Metal Armor Dragonar (1987)
A classic Sunrise mecha anime pitting three unlikely civilian pilots against an empire bent on conquering Earth from the Moon.
Metal Armor Dragonar - Series Information
- Original Title: 機甲戦記ドラグナー
- First Air Year: 1987
- Last Air Year: 1988
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Animation, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Action, Adventure, War, Politics
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (25 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 48
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- First Air Date: February 7, 1987 (Australia - M)
- Networks: Nagoya TV
- Alternative Titles: Dragonar (US), Kikou Senki Dragonar (JP), 机甲战记Dragonar (CN)
- Production Companies: SUNRISE
- Production Countries: Japan
Metal Armor Dragonar - Plot
A.D. 2087 - the United Lunar Empire Giganos wages war on the Earth Federation Military to take control of the planet and establish a "rebirth" of the human race. During an invasion of a colony by Giganos' forces, three civilian men stumble upon a trio of top-secret Metal Armor units called "Dragonars" and pilot them to combat the enemy forces.
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Metal Armor Dragonar - Cast & Crew
Main Cast
- Bin Shimada
- Masami Kikuchi
- Hochu Otsuka
- Kenyu Horiuchi
- Kayoko Fujii
- Akiko Hiramatsu
- Jurota Kosugi
- Masako Katsuki
- Yu Shimaka
- Kachiko Hino
Metal Armor Dragonar - FAQs
What is Metal Armor Dragonar about?
Set in A.D. 2087, Metal Armor Dragonar follows three young civilians who accidentally discover a trio of top-secret mecha units called Dragonars during a colonial invasion by the United Lunar Empire Giganos. Forced into the cockpits, they become unlikely heroes fighting to defend the Earth Federation against a ruthless imperial war machine.
Is Metal Armor Dragonar connected to the Gundam franchise?
Metal Armor Dragonar is not part of the Gundam franchise, though it shares many similarities. Both were produced by Sunrise and fall within the 'real robot' mecha genre. Dragonar is often considered a spiritual successor to early Gundam series, featuring comparable military sci-fi themes, factional warfare, and civilian pilots thrust into combat.
Who are the main voice actors in Metal Armor Dragonar?
The principal cast includes Masami Kikuchi as Kaine Wakaba, Hochu Otsuka as Tapp Oceano, and Kenyu Horiuchi as Light Newman — the three young pilots at the heart of the story. Supporting roles are filled by Kayoko Fujii, Akiko Hiramatsu, Jurota Kosugi, Masako Katsuki, Yu Shimaka, and Kachiko Hino.
Where can you watch Metal Armor Dragonar?
Streaming availability for Metal Armor Dragonar is limited due to its age and niche status. Your best option is to check JustWatch for the most current regional availability, or explore physical media releases and dedicated anime platforms that occasionally carry classic Sunrise titles from the late 1980s.
How many episodes does Metal Armor Dragonar have?
Metal Armor Dragonar ran for a single season of 48 episodes, airing on Nagoya TV from February 1987 through January 1988. Each episode runs approximately 25 minutes, giving the series a substantial runtime that allows its characters and military conflict to develop at a measured, satisfying pace.
What makes Metal Armor Dragonar a 'real robot' anime?
Unlike 'super robot' shows where mechs are near-magical, Metal Armor Dragonar belongs to the 'real robot' tradition pioneered by Gundam. The Dragonar units are portrayed as military hardware — they require fuel, suffer damage, and operate within a believable geopolitical conflict. This grounded approach gives the series a gritty, tactical tension throughout.
Did Metal Armor Dragonar receive an international release?
Metal Armor Dragonar was released internationally under the shortened title Dragonar in the United States. It also circulated in China under the title 机甲战记Dragonar. Despite its cult following among mecha enthusiasts, it never achieved the widespread Western distribution of contemporaries like Macross or Voltron.
What anime series are similar to Metal Armor Dragonar?
Fans of Metal Armor Dragonar typically enjoy Mobile Suit Gundam, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, and Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ for their shared Sunrise pedigree and real-robot warfare. Super Dimension Fortress Macross and Gunbuster offer comparable late-1980s mecha drama, while Voltron: Defender of the Universe provides a lighter but thematically adjacent giant-robot adventure.
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