Welcome to Byston Well, a world that exists in the spaces between sea and land. The only way to get there from here is through the Aura Road, which few can open. Young motocross racer Shou Zama is dragged through the Aura Road and into Byston Well, where he is to pilot a powerful robot weapon, an Aura Battler, in Drake Luft’s conquest of the planet. But when Shou realizes the danger Drake poses, can he defect to the other side in time to prevent an invasion of Earth? An epic, one-of-a-kind adventure, Aura Battler Dunbine is the stuff of which legends are made. Dive head-first into a rich, fully defined world where magic and mecha work hand-in-hand to create one of the most unique anime experiences ever envisioned.
Although it's based on the work of Yoshiyuke Tomino (the creator of Gundam), Aura Battler Dubine (1983) didn't include robots originally--the sponsoring toy companies reportedly insisted on their addition. Show Zama is transported to the alternate world of Byston Well to become an "Aura Battler," the pilot of a mecha powered by spiritual energy. He soon realizes he's just a pawn in Drake Luft's scheme to conquer the entire planet. Luft's foes include his daughter Elmelie, whom Show aids. The look and pacing of Dubine will remind viewers of Robotech and Ronin Warriors. The characters reflect the influence of American kidvid cartoons; the action halts while characters give long set speeches, which the cast delivers in stolid monotones. It's surprising that the adaptors have a character address Show with the offensive term "Jap." (Unrated: Suitable for ages 12 and older: violence, brief nudity, alcohol use, ethnic slurs) --Charles Solomon