Synopsis
In the Daicon III Opening Animation, an unnamed girl observes the Science Patrol's aircraft as it lands. A masked figure emerges from the craft and hands her a cup of water, telling her to water a radish. She eagerly takes on this task but is quickly attacked by a series of enemies, including monsters, mechas, and starfighters. The animation follows whether the young protagonist can protect the water and reach the radish. In the Daicon IV Opening Animation, an older version of the same girl appears, now wearing a Playboy Bunny outfit. She battles a wide range of legendary foes from across the universe. The action is nonstop, featuring lightsaber duels and riding the mystical sword Stormbringer. Set to Electric Light Orchestra's "Twilight," this sequence serves as a grand tribute to science fiction, bringing together numerous recognizable characters in one dazzling spectacle.
Background
The Daicon III and Daicon IV Opening Animations were produced with the intent of being showcased at the twentieth and twenty-second Nihon SF Taikai science fiction conventions—specifically the 1981 and 1983 Osaka conventions, nicknamed Daicon III and Daicon IV. Daicon III Opening Animation The 1981 Daicon III Opening Animation was solely animated by the three-person studio Daicon Film—consisting of university students Hideaki Anno, Hiroyuki Yamaga, and Takami Akai. While others were involved in the short's production, there were only three members credited. Daicon IV Opening Animation The animation's unauthorized use of the Electric Light Orchestra song "Twilight" prevented it from receiving an official release; however, unofficial laserdiscs were produced to pay off the debt of the production. The production of the 1983 Daicon IV Opening Animation was said to be rigorous, and its completion was on the day of its premier. Nevertheless, the short's reception was overwhelmingly positive and spawned it a favorable legacy. A 2001 edition of the Animage magazine ranks both shorts at number 35 in its Top 100 anime productions ranking. The twelve individuals involved with the production of Daicon IV would go on to found the studio Gainax, responsible for the acclaimed anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. Brief moments of Daicon IV can be seen in Gainax's anime Otaku no Video, which is based around the formation of the studio.
