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Choujinki Metalder (超人機メタルダー, Chōjinki Metarudā^?), roughly translated as Super Human Robot Metalder was Toei's first robot hero TV series since Uchuu Tetsujin Kyoudain, the failed replacement show for Kamen Rider Stronger. The series was initially meant to be a remake of an older Toei Tokusatsu series, Kikaider. (Metalder's suit, motorcycle and attacks are near-direct copies of Kikaider's equivalents.) Metalder had the shortest run of any Metal Heroes series, running from March 16, 1987, to January 17, 1988, for only 39 episodes due to poor ratings and being overbudget. The cause of the low ratings was the fact that, unlike previous Metal Hero series, Metalder had a grim, depressing, and serious feeling throughout the entire series. This caused younger children (at whom most Tokusatsu Hero TV shows are aimed at) to lose interest. On the other hand, many adults greatly enjoyed Metalder and remember it fondly due to the same reasons for which children did not enjoy it.

Some of its footage was used for VR Troopers season one and combined with the Spielban footage. The original pilot for VR Troopers was called Cybertron and featured only Metalder footage. The show was also aired in France and Brazil (with a new soundtrack and dubbed voices for the respective regions) as simply "Metalder". In February of 2007, Toei released a complete, Region-2 DVD Box Set of the entire Metalder series and movie.

In 1945, Dr. Ryuuichirou Koga designed Metalder as a top-secret weapon for the Japanese Imperial Army for use in the Pacific War, modeling it after his late son, Second Sub-lieutenant Tatsuo Koga . However, the pacifistic Dr. Koga put Metalder to sleep in the Silver Carcass base and left for America to work for NASA. During the 42 years, Dr. Koga's colleague Major Muraki, became the evil GodNeros, ruler of Neros Empire. Godneros sends out his massive armies to kill Dr. Ryuuchirou who learned of their organization and returned to Japan to activate Metalder. Ryuuchirou desperately tries to activate his android creation, who he named Tsurugi Ryuusei, but the android is unable to understand what he should do. In order to give Ryuusei a "purpose," Ryuuchiro runs out of the Silver Carcass base, allowing Nero's troops to kill him. Suddenly seeing his creator die, Ryuusei becomes shocked, and soon is kicked around and beaten by Nero's troops. After being tossed around Ryuusei becomes fueled with rage, evoking the conversion to his 'true' form, the Android known as Metalder! After a brief battle with Coolgin, which he loses, Ryuusei goes onward, meeting Mai Oogi who befriends him along the way. Ryuusei will not stop fighting until he has avenged his creator's death and defeated Godneros' empire!

• Metalder: A android built by Dr. Koga at the end of WW2. Normally known in human form as Ryuusei Tsurugi, whose looks and personality are directly modeled after that of Dr. Koga's son Tatsuo. Whenever his energies reach a peak from rage, with the cry "Anger!", he transforms into his metallic form. Like Tatsuo, loves music and plays saxophone from time to time. His Reflection Circuit gave him the same feelings as humans and to tell right and wrong. Powered by 'supergravitational energy', his killing techniques include "Super Oscillation Laser Arm chop", "G-Kick", "Metal Tornado" spinning kick, "Head Crash" ram, "Plasma Punch", "Metal Bomber" punching attack from above, And "1000 Hand Punch". At the end of the series He defeats God Neros but in the process is greatly damaged on the left side of his middle waist.
• Springer(2-39): A Robot dog that guards the Silver Carcass, he was built by Dr. Koga before Metalder. Hence was Metalder's "big brother". Capable of human speech, he repairs Metalder and runs the machines inside the Silver Carcass. Enjoys watching TV, particularly anime.
• Mai Ougi(2-39) : A Tomboyish camerawoman who works for a magazine. She is Metalder's first human friend and constant companion.
• Shingo Ougi(34-39): Mai's father, living at Washington DC as a news reporter. As a favor to Mai, he investigated Dr. Koga's past and learned about Godneros' identity in the process. In Episode 35, he is abducted by the Secretaries and taken to the Ghost Bank. In Episode 36, he is brainwashed by Godneros and forced to wear the armor of the late Tagsky to battle Metalder. Shingo became free from the brainwashing when Metalder struck him with his Lightning Chop attack during the battle.
• Kita Hakkou(16-39): Grand Prix motorcyclist intending to be the world's best. Originally head of a motorcycle gang. He met Ryuusei and Mai on a photo shoot for a new motorcycle magazine, only to get involved in the fighting. Calling himself the 'Neros Hunter', Kita saw himself as Mai's bodyguard as he has feelings for her. Though Kita was willing to aide Ryusei's war against the Neros Empire, his efforts almost always result in a comedic or humiliating defeat.
• 2nd Sub-lieutenant Tatsuo Koga: Dr. Koga's only son, whom Metalder was modeled after. He died on October 1944 as the first member of the Kamikaze Special Attack Squads. Loved music and played the violin with the potential to be a great violinist.
• Dr. Ryuuichiro Koga (1): The man who created Metalder. After WW2, Dr. Koga went to America and became a staff member at NASA. Returned to Japan when he learned of the existence of the Neros Empire. Shortly after reviving Metalder, he died at the hands of Tubo and the Neros Empire members. With his death, a sense of purpose was given to Metalder.
• Violent Spirit Top Gunder(4-6, 16-17, 19, 30, 33, 35-37): A soldier of Godneros' Combat Robot Army, Top Gunder is a lone gunman in black tights who believes in fair play. Though he originally intended to kill Metalder in a 1-on-1 fight, Top Gunder later gained respect for our hero and became close allies with Metalder instead. In Episode 33, a fake robotic Top Gunder was created to bait Metalder into a rescue, as the real TopGunder had been captured by the armies of GodNeros. The fake robot attacked Metalder shortly after being rescued, only to be shot and destroyed by the real Top Gunder when Crosslander exposed the deception. Also, in Episode 33, Top Gunder revealed that he, like Zargen, was capable of dreaming. He helped Metalder to bring down the Ghost Bank in Episodes 35-37, only to be killed by God Neros, who was in Coolgin's old armor.

• Side Phantom: Metalder's motorcycle vehicle with a side-car.
• Metal Charger: A transforming, 4-wheel flying Mazda car Metalder drives.

Main article: Neros Empire

A secret empire that is the underbelly of the Kirihara Konzern Corporation located at Shinjuku, it covertly controls all activities of the world's criminal organizations, terrorists, finances, etc. The Neros Empire's goal is world domination, with economic and military might. They all meet at the Ghost Bank, a ring of gates containing key army officers surrounding Godneros' throne. The area enclosed by the gates and throne served as both an arena and as a strategy room.

1. Hurry! Towards the Good Filled Heaven 03/16/87
2. Neros Becomes More Than a God 03/23/87
3. Hammer Man BenK Cries For the Love Shown to a Hare 04/06/87
4. Torpedo Agmis VS Second Navy Lieutenant Metalder 04/13/87
5. Hold Your Ground! Never-Missing Gunplay 04/20/87
6. Anger! KO the Heavyweight Ruler Galdos 04/27/87
7. Decide the Goal! The Tag Brothers and the Flames of a Duel 05/04/87
8. Farewell, Barlock! Secrets of the Iron Mask 05/11/87
9. A Dreaming Monster! Lovers in a Crossfire 05/18/87
10. High Art! The Violin Attack of the Famous Music Robot 05/25/87
11. Pursuit of the Brave! The Giant Who Rises in the Sky!! 06/01/87
12. A Monster's Beloved -- Sieging Ninjas! 06/08/97
13. Critical Moment! Restore the Parent and Child's Love to the Umineko Valley 06/15/87
14. Sister is Alive! Sorrowful Lady Soldier Madonna 06/22/87
15. Soaring Monster; Son, Mother Prays! 06/29/87
16. The Rival For Love is a Noisy Biker 07/6/87
17. Critical Mai! Hurry, One-Eyed Dragon Topgunder 07/13/87
18. Mai's Secret Information; the Poolside's Trap 07/20/87
19. A Summer Vacation with an Adventure Tour to the Ghostbank 07/27/87
20. The Target is Puppies? The Blazing Revenge of the Armament Army 08/17/87
21. A Citywide Mystery; the Beautiful Girl Who Calls Fireflies 08/24/87
22. Soaring Rollerskaters! Raid of the Red Dolphins 8/31/87
23. Who is Top?! The Big Meet of Best to Worst 09/07/87
24. Princess Tenkou VS Galador's Black Magic Battle 09/14/87
25. Rush Out! JACK Blitzkrieg Cheering Party 10/04/87
26. Champions! The Blaze of the JACK Guys 10/11/87
27. Help! The Beloved Gori-chan's Escape Journal 10/18/87
28. Lovely Thief; the Young Lady's Prayer Lies Within the Shining Diamond 10/25/87
29. Sorrowful Story of the Dog 11/01/87
30. Guard It! Secret Base 11/08/87
31. The Target is the Power Surge! Love the Dreaming Girl 11/15/87
32. Century Beauty Legend 11/22/87
33. Large Siege Network, Escape of Heated Friendship 11/29/87
34. Neros, The Emperor Who Has a Thousand Faces 12/06/87
35. The Emperor, Neros' True Identity Is...? 12/13/87
36. Strong Offense! Combat Robot Army 12/20/87
37. Grand Collapse! Neros Empire 12/27/87
38. Great Counterattack! The Wastelands of Love and Hatred 01/10/88
39. Big Face-off! Metalder Forever 01/17/88

• Super Human Robot Metalder 07/18/87 (Takes Place Between Episodes 17 & 18)

• Metalder/Tsurugi Ryuusei; Tatsuo Koga (メタルダー/剣流星、古賀竜夫, Metarudā/Ryūsei Tsurugi, Koga Tatsuo^?): Seikou Senou (妹尾青洸, Senō Seikō^?) (Played as Akira Senou (妹尾洸, Senō Akira^?))
• Metalder (voice) (メタルダー (声), Metarudā (Koe)^?): Michirou Iida (飯田道朗, Īda Michirō^?)
• Mai Oogi (仰木舞, Ōgi Mai^?): Hiroko Aota (青田浩子, Aota Hiroko^?)
• Hakkou Kita (北八荒, Kita Hakkō^?): Kazuoki Takahashi (高橋和興, Takahashi Kazuoki^?) (Played as Hiroshi Kawai (河合宏, Kawai Hiroshi^?))
• Armored Army Center Fighter Mukimukiman (ヨロイ軍団中闘士ムキムキマン, Yoroi Gundanchū Tōshi Mukimukiman^?): Mukimukiman (ムキムキマン, Mukiukiman^?)
• Armored Army Center Fighter Fuufuuchuu (ヨロイ軍団中闘士フーフーチュウ, Yoroi Gundanchū Tōshi Fūfūchū^?): Boubenkei Daikuko (大黒坊弁慶, Daikuko Bōbenkei^?) (Played as Hana Arashi (花嵐, Hana Arashi^?))
• Beautiful Secretary K (美人秘書K, Bijin Hisho Kē^?): Yuuko Mitsui (美津井祐子, Mitsui Yūko^?)
• Beautiful Secretary S (美人秘書S, Bijin Hisho Esu^?): Emiko Yamamoto (山本恵美子, Yamamoto Emiko^?)
• Shinware Kouki (仰木信吾, Kōki Shinware^?): Hiroshi Arikawa (有川博, Arikawa Hiroshi^?)
• Gouzou Kirihara (桐原剛造, Kirihara Gōzō^?): Ken'ichi Mochitsuki (望月賢一, Mochitsuki Ken'ichi^?) (Played as Shinji Toudou (藤堂新二, Tōdō Shinji^?))
• Dr. Ryuuichirou Koga (古賀竜一郎博士, Koga Ryūichirō Hakase^?): Kiyoaki Ikehata (池端清亮, Ikehata Kiyoaki^?) (Played as Ken Uehara (上原謙, Uehara Ken^?))
• Narrator (ナレーター, Narētā^?): Issei Masamune (政宗 一成, Masamune Issei^?)

• Chôjinki Metalder at the Internet Movie Database
• Metal Hero FAQ