Synopsis
In the Daicon III Opening Animation, a nameless girl observes the Science Patrol landing their aircraft. A masked figure emerges from the vessel and hands the girl a cup of water, assigning her a straightforward duty: to water a radish. Eager to fulfill her task, she is immediately confronted by a barrage of enemies. As she battles through relentless waves of monsters, mechas, and starfighters, the question arises whether the young heroine can safeguard the water and reach the radish safely. The Daicon IV Opening Animation features an older version of the same girl, dressed in a Playboy Bunny suit, facing off against various iconic rivals from across the galaxy. The action is non-stop, ranging from lightsaber duels to surfing on the magical sword Stormbringer. Accompanied by Electric Light Orchestra’s "Twilight," this piece serves as a massive homage to science fiction culture, bringing together hundreds of familiar characters in a single spectacular display.
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.