Space Emperor God Sigma

Space Emperor God Sigma (宇宙大帝ゴッドシグマ, Uchū Taitei Goddo Shiguma) is a mecha anime television series aired from 1980 to 1981. It ran for 50 episodes. It is also referred to as "God Sigma, Empire of Space" and "Space Combination God Sigma".

Space Emperor God Sigma
Screenshot from Space Emperor God Sigma
宇宙大帝ゴッドシグマ
(Uchū Taitei Goddo Shiguma)
GenreMecha
Created bySaburō Yatsude
Anime television series
Directed byTakeyuki Kanda (episodes 1-10)
Katsuhiko Taguchi (episodes 11-50)
Produced byHeita Ezu (Tokyo Channel 12)
Takashi Ijima
Itaru Orita (Toei TV division)
Music byHiroshi Tsutsui
StudioAcademy Productions
Toei Company
Licensed by
Original networkJAITS[a] (Tokyo Channel 12)
Original run March 19, 1980 March 25, 1981
Episodes50

Concept

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Space Emperor God Sigma was created by Toei's Television Division, under the name "Saburo Yatsude" and produced by Academy Production (who subcontracted Greenbox). The series was produced by Toei Company, and not by its own animation studio Toei Animation; Yoshinobu Nishizaki's Academy Productions provided production assistance. Toei Agency handled the advertising for the show, and its main sponsor was Popy (now Bandai's Boy's Toys Division).

This anime was the last that Takashi Ijima would work on; he had been part of Toei's TV division's projects since Chōdenji Robo Combattler V, which aired in 1976. Joined by Katsuhiko Taguchi, the chief director, the two created an anime that lasted for four full seasons, which was rare at the time of its broadcast. This show is a similar situation to the Robot Romance Trilogy, where Toei produced each show, but the animation was done by Nippon Sunrise.

Story

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The story is set in the year 2050 AD, and mankind has been steadily advancing its space technology. However, the planet is suddenly set upon by a mysterious enemy: the forces of Eldar, who came from 250 years in the future. In their time, 2300 AD, their planet Eldar was invaded by Earth, and soundly defeated by Earth's Trinity Energy, a mysterious energy used in their weaponry that possesses power many times that of a hydrogen bomb. The Eldar people's objective is to steal this Trinity Energy before it can be used against them.

The Eldar forces begin by taking over Jupiter's moon Io, one of the places humanity has immigrated to by then. After that, they begin to attack Trinity City with their legions of Cosmosauruses in order to steal the Trinity Energy. Toshiya and his friends use God Sigma to protect the planet and the Trinity Energy, and the battle evolves into a long war to retake Io.

Characters

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Trinity City

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Toshiya Dan

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Voiced by: Kei Tomiyama, Tomokazu Seki (in Super Robot Wars Z)
The protagonist of the show. He is an 18-year-old second-generation pioneer living on Jupiter's moon, Io. He is the main pilot of God Sigma.

Julie Noguchi

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Voiced by: Yoshito Yasuhara
Assistant to Dr. Kazami, the head scientist and researcher at Trinity City, he is one of the three pilots of God Sigma.

Kira Kensaku

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Voiced by: Tessho Genda
One of Toshiya's good friends, and also a native of Io.

Eldar's Forces

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Supreme Commander Teral

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Voiced by: Noriko Ohara, Hiromi Tsuru (in Super Robot Wars Z)
The supreme commander of the Eldar forces sent to Earth to steal the Trinity Energy.

Commander Leats

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Voiced by: Shouzou Iizuka
The commander of the Cosmosauruses, under Teral's command.

Jeela

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Voiced by: Rihoko Yoshida
A commander under Teral's command.

Mecha

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God Sigma

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The completed giant robot formed when the Kuuraioh, Kaimeioh, and Rikushin'oh combine with the Big-Wing.

With the command "Sigma Formation", the three robots form a triangle, and when they shout "Trinity Charge", the Big-Wing flies to them and combines. Two separate combination scenes exist in the anime - one during the beginning, and one from the middle onwards.

Its total height was originally stated to be 265 meters tall, but since this would cause difficulties for the actual animation, it was changed to 66 meters. It weighs 1200 tons, and its power source is Trinity Energy. It possesses the ability to cruise from Earth to Jupiter and back. It can be controlled by the main pilot, Toshiya, but without the other two component robots' generators to supplement his own, it's not as powerful.

In the final episode, it and the giant mecha Gargos destroy each other, but it is repaired after the war and revamped to be a single-pilot machine, and Toshiya sets off with it by himself.

Staff

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  • Original work: Saburo Yatsude
  • Producer: Takashi Ijima, Heita Ezu (Tokyo Channel 12), Itaru Orita (Toei TV division)
  • Music: Hiroshi Tsutsui
  • Music performance: Tokyo Indoors Music Society
  • Chief director: Takeyuki Kanda (episodes 1–10), Katsuhiko Taguchi (episodes 11–50)
  • Character design: Kazuhiko Utaka
  • Character concepts: Kaoru Shintani
  • Design assistance: Yutaka Izubuchi
  • Mechanical design: Katsushi Murakami, Submarine
  • Artistic director: Kazuo Okada, Tadanoumi Shimokawa
  • Music director: Jouhei Kawamura
  • Animation production: Greenbox, Anime City, Sunluck
  • Production assistance: Academy Production, Tokyo Dôga
  • Production: Toei Company, Ltd., Toei Agency (advertising)

Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Get Mad, Warrior of Io"
"Okore Io no Senshi" (Japanese: 怒れ イオの戦士)
Directed by : Kenji Terada
Storyboarded by : Minoru Yokitani
Katsuhiko TaguchiMarch 19, 1980 (1980-03-19)
2"Trinity Base Surfacing"
"Toriniti Kichi Fujō" (Japanese: トリニティ基地浮上)
Kenji TeradaHisashi YamazakiMarch 26, 1980 (1980-03-26)
3"Combining Toward Io"
"Io ni Mukatte Gattai da" (Japanese: イオに向って合体だ)
Directed by : Takao Yotsuji
Storyboarded by : Yuichiro Yokoyama
Masaki TsujiApril 16, 1980 (1980-04-16)
4"Cosmosaurus' Secret"
"Kosumozaurusu no Himitsu" (Japanese: コスモザウルスの秘密)
Directed by : Kazuya Miyazaki
Storyboarded by : Saburo Nodera
Akira NakaharaApril 23, 1980 (1980-04-23)
5"Shrew Rescue Operation"
"Jajauma Kyūshutsu Sakusen" (Japanese: じゃじゃ馬救出作戦)
Directed by : Kenji Terada
Storyboarded by : Higashi Numajiri
Akira NakaharaApril 29, 1980 (1980-04-29)
6 (Japanese: 小さな侵入者)Directed by : Takao Yotsuji
Storyboarded by : Yuichiro Yokoyama
Masaki TsujiApril 29, 1980 (1980-04-29)
7 (Japanese: 月面へ出撃せよ)Directed by : Kazuya Yamazaki
Storyboarded by : Saburo Nodera
Akira NakaharaApril 30, 1980 (1980-04-30)
8 (Japanese: わんぱく大作戦)Directed by : Kiyoshi Yoko
Storyboarded by : Nobuyuki Kitajima
Akira NakaharaMay 7, 1980 (1980-05-07)
9 (Japanese: イオからの生還者)Directed by : Kazuya Yamazaki
Storyboarded by : Saburo Nodera
Akira NakaharaMay 14, 1980 (1980-05-14)
10"As a Father, as a Doctor"
(Japanese: 父として博士として)
Directed by : Hitoshi Takaito
Storyboarded by : Kenji Terada
Masaki TsujiMay 21, 1980 (1980-05-21)
11 (Japanese: 小さな恋人の危機)Directed by : Hideyoshi Oga
Storyboarded by : Tatsuma Ko
Hirohisa SodaMay 28, 1980 (1980-05-28)
12 (Japanese: 敵エルダー星を発見)Takao YotsujiMasaki TsujiJune 4, 1980 (1980-06-04)
13 (Japanese: イオの花が咲いた)Directed by : Kazuya Yamazaki
Storyboarded by : Saburo Nodera
Hisashi YamazakiJune 11, 1980 (1980-06-11)
14 (Japanese: 怒りの対決)Directed by : Kazuya Yamazaki
Storyboarded by : Saburo Nodera
Hisashi YamazakiJune 18, 1980 (1980-06-18)
15 (Japanese: 危険なプレゼント)Hiroshi KunoMasaki SakuraiJune 25, 1980 (1980-06-25)
16 (Japanese: 敵将テラルの秘密)Jun NarumiMasaki TsujiJuly 2, 1980 (1980-07-02)
17 (Japanese: 巨大ロボットの買主)Directed by : Jun Narumi
Storyboarded by : Tatsuma Ko
Akira NakaharaJuly 9, 1980 (1980-07-09)
18 (Japanese: 恐怖の合体くずし)Jun NarumiHisashi YamazakiJuly 16, 1980 (1980-07-16)
19 (Japanese: ロボット発進不能)Directed by : Kazuya Yamazaki
Storyboarded by : Saburo Nodera
Hisashi YamazakiJuly 23, 1980 (1980-07-23)
20 (Japanese: ジュリイの秘密貯金)Directed by : Kazuyuki Okasako
Storyboarded by : Koji Enomoto
Masaki SakuraiJuly 30, 1980 (1980-07-30)
21 (Japanese: 隕石包囲網を破れ)Directed by : Kazuyuki Okasako
Storyboarded by : Raita Goto
Masaki SakuraiAugust 6, 1980 (1980-08-06)
22 (Japanese: 空雷王帰還せず)Directed by : Kazuya Yamazaki
Storyboarded by : Saburo Nodera
Akira NakaharaAugust 13, 1980 (1980-08-13)
23 (Japanese: 幻の魚を見た)Hiroshi KunoMasaki SakuraiAugust 20, 1980 (1980-08-20)
24 (Japanese: イオへ200キロ)Kazuyuki OkasakoAkira NakaharaAugust 27, 1980 (1980-08-27)
25 (Japanese: 基地移動指令)Directed by : Kazuya Yamazaki
Storyboarded by : Saburo Nodera
Akira NakaharaSeptember 3, 1980 (1980-09-03)
26 (Japanese: 可愛い反逆者)Directed by : Kazuya Yamazaki
Storyboarded by : Saburo Nodera
Akira NakaharaSeptember 10, 1980 (1980-09-10)
27 (Japanese: 2300年の敵)Hideyoshi OgaMasaki SakuraiSeptember 17, 1980 (1980-09-17)
28 (Japanese: 新しき戦いの序曲)Directed by : Kazuya Yamazaki
Storyboarded by : Saburo Nodera
Akira NakaharaSeptember 24, 1980 (1980-09-24)
29 (Japanese: 地球の白旗を見よ)Hiroshi KunoMasaki SakuraiOctober 1, 1980 (1980-10-01)
30 (Japanese: 危険がいっぱい)Directed by : Kazuya Yamazaki
Storyboarded by : Saburo Nodera
Akira NakaharaOctober 8, 1980 (1980-10-08)
31 (Japanese: イオ最新情報)Directed by : Hiroyuki Ki
Storyboarded by : Koji Enomoto
Akira NakaharaOctober 15, 1980 (1980-10-15)
32 (Japanese: 月を賭けた決闘)Directed by : Shigeyasu Yamauchi
Storyboarded by : Koichiro Moriyama
Satoshi SuyamaOctober 22, 1980 (1980-10-22)
33 (Japanese: 地獄のスタジアム)Kazuyuki OkasakoSatoshi SuyamaOctober 29, 1980 (1980-10-29)
34 (Japanese: 敵将テラルの涙)Koichiro MoriyamaMasaki SakuraiNovember 5, 1980 (1980-11-05)
35 (Japanese: テラル処刑の日)Hiroshi YoshidaAkira NakaharaNovember 12, 1980 (1980-11-12)
36 (Japanese: 我がジュリイの妹)Jun NarumiSatoshi SuyamaNovember 19, 1980 (1980-11-19)
37 (Japanese: 2300年の秘密)Hiroshi KunoMasaki SakuraiNovember 26, 1980 (1980-11-26)
38 (Japanese: イオへの旅立ち)Hideo WatanabeMasayuki ShimadaDecember 3, 1980 (1980-12-03)
39 (Japanese: 裏切者は誰だ)Kazuyuki OkasakoSatoshi SuyamaDecember 10, 1980 (1980-12-10)
40 (Japanese: 死を招く火星)Johei MatsuraAkira NakaharaDecember 17, 1980 (1980-12-17)
41 (Japanese: 誕生日は葬式の日)Hiroshi YoshidaMasaki SakuraiDecember 24, 1980 (1980-12-24)
42"Insurrection in Mars"
(Japanese: 火星の反乱)
Hiroyuki KiSatoshi SuyamaDecember 31, 1980 (1980-12-31)
43 (Japanese: テラルの骨を拾え)Jun NarumiMasayuki ShimadaJanuary 7, 1981 (1981-01-07)
44 (Japanese: イオが消えた)Hiroshi KunoMasaki SakuraiJanuary 14, 1981 (1981-01-14)
45 (Japanese: 闘う・イオの地球人)Johei MatsuraAkira NakaharaJanuary 21, 1981 (1981-01-21)
46"Demented Declaration of Defeat"
(Japanese: 狂気の敗北宣言)
Kazuya YamazakiMasaki SakuraiJanuary 28, 1981 (1981-01-28)
47 (Japanese: 風見博士の反逆)Hiroshi YoshidaHirohisa SodaFebruary 4, 1981 (1981-02-04)
48"Standing on the Land of Io"
(Japanese: イオの地に立つ)
Johei MatsuraHisashi YamazakiFebruary 11, 1981 (1981-02-11)
49 (Japanese: イオに立つ墓標)Kazuyuki OkasakoMasaki SakuraiFebruary 18, 1981 (1981-02-18)
50"Journey towards the Future"
(Japanese: 未来への旅立ち)
Kazuya YamazakiMasaki SakuraiFebruary 25, 1981 (1981-02-25)

Theme songs

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Opening theme: "Ganbare! Uchuu no Senshi" (Do Your Best, Space Warrior!)

  • Vocals: Isao Sasaki, Koroogi '73, Columbia Yurikago-kai
  • Lyrics: Saburo Yatsude
  • Composition: Asei Kobayashi
  • Arrangement: Masahisa Takeichi

Ending theme: "Red Blue Yellow"

  • Vocals: Kumiko Kaori, Koroogi '73, Columbia Yurikago-kai
  • Lyrics: Saburo Yatsude
  • Composition: Asei Kobayashi
  • Arrangement: Masahisa Takeichi

The ending theme, "Red Blue Yellow", consists of the planets in the Solar System in order. At the time of the show's broadcast, Pluto was actually inside the orbit of Neptune. This was not reflected in the animation, the reason being that the show itself is set in the year 2050. Also, the rings of Jupiter had just been discovered the year before, so in the ending animation, Jupiter is depicted with rings. However, in contrast to the actual rings of Jupiter, which are too thin to see a shadow cast on the planet, the picture of Jupiter in the ending sequence does have the shadow of rings on it.

Media

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The series was telecast in Italy, simply titled God Sigma.

God Sigma toys were released under the premier Godaikin toy label in Japan and Hong Kong in the 1980s.

In March 2011, Pony Canyon released a complete DVD box set, which only had a limited production run.

In July 2024, Discotek Media released a Blu-ray box set. It is the first English release of the series.

Appearances in other works

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Space Emperor God Sigma appears in various games by Banpresto (currently Bandai Namco Games). Its first appearance was in a 1992 Famicom game called Shuffle Fight. Its second was in the 2008 PS2 game Super Robot Wars Z, but by this time, Toshiya's voice actor Tomiyama Kei had died, so the role was given to Tomokazu Seki instead. In the same game, a robot from Gravion called God Σ Gravion appears, triggering a conversation between the characters of each series. God Sigma also appears in the game's two-part sequel, 2nd Super Robot Wars Z: Hakai-hen and Saisei-hen.

References

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  1. ^ Tokyo Channel 12 was an independent station at the time of broadcast.
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