Counter-X > Gobots >> Information >>> Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos

The original Machine Robo line had ran out of steam in early 1986, but it was all part of a plan (well, maybe...). Bandai had seen from Takara's success with Transformers that an animated series was needed if the line was to regain its' standing, and the idea of importing the Western version, Challenge of the Gobots, wasn't viable. So the company commissioned Ashi studios (animators of Dancougar, M.A.S.K., and more recently the Transformers series Beast Wars II and Beast Wars Neo) to make an all-new Anime based on the line. Meanwhile, Bandai began work on repackaging their figures to tie in with the new series.

Thirty existing figures from both the Machine Robo Series and the Devil Invaders Series were reissued (Bandai presumably reckoning that Takara had got away with basically the same for Transformers), while a host of toys from other Bandai-owned lines such as Chogokin and Winch Robo were recoloured and/or retooled.

A few figures were specially made for the line, including non-transforming versions of the Anime leads, plus Triple Jim and Devil Satan Six. Also new for the line were the Rock Robo, figures which transformed into rocks (marketed in the West as Rock Lords), and the Wheelmen, friction motor toys that arrived late in the line.

Ashi's 47-part offering (broadcast July 3, 1986 through May 28, 1987) boasted stunning animation and a well-planned story arc, but actually featured few of the toys in the actual toyline in sizeable roles. The rebooted continuity junked the scant mythos of the original Machine Robo, relocating the saga to the planet of Cronos - a world filled with sentient robots. These were divided up into three types - the Cronos Tribe (a race of human-looking, non-transforming androids), the Jet Tribe (a race of robots who turned into flying vehicles) and the Battle Tribe (who turned into land/sea-based vehicles). The aggressors were now the Gylandar, a race of evil robots who are searching the planet for an energy source known as the Hyribead to fuel their conquest.

The Anime focused on the journey of Cronos Tribe siblings Rom and Leina Stol, who travelled the planet thwarting the Gylandar Commanders with help from Jet Tribe warrior Blue Jet, Battle Tribe warrior Rod Drill and Leina's valet, Battle Tribe member Triple Jim. Rom could, and always did, call on two larger forms during battle Kenryu (a.k.a. Blade Dragon) and Baikunfu (a.k.a. Vikung-Fu).

Their primary enemies were the Devil Commanders Gruijos and Diondra, the lieutenants of Gylandar leader Gadess. In keeping with many Japanese lines of the time, very few Gylandar toys were produced, as villains traditionally sold badly in Japan - only the Devil Satan 6 would receive a new toy, with the rest of the villains being reissues or recolours of older toys.

It would seem the revival was a limited success. While Revenge of Cronos is generally well-thought of (and indeed was popular enough to spawn a pair of OVA [Original Video Animation, i.e. straight-to-video] sequels following the characters), its' muddy connection with the toyline was contrary to the direct link Transformers had, and it would seem Bandai only got limited mileage out of the older toys in terms of sales. By now, Gobots had disappeared in the West, although the series was exported to France and redubbed as Les Revanche des Gobots (Return of the Gobots).

For 1988, a much smaller line, Battle Hackers, was planned. Revenge of Cronos retains a cult following, with occasional merchandise still coming out (such as model kits of the Stol siblings), while in 2007 Baikungfu was remade as part of Bandai's prestige Soul of Chogokin line.

The series was issued on Laser Disc in Japan in the 1980s, and more recently Central Park began issuing subtitled DVDs of the series, though these ended after three volumes with just 15 episodes covered.