Dagwon, the seventh and second-to-last installment in the Brave series, stands out among its predecessors, which explored themes like trains, treasure hunting, and police forces. What sets Dagwon apart? Its unmistakable SUPER SENTAI/TOKUSATSU-inspired vibe. Conceptually, Dagwon might just be my favorite in the entire Brave lineup, but its execution leaves something to be desired. Story When I say "SUPER SENTAI-inspired," I mean it—Dagwon’s plot feels like it was lifted straight from a tokusatsu playbook. A mysterious alien empire, led by the Ark Seijin, invades Earth, and it’s up to a group of attitude-laden teens—En, Kai, Shin, Yoku, and Ryu—recruited by the Brave Seijin to save the day.If you’ve watched tokusatsu or Power Rangers, this setup will feel like second nature. The story unfolds predictably: new mechs and team members join the fray, more villains emerge from the shadows, and a few main characters meet tragic ends. While it’s not revolutionary, the familiarity isn’t inherently a flaw—it’s just not Dagwon’s strong suit, making it the series’ weakest aspect in my view.

Art

The mecha designs are a highlight, easily some of the best in the Brave series—standouts like "Shadow Dagwon" and "Dagfire" come to mind. With the legendary Kunio Okawara as the lead mechanical designer, the robots sport a chunky, bold aesthetic paired with vibrant, eye-catching colors. I’m a big fan. The transformation suits and devices for the Dagwon team? Meh, nothing special. The character designs, however, take a different turn.

Unlike the stylized, cartoony flair of earlier entries like Goldran or Might Gaine, Dagwon opts for a more grounded, realistic look. It’s clear the show was aiming to appeal to the young female audience of its era, leaning hard into a "bishounen" aesthetic for the main cast. It’s not my personal taste, but it’s not poorly done. The art quality fluctuates—feeling flat and uninspired for much of the run—until episode 37, where a noticeable boost in animation and visuals kicks in, offering a welcome surprise.

Sound/OST

The sound design is fine—nothing terrible, but nothing remarkable either. The soundtrack is similarly middle-of-the-road. Aside from the opening and ending themes, which are solid, the OST lacks standout tracks and fades from memory quickly. It’s not the weakest part of the series, but it’s a close second.

Characters

Hands down, the characters are Dagwon’s strongest pillar. The core team’s chemistry is a joy to watch—they evolve from a ragtag bunch into a tight-knit unit that can lean on each other in the toughest moments, complete with the usual bickering along the way. Even the supporting mechs, like Gunkid and Lian, get some personality and satisfying arcs. Ryu’s my top pick—his ninja skills and cool-headed presence steal the show whenever he’s around. On the flip side, Geki’s my least favorite; he’s grating, and his mech design didn’t help (though I did feel a pang of sympathy when he didn’t win Maria’s heart).

The recurring cast is mostly forgettable. The Ark Seijin villain is your standard evil overlord—generic, with no backstory to chew on, even when his villain trio shows up later. Maria and her little brother pop in occasionally to be rescued, but they don’t add much. Maria, in particular, gets on my nerves, hovering around leader En without contributing anything substantial.

Overall

Dagwon isn’t my favorite Brave series entry, but it’s got enough going for it to land a respectable 7 (otherwise, it’d be a 6.5 at best). The standout characters and stellar mecha designs carry it a long way. I’d recommend it to mecha buffs, tokusatsu enthusiasts, or Brave series diehards looking to complete the set. Beyond that? Well, it apparently struck a chord with bishounen fans back in the day, so maybe that’s a draw if you’re into that vibe.