They call them "Real Robots". "They" being the Japanese, and "them" being a movement in Japanese robot design started by the legendary series Mobile Suit Gundam that spawned a new genre. The name
Real Robot referred to the fact that these giant robot, or mecha designs, were more grounded in reality than previous examples. As I mentioned in
a previous post, early Japanese mecha, like
Great Mazinger and
Tetsujin 28, were gargantuan in scale and preformed supernatural feats. The so called Real Robots were smaller, more mechanical, and had characteristics and features that resembled military vehicles. The stories also placed an emphasis on military tactics.
Fang of the Sun Dougram was a Japanese anime series that told the story of a group of rebels rising up and fighting for independence against a dictatorship. Their primary weapon was a powerful military prototype called Combat Armor Dougram. The history of Dougram toys is of particular interest to me and they represent some of my favorite mecha designs. Dougram toys were manufactured in popular military model scales. The intent was to give hobbyists the opportunity to combine Dougram models with existing model tanks, trucks and other vehicles to create scenes and dioramas. The toys often came with painting suggestions, showing how modelers could customize their mecha to be more realistic. This planted the Dougram toys squarely in an older target market. The toys were intended to appeal to those who built plastic models-- generally mid teens to early twenties.
They call them "Real Robots". "They" being the Japanese, and "them" being a movement in Japanese robot design started by the legendary series Mobile Suit Gundam that spawned a new genre. The name Real Robot referred to the fact that these giant robot, or mecha designs, were more grounded in reality than previous examples. As I mentioned in a previous post, early Japanese mecha, like Great Mazinger and Tetsujin 28, were gargantuan in scale and preformed supernatural feats. The so called Real Robots were smaller, more mechanical, and had characteristics and features that resembled military vehicles. The stories also placed an emphasis on military tactics.
Today I present a rare example of a Boxed set of three robots. Like most of the Dougram toys these are constructed of plastic and heavy die cast metal. this assorted collection of robots comes complete with a vacuum formed plastic diorama base. This is a rare piece, so step into the Robots Gallery of the Cabinet of Curious Frivolities and take a look at Combat Armor Dougram, Three Types Assorted Collection.
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