[Xボンバー] X-BOMBER: Big Dai X, Unleashed!

This series is also known as Star Fleet in the West.

I was amazed to discover that it was created by Go Nagai, the Father of such series as Getter Robo and Mazinger Z. The formula here is very unusual. Take a Mecha Anime, turn it into a puppet show, and you're pretty much done!

The actual plot reminds me a lot of things like Getter Robo, Macross, and possibly even Gunbuster with the ever-aloof "Coach" character. The villains are quite atypical of Go Nagai, and even the art style is similar to his own, simply in puppet form.

I really like the villainess Bloody Mary, who is called Makara in the English dubbed series. Some might argue that's a whole lot more fitting!

Having watched the Dub and the Original Japanese, I'd say that, in some ways, the English Dub is a lot more interesting and fresh. The soundtrack for X-BOMBER is pretty much your usual Getter Robo/Mazinger Z giant robot background music, whilst the dub goes for this fascinating Eighties style synth approach. Even some of the voice-acting is more impressive in the English Dub.

Regardless, as for the puppet element? You'll either love it or hate it. I know that I'm hooked on it already. And I'm dreading the end of the twenty five or so episode run. Then I'll have no more quirky puppet shows with such an intriguing back story!

Enjoy this! It's a chunk from the latter half of Episode 4 in which you'll see the Big Dai X kick some butt!

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• X Bomber
• Ｘボンバー
• Ekkusu Bonbā
• Go Nagai
• Anime
• Manga
• Retro
• Star Fleet
• Tokusatsu
• 特撮
• Cosmo Productions
• Jin Productions
• Fuji Television Network
• . 株式会社フジテレビジョン
• Sūpāmariorama
• スーパーマリオラマ
• Big Dai X
• Super Sentai Series
• スーパー戦隊シリーズ
• Sūpā Sentai Shirīzu
• Getter Robo
• ゲッターロボ
• 永井 豪
• EDF
• Makara
• Lamia
• Doctor Benn
• Shiro Hagen
• Barry Hercules
• John Lee
• Mecha
• yt:stretch=16:9
• yt:quality=high

[thebladezmanII]

@Gorgo You sir are enormously misguided! Gerry had nothing to do but inspire the series.

[Gorgo]

You forgot to mention Gerry Anderson in the equation.( likely played a large role with the puppets ) He was responsible for all the super marionette tv shows of the late 60's/70's.(Thunderbirds,Space 1999,Cpt.Action,Terahawks) X-Bomber may be the last show he Gerry worked on. I like that Gerry Anderson and Go Nagai worked on a project. This is a great example of art going full circle. Anime style being influenced and derived from Disney animation of the 30's and 40's. The marionette tech origin

[Bladez636no3]

I wish the English DVD's came in the cleaner bluish looking tint that the Japanese ones did. Though the French DVD's are in better condition it seems (bit more contrast in that one).

[RakikoHime]

I was looking for to watch it in Japanese because Rihoko Yoshida is voicing Bloody Mary. Bloody Mary is a very awesome character, the cutest of that serie and my favorite too...also because of Rihoko of course!

Thanks for sharing!

[DairuggerXV]

Shgardy,do you still have arabic-dubbed episodes of this Show?

[thebladezmanII]

So this is what the original Japanese dubs sound like, I've wondered.... I see the English version uses various sounds from the Japanese version too.....