Starzinger

Starzinger is a Japanese science fiction anime series created by Leiji Matsumoto. It is also known as Spaceketeers in some international markets. The series originally aired from 1978 to 1979, comprising 73 episodes.

Starzinger is loosely based on the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West. However, instead of a pilgrimage to retrieve Buddhist scriptures, the story revolves around Princess Aurora (also known as Princess Aurola), a cyborg princess, and her three cyborg companions: Kugo (who resembles Sun Wukong, the Monkey King), Sir Djorgo (a human-like cyborg), and Hakkai (a water buffalo-like cyborg).

Their mission is to travel to the Great King planet to prevent a cosmic energy imbalance that threatens the destruction of the universe. Along their journey, they face various enemies and overcome numerous challenges, all while protecting Princess Aurora. The series is characterized by its blend of space opera elements with the themes and characters inspired by Journey to the West. It features space battles, fantastical creatures, and moral dilemmas, making it a notable entry in the science fiction anime genre of the late 1970s. The distinctive character designs are a trademark of Leiji Matsumoto's work, also seen in series like Space Battleship Yamato and Galaxy Express 999.