...most genre aficionados have a fairly good idea of when they were first privy of the category of animation, coined as 'anime'; for some...much like this ardent viewer...it was a uniquely visual oddity, which one grew up with...at some point, forsaken for a stretch...and then, picked up later, when the artistry of this particular venue of animated storytelling, had evolved, considerably. Oh yes, thinking back upon the early days of embraced amine...that is, before such productions were called 'anime', and were merely known as 'cartoons'...how uniquely individual, were these engrossing and embraceable animated imports, as compared to countless American youths' regular domestic diet of animation, from cartoon 'factories', such as Warner Brothers, Filmation, Tex Avery and Hanna-Barbara. Amongst the best...Speed Racer. Gigantor. Astro-Boy. Kimba, the White Lion. Personal would-be 'anime' favorites, shuffled in amongst domestic classics...the simple and jerky rendered animation of such, translated and dubbed for domestic consumption...and betraying what made these imported 'toons so darned compelling: the ability to present likable, relatable and embraceable characters, engaging in fantastic, albeit complex and emotionally-driven stories. For this viewer, as mentioned previous, one...well, as the old saying goes, "...one has to grow up, sometime" (...uh, bite your tongue, you stiff-shirted 'inner mature' voice of reason, dammit), and as such, there came a time, as a youth, to move onto other things...in this viewer's case, it meant taking a sabbatical from dedicated animation viewing...those Saturday morning and after-school respites, and...well, OK, I admit it...this viewer did occasionally take a peek through the crack of an unclosed door, to see where the world of anime was taking ardent viewers, both domestically and internationally......flashing forward to the mid-to-late '80's, when anime was seeing it's most upheld period of embrace amongst fans, and as such, this viewer found himself re-acquainted with the genre...like reuniting with an old friend. Akira. Fist of the North Star. Guyver. Urotsukidoji, and...WHOA!! Hold the phone!! Reverse gears...say, about 10 to 12 years. Once again, taking that curious peek through that open door, Japanese 'anime' clearly found it's name...it's identity with domestic viewers, during a good portion of the mid '70's...carrying forth the traditional simple animation, and the complex & emotionally engaging storytelling...foremost replent with tales of space travel, fantastic adventure and giant transforming robots, which clearly predated an animation genre, which would eventually become a pop culture phenomenon. For domestic viewing, a number of these productions once again invoked a respectable following, once given a comprehensive and adaptive restructuring & re-dubbing. Spaceship Yamato. Starzinger. Galaxy Express. Gaiking. Battle of the Planets, amongst others...and including one which has recently been given eagerly awaited and welcome attention, by the fine folks over at Shout Factory...who have already rendered motion picture edits of episodes from two previous anime, Gaiking and Starzinger. From 1977...culled from the creative mind of Leiji Matsumoto (..."Spaceship Yamato", "Galaxy Express" & "Captain Harlock"), and the Toei Animation production company...this time, Shout's affording us the pleasure of the movie-length edits of episodes from the cult-famed and influential 'Danguard Ace' anime series...
...set in a near, albeit undetermined future, at a time when the human race finds itself in a desperate situation, having nearly depleted all of Earth's natural resources. With the prospect of complete planetary energy depletion driving the world's population to possible degradation and extinction, scientists around the world combine their efforts toward exploration of a recently discovered planet in the far reaches of space, called Promete. However, diabolical efforts thwart a deep-space multi-ship expedition to the newfound planet, when one of the ships inexplicably destroy the others, before appearingly destroying itself, in the process...
...soon after this devastating tragedy, a powerful industrialist...calling himself Doppler...uses his vast financial and material resources, to launch his own expedition to Promete. Once there, he enslaves the hapless population, using a scientific means of mind control. With this power, he creates an enslaved army of obedient drones, by which he proposes to thwart any further attempts by Earth, to journey to the planet...<
...as time passes, with Doppler relentlessly carrying forth on his word to divert any landings on Promete...even to the point of destroying potential launch sites on Earth...despite state-of-the-art advances in technology and robotics, the World Space Authority unswervingly forges on, training able-bodied men and women, and having them work in tandem with giant mechanical machines, capable of engaging battle in space flight, as well as transforming into gigantic robot warriors. Desperate to prove himself, as well as clear his family name (...his father, dubbed a traitor, is blamed for instigating the failed first attempt, in reaching Promete), a reckless, though keenly and instinctively skilled space pilot named Takuma, obsessively works his way through the ranks, in an effort to reach the skill level, capable of testing out and piloting the Danguard Ace...a massive prototype space vehicle, capable of transforming into a fully equiped and armed combat robot...
...Takuma's unswerving desire to assume the controls of Danguard Ace become fully realized, when a mysterious and masked master pilot, identifying himself only as Captain Dan, who claims to have once been under, and now broken free from Doppler's mind control, takes the young & ambitious pilot under his wing, and runs him through a relentlessly vigorous gauntlet of training sessions, before he feels that Takuma is ready to pilot Danguard Ace. Once satisfied with his apprentice's abilities, Captain Dan and Takuma...supported by the rest of the World Space Authority crew...engage a number of aerial & space battles, as well as robotic hand-to-hand combat, deftly countering the attacks viciously instilled by the dreaded Doppler. But then, who is Captain Dan?? What are his motivations?? Revenge?? Can he be completely trusted?? And why is he so intent upon focusing all his effort, attention and knowledge, upon Takuma?? Is there a connection??...
...who, indeed...what, indeed...and yes, even why, indeed!! But then, curious and attention-demanding query like this, is customarily indicative of the level of complex and emotionally riddled high drama, which is often expected in anime productions, such as this. Undeniably, the action and the fantasy elements are rest assuredly a sight to behold, but it is the in-depth and complex dramatic elements...in particular, the often-utilized 'space opera' element...which uplift these proceedings to compellingly relatable situations, for adolescent and mature viewers, alike...and "Danguard Ace: The Movie Collection"...a deftly edited capsulization of the original series' 56 episodes...rendered here, in three seamlessly composed feature films...is a fine example of that revelation. In the interim, one cannot help but feel for the young and reckless Takuma...ridiculed by his peers, in being the offspring of an assumed traitor...the trials and tribulations of having to work harder to achieve respectability, in light of his suspectedly tainted linage...the lessons learned, under the tutelage of his newfound, albeit mysterious mentor...guiding him...honing his skills...keeping his inclination for reckless well-intentions, in check...a training approach, as well as a superior/subordinate relationship, which strangely beckons to Takuma's past, and seems...well, seems oh-so familiar...if only...
...the trio of films, themselves...clocking in at about 110 minutes, per feature...each, focusing on the Takuma character's evolution, from rookie space pilot, to confident, albeit youthful and untried wielder of the controls for the Danguard Ace robot, are almost compellingly page-turning, hand-over-hand linear, in it's stoytelling rendering. Film One: ...the Promete expedition...the disastrous first mission...Doppler's diabolical decree...Takuma's tortured and bullied past...the appearance of the mysterious Captain Dan, and his underlining connection with Takuma...his relentlessly rigorous training, under the demanding, iron hand of the mysterious masked stranger. Film Two: ...the first Danguard Ace missions against Doppler's opposing onslaught of equally armed and matched giant robot warriors...nefarious allies, sworn to the service of Doppler's commands...Takuma's petty and egotistical jealousies, when it is suggested that another pilot is to be trained to handle Danguard Ace, in his stead, as back-up...the tragic loss of a most valued member of the team...a secret identity revealed. Film Three: ...battles against the evil Doppler and his giant robot militia, intensify...team member rescues, amidst the battling space giants and space ship melees...the fall of a master villain...a son redeems his family name, and his father's reputation...a mission finally fulfilled...
...though not as perfect, nor as standout as some of the more high-profile anime offerings of it's time, there still remains a heck of a lot to appreciate here, with the only flaw...or perhaps, more akin to 'distraction', being that of the comedy relief moments, by some of the minor supportive characters, such as a goofy and diminutive, dome-headed robot...and an eccentrically extroversive medical physician, who...of all things...has a drinking problem, that's awkwardly played off as funny(?). Aside from these misgivings, and as dramatically intriguing & emotionally compelling as the events that take place in these feature-film renderings of the seamlessly tied-together "Danguard Ace" episodes assuredly are, one cannot help but wonder about the content of the series, not used in these condensations; it gives one ponderance and wonder that perhaps, at some time in the future, the entirety of the 56-episode run, might eventually see release. However, in the meantime, what Shout Factory has afforded ardent anime viewers here, is more than enough to gleefully revel in, and gives notable light to one of the more obscure and underappreciated, though...by devotees...no less fondly recognized, embraced, celebrated...and yes, quite influential imported animated productions, to reach these shores...
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