Ninja Senshi Tobikage
A 23rd-century Martian colony defends against alien robots with ninja mecha.
Ninja Senshi Tobikage (忍者戦士飛影, lit. Tobikage the Ninja Soldier), also known as Ninja Robots, is a Japanese anime television series produced by Pierrot. It aired on Nippon Television from 6 October 1985 to 13 July 1986 and was later broadcast in English in Australia and Anglophone Asia on Cartoon Network, though it never aired in the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom. The series is notable for its fusion of ninja themes with mecha robot combat, set in a 23rd-century Martian colony.
- producer
- Pierrot
- original_network
- Nippon Television
- air_dates
- 6 October 1985 – 13 July 1986
- genre
- Anime, mecha, science fiction
- english_broadcast_regions
- Australia, Anglophone Asia (Cartoon Network)
- setting
- 23rd century, Mars colony
Lore & Background
Joe discovers and pilots the ninja robot Black Lion, which can merge with a mysterious robot named Cybertron to form a mechanical lion. Jenny pilots the Phoenix Thunderhawk, and Mike pilots the Burst Dragon. The trio, along with the Ladorian Princess Rowena, her attendant Jade, and General Icelander, fend off constant attacks by the Zaboom army and their allies. Key human antagonists include Hazzard Pascha, who seeks to use the alien technology to conquer Earth, and allies such as Damian, son of a Martian guerrilla leader, and Ronin Sanada, a childhood friend of Joe's who becomes a major general in Earth's forces.
Reader's Guide
Ninja Senshi Tobikage occupies a niche in 1980s anime as a blend of ninja mythology and giant robot battles, produced by the notable studio Pierrot. Its significance lies in its unique premise—Martian convicts, alien refugees, and transforming ninja robots—and its failure to air in major English-speaking markets like the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, limiting its Western exposure. The series explores themes of rebellion, loyalty, and love, with Joe's infatuation with Princess Rowena and Jenny's unrequited love for Joe driving character dynamics. Its legacy is primarily as a cult classic among anime enthusiasts, remembered for its distinctive mecha designs and the mysterious Cybertron. The series also reflects the era's fascination with space colonization and the trope of ancient ninja skills being relevant in a futuristic setting.
Did You Know?
- The series never aired in the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom.
- The Martian colony is populated mostly by convicts from Earth, similar to 18th- and 19th-century Australia.
- Joe Maya pilots the ninja robot Black Lion, which can merge with the mysterious Cybertron.
- The Ladorian aliens come from the Andromeda galaxy, also called the Black Star Galaxy in the English version.
More in Television series set in the 23rd century 1-20
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