Ladius
Entry updated 2 February 2026. Tagged: TV.
Japanese animated OVA (1987; original title Makyō Gaiden Le Deus; vt Le Deus). Ashi Productions Company. Directed by Hiroshi Negishi. Written by Hideki Sonoda. Voice cast includes Chie Kōjiro, Kazuki Yao, Norio Wakamoto, Toshimi Nakamura and Yūko Mizutani. 48 minutes. Colour.
Riot Genus (Kazuki), accompanied by twins Spica (Chie) and Seneca (Toshimi), is about to acquire an "ancient lens called the Eye of Zalem" from its owner, Yuta (Yūko), when they are attacked by the Demsters (some of whom appear to be Robots), whose leader Kaiser (Norio) also seeks the Eye. They are fought off, mainly by Spica and Seneca, but Yuta suffers property damage: when Riot assures her the Eye will help find treasure to recompense her, she insists on accompanying them.
We see a Post-Holocaust landscape, with Cities ruined, overgrown and flooded: nonetheless much advanced Technology still exists, such as the flying machine (see Transportation) used by Riot. He explains that Spica and Seneca are not human but Planas, "life-forms made by artificial cells" (see Androids), born to be his partners. The "ancient Quall civilization", destroyed several centuries ago, had used the Rido, a "natural resource of endless energy" to power their cities (see Power Sources), one of which was Zalem. Riot explains his motives: his sister was put in Suspended Animation following an accident and the Rido will restore her to life.
Arriving at Zalem's location, Yuta is kidnapped by three Mecha and taken to Kaiser (Norio) in a vast Quall cavern Under the Sea. Kaiser, knowing Yuta is a descendant of the Priests of Zalem and thus able to use the Eye, temporarily Hypnotizes her to do so, enabling them to descend further underground to where the Rido is stored in sacred water. Riot has been tracking them and – as the twins fight off the Demsters – Riot confronts Kaiser, who boasts of ruling the world as he removes the Rido from the waters. Riot points out that this was unwise: the Rido is no longer maintaining the cavern system and the building duly collapses, burying Kaiser under falling masonry, whilst the sea begins to flood the cavern. The quartet are about to escape when the three mecha attack; and Riot cries out "Ladius".
A giant whale has been summoned and Riot ascends into its cockpit as it transforms into the mecha Ladius, defeating the Demster trio with comparative ease. However, Kaiser now reappears, also in a mecha. In the ensuing fight, it is clear that Kaiser's is the more powerful of the two. Spica and Seneca allow themselves to be absorbed by Ladius (it might be inferred this is temporary), with the resulting upgrade enabling it to defeat Kaiser. The OVA ends with Riot still needing to find some Rido, and Yuta reminding him of his debt (this is clearly an excuse to continue having adventures with the others).
Given the OVA's brevity, starting in media res and using Infodumps to provide background is no surprise; but the appearance of the mecha Ladius without explanation before or after does raise eyebrows. If this was intended as the first of a series, perhaps the plan was to provide lore later; unfortunately there was no sequel, so its appearance is something of a deus ex machina. Ladius is a minor, moderately enjoyable Anime. [SP]
links
previous versions of this entry