave him/her/it parentless, and he will go nuts before beating the crap out of you.

* DeusExMachina: If it wasn't for [[spoiler:Deus stopping Janera's bomb in the last minutes before the Combattler Team do, the series would've been plunged straight into at best BittersweetEnding.]]

* {{Fanservice}}: Episode 16 featured Chizuru in a ShowerScene, and then a BrattyHalfPint sneaks in...

'''Ropetto:''' That's the ignition button. Don't touch it.
* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Chizuru Nanbara has bluish-green hair.

The entire series follows the then-standard MonsterOfTheWeek format, with the first season featuring Oreana's [[TheDragon protege]] General Garuda sending various mecha to defeat Combattler V. His tactics range from brute force to cunningness and taking hostages. At one point he even duels Hyouma in a sword fight with their feet chained together. [[spoiler:As the series moves on, his trust for Oreana lessens. Garuda eventually discovers that he is in fact a cyborg after chancing on a room containing numerous failed attempts at creating him. In the final episode of the first season, he defeats Oreana, and then duels Combattler V, which eventually leads to his defeat.]]

The second season features [[TheEmpress Empress]] [[ManBehindTheMan Janera]] and her generals Dungele and Warchimedes. [[spoiler:Eventually, the entire base of the Campbellian empress is deployed, and only through the help of the airborne Nanbara Connection Base is Combattler V able to destroy it. However, Janera manages to deploy an [[EarthShatteringKaboom Earth Bomb which is supposed to destroy the Earth]]. Notably, the team is not dispirited, [[HeroicSacrifice but are quite calm and instead happy for having the chance to fight to protect Earth]]. Just as it looks as though Earth will be destroyed, the "true" leader of the Campbellians, [[PunnyName Deus]], riding in a golden wagon, informs the team of the coup d'etat at Campbell, and [[DeusExMachina stops the bomb seconds before it reaches the Earth]].]]

* RammingAlwaysWorks: '''"Choudenji Tatsumaki! Choudenji Spin!"'''. Combattler paralyzes its adversary by blasting it with a stream of electricity and then rams through its body [[ThisIsADrill as spinning endlessly]]. Hyoma often uses it as a FinishingMove, and it tends to leave a nice gaping hole in the MonsterOfTheWeek.

* FrickinLaserBeams: '''V Laser'''. Used in the second half of the series, Combattler V can release purple energy Vs from the V on its forehead.

* ThisIsADrill: In his final move, Combattler V creates an energy tornado that keeps enemies in place for a short period of time. It will then spin extremely fast, turn its body into a large drill of lightning, and ram itself through opponents.

* RammingAlwaysWorks: '''"Choudenji Tatsumaki! Choudenji Spin!"'''. Combattler paralyzes its adversary by blasting it with a stream of electricity and then rams through its body [[EverythingIsBetterWithSpinning as spinning endlessly]]. Hyoma often uses it as a FinishingMove, and it tends to leave a nice gaping hole in the MonsterOfTheWeek.

* EverythingsBetterWithSpinning: In his final move, Combattler V creates an energy tornado that keeps enemies in place for a short period of time. It will then spin extremely fast, turn its body into a large drill of lightning, and ram itself through opponents.

The only effective defense against the Campbellians' giant [[{{Main/MonsterOfTheWeek}} bio-mechanical slave beasts]] is [[{{SuperRobot}} the super-electromagnetic robot, Combattler V]] and its pilots.

The entire series follows the then-standard MonsterOfTheWeek format, with the first season featuring Oreana's [[TheDragon protege]] General Garuda sending various mecha to defeat Combattler V. His tactics range from brute force to cunningness and taking hostages. At one point he even duels Hyouma in a sword fight with their feet chained together. As the series moves on, his trust for Oreana lessens. Garuda eventually discovers that he is in fact a cyborg after chancing on a room containing numerous failed attempts at creating him. In the final episode of the first season, he defeats Oreana, and then duels Combattler V, which eventually leads to his defeat.

The second season features [[TheEmpress Empress]] [[ManBehindTheMan Janera]] and her generals Dungele and Warchimedes. Eventually, the entire base of the Campbellian empress is deployed, and only through the help of the airborne Nanbara Connection Base is Combattler V able to destroy it. However, Janera manages to deploy an [[EarthShatteringKaboom Earth Bomb which is supposed to destroy the Earth]]. Notably, the team is not dispirited, [[HeroicSacrifice but are quite calm and instead happy for having the chance to fight to protect Earth]]. Just as it looks as though Earth will be destroyed, the "true" leader of the Campbellians, [[PunnyName Deus]], riding in a golden wagon, informs the team of the coup d'etat at Campbell, and [[DeusExMachina stops the bomb seconds before it reaches the Earth]].