Voltes V (formally, 超電磁マシーン ボルテスV or Choudenji (Super Electromagnetic) Machine Voltes Five) is the second of Tadao Nagahama's Robot Romance Trilogy of Super Robot series, premiering in 1977. It was preceded by Combattler V and followed by Daimos. As with its predecessor Combattler V, the "V" is for the Combining Mecha's five constituents, their five pilots, and the traditional V for Victory.Considerably Darker and Edgier than Combattler V, Voltes V chronicles the Voltes Team and Camp Big Falcon's defense of Earth from the invading Boazanian Empire, Beast Fighter by Beast Fighter, as well as a simmering civil war within planet Boazan itself, long under the brutal caste-system rule of Emperor Zu Zambajil, between the horned elite and the hornless commoners.It may come as a surprise (or not) that Yoshiyuki Tomino was involved in making this anime.
Banned in the Philippines: Under Ferdinand Marcos, citing its brutal violence. Critics of his regime think otherwise, claiming the ban was a response to the show's focus on Boazan's totalitarianism, of which Marcos is frequently accused of. The show proved popular enough that it resumed airing since 1999, and has been in many more re-dubs and airings ever since.
BFS: TEN KUU KEN! Plus points goes to this BFS for being able to hide its blade into Hammerspace. Its hilt, however, is collapsible.
Bittersweet Ending: Earth is spared, Boazan is finally freed from Zambajil's iron grip, and the Gou brothers are finally reunited with their father LaGour/Kentaro, but their older half-brother Heinel is dead, and LaGour chose to stay behind in Boazan, instead of going to Earth with his sons, to help rebuild it from scratch.
Blond Guys Are Evil: Prince Heinel, although Emperor Zambajil might be more qualified for this type.
Color-Coded Characters: Kenichi wears red, Ippei wears blue, and Megumi wears yellow with pink accents. The other two members of the Voltes Team wear green.
Interestingly enough, Tomino himself was involved in making this anime. Foreshadowing, perhaps?
Dirty Coward: Emperor Zambajil. He kicked the legitimate heir, LaGour, out of Boazan for simply being a hornless nobleman, held Boazan in an iron grip with a Fantastic Caste System, and manipulated LaGour's first son Heinel into becoming his pawn, yet he's quick to bail out once the Voltes Team finally reach Boazan, the hornless Boazanians are turning the tide of the civil war in their favor, and Heinel discovers his true heritage. It's worth noting that the Big Bads of the other Romantics, for all their vileness, have at least some dignity.
Expository Theme Tune: Its song names several of the weapons it has while showing them on screen. And the closing theme tune talks about how the Go brothers are searching for their missing father.
Fantastic Caste System: Born on Boazan and got horns sticking out? No? Then prepare for a life of pariah-esque slavery supporting the planet's thriving galactic tourism industry. Or exile beyond the ruling class's clutches, as in LaGour/Kentarou Gou's case.)
Flying Brick: Apparently trying to outdo Combattler: "You'll never beat this 600-ton Voltes!"
Half-Human Hybrid: The Gou brothers, on account of their father is a defecting Boazanian noble.
Home Base: Camp Big Falcon, which is basically Mission Control set up on a bird-shaped island. It turns out that the whole island is actually a gigantic, bird-shaped Cool Starship in disguise, capable of traveling space warps in order to bring the fight onto Boazan's doorsteps.
Human Aliens: The only real difference is that the privileged of the Boazanians have horns.
Humiliation Conga: Let's see... Heinel was betrayed by the emperor he loyally served, his subordinates are killed, finds out he was pitted against his father and brothers, and finally dies. Yeah, serves him right.
If It Swims, It Flies: Volt Frigate, the machine forms the legs of Voltes V, also is able to fly and swim.
Improbable Weapon User: Only because the Choudenji Tops and the Choudenji Strings that launch them don't quite fit under Killer Yoyo.
Schizo Tech: The Boazanians managed to develop sub-lightspeed spaceship drives but were unable to apply the technology elsewhere, hence the use of Battle Beasts and atomic/nuclear conventional weaponry. They also retain their medieval culture, pimped-out dresses, and a Fantastic Caste System that'd make slavery look humane.
Whip It Good: Ippei, being an ex-cowboy, has a whip. Choudenji Strings are sometimes used to punish an enemy that manages to destroy the Choudenji Goma.
Worthy Opponent: Prince Heinel; played for all its tragic worth. To a lesser extent, the Boazanian giant Gilligan.
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