A special video has been released on YouTube in which director Mark A. Reyes V, who worked on the film "Voltes V: Legacy," a live-action adaptation of the popular Super Electromagnetic Machine Voltes V" released in the Philippines, reveals the secrets of the mecha design. Reyes, one of the biggest "Voltes V otaku" in the Philippines, said, "I had a strong desire not to change the design of Voltes V from the original anime." "It's not that I wasn't allowed to make changes, it's that I didn't want to. I wanted to express the image of Voltes V from the anime as it is. Of course, I modernized the texture and strengthened the gimmicks of the movements such as fighting, flying, and combining," he explained.
The live-action version reproduces the designs from the original anime while evolving the details and textures to make it more acceptable to modern audiences. The action scenes have an enhanced sense of metal weight and the gimmicks used to unleash various weapons, making Voltes V feel more realistic.
On the other hand, the enemy Beast Fighters were changed in some ways from the anime. In the anime, they were designed to resemble real animals, but "that's OK for the anime, but it feels strange to make it live-action. We kept the basic design, but made them scarier and tougher," he said.
"Voltes V: Legacy" is a "Super Electromagnetic Edited Version" that has been re-edited with additional scenes that were not included in the Philippine version of the film "Voltes V Legacy". The Philippine production team remastered the entire film for release in Japan and improved the quality of the CG. Subtitled and dubbed versions will be released. Release date: October 18th.
The live-action version was produced by GMA Network, a terrestrial television station in the Philippines. A film and a 90-episode TV series were produced. The entire TV series was broadcast in the Philippines in 2023. A TV series specially edited for Japan will be broadcast on TOKYO MX this fall. The original 90-episode Philippine version is also scheduled to be released in Japan.
"Super Electromagnetic Machine Voltes V" is a legendary robot anime that aired in Japan from 1977 to 1978. The story depicts the main character Kenichi, the Gou brothers, Ippei Mine, and Megumi Oka, boarding the combined robot Super Electromagnetic Machine Voltes V and fighting against the invading force from Planet Voazin, led by Prince Heinel, who has flown to Earth. The story depicts the separation of parents and children, shocking developments surrounding the protagonist, confrontations with half-brothers, resistance to oppression and revolution, and was highly praised overseas for its high level of drama. It also became a hot topic in the Philippines, where the opening theme song "Voltes V no Uta" sung by Horie Mitsuko was also popular.