The protagonist finds themselves body-swapped, and the final boss's mech receives various quips, but Dragner is a masterpiece. A video delivering this as a rough live-action in the Reiwa era has been uploaded.
Dragner Finally Gets a Rough Live-Action!
機甲戦記ドラグナー OP 夢色チェイサー 雑に実写再現 / Metal armor Doragonar op half-assed live action recreation：ツカーサさんの記録
The video, published on December 2, 2022, by the YouTube channel "Tsukasa-san's Record," is short but noteworthy. As the title "Metal Armor Doragonar OP Half-Assed Live Action Recreation" suggests, it recreates the opening of the anime "Metal Armor Dragner" in live-action in just about 1 minute and 31 seconds. The video features Goripi-san as Kain Wakaba and Okada Masataka as Tapp Oceano. With around 377,033 views, it's particularly interesting for fans of anime and special effects.
About the Anime Dragner
"Metal Armor Dragner" is a robot anime produced by Sunrise, aired from 1987 to 1988. The story is set in the year 2087 and revolves around the conflict between the "Giganos Empire" born on the Moon and the "Earth Federation." The protagonists pilot a new type of metal armor called "Dragner" to repel the enemy. The anime continues to be supported by many fans, especially with the release of a full HD remastered Blu-ray BOX on March 2, 2022, priced at 55,000 yen (tax included).
【第1話】機甲戦記ドラグナー〔サンチャン〕 - YouTube
Side Note: About Varigunner
The "Varigunner" was designed by Masami Obari as a unique adaptation of the original D-1 (Dragner 1) designed by Kunio Okawara. Obari added intricate details to Okawara's simple design, altering the shape of the shoulders and making the body more robust. He also enlarged the facial features and the helmet-like area on the forehead.
Obari's unique adjustments were particularly noticeable in the opening sequence, leaving a strong impression on viewers. This striking design even led to a rare situation where it was replaced with a design closer to the original concept art during the broadcast.
This adapted version of the D-1 became widely known as "Varigunner," and its popularity has grown to the extent that custom parts are being sold. Even years after the broadcast, products are being sold with slogans like "Opening-style arrangement" and "Complete reproduction of Masami Obari's artwork." On the other hand, the D-1 that remains faithful to Okawara's original design is also referred to as "Gawaragunner.
昔を思い出す、またはスパロボでお世話になった人々の声
- Certainly, here are the translations for the comments:
- Nostalgic Voices from Those Who Remember the Past or Were Introduced to it Through Super Robot Wars
- They've put in so much effort, yet it's still rough around the edges, and that's what makes it great, lol.
- A long-awaited post on "Dragner," as expected. Even the roughness has a professional touch, and I can see the Varigunner influence.
- I absolutely love the scene where they shift the gear to park while launching from the aircraft carrier (о´∀`о).
- Taking on this OP is incredible! The Dragner OP is far more challenging than 70s robot anime, but you nailed it! Thanks for the laughs and the feels!
- This series has its quirks and silly elements, but the respect for the original work is palpable, and that's amazing.
- Consistently high quality as always. I especially love the sculpting of D-3's head at the end.
- The "seat-switching" during the "gyun-gyun-gyun" part is so faithful, it's awesome.
- I wish they'd put a bit more effort into the ↑←↑ scene, but the navigator's movements during the launch were perfect. It gave me chills of nostalgia.
- This unusual coolness, especially in the cockpit scenes, is amazing. The humor is calculated, and the glimpse of the face in the final scene is just perfect.
- 15,000 views in 15 hours since uploading, the fans have high expectations.
- The shift change and D-3's face did not disappoint!
- After watching the making-of, I'm grateful to the female cast and the main guy. I also love the live-action Myo-Plat, lol.
- They did such a thing to a classic song, but they pulled it off well. It's rough but not sloppy.
- Amazing 👏. The usual "rough but not sloppy" craftsmanship is the best! I also love Ayukawa Mami's singing.
- The Dragner we've all been waiting for! The cockpit is recreated with a car, and that's a nice touch of roughness! It's packed with the romance of mecha love.
- Umetsu-kun's acting is minimal, but the addictiveness is as strong as ever.
- The paper cup thrusters and umbrella rifles are full of comedic moments!
- The high level of reproduction is impressive.
- I had a grand laugh! The weapons being umbrellas and the creativity is amazing.
- I knew Dragner was coming! The level of completion is incredible.
- The movements of the verniers are really lovely!
- I'm always impressed by the rough yet realistic craftsmanship 😃.
- Varigunner and the cut layouts are cool, but they're treated as jokes in the ↑←↑ scene, such an unfortunate OP.
- Bravo!!💨 So cool!!😂 I was moved by the Top Gun-like metal armor drawn by Obari-san!!😄
- The meticulous recreation of the 80s direction is too amazing.
- It's rough or rather crude, but the level of reproduction is high. Dragner's proportions are weird, but the sculpting is good.
- The usual praise that it's "mostly accurate," lol. The song really gets you pumped.
- Thank God for the new work! I enjoyed it while grinning late at night!
- Every time I watch it, I think, "This is a high-level kind of roughness!" The new work has evolved beyond expectations, and that's terrifying lol.
- It's just simply amazing…
- I hope these translations capture the essence of the original comments. Would you like any further clarifications?
Summary
The video released by the YouTube channel "Tsukasa's Record" recreates the opening of the 1980s robot anime "Metal Armor Dragner" in live-action, all within a brief 1 minute and 31 seconds. Featuring familiar faces such as Goripi-san, Okada Masataka-san, Umetsu Sho-san, and Keinyo-san, the video has garnered approximately 377,033 views. This piece is particularly unmissable for fans of anime and special effects shows.
Audience reactions vary, but a common theme is that the video is "rough yet high-quality." For instance, there's praise for specific scenes like the "excellent gear-shifting when launching from the aircraft carrier," and comments highlighting the "high level of fidelity and creative ingenuity" are prominent. Additionally, there are remarks about the "evolution of new works," indicating high expectations among fans.
This video offers both emotional and comedic moments to a wide audience, thanks to its deep respect for and high fidelity to the anime "Metal Armor Dragner" and its unique mecha design, "Varigunner." Particularly, the unique interpretation of the Varigunner design by Masami Obari gives a fresh impression to the viewers. This blend of originality and high quality is likely what attracts a large audience.
The video respects the original work by maintaining its rough edges while not compromising on the production quality. Observing these compromise points while enjoying the recreation is also one of the ways to enjoy this video.
Regular Announcement (Affiliate Advertisement)
As always, we'd like to introduce some products around this point.
- ROBOT Spirits [SIDE MA] Dragner 1 Custom
This action figure meticulously recreates the protagonist mech "Dragner 1 Custom" from the "Metal Armor Dragner" series. Designed by Mr. S of the "Skull Team," the figure is crafted with attention to detail. It allows for dynamic posing and comes with numerous accessories.
- ROBOT Spirits Metal Armor Dragner [SIDE MA] Dragner 2 Custom
The Dragner 2 Custom from "Metal Armor Dragner" makes its appearance in the ROBOT Spirits series. Supervised by animator Masami Obari, the figure allows for a variety of action poses. Made of ABS & PVC, it features high articulation and polished details.
