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'''Yūsha''' (or '''Brave''', also known as the '''Brave | '''Yūsha''' (or '''Brave''', also known as the '''Brave Series''') is a [[franchise]] that [[Takara]] and Sunrise created after the [[Generation 1|Generation One]] anime ran its course in Japan. The Brave Series consists of eight individual series that were released one after the other from 1990 to 1998 with corresponding TV shows in Japan. | ||
Although the storylines of each of the series are not connected to those of any of the other Brave Series, the basic format of each series is similar. Usually a kid befriends/creates/becomes a sentient robot, and together they fight a great evil threatening the Earth. The main robots combine with other robots to become larger robots, and additional teams of sentient robots combine amongst themselves to form larger robots as well. It has been described as a cross between Transformers and the Super Robot genre of the late-70's and early-80's. | |||
Toys for these robots were created in two sizes: DX versions that contained more gimmicks and a more complicated transformation, and STD (short for "standard") versions that contained fewer gimmicks and more limited transformations, but often also higher accuracy in reproducing the look of the robot's character from the anime series. Generally, the transformation of the robots was created by Takara, and the look of the robots was created by Kunio Okawara, a legendary Sunrise mecha designer. | |||
==Relationship to Transformers== | ==Relationship to Transformers== | ||
The initial concept designs for Brave Exkaiser, the first Brave Series, were intended to be Transformers designs. While the Brave robot Ultra Raker was very far along at this stage, the Max team and King Exkaiser bared little resemblance to their final designs. | |||
There are also similar design elements between the Brave toys and Generation 2/Beast Wars Transformers, which were released around the same time as the Brave toys. For example, many of the Brave of Legend toys have transparent pieces of plastic in their heads to illuminate their eyes, a quality which many Generation 2 Transformers share. The Goldran DX toyline contains many projectile launchers, a quality Generation 2 shared as well. In particular, the Goldran toy "Advenger" contains a rotor-launching gimmick identical to that of Generation 2's Rotor Force. Lastly, the elbows of Leon from DX Leonkyzer contain balljoints, a type of joint that was used frequently on Beast Wars Transformers. | |||
The Brave Series reused character designs and toys from previous Transformers series. (A complete listing of those reuses follows in the section below). | |||
The | Similarly, subsequent Transformers lines have also been influenced by the Brave Series. The Japanese [[Mini-Con]] [[Kingbolt]]'s coloration and characterization are homages to the Brave series ''Exkaiser''. Also, the [[Cybertron (cartoon)|''Cybertron'' cartoon]] featured many homages to the Brave series ''King Of Braves GaoGaiGar'', most notably the way [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] combines with [[Leobreaker]] and [[Wing Saber]], which is similar to the way GaoGaiGar combined with Goldymarg and Stealth Gao. | ||
One striking difference between the Brave Series and Transformers is that very few villain robots were released in the Brave Series. This is unlike most Transformers series where heroes and villains are released in relatively equal numbers (with the exception of Zone and Battlestars). | |||
{{-}} | {{-}} | ||
==Toys and character designs recycled from ''Transformers''== | ==Toys and character designs recycled from ''Transformers''== | ||
* ''Ptera Geist - [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]]'' | * ''Ptera Geist - [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]]'' | ||
* ''Thunder Geist - [[Sludge]]'' | * ''Thunder Geist - [[Sludge]]'' | ||
* ''Horn Geist - [[Slag]]'' | * ''Horn Geist - [[Slag]]'' | ||
* ''Armor Geist - [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]]'' | * ''Armor Geist - [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]]'' | ||
* Red Geist - [[Deathsaurus]] (missing the Eagle Breastplate) | |||
* Red Geist - [[Deathsaurus]] | |||
* Hiryu - [[Sonic Bomber]] | * Hiryu - [[Sonic Bomber]] | ||
* ''Mega Sonic - [[Sonic Bomber]]'' | |||
* Goryu - [[Dai Atlas]] | * Goryu - [[Dai Atlas]] (missing handle for hiss hield) | ||
* ''Atlas Mk.II - [[Dai Atlas]]'' | * ''Atlas Mk.II - [[Dai Atlas]]'' | ||
* ''Atlas Epsilon - [[Dai Atlas]]'' | * ''Atlas Epsilon - [[Dai Atlas]]'' | ||
* Shadow-maru - [[Sixshot]] (featured significant remolding to incorporate a ninja motif) | |||
* Shadow-maru - [[Sixshot]] | * ''Kagerou - [[Sixshot]]'' | ||
* The four Micromaster Battlestations (sans Micromaster and including non-Transforming Brave Police figures) | |||
* ''Kagerou - [[Sixshot]]'' | * Duke Fire - New Rodimus (New Rodimus was an unused Transformers design shown in Transformers Generations; Duke Fire uses New Rodimus's basic transformation scheme, except an ambulance becomes his arms) | ||
* ''Revibaron - Hybrid of [[Deathsaurus]], [[Sonic Bomber]], and [[Dai Atlas]]'' | |||
* '' | * ''Zazorigun - [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'' | ||
* Death Garry Gun - [[Sky Garry]] (canabilized trailer launchers) | |||
* Death Garry | * Thunder Dagwon - [[Galaxy Shuttle]] (significant remolding, including a an additional motorcycle/robot that combines for the shuttle's robot mode) | ||
* Dag Base - [[Grandus]] (significant remolding, does not combine with Star Convoy) | |||
* Thunder Dagwon - [[Galaxy Shuttle]] | |||
* Dag Base - [[Grandus]] | |||
'''Note:''' ''Italicized names'' are non-toy characters. | '''Note:''' ''Italicized names'' are non-toy characters. | ||
{{-}} | {{-}} | ||
Revision as of 04:19, 28 February 2008
Yūsha (or Brave, also known as the Brave Series) is a franchise that Takara and Sunrise created after the Generation One anime ran its course in Japan. The Brave Series consists of eight individual series that were released one after the other from 1990 to 1998 with corresponding TV shows in Japan.
Although the storylines of each of the series are not connected to those of any of the other Brave Series, the basic format of each series is similar. Usually a kid befriends/creates/becomes a sentient robot, and together they fight a great evil threatening the Earth. The main robots combine with other robots to become larger robots, and additional teams of sentient robots combine amongst themselves to form larger robots as well. It has been described as a cross between Transformers and the Super Robot genre of the late-70's and early-80's.
Toys for these robots were created in two sizes: DX versions that contained more gimmicks and a more complicated transformation, and STD (short for "standard") versions that contained fewer gimmicks and more limited transformations, but often also higher accuracy in reproducing the look of the robot's character from the anime series. Generally, the transformation of the robots was created by Takara, and the look of the robots was created by Kunio Okawara, a legendary Sunrise mecha designer.
Relationship to Transformers
The initial concept designs for Brave Exkaiser, the first Brave Series, were intended to be Transformers designs. While the Brave robot Ultra Raker was very far along at this stage, the Max team and King Exkaiser bared little resemblance to their final designs.
There are also similar design elements between the Brave toys and Generation 2/Beast Wars Transformers, which were released around the same time as the Brave toys. For example, many of the Brave of Legend toys have transparent pieces of plastic in their heads to illuminate their eyes, a quality which many Generation 2 Transformers share. The Goldran DX toyline contains many projectile launchers, a quality Generation 2 shared as well. In particular, the Goldran toy "Advenger" contains a rotor-launching gimmick identical to that of Generation 2's Rotor Force. Lastly, the elbows of Leon from DX Leonkyzer contain balljoints, a type of joint that was used frequently on Beast Wars Transformers.
The Brave Series reused character designs and toys from previous Transformers series. (A complete listing of those reuses follows in the section below).
Similarly, subsequent Transformers lines have also been influenced by the Brave Series. The Japanese Mini-Con Kingbolt's coloration and characterization are homages to the Brave series Exkaiser. Also, the Cybertron cartoon featured many homages to the Brave series King Of Braves GaoGaiGar, most notably the way Optimus Prime combines with Leobreaker and Wing Saber, which is similar to the way GaoGaiGar combined with Goldymarg and Stealth Gao.
One striking difference between the Brave Series and Transformers is that very few villain robots were released in the Brave Series. This is unlike most Transformers series where heroes and villains are released in relatively equal numbers (with the exception of Zone and Battlestars).
Toys and character designs recycled from Transformers
- Ptera Geist - Swoop
- Thunder Geist - Sludge
- Horn Geist - Slag
- Armor Geist - Snarl
- Red Geist - Deathsaurus (missing the Eagle Breastplate)
- Hiryu - Sonic Bomber
- Mega Sonic - Sonic Bomber
- Goryu - Dai Atlas (missing handle for hiss hield)
- Atlas Mk.II - Dai Atlas
- Atlas Epsilon - Dai Atlas
- Shadow-maru - Sixshot (featured significant remolding to incorporate a ninja motif)
- Kagerou - Sixshot
- The four Micromaster Battlestations (sans Micromaster and including non-Transforming Brave Police figures)
- Duke Fire - New Rodimus (New Rodimus was an unused Transformers design shown in Transformers Generations; Duke Fire uses New Rodimus's basic transformation scheme, except an ambulance becomes his arms)
- Revibaron - Hybrid of Deathsaurus, Sonic Bomber, and Dai Atlas
- Zazorigun - Scorponok
- Death Garry Gun - Sky Garry (canabilized trailer launchers)
- Thunder Dagwon - Galaxy Shuttle (significant remolding, including a an additional motorcycle/robot that combines for the shuttle's robot mode)
- Dag Base - Grandus (significant remolding, does not combine with Star Convoy)
Note: Italicized names are non-toy characters.
External links
