Daitetsujin 17

Daitetsujin 17

From wikipedia:

Daitetsujin 17 (大鉄人17, Daitetsujin Wan-Sebun) is a 1977 tokusatsu series created by Shotaro Ishinomori and produced by Toei. It revolves around a giant battle robot commanded by a young boy who fights the giant robots of an evil organization bent on world conquest. It is similar to Giant Robo in premise and how it ends.

Several episodes were edited into a TV movie shown in the United States under different titles, including The Defenders and the Great Brain and Brain 17 (1982).

The opening theme was performed by Ichirou Mizuki, Koorogi '73 and The Chirps.

Popy manufactured several toys based on the series - notably a transforming Chogokin version of the robot One-Seven (later released in America for the Godaikin line), vehicles based on One-Seven's Flying Fortress mode, the Sub Machine Flying Car, the Shigcon Tank and the Shigcon Jet, and a three-inch version of One-Seven, which was later released as "17" in Mattel's Shogun Warriors line. 

John's Notes

The primary robo-form of Daitetsujin 17 is pretty interesting as it folds up to produce a mobile command platform with the "wings" forming runways for vehicles to depart and land (there's even a conning tower!).

Popy and Mattel

As with other popular anime and tokusatsu series, Popy and other manufacturers produced a plethora of toys related to Daitetsujin 17, eventually leading to a Mattel licensing deal as Shogun Warrior toys. It's too bad that Mattel never licensed the Jumbo - it has the fold-up-into-fortress feature.

  • Popy PB-10 Shigcon Tank - Mattel Shogun Action Vehicle #2731 Shigcon Tank
  • Popy PB-13Shigcon Jet - Mattel Shogun Action Vehicle #2732 Shigcon Jet
  • Popy (unknown) - Mattel Shogun Collector's #2997 "17"

All Mattel images and captions are copyright Mattel, all Popy, Banpresto, Unifive or Yutaka images and captions are copyright Popy/Bandai, images captured from various video segments are copyright Toei or other parties and used without permission. All other content, including images and editorial, is Copyright © 1997-2023 John Eaton and/or contributors unless otherwise stated. If there are any comments or objections, please contact John Eaton, by clicking here.

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