"Even a salaryman can defend the peace!"
That
line, recited at the end of each episode preview, is Dai-Guard in a nutshell.
Dai-Guard is another quirky project from Xebec that turns out to
be an enjoyable mix of action, comedy and character-driven drama. At first, Dai-Guard
looks like another giant robot show, featuring all the conventions associated
with the genre. Where this series differs is its real-world angle that there's
a corporation operating the robot, costing the company large sums of money.
The
show's setup is that 12 years before, mysterious aliens appeared in Japan and
threatened mankind. These giant aliens, called Heterodyne, were repulsed by the
military using the controversial Over Explosion or OE weaponry. A giant robot
named Dai-Guard was developed as a countermeasure for future Heterodyne attacks.
Oddly enough, the aliens stopped showing up and for the next 12 years Dai-Guard
became a "useless super thing." It ended up in the hands of the 21st
Century Defense Security Corporation, relegated to being nothing more than a mascot
used for promotional events. Without warning, another Heterodyne appears, breaking
the peace and beginning our story.
Over the course
of the series, Dai-Guard battles a different Heterodyne just about every week.
Each battle is usually a struggle, but with a bit of ingenuity from the pilots
or a timely weapon upgrade, Dai-Guard manages to achieve victory. The mecha action
is humorous and entertaining but the real draw of Dai-Guard is its diverse
cast of characters.
Whether they're in the lead or
in a supporting role, each character has a unique, interesting and believable
personality. It's nice to see how the characters interact at the office. The show
centers on the employees of Public Relations Division 2, a regular group of people
trying to make their way in the world. The stars are a trio of office workers
who pilot Dai-Guard. First and foremost is the headstrong pilot Akagi, an idealistic
person who grew up watching giant robot shows. Then there is the navigator Ibuki,
a young woman whose past is tied to the Heterodyne. Rounding out the pilots is
the engineer Aoyama. He struggles with serving his own interests and the greater
good. Another character that gets considerable screen time is Shirota, a strict
military officer who joins the Public Relations Division 2. He serves as Akagi's
foil and is a source of tension early on.
Though
the Heterodyne pose an immediate threat, the real villains of Dai-Guard are the
higher-ups in the ANPO Army and the 21st Century Defense Security Corp. Watching
civilians successfully repel the Heterodyne using an army-built robot does not
sit well with some proud officers in the military. Furthermore, Dai-Guard is very
expensive to run, from the fuel and the weaponry to the destruction of public
property it inadvertently causes, making it an unpopular business solution to
executives focused on the bottom line. You begin to see that there are individuals
within these two organizations who aim to undermine Dai-Guard for their personal
gain.
The animation and designs by Xebec may
not be flashy but they are crisp, clean and get the job done. There's enough action
to satisfy any mecha fan and the office humor and satire of the giant robot genre
is good for a chuckle every now and then. Although the story isn't anything extraordinary,
it doesn't resort to fanservice or cheap gimmicks to progress through an episode.
The characters are reason enough to keep watching. If not, at least the opening
theme "Back Alley Spaceboy" by The Cobratwisters is infectious.
From
beginning to end, Dai-Guard is a well-crafted series that has a lot to
like. It doesn't necessarily fall into the must-see category but those who are
open-minded enough to give it a chance will be rewarded with a fun, entertaining
and satisfying viewing experience.
