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Dino Mech Gaiking (TV 1/1976)



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Alternative title:
Daikū Maryū Gaiking (Japanese) 
El Gladiador (Spanish) 
Festival de los Robots: El Gladiador (Spanish) 
Gaiking 
Gaiking Il Robot Guerriero (Italian) 
Great Sky Dragon Gaiking 
Великий Небесный Дракон Гайкинг (Russian) 
大空魔竜ガイキング (Japanese) 
Genres: science fiction 
Themes: mecha 
Objectionable content: Mild 
Plot Summary:
Earth is still in danger: aliens from planet Zeraz are willing to invade our planet because theirs is being swallowed by a Black Hole. Led by Great Darius and his four generals, they begin seeding death and destruction. When an ESP warrior is killed by aliens, professor Hi-Tech understands the danger and builds the huge Space Dragon (Daiku Maryu) piloted by Pete, and the gint robot Gaiking whose pilot is Sanshiro Shiwobuki, an ex-baseball player. Daiku Maryu is a big dragon shaped spaceship and his head is the Gaiking torso. When the Gaiking enters the action, Daiku Maryu launches other Gaiking's components and then it re-unite neck with tail, becoming unbreakable. 
The story chronicled the battle between the crew of the semi-transformable carrier Daikū Maryū and the Super Mecha Gaiking against an invading race of aliens from the planet Zela, whose home planet is facing destruction by a black hole. The robot Gaiking was piloted by a baseball star named Sanshiro Tsuwabuki (Sanshiro's name was changed to Aries Astonopolis for the English version of the show with the carrier being called the "Great Space Dragon", a literal translation of "Daikū Maryū". Gaiking was notable for being one of the few super robot series to take place in real places outside of Japan, and for being the first Super Robot series to have a mobile carrier for the chief robots. 
Ratings: 41 ratings have been given [details]
 Masterpiece: 1 vote (sub:1)
 Excellent: 5 votes (sub:4, dub:1)
 Very good: 7 votes (dub:3, sub:2, raw:1, others:1
1 Spanish dubbed
)
 Good: 13 votes (sub:6, dub:3, edit.dub:2, ?:1, others:1
1 Spanish dubbed
)
 Decent: 8 votes (sub:5, ?:1, dub:1, others:1
1 Spanish dubbed
)
 So-so: 5 votes (sub:3, raw:1, others:1
1 Italian dubbed
)
 Not really good: 1 vote (others:1
1 Indonesian dubbed
)
 Weak: -
 Bad: -
 Awful: -
 Worst ever: 1 vote (sub:1)
Seen in part or in whole by 111 s, rank: #5169 (of 9996)
Median rating: Good
Arithmetic mean: 6.805 (Good−), std. dev.: 1.7139, rank: #4846 (of 10154)
Weighted mean: 6.854 (Good), rank: #4496 (of 10154) (seen all: 7.20 / seen some: 6.16 / won't finish: 5.72)
Bayesian estimate: 7.004 (Good), rank: #3510 (of 7635)
Running time: half hour per episode 
Number of episodes: 44 
Episode titles: We have 44
Vintage:
1976-04-01 to 1977-01-27 
1986 (Colombia - Cadena Uno) 
Opening Theme:
"Daikū Maryū Gaiking" (大空魔竜ガイキング; Dino Mech Gaiking) by Isao Sasaki, Columbia Yurikago-kai and Koorogi '73 
"Robots, Eres Formidable" (Español Latino) by Capitán Memo 
Ending Theme:
"El Gladiador" (Español Latino) by Capitán Memo 
"Hoshizora no Gaiking" (星空のガイキング; Gaiking in the Starry Sky) by Isao Sasaki 
Official website:
Links: We have 2
Trivia: We have 3
Comment:
When the series was first aired in Japan, Toei Animation credited Kunio Nakatani, Akio Sugino, and Dan Kobayashi as its original creators to avoid paying royalties to Go Nagai, the series real creator. This resulted in a legal battle between Nagai and Toei that lasted for 10 years.
Licensed in 1980 by Jim Terry Productions as part of the Force Five series. 
News: Show:
In Memoriam (Dec 31, 2009)
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Blu-ray (Region A)
    Dino Mech Gaiking - The Complete TV Series (Sub.Blu-ray) 2023-01-31 (from $74.99)
DVD (Region 1)
    Gaiking - The Movie Collection (Dub.DVD) 2013-01-15 (from $86.16)
    Dino Mech Gaiking - The Complete Original TV Series (Sub.DVD) 2016-06-21

Japanese staff
Japanese cast
Director: Tomoharu Katsumata 
Series Composition: Masao Maruyama 
Scenario: Masao Maruyama 
Screenplay:
Haruya Yamazaki  (15 episodes
eps 3, 7, 10-11, 16, 19, 21, 25-31 odd, 34-36, 41
)
 
Shōzō Uehara  (16 episodes
eps 2, 4, 6, 13-14, 18, 22-24, 30, 33, 37, 39, 42-44
)
 
Sōji Yoshikawa  (9 episodes
eps 5, 12, 15, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40
)
 
Yū Yamamoto (ep 8) 
Unit Director:
Akinori Ōrai  (11 episodes
eps 2, 5, 10, 17, 21, 24, 31, 34, 41, 43-44
)
Shuji Iuchi (5 episodes
eps 6, 23, 25, 30, 36
)
Tomoharu Katsumata  (5 episodes
eps 1, 8, 16, 26, 35
)
Yasuo Yamayoshi  (7 episodes
eps 15, 19, 22, 28, 33, 39, 42
)
Yūgo Serikawa  (4 episodes
eps 27, 32, 37, 40
)
 
Original creator:
Mitsuru Kaneko (as Kunio Nakatani) 
Character Design:
Takeshi Shirato (settings) 
Animation Director:
Masamune Ochiai  (5 episodes
eps 7, 12, 23, 27, 33
)
Moriyasu Taniguchi  (7 episodes
eps 2, 8, 15, 19, 24, 28, 39
)
Takeshi Shirato  (14 episodes
eps 1, 6, 13-14, 16, 20, 22, 25, 30, 32, 35-36, 38, 43
)
Takuo Noda  (7 episodes
eps 5, 10, 17, 21, 26, 31, 41
)
Yūki Kinoshita  (ep 42) 
Mechanical design: Dan Kobayashi (original concept design) 
Sound Director:
Yasunori Honda 

Animation:
Kumiko Kitahara (ep 6) 
Editing: Masaaki Hanai 
Key Animation:
Yoshinori Kanada (7 episodes
eps 5, 10, 17, 21, 26, 31, 41
)
 
Music Selection: Shigeru Miyashita 
Planning:
Takeshi Tamiya 
Production manager: Yoshirō Sugawara 
Recording: Hideyuki Tanaka 
Sound Effects: Akihiko Matsuda 
Theme Song Composition: Shunsuke Kikuchi 
Theme Song Lyrics: Kogo Hotomi 
Theme Song Performance:
Koorogi '73 (OP) 
Akira Kamiya as Sanshirō Tsuwabuki 

Hidekatsu Shibata as
Dr. Daimonji 
General Desmont 
Kan Tokumaru as
Dr. Dunkel 
Fan Li 
Keaton Yamada as
Gen Sakon 
General Killer (eps 6-44) 
Kenichi Ogata as
Bunta Hayami 
Emperor Darius 
Makio Inoue as Peter Richardson 
Mami Koyama as Midori Fujiyama (debut) 
Noriko Tsukase as Hachiro 
Osamu Katō as
General Asimov 
Yamagatake 

Eiko Masuyama as Emelda (ep 40) 
Jōji Yanami as
Captain Po (ep 32) 
Mad (ep 11) 
Kaneta Kimotsuki as Chin (ep 39) 
Kazuko Sugiyama as Lisa (ep 8) 
Keiichi Noda as #803 (ep 3) 
Makio Inoue as General Killer (eps 1-5) 
Mami Koyama as Lasa (ep 3) 
Masako Nozawa as Tom Richardson (ep 9) 
Masatō Ibu as
Cain (ep 31) 
Dr. Sun (ep 18) 
Nobuyo Tsuda as Witch Doctor (ep 36) 
Noriaki Wakamoto as Chan Mei (ep 39) 
Noriko Ohara as Erica  (ep 21) 
Noriko Tsukase as Rosa (ep 3) 
Takeshi Watabe as Wilder (ep 34) 
Yūji Mitsuya as George  (ep 18) 
Japanese companies
Broadcaster: Fuji Television Network 
Film Developing: Toei Chemical Industry 
Music Production: Columbia Music Entertainment 
Production:
Toei Animation 
Production Cooperation: Sunrise 
English staff
English cast
Director: William Winckler (WW Dub) 
Script:
William Winckler (WW Dub) 
Translation: Elizabeth Ellis (Discotek) 
Executive producer:
William Winckler (WW Dub) 
Producer:
Michael Gonzales (WW Dub) 

Additional Subtitle Editing: Salvatore Marrone (Discotek) 
DVD Producer: Cliff MacMillan (WW Dub; Shout! Factory DVD) 
Editing:
Sharon Rutter (WW Dub) 
Illustration: Eamon O'Donoghue (WW Dub; Shout! Factory DVD) 
Menu Design: David Hood (Discotek) 
Packaging Design:
Andrew Robinson (WW Dub; Shout! Factory DVD)David Hood (Discotek) 
Subtitle Timing: Elizabeth Ellis (Discotek) 
Barbara Goodson as Midori Fujiyama (Nebula; Uncredited; Force Five; ep 1) 
Marieve Herington as Midori Fujiyama (WW Dub) 
Marla Scott Frumkin as Midori Fujiyama (Nebula; Uncredited; Force Five; eps 2-26) 
Richard Rossner as Sanshiro Tsuwabuki (Aries Astonopolis; Uncredited; Force Five) 
William Winckler as Sanshiro Tsuwabuki (WW Dub) 

Barbara Goodson as Hachiro (Bobby; Uncredited; Force Five; ep 1) 
G. Larry Butler as Dr. Daimonji (WW Dub) 
John Hostetter as
Dr. Daimonji (Professor Hightech; Uncredited; Force Five; eps 1-25) 
Narrator (Uncredited; Force Five) 
Pete Richardson (Uncredited; Force Five) 
Marla Scott Frumkin as Hachiro (Bobby; Uncredited; Force Five; eps 2-26) 
Paul Oberle as Pete Richardson (WW Dub) 
Richard Rossner as Emperor Darius (Uncredited; Force Five) 
Robert Axelrod as Emperor Darius (WW Dub) 
Robert Tousignant as Hachiro (WW Dub) 

Bradford Hill (WW Dub) 
David Gerrold (WW Dub) 
Donald F. Glut (WW Dub) 
Kimberly Woods (WW Dub) 
Kyle Rea (WW Dub) 
Larry Butler (WW Dub) 
Marieve Herington (WW Dub) 
Paul Oberle (WW Dub) 
Robert Tousignant (WW Dub) 
Shy Pilgreen (WW Dub) 
English companies
ADR Production: William Winckler Productions (2009) 
Broadcaster: Syndicated 
Internet Streaming:
Tubi TV 
Licensed by:
Shout! Factory (2012) 
Production: Toei Animation (2009 William Winckler Productions dub) 
Spanish staff
Spanish companies
Music:
Shuki Levy 

Theme Song Performance: Guillermo Aguirre (a.k.a Santiago) 
Broadcaster:
TV Patín (Ecuador, expired) 
Distributor: Cau Cau - Pro Pu Eve Ltda. (Latin America) 
Soundtrack: Saban Records 
Spanish cast
Edgar Wald as Fan Li 
Jesus Barrero as Brandon (Sanshiro Tsuwabuki) 
Maru Guzmán as Marissa Morgan/Midori Fujiyama 
Italian cast
Italian staff
Dubbing Director: Gabriella Rasero (from ep 27 on) 
Script: Marco Danieli (from ep 27 on) 
Translation: Amanda Ronzoni (from ep 27 on) 
sco Bulckaen as Sanshiro Suwabuki (eps 27-44) 
Romano Malaspina as Sanshiro Suwabuki (eps 1-26) 

Willy Moser as Fan Li 

Alessio Puccio as Hachiro (eps 27-44) 
Andrea Lala as Desmon (eps 1-26) 
Carlo Reali as Dankel (1st voice; eps 1-26) 
Dario De Grassi as Black Darius 
Diego Michelotti as Killer (eps 1-26) 
Diego Reggente as Dottor Daimoji (eps 1-26) 
Erasmo Lo Presto as Dankel 
Fabrizio Latini Vidale as Hakiro (eps 1-26) 
Fabrizio Vidale as Hakiro 
Federica De Bortoli as Midori Fujiyama (eps 27-44) 
Giorgio Locuratolo as Black Darius (eps 1-26) 
Guido Sagliocca as Ashmov (1st voice) 
Laura Boccanera as Midori Fujiyama (eps 1-26) 
Leo Valeriano as
Dankel (2nd voice; eps 1-26) 
Yamatake 
Luciano Marchitiello as Narratore (eps 27-44) 
Luigi Ferraro as Bunta Hayami (eps 27-44) 
Massimiliano Alto as Sakon (eps 27-44) 
Massimo Rossi as Peat Richardson (eps 1-26) 
Maurizio Romano as Fanli (eps 27-44) 
Monica Gravina as Lisa 
Nanni Baldini as Yamatake (eps 27-44) 
Oliviero Dinelli as Sakon (2nd voice) 
Pierluigi Astore as Black Darius (eps 27-44) 
Renzo Stacchi as Ashmov (eps 1-26) 
Riccardo Rossi as
Pella (eps 1-26) 
Tony (eps 1-26) 
Rino Bolognesi as Dottor Daimoji (eps 27-44) 
Roberto Del Giudice as Bunta Hayami (eps 1-26) 
Rodolfo Bianchi as Sakon (eps 1-26) 
Stefano Crescentini as Peat Richardson (eps 27-44) 
Italian companies
Broadcaster:
Tele Milano (from 1979) 
Distributor:
Yamato Video (Italy) 
Dubbing:
Promovision (from ep 27 on) 
Tagalog staff
Tagalog companies
(none)
Broadcaster: MBS-4 
Tagalog cast
(none)

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