Daigunder facts for kids

Daigunder
Promotional artwork for Daigunder featuring several important characters.
Quick facts for kids 爆闘宣言ダイガンダー (Bakutō Sengen Daigandā)
Genre	Mecha, Action, Comedy
Anime television series
Directed by	Hiroyuki Yano
Written by	Shinzō Fujita
Music by	Yasunori Iwasaki
Studio	Brain's Base
Licensed by	NA Disney Enterprises
Network	TV Tokyo, Animax, AT-X
English network	US ABC Family
Original run	April 5, 2002 – December 27, 2002
Episodes	39

Daigunder (爆闘宣言ダイガンダー, Bakutō Sengen Daigandā) is an exciting Japanese anime TV show about people who use cool robots in big tournaments. It was made by Aeon and Takara, and the animation studio Brain's Base created it. The show first aired in Japan from April to December 2002. There were even special Daigunder toys that could interact with your TV!

The Story of Daigunder

Imagine a future where talking robots are everywhere! In this world, there's a huge tournament where robot teams battle each other. These "Battle Robots" can look like humans or even transforming animals.

Our main hero is a boy named Akira Akebono. He dreams of winning the "Titan Belt" with his awesome robot team. His team includes robots like Bulion, Eaglearrow, Drimog, Bonerex, Despector, Trihorn, Ryugu, and Daigu. Ryugu and Daigu can even combine to form the super-powerful Daigunder! Akira's grandfather, Professor Hajime Akebono, created the Daigunder unit.

A girl named Haruka Hoshi helps manage Team Akira. Together, they enter many tournaments to help Akira reach his goal. But watch out! A sneaky Battle Robot named Ginzan is always trying to destroy Daigunder. Ginzan works for the mysterious and evil Professor Maelstrom. Later, Ginzan is joined by Tigamaru and Rogamaru. Luckily, Akira and his friends find a new friend in DragonBurst, along with his helpers DragonFlame and DragonFreezer.

Meet the Characters

Team Akira and Their Robots

Akira and his robots have a special home base called Dailand. They travel around in their plane, the Daishuttle. Team Akira's Battle Robots are split into three groups:

• The Daigunder Unit (Ryugu, Daigu, DragonFlame, and DragonFreezer)
• The Animal Unit (Bulion, Eaglearrow, and Drimog)
• The Dino Unit (Bonerex, Despector, and Trihorn)

When the robots get damaged, a small robot named Sabuto gives them upgrades.

• Akira Akebono: The main character and leader of Team Akira. Akira is the grandson of the famous robot creator, Hajime Akebono. He wants to win the Titan Belt in the Battle Robot Tournament. His most powerful robots are Ryugu and Daigu. Bulion was the very first robot his grandfather created, and Akira played with him as a child.

• Haruka Hoshi: A young girl who wants to manage a Battle Robots team. After Team Akira wins their Battle Robot License, she becomes Akira's manager. She also helps fix up his robots.

• Professor Hajime Akebono: Akira's grandfather and a brilliant scientist. He created all of Akira's robots, including DragoBurst. Years ago, DragoBurst, DragonFlame, and DragonFreezer went against him and Professor Maelstrom. Hajime later built the Animal Unit, then the Dino Unit, and finally the Cluster System, which lets Ryugu and Daigu combine into Daigunder. He loves to travel!

• Sabuto: A small robot that helps keep Team Akira's robots in top shape.

Daigunder Unit

This is Professor Hajime's amazing creation! Battle King Daigunder (爆闘王ダイガンダー, Bakutō ō Daigandā) is formed when Ryugu and Daigu combine. He's known as the "King of the Battle Robots" and has a special "Cluster System." Daigunder can attack with his Dragon Cannon (his finishing move) and Dragon Sword. If Despector is his left arm, he can use the Echo Blast. When DragonFlame and DragonFreezer help, he can use his strongest attack, the Dragon Buster. He can also combine with DragoBurst for even more power!

• Ryugu: Akira's loyal companion. He's a small knight robot and can be quite stubborn. At first, he didn't listen to Akira, but that changed when Akira protected him. His attacks are Knight Slash and Knight Quake.

• Daigu: A dragon robot who usually only fights when he combines with Ryugu, Bulion, or Bonerex. He mostly just says "Daigu!"

• DragonFlame: Part of the Daigunder Unit. He was built by Professors Hajime and Maelstrom. After learning about Maelstrom's bad plans, he and DragonFreezer ran away with DragoBurst. They later joined Team Akira. DragonFlame is a Fire Dragon and attacks with Magma Dynamic. He can also turn into a sword for DragoBuster or Daigunder. He mostly says "Flame!" DragonFlame can also combine with DragonFreezer to become a two-headed dragon for Daigunder to ride and fly!

• DragonFreezer: Also part of the Daigunder Unit. He was built by Professors Hajime and Maelstrom. He and DragonFlame ran away with DragoBurst. They later joined Team Akira. DragonFreezer is an Ice Dragon and attacks with Blizzard Strike. He can turn into a shield for DragoBuster or Daigunder. He mostly says "Freeze!" DragonFreezer can also combine with DragonFlame to become a two-headed dragon for Daigunder to ride and fly!

Bulion

Blue Thrasher Bulion (蒼き稲妻ブライオン, Blue Lightning Bulion) is the leader of Team Akira's Animal Unit. He attacks with his Thunder Claw. His animal form is a lion. He can combine with Daigu to become Battle King Daigulion (格闘王ダイガライオン, Grappling King Daigulion). Daigulion attacks with his "Thunder Fang Battle Claw." With Eaglearrow and Drimog on his arms, he can perform the Daigulion Blaster. Bulion can also combine with DragonBurst to become Black Lightning Burstlion (黒き稲妻バーストライオン).

Bonerex

Jurassic Soldier Bonerex (ジュラシックソルジャーボーンレックス) is the leader of the Dino Unit. He and his unit joined Akira after attacking a town that was building an amusement park in their area. Bonerex attacks with his Bone Blade. His animal form is a Tyrannosaurus. He can combine with Daigu to become the Swordplay King Daigarex (剣闘王ダイガレックス). Daigarex has attacks like the Air-Slicing Beast Sword and Daigurex Fire, which he performs with Despector and Trihorn on his arms. Bonerex can also combine with DragoBurst to form Jurassic Darkness Burstrex (ジュラシックダークバーストレックス).

Megarex

Incredible Quadruple Robot Megarex (衝撃の4体駆動メガベックス, Four Body Force Shockwave Megavex) is a super-powerful combination of Eaglearrow, Drimog, Despector, and Trihorn. This combination isn't used often because it uses a lot of their energy. Eaglearrow forms the chest armor, Drimog forms the lower body and legs, Despector forms the back and wings, and Trihorn forms the head, upper body, arms, and feet. Megarex is strong enough to block Ginzan's Power Blast attack!

• Eaglearrow: A member of the Animal Unit and one of Team Akira's flying robots. His animal form is an eagle. He often argues with Drimog. He attacks with Fire Arrow.

• Drimog: A member of the Animal Unit. He's a great digger because his animal form is a mole. He often argues with Eaglearrow. He attacks with Crash Burn.

• Despector: A member of the Dino Unit who joins Team Akira. He's another one of Team Akira's flying robots. His animal form is a Pteranodon. He attacks with Specter Slash.

• Trihorn: A member of the Dino Unit who joins Akira. He can be a bit silly sometimes. His animal form is a Triceratops. He attacks with Horn Strike.

Allies

• Commissioner Spinklestarber: He oversees all the Battle Robots Tournaments. Akira often has trouble saying his name correctly!

• Ginzan: A Battle Robot who first worked for Professor Maelstrom. He called himself the "Ultimate Battle Robot" and often attacked Daigunder. Even though he was an enemy, he sometimes teamed up with Akira and Daigunder for a powerful "Armor Fusion" attack called Dragon Revolver. After learning about honor from Daigunder, he started to change his ways. He eventually betrayed Professor Maelstrom when he learned Maelstrom's true plans and how he saw robots as just tools. Ginzan decided to leave for a while, hoping to join Team Akira someday, as he now sees Akira as his new commander. His animal form is a winged unicorn. His attacks include Spin Revolver and his best attack, Ultimate Revolver. Later, after Maelstrom changed, Ginzan returned to him with Tigamaru and Rogamaru.

• DragoBurst: A robot built by Professors Hajime and Deikun (Maelstrom's old name). When DragoBurst found out about Maelstrom's bad plans, he ran away and now lives on a space station with DragonFlame and DragonFreezer. He wanted Daigunder to join his team to destroy humanity and create a robot Utopia. He can combine with Daigunder to form Legendary Battle Warrior Dragon Daigunder (伝説の爆闘神ドラゴンダイガンダー), using DragoFlame as a sword and DragoFreezer as a shield. His attacks are Burst Cannon and Dragon Nova. After talking with Akira and Daigunder, DragoBurst realized the truth about humans. He then helped Team Akira destroy Maelstrom's giant turtle robot using the Cluster System's power. His animal form is a Black Dragon, and he attacks with Buster Black Hole and Energy Fist. He can also hypnotize robots with his "Dragon Wave."

Villains

• Professor Maelstrom: The main bad guy of the series. He was once Professor Hajime's partner, known as Professor Deikun. They built DragoBurst together. But when DragoBurst found out Professor Deikun planned to use him to take over the world, he attacked, destroying the lab. Years later, Maelstrom returned with a metal eye from the accident. He built Ginzan, Tigamaru, and Rogamaru to defeat Daigunder. After Dragon Daigunder destroyed his ultimate Battle Robot, he changed his ways. His most powerful robot invention was the "Sacred Steel Tortoise."

• Tigamaru: One of two robots who team up with Ginzan to destroy Daigunder. He and Rogamaru often use tricks to try and win. He can combine with Rogamaru to form Maneuvering 2-Sword Style Double Fang (機動二刀流ダブルファング). Tigamaru's animal form is a tiger. His attack is the Tiga Whirldwind Slicer.

• Rogamaru: One of two robots who team up with Ginzan. He and Tigamaru often use tricks. He can combine with Tigamaru to form Maneuvering 2-Sword Style Double Fang (機動二刀流ダブルファング). Rogamaru's animal form is a wolf. His attack is the Loga Moon Slicer.

Who's Who: The Cast

Japanese Cast

• Fujiko Takimoto as Akira
• Juri Ihata as Haruka
• Yuki Kaida as Ryugu
• Kiyoyuki Yanada as Daigu/Daigunder
• Isshin Chiba as Eaglearrow & Trihorn
• Kazuhiro Nakata as Boss
• Keiichi Sonobe as Announcer
• Kōichi Tōchika as Despector
• Masaya Onosaka as Drimog
• Nobutoshi Canna as Taigamaru
• Nobuyuki Hiyama as Rougamaru
• Norio Wakamoto as Dragonburst
• Ryotaro Okiayu as Bone Rex/Daigurex
• Susumu Chiba as Ginzan
• Tetsu Inada as Bulion/Daigulion
• Tomohisa Asou as Dr. Hajime

English Cast

• Steve Blum - Professor Hajime Akebono
• Joey D'Auria - Commissioner Spinklestarber
• Richard Epcar - Eaglearrow
• Barbara Goodson - Akira Akebono
• Steve Kramer - Drimog
• Lex Lang - Despector, Tri-Horn
• Brad MacDonald - Rogamaru/Wolf Fang
• Dave Mallow - Track Announcer
• Michael McConnohie - Tigamaru/Tiger Fang
• Lara Jill Miller - Haruka Hoshi
• Bob Papenbrook - Bulion/Daigulion
• Paul Schrier - Bone Rex/Daigurex
• Joshua Seth - Ryugu
• Michael Sorich - Daigu/Daigunder
• Tom Wyner - Ginzan

Additional voices

• Mona Marshall - Makoto
• Philece Sampler - Dr. Bridget
• Brianne Siddall - Jimmy
• Kari Wahlgren -

Awesome Theme Songs

• "Bakuto Sengen! Daigunder" by Masaaki Endoh (Opening song)
• "We Are the Heroes" by Hiroshi Kitadani (Ending song)

Fun Facts About Daigunder

• The English version of the show used different opening and ending songs. The original opening was replaced with Akira narrating his mission, and the ending was an instrumental track.
• Another English version of the show was provided by Animax.