Super-Android Metalder

Directed by: Takeshi Ogasawara

Screenplay by: Susumu Takaku

Produced by: Toei

Release Date: July 13, 1987-1988

Lenght: 39 Episodes, 23 minutes each and 1 Short Movie, 20 minutes long

The sixth and shortest instalment of Metal Heroes, sharing the writer behind the infamous Toei Spider-Man series.

The titular Metalder is a cyborg created by Dr. Koga, and modeled after his son who died in World War II. Originally forged as a weapon for Imperial Japan, Koga refused to deploy him for war, programming him with the capacity to learn and empathize. Centuries later however, Metalder is awakened as the only line of defense against the empire of God Neros, a nefarious megalomaniac disguising himself as a famous philanthropist. He and his army control the world from the shadows, committing acts of terrorism and multiple coups d'état around the globe. With the assistance of his robot dog Springer, and two human partners, Mai and Benkei, Metalder must face against the forces of Neros, all while learning to form and grow his human identity. Each fight exposing him to the tragic suffering that even some of his own enemies endure due to the ambitions of Neros.

Metalder is a very transparent homage to Shotaro Ishinomori's Kikaider, right down to the protagonist having an extremely similar yet much more detailed design. And sharing much of the same themes of a hero that grapples with his humanity, reason for existence and place in the world. To my understanding, although the Metal Heroes franchise often dealt with a lot more drama than the Showa era Sentai and Kamen Rider shows, Metalder stood out for being even more tonally grim than usual, sort of predicting the soap opera style of writing that would become more commonplace in the Heisei Era. This and other changes to the usual formula however made the series very unpopular with it's demographic of children when it aired, hence it's short run. However, it managed to grow a cult following over time with older viewers, and many of it's shifts would become standard tropes in the Metal Heroes that succeded Metalder.

This is my first time watching one of these shows. (Not counting the Gavan reboot crossing over with Dekaranger and Kyuranger, or G3 and V-1 in Agito due to a technicallity behind the show's production.) And I must say, this show was an incredible time. I highly recommend it to anyone in the mood for a Tokusatsu from the 80s.

Although Metal Heroes are usually most fondly remembered in Brazil, a certain generaion of North Americans might recognize Metalder's design, as it was one of the shows used by Saban to make VR Troopers.