Space Gundam V
Encyclopedia
Space Gundam V (sometimes spelled Space Gandam V), is a South Korea
n animated series directed by Kim Cheong-gi
, released on July 1983. Despite its title, the series is not related to Mobile Suit Gundam
. It is known for incorporating an unlicensed version of the VF-1J Valkyrie
of Macross
fame and the heroic elements of Brave Raideen
.
The series is currently available on DVD in South Korea.
. It was within this period that Korean animation was in its infancy. Many examples of early Korean animation incorporated unauthorized uses of Japanese anime characters and likenesses. For example, Space Black Knight featured characters that looked exactly like Amuro Ray
, Char Aznable
, Sayla Mass
and Dozle Zabi
of Mobile Suit Gundam
. In Space Gundam V, the protagonist mecha was an unlicensed version of the VF-1J Valkyrie
from The Super Dimension Fortress Macross
.
Unlike the original Macross version - which portrayed the Valkyrie as a realistic combat mecha
, Space Gundam V was presented as a Super Robot
with quasi-mystical powers that battled a villainous entity on every episode. Much like the Super Robot shows Invincible Super Man Zambot 3
and Trider G7
, the robot was piloted by a pre-teen boy. Notable villains included a giant rat and a winged devil.
Space Gundam V received international notoriety when clips of the series surfaced on YouTube
. The series has been commonly panned by anime fans as being a ripoff of Macross, as well as Gundam due to its name. The show's crude animation quality has also been the subject of ridicule among viewers.
1/55 VF-1J Valkyrie, right down to the original's box artwork.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n animated series directed by Kim Cheong-gi
Kim Cheong-gi
Kim Cheong-gi is a South Korean director of animated, fantasy, and science fiction films.His work, Robot Taekwon V , is considered one of the milestones of Korean animation of the 1970s...
, released on July 1983. Despite its title, the series is not related to Mobile Suit Gundam
Mobile Suit Gundam
is a televised anime series, created by Sunrise. Created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, it premiered in Japan on Nagoya Broadcasting Network on April 7, 1979, and lasted until January 26, 1980, spanning 43 episodes...
. It is known for incorporating an unlicensed version of the VF-1J Valkyrie
VF-1 Valkyrie
This article is about a fictional vehicle; for the fighter squadron see VF-1.In the fictional Macross Japanese anime series and its English adaptation Robotech, the first mass-produced variable fighter or veritech fighter is called the VF-1 Valkyrie.-Background:The VF-1 was created by the...
of Macross
Macross
is a series of science fiction mecha anime, directed by Shōji Kawamori of Studio Nue in 1982. The franchise features a fictional history of Earth/Humanity after the year 1999. It consists of three TV series, four movies, six OVAs, one light novel and five manga series, all sponsored by Big West...
fame and the heroic elements of Brave Raideen
Brave Raideen
is a super robot anime series. Produced by Tohokushinsha, Asahi News Agency and Sunrise, it aired on NET from 4 April 1975 to 26 March 1976, with a total of 50 episodes...
.
The series is currently available on DVD in South Korea.
Background
During the 1970s and 1980s, the South Korean government implemented a ban on Japanese media, including newspapers, magazines, movies, television programs and mangaManga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
. It was within this period that Korean animation was in its infancy. Many examples of early Korean animation incorporated unauthorized uses of Japanese anime characters and likenesses. For example, Space Black Knight featured characters that looked exactly like Amuro Ray
Amuro Ray
is a fictional character from the anime series Mobile Suit Gundam and its sequels, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam and Char's Counterattack, voiced by Tōru Furuya , Brad Swaile , Michael Lindsay and Matthew Erickson is a fictional character from the anime series Mobile Suit Gundam and its sequels, Mobile...
, Char Aznable
Char Aznable
, born is a fictional character from the Gundam franchise. He is originally one of the main antagonists in Mobile Suit Gundam and later becomes one of the protagonists of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. In his final appearance in Char's Counterattack, he assumes leadership of the Neo Zeon movement,...
, Sayla Mass
Sayla Mass
, is a fictional character from the Universal Century Gundam universe, first appearing in the groundbreaking 1979 43-episode anime series Mobile Suit Gundam...
and Dozle Zabi
Dozle Zabi
In the fictional Mobile Suit Gundam series, is the second oldest son of Degwin Sodo Zabi and the Principality of Zeon's Space Attack Force Commander...
of Mobile Suit Gundam
Mobile Suit Gundam
is a televised anime series, created by Sunrise. Created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, it premiered in Japan on Nagoya Broadcasting Network on April 7, 1979, and lasted until January 26, 1980, spanning 43 episodes...
. In Space Gundam V, the protagonist mecha was an unlicensed version of the VF-1J Valkyrie
VF-1 Valkyrie
This article is about a fictional vehicle; for the fighter squadron see VF-1.In the fictional Macross Japanese anime series and its English adaptation Robotech, the first mass-produced variable fighter or veritech fighter is called the VF-1 Valkyrie.-Background:The VF-1 was created by the...
from The Super Dimension Fortress Macross
The Super Dimension Fortress Macross
is an anime television series. According to story creator Shoji Kawamori, it depicts "a love triangle against the backdrop of great battles" during the first Human-alien war....
.
Unlike the original Macross version - which portrayed the Valkyrie as a realistic combat mecha
Real Robot
is a genre of Japanese animation. The genre contains mecha robots that are powered by conventional power sources and weapons explainable by real world science, and that use ranged weapons and speed to survive battle situations....
, Space Gundam V was presented as a Super Robot
Super Robot
is a term used in manga and anime to describe a giant robot or mecha, with an arsenal of fantastic super-powered weapons, extreme resistance to damage unless the plot calls for it, sometimes transformable or combined from two or more robots and/or vehicles usually piloted by young, daring heroes,...
with quasi-mystical powers that battled a villainous entity on every episode. Much like the Super Robot shows Invincible Super Man Zambot 3
Invincible Super Man Zambot 3
is a Super Robot anime series created by Yoshiyuki Tomino and Yoshitake Suzuki, featuring character design by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko and produced by Sunrise. It was first broadcast on Japanese TV in 1977. The series lasted for 23 episodes.- Story :...
and Trider G7
Trider G7
Trider G7, known in Japan as , was a Japanese anime television series which aired from 1980 to 1981. There were 50 episodes. It is also referred to as "Trider G7", "Unchallengeable Trider G7" and "Tryder G7", "Bird Attack Tryder G7", "Unrivaled Robot Trider G7".-Concept:Invincible Robo Trider G7...
, the robot was piloted by a pre-teen boy. Notable villains included a giant rat and a winged devil.
Space Gundam V received international notoriety when clips of the series surfaced on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
. The series has been commonly panned by anime fans as being a ripoff of Macross, as well as Gundam due to its name. The show's crude animation quality has also been the subject of ridicule among viewers.
Toys
The Space Gundam V toy was a Korean copy of the Takatoku ToysTakatoku Toys
Takatoku toys was a Japanese toy company active during the 1970s and 1980s. While responsible for many robots, action-figures and vehicles, they are today mainly known for making the original Macross toys....
1/55 VF-1J Valkyrie, right down to the original's box artwork.
See also
- Korean animationKorean animationThe art of Korean animation, or Han-guk Manhwa Aenimeisyeon , has gone from hand-held flip books in early times to studios that produce most of the work for major American and Japanese animation companies...
- The Super Dimension Fortress MacrossThe Super Dimension Fortress Macrossis an anime television series. According to story creator Shoji Kawamori, it depicts "a love triangle against the backdrop of great battles" during the first Human-alien war....
- Astro PlanAstro PlanAstro Plan, known in Mainland China as Space Adventures and informally in Japan as , is a science fiction mecha animated series created by Guangzhou-based toy firm Xing Yuan. Hailed as "China's first sci-fi animation", the series premiered on Chinese television on January 16, 2010 through Hunan...
- A 2010 ChinesePeople's Republic of ChinaChina , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
animated TV series that also uses Macross-derived designs.