Line #4 Series/JikuuSenshiSpielban


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/spielban_dvd_1.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Spielban and his sidekick Diana Lady.]]
3
4	''Jikuu Senshi Spielban'' ("Time-Space Warrior Spielban"), premiering in 1986, was Toei's fifth entry in the ''Series/MetalHeroes'' franchise of {{Toku}} shows.
5
6	Klin is a beautiful planet blessed with an abundance of fresh water. And it is because of this wealth that Waller, a warring empire, invades the planet and ravages it for its liquid wealth.
7
8	Two years later, with nearly no water or natural resources left on their planet, the survivors pin their last hopes on two children and send them to Earth, a planet with similar environment to Klin. These two children are Spielban & Diana.
9
10	12 years after their arrival, they finally wake up from their sleep. Receiving the knowledge of the history and culture of Earth, they continue their growth as soldiers.
11
12	Then, the Waller Empire approaches Earth, with the intent of raiding Japan for its water. To stop them and to protect the planet, Spielban & Diana stand up to them, but deceptions, lies, heartache, and the painful truth awaits the two of them...
13
14	This is one of the series used as source footage to create ''Series/VRTroopers''.
15	----
16	!!Recurring ''Metal Hero'' tropes include:
17	* ActionGirl: Diana and Helen. Unlike their predecessors, they can transform into metal heroines just like their male counterpart.
18	* BigBad: Guardian Deity Waller[[spoiler: Or is it?]]
19	* CoolAirship: The Gran Nazca, which can [[TransformingMecha transform into]] [[HumongousMecha Combat Formation]] and the [[{{BFG}} Big Bang Cannon]]. The villains have the [[ThreateningShark Skulljaws]], which can drop missiles and bombs (which can in turn deploy tanks).
20	* CoolBike: The Hoverian.
21	* CoolPlane: Jet Gaios and Skulldon Jet.
22	* DrillTank: Drill Gaios
23	* FinishingMove: Arc Impulse, a series of slashes with the Twin Blade usually preceded with a thrust that elongates one of the blades and impales the opponent.
24	* PhantomZone: Given a twist this time around -- instead of the villains doing it to give their MonsterOfTheWeek a boost, here it's ''Spielban'' who can do it -- with his ''Bypass Slip'' (triggered by a button above his belt buckle), he can suck all the Waller forces away to protect the city, typically emerging in [[BBCQuarry the typical Toei quarry]].
25	* SupervillainLair: The Gamedeath, a flying fortress resembling a turtle for some reason. The Skulljaws emerge as needed, as do the various jet fighters.
26	* TankGoodness: The Gaios for Spielban, and the Skulldon, piloted by General Deathzero (who also commands a fleet of lesser tanks). Both of these can split into two components -- a jet, and a ground vehicle with a damaging tool (a drill for Spielban and a spinning sawblade for Deathzero).
27
28	!!''Jikuu Senshi Spielban'' provides examples of the following tropes:
29	* AmplifiedAnimalAptitude: Guillotine has a talking gerbil named Poss.
30	* ApocalypseHow: Waller wiped out planet Clin for its water, forcing the inhabitants to leave.
31	* ButNotTooForeign: Diana's mom is white but she is Japanese...
32	* CombinationAttack: Spielban and Diana have one, the "Double Sniper"; when Helen joins them, this leads to the "Triple Bomber".
33	* ConquerorFromTheFuture: Subverted with Young Emperor Zero. He’s more of a case of HowTheMightyHaveFallen.
34	* CosmicRetcon[=/=]ResetButton: [[spoiler:Defeating Waller completely negates the events of the series.]]
35	* DarkerAndEdgier: ''Spielban'' managed to become much darker in tone than its light-hearted [[Series/KyojuuTokusouJuspion predecessor]].
36	* DoItYourselfThemeTune: Spielban's dad sings most of the songs for the series.
37	* DoubleWeapon: Twin Blade.
38	* TheDragon: General Deathzero and Emperor Guillotine share the role.
39	* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Early episodes would have the last scene with Waller debuting the next MonsterOfTheWeek. This was dropped quickly.
40	** Also in early episodes, prior to performing his Arc Impulse, Spielban would flashback to his DarkAndTroubledPast to trigger his own BerserkButton. This faded out around halfway through the series.
41	* EarthAllAlong: In the TwistEnding, [[spoiler:Klin turns out to be Earth in the future, and Spielban and Diana were really sent through time rather than space]].
42	* FillerVillain: Episodes 36-37 focus on Waller’s newest member Youki, who uses brainwashing and dirty tactics to fight Spielban. After sitting episode 38 out, episode 39 unceremoniously has him become TheStarscream, get killed of and then devotes the rest of the episode to a tougher-than-usual MonsterOfTheWeek.
43	* FlingALightIntoTheFuture: At first seems to be of the spatial variant. [[spoiler:Turns out to be a temporal variant.]]
44	* HeelFaceTurn: Helen, though she wasn’t really evil to begin with.
45	* LukeIAmYourFather:[[spoiler: Dr. Bio is Spielban's dad.]]
46	* TheManBehindTheCurtain: Pandora [[spoiler: made up Waller to keep her minion’s loyalty]]
47	* MarketBasedTitle: In Brazil, the series was released as ''[[Series/KyojuuTokusouJuspion Jaspion 2: Spielvan]]'', pretending to be a sequel to a fellow Series/{{Metal Hero\|es}} [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff who was a huge success in the country]]. But the character was still called Spielban (or rather, "[[SpellMyNameWithAnS Spielvan]]") there.
48	* MeaningfulName: Waller=pun on water.
49	* ShoutOut:
50	** Spielban's name is a reference to Creator/StevenSpielberg, continuing the pattern of naming ''Series/MetalHeroes'' shows after film personalities.
51	** Jet Gaios is identical to the [[Franchise/StarWars X-Wing fighters]].
52	* SoundtrackDissonance: Diana’s theme is a lot more upbeat than the rest of the soundtrack.
53	* TakenForGranite: The fate of Rikki, courtesy of Youki needing a throne.

Context Series / JikuuSenshiSpielban