Choujinki Metalder

***Chojinki Metalder*** (超人機メタルダー, *Chōjinki Metarudā*?, *Superhuman-Machine Metalder*) is the sixth and shortest entry of the Metal Hero Series, running from March 16, 1987, to January 17, 1988, for only 39 episodes. The action footage of *Metalder* was adapted for the first season of *VR Troopers*. On February 21, 2007, Toei released the complete *Metalder* TV series and film on a seven-disc DVD set.

Toei went for a darker and more grim direction for Choujinki Metalder, and this turned off younger viewers. As a result, rating started to slip in the second half, and the series was cancelled after just 39 episodes, making it the shortest Metal Hero series.

For distribution purposes, Toei refers to this television series as *Metalder*.

## Story

In 1945, Dr. Ryuichiro Koga designed Metalder as a top-secret weapon for the Japanese Imperial Army for use in the Pacific War, modeling it after his late son, Second Sub-lieutenant Tatsuo Koga. However, the pacifistic Dr. Koga put Metalder to sleep in the Silver Carcass base and left for America to work for NASA. During the 42 years, Dr. Koga's former colleague Major Muraki became the evil God Neros, ruler of Neros Empire. God Neros sends out his massive armies to kill Dr. Koga, who learned of their organization and returned to Japan to activate Metalder. Koga desperately tries to activate his android creation, who he named Ryusei Tsurugi, but the android is unable to understand what to do. In order to give Ryusei a "purpose", Koga runs out of the Silver Carcass base, allowing Neros' troops to kill him. Suddenly seeing his creator die, Ryusei becomes shocked, and soon is beaten by Neros' troops. Ryusei becomes fueled with rage, evoking the conversion to his 'true' form, the android known as Metalder. After a brief battle with Coolgin (which he loses), Ryusei goes onward, meeting future friend Mai Ogi.

## Characters

### Main

* Springer
* Mai Ogi
* Hakko Kita

Allies* Dr. Ryuichiro Koga
* 2nd Sub-lieutenant Tatsuo Koga
* Shingo Ogi

Neros Empire* God Neros
* Beautiful Secretary K and Beautiful Secretary S
* The Four Armies of the Neros Empire
	+ Brave General
	+ Violent Spirit
	+ Heroic Fighter
	+ Explosive Fighter
	+ Furious Fighter
	+ Fierce Fighter
	+ Strong Fighter
	+ Medium Fighter
	+ Light Fighter

Armored Army* Victorious Saint Coolgin
* Brave Generals Tagsky and Tagsron
* Violent Spirit Chuubo
* Violent Spirit Hidouman
* Heroic Fighter Wogger
* Heroic Fighter Barloc
* Explosive Fighter Galador
* Explosive Fighter Robinken
* Furious Fighter Ben K
* Furious Fighter Jamune
* Medium Fighters Mukimukiman and Fuufuuchu
* Light Fighter Apprentice Madonna
* Shadow Light Fighters

Robotic Warrior Army* Victorious Saint Valsky
* Brave General Galdos
* Bigwayne
* Crosslander
* Heroic Fighter Jars
* Explosive Fighter Gochak
* Furious Fighter Gebaros
* Fierce Fighter Zargen
* Fierce Fighter Rhapsody
* Strong Fighter Lortail
* Goblit and Dedemos
* Light Fighter Bluekid

Monster Army* Victorious Saint Geldring
* Brave General Bridy
* Violent Spirit Bankora
* Heroic Fighter Gamadone
* Explosive Fighter Damnen
* Furious Fighter Zakembor
* Light Fighter Hedogross
* Wisdom
* Hedogross Jr.
* Dog-Gyaran

Armament Army* Victorious Saint Dranger
* Brave General Megadron
* Violent Spirit Darbarbo
* Violent Spirit Agmis
* Heroic Fighter Barbery
* Furious Fighter Strobe
* Fierce Fighter Bulchek

Episodes1. Hurry! To the Hundred-Demon Spirit World (急げ! 百鬼魔界へ, *Isoge! Hyakki Makai e*?)
2. I Have Become God Neroz (余は神・ネロスなり, *Yo wa Kami・Nerosu Nari*?)
3. Hammer Man Ben K Cries to the Love for a Hare (野兎への愛にハンマー男ベンKが涙する, *Nousagi e no Ai ni Hanmā Otoko Ben Kei ga Namidasuru*?)
4. Torpedo Agmis VS Navy Second Lieutenant Metalder (魚雷アグミス対海軍少尉メタルダー, *Gyorai Agumisu Tai Kaigun Shōi Metarudā*?)
5. Hold on! Never-Missing Gunplay (耐える! 百発百中のガンプレイ, *Taeru! Hyabbatsuhyakuchū Ganpurei*?)
6. Anger! Knockout the Heavyweight King Galdos (怒る! ヘビー級王者ガルドスをKOせよ, *Ikaru! Hebī Kyūōja Garudosu wo Kei Ō seyo*?)
7. Decide the Goal! The Flaming Duel with the Tag Brothers (ゴールを決めろ! タグ兄弟との炎の決闘, *Gōru wo Kimeru! Tagu Kyodai tono Honō Kettō*?)
8. Farewell, Barlock! The Secret of the Iron Mask (さらばバーロック! 鉄仮面の秘密, *Saraba Bārokku! Tetsu Kamen no Himitsu*?)
9. Dreaming Monster! Lovers in a Crossfire (夢みるモンスター! 十字砲火の恋人たち, *Yumemiru Monsutā! Jūjihōka no Koibito-tachi*?)
10. Excellent Technique! The Violin Attack of the Famous Music Robot (超絶技! 名曲ロボットのバイオリン攻撃, *Chōzetsu Waza! Meikyoku Robotto no Baiorin Kōgeki*?)
11. Pursuit of the Brave! A Giant Rises in the Sky!! (勇者の追撃! 天空にそそりたつ巨人!!, *Yūsha no Tsuigeki! Tenkū ni Sosoritatsu Kyojin!!*?)
12. Monster's Beloved・Sieging Ninjas (愛しのモンスター・包囲する忍者たち!, *Aishi no Monsutā・Hōisuru Ninja-tachi!*?)
13. Critical Moment! Valley Umineko Restores the Love of Parent and Child (危機一髪! 親と子が愛をもどす海猫の村, *Kiki Ippatsu! Oya to Ko ga Ai wo Modosu Umineko no Mura*?)
14. Little Sister is Alive! Sorrowful Lady Soldier Madonna (妹よ生きて! 哀しみの女戦士マドンナ, *Imōto wa Ikite! Kanashimi no Joshi Madonna*?)
15. Soaring Monster・Son! Mother's Wish! (翔くモンスター・息子よ、母の願いを!, *Tobuku Monsutā・Musuko yo, Haha no Negai wo!*?)
16. Love's Rival is a Cruching Biker Family (恋のライバルはバリバリ爆走族, *Koi no Raibaru wa Baribari Bakusōzoku*?)
17. Mai at Risk! Running One-Eyed Dragon Top Gunder (危うし舞! 走る独眼竜トップガンダー, *Ayaushi Mai! Hashiru Dokuganryū Toppu Gandā*?)
18. Mai's Secret Information・Poolside's Trap (舞の秘密情報・プールサイドの罠, *Mai no Himitsu Jōhō・Pūrusaido no Wana*?)
19. Summer Vacation is a Adventure Tour to the Ghost Bank (夏休みはゴーストバンクへ冒険ツアー, *Natsuyasumi wa Gōsutobanku e Bouken Tsuā*?)
20. The Target is Puppies? The Fire-Breathing Armament Army (ターゲットは仔犬? 火をふく機甲軍団, *Tāgetto wa Koinu? Hi wo Fuku Kikō Gundan*?)
21. A Citywide Mystery・The Beautiful Girl Who Calls Fireflies (大都会ミステリー・ホタルを呼ぶ美少女, *Daitokai Misuterī・Hotaru wo Yobu Bishōjo*?)
22. Sky-Soaring Rollers! Raid of the Red Dolphins (空飛ぶローラー! 赤いイルカの襲撃, *Soratobi Rōrā! Akai Iruka no Shūgeki*?)
23. Who's Top?! The Best and Worst's Big Sports Day (トップは誰だ?! ピンからキリの大運動会, *Toppu wa Dare da?! Pin kara Kin no Daiundōkai*?)
24. The Magical Battle of Princess Tenko VS Galador (プリンセス天功VSガラドーの魔術合戦, *Purinsesu Tenko Tai Garadō no Majutsu Kassen*?)
25. Fly! JAC Blitzkrieg Cheering Party (とびだせ! ジャック電撃応援団, *Tobidase! Jakku Dengeki ōendan*?)
26. Winners! Blazing JAC Guys (ぶっちぎり! 炎のジャック野郎, *Bucchigiri! Honō no Jakku Yarō*?)
27. Help! The Beloved Gori-chan's Escape Journal (助けて! 愛しのゴリちゃん逃亡日記, *Tasukete! Aishi no Gori-chan Tōbō Niki*?)
28. Lovely Thief・Shining Diamond Shines Upon a Virgin's Wish (可愛い盗賊・きらめくダイヤに乙女の願いを!, *Kawaii Tōzoku・Kirameku Daiya ni Otome no Negai yo!*?)
29. The Sorrowful Story of the Stray Dog (ある哀しいのら犬の物語, *Aru Kanashimi Norainu no Monogatari*?)
30. Protect! The Secret Base (守れ! 秘密基地, *Mamore! Himitsu Kichi*?)
31. Target the Power Surge! The Girls Who Dreams Love (瞬転を狙え! 愛を夢みる少女, *Shunten wo Nerae! Ai wo Yumemiru Shōjo*?)
32. Legend of the Century Beauty (百年美人伝説, *Hyakunen Bijin Densetsu*?)
33. Big Siege Network, Escape of Heated Friendship (大包囲網 熱き友情の脱出, *Daihōiami Atsuki Yūjo no Dasshutsu*?)
34. The Emperor With A Thousand Faces・Neroz (千の顔を持つ帝王・ネロス, *Sen no Kao wo Motsu Teiō・Nerosu*?)
35. Emperor・Neroz's Identity is? (帝王・ネロスの正体は?, *Teiō・Nerosu no Shōtai wa?*?)
36. Big Counteroffense! The Robot Army's Showdown (大反撃! 戦闘ロボット軍団, *Daihangeki! Sentō Robotto Gundan*?)
37. Great Collapse! Neroz Empire (大崩壊! ネロス帝国, *Daihōkai! Nerosu Teikoku*?)
38. Great Counterattack! Wasteland of Love and Hatred (大逆襲! 愛と憎しみの荒野, *Daigyakushū! Ai to Nikushimi no Kōya*?)
39. Great Decisive Battle! Metalder for Eternity (大決戦! メタルダーよ永遠に, *Daikessen! Metarudā yo Eien ni*?)

Movie
A film version of *Choujinki Metalder*, set between episodes 17 & 18 premiered on July 18, 1987 at the "Toei Manga Matsuri" film festival, where it was shown as part of a quadruple feature alongside *Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle*, *Saint Seiya: The Movie* and the film version of *Hikari Sentai Maskman.*

Cast* Ryusei Tsurugi, Tatsuo Koga: Seikō Senō (妹尾 青洸, *Senō Seikō*?) (credited as Akira Senō (妹尾 洸, *Senō Akira*?))
* Metalder (voice): Michirō Īda (飯田 道朗, *Īda Michirō*?)
* Mai Ougi: Hiroko Aota (青田 浩子, *Aota Hiroko*?)
* Hakko Kita: Kazuoki Takahashi (高橋 和興, *Takahashi Kazuoki*?) (credited as Hiroshi Kawai (河合 宏, *Kawai Hiroshi*?))
* Springer (voice): Genpei Hayashiya (林家 源平, *Hayashiya Genpei*?)
* Mukimukiman: Seiji Tsushima (対馬 誠二, *Tsushima Seiji*?) (credited as Mukimukiman (ムキムキマン, *Mukimukiman*?))
* Fuufuuchu: Benkei Daikokubō (大黒坊 弁慶, *Daikokubō Benkei*?) (credited as Hana Arashi (花 嵐, *Hana Arashi*?))
* Beautiful Secretary K: Yūko Mitsui (美津井 祐子, *Mitsui Yūko*?)
* Beautiful Secretary S: Emiko Yamamoto (山本 恵美子, *Yamamoto Emiko*?)
* Shingo Ougi: Hiroshi Arikawa (有川 博, *Arikawa Hiroshi*?)
* Gozo Kirihara: Shinji Tōdō (藤堂 新二, *Tōdō Shinji*?)
* God Neros (voice): Takeshi Watabe (渡部 猛, *Watabe Takeshi*?)
* Dr. Ryuichiro Koga: Kiyoaki Ikehata (池端 清亮, *Ikehata Kiyoaki*?) (credited as Ken Uehara (上原 謙, *Uehara Ken*?))
* Narrator: Issei Masamune (政宗 一成, *Masamune Issei*?)

Guest actors* Tenko Hikita (引田 天功, *Hikita Tenkō*?, 24)
* Kenji Ohba 25 & 26

Suit actors* Metalder: Kazuyoshi Yamada (山田 一善, *Yamada Kazuyoshi*?), Noriaki Kaneda (金田 憲明, *Kaneda Noriaki*?)

Songs
Opening theme* "**Kimi no Seishun wa Kagayaite Iru ka?**" (君の青春は輝いているか, *"**Kimi no Seishun wa Kagayaite Iru ka?**"*? "Does Your Youth Shine?")
	+ Lyrics: James Miki (ジェームス三木, *Jēmusu Miki*?)
	+ Composition: Takashi Miki (三木 たかし, *Miki Takashi*?)
	+ Arrangement: Kōhei Tanaka
	+ Artist: Isao Sasaki

Ending theme* "**Time Limit**" (タイムリミット, *Taimu Rimitto*?)
	+ Lyrics: James Miki
	+ Composition: Takashi Miki
	+ Arrangement: Kōhei Tanaka
	+ Artist: Ichirou Mizuki, Koorogi '73

Others* "Shunten! Yume no Senshi"
* "Fighting Shoot da! Metalder"
* "Hoshi kara no Tegumi"
* "Isshun no Chance"
* "Neros Teikoku Yon Gundan"
* "Voltage Up!"
* "Never Give up!"
* "Dash! Side Phantom"

Trivia* In the French dub of *Choujinki Metalder*, the entire music score by Seiji Yokoyama were replaced with their own musical pieces by Shuki Levy himself, who was also worked with Saban Brands. However, Episode 17 and 18 kept the saxophone variant of the original *Metalder* theme song.

External links* *Choujinki Metalder* at Wikipedia
* *Choujinki Metalder* at Japanese Wikipedia
* *Choujinki Metalder* at Toei Video
* Chôjinki Metalder at IMDB
* The Metal Hero Manual, Version 1.2, Part 1: The Space Sheriff Series