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Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos

Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos
Cover to the Western DVD release of the first five episodes
マシンロボ クロノスの大逆襲
(Mashin Robo: Chronos no Dai Gyakushū)
GenreAdventure, Mecha
Anime television series
Directed byHiroshi Yoshida
Produced byHyota Ezu
Minoru Ono
Masaru Umehara
Written byHideki Sonoda
Music byTachio Akano
StudioAshi Productions
Licensed by
Original networkMegaTON (TV Tokyo)
Original run July 3, 1986 May 28, 1987
Episodes47
Original video animation
Leina: Wolf Sword Legend
Directed byTakao Kato
Nobuyoshi Habara
Kiyoshi Murayama
Produced byHiroshi Tazaki
Masaru Umehara
Yukinao Shimoji
Music byChumei Watanabe
StudioAshi Productions
Licensed by
Released February 5, 1988 April 26, 1989
Runtime30 minutes
Episodes3
Original video animation
Lightning Trap - Leina & Laika
Directed byKiyoshi Murayama
Produced byHiroshi Tazaki
Masaru Umehara
Written byHideki Sonoda
Music byOsamu Totsuka
Takeshi Ike
StudioAshi Productions
Licensed by
ReleasedMay 23, 1990
Runtime27 minutes
Light novel
Lightning Trap - Leina & Laika
Written byHideki Sonoda
Illustrated byKia Asamiya, Nobuyoshi Habara
Published byKadokawa Shoten
ImprintSneaker Bunko
PublishedSeptember 1, 1990

Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos (マシンロボ クロノスの大逆襲, Mashin Robo: Chronos no Dai Gyakushū), known in France as La Revanche des GoBots (Revenge of the GoBots), is a Japanese anime television series produced by Ashi Productions. It ran on TV Tokyo from July 3, 1986, through May 28, 1987.[1]

A large portion of the Machine Robo toy line was exported and sold by Tonka in America as GoBots and Rock Lords. Central Park Media released 15 English-subtitled episodes of the series on three DVDs in 2003; these remained the only official English releases until 2022, when Discotek Media released the complete series and its associated OVAs on one SD Blu-ray set.

Story

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The story takes place on the mechanical world of Cronos. A band of villains called the Gyandlar have come to the planet in search of the mythical energy known as the Hyribead.

Characters

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Heroes

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Master of the martial art Tenkū Chūshin Ken (天空宙心拳 literally Sky Space Heart Fist). Using the Wolf Sword Kenrō (剣狼), Rom can combine with Kenryū and Baikanfū for more power. Height: 186 cm, Weight: 880 kg.
Kenryū (Blade Dragon)
Larger robot body of Rom Stol. At the peak of light energy, Kenrō can cross the dimensional barrier and call forth Kenryū. When Rom combines with Kenryū, his power increases by tens. When the combination is complete, he says, "Wherever there is darkness, there is light. Wherever there is evil there is also good! The emissary from the heavens, Kenryū, is here!"
Baikanfu (ViKung-fu)
Largest robot body of Rom Stol and summoned at Rom's command of "Heaven, Earth, Fire and Water, grant me the power!". When Baikanfū synchronizes with the planet's energy, he can draw upon the power of nature itself.
The deluxe Rom Stol/Kenryu/Vaikungfu toy was a remold of DX Bunshin Gattai Tōshi Gordian (aka Godaikin "Guardian").
Younger sister of Rom, she also can use Tenkū Chūshin Ken when necessary. She is very close to Rom and gets jealous when other women get too close to him.
A swordsman of the Jet Tribe. He can turn into a jet. Fights with "Tenkū Shin Ken (天空真剣, Sky True Sword)" style. Based on the Machine Robo MR-03 Jet Robo toy that was also used as the Renegade Fitor in the GoBots series.
Happy-go-lucky member of the Battle tribe. Transforms into a drill-tank. Based on the Machine Robo MR-17 Drill Robo toy that was also used as the former Renegade/current Guardian Screw Head in the GoBots series.
Transforms into a helicopter and a car. Acts as a fussy caretaker to Leina.
Chief of the Cronos tribe and master of Tenkū Chūshin Ken martial art. He taught the art to his children Guardi, Rom, and Leina as well as Blue Jet, Rod Drill, and Bug Newman. He is killed in the first episode after refusing to tell the evil Gyandler about the Hyribead. He bequeaths the sword Kenrō to his son and tells him to fight the evil Gyandler to protect his planet.
Rom's sentient jeep. Its toy was recolored as Galoob's "Power Machines" Flex monster truck toy.
32-wheeled transport/repair vehicle. Can separate into three vehicles: Leader 16, GripIron, and TurboJet. An import of Galoob's Power Machines Giant Command 32 vehicle.
Remold of Titan Boy from Choushinsei Flashman with a new trailer.
Remold of Titan Boy from Choushinsei Flashman with new accessories.
A power suit that allowed four people to operate.

Dash Machine Robo

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Recolors of Bandai's "Zenmai Kahen Winch Robo" line. Other recolors were released as "Secret Riders" GoBots in the U.S.

Rock People

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Based on the molds released in the Tonka "Rock Lords" toy line in the U.S. and Europe.

Jewel People

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Recolors of these toys were released in the "Rock Lords" toy line in the U.S. and Europe.

Wheelmen

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These characters had highly articulated and detailed pull-back toys that are exclusive to Japan. They were not used in the Gobots series.

Guest Characters

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A female Leo Clan warrior. Transforms into a lioness. Reincarnated in the OVAs as Kyoko Yoshida.
Female martial artist that inherited her late father's dojo. Blue Jet's love interest. Her OVA incarnation is Yuko Sato.
Daughter of the Hirai Village leader.
A female Scooter Robo. Reincarnated in the OVAs as Sara Yamada.

Villains

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Leader of the Gyandlar.
A giant pink slug that lives encased in a robot body.
Female Gyandlar commander.
Gyandlar martial artist. Underneath his giant robot exterior is Rom's long-lost older brother, Guardi Stol, who has been brainwashed. Carries the sword Nagase (流星 Shooting Star).
Six monstrous robots that can combine into the giant Devil Satan 6 robot. In the anime they are referred to by number instead of name. Released in new colors as the Renegade combiner Monsterous in the GoBots toy line.
  1. Gillhead (Fright Face): (played by Kenichi Ono): The head. Speaks in a Kansai dialect. Weapon: Nunchaku.
  2. Barabat (South Claw): Left arm. Weapon: Tonfa.
  3. Deathclaw (Weird Wing): Right arm. Weapon is the Sasumata.
  4. Gurogiron (Heart Attack): Torso. Weapon is the Wolf Tooth Staff (狼牙棒 Láng-Yá Bàng).
  5. Eyegos (Gore Jaw): Right Leg. Weapon is Kusarigama.
  6. Blugoda (Fangs): Left Leg. Weapon is Azure Dragon Sword (青龍刀 Qīng-Lóng Dao).

Evil Rock People

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Recolors of these toys were released in the "Rock Lords" toy line in the U.S. and Europe.

Gyandlar Commanders

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Throughout the first half of the series Gadess uses various natives of Cronos to lead his forces.

A type of spaceship used by the Gyandlar, specifically Garudi. The toy is a remold of Jaguar Vulcan from Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan.

Staff

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Theme songs

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Original video animations

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Leina Stol in Wolf Sword Legend

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When Revenge of Cronos left off, Rom and Leina had crossed a dimensional barrier. Their physical forms changed from robot to human, and they were separated, with blurred memories. Leina Stol is incarnated as Reina Haruka, a Japanese schoolgirl. As the story progresses, she meets up with Rod Drill, Blue Jet, Triple Jim, and Rom, all of whom are now human. Given the fact the Revenge of Cronos robotic characters appear here in new human forms, the Blue Jet and the Rod Drill appearing with the usual robotic forms in Battle Hackers may be all-different robots.

Lightning Trap - Leina & Laika

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Taking place in the middle of the Wolf Sword Legend feature, this story centers on Leina Haruka, whose plane has been hijacked by a group of thugs led by the supernatural wizard Zarik. At this point, the series has no resemblance whatsoever to the Machine Robo toy line that spawned it.

Video games

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Machine Robo was featured in three of Banpresto's Super Robot Wars series, beginning with SRW Compact 2: Part 2 & 3 in 2000 on the Wonderswan. All three parts of SRW Compact 2 were remade in 2002 as SRW Impact on the PlayStation 2. In 2004, the series was included in the PS2's SRW MX's line-up, as well as the PSP port of the same.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "マシンロボ クロノスの大逆襲(1986)". allcinema.net (in Japanese). Stingray. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
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