About Space Runaway Ideon
Space Runaway Ideon stands as one of anime’s most psychologically devastating works, a series that transformed the mecha genre by exploring humanity’s capacity for self-destruction through the lens of cosmic horror.
Created by Tomino Yoshiyuki in 1980 and produced by Sunrise immediately following Mobile Suit Gundam, this groundbreaking franchise challenged conventional storytelling by presenting a universe where humanity’s greatest enemy was humanity itself. The series introduced concepts of infinite power, collective consciousness, and psychological horror that would echo through anime for decades to come.
The Space Runaway Ideon franchise features the titular Ideon, a giant robot powered by the mysterious Ide—a force described as infinite energy that responds to human emotions, particularly the survival instincts of children. The power derives from Freud’s concept of the “Id,” representing the uncontrollable instinctive drives within human psychology. The Ideon combines from three separate vehicles and serves alongside the massive Solo Ship, both archaeological discoveries from an extinct alien civilisation.
Space Runaway Ideon is the original 1980 television series that established the core mythology. The series was originally planned for 43 episodes but was cancelled after 39, with the final story completed in the 1982 film Be Invoked. The franchise consists of the television series, a compilation film The Ideon: A Contact (1982), and the conclusion The Ideon: Be Invoked (1982).
Ideon emerged as perhaps the biggest single influence on Neon Genesis Evangelion, pioneering many concepts that would later define psychological mecha anime. Creator Tomino Yoshiyuki earned the nickname “Kill ‘Em All Tomino” for his frequent use of devastating endings, with Ideon representing perhaps his most famous work of character destruction. The series explored themes of communication breakdown, the futility of war, and humanity’s inability to understand or empathise with others.
This approach transformed Ideon from entertainment into a profound meditation on human nature, establishing new standards for mature storytelling in animation and proving that mecha anime could serve as a vehicle for existential horror.
Space Runaway Ideon Universe
The Ideon franchise takes place in a single, continuous timeline beginning in the year 2300 CE, when humanity has achieved space colonisation and begun settling distant worlds. The story unfolds across the galaxy as human colonists on the planet Solo encounter the remnants of an ancient alien civilisation known as the Sixth Civilisation.
The narrative begins when Earth colonists on Solo discover mysterious archaeological remains including three tank-like vehicles and a massive underground spacecraft. These artifacts are powered by the Ide, described as infinite energy that becomes active when the planet comes under attack from the Buff Clan, a militaristic human-like alien race seeking the legendary power.
The central conflict erupts from a tragic misunderstanding when Karala Ajiba, daughter of the Buff Clan’s military commander, investigates the colonists and is presumed captured, triggering a war that will consume both civilisations. The colonists, led by commander Bes Jordan and young pilot Cosmo Yuki, flee aboard the Solo Ship while piloting the combined Ideon mecha, pursued across the galaxy by Buff Clan forces.
The true nature of the Ide is revealed as “a collection of thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of millions of consciousnesses”—the collective souls of an extinct civilisation transformed into pure energy, similar to the concept of Instrumentality in Evangelion. The Ide responds most strongly to children and acts to protect its users, but its power grows increasingly destructive as the conflict escalates.
The series explores themes of:
- Communication breakdown between species and individuals
- The cyclical nature of warfare and genocide
- Children caught in adult conflicts
- The price of infinite power
- Humanity’s capacity for both evolution and self-destruction
The story builds to a climactic revelation that the Ide has orchestrated events to test whether humanity can evolve beyond its violent nature, with the fate of the universe hanging in the balance.
History of Space Runaway Ideon
Creation and Early Development
In 1980, Tomino Yoshiyuki embarked on his next project immediately following the completion of Mobile Suit Gundam, creating Space Runaway Ideon for Sunrise studios. Drawing inspiration from the 1956 science fiction film Forbidden Planet, particularly its exploration of the psychological id, Tomino sought to create a work that would push the boundaries of realism in animation.
The series featured mechanical designs by Submarine studio for the television episodes and Higuchi Yuuichi for the films, with character designs by Tomonori Kogawa. The series won the Animage Anime Grand Prix prize for the second half of 1980, demonstrating its immediate impact despite its controversial content.
The production faced significant challenges as the series was originally planned for 43 episodes but was cancelled after 39 due to its dark content and declining ratings. This premature ending necessitated the creation of theatrical films to complete the story, a pattern that would become familiar in Tomino’s career.
Cinematic Completion and Legacy
The cancellation of the television series led to the production of two theatrical films in 1982: “The Ideon: A Contact,” a compilation of the television episodes with new footage, and “The Ideon: Be Invoked,” featuring the original planned ending. Be Invoked became infamous for its unprecedented level of character destruction and its pioneering use of live-action footage mixed with animation, techniques that would later influence The End of Evangelion.
The influence of Ideon on subsequent anime cannot be overstated, with Hideaki Anno specifically citing it as the primary inspiration for Neon Genesis Evangelion. The series pioneered concepts including sentient mecha, protective energy barriers that respond to emotions, and apocalyptic endings featuring collective consciousness.
Cultural Impact and Recognition
Ideon’s impact extends far beyond its original broadcast, with its storytelling DNA visible in numerous subsequent series that explore complex characters, moral ambiguity, and philosophical themes. The series inspired generations of creators to push the boundaries of what anime could achieve.
Despite its initial commercial challenges, Ideon has been recognised as a masterwork of psychological storytelling, with critics noting its unflinching examination of human nature and its prescient exploration of themes that would become central to later anime. The series demonstrated that animation could serve as a vehicle for profound philosophical inquiry while maintaining the spectacular action sequences expected of the mecha genre.
The franchise’s legacy continues through references in other Studio Gainax works, its availability on modern streaming platforms, and high-end collectible figures that honour its distinctive mechanical designs. Recent releases include a premium figure by Takayuki Takeya that reimagines the Ideon as an ancient alien artifact, emphasising its status as a relic from a long-extinct civilisation.
Core Themes and Concepts
Psychological exploration
Space Runaway Ideon pioneered the use of mecha anime as a vehicle for deep psychological examination. The series explored Freudian concepts through the Ide, representing the uncontrollable id that drives human behaviour. Characters face psychological trauma as the endless conflict takes its toll, with many suffering breakdowns under the pressure of constant warfare.
The series examined the failure of communication between individuals and species, suggesting that humanity’s inability to understand others leads inevitably to conflict. This theme would later become central to Neon Genesis Evangelion and other psychological mecha series.
War and futility
Unlike traditional mecha series that glorified combat, Ideon presented war as fundamentally futile and destructive. The central conflict begins through misunderstanding and escalates beyond any rational resolution, with both sides locked in a cycle of violence that serves no constructive purpose.
The series depicted warfare’s impact on civilians, particularly children, showing how adult conflicts destroy innocent lives. This realistic portrayal of war’s consequences established new standards for mature storytelling in mecha anime.
Infinite power and responsibility
The Ide represents infinite energy that grows more destructive as conflicts escalate. The series explored the concept that unlimited power in the hands of flawed beings leads inevitably to catastrophe. The Ideon’s weapons become increasingly devastating, culminating in universe-threatening capabilities.
This theme of power beyond human comprehension would influence later series including Neon Genesis Evangelion, which similarly featured entities with god-like abilities controlled by psychologically damaged individuals.
Influence on Animation
Evangelion connection
Space Runaway Ideon’s influence on Neon Genesis Evangelion cannot be overstated. Hideaki Anno explicitly acknowledged Ideon as the primary inspiration for his series, describing Evangelion as “Ideon meets Devilman.” Key shared elements include:
- Sentient mecha that respond to pilot emotions
- Protective energy barriers (AT Fields in Evangelion)
- Apocalyptic endings featuring collective consciousness
- Child pilots suffering psychological trauma
- Live-action footage mixed with animation
The “Congratulations!” scene in Evangelion’s television ending directly references the conclusion of “Be Invoked,” where souls fly across space singing “Happy Birthday” to Messiah.
Studio Gainax legacy
Multiple Studio Gainax productions referenced Ideon, demonstrating its lasting impact on the studio’s creative vision. These include homages in Gunbuster, Diebuster, and Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi. The studio’s willingness to experiment with unconventional endings and psychological themes can be traced directly to Ideon’s influence.
Modern mecha anime
Contemporary mecha series continue to draw from Ideon’s innovations, particularly its psychological approach to piloting giant robots. The concept of mecha that respond to emotional states rather than mechanical controls has become standard in the genre.
Media and Adaptations
Television series
The original 39-episode television series aired from 1980 to 1981, establishing the core mythology and character relationships. Despite its premature cancellation, the series introduced groundbreaking concepts that would influence anime for decades.
Theatrical films
Two theatrical films completed the Ideon story:
The Ideon: A Contact (1982) - A compilation film covering episodes 1-32 with additional footage to smooth narrative transitions. The film served to reintroduce the story to theatrical audiences.
The Ideon: Be Invoked (1982) - The true conclusion featuring the planned final episodes. This film became legendary for its unprecedented character destruction and philosophical ending, pioneering techniques later used in The End of Evangelion.
Related media
The franchise has expanded through various related materials including manga adaptations and crossover appearances. A notable sequel manga by Yuichi Hasegawa connects Ideon to the Gundam universe, exploring the aftermath of the series’ apocalyptic conclusion.
Merchandising and Commercial Legacy
Model kits and figures
Despite its initial commercial challenges, Ideon has maintained a presence in the collectibles market. Recent high-end releases include a premium figure by renowned sculptor Takayuki Takeya that reimagines the Ideon with ancient alien aesthetic details.
The figure emphasises geometric patterns alien to human understanding, reinforcing the concept of the Ideon as a relic from an extinct civilisation far advanced beyond human technology.
Home video releases
The complete series has been released on various home video formats, with recent availability on streaming platforms introducing the series to new audiences. The films have received special edition releases recognising their historical importance to anime.
Cultural impact
Ideon’s influence extends beyond entertainment into academic discussions of anime as art. The series is frequently cited in analyses of Japanese animation’s evolution from children’s entertainment to sophisticated adult drama.
Legacy of Space Runaway Ideon
Artistic influence
Ideon demonstrated that animation could address profound philosophical questions while maintaining spectacular visual entertainment. The series proved that mecha anime could transcend genre limitations to become vehicles for existential exploration.
The franchise’s unflinching examination of human nature and its willingness to present devastating endings influenced countless creators to pursue more ambitious and challenging narratives.
Technological inspiration
The series’ concepts of sentient mecha and emotion-responsive technology have inspired discussions of artificial intelligence and human-machine interfaces. The Ide’s representation as collective consciousness predated modern concepts of networked intelligence.
Genre evolution
Space Runaway Ideon marks a crucial evolution point in mecha anime, bridging the gap between super robot optimism and real robot realism by introducing psychological horror elements. The series established that giant robot shows could explore the darkest aspects of human psychology.
Space Runaway Ideon remains a watershed moment in anime history, proving that mecha series could transcend their genre limitations to become vehicles for profound psychological and philosophical exploration. Its influence on creators like Anno Hideaki and its continued relevance to discussions of war, communication, and human nature cement its position as one of anime’s most important and challenging works.
External links
- Space Runaway Ideon on Wikipedia
- Space Runaway Ideon on Anime News Network
- Space Runaway Ideon on MyAnimeList