Dai-Guard

Dai-Guard
地球防衛企業ダイ・ガード (Chikyū Bōei Kigyō Dai Gādo)
Genre	Mecha, comedy, science fiction
Anime television series
Directed by	Seiji Mizushima
Produced by	Makiko Iwata Shinjiro Yokoyama
Written by	Fumihiko Shimo
Music by	Kohei Tanaka Kenji Kawai
Studio	Xebec
Licensed by	NA: Discotek Media
Original network	TV Tokyo
Original run	5 October 1999 – 28 March 2000
Episodes	26

Dai-Guard (地球防衛企業 ダイ・ガード, Chikyū Bōei Kigyō Dai Gādo, lit. "Terrestrial Defense Corp. Dai-Guard") is an anime television series, produced and animated by XEBEC, and directed by Seiji Mizushima. It aired from October 5, 1999 to March 28, 2000 on TV Tokyo, ran for 26 episodes. 6 volumes of videos were released on VHS and DVD. The series also had a very brief run (two episodes) on Cartoon Network through Toonami's "Giant Robot Week."

The series is based around three office workers of the 21st Century Defense Security Corporation's Public Relations Division 2 who, with the company's giant robot, Dai-Guard, fight interdimensional alien beings called "Heterodynes". Unlike most giant robot anime, Dai-Guard performs on much more realistic physics, making it heavy, slow, and a hassle to control. Also, the Heterodynes seem to be the least of the 21st Century Corporation's problems as they experience opposition in the form of massive damage claims, lawsuits, rivals and a jealous and antagonistic military who wishes to take back Dai-Guard for themselves.

Plot

On February 24, 2018, in the Northwest gap of the Sea of Japan, a giant creature called a Heterodyne appears and goes on a rampage, destroying a major city and killing countless people before being destroyed itself by a weapon of mass destruction known as an "O-E (Over-Explosion) bomb". In the aftermath, a giant robotic weapon system, code-named Dai-Guard, was developed by the military as an alternative to the future use of such weapons. However, no further attacks occur for the next twelve years.

The company that built the robot for the military is allowed to keep the useless weapon as a corporate mascot. However, during a security exposition in 2030, a Heterodyne attacks, and the ill-prepared and unarmed robot is taken into battle by its headstrong pilot Akagi Shunsuke. His headstrong nature, combined with the talents of his fellow crew, enable Dai-Guard to be victorious against multiple Heterodyne attacks causing the military to want it back.

Heterodyne are mysterious entities formed from dimensional quakes all around Japan and are attracted to electromagnetic hot-spots. They form from crystalline hexagons called Fractal Knots that act as their nucleus and form bodies using the matter around them. Although Fractal Knots replicate themselves indefinitely, if the original is destroyed it will immediately reduce the rest of the body into ethanol. Aside from traveling through dimensions and having Fractal Knots they have very little in common with each other.

The Heterodyne are a dangerous and adaptable foe yet not invulnerable and potent weapons are developed by the corporation's technical support teams. The grudging assistance of military advisors lead to the discovery of clever tactics. The Dai-Guard's alien fighting soon begins to take a back-seat to the bureaucratic troubles and office politics that the Corporation faces and personal beliefs of protagonists which is often cause of much conflict. However everyone involved with 21st Century and the Anzenhosho Army (ANPO) shares the same goal of protecting Japan from Heterodyne attacks.

• Ending

The series ends its run not with the final elimination of the Heterodyne threat, but in an epiphany shared by all of the former rivals: The Heterodyne, although a threat that must be faced with impressive technology, are simply yet another disaster to be faced in a dangerous world, no different from earthquakes or typhoons. In a disaster, it is pointless to argue over who is in charge, as deliberating over such trivial matters could cost human lives. There is no need to force a controlled peace or suppress conflicting opinions in order to apply personal solutions when different people have their own specialties that can contribute to the whole operation. The final episode suggests that Heterodyne will never stop appearing, making teamwork between the Army's new team of Kokubogar units and Dai-Guard a necessity.

Characters

Shunsuke Akagi (voiced by Kentarou Itou) — The primary pilot of Dai-Guard. The headstrong, idealistic and impulsive, 25 year old Akagi can be seen as the heart and brawn of the three Dai-Guard pilots. Beforehand, he was merely an office worker for the 21st Century Defense Security Corporation, but he manages to achieve his dreams of becoming a "Giant Robot pilot." During the return of the Heterodynes, he and his two friends Ibuki and Aoyama become the pilots of Dai-Guard, and intend to put it to use in order to fight off the Heterodyne threat. Akagi loves his job a little too much and manages to stick out among his fellow workers as the more enthusiastic one. Akagi always has the best intentions, even though they usually get him into trouble. Intriguingly, his distinctive personality makes him a natural as Dai-Guard's primary pilot and his cartoon-samurai ethical code quickly wins him a place in the hearts of the public. He refuses to take or allow actions that will endanger civilian lives and/or property if there is any alternative whatsoever.

Ibuki Momoi (voiced by Akiko Hiramatsu) — Years ago, during the last Heterodyne attack, Ibuki's father (a scientist whose theories predicted the appearance of the Heterodynes) was killed in the attack. Ever since that incident, Ibuki wanted revenge against the Heterodynes. She becomes the navigator of Dai-Guard for this very reason. However, she learns the less than heroic truth about her father, and it leaves her without an emotional anchor. Ibuki has a rather strained relationship with her stepfather, who at first is against Ibuki piloting Dai-Guard, but becomes the person who helps her understand her father and fight her personal demons in time to save the world with much more clarity. As with Akagi, her personality meshes well with her position as Dai-Guard's navigator-she is so obsessed with details that she can make quick and precise summaries of a Heterodyne's abilities, often noticing subtle flaws in a given Heterodyne that allow the team to destroy it with minimal casualties.

Keiichiro Aoyama (voiced by Shinichiro Miki) — Both a veritable ladies man and somewhat mysterious, Aoyama is the engineer of Dai-Guard. Most of the time, Aoyama disappears after work, often taking off early. While his friends believe he is off womanizing, it turns out that Aoyama is caring for his sick mother, who personally does not want to become Aoyama's top priority over piloting Dai-Guard. As his experiences grow during his time piloting Dai-Guard, he meets more people from his past that he once again crosses paths with. Like his fellow pilots, he possesses personality traits that assist him in his role as Dai-Guard's engineer. Aoyama is always looking for ways to save time and effort, so not only does he regulate the robot's systems with clockwork proficiency, but he will intuitively notice methods by which the team can accomplish its goal with less effort.

Shirou Shirota (voiced by Kenichi Ono) — An army officer who is assigned as the Tactical Advisor to the Dai-Guard team. He is originally very strict with regulations, and insistent that civilians should not be allowed to handle the Heterodyne crisis. However, his interactions with the employees of Public Relations Division 2, especially Akagi, causes him to change his views. He eventually becomes one of their biggest supporters in the army, and often risks his own career to help them.

President Ookouchi (voiced by Takaya Hashi) — The president of 21st Century Defense Security. He was previously an army officer, and was the one responsible for ordering the use of O-E Weapons during the Heterodyne attack twelve years ago. Because of this, he is determined to avoid the use of these weapons again, and is thus very supportive of the Dai-Guard team. He was briefly voted out of office by the company's board of directors, but was reinstated when the company began to flounder without him.

Haruo Oosugi (voiced by Masashi Hirose) — The chief and supervisor of Public Relations Division 2. He has a very easy going personality, and is always supportive of his staff.

Shinyu Yokozawa — The aid to Chief Oosugi, who also helps oversee Dai-Guards' operations. He is married with a young daughter. As his daughter has a sickly constitution, he is often concerned with the safety of his family.

Noriko Ooyama (voiced by Michiko Neya) — At 28, she is the oldest of the girls that work in the Public Relations Division 2 office, and is seen as an older sister figure to the other employees. Her hometown of Hiroshima helps inspire her to help people, on account of what happened to the city during the War. Among the girls employed by the division, she is the most responsible. She is often concerned about the well being of Akagi, and often nags him about his work and health.

Chiaki Nakahara (voiced by Marina Ono) — Despite being the second oldest of the office girls at 25, she is very shy, easily flustered, and the shortest member of Public Relations Division 2. However, she is very dependable at doing her job, being the head of accounting for the division. She has a slight crush on Aoyama.

Fuuka Tanigawa (voiced by Yukari Tamura) — Tanigawa is the most outgoing of the office girls, and has a hyperactive personality. She is somewhat of an office gossip, often repeating dubious information heard from other parts of the company.

Shizuku Irie (voiced by Rumi Kasahara) — Notable for her calm demeanor, Shizuku most often speaks in a low, almost emotionless, tone. However, she occasionally, and randomly, acts out various other characters' behaviors and is known for her sarcastic remarks.

Tomoyoshi Ishizuka (voiced by Shoji Izumi), Tomorou Taguchi (voiced by Makoto Higo), and Hirotaka Ijyuuin (voiced by Katsuyuki Konishi) — This trio of salary men have almost identical physical appearances and personalities; all three are overweight and easygoing. They are all 27 years old, and began working for the company at the same time. As a result, they work well together. Ishizuka is in charge of the office work, Taguchi is the events planner and coordinator, and Ijyuuin is in charge of domestic public relations.

Younei Sumida (voiced by Hiro Yuuki) — The head of Dai-Guard's ground crew, who oversees the repair and maintenance of the robot. His crew is also responsible for the construction of Dai-Guard's new parts and weapons. He is often seen assisting Prof. Domeki, who he harbors feelings for.

Rika Domeki (voiced by Mayumi Shintani) — An eccentric 17 year old child genius, who is the head of the Technology Division, and the company's resident scientist. She insists that others refer to her as "Professor". She is an expert on the research of Heterodynes, and is also the one responsible for designing new parts for Dai-Guard. She often takes advantage of Sumida's willingness to help her.

Episodes

No.	Title
1	"Disaster From the Sea"
Turned over to the company's PR division, Dai-Guard has become little more than a tourist attraction at Atami. However, a Ray-Type Heterodyne reappears from the ocean and moves towards the shore. PR Division worker Akagi Shunsuke is insistent that he and his co-workers should pilot the robot for the purpose it was meant for and convinces his co-pilots Ibuki Momoi and Keiichiro Aoyama to activate Dai-Guard. Against the objections of the higher-up officials, the engage the Heterodyne with Dai-Guard and manage to force it back into the sea.
2	"The Fort at Night"
Against the wishes of both the Army and 21st Century Defense Security, Akagi and the rest of PR Division decide to help those hurt in the Heterodyne attack by flying them to a hospital in military transports to Tokyo. As if dealing with army and company politics wasn't enough, the situation only gets worse when a Ray-Type Heterodyne resurfaces for a second attack. Dai-Guard is hastily refitted, including a new drill arm with acceleration boosters and they re-engage the Heterodyne. Unfortunately the drill arm upsets the balance of Dai-Guard, but Ibuki manages to use it to destroy the Heterodyne, just as all the paperwork is signed at headquarters to approve the operation.
3	"Circumstances of a Hero"
The fighting may be over, but the paperwork is just beginning, as damage claims and lawsuits related to Dai-Guard's last mission start piling up. Whilst the rest of PR Division 2 buckles down to tackling the economical fallout, Aoyama decides that he wants nothing more to do with Dai-Guard, and quits his job. A Saucer-Type Heterodyne surfaces near Yokahama and Dai-Guard is re-mobilized, but without Aoyama, Akagi cannot control it. Aoyama relents and joins them, and they are able to destroy the Heterodyne, but not without causing some damage and related expense for the Division.
4	"The Heroine's Melancholy"
The directors decide to capture the next Heterodyne instead of destroying it to analyse its structure – they also see potential profit in the Dai-Guard technology. Rumors begin flying around about a new Enterprise Division to take charge of Dai-Guard. This suits Aoyama who feels it's too dangerous, but Ibuki wants to continue, and feels she must prove her worth after her father asks her to quit. A Globe-Type Heterodyne appears and the team decides to demonstrate that they are the best people for the job. With the assistance of the army, tactical advisor agent Shirota and excellent work by Ibuki they destroy the Heterodyne and keep their jobs.
5	"Can't Run Facing the Setting Sun"
President Ookouchi and the "Iron" General argue over the ownership of Dai-Guard, but it remains in the hands of the 21st Century Defense Security. Agent Shirota advises the General that it would be counter-productive to requisition the Dai-Guard. A Pyramid Type Heterodyne appears and the army tries to stop it. An injured truck driver lies trapped on top of it and Shirota advises the Akagi that saving him is not as important as stopping the Heterodyne. Defying Shirota, Akagi and the crew take Dai-Guard out to rescue the driver, but Dai-Guard is almost incapacitated in the process. Shirota realizes that the Heterodyne is heading for a nuclear power plant and orders it shut down, instructing Akagi to attack the Heterodyne at a critical moment. With the Heterodyne destroyed, Akagi realizes that it was through the combined effort of the military, Shirota and Dai-Guard that they were successful.
6	"Memories Taught Me"
A former shopping center destroyed in the first Heterodyne attack 12 years earlier is scheduled for reconstruction. It includes a park where Ibuki used to play as a child with her father, a research scientist who was killed in the first Heterodyne attack. A Sonic-Type Heterodyne appears and makes its way across the city, but a father and child are in its path. Akagi defies Shirota and takes Dai-Guard to delay the Heterodyne. Ibuki realizes that it's vulnerable to liquids and Haruo Oosugi instructs Akagi to get Dai-Guard to throw a tanker filled with acid at it, destroying it. Meanwhile Rika Domeki gathers more information about Heterodyne behaviour. Shirota recommends to the general that Dai-Guard should be under military control.
7	"Fire and Ice"
A Mushroom-Type Heterodyne appears in the city but doesn't move for a week, and the 21st Century Defence Security doesn't want to get involved and risk any financial losses by using Dai-Guard. While Shirota and Akagi discuss their different approaches over dinner, the Heterodyne's spores sprout up through the streets. While the army tries to destroy the Heterodyne's sprouts, Akagi goes into a supermarket basement to rescue a dog but is injured by falling rubble. Akagi teaches Shirota how to pilot Dai-Guard, meanwhile Domeki calls through with information about the Heterodyne's vulnerability - a crystalline hexagon called a Fractal Knot. Shirota pilots Dai-Guard to attack the Heterodyne, but it counter-attacks damaging Dai-Guard. Akagi and Shirota cooperate to grab one of its needles and puncture the crystalline hexagon, destroying the Heterodyne.
8	"A Strange Day"
Things are quiet at 21st Century Defense Security with everyone doing tedious administrative tasks. Finally there is a Heterodyne warning and the crew enter Dai-Guard on stand-by. Akagi and Ibuki have an argument because he made fun of her that morning, and unfortunately it is transmitted through the public address system. Ibuki seems tense and Aoyama has problems at home. Akagi apologises to Ibuki who tells him that her stepfather wants her to quit the Dai-Guard crew. Aoyama goes home to take care of his mother but she tells him to go to work and not worry.
9	"Explosion! Knot Buster!"
Ijyuuin and Tanigawa see a Balloon-Type Heterodyne overhead while having a day off at an onsen. It appears to be heading towards a dam and hydro-electric plant. Dai-Guard is flown to the site in parts and assembled, but it is too slow and cumbersome in the mountains and cannot capture the Heterodyne. The process is repeated 3 times without success until a final effort is made using a newly delivered weapon, the Knot Buster, designed by Rika Domeki. Attached to Dai-Guard’s arm the weapon pierces and destroys the Heterodyne, however as the army paid cash for the weapon, under Shirota’s orders they take it into their possession.
10	"Wages That Correspond to Justice"
The ANPO and Shirota announce a new anti-Heterodyne robot called Kukobogar and plan to stop civilian robots such as Dai-Guard being used. Meanwhile Aoyama rushes his mother to hospital where he meets Ibuki who is arguing with her mother over her father’s scientific work. At a press conference, Akagi questions the capacity of Kukobogar and a comparison test is proposed. On the day of the test, Akagi has a high temperature, and meets the military Kukobogar pilots, including his former instructor Major Iizuka. The tests begin, but they favor Kukobogar and Dai-Guard loses each one. During a break, a Flower-Type Heterodyne appears in the harbor. Akagi disobeys orders and attacks the Heterodyne with acid, but being composed of water the acid has little effect. Kukobogar is deployed, and using Knot Buster, it destroys the Fractal Knot of the Heterodyne, dissipating it. As a goodwill gesture Shirota sends some to the congratulatory flowers to Akagi who is recovering in hospital from his illness.
11	"Alibi: Two Heterodynes Attack Tokyo"
Ooyama visits Akagi in hospital and blames Ibuki and Aoyama for Dai-Guard’s failure. A new Fuse-Type Heterodyne appears and Kukobogar is deployed to fight it. During the battle, Shirota orders the crew to recover the Fractal Knot of the Heterodyne. While the Fractal Knot is being examined at military headquarters it starts to regenerate, but at the same time an Electric-Type Heterodyne appears in the city. Major Iizuka is ordered to use Kukobogar to subdue the Heterodyne at headquarters first to avoid potential embarrassment, leaving the people in the city and the underground at the mercy of the Electric-Type Heterodyne. Back at the hangar, the Fuse-Type Heterodyne envelops Kukobogar with Iizuka inside and heads towards Shinjuku. The General orders the military to fire on the two Heterodynes, ignoring the risk to citizens trapped there against Shirota's objections. Shirota realizes the military prefer saving face over the lives of citizens, and goes to the Dai-Guard hangar and offers to pilot the robot himself. Dai-Guard neutralizes the Electric-Type Heterodyne, but it escapes and merges with the Fuse-Type and attacks Dai-Guard. Shirota does not fight back because Iizuka is still inside the merged Heterodyne.
12	"Shinjuku at Night: Big Battle"
President Ookouchi asks Colonel Nishina to wait for two hours before the all-out attack on the Heterodyne to allow a new weapon, the Knot Punisher designed by Rika Domeki to be fitted to Dai-Guard. Colonel Nishina orders General Busujima to comply and the army surrounds the Heterodyne with vibration land mines while Dai-Guard is retrieved for the upgrade. Meanwhile Akagi has left the hospital and made his way to the Dai-Guard hangar. With the the Knot Punisher weapon fitted, Akagi pilots Dai-Guard towards the merged Heterodyne. Guided by Domeki, Akagi engages the Heterodyne and destroys its Fractal Knot, dissipating the Heterodyne and freeing Kukobogar to the cheers of the citizens. The military commander orders that Shirota and Busujima be punished for their failures and embarrassment of the military. Back at 21st Century Defense Security Corporation the managing director prepares to deal with President Ookouchi for pursuing what he sees as a personal grudge against the military.
13	"Things that can be Forgiven, Things that can't be Forgiven"
General Busujima is reprimanded for the failure and damage to Kukobogar which again leaves Dai-Guard as the only defense against the Heterodynes. Shirota is sent back to work as adviser with the 21st Century Defense Security Corporation whose staff are preparing for a Christmas party. A new Cylinder-Type Heterodyne appears and heads towards the North Fuji Exercise Grounds but the military announce they will deal with it themselves, so the 21st Century staff proceed with their Christmas party and Ibuki invites Shirota along. The first and second attacks by the Anzen Hoshou Army with conventional weapons fails and the Heterodyne remains intact. President Ookouchi decides to send Dai-Guard while the military argue about the best course of action. With Shirota’s tactical skills, the Dai-Guard crew manage to destroy the Heterodyne, much to the annoyance of Busujima. At 21st Century, the board of directors vote to dismiss President Ookouchi.
14	"Oosugi Report"
Haruo Oosugi, the chief and supervisor of Public Relations Division 2 of 21st Century Defense Security Corporation, provides a report on the construction of Dai-Guard, the events to date and biographies of the company staff.
15	"We Are All Alive"
16	"Always Sunny in the Soul"
17	"I'd Like to Sleep as if Dreaming"
18	"Run Towards Tomorrow"
19	"White Contract"
20	"Blue Promise"
21	"False Memories"
22	"So That I Can Remain Myself"
23	"What Do You Want to Protect?"
24	"Something that Covers the Sky"
25	"Thoughts that Keep Piling Up"
26	"Victory Song for Tomorrow"

Mecha

Dai-Guard

Dai-Guard stands 25 meters high, and weighs 156 tons. It is composed of multiple pieces, which were originally transported to the site of battle, and assembled on location. Initially it was poorly maintained and essentially mothballed due to the absence of the Heterodyne threat. With their return, Dai-Guard is recommissioned and underwent several upgrades throughout the series. Due to its configuration, pilots are required to apply for a 'vertical-model special vehicle license,' which can take a minimum of 2 months to complete. It was stated that Akagi got a score of D minus, which barely made him eligible to be Dai-Guard's main pilot.

• "Rocket Punch": An improvised maneuver in which Dai-Guard's forearm is torn from its socket and thrown at the enemy.
• Drill Arm: An arm attachment that consists of a rocket-boosted over-sized drill. Unfortunately, such a weapon is in reality quite impractical as it is basically a massive gyroscope, and is incredibly difficult to wield due to the torque it produces. However, the pilots eventually develop the skill to make limited use of this weapon, and it is later seen in several scenarios where other weapons are unavailable.
• Net Gun: An arm attachment with the hand making up a large weighted net used for capturing Heterodyne. Due to the lack of missions requiring the capture of live Heterodyne in the series, it is rarely ever used.
• Knot Buster: An arm attachment specifically designed by Rika Domeki to strike and destroy a Heterodyne's Fractal Knot, the weak point of the creatures. It is a claw with an integral explosive-propelled pile driver, far more practical and controllable than the Drill Arm. One simply targets the Heterodyne's Fractal Knot, latches onto it with the claw and triggers the pile driver, impaling it. This weapon was only used once by Dai-Guard before being claimed by the Army for use by its own robot, Kokubogar, but was destroyed soon afterward.
• Knot Punisher: Like the Knot Buster, it is designed to strike the Fractal Knot of the Heterodyne. Unknown to the Army, Domeki designed the Knot Buster merely as a prototype for this weapon. Where the Knot Buster is a single arm attachment, the Knot Punisher utilizes both arms. One arm utilizes the same pile driver-claw utility of the Knot Buster, but instead of an explosive charge, it is driven by a torque-less counter-rotating dual flywheel attached to the other arm. The flywheel is spun up in advance, the Heterodyne's Fractal Knot is grasped with the claw, and the flywheel is inserted into the pile driver's gear port, firing the spike and impaling the knot. The flywheel itself can be used as a melee weapon, as it is quite sturdy and possesses a greater radius than the arm and more stability than the drill arm. The downsides with this system is that Dai-Guard cannot pick anything up with it in place, (aside from using the claw), and it takes a considerable amount of time to install the equipment prior to battle.
• Great Knot Punisher (Knot Punisher 2 in English Dub): The upgraded version of the Knot Punisher, developed by Domeki with the benefit of a full year of combat data. Though it has far greater power than its predecessor, the real advantage of this system is that both arms retain hands. The pile driver attachment has twice the length of both previous systems so as to accommodate a claw on one end and a hand on the other. It can be spun on its joint to bring either manipulator to bear. Its flywheel is identical to is predecessor save that it has a hand as well, which is inserted into the gear port to fire the spike.
• Insulating Armor: Special armor Dai-Guard is composed of, giving it a high resistance to electricity and electromagnetic impulses sometimes emitted from Heterodyne. In episode 15 this armor is given an electromagnetic shield to protect it from intense heat for up to three minutes.

Kokubogar

When the army realized that they could not seize the privately owned Dai-Guard, they chose to build their own giant robot to compete with it. Based on Dai-Guard's design, but built with state-of-the-art technologies, this new robot, christened Kokubogar, was far superior to the twelve-year-old Dai-Guard. However, technological advancement did not help Kokubogar's team- Akagi's former robot piloting class professor and two of his students. Unlike the independent and idealistic civilian pilots of Dai-Guard, Kokubogar's pilots were all blindly loyal and obedient soldiers, prioritizing property and money over human lives.

Although its first battle was an outstanding success, the second one was co-opted by interests that wished to study Heterodynes for weapons research, and the creature was captured instead of destroyed. While en route to a third battle, the captured Heterodyne escaped containment and military authorities demanded that the robot ignore the creature attacking the city in favor of destroying the escaped creature - which seemed somewhat antagonized by its capture. It quickly defeated and fused with Kokubogar, then went on a rampage that only became worse when it fused with the third Heterodyne. The military then demanded that the hybrid be destroyed before it could be discovered that Kokubogar had been compromised so as to preserve their public image.

Catastrophe was only averted due to the timely efforts of the entire Dai-Guard team and Shirota's unexpected defection. Once the Army and the team stopped fighting each other, the Heterodyne/Kokubogar hybrid was neutralized with minimal collateral damage and the lives of Kokubogar's pilots intact, making a fact of the Heterodyne battles perfectly clear. If destroying Heterodynes was the only goal, that could be accomplished with WMDs. Thus, those who fought the Heterodyne had to possess more than just weapons and skill, they had to possess priorities that favored the populace over all else - even over the demands of the authorities.

The robot was out of commission for several months, during which relations between the Army and the Dai-Guard team cooled and mutual respect was developed. The team acknowledged the skills and resources of the Army, and the Army acknowledged the team's ideals - their purpose was not merely to serve their superiors any more than the team's was. All of them - the soldiers, the officers, the Dai-Guard team - in truth served the people of Japan.

The repairs were completed in time for the Army to show their new ideals as they assisted Dai-Guard in the final battle depicted in the series. Shirota notes near the end of the series that the Army has commissioned the construction of more Kokubogar units to defend Japan.

• Knot Buster: Originally designed for Dai-Guard, the Knot Buster was seized by the Army. It was destroyed in its third engagement.
• Machine Guns: Kokubogar had powerful machine guns mounted above the optics.
• Rocket Launcher: In the final battle, Kokubogar fires a volley of rockets from its forearm, saving Dai-Guard from a certain defeat. It is uncertain if this weapon is mounted on both arms.

Heterodyne

Mysterious entities formed from dimensional quakes all around Japan. They form from crystalline hexagons called "Fractal Knots" that act as their nucleus and form into bodies using the matter around them. Although fractal knots replicate themselves indefinitely, if the original is destroyed it will immediately reduce the rest of the body into ethanol. Aside from traveling through dimensions, having Fractal Knots, and being attracted to electromagnetic hot-spots, they have very little in common with each other. The final episode suggests that Heterodyne will never stop appearing, making teamwork between the Army's new team of Kokubogar units and Dai-Guard a necessity.

• Grub Type: Appears in episode 1 at the very beginning years before the main story and later in episodes 21 and 22. Powers include a heat cannon from the mouth that fires explosive yellow energy balls that range from a barrel of dynamite to rivaling napalm, swimming, armor that can survive an OE bomb, explosive melting particles from the mouth, and reformation in a matter of hours. In Super Robot Wars Z2 it is referred to as Insect-R.
• Ray Type: Appears in episodes 1 and 2. Powers include swimming up to 30 knots, spawning lightning storms to indicate its arrival, twin arm whips, using its starfish-like limbs for bashing, and levitation while on land. A two headed suit of it appears briefly in episode 23 that resembles Pestar from the original Ultraman.
• Saucer Type: Appears in episode 3. Powers include levitation, underside heat flashes, and using its body as a throwing disc by ramming it into opponents.
• Glob Type: Appears in episode 4. Powers include being a large ball used for rolling and ramming and absorbing earth to make itself larger.
• Pyramid Type: Appears in episode 5. Powers include levitation, an electrical force field, and conductive mud tentacles from the seams in the body.
• Sonic Type: Appears in episode 6. Powers include levitation and a high frequency barrier around its body that dissolves solid objects although it has no effect on liquids and presumably gases.
• Mushroom Type: Appears in episode 7. Powers include regeneration, sprouting mushrooms from its root-like structures, spawning thorny vines from its head, and launching needles from the head.
• Balloon Type: Appears in episode 9. Powers include levitation and a highly rubbery body.
• Flower Type: Appears in episode 10. Powers include swimming, immunity to radar detection, and a body composed mostly of water that allows it to dilute acids.
• Fuser Type: Appears in episode 11. Powers include reducing its body to liquid, levitation, spheres around its body to protect the fractal knot, can regenerate its entire body in a matter of hours, and can fuse with opponents.
• Electric Type: Appears in episode 11. Powers include phasing through solid objects, emitting electrical bolts, and flight.
• Kokubogar Fusion: Appears in episodes 11 and 12. It is a fusion between Fuser Type, Kokubogar, and later Electric Type. Powers include flight, five red spheres attached to electrical pulses used like missiles from directly overhead, and extensible limbs.
• Cylinder Type: Appears in episode 13. Powers include flight at 30 kilometers per hour, twin whip antennae, regeneration, and adaption to enemy attacks over time.
• Magnetic Type: Appears in episode 15. Powers include floating on top of water, emitting electromagnetic waves hot enough to scorch humans alive, and tentacles from its top.
• Wheel Type: Appears in episode 16. Powers include levitation, rotating fast enough to generate static electricity, and using its body rotation like a tornado.
• Burrower Type: Appears in episode 17. Its only known power is burrowing 10 centimeters a year and has a body size that covers all of Kyoto. The Dai-Guard team decides not to destroy this Heterodyne, as its destruction would cause the collapse of the entire city. Suspected to have first appeared many years ago and has lain dormant since.
• Spike Type: Appears in episode 18. Powers include rotating its body for burrowing long distances, emitting a high pitched noise from its body, and using its eight retractable spikes for puncturing hard surfaces. It has also been referred to as the Central Line Monster and Subway Slayer.
• Ice Type: Appears in episodes 19 and 20. Powers include flight, floating on top of water, forming a sheet of ice covering its body for armor, heat absorption, and freezing its opponents over with ice.
• Starfish Type: Mentioned at the end of episode 23 and appears at the very beginning of episode 24. It possesses no known powers.
• Giant Type: Appears in episodes 24, 25, and 26 and possesses the largest size of any Heterodyne with its starting size at 2 kilometers in diameter. Powers include levitation, extensible spear tentacles, can hide most of its body in the Heterodynes' home dimension, radio interference, size growth to the point of covering Earth within a month, regeneration, and spikes from the top of the body.
• Black Dai-Guard: Appears in the final episode and acts as the guardian of Giant Type's fractal knot. Powers include an extensible lower half, super speed, and morphing its right hand as a drill and mace.

Theme songs

• Opening
  • "Rojiura no Uchuu Shōnen [Back Alley Space Boy]" by The Cobratwisters (Eps. 2-25)
• Endings
  • "Hashire Hashire [Run, Run]" by Kyoko Endou (Eps. 1-25)
  • "Rojiura no Uchuu Shōnen [Back Alley Space Boy]" by The Cobratwisters (Episode 26)

Merchandise

In September 2011, Bandai released Dai-Guard in the Super Robot Chogokin line. The figure comes with all of the weapons featured in the anime. Kokubogar is set for release as a Tamashii Web Shop exclusive on March 2012.

In other media

Dai-Guard makes its video game debut in Super Robot Wars Z2.

External links

• Dai-Guard (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia