Andro Melos is a 1983 mini-series about the Andro Super Warriors in their Cosmo Tector suits fighting against aliens and monsters who are working for the evil Gua Empire.
Production[]
Andro Melos first appeared in a promotional featured in the May 1981 issue of Televi-Kun.[1].
After Ultraman Leo concluded its broadcast in March 1975, Shogakukan launched a spinoff manga titled "Farewell, Ultraman Brother" in its Third Grade Elementary Schooler magazine. Created by Mamoru Uchiyama, the manga unfolded in three parts and introduced a new protagonist, Melos, starting from the second arc. Melos stood out with his mirror-like armored body and built-in weaponry on his abdomen and shoulders. Due to its popularity, the manga was reprinted in CoroCoro Comic in 1978 and later compiled under the title The・Ultraman.[2]
Following the conclusion of Ultraman 80 in 1981, Tsuburaya Productions began exploring possibilities for the next installment in the franchise. One such project took shape in Televi-Kun magazine as the Andro Melos project, clearly inspired by Uchiyama's creation, Melos. In the May 1981 issue of Televi-Kun, "Andromelos Appears!!" was teased through a mix of photos and illustrations. Starting with the June issue, a photo-feature titled Ultra Brothers Story: Andro Melos began, introducing characters and iconic battle scenes.[2]
The project was overseen by director Kazuho Mitsuta and story/format designer Hisashi Yasui from the Televi-Kun editorial team.[2] The narrative portrayed Andromelos as none other than Zoffy in disguise. After being defeated by the Gua Army, Zoffy drifts into a black hole and is rescued by Cesar, a warrior from the Andro tribe. Donning Cesar's Cosmo Tector, Zoffy continues his fight while concealing his true identity. Alongside this, another manga series titled Ultraman Super Legend by Shinji Imura ran in parallel, lasting until the March 1986 issue.[2]
As the series evolved into Ultraman Super Legend: Andro Super Warriors, the project entered its final planning stage. In the fall of 1982, Tsuburaya decided to produce Andromelos as a television program. It aired on weekday evenings on TBS from late February to late April 1983, with each episode running approximately 10 minutes.[2][3]
The Andro Melos battle suits were originally made as single samples just for photo shoots. Later, they were kept by Takahiko Mamiya.[4].
A key distinction of the series is that it became Japan's first tokusatsu drama to be filmed entirely using VTR technology.[2] However, aside from the character designs, most of the setting was rebuilt from scratch, and the ending differed from the magazine version. Although positioned as a spinoff of the Ultraman series, Andromelos was not directly connected to the main universe. The battle suits worn by the characters in the show were based on the magazine version's designs and modified under the supervision of Shinichi Wakasa, who had previously worked on monster designs for Ultraman 80.
Despite the shared broadcast network with Ultraman 80, the Andromelos TV series aired only in the Kanto region, limiting its exposure. Furthermore, by the time the show aired, the Televi-Kun serialization was nearing its end, and the short one-and-a-half-month broadcast span meant the series never received major feature coverage in the children's magazines of the time.
Synopsis[]
The Andro Defense Force is an organization dedicated to safeguarding peace in the universe led by the hero, Andro Melos. Armed with powerful armor called Cosmo Tectors, they confront the Gua Army, who seek to dominate the entire universe.
Characters[]
Heroes[]
- Andro Melos
- Andro Wolf
- Andro Mars
- Andro Flor
- Alien Epu
- Zoffy (indirectly mentioned)
Kaiju[]
- Juda
- Mecha Baltan
- Alien Magma
- Bemzn
- King Joegue
- Gyeronia
- Shizurun
- Bazelia
- Gina
- Mold
- Gua
- Gua Soldiers
- Dakumiran
- Zabiden
- Edoras
- Ace Killer
- Black King
- Alien Baltan
- King Joe
- Alien Nackle
- Gora
- Juda Robot
- PESDA Soldier
Cast[]
Voice Actors[]
- Andro Melos : Makoto Ataka
- Andro Wolf : Kenyu Horiuchi
- Andro Mars : Susumu Kotaki
- Andro Flor : Kumiko Mizukura
- Alien Epu "Erupa", Edoras : Shigeru Chiba
- Juda : Shojiro Kihara
- Mold : Shingo Kanemoto
- Gina : Kyoko Oguma
- Dakumiran : Hiroshi Ikaida
- Bazelia : Yoshiaki Nemoto
- Narrator : Takashi Tsuda
Suit Actors[]
- Andro Melos: Yutaka Koizumi
- Andro Wolf: Hiroshi Ueda
- Andro Mars: Mitsutoshi Shiroya
- Andro Flor: Emiko Kunimoto
- Juda: Kazuyoshi Sasamoto
- Mold: Yuji Ito
- Gina: Keiko Matsushima
Music[]
- Opening Theme
- Andro Melos
- Lyrics: Noboru Tani
- Composition: Shunsuke Kikuchi
- Arrangement: Koji Yoshimura
- Artist: Ichiro Mizuki
- Ending Theme
- Kaette Koi yo Andro Melos
- Lyrics: Noboru Tani
- Composition: Shunsuke Kikuchi
- Arrangement: Koji Yoshimura
- Artist: Ichiro Mizuki
Home Media[]
The series was first released on a DVD titled the "Andro Melos Collector's Disc" on April 23, 2004 by Bandai Visual. It was rereleased on DVD in 2013, with volumes 1-2 released on February 22 and volumes 3-4 on March 22.[5]
Gallery[]
External Links[]
References[]
- ↑ https://x.com/sousai_h/status/1498061095306608644
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Ultra Tokusatsu PERFECT MOOK vol. 36: Ultraman Neos / Andro Melos, pg 23
- ↑ https://cocreco.kodansha.co.jp/telemaga/news/feature/kaijubiyori/fMbx7
- ↑ https://x.com/shinichiwakasa/status/1302523058830192640
- ↑ https://m-78.jp/news/n-1701