Superior Defender Gundam Force

Did You Know?

• At the time of its broadcast, SD Gundam Force was the least-watched Gundam title in Japan, averaging a 2.1% TV rating in the Kantō region.
• The PS2 game features a code for super secret forms that was presented on a Japanese trading card and later filtered to Western fandom.

Overview

Superior Defender Gundam Force is a Japan/America co-production. Twenty-six episodes initially aired on the Cartoon Network in the U.S., while 52 episodes were broadcast on TV Tokyo in Japan, making it the longest Gundam series ever broadcast. It was the first Japanese anime not released on VHS; home video releases are only on DVD, each containing three episodes. Although the final 26 episodes were not aired on American television, fan petitions led to an English-dubbed DVD set in 2008. The title references the SD Gundam sub-franchise, but here SD stands for Superior Defender. The series is a crossover based on three earlier SD Gundam settings: SD Command Chronicles (science-fiction militaristic), Musha Gundam (samurai-themed robots), and Knight Gundam (medieval European fantasy). It also contains homages to standard Gundam shows, particularly those of the Universal Century, Future Century, and After Colony timelines. In contrast to the darker tone of most Gundam series, SD Gundam Force is relatively lighthearted, though it becomes more serious as it progresses.

Synopsis

In the peaceful future city of Neotopia, humans and robots live together happily until the Dark Axis, a hostile force from another dimension, invades. To counter this threat while keeping the public unaware, Neotopia secretly formed the Super Dimensional Guard. A boy named Shute stumbles into the first clash between the Dark Axis and the Guard’s hero, Captain Gundam. Shute’s bond with Captain proves essential for unlocking the Captain’s Soul Drive, a mysterious energy source vital for success. As the fight continues, other Gundams from different dimensions—Zero and Bakunetsumaru—arrive to help. The war expands beyond Neotopia into the realms of Lacroa and Ark, culminating in a final battle against the Dark Axis’s supreme commander, General Zeong.

Differences between English and Japanese versions

Although SD Gundam Force was designed with U.S. standards in mind, subtle differences exist between the English and Japanese versions. In the English intro for episode 8, Shute begins his usual description of Neotopia but instead calls it Ypsilanti, Michigan, then laughs and says he is just kidding before continuing. The Japanese version uses various eyecatches, while the English release uses only one; examples include one featuring Mayor Margaret with Neotopian Ball mecha and subtle animation changes like Bakunetsumaru tripping and his helmet falling off. The Japanese version has specific opening and ending themes, while the U.S. version uses scenes or screenshots from the show. The Japanese openings are: OP1 "Sunrise" by Puffy AmiYumi (eps. 1-13), OP2 "Love & Peace" by Little by Little (eps. 14-26), and OP3 "Taiyou ni Kogarete" by Harebare (eps. 27-52). The Japanese endings are: ED1 "Shinjiru Chikara" by Whiteberry (eps. 1-13), ED2 "Kokoro Odoru" by nobodyknows+ (eps. 14-26), ED3 "Kimi to Boku" by I WiSH (eps. 27-38), and ED4 "Koishikute..." by Les.R (eps. 39-52). In the episode "Cobramaru's Tears," the Japanese version depicts Cobramaru attempting ritual suicide to repent for failing his master Kibaomaru; the English dialogue was changed to imply Kibaomaru orders Cobramaru to kill himself or go into exile. In the Japanese version, certain characters are voiced by the voice actors of past Gundam characters they reference, a homage not used in the English version.

Adaptations & spinoffs

The TV series SD Gundam Force inspired two manga adaptations: a three-volume serialization of the show's story and a sidestory titled Superior Defender Gundam Force Gaiden. The main adaptation makes several pacing changes, like leaving out Gunbike and Gunpanzer entirely, and having Madnug break free of his brainwashing only to be killed by Zeong for his betrayal. The sidestory manga fills in backstories and new adventures for Captain Gundam, Bakunetsumaru, Zero, Zapper Zaku, Grappler Gouf, and Destroyer Dom. Two video games were also released. A side-scrolling platformer for the Game Boy Advance covers the first 26 episodes, letting players control Captain Gundam, Bakunetsumaru, or Zero, and switch between them by spending one bar from the special attack meter. The PlayStation 2 title is a 3D action-adventure game with an original plot: a Dimensional Halo creates mirror copies of Neotopia, Lacroa, and Ark, forcing the Gundam Force to fight through these dimensions and battle evil doppelgangers. Each hero gains several new forms, plus a secret form unlocked by a code from a Japanese trading card. Players can eventually control a Zako soldier. The Dimensional Halo and its minions draw from weapons in Victory Gundam, and the mirror dimensions feature villains from the UC, FC, and AC timelines. The second ending theme, Kokoro Odoru by nobodyknows+, appeared in the 2005 Nintendo DS rhythm game Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan.