The King of Braves GaoGaiGar

King of Braves GaoGaiGar (勇者王ガオガイガー or Yuusha-Oh GaoGaiGar) is an anime series made in 1997, and was the eighth and final Yuusha or "Brave Fighter" series funded by Takara and produced by Sunrise during the lapse in Transformers popularity. The Yuusha shows were unrelated but all revolved around super robot life-forms who transformed and combined with each other.

The setting of GaoGaiGar is the fictional G-Island in the near future. A young boy named Mamoru experiences an odd reaction (hair turning green, visions of horrible grinning aliens) while on a class trip to Garbage Island. Soon, a monstrous Zonder alien appears, formed from the discarded appliances, and the cyborg Guy Shishou appears with the mechanical lion Galeon. As the battle intensifies, the approval is given from the secret organization GGG (Gutsy Geoid Guard) to merge with the Gao Machines and defeat the Zonder with the invincible 'King of Braves' GaoGaiGar with his killer move, "Hell and Heaven." Just as Guy prepares to obliterate the Zonder core, Mamoru turns into a winged fairy-like being and reveals the core was actually a civilian all along...

GaoGaiGar sets itself apart from the late nineties mecha crowd by being a genuine, and light-hearted action show in the midst of Evangelion's angsty backdraft. The overall theme is about self-betterment, with the Zonderians making monsters of discontent 'regular joe' types- a truck driver who hates traffic, a fat man who's tired of being picked on- and once Mamoru has purified them, they learn to be content with their lot in life.

The robots are excellent examples of Kunio Okawara's style of mecha design. GaoGaiGar itself is a powerfully-built machine formed from GaiGar (Guy fused with Galeon), and the bullet-train, stealth bomber, and drill tank known as Gao Machines. His right hand represents destruction (Broken Magnum!), his left protection (Protect Shade). The final attack Hell and Heaven combines these powers to rip the core out of Zonders without harming it. Later GaoGaiGar adds an even more powerful finishing blow in the form of the Goldion Hammer, a gravity-driven mallet larger than GaoGaiGar itself.

His supporting cast include Hyoryuu and Enryuu, a pair of 'twin brother' mecha, their Chinese counterparts Furyuu and Rairyuu, the ninja police car Volfogg, and Mic Sounders the 13th, an American-made robot who uses sound energy to power up other robots- or destroy the world if used improperly. There is also the stubborn GoldyMarg, who acts as the Hammer's transport device, and the massive, enigmatic J-Ark.

GaoGaiGar was a 49-episode TV series, followed by the 8-part OVA King of Braves GaoGaiGar Final. The animation group Studio 7 later went on to create the unique horror anime Betterman. In the summer of 2005, a 12 episode re-edit of FINAL, GaoGaiGar FINAL: Grand Glorious Gathering, was aired on TV. Grand Glorious Gathering added series flashbacks and minor elements from Betterman to further connect the two series, featuring new voiceovers but re-used animation and stills.

Characters

Gutsy Geoid Guard/Gutsy Galaxy Guard

The Gutsy Geoid Guard (GGG for short), later reformed into the Gutsy Galaxy Guard, is the first and last line of defense for Earth against the extraterrestrial threat of the Zonders, Zonderians, and the 31 Primevals.

• Shishiō Guy/"Cyborg Guy"

2 years before the first Zonder attack, Guy was mortally wounded when Pasdar smashed through his shuttle craft. Thankfully he was saved by Galeon and returned to earth. He was then given a second chance when his father, Shishiō Leo, used the technology and the single G-Stone brought by Galeon to convert Guy into a cyborg bent on protecting everyone. Guy is involved romantically with fellow GGG member Utsugi Mikoto. He can 'fuse' into Galeon, causing it to transform to GaiGar. From there, GaiGar combines with the GaoMachines (Liner Gao, Stealth Gao, and Drill Gao) to form GaoGaiGar.

By the end of the series, Guy became an "Evoluder", regaining human form, while evolving due to the G-Stone, after saving Mikoto from the new-type of Zonder entity she had become (Zonuder). In GaoGaiGar FINAL he becomes the pilot of the Phantom Gao, which can transform into the robot form of GaoFar, and then combine with the new GaoMachines to form GaoFighGar.

• Utsugi Mikoto

Mikoto is Guy's love interest, and has been by his side since they were in school. Her parents were killed when Pasdar crashed into Earth, and in the two years since then, she's on staff with the GGG support staff. She's in charge of activating GaoGaiGar's "Final Fusion," and later responsible for unlocking the power of the Goldion Hammer. Even with her feelings for Guy, she manages to help support him even though he's in constant danger. By the end of the series, 2 months after Z-Master's defeat, it was revealed that Mikoto was "impregnated" by Pazdar as she "awaken" as Zonuda, a new breed of Zonder who could asborb all matter and had a resistence to the G-Stone. Guy managed to save her, restoring her to her normal human state.

• Mamoru Anami

Mamoru is actually an alien from the green planet whose blood father, Gain, created Galeon, the Genesic Gao Machines, the single G-Stone (that replicates Mamoru's powers) and the G-Crystal. Mamoru's real name is Lateo. Mamoru was found by the Anami family 8 years prior to the start of the series (6 years before Pasdar's arrival). He grew up as any other kid on G-Island, meeting his childhood friend and love interest, Hana. At the start of the series, his power to detect Zondar lifeforms kick into gear and he could change any people who were changed into a Zondar back to human form. He later joins the 3G team as a Zondar sensor, heart of the team and saving Guy when he was badly injured. When the 31 Primavels appeared, Mamoru's powers failed to detect them and he could not 'cleanse' them. When the original G-Stone (not the one that Galeon arrived with) is returned to Mamoru, he regains glimpses of his original life and gains the ability to detect and cleanse the 31 Primevals. At the end of the series, Mamoru helps Guy save Mikoto and giving Guy a human body. Mamoru then leaves Earth to search for people who may still be infected by the Zonder virus with Galeon. Mamoru would return in Gaogaigar FINAL and reveal Galeon's true form as Genesic Galeon. Only he and Kaidoh return to Earth.

Mecha and Tools

• Galeon

This is the Mechanical Lion that brought Mamoru to Earth 8 years before episode 1. It has a white body and a golden-yellow head. It doesn't speak, like most AI robots, but it has it's own intelligence, and sometimes takes the initiative (when it fought EI-01 2 years before the action of the series, when it took on EI-02 in episode 1 and when it attacked the Zonuder Robo). Gai can fuse with it and form GaiGar. This, however, this not it's true form, because it was infected when fighting EI-02 2 years ago. It's true form is that of Genesic Galeon.

• GaiGar

When Gai performs fusion with Galeon, the Mechanoid GaiGar is formed. It's only weapon is the claws, reminiscent of Galeon, placed on the hands. However, to compensate for the lack of strength, it is very agile, due to the fact the Gaigar imitates Gai's movements. The cockpit (if it can be called as such) is situated in Galeon's mouth. GaiGar is 23.5 m tall. It can combine with either Stealth Gao or Drill Gao, or both, both, separately, in order to fly or to use the drill as a weapon. Drill Gao, in that combination, is placed on the arms, not the legs.

• GaoGaiGar

When things are getting rough, Gai sends the request for Final Fusion to the Bay Tower Base/Orbit Base. Taiga, leader of GGG, approves the Final Fusion, while Mikoto starts the Final Fusion program and breaks the glass covering the activation button. Then, the 3 Gao Machines - Stealth Gao, Liner Gao, Drill Gao - combine with GaiGar, like an armor on a soldier. Stealth Gao (a stealth plane) forms the wings, the forearms, as well as the head. Liner Gao (a bullet train) forms the shoulders and the rest of the arm. Drill Gao (a drill tank with 2 drills) forms the legs. GaoGaiGar has a variety of weapons, of which some are based on the functions of the non-identical arms: the right arm is for attack, while the left one is for defense.

• • Plasma Hold

The four cylinders placed on the left arm launch yellow lightnings, used to grapple the enemy and move it. Used twice in the TV series, once in the OAV series. First time in episode 2, against EI-03, then in episode 49 (the last episode) against the Zonuder robot. In the OAV, it is used against Gai, by the replica of Star GaoGaiGar (actually, only the GaiGar and Mamoru were replicants, the Gao Machines are the original ones), and threw GaoFighGar into a temple, destroying it.

• • Drill Knee

Just as the name points out, one of the knee drills spins and is used to hit the enemy. Used by GaoGaiGar quite rarely, generally in very close melee battle, or when both arms are destroyed (when the Primevals attack the first time and Hell and Heaven fails).

• • Broken Magnum

Every great giant robot has an attack in which a fist/arm is launched into the opponent - Broken Magnum is GaoGaiGar's. He first spins his right forearm until it turns pink (air friction?), then launches it through the enemy. It returns after a while. There are a couple of variations on this - launches the forearm before it spins, spins the forearm to break through a Zonder Barrier, etc. - but they are rare and unnamed.

• • Hell and Heaven

Every great giant robot has a final attack, or hissatsu, that completely destroys the enemy - Hell and Heaven is GaoGaiGar's. GaoGaiGar charges up the power of destruction (from the right hand) and the power of protection (from the left hand), and clasps them both together, generating an electromagnetic field that paralyzes the opponent. GaoGaiGar then charges forward, and rams it's forearms into the Zonder. The right hand's destructive power allows it to penetrate the Zonder armor, while the left hand's defensive power lets it remove the core without damaging it.

• • Dividing Driver

This is one of several add-on parts for GaoGaiGar, all of which give it new abilities, or enhance existing ones. These parts also usually resemble various power tools, a theme which continued throughout the show. The Dividing Driver is designed to look like a giant flathead screwdriver, and when launched, connects itself to GaoGaiGar's left hand. GaoGaiGar then slams the Driver into the ground, where it generates a "Dividing Field", which warps the space around it for approximately half a kilometer, creating a battlefield where GaoGaiGar and a Zonder can do battle without the fear of damaging local property and endangering civilians. GaoGaiGar has also used for other purposes on rare occasions, such as using it to warp a Zonder's armor so that the core could be removed when Hell and Heaven was unavailable.

• • Gatling Driver

This is an upgraded form of the Dividing Driver which is used during the second half of the series. It functions similarly to the Dividing Driver, but does not have to make actual contact with a surface in order to activate. This allows it to be used in space, as well as giving it the ability to be used directly on multiple enemy targets as an attack, although this is rarely done.

• • Dimensional Pliers

This tool functions in a manner that is directly opposed to the Dividing Driver, because it is designed to return areas of warped space to normal. It is composed of three smaller robots, who when activated, combine together to form the tool. These robots appear to possess a limited form of AI, but do not seem to be as advanced as the other Yuusha robots, such as Volfogg, HyouRyu, EnRyu, GoldyMarg, etc. Later, an entire army of these small robots, called "Carpenters", are constructed. Their intended purpose is to quickly repair any damage to cities as a result of a battle.

• • Goldion Hammer

This is undoubtedly GaoGaiGar's most powerful tool, as well as the most dangerous. The Goldion Hammer was designed to destroy targets that were too powerful to be affected by the Hell and Heaven technique. The hammer generates an intense gravity field around itself that is comparable to the event horizon of a black hole, allowing it to strike a target with such force that the target's molecules are transformed into light, completely obliterating it. Due to the extreme danger of a weapon like this, the Goldion Hammer can only be used with official permission of the United Nations, as represented by a golden key carried by the 3G commander. Upon recieving authorization, the key is used to access a security lock at Mikoto's console, which she deactivates by sliding a key card that she carries with her.

Initially, the hammer existed as a seperate tool like the others, but this proved to be a liability, since the hammer's destructive force was so great that it actually caused damage to GaoGaiGar when it was first used. To address this problem, the robot GoldyMarg was created, and the Goldion Hammer was integrated directly into his frame. Now, when the Goldion Hammer is activated, GoldyMarg's body transforms into a gigantic right hand which attaches itself in place of his normal right hand. Once done, GaoGaiGar can grasp the Goldion Hammer without fear of damage. This also allows for the "Hammer Hell and Heaven" technique, which was intended as an improved version of the exisiting Hell and Heaven. Using this technique, GaoGaiGar generates a large spike, which it drives into the Zonder using the Goldion Hammer, followed with a cry of "Hammer Hell!". The Marg Hand then extends a crowbar-like apparatus, which pulls the core from the Zonder without damaging it, with the cry of "Hammer Heaven!" GaoGaiGar then strikes the enemy with the hammer directly, transforming it into light. This is always done with Guy's signiture battle cry of "Hikari ni Nare!!", which translates to "Become the Light!!"

Zondar

• Pasdar

The Zondar that fell to Earth 2 years ago, classified as EI-01. When it struck Tokyo, it killed many, before it burrowed underground where it assimulated the various machinery. Now it works to complete its plan to erect "Zonder Metal Plants" which will take over the world, turning humanity into Zonder. It has the "Four Kings of the Machine World" to carry out his world.

• Primarda: One of the four "Kings of Machine World", she is a ballerina with 'car like' attributes on her body. She target anything traffic-related. She and Poloneze seem to be very close in some way, possible married before they were Zondarized. She merged with Tokyo Circle Roadway as part of Padzar's final plan. She was defeated along with Poloneze by ChoRyuJin, and killed because of being irradiated by ChoRyuJin's GS-Ride.

• Poloneze: A Insectoid member of the Four King, He resembles a conductor with a huge smoking pipe. He tragets Trains or Subways for his plans. He later merged with the Tokyo Circle Line Railway as part of Padzar's final plan. He was accidently purfied by Mamoru but by that time, he was so much a zondar that it killed him.

Primevals/Z-Master

After the Zondar was removed, it turned out Pasdar was only a harbinger of the true terror, the origin of all Zondarians: The Zondar Masters, the 31 Primevals. Apparently led by their unseen guide, the doll-like Pagliaccio, the 31 Primevals seek out worlds to convert to Zondar. When Pasdar's core was re-absorbed by Pagliaccio, the Primevals immediately knew of their enemies weaknesses... and would then use this knowledge to its maximum potential.

Each of the 31 Primevals are based around a body part as they all were original one being, the Z-Master (the form of the 'Master Program' that the people of the Purple Planet created). A giant being of light and matter, creation and destruction. But the Z-Master splintered itself into its 31 components to spread the Zondar conversion. When a Primeval is 'cleansed' by either Alma or Latio they become a puzzle piece that fits together to reform the Master Program. While it was the J Forces ultimate goal to reconstruct the 'Master Program' so that it could be destroyed, Arm took advantage of their work and with 'The Power', the Z-Master was reformed.

• Pagliaccio: The unseen leader of the Primevals, whose apparent purpose is reconnaissance (she absorbed Pasdar's data and observed GGG's victories up to the battle on Jupiter); her true identity is the Primeval Heart (the source of all 31 Primevals).

• Primeval Seven: The most powerful of the Primevals (and the only ones to assume human form), second to Pagliaccio.
  • Arm: The leader of the Primeval Seven, and Pagliaccio's righthand man. He was the one who defeated Soldat J 002 during the subjugation of the Red Planet. From his single massive bicep he can let loose a shockwave attack. During his teaming with his companions, he absorbed a New Jersey Class Battleship. He fuses with the other Six Primevals, except for Liver (purified by Mamoru before this fusion) and is able to run away along with Intestine, before being purified) He escapes to Egypt where he fuses with a Pyramid to make a Zondar Metal Plant with help from Stomach. The GGG would face Arm again in Jupiter's orbit, where he fused into Europa. Despite these events, Arm survives and manages to steal the Master Program pieces from J-Ark and reform the Z-Master.
  • Eye: Small and docile, Eye can see various waveforms which combined with her precognitive sight, can predict incoming attacks or point out opponents flaws in an attack. She merged unto a Aegis Cruiser to fight GGG.
  • Ears: Using the needles extenstion on his ear, he can take control of anytone hit by his needles. He merged unto the US Carrier, Independance, to fight GGG.
  • Nail: Can cut through any material with his razor sharp fingernails. He merged unto a British Trafalgar class nuclear submarine to fight GGG.
  • Intestine: It takes the form of Kaido Ikumi's (Alma's) mother, thus tricking her on certain occasions. Out of the seven, Intestine is a loner. Her power involves the strange tube that extends from body that sucks up her victims. During her teaming with her companions, she absorbed a USS Belleau Wood Assault Transport. She escaped to Mexico where she fused with an Aztec pyramid to make a Zondar Metal Plant with help from Nose.
  • Liver A large and quiet man who can cause the molecular reconstruction of any material, living or not.He later merged unto a military supply ship to fight GGG.
  • Ribs: Liver's partner in crime. By opening his cage, Ribs can absorb things on a molecular level. He later merged unto the Russian Icebreaker Arktika to fight GGG.

• Stomach: He helped Arm establish a Zondar Metal Plant in Egypt. He fused with the sphinx to fight GGG.
• Nose: He helped Intestine establish a Zondar Metal Plant in Mexico. He fused with a giant statue.
• Spine: Fuses with a fragment of the Great Wall of China, creates a Zondar Metal Plant, turning tourists into Zondar Robos, while heading to space, in order to destroy the Orbit Base. Destroyed by GaoGaiGar Goldion Hammer, despite GaoGaiGar's weakness in space.
• Hair: One of the first 3 Primevals to attack, it doesn't fuse with anything and can use the hair as a drill or as a needle-thrower. Defeated by King J-der's J Quoth.
• Fist: One of the first 3 Primevals to attack, it doesn't fuse with anything and has, besides the ability of grappling, great resistance, being able to negate all damage done by Hell and Heaven, and destroy GaoGaiGar's arms. Destroyed by King J-der's J Quoth.
• Jaw: One of the first 3 Primevals to attack, it doesn't fuse with anthing and can bite, and launch the teeth as missiles. It was able to escape King J-der, but is destroyed in the battle against Brain Primeval.
• Brain: It's power is moving objects such as asteroids, and attempts to destroy GGG and J with asteroids. It's defeated by Star GaoGaiGar with the Goldion Hammer and the Gattling Driver. Has the first Primeval Core to be taken into custody by GGG.
• The remaining 14 Primevals(Wing, Lungs, Elbow, Knee, Foot, Neck, Breast, Torso, Hip, Genital, Kidneys, Shoulder, Bladder, Nerves, Muscles) fuse with Jupiter's moons and are defeated by GGG after they harvest The Power from Jupiter.

11 Planetary Masters of Sol

• Palparepa
• Cain
• Abel
• Pillnus
• Pia Decem
• Pisa Sol

Other

• Soldat-J 002/Pizza: He was one of the 31 cyborg soldiers created by Abel on the Red Planet to defend against the conversion of the Genshu. He survived, only to be converted into Pizza of the "Zondarian Big Four". He normally takes the disguise of a regular human with '70s attire. He often involves himself with airplanes and other flying vehicles—although unlike the others, he likes to get 'personal' once in a while.

But deep in his memories he always remembered his proud warrior heritage, and his role as defender. When he combined with a super-sonic jet, he first fought Gaogaigar. But he turned on Pazdar and was mortally wounded. Alma arrived after Pazdar's defeat and purified Pizza. Now Soldat J again, he helps the GGG fight the Genshu, with intentions of fulling his objective: To destroy the 31 Primevals, no matter what the cost. He can fuse with the J-Bird to form J-Der, who combines with the J-Ark to form King J-Der. He was thought to be killed when Z-Master was destroyed, but he survived to help GGG fight the Planetary Masters.

Soldat's character design, with his spiked, sweeping blonde hair and long, sharp nose, was an homage to Cyborg-002/Jet Link from the classic manga/anime series, Cyborg 009.

• Tomoro 017/Penchinon: He was one of 31 Bio-Computers install in wach J-Ark. Tomoro's role is to do basic work of the ship, as well and aid Soldat-J. He was converted into Penchinon, who was a bizarre ship like monster with a single bloodshot eye(Tomoro's core). Targeting anything ship related, he took on the form of an freaky-looking strange sailor. He later merged with a frigate class ship as part of Pazdar's final attack. His Zondar body was destoryed, but his core remained & was re-intalled in the J-Ark Alma came in.

• Soldat-J 019: Appearing only in the King of Braves GaoGaiGar Final manga, he was created for the same purpose as his "brother" Soldat-J 002. Although he survived, his Alma did not. In his despair, he renouncing the J-Jewel and joins the Genshu, replacing his J-Jewel with a Zonder Crystal. Using its powers, he creates a dummy of his own Alma, and lived on to serve as one of the Genshu's servants. Like 002, 019 can fuse with his own J-Bird to form J-Der, and combine with the J-Battler through Mega Fusion into another King J-Der.