For many veteran fans, the 1970s robot anime Super Electromagnetic Robot Combattler V, produced by Toei and Sunrise, is pure childhood nostalgia. It also kicked off director Tadao Nagahama's iconic "Nagahama Robot Romance Trilogy."
To mark this historic milestone, the official channels dropped a 50th-anniversary special video on YouTube on July 24, 2026. This isn't just a tribute to a classic; it also unveils a surprising new form for Combattler V, giving fans something truly unexpected!
"Super Electromagnetic Robot Combattler V" was the trailblazer for the "Nagahama Robot Romance Trilogy," followed by "Voltes V" and "Daimos." Its five-unit combining robot toy (Chogokin), mirroring the anime's design, launched concurrently and became a massive hit.
This success paved the way for similar concepts in later series like "Voltes V" and the Super Sentai franchise. Combattler V is also a perennial favorite in the "Super Robot Wars series," making an appearance in almost every installment.
This epic 50th-anniversary special was spearheaded by Toei Zukun Laboratory, renowned for its digital imaging prowess. It's a heartfelt tribute to the fans who've championed the series for half a century. The video is split into two awesome parts: a nostalgic commemorative segment and a long-awaited, brand-new 3DCG animation, kicking off a fresh chapter in the legend.
The commemorative segment brings back all the feels, with the familiar theme song scoring heroic shots of Hyouma and the gang, plus iconic clashes against General Garuda. Once Combattler V completes its signature combination, the scene shifts with the 50th-anniversary logo, launching into full CG animation. Get ready for an intense battle against enemy robots, rendered with cutting-edge animation tech!
As Combattler V faces an unprecedented onslaught from enemy machines, a mysterious new player enters the fray: the 6th unit, "Battle Armor." This new unit splits into multiple add-on armor pieces, magnetically attaching to various parts of Combattler V to form the even mightier six-unit combined form, "Combattler V6."
(Note: While the 6th unit "Battle Armor" never appeared in the original anime, the six-unit "Combattler V6" form was depicted in Yuichi Hasegawa's manga series, "Chodenji Taisen Victory Five.")
▼ Yuichi Hasegawa's manga series, "Chodenji Taisen Victory Five"
▼ "Super Electromagnetic Robot Combattler V" 50th Anniversary Special Anime
Of course, it wouldn't be a 50th-anniversary celebration without some sweet Chogokin action! Unsurprisingly, the "Soul of Chogokin GX-121 Combattler V6" has already been revealed. What other surprises might the official team have up their sleeves? We'll just have to wait and see what new projects they roll out next!