Magune Robo Ga Kiin/Magne Robo Gakeen/Super Magnetron

Gakeen (read as Gay-Keen)

Continuing with our nostalgia series that follows forgotten Animé from the 70's, today's entry is about another great animation that never made it to the USA: Magne Robo Gakeen, a Japanese anime television series that aired from 1976 to 1977 in Japan. There was a total of 39 episodes produced. The series is also known as Supermagnetron, Gakeen Magnetic Robot, Robotman Gakeen, and Gackeen. Outside of Japan, several episodes were edited and cobbled together into a movie-length feature, and in this format it is also known as Magnos the Robot or Renegade Force. Such movie was made direct to video and it was released in the USA along with other Animé that suffered the same edition to become movies.

Heroes of a bygone era.

Magne Robo Gakeen tells the story of Doctor Kazuki, who being aware of an invasion of Earth (by the Izaru people) builds a robot based on the science of magnetism and what is known as "the sphere joint theory" Undergoing a dangerous augmentation process, Doctor Kazuki's daughter Mai becomes the pilot of "Mighty" or "Magnetman Minus". Takeru Hojo becomes the pilot of "Puraiza" or "Magnetman Plus". The pilots would hold each other and then physically transform their joint bodies in a metallic plate locking itself on the Gakeen (Short for "Gathering Keen") robot's frame thus enabling the super robot to move and fight.

Magnetman Plus.

Gakeen became one of the many super robot series to appear after the seminal Mazinger and Getter Robo opened the floodgates to the genre a few years earlier. Gakeen's robot was notable for its creative weaponry systems such as cutting fists, Gakeen fists, steel claws, bladed foot, etc. Other specialties include magnetic onslaught, magnetic draw, arm cutter, laser beams and the atomic hurricane. The show further extended the transformation into very long complex sequences that would become trendy for similar shows to follow.

Magnetman Minus.

The lead characters of the animation were Takeshi Hoyo(AKA Gualdo/Waldo) a young martial artist who left his home hoping for a better future. His greatest ambition was to overcome his father in a karate match. He is chosen by Professor Kazuki Hakase (AKA Professor Raymond) for his great skills as the pilot of the Magnetman Plus. Kazuki Mai (AKA Lisa) is the young daughter of Professor Raymond. She pilots the Magnetman Minus, and last but not least Professor Kazuki Hakase (AKA Professor Raymond) Who besides having created the super robots also, commands the spaceship Liberty. Together they fight a neverending battle against the Izary (AKA Isaritas)

Gakeen combination!

Gakeen, like many animé from the 70's was very popular in Italy, thus opening doors for its debut in Latin American television as a part of the "Festival de los Robots" show. Unfortunately, just like Steel Jeeg (previous review), there were only 26 episodes out of the 39 made available in both Italian & Spanish dubbing. Animé connoisseurs would like to believe that the breakthrough moment for the japanese genre was moments after it became huge in the USA thanks to Robotech. Although I'd love to say "yes, that is the absolute truth" it actually couldn't be more far from the truth. Japan started exporting their Animé to Europe & Latin America long before they did it in the USA. Moreover, plenty of Animé released in Italy & Latin America remain unreleased in Uncle Sam's land to date.  

the bad guy.

The "other" Gakeen combination.

Overall, Magne Robo Gakeen it's a piece of its time. Watching it today without any background knowledge on what was going on in the 70's would make it a very unpleasant experience. In addition, despite its popularity, the show lacked originality, as the story and the way the main characters would "transform" into the giant robot had already been seen many times in other Animé from the same decade. Still, if interested, at most you would find a copy of the "Magnos the Robot" movie in a flea market or online sales site like E-Bay. Finding the series is a complete different story...

Here's the original Japanese opening:

Here's the Italian opening. Pay close attention to the 70's disco driven melody of the theme:

Here's the Latin American opening:

Here's the opening for the "Magnos the Robot" movie:

Here's the Ga-Keen Combination sequence: