[ci skip] More writing on the post

content/post/2021-02-09-blast-from-the-past--super-beast-machine-god-dancougar.md

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ tags:
 - general
 - anime
 title: 'Blast from the past: 超獣機神ダンクーガ (Super Beast Machine God Dancougar)'
+summary: "After quite a long time, I was finally able to take a look at this series: a rather atypical mecha show that despite some bad production, still manages to be interesting."
 ---
 
 {{< figure src="/images/2021/02/dancougar-logo.png">}}
@@ -28,9 +29,28 @@ This is the iconic, and undoubtedly over-the-top, quote from the anime this post
 
 To be honest, *Dancouga* would be probably a better spelling, since it's a play on the kanji 断空我 (which are read as *dan-kuu-ga*), and according to the series, they mean "我を空にして煩悩を断つ" (*Empty the self and break off from the worldly desires*), supposedly inspired by Zen (but it's actually just made up, as far as I can tell).
 
-I've been interested in the series for the past 30 (!) years, but I've never had the occasion to watch it properly (save for a handful episodes around that time, but I didn't know a single word of Japanese back then). The occasion presented itself recently, so, like [my previous post on Galaxy Angel](https://www.dennogumi.org/2011/05/a-retrospective-view-galaxy-angel/) I'm making a retrospective post about it.
+I've been interested in the series for the past 30 (!) years, but I've never had the occasion to watch it properly (save for a handful episodes around that time, but I didn't know a single word of Japanese back then). The occasion presented itself recently, so, like [my previous post on Galaxy Angel](/2011/05/a-retrospective-view-galaxy-angel/) I'm making a retrospective post about it.
 
 ## What is this series about?
 
-Dancougar is a giant mecha anime which aired on TV (TBS) from April 5th to December 27th 1985, totalling a total of 38 episodes, animated by Ashi Production (葦プロダクション). The series actually did not have a "proper" ending, which was added as part of a "summary" OAV which recapped the whole series, 失われた者たちへの鎮魂歌（レクイエム）(*Requiem for the fallen*), with the English title of *Requiem for Victims*, out in april 1986. A second OAV, *GOD BLESS DANCOUGA*, was released roughly a year later. Lastly, a series of 4 OAVs were released between 1989 and 1990, with the title 白熱の終章 (the *blazing last chapter* or *blazing ending*).
+Dancougar is a giant mecha anime which aired on TV (TBS) from April 5th to December 27th 1985, totalling a total of 38 episodes, animated by Ashi Production (葦プロダクション). Due to bad ratings, the series was cut short of the last episode. Thanks to a campaign from the fans, the actual ending was added as part of a "summary" OAV which recapped the whole series, 失われた者たちへの鎮魂歌（レクイエム）(*Requiem for the fallen*), with the English title of *Requiem for Victims*, out in april 1986.
 
+A second OAV (originally planned to be a theatrical release), *GOD BLESS DANCOUGA*, was released roughly a year later. Lastly, a series of 4 OAVs were released between 1989 and 1990, with the title 白熱の終章 (the *blazing last chapter* or *blazing ending*).
+
+## The TV series
+
+### Plot and characters
+
+The basic premise of the plot in Dancougar is not different from any "regular" mecha show from earlier times: the extraterrestial Muge Zorbados Empire, led by Emperor Muge, has set its sights on Earth as a new target for its interstellar campaign of conquest. Muge's soldiers, thanks to their superior technology, quickly obliterate the regular troops from Earth, but resistance movements throughout the world push back against a total submission.
+
+That's when the four main characters and members of the military (Shinobu Fujiwara, Sara Yuki, Masato Shikibu and Ryo Shiba) step in. Over time (Shinobu being the first and Ryo the last) they're recruited in the 獣戦機隊 (*juu-senki-tai*, often translated as *Cyber Beast Force*), a special unit located in Japan (what a surprise!), led by General Ross Igor and Prof.Kotaro Hazuki. They're then given specialized battle machines designed by Hazuki himself (Eagle Fighter, a fighter jet; Black Cougar, a medium armored tank; Land Liger, a tank similar to Black Cougar but with different armament; Big Moth, a heavy tank) and asked to assist the resistance force around the world.
+
+Being a mecha show, these machines aren't exactly what they seem. "Strong" feelings from their pilots (rage, basically) they can trigger a special circuit and transform them into the animal they take the name from. So the Eagle Fighter gets an aura and can cut through enemies like a blade, the Black Cougar and the Land Liger turn into (who could've guessed) a cougar and a liger, and the Big Moth, contrary to public expectations, does *not* turn into a giant moth, but instead a mam*moth*.
+
+Aside the usual army of nameless mecha, drones and flying ships from Muge Zorbados, the unit has to battle against the strength of the three generals appointed from the Emperor himself: Death Gaia, a "level to the ground then ask questions" guy; Gil Dorom, a master of mind tricks and manipulation; and Helmut, a strong and incredibly cruel warrior. To make matters worse, a cunning officer with unlimited ambition (and Sara's fianceé), Shapiro Keats, defects and quickly gains a command position in the invasion force.
+
+### Slow paced progression
+
+"Well, what about the mecha?" you might ask. Well... that's one of the features that makes this series unique, in my view. Despite being shown in the opening since episode 1, the robot that gives the name to the series does **not** appear until the sixteenth episode. And what would be the reason?
+
+The reason is that the series does quite a slow build up of the story and the characters, which then are ready to be given their toy of mass destruction. This is markedly different from other classic shows: although some don't feature the main mecha in the first episodes (like *Golion*, *Daltanious*, and *Zambot 3* to name a few)