Behold the Man-bot of all Man-bots, the Godannar Twin Drive. The series "Shinkon Gattai: Gadannar!!" or translated as "Marriage of God and Soul: Godannar!!", the show is unique, but knows that it was striving to be a stereotype. The series is basically biological aliens called Mimetic Beasts are attacking Earth, trying to wipe out all human life with the only thing standing against them is the Super Robots of the world. In actuality if you watch the series, this is more of a side plot as the story focuses on the love life of various characters and how being a Super Robot pilot can effect that. What you get is my third favourite Anime series. The Power of Love, deep characters, and Super Robot action? What more can you need. Well, for ecchi fans, you get that too. Me? Never really bothered staring, too busy watching this man-bot fuck shit up.
The Godannar Twin Drive, as the name might suggest, is made up of two robots, the Dannar and the Neo-Okusaer. Each robot has a Japan specific energy source that is simply called a “Plasma Drive”. All you need to know is that the engine likes to spin, and that it is located in the chest. When the two combine, the drives fuse together, bringing out an exponential boost in power. How the two combine is really simple, the Dannar opens up, the Neo-Okusaer fold in its arms, legs and head, then inserts itself into the Dannar. Revolver like object then form in the forearms and legs, turning the Dannar red, giving it a larger head crest, face guard, and HAIR OF FIRE.
When the Godannar is separate, the skills they both have are few, very few. The Dannar has literally no signature moves or attack names to call out. All it uses is its pure strength to punch, kick, and rip apart anything that gets in its way. The Okusaer however is much weaker, but much more agile, with the ranged attack “Gravity Bomber” and shield “Angel Wall”. The same goes for its prototype, the Go-Okusaer, but turn it up to eleven. The Godannar Twin Drive does have named attacks, but even then they are few. There is the Spiral Fire, where the Godannar encases itself in flame to defend, Counter Knuckle, which shoots an energy wave via punching motion to, well, counter an enemy attack to get in closer. Besides much stronger punches and kicks, the Godannar’s last attacks are finishers. It first starts off with the “Heart Breaker” where the Godannar lodges its fist into the Mimetic Beast. The Okusaer pilot will then pull the trigger of a gun-like controller which fires a shell from the fist of the Godannar into it. The shot seems to have an effect of organic life, as it turns it into a rock like state. Depending on the number of shots, this can be the final attack, causing the Mimetic Beast to explode or freeze the ground in one case. When the Heart Breaker is not the final attack, the Godannar will fly high into the air and then charge down with a powered flying kick, called the Soul Breaker. The other two variations of the Soul Breaker are the Fire Soul Breaker, where the Godannar is wreathed in blue flame, and the Soul Spin Crusher, where the Godannar does a double legged, spinning kick. Either way, the enemy dies, hard. The final attack of the series is unnamed, simply called the Triple Attack, which is so powerful that it causes it to go through a forced shut-down from over-heating.
Now, just like with the Mazinger, the reason why I love the Godannar is not only its sheer simplicity, but also its style and symbolism throughout the Godannar series. The two main character, Goh Saruwatari and Anna Aoi and the main pilots for the Dannar and Okusaer respectively. Throughout the series, the Godannar is what binds the love between the two, amoung other mishaps and adventures as the characters, not only Goh and Anna but the other pilots from around the world, learn what love means to them. Through trial, error and fighting for humanity, the Godannar was able to go forth in a blaze of glory, in the name of love. And unlike a lot of Animes that are out there right now, Godannar is one of the few where all is good in the world.
TL:DR: This robot is a man and a half, and represents the love that the main characters of Godannar have, forcing it’s way into tomorrow, all for love.
Shinkon Gattai Go! Go-Go-Go-DANNA!!!
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