Planetary Robot Danguard Ace (惑星ロボ ダンガードAエース, Wakusei Robo Dangādo Ēsu) is a Japanese science fiction anime series created by Leiji Matsumoto with Dan Kobayashi.

Danguard Ace is Matsumoto’s only contribution to the mecha genre.

Synopsis

Danguard Ace takes place on a future Earth in which natural resources have been depleted. People have begun looking toward other planets to survive, in particular to the fictional tenth planet, Promete. Although people had hoped to peacefully settle there, disaster strikes as the first explorers are destroyed by betrayal.

After this event, an individual named Mr. Doppler announces that all attempts to reach Promete surrender to his command, those who do not will be destroyed. Using his own resources, Doppler constructs a vast military force greater than that of Earth’s. He forbids anyone from approaching the planet, under the insane belief that only he is entitled to it.

To gain control of Promete, the governments of Earth begin constructing massive combat robots. Doppler is able to attack and destroy all of them before they are completed, except for Danguard Ace. The forces sent to attack Danguard’s base were destroyed because of the efforts of Captain Dan. Nothing is known of this mysterious man, except that he previously served Doppler while under mind control.

Takuma Ichimonji, son of the man who betrayed the initial Promete exploration team, becomes a cadet at Danguard’s base. Ichimonji hopes that he might restore his father’s honor by fighting against Doppler’s forces.

Production

Some of the main character designs were similar to characters appearing in Space Battleship Yamato, which was known in the U.S. market as Star Blazers. The Takuma Ichimonji character resembles the Space Battleship Yamato character Susumu Kodai. The doctor on the show resembles Dr. Sakezo Sado from Space Battleship Yamato.

International Release

It was released in English three times, first by M&M Productions under the title “The Planet Robot Danguard Ace” that saw limited release in Hawaii and the Philippines. The only remaining recording of this dub was a Story Record LP released in Japan. It was then licensed and redubbed by Jim Terry Productions, as part of the Force Five promotion and was rereleased later by combined episodes into a feature-length presentation. This film edit gained a cult following on Showtime during the 1980s.

The titular robot also had a leading role in Marvel Comics‘ Shogun Warriors series, as well as in the eponymous toy line.

In 2009, William Winckler Productions produced three all-new English dubbed movie versions edited from the original series. Winckler, known for Tekkaman the Space Knight, wrote, produced and directed these films, which have been seen on broadband in Japan and a three volume DVD release in the United States.

In the early 1980s, a French-dubbed version was released through Jacques Canestrier Productions entitled Danguard – La Conquete des Planetes. However, only the first volume of three episodes were released on VHS. It was released in Hong Kong and Italy in 1978 and was the first anime ever broadcast on a private channel in Italy. It also saw a 1986 release in both South Korea and Taiwan.

Planetary Robot Danguard Ace
Cover of the first DVD volume.
惑星ロボ・ダンガードA (Wakusei Robo Dangādo A (Ēsu))
Genre	Mecha
Created by	Leiji Matsumoto Dan Kobayashi
Anime television series
Directed by	Tomoharu Katsumata
Written by	Mitsuru Majima Sōji Yoshikawa Tatsuo Tamura Haruya Yamazaki
Music by	Shunsuke Kikuchi
Studio	Toei Animation
Original network	FNS (Fuji TV)
Original run	March 6, 1977 – March 26, 1978
Episodes	56
Manga
Written by	Leiji Matsumoto
Published by	Akita Shoten
Magazine	Boken Oh
Demographic	Shōnen
Original run	1977 – 1978
Volumes	2
Anime film
Danguard Ace vs. Insect Robot Troop
Directed by	Masayuki Akehi
Produced by	Imada Chaiki
Written by	Tatsuo Tamura
Music by	Shunsuke Kikuchi
Studio	Toei Animation
Released	July 17, 1977
Runtime	30 minutes
Anime film
Danguard Ace: The Great Space War
Directed by	Masayuki Akehi
Produced by	Imada Chaiki
Written by	Tatsuo Tamura
Music by	Shunsuke Kikuchi
Studio	Toei Animation
Released	March 18, 1978
Runtime	30 minutes