Blocker Gundan 4 Machine Blaster
Blocker Gundan 4 Machine Blaster (ブロッカー軍団IVマシーンブラスター, Burokkā Gundan IV Mashīn Burasutā) is an anime series aired from 1976 to 1977 in Japan. There are 38 episodes aired at 25 minutes each. It is also known as "Blocker Army IV Machine Blaster", "Blocker Corps IV", "Blocker Army IV", "Blocker Corps", "Machine Blaster" and in Italian as "Astro Robot contatto Ypsilon" ("Blocker Corps IV Astrorobot" for the DVD release).
| Blocker Gundan 4 Machine Blaster | |
 | |
| ブロッカー軍団IVマシーンブラスター (Burokkā Gundan IV Mashīn Burasutā) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Mecha |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Masami Anno |
| Studio | Nippon Animation Ashi Productions |
| Original network | Fuji TV |
| Original run | July 5, 1976 – March 28, 1977 |
| Episodes | 38 |
Original Story
Earth is being attacked by the Mogul civilization, a super advanced people that live beneath the ocean. Professor Yuri, having studied the ancient super-technology in Astro base, anticipated such an invasion would take place. Using what he had learned of their technology, he created a team of four super robots, piloted by four youth pilots, to help repel the Mogul invasion, and they are known as the Machine Blaster Corps. Led by the pilot Ishida, the Blocker Corps stands firm against the attack of the Mogul rulers, Hellqueen V and Kaibuddha.
Concept
The number 4 comes from the team of 4 robots. The robots individually have their own weapon, but they can also be combined to form a fire ring which cuts through the enemies. It was not the most popular show since anime powerhouses Gaiking and Combattler V, which featured more creative combinations and designs, were ruling the airwaves.
Staff
| Crew Type | Crew Members |
|---|---|
| Director: | Masami Anno |
| Original Creators: | Ashi Productions Akira Hatta (Yu Yamamoto) |
| Screenwriters: | Akira Hatta, Susumu Takaku, Itaru Musha, Takao Koyama, Naoko Miyake, Katsuhiko Taguchi, Sōji Yoshikawa, Hiroshi Hatta, Eiichi Okawa, Yoshitake Suzuki, Hikaru Arai, Yu Yamamoto |
| Designer: | Motosuke Takahashi Kunio Okawara |
| Animator: | Tamotsu Tanaka Takashi Nakamura |
| Music: | Hiroshi Tsutsui |
Robots
| Pilot Tag Number | Pilot (Japanese) | Pilot (Italian) | Japanese 'Mashin Burastar' | Italian 'Astrorobot' | Japanese Voices by | Italian Voices by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gundan I | Gensuke Ishida | Yshida | Robocles | Terremoto Stellare | Tessho Genda | Diego Reggente |
| Gundan II | Billy Kenjou | Ylly | Bullcaesar | Sfondamento Galattico | Masane Tsukayama | Vittorio Guerrieri |
| Gundan III | Jinta Hayami | Yinta | Sandaioh | Turbine Solare | Noriko Tsukase | Fabrizio Mazzotta |
| Gundan IV | Tenpei Asuka | Yanosh | Bosspalder | Tempesta Spaziale | Yoshito Yasuhara | Claudio Trionfi |
Opening
Lyrics: Blocker Gundan Machine Blaster (Opening Theme)
- Todoroku raimei arashi wo tsuite
- Yuke (yuke!) yuke yuke (yuke!) BLOCKER FOUR
- Kitazo MOGURU jigoku no taigun
- Mamore bokura no machi to umi wo
- Moeru seigi no EREPAS komete
- Ima da ATTACK engetsu kaiten
- Kudaite miseruze aku no kiba
- BLOCKER Gundan MACHINE BLASTER!!!
Trivia
- It was aired every week Monday 7:00pm to 7:30pm.
- It was aired in The Philippines as Striker Force over RPN-9 every Friday 5:30pm to 6:00pm in 1979 and in Italy as Astro Robot in 1980
- Toy Maker Mattel produced Shogun Warriors figures of the Machine Blaster robots exclusively for the Italian Market recycling parts from the Shogun Gaiking, Brave Raideen and Grendizer toys and labeled as Astro Robot Shogun.[1] These figures are considered by collectors to be the rarest figures in the entire Shogun toyline.
References
- "Mattel Astro Robots". shogunwarriors.org/.
External links
- Encirobot homepage
- Official website (in Japanese)
- Blocker Gundan 4 Machine Blaster (title) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Blocker Gundan 4 Machine Blaster at IMDb
