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| (Image Source: Philippine Star/GMA Network/TOEI Company Ltd./Telesuccess Productions Inc.) |
GMA Network, the largest and most watched television network in the Philippines, definitely and literally opened 2023 with a bang when it officially released the 'mega' trailer of the upcoming highly-anticipated primetime action drama series "Voltes V: Legacy" during its Kapuso Countdown To 2023 Gayo Daejeon special and it did not disappoint viewers and netizens in and out of the country with more than 7 million combined views on the network's social media platforms in less than a week after its release. But what's more highly overwhelming is that it is officially certified as a fully-licensed franchise of the classic 1970s Japanese mecha anime Voltes V by no less than its original production company Toei Company Ltd. as announced and acknowledged by series director Mark Reyes on social media.
In a January 4, 2023 press release by the Japanese production company on its corporate website, the original makers of the mecha anime noted the huge popularity of Voltes V (Chōdenji Mashīn Borutesu Faibu or "Super Electromagnetic Machine Voltes V") in the Philippines since it aired in the country in the late '70s. The series stopped airing during the onset of the Martial Law period which was implemented by the late former Philippine president Ferdinand E. Marcos but resumed airing in the 80s and beyond across various major Philippine television stations which have reached millions of Filipino viewers nationwide through the years. According to Toei, "Its popularity was not limited to Japan, but also across the sea, and it was extremely popular in the Philippines at the time, and the entire Filipino people, including children, were enthusiastic about Super Electromagnetic Machine Voltes V. In the Philippines, there are still many people who can sing Mitsuko Horie's anime opening theme song Voltes V no Uta in Japanese, showing how popular it is in the Philippines." Aside from commeting the mega trailer, Toei gave credit to GMA for producing such an expensive project and its director Mark Reyes "who has both skill and experience in live-action films in the Philippines" considering that he was the director of the 2016 phenomenal hit fantasy action drama series "Encantadia" and notified that "Voltes V: Legacy" will be broadcasted and distributed in Japan and various parts of the globe.
On the other hand, Toei Company, Ltd. producer Shin-ichiro Shirakura shared on the said press release a 'thank you' message for the Filipinos for their support of the well-loved Japanese anime. The message states, "Thank you to the people of the Philippines who have loved Voltes V for a long time, overcame many challenges, and managed to realize this huge project. On the other hand, in Japan, Voltes V has been completely forgotten... but that's not the case. The flow of "Voltes V" was changed to a live-action series from Battle Fever J (1979) through the later program Tosho Daimos (1978). It is now called the Super Sentai series. Even if the times change, the basic composition -- five young people selected to fight against overwhelming invaders by making full use of five united robots -- will not change. The DNA of Voltes V has been handed down from generation to generation as one of Japan's leading special effects hero series and continues to fascinate children around the world. Although it has become more sophisticated with each generation, it may be that something important has been lost. VOLTES V LEGACY taught me that. A giant robot that is big, heavy, and strong, just standing. If you have the soul of a "boy", here is the scorching super robot soul that everyone still yearns for!" Back on December 28, 2021, Shirakura expressed his excitement to Voltes V: Legacy and gratitude to its production team and Voltes V local licensor Telesuccess Productions for their "effort, enthusiasm, and hard work" amid the COVID-19 situation. Koshikawa Kazuhiko, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines, also expressed his excitement over the highly anticipated live action adaptation by sharing two Voltes V action figures and reposting the mega trailer on his Twitter account.
The 5 1/2 minute mega trailer of Voltes V: Legacy displays groundbreaking CGI effects proudly made by Pinoy animators. It shows new, exciting details about the upcoming Kapuso program like the design of the Voltes V Pilot's launch conveyors, live-action Boazanian beast fighters cast in their costumes, and new cast members like talented actor Dennis Trillo as Ned Armstrong. It serves as the first official trailer of Voltes V: Legacy where the story narrative is introduced with live-action elements. The live action adaptation remake of the 1978 classic Japanese mecha anime series follows the three brothers Steve (Miguel Tanfelix), Big Bert (Matt Lozano), and Little Jon Armstrong (Raphael Landicho), and their friends Jamie Robinson (Ysabel Ortega) and Mark Gordon (Radson Flores) who join forces to defend the Earth from humanoid aliens, known as Boazanians, who plans to invade the planet and launch their beast fighters all over the world. Voltes V: Legacy, written by Suzette Doctolero and directed by Mark Reyes, is an exclusive offering of the GMA Entertainment Group. It bears the potential of being the Philippines' first serious epic sci-fi TV show as it is partnered with Toei Company, Ltd., the same company that brought the robot saga to life, and its local licensor Telesuccess Productions, Inc. GMA also engaged the services of Riot Inc. Post-Production along with the GMA Post Video graphics and Audio team to handle the CGI and the live-action elements of the stories. Voltes V: Legacy is slated to air within the second quarter of 2023 on GMA Telebabad.
