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Daikyu Maryuu Gaiking (Japanese:大空魔竜ガイキング; In English "Giant Space Dragon Gaiking") was a mecha anime series produced by Toei Animation on an original idea by Go Nagai, which ran from April 1976 through January 1977 and consisted of 44 26-minute episodes. The story chronicled the battle between the crew of the semi-transformable carrier Daikyu Maryuu and the Super Robot Gaiking against an invading race of aliens called the Zelons, whose home planet is facing destruction by a black hole. Notable aspects of the series include the dinosaur-based designs of the Daikyu Maryuu and its support machines and the use of part of the carrier to form the main robot.
It was shown in English internationally as part of Jim Terry's Force Five lineup.
The robot Gaiking was piloted by a baseball star named Sanshiro Tsuwabuki (Sanshiro's name was changed to Ares Astronopolis for the Force Five show). It is most easily distinguished from other mecha by its skull-shaped golden torso and its golden horns.
The leader of the alien villains was named Darius, and all of their ships and mecha were fish-shaped, which most likely inspired the Darius series of video games.
Gaiking is Toei Animation's first robot series not based on an existing manga (like the company's previous anime Mazinger Z, Getter Robo, etc. which were based in creations running in manga publications by manga artist Go Nagai).
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