[Androzani84]

In which the 13 episode run time forces us to the point it would normally take 13 episodes to reach for most shows: Our first major obstacle, on the form on slightly stronger Kaiju Anti. He’s an homage to Shinobilar, a monster from the original series who made three appearances and was enough of a threat in his first appearance to debut a new combination.

Speaking of homages, we also meet the Neon Genesis Junior High School Club (which is not a homage to Evangelion, despite how the subs translated the name. The Japanese script uses “Shinseiki”, which translates roughly as “new generation”, since they’re the new generation of Gridman’s Assist Weapons). They’re based on the original Gridman’s Assist Weapons, God Tank, Twin Driller and Thunder Jet, though with the exception of Max, they’re named after the US equivalents from Syber Squad, with Borr directly sharing his name, while Vit is derived from “Vitor”. (Max’s equivalent was named Tracto, which is homaged with his mecha form being “Battle Tracto Max”). In a similar homage, Max’s attack being called the Tanker Cannon references the fact that the guy who piloted Tracto in Syber Squad was nicknamed Tank (it was never revealed what his real name was).

And now, for the casting trivia, since all of our new guys are in other Toku.

Kenichi Suzumura (Anti) can also be heard as Ryutaros in Kamen Rider Den-O and Mashin Fire in Mashin Sentai Kiramager.

Katsuyuki Konishi (Max) was also GoseiKnight/Groundion in Tensou Sentai Goseiger and several voices in Kamen Rider Gotchard (specifically, he opening narrator, the Rider gear for the heroes, Smaphone, Renkingrobo, Gaiard and the Dark Hades King).

Aoi Yuki (Borr) was also Yurusen in Kamen Rider Ghost.

Masaya Matsukaze (Vit) was also Chevalier of Resentment Endolf in Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger and appeared physically as Shun Namiki/Mega Blue in Denji Sentai Megaranger (he was also up for the role of Kuuga at one point)