Choujinki Metalder (超人機メタルダー) is the sixth and shortest entry of the Metal Hero Series franchise, running from March 16, 1987, to January 17, 1988, for only 39 episodes. Starting with episode 25, the show began airing on Sundays, while the first 24 originally aired on Mondays. Metalder bears many similarities to Shotaro Ishinomori's Android Kikaider and Kikaider 01, particularly in its themes, characters, and the hero's costume design. For distribution purposes, Toei refers to this television series as simply Metalder.

Story

In 1945, Dr. Ryūichirō 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 Caucus base and left for the United States to work for NASA. During the 42 years, Dr. Koga's former colleague Kunio Muraki became evil God Neros, the ruler of the Neros Empire which is notorious as a merchant of death. God Neros sends out his massive armies to kill Dr. Kōga, who learned of their organization and returned to Japan to activate Metalder. Koga desperately tries to activate his android creation, who he named Ryūsei Tsurugi, but the android is unable to understand what to do. In order to give Ryusei a "purpose", Koga runs out of the Silver Caucus base, allowing Neros' troops to kill him. Suddenly seeing his creator die, Ryūsei becomes shocked, and soon is beaten by Neros' troops. Ryūsei 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), Ryūsei goes onward, meeting future friend Mai Ougi.

Characters

Metalder

Metalder (メタルダー) is a "Choujinki", a powerful war android built by Dr. Koga at the end of World War II originally as a countermeasure against the Americans. He was hidden in a secret base of the Japanese Imperial Army until Dr. Koga activated him years later to fight the Neros Empire. His human guise, Ryusei Tsurugi (剣 流星), is directly modeled after that of Dr. Koga's son Tatsuo of whom he lost during the war. Whenever his energies reach a peak from rage, with the cry "Enrage!" (怒る!), he transforms into his metallic form. Like Tatsuo, he loves music and plays the saxophone from time to time. His Reflection Circuit gave him the same feelings as humans and a sense of right and wrong. Powered by 'super-gravitational energy', his killing techniques include "Laser Arm", "G-Kick", "Metal Tornado" spinning kick, "Head Crash" ram, "Plasma Punch", "Metal Bomber" punching attack from above, and "1000 Hand Punch". At the end of the series he defeats God Neros but in the process, his super-gravitational energy is severely damaged, as a result whenever he moves longer, he will explode and the world will be destroyed by its impact. With Kita's help, Metalder is spared from destruction but at the cost of his human form and his ability to fight as a Choujinki.

Allies

Neros Empire

The Neros Empire (ネロス帝国) is the underbelly of the Kirihara Concern (桐原コンツェルン) Corporation. Located at Shinjuku, it covertly controls all activities of the world's criminal organizations, including terrorists and finance. The Neros Empire's goal is world domination with economic and military might. The leaders meet at the Ghost Bank, a ring of gates containing key army officers surrounding God Neros' throne. The area enclosed by the gates and throne serves as both an arena and as a strategy room. Divided into four Units: Armored Army, Robotic Warrior Army, Monster Army, and Armament Army.

Four Armies of the Neros Empire

The Four Armies of the Neros Empire (ネロス帝国軍4軍団) are God Neros' primary fighters. Each is led by a "Victorious Saint" (凱聖): Coolgin, Valsky, Geldring, and Dranger, with nine ranks beneath it. From highest to lowest: Members that are ranked below from Keitōshi through Gekitōshi are named after the severity levels of earthquakes in Japanese (i.e. Gekitōshi is derived from gekishin (激震), a severe earthquake).

Armored Army

The Armored Army (ヨロイ軍団) is a group consisting of cyborgs and humans wearing armor. Metalder was always careful not to deliver fatal blows to the human half of the Armored Army. In the final episode, the helmets of every member (except for Ben K) were revived to prevent Metalder from reaching God Neros. The heads crash into a wall and explode to damage Metalder.

Robotic Warrior Army

The Robotic Warrior Army (戦闘ロボット軍団) consists of androids that make up the Neros Army. They were developed from the same technology used to create Metalder.

Monster Army

The Monster Army (モンスター軍団) is composed of genetically altered–engineered mutants. After being killed, they tend to melt into a puddle of green slime:

Armament Army

The Armament Army (機甲軍団) consists of walking arsenal robots.

Others

Mechanics

Metalder's mechanics

Silver Caucus (シルバーカークス) is Metalder's secret base of operation, hidden within the Wind Caves of Fuji, underneath the ruins of the former Imperial Army's Headquarters. It is the place where Metalder has lain dormant for over 40 years until his activation at the start of the series. The Silver Caucus is usually kept underground until Metalder needs to dispatch a vehicle, when it rises to the surface. Springer remains there for standby in case Metalder needs him, particularly when Metalder needs repair. When the Neros Empire drew closer to locating the Silver Caucus, Metalder relocates a portion of the base at another cave with Springer. Side Phantom (サイドファントム) is Metalder's motorcycle vehicle with a detachable side-car. Metal Charger (メタルチャージャー) is a transforming, four-wheel flying car based on a sixth-generation Mazda Familia that Metalder drives.

Neros Empire's mechanics

Ghost Bank (ゴーストバンク) is the secret lair of the Neros Empire where the Four Armies gather. It can move anywhere, but its usual location is underneath the headquarters building of the Kirihara Konzern. Each member of Neros Army has their own warp gate used to transport themselves to the Ghost Bank. Miragehasha (ミラージュハシャ) is a motorcycle with a sidecar used exclusively by the Armored Army. Circulader (サーキュラダー) is a motorcycle used exclusively by the Robotic Warrior Army. Captron (キャプトロン) is a motorcycle usually used exclusively by the Monster Army, except when ridden by Coolgin in the first episode. Drygun (ドライガン) is a combat jeep that has been produced for each of Neros Army. When one is deployed, it carries the flag of its division. Dark Guncarry (ダークガンキャリー) is a station wagon that has been produced for each of Neros Armies. It is mainly used to transport troops. Dester X1 (デスターX1) is an advanced military machine tested by the Armament Army during a demonstration to potential buyers. Equipped with a variety of weapons and heat sensors, by coincidence it is used against Metalder. When the Armament army realizes Metalder was in the area looking for abandoned puppies, these puppies were then used as bait and placed in a minefield guarded by the robot. Metalder deceives the machine using a heated stone which gives him an opening to disable it. It is finally destroyed when Metalder throws Darbarbo onto it, the impact presumably causing his shoulder-mounted artillery to detonate.

Episodes

On October 4, 1987 (The day that episode 25 aired) the show began airing on Sundays instead of Mondays.

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

Guest actors

International Broadcasts & Home Video

Songs