— IDENTITY —
Full Name
Akū Daisakusen Surangle (亜空大作戦スラングル) / Great Sub-Space Operation Srungle
Type
Transforming vehicle-type mecha — SR-type Trekker Vehicle (three-mode transformation, non-humanoid combat vehicle)
Creator
Original concept & series composition: Masaru Yamamoto; Character design: Yoshitaka Amano; Mecha design: Meka MIC Group (Submarine, Kōichi Ōhata, Hiroki Hayashi)
Debut
January 21, 1983
Country of Origin
Japan
Original Medium
Anime (TV series) — an original Kokusai Eigasha concept, not adapted from a prior manga
Publisher
N/A — original anime produced by Kokusai Eigasha for TV Asahi
Genre
Science fiction action / espionage-team adventure with robot elements
— DEVELOPMENT HISTORY —
Project Designation
Srungle — large transforming Trekker Vehicle of team Gorilla
Original Designer (Story)
Masaru Yamamoto (original concept, series composition); director Kazuya Miyazaki
Construction Purpose
Built as the signature heavy combat vehicle of the unofficial defense team "Gorilla," assembled by Galactown special mobile bureau chief Doc Mandy to counter the criminal organization Crime
Activation Method
Conventionally piloted; transforms between three configurations depending on mission needs
Historical Significance
Originally planned under the working title "Space Operation Dynamo Gorilla," with the team itself called "Dynamo Gorilla" — both the show's title and the team name were changed to "Srungle" and "Gorilla," respectively, shortly before broadcast began. Character designs were handled by Yoshitaka Amano, later famous for Final Fantasy and Vampire Hunter D
— CONTROL SYSTEM —
Primary Operator
Jet, especially in the series' second half; other Gorilla team members can also pilot it
Control Method
Conventionally piloted combat vehicle, crewed by up to three
Pilot Location
Onboard cockpit, typically crewed by two
Cockpit
Not documented in further detail in available sources
Autonomy
None — always crewed
Command Authority
Team Gorilla, led by Captain Chance under the authority of Doc Mandy
— PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS —
Robot Class
Trekker Vehicle — transforming combat vehicle, not a conventional humanoid super robot
Body Structure
Transforms between Attack Mode (melee combat), Tank Mode (ground movement), and Vehicle Mode (flight)
Head Design
Not detailed in depth in available sources
Visual Characteristics
Some reference materials list its height at approximately 9 meters — notably small for the team's flagship machine, a detail fans have long joked about
— POWER SYSTEM —
Primary Energy Source
Not documented in detail in available sources
Armor Material
Not documented in detail in available sources
Manufacturing Material Origin
Built for team Gorilla's operations against Crime in Galactown
Energy Concept
Can dock with the support fighter Aero Mighty to form the upgraded Hyper Srungle, compensating for Srungle's inability to use its main gun while in Attack Mode
— COMBAT CHARACTERISTICS —
Primary Combat Style
Melee combat in Attack Mode, supplemented by heavy ranged firepower once combined with Aero Mighty
Signature Weapons
Aero Mighty's shoulder-mounted bazookas and thigh-mounted cannons once combined as Hyper Srungle; finishing attack "Mighty Typhoon," which strikes all captured enemies simultaneously
Mission Profile
Heavy combat support for team Gorilla's covert operations against the criminal organization Crime
Operational Environment
Ground, air, and melee combat across the floating Land Bases of the dimensional space Akū
— ASSOCIATED ORGANIZATIONS —
Affiliation
Team Gorilla, an unofficial defense unit organized by Doc Mandy
Role
Flagship heavy combat vehicle of team Gorilla
Primary Enemy
Crime, a criminal mega-corporation operating in the city of Galactown
Enemy Organization
Crime, later commanded by Volkraiser and, following Doc Mandy's assassination, the Hell Messenger chief
Major Threats
Various operatives and enforcers of Crime introduced across the show's run
— ORIGINAL ANIME / TV SERIES INFORMATION —
Title
Great Sub-Space Operation Srungle (亜空大作戦スラングル)
Broadcast Period
January 21, 1983 – January 27, 1984
Episodes
53 (52 regular episodes plus 1 clip-compilation episode)
Network
TV Asahi
Production Company
Kokusai Eigasha
Director
Kazuya Miyazaki (Chief Director)
Runtime
Approx. 25 minutes per episode — Fridays, 17:30–18:00
Set within Akū, a dimensional space of floating "Land Bases" between the twin stars Baxus α and β, the series follows team Gorilla as they battle the criminal organization Crime in the futuristic city of Galactown. Its first-half storyline draws inspiration from Mission: Impossible and The A-Team, while later stretches reference Tron and the Lensman novels. All team members operate under codenames; their real names are never revealed.
— MAIN CHARACTERS —
Jet
Team Gorilla member and Srungle's main pilot, especially in the show's second half.
Captain Chance
Leader of team Gorilla.
Sexy
Team Gorilla member; wounded partway through the series and later succeeded by a replacement member.
Superstar
Team Gorilla member who dies partway through the series in a self-sacrificing attack; succeeded by teammate Sugar.
Doc Mandy
Chief of Galactown's special mobile bureau, who organizes team Gorilla to fight back against Crime.
— LEGACY —
Historical Position
An early-1983 entry that opened the year's wave of robot anime, predating Aura Battler Dunbine by two weeks
Genre Innovation
Framed its robot as a supporting "trump card" within an espionage-team adventure format inspired by Western spy and heist dramas, rather than building the show around a traditional robot-pilot protagonist structure
Relationship to Previous Mecha
One of several Kokusai Eigasha robot anime of the era with a distinctive, unconventional approach to mecha design and team structure
Industry Impact
Character designs by Yoshitaka Amano, who would go on to international recognition for Final Fantasy and Vampire Hunter D, giving the series a distinctive visual identity
International Recognition
Primarily remembered within Japan; received new Srungle plastic model kits from Bellfine decades later, reflecting continued niche collector interest
