Space Emperor God Sigma
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| Space Emperor God Sigma | |
 Screenshot from Space Emperor God Sigma | |
| 宇宙大帝ゴッドシグマ (Uchū Taitei Goddo Shiguma) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Mecha |
| Created by | Saburō Yatsude |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Takeyuki Kanda (episodes 1-10) Katsuhiko Taguchi (episodes 11-50) |
| Produced by | Heita Ezu (Tokyo Channel 12) Takashi Ijima Itaru Orita (Toei TV division) |
| Music by | Hiroshi Tsutsui |
| Studio | Academy Productions Toei Company |
| Licensed by | |
| Original network | JAITS[a] (Tokyo Channel 12) |
| Original run | March 19, 1980 – March 25, 1981 |
| Episodes | 50 |
Space Emperor God Sigma (宇宙大帝ゴッドシグマ, Uchū Taitei Goddo Shiguma) is a mecha anime television series aired from 1980 to 1981. It ran for 50 episodes. It is also referred to as "God Sigma, Empire of Space" and "Space Combination God Sigma".
Concept
[edit]Space Emperor God Sigma was created by Toei's Television Division, under the name "Saburo Yatsude" and produced by Academy Production (who subcontracted Greenbox). The series was produced by Toei Company, and not by its own animation studio Toei Animation; Yoshinobu Nishizaki's Academy Productions provided production assistance. Toei Agency handled the advertising for the show, and its main sponsor was Popy (now Bandai's Boy's Toys Division).
This anime was the last that Takashi Ijima would work on; he had been part of Toei's TV division's projects since Chōdenji Robo Combattler V, which aired in 1976. Joined by Katsuhiko Taguchi, the chief director, the two created an anime that lasted for four full seasons, which was rare at the time of its broadcast. This show is a similar situation to the Robot Romance Trilogy, where Toei produced each show, but the animation was done by Nippon Sunrise.
Story
[edit]The story is set in the year 2050 AD, and mankind has been steadily advancing its space technology. However, the planet is suddenly set upon by a mysterious enemy: the forces of Eldar, who came from 250 years in the future. In their time, 2300 AD, their planet Eldar was invaded by Earth, and soundly defeated by Earth's Trinity Energy, a mysterious energy used in their weaponry that possesses power many times that of a hydrogen bomb. The Eldar people's objective is to steal this Trinity Energy before it can be used against them.
The Eldar forces begin by taking over Jupiter's moon Io, one of the places humanity has immigrated to by then. After that, they begin to attack Trinity City with their legions of Cosmosauruses in order to steal the Trinity Energy. Toshiya and his friends use God Sigma to protect the planet and the Trinity Energy, and the battle evolves into a long war to retake Io.
Characters
[edit]Trinity City
[edit]Toshiya Dan
[edit]Voiced by: Kei Tomiyama, Tomokazu Seki (in Super Robot Wars Z)
The protagonist of the show. He is an 18-year-old second-generation pioneer living on Jupiter's moon, Io. He is the main pilot of God Sigma.
Julie Noguchi
[edit]Voiced by: Yoshito Yasuhara
Assistant to Dr. Kazami, the head scientist and researcher at Trinity City, he is one of the three pilots of God Sigma.
Kira Kensaku
[edit]Voiced by: Tessho Genda
One of Toshiya's good friends, and also a native of Io.
Eldar's Forces
[edit]Supreme Commander Teral
[edit]Voiced by: Noriko Ohara, Hiromi Tsuru (in Super Robot Wars Z)
The supreme commander of the Eldar forces sent to Earth to steal the Trinity Energy.
Commander Leats
[edit]Voiced by: Shouzou Iizuka
The commander of the Cosmosauruses, under Teral's command.
Jeela
[edit]Voiced by: Rihoko Yoshida
A commander under Teral's command.
Mecha
[edit]God Sigma
[edit]The completed giant robot formed when the Kuuraioh, Kaimeioh, and Rikushin'oh combine with the Big-Wing.
With the command "Sigma Formation", the three robots form a triangle, and when they shout "Trinity Charge", the Big-Wing flies to them and combines. Two separate combination scenes exist in the anime - one during the beginning, and one from the middle onwards.
Its total height was originally stated to be 265 meters tall, but since this would cause difficulties for the actual animation, it was changed to 66 meters. It weighs 1200 tons, and its power source is Trinity Energy. It possesses the ability to cruise from Earth to Jupiter and back. It can be controlled by the main pilot, Toshiya, but without the other two component robots' generators to supplement his own, it's not as powerful.
In the final episode, it and the giant mecha Gargos destroy each other, but it is repaired after the war and revamped to be a single-pilot machine, and Toshiya sets off with it by himself.
Staff
[edit]- Original work: Saburo Yatsude
- Producer: Takashi Ijima, Heita Ezu (Tokyo Channel 12), Itaru Orita (Toei TV division)
- Music: Hiroshi Tsutsui
- Music performance: Tokyo Indoors Music Society
- Chief director: Takeyuki Kanda (episodes 1–10), Katsuhiko Taguchi (episodes 11–50)
- Character design: Kazuhiko Utaka
- Character concepts: Kaoru Shintani
- Design assistance: Yutaka Izubuchi
- Mechanical design: Katsushi Murakami, Submarine
- Artistic director: Kazuo Okada, Tadanoumi Shimokawa
- Music director: Jouhei Kawamura
- Animation production: Greenbox, Anime City, Sunluck
- Production assistance: Academy Production, Tokyo Dôga
- Production: Toei Company, Ltd., Toei Agency (advertising)
Episodes
[edit]| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Get Mad, Warrior of Io" "Okore Io no Senshi" (Japanese: 怒れ イオの戦士) | Directed by : Kenji Terada Storyboarded by : Minoru Yokitani | Katsuhiko Taguchi | March 19, 1980 |
| 2 | "Trinity Base Surfacing" "Toriniti Kichi Fujō" (Japanese: トリニティ基地浮上) | Kenji Terada | Hisashi Yamazaki | March 26, 1980 |
| 3 | "Combining Toward Io" "Io ni Mukatte Gattai da" (Japanese: イオに向って合体だ) | Directed by : Takao Yotsuji Storyboarded by : Yuichiro Yokoyama | Masaki Tsuji | April 16, 1980 |
| 4 | "Cosmosaurus' Secret" "Kosumozaurusu no Himitsu" (Japanese: コスモザウルスの秘密) | Directed by : Kazuya Miyazaki Storyboarded by : Saburo Nodera | Akira Nakahara | April 23, 1980 |
| 5 | "Shrew Rescue Operation" "Jajauma Kyūshutsu Sakusen" (Japanese: じゃじゃ馬救出作戦) | Directed by : Kenji Terada Storyboarded by : Higashi Numajiri | Akira Nakahara | April 29, 1980 |
| 6 | (Japanese: 小さな侵入者) | Directed by : Takao Yotsuji Storyboarded by : Yuichiro Yokoyama | Masaki Tsuji | April 29, 1980 |
| 7 | (Japanese: 月面へ出撃せよ) | Directed by : Kazuya Yamazaki Storyboarded by : Saburo Nodera | Akira Nakahara | April 30, 1980 |
| 8 | (Japanese: わんぱく大作戦) | Directed by : Kiyoshi Yoko Storyboarded by : Nobuyuki Kitajima | Akira Nakahara | May 7, 1980 |
| 9 | (Japanese: イオからの生還者) | Directed by : Kazuya Yamazaki Storyboarded by : Saburo Nodera | Akira Nakahara | May 14, 1980 |
| 10 | "As a Father, as a Doctor" (Japanese: 父として博士として) | Directed by : Hitoshi Takaito Storyboarded by : Kenji Terada | Masaki Tsuji | May 21, 1980 |
| 11 | (Japanese: 小さな恋人の危機) | Directed by : Hideyoshi Oga Storyboarded by : Tatsuma Ko | Hirohisa Soda | May 28, 1980 |
| 12 | (Japanese: 敵エルダー星を発見) | Takao Yotsuji | Masaki Tsuji | June 4, 1980 |
| 13 | (Japanese: イオの花が咲いた) | Directed by : Kazuya Yamazaki Storyboarded by : Saburo Nodera | Hisashi Yamazaki | June 11, 1980 |
| 14 | (Japanese: 怒りの対決) | Directed by : Kazuya Yamazaki Storyboarded by : Saburo Nodera | Hisashi Yamazaki | June 18, 1980 |
| 15 | (Japanese: 危険なプレゼント) | Hiroshi Kuno | Masaki Sakurai | June 25, 1980 |
| 16 | (Japanese: 敵将テラルの秘密) | Jun Narumi | Masaki Tsuji | July 2, 1980 |
| 17 | (Japanese: 巨大ロボットの買主) | Directed by : Jun Narumi Storyboarded by : Tatsuma Ko | Akira Nakahara | July 9, 1980 |
| 18 | (Japanese: 恐怖の合体くずし) | Jun Narumi | Hisashi Yamazaki | July 16, 1980 |
| 19 | (Japanese: ロボット発進不能) | Directed by : Kazuya Yamazaki Storyboarded by : Saburo Nodera | Hisashi Yamazaki | July 23, 1980 |
| 20 | (Japanese: ジュリイの秘密貯金) | Directed by : Kazuyuki Okasako Storyboarded by : Koji Enomoto | Masaki Sakurai | July 30, 1980 |
| 21 | (Japanese: 隕石包囲網を破れ) | Directed by : Kazuyuki Okasako Storyboarded by : Raita Goto | Masaki Sakurai | August 6, 1980 |
| 22 | (Japanese: 空雷王帰還せず) | Directed by : Kazuya Yamazaki Storyboarded by : Saburo Nodera | Akira Nakahara | August 13, 1980 |
| 23 | (Japanese: 幻の魚を見た) | Hiroshi Kuno | Masaki Sakurai | August 20, 1980 |
| 24 | (Japanese: イオへ200キロ) | Kazuyuki Okasako | Akira Nakahara | August 27, 1980 |
| 25 | (Japanese: 基地移動指令) | Directed by : Kazuya Yamazaki Storyboarded by : Saburo Nodera | Akira Nakahara | September 3, 1980 |
| 26 | (Japanese: 可愛い反逆者) | Directed by : Kazuya Yamazaki Storyboarded by : Saburo Nodera | Akira Nakahara | September 10, 1980 |
| 27 | (Japanese: 2300年の敵) | Hideyoshi Oga | Masaki Sakurai | September 17, 1980 |
| 28 | (Japanese: 新しき戦いの序曲) | Directed by : Kazuya Yamazaki Storyboarded by : Saburo Nodera | Akira Nakahara | September 24, 1980 |
| 29 | (Japanese: 地球の白旗を見よ) | Hiroshi Kuno | Masaki Sakurai | October 1, 1980 |
| 30 | (Japanese: 危険がいっぱい) | Directed by : Kazuya Yamazaki Storyboarded by : Saburo Nodera | Akira Nakahara | October 8, 1980 |
| 31 | (Japanese: イオ最新情報) | Directed by : Hiroyuki Ki Storyboarded by : Koji Enomoto | Akira Nakahara | October 15, 1980 |
| 32 | (Japanese: 月を賭けた決闘) | Directed by : Shigeyasu Yamauchi Storyboarded by : Koichiro Moriyama | Satoshi Suyama | October 22, 1980 |
| 33 | (Japanese: 地獄のスタジアム) | Kazuyuki Okasako | Satoshi Suyama | October 29, 1980 |
| 34 | (Japanese: 敵将テラルの涙) | Koichiro Moriyama | Masaki Sakurai | November 5, 1980 |
| 35 | (Japanese: テラル処刑の日) | Hiroshi Yoshida | Akira Nakahara | November 12, 1980 |
| 36 | (Japanese: 我がジュリイの妹) | Jun Narumi | Satoshi Suyama | November 19, 1980 |
| 37 | (Japanese: 2300年の秘密) | Hiroshi Kuno | Masaki Sakurai | November 26, 1980 |
| 38 | (Japanese: イオへの旅立ち) | Hideo Watanabe | Masayuki Shimada | December 3, 1980 |
| 39 | (Japanese: 裏切者は誰だ) | Kazuyuki Okasako | Satoshi Suyama | December 10, 1980 |
| 40 | (Japanese: 死を招く火星) | Johei Matsura | Akira Nakahara | December 17, 1980 |
| 41 | (Japanese: 誕生日は葬式の日) | Hiroshi Yoshida | Masaki Sakurai | December 24, 1980 |
| 42 | "Insurrection in Mars" (Japanese: 火星の反乱) | Hiroyuki Ki | Satoshi Suyama | December 31, 1980 |
| 43 | (Japanese: テラルの骨を拾え) | Jun Narumi | Masayuki Shimada | January 7, 1981 |
| 44 | (Japanese: イオが消えた) | Hiroshi Kuno | Masaki Sakurai | January 14, 1981 |
| 45 | (Japanese: 闘う・イオの地球人) | Johei Matsura | Akira Nakahara | January 21, 1981 |
| 46 | "Demented Declaration of Defeat" (Japanese: 狂気の敗北宣言) | Kazuya Yamazaki | Masaki Sakurai | January 28, 1981 |
| 47 | (Japanese: 風見博士の反逆) | Hiroshi Yoshida | Hirohisa Soda | February 4, 1981 |
| 48 | "Standing on the Land of Io" (Japanese: イオの地に立つ) | Johei Matsura | Hisashi Yamazaki | February 11, 1981 |
| 49 | (Japanese: イオに立つ墓標) | Kazuyuki Okasako | Masaki Sakurai | February 18, 1981 |
| 50 | "Journey towards the Future" (Japanese: 未来への旅立ち) | Kazuya Yamazaki | Masaki Sakurai | February 25, 1981 |
Theme songs
[edit]Opening theme: "Ganbare! Uchuu no Senshi" (Do Your Best, Space Warrior!)
- Vocals: Isao Sasaki, Koroogi '73, Columbia Yurikago-kai
- Lyrics: Saburo Yatsude
- Composition: Asei Kobayashi
- Arrangement: Masahisa Takeichi
Ending theme: "Red Blue Yellow"
- Vocals: Kumiko Kaori, Koroogi '73, Columbia Yurikago-kai
- Lyrics: Saburo Yatsude
- Composition: Asei Kobayashi
- Arrangement: Masahisa Takeichi
The ending theme, "Red Blue Yellow", consists of the planets in the Solar System in order. At the time of the show's broadcast, Pluto was actually inside the orbit of Neptune. This was not reflected in the animation, the reason being that the show itself is set in the year 2050. Also, the rings of Jupiter had just been discovered the year before, so in the ending animation, Jupiter is depicted with rings. However, in contrast to the actual rings of Jupiter, which are too thin to see a shadow cast on the planet, the picture of Jupiter in the ending sequence does have the shadow of rings on it.
Media
[edit]The series was telecast in Italy, simply titled God Sigma.
God Sigma toys were released under the premier Godaikin toy label in Japan and Hong Kong in the 1980s.
In March 2011, Pony Canyon released a complete DVD box set, which only had a limited production run.
In July 2024, Discotek Media released a Blu-ray box set. It is the first English release of the series.
Appearances in other works
[edit]Space Emperor God Sigma appears in various games by Banpresto (currently Bandai Namco Games). Its first appearance was in a 1992 Famicom game called Shuffle Fight. Its second was in the 2008 PS2 game Super Robot Wars Z, but by this time, Toshiya's voice actor Tomiyama Kei had died, so the role was given to Tomokazu Seki instead. In the same game, a robot from Gravion called God Σ Gravion appears, triggering a conversation between the characters of each series. God Sigma also appears in the game's two-part sequel, 2nd Super Robot Wars Z: Hakai-hen and Saisei-hen.
References
[edit]- ^ Tokyo Channel 12 was an independent station at the time of broadcast.
External links
[edit]- Space Emperor God Sigma (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Space Emperor God Sigma at IMDb
- Encirobot.com (Italian)
- 1980 anime television series debuts
- 1980 Japanese television series debuts
- 1981 Japanese television series endings
- 1980s time travel television series
- Television series set in the 2050s
- Television series set in the 23rd century
- Adventure anime and manga
- Animated space adventure television series
- Kaoru Shintani
- Super robot anime and manga
- TV Tokyo original programming
- Toei Animation television