Yūsha Raideen

From wikipedia:

Brave Raideen (勇者ライディーン, Yūsha Raidīn) is a super robot anime series. Produced by Tohokushinsha, Asahi News Agency and Soeisha (later renamed as Sunrise), it aired on Nihon Educational Television (now TV Asahi) from 4 April 1975 to 26 March 1976, with a total of 50 episodes. The official name being Raideen the Brave, it is mainly known as "Brave Raideen" or "Heroic Raydeen". 

After a slumber of twelve millennia, the Demon Empire awakens to seize control of the Earth. Raideen, the giant robot-like protector of the lost continent of Mu, senses the evil presence and awakens within its golden pyramid. A young Japanese boy, Akira Hibiki, is alerted about the Demon Empire by a mysterious voice and rushes to the pyramid. It is soon revealed that Akira is a descendant of the ancient people of Mu who must help Raideen save the Earth. Akira enters the robot by accelerating his motorcycle to a high speed and then throws himself upward, allowing a beam from the robot to pull him into the robot's head and into an internal cockpit from where he assumes control of Raideen. Akira is aided by Mari Sakurano, who happens to be the daughter of a prominent scientist, and his friends from the soccer club. Halfway through the story the Demon Empire's master, Barao, is released from his statue prison and intends to finish what he started twelve thousand years earlier. 

John's Notes

This was a fairly popular anime, I think when I first saw some Raideen-related activity books I got the impression it was directed towards the very young - I've since revised that opinion. There's some interesting concepts here and I like the Egyptian design motifs.

Popy and Mattel

As with other popular anime and tokusatsu series, Popy and other manufacturers produced a plethora of toys related to Raideen, eventually leading to a Mattel licensing deal as Shogun Warrior toys.

• Popy Yūsha Raideen Jumbo Machinder - Mattel #9859 Raydeen (jumbo)
  

• Popy GA-09 Yūsha Raideen Deluxe - Mattel Shogun Two-in-One #2730 Raydeen
  
• Popy PA-57 Yūsha Raideen Bluegar - Mattel Shogun Action Vehicle #2900 Rydoto
  

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