Daitetsujin 17 | |
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Genre | Tokusatsu |
Created by | Shotaro Ishinomori |
Country of origin | Japan |
Original language(s) | Japanese |
No. of episodes | 35 |
Release | |
Original network | MBS |
Original release | March 18 – November 11, 1977 |
Daitetsujin 17(大鉄人17? Daitetsujin Wan-Sebun) is a 1977 tokusatsu series created by Shotaro Ishinomori and produced by Toei. It revolves around a giant battle robot commanded by a young boy who fights the giant robots of an evil organization bent on world conquest. It is similar to Giant Robo in premise and how it ends.
Several episodes were edited into a TV movie shown in the United States under different titles, including The Defenders and the Great Brain and Brain 17.
The opening theme was performed by Ichirou Mizuki, Koorogi '73 and The Chirps.
Popy manufactured several toys based on the series - notably a transforming Chogokin version of the robot One-Seven (later released in America for the Godaikin line), vehicles based on One-Seven's Flying Fortress mode, the Sub Machine Flying Car, the Shigcon Tank and the Shigcon Jet, and a three-inch version of One-Seven, which was later released as "17" in Mattel's Shogun Warriors line.
Brain is the world's greatest computer, and also the most intelligent being on planet Earth. One day, Brain decides to abandon its terrestrial moorings, and it's up to The Defenders to track it down. Unfortunately, Brain has developed an amazing army of deadly giant robots, including one with a huge "17" emblazoned on its chest-plate, with which it plans to subjugate its creators. A young boy whose family was killed by Brain's followers manages to activate Daitetsujin 17, which thereafter comes to his rescue whenever he is in danger from Brain's minions.