Space Gundam V

Space Gundam V
Country of origin	South Korea
Original language	Korean
Original release
Release	July, 1983

Space Gundam V (스페이스 간담브이) is a South Korean animated series directed by Kim Cheong-gi, released on July 1983. Despite its title, the series is not related to Mobile Suit Gundam. It is known for incorporating an unlicensed version of the VF-1J Valkyrie of Macross fame and the heroic elements of Brave Raideen.

The series is currently available on DVD in South Korea.

Background

During the 1970s and 1980s, the South Korean government implemented a ban on Japanese media, including newspapers, magazines, movies, television programs and manga. It was within this period that Korean animation was in its infancy. Many examples of early Korean animation incorporated unauthorized uses of Japanese anime characters and likenesses. For example, Space Black Knight featured characters that looked exactly like Amuro Ray, Char Aznable, Sayla Mass and Dozle Zabi of Mobile Suit Gundam. In Space Gundam V, the protagonist mecha was an unlicensed version of the VF-1J Valkyrie from The Super Dimension Fortress Macross.

Unlike the original Macross version - which portrayed the Valkyrie as a realistic combat mecha, Space Gundam V was presented as a Super Robot with quasi-mystical powers that battled a villainous entity on every episode. Much like the Super Robot shows Invincible Super Man Zambot 3 and Trider G7, the robot was piloted by a pre-teen boy. Notable villains included a giant rat and a winged devil.

Space Gundam V received international notoriety when clips of the series surfaced on YouTube. The series has been commonly panned by anime fans as being a ripoff of Macross, as well as Gundam due to its name. The show's crude animation quality has also been the subject of ridicule among viewers.

See also

• Korean animation
• The Super Dimension Fortress Macross
• Astro Plan - A 2010 Chinese animated TV series that also uses Macross-derived designs.