Chodenji Mashin Combattler V...Voltes V's Predecessor

Back in 1977-78, Chodenji Mashin Voltes V enjoyed the red carpet treatment amongst Filipinos that spanned more than 20 years of sentimentality, perhaps, unparalleled by any other super robot shows in history. But before Voltes V, another Chodenji mashin named Combattler V was reputed to be one of the most significant giant robot series in anime history. Sadly, this chodenji mashine goes unnoticed by most Filipino viewers since it’s release in the Philippines in the mid 1980’s. Much worst, some even saw it as a “rip-off” of Voltes V. In fairness, Combattler V had a string of fans in the U.S. Europe, as well as in Asia. The animated series was the first in line with Saburo Yate/Tadao Nagahama’s Giant Robot Romance Trilogy series followed by Chodenji Mashin Voltes V and Toshou Daimos.

It was the first Electro-magnetic “Gattai” (combiner) Multi-Functioning machine/vehicle components piloted by young, Earth defense agents.
Combattler V also appeared as a die-cast robot toy in the Popinka toy line and later on, reissued as “Godaikin” and Mattel’s “Shogun Warrior” series (as Combatra and “Combattra Super Robot System”) Combattler V also appeared as an all plastic toy in the “Real Action Hero” series, some bootleg items and finally, as part of the “Soul of Chogokin” series from Bandai.

The Story:

The series starts with the attack of the Campbellians or “Kyanbels” (Campbells reminds me of the all American soup products) against the people of Earth. For more than a thousand years, these malevolent invaders had lived beneath the Earth, eager to one day resurface and conquer the human race. The Kyanbels were ruled by a domineering alien queen named Oreanna, her second in command, and the main commander of the Kyanbel Invassion Force is her son, the temperamental Prince Garruda. Aiding her abominable scheme is the high Kyanbel priestess Gen. Janealor. Using the gigantic beast machines under the command of field general Warchimedes and Dungele, they were aided by fearsome combat advisers namely Mica, Garua and Narva. The Kyanbel forces spell certain doom for the people of Planet Earth.

But their evil plans were discovered by Professor Nanbarra – a notable Earth defense Scientist that looses no time in creating humanity’s only hope for survival; the Super-Electro magnetic robot Combattler V!

The Combattler Machines:

Just like that of Voltes V, Combattler V (Vee) is a combination-type super robot formed by five powerful machines they are as follows:

Battle Jet – Forms the head of Combattler V; fastest of all Battler machines-boasting a maximum speed of Mach 20

Battle Clasher (Battle Crasher) – Forms the shopulders, arms and chest of Combattler V. Attack/Fighter Bomber-Type machine, equipt with a variety of projectiles.


Battle tank – Forms the upper and lower torso of Combattler V. This tank-like machine had powerful armors, sensitive radar units and pinchers. Unfortunately, unlike Voltes V’s Volt Panzer Three, this machine could not fly.

Battle Marine – Forms the legs of Combattler V; an areal/submarine machine equipt with repair and maintenance units. Also serves as a carrier unit that holds the Battle Tank in flight.


Battle Craft (Battle Kulaft) – Forms the feet of Combattler V;Subterrenean machine armed with drills, energy guns and powerful sensors. Amazingly, this machine houses Combattler V’s brain center or Main frame.

The Combattler V Super Robot Defense System:

Just like in Chodenji Mashin Voltes V, the voice command registrating code: “Let’s Combine!” activates the powerful metallic transducers, triggering a locking-in polarity activation that forms Chodenji Mashin Combattler V. Standing 57 meters tall, the robot’s color scheme of red, white (silver) and blue may have been adapted from American super hero lore since most super robot animes of the past had a basic, super hero storyline. Just like Voltes V, Combattler V cast a silhouette of an over-sized armored samurai warrior than the all too familiar clunky robot image of vintage U.S. sci-fi shows.

Weapons of Combattler V:

Battle Return

Rock Fighter

Magnet Claw

V-Laser

Battle Galega

Spring Crusher / Drill

Choudenji Crane

Atomic Burner

Twin Lancer

Battle Chainsaw

Choudenji Yoyo

Big Blast

Big Blast Divider

Choudenji Tatsumaki

Choudenji Spark

Grandasher

Choudenji Spin

Combattler V’s Battle Team:

Professor Nambarra erected “The Nambarra Connection” : A cabinet like Earth Defense station that serves as headquarters and launch/repair center for the Battle Machines. With this, he assembled a stalwart group of young, Earth Defense Pilots trained to operate the battle Machines and Combattler V.

Aoi Hyoma – Team Leader of the Battle Team.
Battle Jet pilot and moto-cross rider who ended up with a cybernetic arms and legs after his encounter with Prince Garruda.

Juzo Nanwa – 2nd in command, Pilot of the Battle Clasher; Sniper, Marksman, all around fire arms expert with a smooth and cool disposition.

Nishikawa Daisaku – Pilot of the Battle Tank; A young Jodo-Master, a “generic” Gentle Giant.

Chizuru Nambarra – Pilot of the Battle Marine; Grand daughter of Professor Nambarra; Lovely and child-like, she was the darling of the Battle Team and the object of affection. Later, she was discovered of having a heat ailment.

Kita Kosuke – Pilot of the Battle Kulaft (Battle Craft) ; Wearing large, Boston glasses and a loose uniformhe’s the Battle Team’s youngest member and the usual “Boy Genius” who loves to tinker, invent zany gadgets and fooling around.

After Professor Nambarra’s demise, the unkempt Professor Yotsuya took over as head of the Nambarra Connection and the Battle Team; a drunkard and shabby fellow, Professor Yotsuya’s uncouth and faulty dispositions serves as humorous excuse for some of the show’s funniest moments between him and the Battle Team or with the resident comical robot helper/mascot Ropet –a computerized machine that gauges the Battle Team’s mental energies. Ropet is also known to make good coffee.

Personal Comments:

There are people, specially Combattler V fans who keep insisting Voltes V as an imitation of Combattler V.

Although I admit that Combattler V (pronounced as "Vee") was the first combining Super robot to be created by Saburo Yate , I strongly stress again and again that Voltes V is the improvement of Combattler V!

I'm sick and tired talking to these "IDIOTS" and I hope this is the last of my explanations:Voltes V and Combattler V had only one creator and that’s Saburo Yate and it looks like that Voltes V is an improvement of Combattler V, in robot design, character personalities and story.

Most characters in Combattler V are immature and irresponsible, specially their Professor/ coordinator who is a sloppy drunkard.

There was also an episode where the Combattler V leader prefers to watch cartoons instead than battle the invaders. All of this in a story line set in a future world supposedly being invaded by hostile alien aggressors using giant machines to conquer.

With this kind of personality the Combattler V team shows, no wonder Saburo Yate created Voltes V!

Voltes V Team on the other hand, showed utmost dedication to their profession; they are highly skilled and alert, it looks like Yate San could throw Combattler V into the trash can any time and replaced it with Voltes V instead!

It’s just like one episode of “Knight Rider” where David Hasslehoff’s character encountered another computerized talking car made by the same company who developed his side kick talking car “K.I.T.T.” When asked if Kitt felt insecure that “K.a.r.r.” (The villain computerized talking car) was the first to be created, K.i.t.t replied nonchalantly: “I am the Improvement of “K.a.r.r.”

Final battle comparisons of Voltes V and Combattler V:

Even in their show’s “Final Battle scenes” Voltes V proves advantage against Combattler V

In Combattler V’s ending, the Combattler V super robot over-heats and bogs down after fighting off the last enemy robot. Unable to eject out of their giant super defender, the Combattler team awaits their fate from an oncoming alien armada from the report they received from their “Nambara Connection” base.

Lucky for them, it turns out that the said “armada” is only a large “clean up” committee sends by the planet from where the Kyanbel criminals came from.

The planet’s government even apologies to the Earth People for the uncalled conduct of their fallen comrade.

In Voltes V’s ending, Voltes V along with The Solar Falcon (Big Falcon turns to a space station) brought the war in Planet Boazania’s doorsteps.

Voltes V liberated the Boazanian slaves from the cruel reign of Emperor Zanbasil, destroyed the Boazanian monarchy and crushed its haughty imperialistic ways.

Voltes V even battled with Boazania’s last defender, the “Boazanian God of War” piloted by Prince Heinnel (Prince Zardoz) where the Voltes team members, the Go brothers (Armstrong brothers) learned that their long time enemy is really their half brother!Kennichi (Steve), Daijiro (Big Bert) and Hiyoshi (Little Jon) were reunited with their long lost father and Voltes V returns to Earth as its ever ready defender.

In the toy designs created by Bandai (Godaikin toy line) Combattler V still had many add-ons every time the robot toy disassembles to become the Combattler Machines.Whereas in the Bandai rendition of Voltes V (Godaikin Toy line), only the Volt Bomber 2 part needs an add-on.

Another thing, The Combattler V toy could not lock its components properly because the manufacturers used magnet locking devices. You still have to put a rubber strip to hold the robot toy together.

Unlike The Voltes V toys (Also under Bandai’s Godaikin line) Use sturdy plastic couplers as locking mechanisms. (Even in the toy line, Voltes V proves to be Combattler V’s superior!.)