Gear Fighter Dendoh

In lieu of no reviews... this might be seen as yet another mecha anime, but it could be sweet... the way there's a motherly figure, the friendship, and the reversal of an 'evil' entity, while the position reverses for a brotherly figure... it is not quite as deeply philosophical as Evangelion, but it has a certain panache and an allure that can be both colourful and dark. It explores human relationships, yet is intimate with technology and lifeless (?) machines.

Overall, it may be slightly repetitious and a classical shounen mecha, its music not outstanding, but passable, yet it can be charming and at times moving. ... There is some character development, but also 'technicians' with not much of a backstory...

Ultimately, it does have a potentially interesting storyline.

Though it is seemingly another repetitive kids' mecha anime, GEAR Fighter Dendoh is pleasantly surprising, as it manages to introduce several interesting ideas in a shortened run.

The anime follows two boys who must pilot the mech Dendoh under the auspices of the organization GEAR to protect the world from an evil alien empire. It's the same general plot of most kids' super robot animes, but it stands out for several reasons. First, our two protagonists do not always get along, but they must work things out so they can pilot Dendoh together and save the world. This dynamic is very similar to that between Cure ... Black and Cure White in the first Precure series, which I found very enjoyable. It allows for plenty of character exploration and growth, which complemented the series nicely. The protagonists' parents and other side characters are also shown in their mundane, happy, often comedic lives, which gave the series a wholesome, heartwarming element. The mechanical designs are also cool. Dendoh's chest looks like a car grille, which makes the mech reminiscent of a robot-mode Transformer. Dendoh's legs are made of wheels, which not only makes it look even more similar to a Transformer but also allows for lots of cool moves. Additionally, digital animals are used as weapons in battle. The power-up/attack sequences for these digital animals are reused, but these sequences are appealing to watch nonetheless. The digital animals are also used to lightly explore the nature of intelligence, relationships, and reality -- fans of Digimon Tamers may enjoy this aspect of the series. The weekly battles in each episode are also given variety and stakes in that Dendoh often does not have the upper hand in the battles and that Dendoh's power gets depleted easily, so the heroes must figure out unique, ingenious ways to defeat the villains and ensure that Dendoh has enough power to complete the missions.

Visually, many elements of the series, such as GEAR's control room and mech hangers, are obviously inspired by Evangelion in their detail and general aesthetic. Combined with the fact that there's a four-letter organization fighting aliens, certain visual cues, and the fact that the mech runs on limited power, many may be quick to dismiss this as an Evangelion clone, but the similarities between this show and Evangelion end there. Gear Fighter Dendoh is happy and full of hope -- the series is set in an idealized, optimistic future, and much of the show is about the power of friendship and cooperation.

The anime was made in the early 2000s, right when the anime industry was shifting from cel to digital animation, so this series uses a combination of cel animation and 3D CGI, making this one of the few animes made in the new millennium that primarily use cel animation. The cel animation simultaneous amplifies the warm, wholesome elements of the show and allows the show to be darker visually when the plot gets more serious.

Gear Fighter Dendoh has remained severely overlooked, making this show into something of a hidden gem. I find this surprising for several reasons other than its distinctive plot, cool designs, and wholesome, endearing characters. The plot is based on a cancelled entry in the Brave series, The Saint of Braves Baan Gaan (which was also used in the Brave Saga video game), and a cancelled sequel to GaoGaiGar. The fictional idol group in Gear Fighter Dendoh, C-DRiVE (whose songs are legitimately good enough to listen to outside the context of this anime), would inspire the characters of My-HiME. Finally, the director of this series would go on to direct Gundam SEED.

Overall, I highly recommend Gear Fighter Dendoh. It has good characters, visually appealing designs, and it uses its episodes well, keeping the monster-of-the-week formula engaging throughout. Fans of mecha anime should definitely check this show out.