Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos (マシンロボ クロノスの大逆襲), known in France as La Revanche des GoBots (Revenge of the GoBots), is a Japanese anime television series produced by Ashi Productions. It ran on TV Tokyo from July 3, 1986, through May 28, 1987. A large portion of the Machine Robo toy line was exported and sold by Tonka in America as GoBots and Rock Lords. Central Park Media released 15 English-subtitled episodes of the series on three DVDs in 2003; these remained the only official English releases until 2022, when Discotek Media released the complete series and its associated OVAs on one SD Blu-ray set.

Story

The story takes place on the mechanical world of Cronos. A band of villains called the Gyandlar have come to the planet in search of the mythical energy known as the Hyribead.

Characters

Heroes

Dash Machine Robo

Recolors of Bandai's "Zenmai Kahen Winch Robo" line. Other recolors were released as "Secret Riders" GoBots in the U.S.

Rock People

Based on the molds released in the Tonka "Rock Lords" toy line in the U.S. and Europe.

Jewel People

Recolors of these toys were released in the "Rock Lords" toy line in the U.S. and Europe.

Wheelmen

These characters had highly articulated and detailed pull-back toys that are exclusive to Japan. They were not used in the Gobots series.

Guest Characters

Villains

Evil Rock People

Gyandlar Commanders

Throughout the first half of the series Gadess uses various natives of Cronos to lead his forces.

Staff

Theme songs

Original video animations

Leina Stol in Wolf Sword Legend

When Revenge of Cronos left off, Rom and Leina had crossed a dimensional barrier. Their physical forms changed from robot to human, and they were separated, with blurred memories. Leina Stol is incarnated as Reina Haruka, a Japanese schoolgirl. As the story progresses, she meets up with Rod Drill, Blue Jet, Triple Jim, and Rom, all of whom are now human. Given the fact the Revenge of Cronos robotic characters appear here in new human forms, the Blue Jet and the Rod Drill appearing with the usual robotic forms in Battle Hackers may be all-different robots.

Lightning Trap - Leina & Laika

Taking place in the middle of the Wolf Sword Legend feature, this story centers on Leina Haruka, whose plane has been hijacked by a group of thugs led by the supernatural wizard Zarik. At this point, the series has no resemblance whatsoever to the Machine Robo toy line that spawned it.

Video games

Machine Robo was featured in three of Banpresto's Super Robot Wars series, beginning with SRW Compact 2: Part 2 & 3 in 2000 on the Wonderswan. All three parts of SRW Compact 2 were remade in 2002 as SRW Impact on the PlayStation 2. In 2004, the series was included in the PS2's SRW MX's line-up, as well as the PSP port of the same.