Line #95 Anime/CombattlerV


1	[[quoteright:286:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/e0024272_47dbd26a0c432.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:286:Chodenji Yo-yo! Chodenji Tatsumaki! Chodenji Spin!]]
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4	''Chōdenji Robo Combattler V'' (formally, 超電磁ロボコン・バトラーV or ''Chōdenji Robo Konbatorā Bui'') is the first part of the ''Anime/RobotRomanceTrilogy'' of Super Robot series created by "Saburo Yatsude" and directed by Creator/TadaoNagahama (the next ones being ''Anime/VoltesV'' and ''Anime/{{Daimos}}''). The robot's name is a portmanteau of Combine, Combat and Battle, and the V is intended both as an abbreviation for "victory" and in reference to the five component machines that form the robot, as well as its five pilots. The V is proununced as the letter V, whereas in the follow-up series, ''Voltes V'', it is prounounced "5".
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6	The series (along with the later two shows) was created by Saburo Yatsude, who would later go on to create ''Anime/GoLion'' (best familiar to American viewers as the "Lion Force" half of Anime/{{Voltron}}). "Saburo Yatsude" is not a real person, but a pseudonym which refers to the collective staff at Toei ([[Creator/ToeiCompany the main office]], rather than the [[Creator/ToeiAnimation animation studio]]; the series was animated by Nippon Creator/{{Sunrise}} and produced by Toei Co. Ltd).
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8	Thousands of years ago, the people of the planet Campbell decided to leave their planet and seek out new worlds to inhabit. One group, led by the scientist [[BigBad Oreana]], landed on Earth, [[{{SealedEvilInACan}} but was delayed in their mission]]. In the early 21st century, Oreana's group reawakens and begins their plan to [[TakeOverTheWorld conquer the Earth]].
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10	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 robot creator, Professor Nanbara, however, only had one pilot ready; his granddaughter Chizuru. Hence, with the authority granted from the UN, he called forth three teenagers and one pre-teen boy with different backgrounds; street racer Hyouma Aoi, Olympic marksman Juzo Naniwa, judoka Daisaku Ishikawa and boy genius Kosuke Kita. Together with Chizuru, the team must learn to combine their mind and strength to effectively pilot Combattler V and defend Earth.
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12	The entire series follows the then-standard MonsterOfTheWeek format packed up in two {{story arc}}s. The first arc pits the Combattler team against Oreana and her protege Garuda and their Slave Beasts. The second arc 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.
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14	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 ''ComicBook/ShogunWarriors'', 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.
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16	In 2012, a pachinko game (basically the lovechild of a pinball table and a slot machine) depicting [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwPxHNfGSwg a new opening]] and the anime in a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AOtenm30uc kick-ass modernized art style]] debuted.
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18	In 2020, the show is airing on [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHBsfsKLlqc Toei's official Youtube channel]] in an effort to promote the show outside of its fanbase with English subtitles.
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20	Has a [[Manga/VictoryFive sequel manga]].
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22	----
23	!!''Combattler V'' provides examples of:
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25	* AccidentalPervert: In episode 16, a kid called Kotaro sneaks in the base and accidentally walks in on Chizuru when she's taking a shower.
26	* AirborneAircraftCarrier: Three of them, used by the enemies:
27	** 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
28	** Bramble, Warchimedes' attack saucer which had the aforementioned levitation and tractor beam, yellow eye lasers, and missile launchers at the midsection.
29	** Saint Magma, 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.
30	* AlternativeForeignThemeSong: In Arabic, because the series is called البطل خماسي (The Hero is a Pentagram), the theme song won't shut up about pentagrams.
31	->'''Arabic theme song for ''Anime/CombattlerV'':'''
32	--> ''Pentagram, pentagram, pentagram''
33	--> ''personality, pentagram, five scientific parts''
34	--> ''pentagram, personality pentagram five scientific parts''
35	--> ''five combat parts united in one body''
36	--> ''for humanitarian purposes, pentagram, pentagram, pentagram''
37
38	--> ''Pentagram is a proverb for strength.''
39	--> ''Pentagram is a proverb for strength.''
40	--> ''It gives us hope and strength.''
41	--> ''There is strength in unity!''
42	* AllThereInTheManual: ''Literature/RomanRoboAnimeClimaxSelection'' and ''[[Literature/TadaoNagahamaRobotRomanceAnimationChronicleInfobook Tadao Nagahama: Robot Romance Animation Chronicle Infobook]]'' reveal a lot of behind-the-scenes information.
43	* AlwaysChaoticEvil: For a while it seemed the trope was being played straight, but it was ultimately averted. The Campbellians attacking Earth were not representative of the entire race, but rather a radical faction that are more warmongering and adheres to the trope. Without the Nanbara Connection realizing, [[spoiler:there's actually a pacifistic faction of Campbellians that successfully pulled a coup d'etat against the radicals, who was also doomed the moment Janera chose to ignore their call for help in favor of completely beating the Combattler Team to dust, and they succeeded, and their leader, Deus, personally comes to Earth to undo whatever damage Janera caused and planned to do on Earth, commending the human spirit for standing up against her and apologizing on his race's behalf.]]
44	* ArtificialLimbs: Hyoma Aoi gets replacement arms after Garuda [[spoiler:shoots his original arms off.]] Unlike other examples of this trope, they do not grant him super-strength and they don't work perfectly at all. Several times they stop working momentarily at ''very'' inopportune moments (such like when he was driving his car or fighting in his HumongousMecha).
45	* ArtisticLicenseBiology: Lampshaded in episode 9. The main characters are studying a strange giant egg. A X ray scanner reveals a four-legged animal inside it. The next conversation follows:
46	-->'''Hyoma:''': Looks like a horse.\
47	'''Juuzo:''' Idiot, that's a goat!\
48	'''Chizuru:''' You're both idiots. Horses and goats don't hatch out of eggs!
49	* BeehiveBarrier: The Nanbara Connection was protected by one, and it was pretty sturdy. Some of Garuda's schemes involved infiltrating one of his agents in the base in order to turn it off.
50	* BigBad: Oreana, followed by [[GreaterScopeVillain Empress Janera.]]
51	* BifurcatedWeapon: '''Twin Lancer!'''. Used in the second half of the series, Combatter V can release a blade in each shoulder to form a lance.
52	* BringItBackAlive: Tragically played with. In episode 10 Dr. Yotsuya and the team are studying an unknown creature hatched from a giant egg which mysteriously appeared in the city. When the strange animal gets upset, it escapes its containment and starts to cause havoc, and [[TheLancer Juuzo]] wants to shoot it down instantly, much to the displeasure of [[TheProfessor Doctor Yotsuya]], who wants to study it, and to the anger of [[TheHero Hyouma]] who is ConvenientlyAnOrphan who WouldntHurtAChild. Unfortunately, Juzo manages to kill it before they can stop him... [[NiceJobBreakingItHero which is exactly what]] TheDragon [[BatmanGambit wanted]].
53	* ButtMonkey: Kinta and Chie Ichinoki. The Campbellian side, for their part, has General Dungele.
54	* ChainsawGood '''Atomic Chainsaw'''. Combattler V can launch tank treads from its back armed with spikes.
55	* CallingYourAttacks: And how. This show is more than thirty years old, yet the fully upgraded Combattler is still the mech with the biggest number of different attacks in history.
56	* CarFu: '''Gran Light Wave Rail, Fire! Grandasher!'''. First used in episode 26, Combattler V can form a tangible energy trail from its chest, turn into a tank-like vehicle and ram down opponents.
57	* CombiningMecha: The first one that tried a -sort of- realistic combination.
58	* DeflectorShields: The [[HomeBase Nanbara Connection]] was protected with a semi-spherical energy shield. Most {{Robeast}}s had a hard time breaking it, so TheDragon came up with plans to infiltrate the place and disable it.
59	* TheDeterminator: Hyouma. 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! And likewise, Chizuru. [[spoiler:Velvecular heart disease]]? What is that? She'll still get into Battle Marine to help the team!
60	* DeusExMachina: If it wasn't for [[spoiler:Deus stopping Janera's bomb [[MeaningfulName at the last minute]] before the Battle Team do, the series would've been plunged straight into at best BittersweetEnding.]]
61	* DrillTank: Battle Craft, one of the modules that shape Combattler's body.
62	* DrivesLikeCrazy: Hyouma Aoi. He's not a lousy driver but a BadassBiker, but he likes having fun as he drives a bit ''too much''. In his first appearance, he causes a traffic accident because he breaks the speed limit and several patrol cars try to catch him. All of his chasers crash into each other, but of course, he avoids crashing.
63	* EnergyWeapon: '''V Laser'''. Used in the second half of the series, Combattler V can release purple energy Vs from the V on its forehead.
64	* ExpositoryThemeTune: Its song names several of the weapons it has ("Choudenji YOYO! Choudenji TA-TSU-MA-KI!!choudenji SPIN!!") while showing them onscreen.
65	* EyeBeams: Combattler itself didn't have them, but several Slave Beasts did. A good example is [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Kiira]] from episode 9.
66	* FaceDeathWithDignity: After Janera is defeated, the team find 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, ItHasBeenAnHonor 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.]]
67	* FallingIntoTheCockpit: An interesting instance. In the first episode, the team handles the vehicles forming Combattler reasonably well, in spite of the fact none of them but Chizuru had seen them before or even had pilot training. However it was later revealed there are computers located in their helmets that help them to handle their vehicles by giving instructions. However, in a later episode, a young boy, Kotaro, sneaks into the Nanbara Connection, hears about the helmets, steals Hyouma's helmet, thinking he would also be able to pilot Combattler, and... almost gets killed. This leads to him getting chewed out by Hyouma near the end of the episode in question.
68	* {{Fanservice}}: Chizuru gets multiple ShowerScene and PantyShot moments.
69	* TheFellowshipHasEnded: A partial one for the ending. [[spoiler:With the Campbellian threat gone, the Battle Team disband and return to their original lives. Juzo, Daisaku and Kosuke return to their respective home towns, but Hyouma didn't return to Sun Academy; he opts to stay with Chizuru in Nanbara Connection, considering that she's by all means an orphan like him too and [[OfficialCouple having grown to also love her.]]]]
70	* FlyingBrick: The mecha equivalent ("It's not 57 meters and 550 tons for nothing!")
71	* GreaterScopeVillain: Empress Janera is the power behind Oreana and her son General Garuda and the eventual foe of the Battle Team. Additionally, [[spoiler:the head of the radical faction of Campbellians serve as this to Janera, as they were the ones that ordered Janera to go, but they're beaten off-screen by someone else.]]
72	* HalfHumanHybrid: Garuda.
73	* HeroOfAnotherStory: [[spoiler:Deus' rebellion is done without any involvement from the Battle Team, so there are untold heroic stories of the heroic Campbellians under Deus.]]
74	* HomeBase: The Nanbara Connection, located on the coastline and protected by a BeehiveBarrier.
75	* IfItSwimsItFlies: The Battle Marine, one of the machines that forms the body of the HumongousMecha (to be specific, the legs) is able to swim and fly, and it also carries around the Battle Tank, which cannot fly on its own.
76	* KangarooCourt: In one episode of the first season, the Campbellians built a {{Robeast}} disguised as Combattler and caused havoc with it. Professor Yotsuya and the Battle Team were put under arrest and judged nearly instantly, and during the proceeding it was painfully obvious the minds of the courts were already made up and the Battle Team wouldn't be given a fair hearing.
77	* 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 Battle Team) recall seeing a yo-yo exhibition on TV earlier while thinking up ideas on how to defeat the acid-shooting MonsterOfTheWeek.
78	* LatexSpaceSuit: All of the pilot suits.
79	* LeaderFormsTheHead: Hyouma is the team's leader. Guess what body part his jet forms. No, seriously. Take a guess.
80	* MacrossMissileMassacre[=/=]RecursiveAmmo: '''Big Blast Divider!'''. Used in the second half of the series, Combattler V can release a giant blue rocket from its stomach. In this version, the rocket can also split into dozens of cluster missiles.
81	* TheManBehindTheMan: After the first season it was revealed that [[spoiler:Oreana was working for Empress Janera.]]
82	* MentorOccupationalHazard: Professor Nanbara. He builds Combattler, recruits four young teens and his granddaughter, teaches them to handle the robot... and shortly after he dies.
83	* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Juzo in episode 10.
84	* NothingCanStopUsNow: This is used ''disturbingly'' frequently by Prince Garuda. When he [[spoiler:blew [[TheHero Hyouma's]] arms off]], when he blackmailed the Japanese Government to blow up the Nanbara Connection, when he deceived the Japanese police to get the Battle Team arrested... You would think he would learn to STOP TemptingFate after the first time...
85	* OncePerEpisode: To combine their vehicles -needless to say, it happened every episode-, the team yells "Let's combine", and if they were ready to combine correctly, [[RobotBuddy Ropetto]] authorized the combination repeating: "Combine OK". And then you have the FinishingMove ("Choudenji Tatsumaki" and "Choudenji Spin") that were used every episode.
86	* OurDragonsAreDifferent: Kiiru, the Slave Beast that showed up in episode 9 was Garuda's dragon pet. And it was a {{Mama Bear}}, too.
87	* TheProfessor: Dr. Nanbara is the initial mentor of the Battle Team and inventor of Combattler V itself. Dr. Yotsuya is his replacement [[spoiler:after he dies]].
88	* PseudoSanta: The Campbellian aliens' true king is Deus. He is an old man who travels in a cart pulled by reindeer. Oddly, the most prominent Campbellian in the show, Garuda, is based on a figure from Hindu mythology.
89	* 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. It should be noted that unlike what many media (especially ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'') tell you, Combattler doesn't always have to begin with Choudenji Tatsumaki; if the enemy is stunned enough by other means, the team can just instantly execute Choudenji Spin and finish off the enemy immediately.
90	* RecruitTeenagersWithAttitude: All Battle Team members but Kosuke are teenagers.
91	* {{Robeast}}: Slave Beasts and later Magma Beasts.
92	* RobotBuddy: Ropet, who monitors the pilots' brainwaves and authorizes combination.
93	* ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections: Being given an invitation to the Nanbara Connections, passport and document included, meant that the Combattler team could not be arrested. That was how Hyouma got away with causing various accidents driving his bike, how Juzo got away with pointing a real rifle with real bullets at a conductor, how Daisaku managed to hitch a ride on a truck despite the regulations, or how Kosuke managed to bypass airport security procedure despite his age.
94	* ShockAndAwe: '''Super Electromagnetic (Chodenji) Spark'''! Combattler V summons lightning from its antennae and re-channels it through its hands towards enemies with great explosive force.
95	* SpinAttack: Combattler's FinishingMove "Choudenji Spin". Combattler replaced its hands with triangular blades, spinning quickly to shape a tornado around its body, and [[RammingAlwaysWorks ram through its enemy]]. Justified, since often he is fighting a [[MonsterOfTheWeek single]] [[{{Robeast}} Beast]], and before using the move, Combattler paralyzes its enemy with an electrical discharge ("Choudenji Tatsumaki") so it does not move.
96	* SuperRobot: Massive, super-powerful CombiningMecha with a vast array of weapons...
97	* TechnoBabble: Plenty of blatant examples. In one episode, a court judges Combattler as too dangerous to be controlled because it is made of super-alloy (chogokin) and powered with electro-magnetic energy.
98	* TelescopingRobot: The HumongousMecha and the individual vehicles had more weapons than any other HumongousMecha. Its hands alone could store its fists, a three-pointed dagger to make its [[RammingAlwaysWorks ramming move]] easier, sharp projectiles, a blow-torch, a clamp...
99	* ThisIsADrill: In its 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.
100	* TomatoInTheMirror ([[spoiler: Garuda discovers, to his dismay, that he is actually the latest of a series of identical androids]].)
101	* TransformationNameAnnouncement: '''Combattler V'''!
102	* TransformingMecha: In addition to combining, Combattler can fold itself up into a tank-like vehicle called the Grand Dasher, though this isn't used very often in the anime proper. Appears far more prominently in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' games, wherein Voltes V rides around on it like a skateboard during their combination attacks.
103	* TropeCodifier: For CombiningMecha anime. ''Manga/GetterRobo'' was the first CombiningMecha, but most combining mechas copy Combattler-V's transformation.
104	* VariableLengthChain: '''Super Electromagnetic (Chodenji) Crane!'''. Combattler V can release a spiked block which is connected to the arms with a wire.
105	* VillainousBSOD ([[spoiler: Garuda has one because of the Tomato in the Mirror revelation mentioned above]].)
106	* VSign: Taken not as a hand gesture, but a symbolic phrase. Usually used to get spirits up.
107	-->''Believe in the sign of victory: V!''
108	* WhatDoesThisButtonDo: In episode 16, Kotaro, a little kid and [[TheHero Hyouma]]'s acquaintance, visited the [[HomeBase Nanbara Connection]]. When [[RobotBuddy Ropet]] shows him the team's vehicles, Kotaro can't help to get in Hyouma's jet fighter, point at a random button and ask what it does. Ropet tried to talk him out of touching it, but Kotaro pressed it anyway.
109	-->'''Kotaro:''' What does this button do?\
110	'''Ropet:''' That's the ignition button. Don't touch it.
111	* YouKilledMyFather: Hyouma grew up with a certain Kenji Kawakami, the son of the driver that caused the accident that killed his parents, so little Hyouma lashed out at Kenji's father, and then said father died out of grief and guilt, so Kenji also held Hyouma accountable for his father's death, and the two became bitter rivals. They reconcile [[spoiler:when Kenji pulls a HeroicSacrifice to save the Battle Team.]]

Context Anime / CombattlerV