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Six God Combination God Mars
Intertitle from the second opening credits
六神合体ゴッドマーズ
(Roku Shin Gattai Goddo Māzu)
GenreMecha, Drama
Manga
Mars
Written byMitsuteru Yokoyama
Published byAkita Shoten
MagazineWeekly Shōnen Champion
Original run1976 – 1977
Volumes1
Anime television series
Directed byTetsuo Imazawa
Produced byTōru Horikoshi
Shigeru Akagawa
Atsushi Shimizu
Yasuji Takahashi
Written byKeisuke Fujikawa
Music byKei Wakakusa
StudioTokyo Movie Shinsha
Licensed by
Original networkNNS (Nippon TV)
Original run October 2, 1981 – December 24, 1982
Episodes64
Anime film
God Mars: The Movie
Directed byTetsuo Imazawa
Produced byShigeru Akagawa
Written byKeisuke Fujikawa
Music byKei Wakakusa
StudioTokyo Movie Shinsha
Licensed by
ReleasedDecember 18, 1982
Runtime97 minutes
Original video animation
God Mars: The Untold Legend
Directed byMasakatsu Iijima
Produced byTadahito Matsumoto
Written byKeisuke Fujikawa
Music byReijirō Koroku
StudioTokyo Movie Shinsha
Licensed by
ReleasedJune 5, 1988
Runtime55 minutes
Original video animation
Mars
Directed byJunji Nishimura
Produced byTakao Asaga
Written byMasashi Sogo
Music byKaoru Wada
StudioBee Media
ReleasedJune 10, 1994 — August 8, 1994
Runtime30 minutes (each)
Episodes2

Six God Combination God Mars (六神合体ゴッドマーズ, Roku Shin Gattai Goddo Māzu), commonly known in English as God Mars, is a 1980s mecha anime television series that was popular during its broadcast between 1981 and 1982 in Japan, Hong Kong and Italy. The series consists of 64 episodes and 2 special presentations. Other loosely translated names are "Hexademon Symbiote God Mars", "Six God Union God Mars", and "Six Gods United As One Being".

This television mecha-genre anime is loosely based on the 1976 Mars (マーズ, Māzu) manga from Weekly Shōnen Champion magazine by Mitsuteru Yokoyama. God Mars is named as such to represent the mythological Roman god of war.

Plot

[edit]

In 1999, humanity begins to advance beyond the known Solar System. The small planet Gishin, led by Emperor Zul, who aims to conquer the galaxy, runs into conflict with Earth which he targets for elimination and to do this, he sends a male baby named Mars to live among humanity. Accompanying the baby is a giant robot named Gaia, which utilizes a new power source strong enough to destroy an entire planet.

As planned, Mars is expected to grow up, where he will activate the bomb within Gaia to fulfill the mission of destroying the Earth. However, when Mars arrives on Earth he is adopted into a Japanese family and renamed Takeru. 17 years later after arrival, Takeru matures with a love for humanity and refuses to detonate the bomb as ordered by his sender, Zul. However, if Takeru was to die, the bomb within Gaia would explode destroying Earth.

Takeru possesses psychic powers (ESP) and also pilots the series' title super robot with mentality. He decides to join the Earth defense forces and becomes a member of the Crasher Squad (an elite space-defense force) where he and the friends he makes in his life on Earth take a last stand against his true home world Gishin's attack. The relationship of Takeru with his brother Marg, which as fate would have it, pits them against each other in the war.

Unknown to the Gishin, five other mecha were created in secrecy alongside and then sent with Gaia by Takeru's father...

  • Sphinx
  • Uranus
  • Titan
  • Shin
  • Ra

...to safeguard his boy. Whenever Earth is in danger, Takeru is able to summon the five other secretly created units to combine with Gaia to assemble the title Six-God Combination God Mars. The five other robots are Sphinx, Uranus, Titan, Shin and Ra.

Cast

[edit]
Name Kanji/katakana Romanization Actor(s)
Mars/Takeru Myojin マーズ／明神タケル Māzu/Myōjin Takeru Yū Mizushima
Kenji Asuka 飛鳥ケンジ Asuka Kenji Hiroya Ishimaru
Naoto Ijuin 伊集院ナオト Ijūin Naoto Hirotaka Suzuoki (anime)
Gô Shinomiya (Super Robot Wars)
Mika Hyuga 日向ミカ Hyuga Mika Youko Kawanami
Akira Kiso 木曽アキラ Kiso Akira Yoku Shioya
Namida Akashi 明石ナミダ Akashi Namida Eiko Yamada
Shigeru Otsuka 大塚長官 Ōtsuka Shigeru Kōsei Tomita
Dr. Myojin (Note: This character's first name is unknown, which means he is known only with his family name) 明神博士 Myōjin Hakase Takeshi Aono
Shizuka Myojin 明神静子 Myōjin Shizuka Toshiko Maeda
Marg マーグ Māgu Yūji Mitsuya
Rose ロゼ Rozu Rumiko Ukai
Flore フローレ Forōre Yoshiko Sakakibara
Gasshu ガッシュ Gasshu Akio Nojima
Special replacement for episodes 43 to 44: Kazuyuki Sogabe
Emperor Zuul ズール皇帝 Zūru Kōtei Gorō Naya
Leader Gyron ギロン総統 Giron Sōtō Osamu Kobayashi
Rui ルイ Rui Kumiko Takizawa

Production

[edit]

Following the previous series The New Adventures of Gigantor, producers chose to continue adapting works by manga author Mitsuteru Yokoyama. They selected Yokoyama’s Mars as the basis for the new series. Because the original manga has a darker tone, the ending and many characters were altered for the anime with Yokoyama’s consent; the single major element retained was the premise that the Earth explodes upon the protagonist’s death.

Although the original manga features a battle between the protagonist’s robot Gayer (Gaia in some versions) and opponents, the anime significantly changed the premise. Key differences include Gayer’s combination with five other God Robots to form a six-part combination, a mechanic not present in the source material. Commonalities with the manga are limited to some proper names, the robot names, Mars’s motivation, and the fatal consequence tied to Mars’s death.

The working title was “Six Gods Combined Mars,” referenced to the original work and used in anime magazine announcements. When merchandise began to appear, the name “Mars” was already trademarked, prompting the change to the final title God Mars.

God Mars was produced by much of the same team behind The New Adventures of Gigantor, creating a direct creative lineage between the two mecha series. Director Tetsuo Imazawa and core Tokyo Movie Shinsha staff returned for the project. Keisuke Fujikawa—known for his work on Mazinger Z and Space Battleship Yamato—served as series writer and was instrumental in shaping the story.

Originally planned as a six-month broadcast, strong toy sales and growing popularity—particularly among female viewers as well as the traditional younger toy-buying demographic—led to an extended run of over a year. The narrative was structured into three main arcs: the Gishin Planet arc, the Marmelo Planet arc, and the Earth arc.

Prior anime had shown robot combination sequences (for example UFO Warrior Dai Apolon, Space Emperor God Sigma, Gordian Warrior, and Strongest Robot Daiohja), but those typically featured three-body combinations. God Mars is notable for being the first anime to depict a six-body combination.

Staff

[edit]
  • Original author and creator: Mitsuteru Yokoyama
  • Series director: Tetsuo Imazawa
  • Producer: Atsushi Shimizu, Shigeru Akagawa, Toru Horikoshi, Yasuji Takahashi
  • Character design: Hideyuki Motohashi
  • Animation director: Hideyuki Motohashi
  • Music: Kei Wakakusa
  • Mecha design: Hajime Kamegaki
  • Background art: Tsutomu Ishigaki
  • Narration: Eiji Kanie

Media

[edit]

Film

[edit]

An edited theatrical feature with some new animated scenes was released in 1982 called God Mars: The Movie.

Original video animation

[edit]

Later in 1988 (6 years after the television series' final airing in 1982), an OVA was released under the title God Mars: The Legend of the Seventeen Year Old (六神合体ゴッドマーズ 十七歳の伝説) which focused on the life of Marg, Mars' twin brother. Gaia, God Mars, and the Gishin's robot Zeron receive redesigns although the OVA mostly focuses on an alternate telling of Marg's life on Gishin up until the events of the series' 19th television episode.

Video games

[edit]

God Mars would go on to make guest appearances in games like entries of the Super Robot Wars series. In Destiny and Z2: Hakai-hen, the player gets a "Game Over" whenever God Mars is destroyed, due to the God Mars storyline for the first 25 episodes with a special game-over screen only in 'Z2: Hakai-hen for when this happens.

Home media

[edit]

Discotek Media announced its license to the series and its post-television presentations at Otakon 2018 on August 12 and the entire series was released on a SDBD 2-disc set on December 18 - throughout the included discs combined, it contained the series, the movie and the OVA.[1]

Reception

[edit]

God Mars came out very early in the super robot animation era of the 1980s, having been created by Mitsuteru Yokoyama and did very well in airing. In 1982 it won the Anime Grand Prix.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

God Mars

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
God Mars (Japanese: Rokushin Gattai Godmars, lit. "Six Gods Combination Godmars") is a Japanese mecha anime television series that aired for 64 episodes from October 2, 1981, to December 24, 1982.[1][2] Produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha under the direction of Tetsuo Imazawa, the series is loosely based on the 1976 manga Mars by acclaimed creator Mitsuteru Yokoyama, known for works such as Tetsujin 28-go.[2][3] The plot centers on Takeru Myojin, a young man who discovers his true identity as Mars, an alien child dispatched by the imperial Gishin Empire in 1999 to infiltrate and destroy Earth amid humanity's expansion into space; instead, he allies with humans and pilots the powerful combining super robot God Mars—formed from six individual mecha: Sphinx, Uranus, Titan, Shin, Ra, and Gaia—to repel the invasion.[4][1][5] Set against a backdrop of interstellar warfare and moral dilemmas, God Mars exemplifies the super robot genre with its emphasis on heroic pilots, dramatic robot combinations, and epic battles, spanning three distinct narrative arcs from planetary defense to galactic conquest.[5]

Premise

Plot Summary

In 1999, as humanity begins expanding beyond the Solar System, Emperor Zul of the Gishin Empire dispatches a baby named Takeru—later known as Mars—to Earth aboard the robot Gaia, which is equipped with a bomb programmed to destroy the planet once the child reaches maturity.[1] The mission fails to activate as intended, and Takeru is discovered and raised as a human by the Myojin family, growing up unaware of his origins until he turns 15 and begins experiencing visions of his alien heritage.[3] Upon learning the truth, Takeru rejects his destructive purpose and pilots Gaia to defend Earth from the impending Gishin invasion led by Emperor Zul.[2] To counter the escalating threats, Takeru summons five other concealed mecha—Sphinx, Uranus, Titan, Shin, and Ra—which combine with Gaia to form the colossal super robot God Mars, serving as humanity's ultimate weapon in the conflict.[6] The 64-episode series unfolds across three primary phases: initial defenses against Gishin forces on Earth, subsequent space-based confrontations as the invasion intensifies, and a climactic galactic showdown to thwart the empire's conquest.[5]

Setting and Themes

The story of God Mars is set in the year 1999, during an era of advancing human space colonization beyond the solar system, beginning on Earth—particularly off the coast of Japan—and expanding into interstellar conflicts across various planets and galaxies.[1][2] The narrative unfolds against a backdrop of cosmic judgment and invasion, where humanity's expansion draws the attention of extraterrestrial powers, leading to battles that span from terrestrial defenses to deep space engagements.[5] Central to the world-building is the Gishin Empire, a militaristic alien civilization from the planet Gishin, ruled by Emperor Zul, which pursues universal domination through aggressive conquest and destruction of perceived threats.[1][5] Opposing this are humanity's defensive forces, such as the Crusher Squad equipped with advanced mecha to safeguard human colonies and the planet itself.[2][5] The series adheres to super robot genre conventions, featuring heroic pilots commanding combinable giant mecha like God Mars—formed from multiple component robots—that emphasize spectacular, over-the-top battles rather than realistic physics or tactics.[2] As a late entry in the super robot anime tradition, God Mars prioritizes dramatic interstellar warfare and clear moral contrasts between invaders and defenders, influencing subsequent works in the genre with its focus on heroic assembly sequences and indestructible protagonists.[5] Thematically, God Mars explores identity and heritage through the internal conflicts of individuals torn between alien origins and earthly upbringing, exemplified by the protagonist's dual loyalties that challenge notions of belonging and destiny.[5] It contrasts the futility of conquest, as embodied by the Gishin Empire's relentless expansionism, with the imperative to protect life and foster coexistence across species.[1][5] Redemption arcs underscore the potential for former adversaries to seek atonement and inner peace, highlighting transformation amid ongoing war.[5] Additionally, the series touches on environmental harmony, portraying the beauty and fragility of planets like Earth and others as influences that inspire protective actions against destructive forces, emphasizing ecological stakes in cosmic survival.[5] These elements collectively frame a narrative of moral dichotomies, where superhuman interventions serve broader philosophical inquiries into humanity's place in the universe.[2]

Characters and Voice Actors

Protagonists and Allies

Takeru Myojin, birth name Mars, serves as the central protagonist, a 15-year-old youth revealed to be the prince of the Gishin Empire with innate superhuman abilities, including esper powers that enable psychic control over machinery. Raised on Earth after being sent there as an infant with the guardian robot Gaia, Takeru pilots Gaia as his primary mecha and assumes leadership in assembling the God Mars super robot from its component parts. His character development traces a journey from a confused and conflicted teenager grappling with his alien heritage and hidden powers to a resolute galactic defender committed to protecting humanity, ultimately embracing his dual identity through trials of loyalty and self-discovery.[7][8][9] Among Takeru's key supporting allies in the Earth Federation's defense efforts is Kenji Asuka, a member of the Crasher Squad who becomes a steadfast friend and contributes to the team's combined strategies during interstellar conflicts.[2] Mika Hyūga provides emotional support and assists the squad, offering stability and coordination that bolsters the group's operational cohesion. Dr. Myojin acts as a pivotal scientist mentor, guiding Takeru in harnessing his abilities and overseeing the activation of concealed mecha components essential to the God Mars assembly.[10][7] Other Earth Federation members, such as Namida Akashi, further strengthen the team's frontline capabilities with dedication forged from shared hardships. The formation of the God Mars team emerges organically as Takeru activates the hidden mecha—Sphinx, Uranus, Titan, Shin, and Ra—all unmanned and controlled psychically by Takeru—to draw together allies bound by mutual reliance in defending against extraterrestrial threats. This dynamic underscores themes of found family, where interpersonal bonds and loyalty among the allies transform a disparate group into a unified force, emphasizing trust built through collaborative victories and personal vulnerabilities.[10][5] Allies like Shigeru Ōtsuka contribute to the squad's tactical depth with leadership roles, while the Myojin family—particularly Takeru's adoptive parents, Dr. Myojin and Shizuka Myojin—anchors his emotional growth, providing the human connections that ground his resolve amid revelations of his origins and the weight of his destiny. These relationships highlight the allies' evolution from individual operatives to a familial alliance, prioritizing collective strength over isolation in the face of cosmic adversity.[7][10]

Antagonists

The Gishin Empire serves as the primary antagonistic force in Six God Combination Godmars, a hierarchical alien society originating from the planet Gishin that pursues universal conquest and deems Earth unworthy of interstellar expansion due to humanity's aggressive space colonization efforts.[2] The empire's structure is rigidly authoritarian, with advanced technology including massive spacecraft, strategic bases on celestial bodies like Pluto, and enhancements enabling superhuman capabilities among its members. Gishin forces frequently deploy psychic powers such as telepathy and shapeshifting for infiltration and combat, alongside assassins and spies to undermine Earth defenses. At the apex of this hierarchy stands Emperor Zuul, the ruthless and supremely powerful ruler who orchestrates the invasion of Earth with a fanatical ideology centered on galactic domination and the annihilation of perceived threats.[4] Revealed as the biological father of Takeru Myojin (also known as Mars), Zuul had sent his infant son to Earth as part of a covert plan to prepare the ground for conquest, though Takeru ultimately opposes the empire's goals. Possessing near-invulnerability and immense destructive power, Zuul issues direct orders for Earth's destruction and personally intervenes in key confrontations, embodying the empire's aggressive expansionism. Zuul's key subordinates enforce his directives through military command and covert operations, including figures like Gasshu, a high-ranking officer who oversees tactical assaults, and Rose (Roze), a formidable operative known for her role in espionage and direct eliminations using enhanced abilities.[2] Generals such as Leader Gyron lead frontline attacks, deploying beast-like mecha designed for overwhelming force and strategic disruption of Earth-based resistance. These leaders contribute to the empire's beast-oriented mecha deployments, which emphasize raw power and predatory tactics in battles against planetary defenders. The Gishin Empire exhibits internal conflicts, particularly among officers grappling with Zuul's extreme methods, with some brainwashed subordinates experiencing memory recovery that hints at redemption arcs and exposes fractures in loyalty. As the series progresses, threats evolve from targeted Earth invasions—such as probe deployments and assassination attempts—to broader galactic wars, underscoring the empire's underlying decay through escalating desperation and ideological rigidity.[2]

Casting

The principal voice cast for God Mars featured several prominent Japanese actors known for their work in mecha anime during the early 1980s. Yū Mizushima provided the voice for the protagonist Takeru Myōjin (also known as Mars), delivering a performance noted for its emotional depth in portraying the character's internal conflicts.[2][11] Hirotaka Suzuoki voiced Naoto Ijūin, a key Crasher Squad member, bringing his experience from other super robot series such as Mobile Suit Gundam where he played Char Aznable.[2][12] The antagonist Emperor Zuul was portrayed by veteran actor Gorō Naya, whose deep, authoritative delivery added significant gravitas to the role of the imperial leader, drawing on his prior iconic performances in series like Lupin III as Inspector Zenigata.[2] Supporting roles included Akio Nojima as Gasshu, a high-ranking officer in the Gishin Empire, though Kazuyuki Sogabe took over the role for episodes 43 and 44 due to scheduling conflicts.[2] Rumiko Ukai voiced Roze, while Yōko Kawanami handled Mika Hyūga.[2]
CharacterVoice Actor
Takeru Myōjin / MarsYū Mizushima
Kenji AsukaHiroya Ishimaru
Naoto IjūinHirotaka Suzuoki
Akira KisoYoku Shioya
Namida AkashiEiko Yamada
Emperor ZuulGorō Naya
GasshuAkio Nojima (eps. 1-42); Kazuyuki Sogabe (eps. 43-44)
MargYūji Mitsuya
RozeRumiko Ukai
Mika HyūgaYōko Kawanami
Dr. MyojinTakeshi Aono
NarratorEiji Kanie
The pilots of the six component mecha that combine to form God Mars are primarily Takeru Myojin for Gaia, with the other components—Sphinx, Uranus, Titan, Shin, and Ra—unmanned and psychically controlled by Takeru.[2][12] Additional supporting voices included Kōsei Tomita as Shigeru Ōtsuka and Toshiko Maeda as Shizuka Myōjin.[2] Casting trivia includes the mid-series replacement for Gasshu, highlighting the production's reliance on versatile actors amid tight schedules typical of 1980s anime.[2]

Production

Development

The anime series Six God Combination Godmars, commonly known as God Mars, is loosely based on Mitsuteru Yokoyama's 1976 manga Mars, serialized in Weekly Shōnen Champion from 1976 to 1977 across five volumes. The manga centers on a sci-fi narrative involving an alien entity named Mars, created as an android to wield the robot Gaia in a judgment over humanity, featuring themes of interstellar conflict and an alien prince-like figure. For the television adaptation, producers significantly expanded this core plot, transforming it into a broader epic with original elements while retaining the essential alien prince motif.[2][13] Conceptual development drew from Yokoyama's earlier super robot works, such as Giant Robo (1967–1968), which emphasized heroic mecha battles against global threats, but shifted toward a combining super robot format where six individual machines merge into the titular God Mars. This evolution allowed for innovative action sequences and deeper character-driven arcs, with the decision to craft extensive original storylines beyond the manga's limited scope enabling a serialized format that explored themes of identity and interstellar war.[2] Tokyo Movie Shinsha undertook production with the goal of sustaining the super robot genre's momentum in the early 1980s, building on the legacy of influential series like Mazinger Z (1972–1974). The planning phase established a total of 64 episodes, designed for effective syndication across television networks, airing from October 2, 1981, to December 24, 1982, on Nippon Television. Early creative efforts focused on integrating dramatic personal revelations, such as protagonist Takeru Myojin's alien heritage, while maintaining high-stakes mecha confrontations, addressing the challenge of harmonizing emotional depth with explosive action.[2]

Staff and Production Details

Tetsuo Imazawa served as the series director for God Mars, overseeing the pacing of its episodic structure and the execution of dynamic action sequences that highlighted the mecha battles central to the narrative.[2] His direction emphasized fluid transitions between character-driven drama and high-stakes confrontations, drawing from the manga's foundational concepts by Mitsuteru Yokoyama.[2] The screenplay was primarily handled by Keisuke Fujikawa, who managed series composition and wrote key scripts that deepened the emotional layers of the protagonists' conflicts and interpersonal relationships.[2] Fujikawa's contributions focused on balancing intense interstellar warfare with themes of identity and loyalty, ensuring the story's dramatic arcs resonated beyond mere action.[2] Kei Wakakusa composed the score, crafting orchestral arrangements that intensified the tension during battle scenes and provided emotive underscoring for character moments.[2] The opening theme, "Uchū no Ōja! God Mars," was performed by Ippo Hiura, with music by Yuuichirou Oda and arrangement by Wakakusa, setting an epic tone for the series' space opera elements.[14] The anime was produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha, which handled the cel-based animation techniques to bring the intricate mecha transformations to life with vibrant, hand-drawn detail.[2] Tohokushinsha Film Corporation served as the recording studio, supporting the audio integration of sound effects and voice performances.[2] Character designs were created by Hideyuki Motohashi, who gave the protagonists and supporting cast expressive, youthful aesthetics suited to the story's blend of adventure and pathos.[2] Mecha engineering, including the multi-stage combinations forming God Mars, was designed by Hajime Kamegaki, ensuring mechanical forms that were both visually striking and logically consistent in their assembly sequences.[2]

Media Franchise

Television Series

The television series adaptation of God Mars, titled Rokushin Gattai Godmars, consists of 64 episodes, each approximately 25 minutes in length, and aired weekly on Nippon TV from October 2, 1981, to December 24, 1982.[2] This format allowed for a serialized narrative centered on protagonist Takeru Myojin's journey to uncover his origins and defend Earth from interstellar threats.[4] The storyline unfolds across three primary arcs. The first arc depicts the initial invasion of Earth by the Gishin Empire, introducing key conflicts and the formation of alliances.[5] The second arc shifts to a space pursuit as Takeru and his companions chase Gishin forces beyond Earth's orbit, escalating the scale of battles. The third arc builds to a climactic galactic war, resolving major plotlines through large-scale confrontations and revelations.[5] Production adhered to the classic super robot anime formula, structuring each episode around escalating mecha confrontations, dramatic cliffhangers to hook viewers for the next installment, and interwoven character subplots that deepened emotional stakes amid the action.[3] The opening theme sequence, set to "Uchū no Ōja God Mars" performed by Ippo Hiura, prominently showcases the dynamic assembly of the God Mars super robot from its six component machines, emphasizing the series' combining mecha trope.[2] Ending themes include "Ai no Kinjitou" by Ippo Hiura for most episodes and "17 sai no Densetsu" by Yuji Mitsuya for the finale, providing reflective musical closers to the week's adventures.[2]

Films and OVAs

The 1982 theatrical film, Six God Combination God Mars: The Movie, serves as a compilation of the television series' early episodes, recapping protagonist Takeru Myōjin's origins as an alien prince sent to destroy Earth and his initial battles against the invading Gishin Empire led by Emperor Zure. Released on December 18, 1982, the 95-minute feature incorporates new animation sequences to streamline the narrative and emphasize key action set pieces, such as the combination of six guardian robots into the titular God Mars mecha. Produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha with animation cooperation from Telecom Animation Film, the film functions as a prologue to the broader TV storyline, condensing Takeru's awakening and first defenses of humanity without altering core events.[15][16] In 1988, the original video animation God Mars: Untold Legend expanded the franchise with a focus on Marg, the twin brother of Mars (Takeru), delving into his tragic backstory on the planet Gishin. This single 55-minute episode, released on June 5, 1988, portrays Marg's separation from his brother by Zure, the loss of his parents, his recruitment into a guerrilla resistance group against the Gishin regime, his romance with leader's daughter Ruru, and eventual brainwashing into a loyal soldier, leading to a climactic duel with Mars. Directed by Masakatsu Iijima and produced by TMS Entertainment (formerly Tokyo Movie Shinsha), the OVA introduces updated designs for the God Mars mecha and features returning voice actors from the TV series, such as Yū Mizushima as Takeru/Mars. It serves as a prequel OVA, providing backstory elements to Marg's role in the TV series.[17][18][19]

Video Games and Crossovers

The Six God Combination Godmars first appeared as a playable unit in the Super Robot Wars series with Super Robot Wars 64 (1999) for the Nintendo 64, where it is piloted by Takeru Myōjin and utilizes its signature six-part combination mechanic to form the complete Godmars robot during strategy-based battles.[20] This debut integrated the mecha's modular design—comprising Gaia, Sphinx, Uranus, Titan, Shin, and Ra—into the game's turn-based combat system, allowing players to summon and merge the components for enhanced power.[21] Subsequent appearances in Super Robot Wars D (2003) for the Game Boy Advance and the 2nd Super Robot Wars Z duology (Hakai-hen and Saisei-hen, 2011–2012) for PlayStation Portable continued to feature Godmars as a core playable unit, emphasizing its role in large-scale crossover scenarios with other super robots like Mazinger Z and Getter Robo.[22] In these titles, the mecha's gameplay focuses on high-damage output through beam and energy-based attacks, such as Mars Flash (a sword slash with energy projection) and God Fire (a fiery beam barrage), which provide significant tactical advantages in grid-based engagements against enemy forces.[20] The combination process often serves as a special ability unlocked at higher willpower levels, enabling Godmars to transition from individual god units to its full form mid-battle for devastating area-of-effect strikes.[22] These integrations highlight Godmars' contributions to the Super Robot Wars franchise's meta-narrative, where multi-component combining robots like it reinforce themes of unity and escalation in super robot lore, influencing how subsequent entries blend diverse mecha series into cohesive storylines.[20] While not appearing in every installment, its recurring presence in select titles up to the early 2010s underscores its enduring appeal in crossover gaming contexts.[22]

Release and Distribution

Original Broadcast

Six God Combination God Mars premiered on Nippon Television on October 2, 1981, and aired weekly on Fridays in the 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. timeslot for its first 26 episodes, before shifting to 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for most of the remaining run, concluding on December 24, 1982, after 64 episodes.[2][23] The series occupied an evening slot in Nippon TV's programming block, succeeding popular mecha anime such as Mobile Suit Gundam, and was designed to capitalize on the genre's momentum in the early 1980s.[2] Sponsored primarily by Popy (a division of Bandai), the production emphasized merchandise tie-ins, with the show's transforming robots directly adapted into die-cast toys released concurrently to drive sales among young viewers.[24] Episodes were delivered on a tight weekly schedule typical of the era's television anime, structured with cliffhanger conclusions to encourage consistent tune-ins, though episode 60 was briefly rescheduled to an earlier slot due to a competing news special.[23] While primarily targeted at children to align with toy marketing goals, the series' mature dramatic arcs and character development broadened its appeal to teenagers, contributing to its cult following beyond the core demographic.

International Airings

In Asia, God Mars aired in Hong Kong during the 1980s with a Cantonese dub produced for TVB, emphasizing the series' action sequences and mecha battles to appeal to local audiences, contributing to a strong cult following among viewers who appreciated its dramatic storytelling and robot combinations.[25] The series also found popularity in Italy, where it was broadcast on RAI in the 1980s under the title God Mars, featuring an Italian dub with localized character names to enhance cultural resonance, and it developed a dedicated cult fanbase that valued its epic space opera elements and themes of destiny.[26][27] Limited airings occurred in other European countries during the 1980s. In the United States, there was no official television series broadcast, though fan-imported versions circulated among enthusiasts in the 1980s, fostering niche interest in the mecha genre prior to broader anime globalization. These international adaptations helped export the mecha genre's appeal to Europe and Asia, highlighting God Mars's narrative of a young hero's conflict between his origins and adopted home.

Home Media and Streaming

In Japan, God Mars was released on home video formats such as VHS and LaserDisc during the 1980s and 1990s, primarily through domestic distributors targeting the anime market of the era. These early physical releases included episodic volumes and compilations, making the series available for purchase shortly after its television broadcast.[28][29] For international audiences, particularly in North America, Discotek Media issued the complete 64-episode television series, along with the compilation movie digest and the OVA side story God Mars: The Untold Legend, on standard definition Blu-ray in December 2018. This set features English subtitles but no English dub, providing the first official Western home video edition of the full franchise.[30][31] Digital streaming options have expanded access to God Mars globally since the late 2010s. The series became available on Crunchyroll in November 2015, offering the full run with English subtitles. It is also streamable on Amazon Prime Video, Tubi (added in October 2017), and Pluto TV (with ad-supported viewing starting around 2023), catering to both subscription and free-tier viewers. These platforms have licensed the content from TMS Entertainment, enabling on-demand viewing of the television series episodes.[32][33][34][35][36] Complementing these services, TMS Entertainment launched official English-subtitled uploads of the series episodes on their YouTube channel beginning in 2024, with releases continuing through 2025, including the finale in June 2025. This initiative provides free access to select or full episodes, further bridging gaps in distribution for newer audiences.[37][38] Discotek's North American-focused Blu-ray remains the primary physical option outside Japan, with no 4K UHD remasters announced as of late 2025. Streaming platforms, however, utilize HD upscales from the original masters, enhancing visual quality over earlier SD formats and contributing to renewed interest in the series post-2018.[30]

Reception and Legacy

Critical Response and Awards

Upon its original broadcast in Japan from 1981 to 1982, God Mars garnered positive attention in anime magazines for its ambitious narrative spanning interstellar conflicts and combining super robot elements with dramatic personal stakes, earning it the top spot in Animage's 1982 Anime Grand Prix for best television series based on reader votes.[39] The series also saw strong recognition for its character designs, with protagonist Takeru Myoujin winning the male character category in the same awards, reflecting appreciation for the emotional depth in his journey amid recurring battles against invading forces.[40] Contemporary reviews in Japanese media highlighted the epic scope of the story, which blended space opera themes with intricate mecha transformations, though some noted the formulaic nature of invasion episodes tempered by Takeru's character development.[9] In retrospective analyses from the 2010s and 2020s, God Mars has been credited with contributing to the revival of super robot tropes during the early 1980s transition from real robot styles, praised for its bold combination sequences and thematic focus on destiny and heroism.[5] However, critics have pointed to pacing inconsistencies across its three arcs and repetitive enemy assaults as notable flaws that dilute the overall momentum.[41] User-driven ratings reflect this mixed legacy, with an average score of approximately 6.4 out of 10 on Anime News Network based on 38 reviews and 6.1 out of 10 on IMDb from 1,062 users (as of November 2025).[2][4]

Cultural Impact and Influence

God Mars played a significant role in revitalizing the super robot genre during the early 1980s, blending epic space opera elements with multi-component mecha combinations that influenced subsequent series emphasizing dramatic transformations and heroic assemblies.[42] The series' innovative narrative structure, featuring a protagonist torn between destiny and personal bonds, helped bridge the transition from 1970s super robot staples to more character-driven stories, inspiring elements in later works like combination mechanics in mecha anime.[43] The franchise's merchandise, particularly the 1980s Chogokin toy line by Popy, captured widespread appeal among young audiences with detailed die-cast sets allowing recreation of the six-god combination into God Mars.[44] These toys, including the GB-68 Six God Union Deluxe set, became collector staples and were reissued in the 2020s, such as Bandai's Soul of Chogokin GX-40SP God Mars Chogokin 50th Anniversary Version in 2025, featuring plated parts for enhanced luxury and nostalgia-driven sales.[45] Fan models and custom variants further extended the line's endurance, maintaining interest through online marketplaces and hobby communities.[46] God Mars developed a dedicated fandom, particularly among female viewers drawn to its mature dramatic elements, including themes of tragedy, romance, and identity that contrasted with typical boy-targeted robot fare.[45] This led to fan petitions influencing additional content, such as the 1982 compilation film, and fostered a cult following in regions like Italy and Hong Kong where the series aired contemporaneously and retained nostalgic popularity.[45] Crossovers in the ongoing Super Robot Wars video game series, with appearances up to the 2010s entries like Super Robot Wars Z3: Tengoku-hen, continue to sustain legacy interest by integrating God Mars into larger mecha ensembles.[22] In the 2020s, digital streaming revivals have introduced God Mars to new generations, with Crunchyroll adding the full 64-episode series in 2015 and maintaining availability for U.S. and Canadian audiences.[32] Funimation (now part of Crunchyroll) expanded access in 2021, alongside platforms like Tubi TV in 2017, enhancing its niche endurance without major new adaptations announced by 2025.[47][48] This increased digital presence has bolstered discussions on the series' combination sequences and thematic depth, solidifying its position as a foundational super robot work.[49]

References

  1. Rokushin Gattai GodMars (God Mars) - MyAnimeList.net
  2. God Mars (TV) - Anime News Network
  3. God Mars (Anime) - TV Tropes
  4. God Mars (TV Series 1981–1982) - IMDb
  5. (#MechaMarch2023) Six Combination God Mars
  6. Mecha and Monsters from God Mars | /m
  7. Six God Combination Godmars | Manga Wiki - Fandom
  8. Myoujin, Takeru - MyAnimeList
  9. #156 : Godmars – The Classic Anime Museum - WordPress.com
  10. Characters in God Mars - TV Tropes
  11. 六神合体ゴッドマーズ(アニメ / 1981) - 動画配信 - U-NEXT
  12. Watch God Mars Online (1981) - Stream Episodes & Seasons - Yidio
  13. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3124918/fullcredits
  14. Mars - MangaDex
  15. Rokushin Gattai God Mars | K06S-3023 - VGMdb
  16. God Mars (movie) - Anime News Network
  17. Six God Combination GodMars: The Movie (1982) - Letterboxd
  18. God Mars: Untold Legend (OAV) - Anime News Network
  19. God Mars: Untold Legend | 1980s | ALL TITLES
  20. God Mars: The Untold Legend (Video 1988) - IMDb
  21. Six God Combination GodMars - Super Robot Wars Wiki - Fandom
  22. Super Robot Taisen 64 (1999) - MobyGames
  23. Six God Combination Godmars - Akurasu Wiki
  24. 六神合体ゴッドマーズ : 昭和のテレビアニメ＆特撮ヒーロー
  25. Popy God Mars - Shogun Warriors
  26. God Mars (Drama Version) (DVD) (Hong Kong Version ... - YESASIA
  27. Cartoons of the 80s - Complete list - Cartonionline.com
  28. GodMars (1981) - Sigla italiana COMPLETA - YouTube
  29. Godmars 1994 VHS 1990s Japanese Mecha Anime ... - eBay
  30. Godmars 1994 VHS FACTORY 1990s Japanese Mecha Anime The ...
  31. God Mars Blu-ray - Discotek Media
  32. God Mars complete series and movie on SDBD Blu Ray! Release ...
  33. News Crunchyroll Adds God Mars Sci-Fi Anime to Catalog
  34. Watch God Mars: Season 1 | Prime Video - Amazon.com
  35. Discotek Licenses Giant Robo, Kimagure Orange Road, Galaxy ...
  36. Watch God Mars Streaming Online | Tubi Free TV
  37. Watch God Mars for Free Online | Pluto TV
  38. GOD MARS | English Sub | Full Episodes - YouTube
  39. GOD MARS - EP64 A Smile For The Galaxy | English Sub - YouTube
  40. 5° Annual Anime Grand Prix (1982)
  41. Rokushin Gattai God Mars - Reviews - Anime-Planet
  42. The 15 Best '80s Mecha Anime That Defined Giant Robot Storytelling
  43. God Mars and the Legacy of BL Fan Shipping | OGIUE MANIAX
  44. Rokushin Gattai God Mars - GB-68 (Popy) - MyFigureCollection
  45. SOUL OF CHOGOKIN GX-40SP GOD MARS CHOGOKIN 50th Ver.
  46. Chogokin Six Gods Godmars Popy Custom Type 755146 - eBay
  47. Funimation Adds Multiple Lupin III Series, God Mars Anime to ...
  48. News Tubi TV Adds God Mars Anime
  49. News God Mars Series Streamed with English Subtitles on Hulu
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