10 Ladies Who Defined Mecha Excellence… 80s Edition (Part 4)

Hey you pilot that giant robot like a girl! Once considered a “man’s job”, like several other jobs, the occupation of being a mecha pilot has over the years shown that skill and finesse are not confined to one’s gender. “Anything you can do I can do better, I can do anything better than you, No you can’t… oh hell yes I CAN!”

Let us now pay tribute to a selection of ladies who are some of the best giant robot pilots EVER! And yeah, it’s an all 80s cast… as usual… you know me, no matter what year it is, to me it can still be 1987, or 1982, or 85, 89, 86… etc. etc. A small note, this will be a listing of pilots I know from shows I have seen. This means in the future I can create additional entries once I become aware of even more talented pilots. For this fourth round I pick…


Rosee (Roze)
Godmars

rosee

Once a sworn enemy towards hero Takeru Myojiin (Mars), Rosee would eventually change face and realize an immense attraction toward the Godmars hero. Realizing that he and Marg, a Gishin officer she was tasked to keep her eye on, were in fact brothers would be the pivotal game changer.


Moya Kirigas/Cinda
Armored Fleet Diarugger XV/Voltron

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As a member of the Walter/Land Team, Moya/Cinda pilots the Rotating Personnel Carrier, one of the two tight fisted glove-like car (maybe tank) like mechs that becomes Dairugger’s/Voltron’s right forearm and hand.


Minerva
The Transformers: Super-God Masterforce

minerva

Part of the Headmaster Junior team for the Autobots, Minerva would serve as the medic for the overall Autobot campaign… fitting as this mirrors with her gentle and kind nature. Imagine being an average 15 year old school girl who discovers a white Porsche that turns into the body of a robot?


Eriko ‘Ellie’ Kusomoto
Metal Skin Panic Madox-01

ellie

An ace test pilot and quite the expert on technology, we see Ellie initially with the MADOX-01. Her rivalry with a particular Lt. Kilgore is ever apparent when she shows the press how outdated his tank unit is compared to this state of the art machine.


Solzie/Sera
Genesis Climber Mospeada/Robotech

sera

Solzie/Sera is one of three Inbit/Invid characters to take a humanoid form. On her first mission she meets the resistance fighter Yellow Belmont, which causes much confusion in her. She develops an attraction toward him awakening a more human need for compassion and love.


Rag Uralo
Combat Mecha Xabungle/Xabungle Graffiti

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Rag could be seen piloting or co-piloting a number of the Walker Machines aboard the Iron Gear. Before joining up with the crew of the Iron Gear, this tough acting, but also kind, girl was the leader of a rag tag (I made a pun!) gang called the Sand Rats who also enlisted up as well.


Lamba Nom
Dangaioh

lamba

Every team needs a crybaby and Lamba fills that roll … just don’t scare her or else you will be shot by a bolt of energy from her finger. And no she is not a crybaby, just very sweet and gentle and as the youngest of the Dangioah quartet, the most immature. She was originally a former princess.


Jeryll Coochibie
Aura Battler Dunbine

jeryll

Jeryll is part of a latter select trio picked out by Drake Luft to assist in his conquest of Byston Well. Despite being a close match in terms of power to series lead Sho Zama, Jeryll’s attitude would be her biggest downfall. Her personality is rebellious and unapologetic.


Maki Rowel (Lowell)
Galactice Drifter Vifam

maki

Yes, she loves that red hat! Its trademarked… and yes, she is the tomboy of the group of Vifam’s cast of 13 children heading home to Earth. Mechanically skilled, she would join later in the series with fellow mech pilots Roddy Shuffle and Barts Lyan by becoming the Torunfam pilot.


Kasha Imhof
Space Runaway Ideon/The Ideon: A Contact/Be Invoked

kasha1

As a part of the team that assists with the ginormous and powerful Ideon, Kasha provided support as the main pilot of the Ideo-Buster for a time. She also is a strong presence on the Solo Ship as well. Now if only she can spend just a little more time with protagonist Cosmo Yuki… alone 😉

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to be continued…

#243 : Aura Battler Dunbine: The Tale of Neo Byston Well

Sequels, common place for being completely unoriginal (so much so now a days with endless releases of large franchise properties, anime and otherwise), or perhaps a followup chapter to something from before. An epilogue perhaps. Often a sequel can give extra closure, an alternative perspective, or something completely out of left field.  For Aura Battler Dunbine: The Tale of Neo Byston we have a little of all three.

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After the total all out massacre of the original 1983 TV series, the question remained what happened to the fantasy land of Byston Well? Aura Battler Dunbine was a show I enjoyed dearly in terms of the medieval European like scenery, the organic insect like mecha designs blessed by a supernatural (if not metaphysical) connection between their pilots, the intense passionate drama and the cast of heroes, villians and everyone else in between. It is in my opinion one of Sunrise’s best mech shows from the 1980s and one of four shows I hold dearly by creator Yoshiyuki Tomino (the other three being original Gundam, Zeta Gundam and Ideon). So why not make a small release three episode OVA as a sequel… ok, well what further tales does the land of Byston Well have to share?

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Almost more of the same except this time 700 years in the future. Wow then perhaps this is a side story because that is quite  a distance from the original? That’s until we learn of one survivor from the previous wars, the brilliant and conniving Shot Weapon (yes that’s his name, lol). And there is also one Ferario of Silky/Silkie Mau, who bears a very similar name, if not the same (seems the spelling goes back and forth between both series?), to another of Byston Well’s mystical cast members. Ferario is a fancy word for basically a fairy (I like it) and little Silky, at the very beginning of episode 1, has been caught by our main protagonist Shion… who bears a similar name and appearance to TV series main man Sho Zama. Hmm, interesting an interesting tidbits of info, what’s next? Well you have a coming conflict between two factions, piloted mecha, a captured princess, an evil warlord, a little backstabbing and most importantly the coming of the next ‘holy warrior’ to pilot the Dunbine.

While the plot is very generic in many ways, can’t expect much from three episodes… eh actually I do, lol… I found the story to be sort of interesting and kind of dull. The artwork on the other hand is very enjoyable for my love of cel drawn animation. OVA’s usually have a little more budget than a TV series and this is a good example except sometimes it can fell a little stiff and rigid. The designs on the other hand are gorgeous if not almost post apocalyptic, no no, more ancient looking. The world of Byston Well seems more lush and magical this time round, if not more grounded… and again, ancient. The titular mecha Dunbine and the landscape itself, seems fossil-like now. A nice touch indeed! After all seven centuries have apparently passed.

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Perhaps no where near the radar for many of you, this OVA for me was worth the minor effort since this is like a second ending to a TV series I loved… I had to try it since it’s an 80s anime!… afterall, that’s what I essentially do here! Of course there are those side stories released later like Wings of Rean and Garzey’s Wing, which I don’t have much interest in watching. The clips of Garzey’s Wing are enough for me for a general laugh. And can you believe to this day I still have not seen Garzey’s Wing proper. Perhaps that is best. Aura Battler Dunbine: The Tale of Neo Byston on the other hand is a good short sojourn back into Byston Well that is by no means a joke, but not something I may go back to… maybe. Though didn’t Cham Huau survive from the TV show? That would have been an interesting story to see what happened to her.

10 Ladies Who Defined Mecha Excellence… 80s Edition (Part 3: Gundam)

Hey you pilot that giant robot like a girl! Once considered a “man’s job“, like several other jobs, the occupation of being a mecha pilot has over the years shown that skill and finesse are not confined to one’s gender. “Anything you can do I can do better, I can do anything better than you, No you can’t… oh hell yes I CAN!”

Let us now pay tribute to a selection of ladies who are some of the best giant robot pilots… EVER! And yeah, it’s an all 80s cast as usual… you know me, no matter what year it is, to me it can still be 1987, or 1982, or 85, 89, 86… etc. etc. A small note, this will be a listing of pilots I know from shows I have seen. This means in the future I can create additional entries once I become aware of even more talented pilots. Now for this round, which is Gundam focused, I pick…


Sayla Mass
Mobile Suit Gundam (TV)/Mobile Suit Gundam (Movie Trilogy)

ME_Sayla

Be it as a communications officer, or a nurse, Sayla Mass was a vital member aboard the White Base. After one disastrous attempt to pilot the original RX-78 Gundam, Sayla would rebound her efforts aboard craft like the Core Fighter, or Core Booster, depending on the version of original Gundam. Just one thing, what’s her deal with Char Aznable?


Lalah Sune
Mobile Suit Gundam (TV)/Mobile Suit Gundam (Movie Trilogy)

ME_Lalah

The mysterious and enigmatic girl from India with emerald like eyes held spellbound the two rivals of original Gundam: Char Aznable and Amuro Ray). Under the guidance of Char, Lalah would bring out her Newtype abilities as a pilot, but her association with Amuro allowed her the opportunity to deeply connect with another fellow Newtype like she never had before.


Christina “Chris” Mackenzie
Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket

ME_Christina

The sweet and friendly girl next door to the young protagonist of Gundam 0080, Alfred Izuruha, has a secret. Turns out she is the army, the Federation forces… whoa, really? Yeah she has some boring desk job… well that’s just a cover. In truth she is a test pilot for an experimental Gundam, the Gundam Alex.


Emma Sheen
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam

ME_Emma

A woman of high moral convictions, Emma Sheen’s made an early decision during Zeta Gundam to defect from the tyrannical Earth Federation backed Titans to join the freedom seeking rebels of the AEUG. She is one of their best pilots and acts like a sempai (big sister?) towards Zeta Gundam’s protagonist Kamille Bidan.


Four Murasume
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam

ME_Four

A troubled girl with no memories of her past, Four Murasume would be one pf Zeta Gundam’s most tragic characters. Programmed by the Titans for combat and hatred, Four would unconsciously mask her true  personality, that of a sweet, freewheeling, gentle teenage girl. All what would change however with her chance relationship with Zeta Gundam’s hero, Kamille Bidan.


Reccoa Londe
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam

ME_Reccoa

“Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”  If ever this quote was written for anyone, Reccoa would be that individual. Always living on the edge of dangerous, Reccoa would give up her alliance with the AEUG to side with the Titans. Always feeling she has something to prove, Reccoa masks her vulnerability with a tough exterior.


Haman Karn
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam/Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ

ME_Haman

The original leader of Neo Zeon/Axis, Haman Karn would initially run the show during Zeta Gundam in the shadows under the figure head of young Mineva Zabi. By Gundam ZZ, Haman was without question the leader of Axis. Tough as nails, she strikes fear and awe into everyone she meets, just don’t cross her path the wrong way… especially when she is piloting the Qubeley.


Roux Louka
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ

ME_Roux

Confident and ever the charmer, Roux Louka brought these traits along with her polished professional skills as a pilot to good use during Gundam ZZ… though she would get into many an argument with her more ‘rookie’ cohorts. … Plus she has one of the best flight suit and helmet designs EVER from any mecha series! (Don’t ya think?)


Quess Paraya
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack

ME_Quess

What we have here is a spoiled annoying stereotypical rich brat who happens to have a knack for piloting mobile suits… as well as jealous crushes on older men totally out of her league. Eventually teaming up with Char Aznable, Quess would become one of Neo-Zeon’s top proteges… if only she wasn’t so immature!

Chan Agi
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack

ME_Chan1

Chan is a talented mechanic who happens to be a decent pilot of mobile suits when the time arrises. Her skills care for Amuro Ray’s newest Gundam in Char’s Counterattack, the Nu Gundam, as well as Amuro himself… she was the last love interest for the famed Newtype pilot and you know… they were such a cute couple!

ME_Chan2

to be continued…