It has been about half a century since the TV anime “Voltes V” (hereafter referred to as “Voltes V”) began broadcasting in 1977. In the Philippines, where it has garnered even more passionate support across generations than in Japan, it has been adapted into a live-action film and a 90-episode TV series by Filipino director Mark A. Reyes V, and will finally be re-imported to Japan this fall.
Anime! Anime! conducted a direct interview with director Mark A. Reyes V, who came to Japan to promote the film prior to its theatrical release.
By the way, when “Voltes V” was broadcast in the Philippines, the highest viewership rating was 58%! In the Philippines, it caused a huge national boom beyond our imagination as Japanese people. Even now, half a century after its broadcast, “Voltes V” boasts a recognition rate of 94% in the Philippines. It is no lie in the Philippines, it is truly a national anime. The movie “Voltes V Legacy”, which was born in the Philippines, a country full of love for “Voltes V”, will finally be released in theaters on October 18, 2024.
“Voltes V” is a super robot anime in which five young people pilot a giant robot called “Voltes V” to fight against invaders from space. Although it is a robot anime, it is an ambitious work that puts effort into the story so that adults can enjoy it as well, using swords and depicting stories about parents and children and families.
The movie “Voltes V Legacy” to be released this time is a “Super Electromagnetic Edited Version” that has been remastered and added scenes for theatrical release in Japan, and the quality of the video has been greatly improved. Please come to the theater to see how much this robot anime from nearly 50 years ago has been improved with the latest technology and respect for the original work that transcends borders.
Toei seems to be putting a lot of effort into promoting this film, and is posting various information on its official website and official YouTube channel. If you’re interested, be sure to check them out!
▽Video: “Voltes V Legacy in just a minute”
By the way, it is interesting to note that the release of the movie “Voltes V Legacy” in Japan means that the article “Voltes V to be made into a movie” that appeared in the February 1982 issue of Animedia, currently published by IID, has become a reality after 42 years. It is surprising that the words “to be released from this fall to the end of the year” in the article turned out to be correct!
↑An article published in the February 1982 issue of Animage announcing that “Voltes V” will be made into a movie! As the article states, the beautiful characters that defined an era are still alive and well in this live-action adaptation.
↑This article was published on the cover of the February 1882 issue of Animage. The catchphrase “An anime information magazine that’s four times more fun: watch, read, display, and participate” has remained the same since then.
So, without further ado, let’s bring you an interview with Director Mark A. Reyes V, who created “Voltes V Legacy” with incredible passion.
First, I asked why “Voltes V” is so popular in the Philippines.
Director Mark A. Reyes V:
“Voltes V first aired in the Philippines in the ’70s, which was a time when various Japanese anime were starting to be imported. Japanese anime was broadcast all through the weekday evenings, with different shows being broadcast depending on the day of the week. Voltes V was on Friday.
Speaking of the works that were being broadcast at the time, “Daimous” was characterized by a love romance, “Mazinger Z” was characterized by a manga-like feel, and “Voltes V” depicted a family and human drama.
At that time, children in the Philippines were crazy about anime, and would come home from school in no time just wanting to watch it. This was a situation that parents were very happy about. Moreover, “Voltes V” is a work that depicts family love. Naturally, parents also supported “Voltes V”.
In the Philippines, Voltes V was rebroadcast throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. With voice actors changing over time, it gained immense popularity across generations.
Additionally, director Mark A. Reyes V spoke about the uniquely Filipino reasons why Voltes V has been passed down in the Philippines.
Director Mark A. Reyes V:
“Voltes V was so popular that President Marcos became alarmed and declared martial law. He banned it, fearing it could spark a revolution. Of course, it had absolutely no effect. However, this made Voltes V a rather controversial series, and it became a mysterious presence for the people.
Inspired by the film, artists made Voltes V a symbol of fighting against oppression. It has been passed down through the generations in pop culture, and even today in the Philippines, the theme song and ending theme of Voltes V are sung at karaoke by not only folk singers but also ordinary people.
The theme song of “Voltes V” has also been used as a jingle for commercials and election campaigns in the Philippines. The movie “Voltes V Legacy” will convey the story of “Voltes V” to a new generation.
The November issue of Animage features a long interview with director Mark A. Reyes V about “Voltes V.”
Voltes V: Legacy
Released on Friday, October 18
Director: Mark A. Reyes V
Screenplay: Suzette Doctolero
Senior Executive Producer: Helen Rose Cece, Larson Chan
Executive Producer: Darling Pulido-Torres, Teejay del Rosario, Shinichiro Shirakura
Cast:
Miguel Tanfelix, Ladson Flores, Matt Lozano, Rafael Landico, Isabel Ortega Martin del
Rosario, Liesel Lopez, Carlo Gonzalez, Epi Quizon Albert
Martinez, Gaby Eigenmann, Dennis Trillo, Carla Abellana
Country of Production: Philippines Original Title: Voltes V: Legacy Year of Production: 2024
Distributor in Japan: Toei
（C）TOEI Co. Ltd, Telesuccess All Rights Reserved
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