Let’s Volt in!

It’s not hard to imagine people feeling strongly about a TV show. Many of us who grew up in the ’80s remember watching Voltes V. Talk to anyone over 40 and they will most probably have a story to tell about the show. I remember drawing Voltes V as a grade schooler and trying to memorize its catchy Japanese theme song, which then became our generation’s unofficial “national anthem.” 

The Japanese animé first aired on TV Asahi in Japan in 1977 and then aired locally on GMA a year later in 1978.  Every night at 6, we watched mesmerized as Dr. Armstrong and his wife Mary Ann trained their sons Steve, Big Bert and Little John with Jamie Robinson, the only daughter of General Oka (Commander Robinson), and Mark Gordon to work together to fight the evil Boazanian forces. 

The villains, easily identifiable with their curved horns, were led by Prince Zardoz, Zandra, Jangal and Zuhl. We cheered as Voltes V dismembered the monsters sent by the Boazanians with an expertly sliced “V” through their torsos using the glowing laser sword. Towards the latter part of the series, the Armstrong brothers discovered their unique heritage of being half Boazanian. They tried to deal with this startling discovery but with just four episodes before the series could end in April 1979, then President Ferdinand Marcos ordered it pulled off the air. 

It was deemed “excessively violent” although the adults then felt the excuse was too flimsy, too arbitrary. They speculated that the animé was pulled out from broadcast because of its underlying themes of rebellion and revolution. Whatever the reason, we were devastated. There was no closure. 

After the EDSA Revolution in 1986, Voltes V returned on screen in other channels and then again in 1989 in other local channels. In 1999, it returned to its original home, GMA Network.

To mark its 40th anniversary this year, Voltes V has begun re-airing on GMA with the characters voiced by Kapuso homegrown talents. Tsuperhero actor Derrick Monasterio is Steve, Voltes V team leader. His love team Bea Binene is Jamie, a female ninja and lone female member of Voltes V.

Jak Roberto, one of Meant To Be’s leading men is Mark, a rodeo champion who was forced to join Voltes V and who later becomes Steve’s rival for Jamie’s affection. Hiro Peralta is Big Bert who masters different hand-to-hand fighting styles.

The villain Prince Zardoz is another Meant To Be leading man Ken Chan. His character is the nephew of the Emperor of Boazania who is referred to as the son of a traitor.

The GMA talents voicing the characters are millennials who might only have watched the animé series when it was re-aired or — like Bea — not at all. “Sometimes, while I’m dubbing, I’m napapanganga and natutulala because the series is so interesting and fun to watch,” she said.

Derrick said he watched Voltes V when he was younger. “I even have memorabilia like shirts, caps and slippers.”

Ken, who is known to internalize his roles, said he chose to give Prince Zardoz a younger vibe. “Gusto ko siyang maging modernized. Pinabata ko po yung character niya para mas makasabay sa akin yung mga batang manonood. Kasi kapag pinatanda ko po yung boses ko, baka may ilan sa kanila na matakot at hindi ma-appreciate ng mga bata.”

Jak, who voices tough guy Mark, followed the instructions of his dubbing coach. “In-explain sa amin nung dubbing coach kung sino at ano yung character na bibigyan namin ng boses. Maangas, strong yung personality at laging nakikipagtalo si Mark kay Steve. Siya yung astig sa grupo so ginawa ko kung paano yung hinihingi nung role. Binigay ko yung angas at yabang ni Mark.”

Hiro was surprised to be offered the part of Big Bert because he imagined his character’s voice to be deeper unlike his own speaking voice. He remembers “watching the animé series in 1999 and that (his) Dad owned a toy replica of Voltes V.”

Those of us who watched the first airing of Voltes V in 1978 might have felt shortchanged with its abrupt disappearance on air but the newly-dubbed and complete version is such a brilliant idea. The refreshed edition gives us ’80s kids a chance to relive our childhood memories and also gives the millennial viewers a taste of what our animé looks like.