Aura Battler Dunbine is a Epic Fantasy/Sci-Fi adventure that was released as an anime series on Japanese TV during the mid-1980s. Running for a successful 49 episodes, it is still considered a classic today, mainly in part to the innovative designs of the Aura Battlers. Written by Yoshiyuki Tomino of the orignal Gundam series, Dunbine is set in the medival-like world called Byston Well that lies in a dimension parallel to Earth.

The series followed a main character named Sho Zama, the pilot of the lavender colored Dunbine, who suddenly finds himself in the world of Byston Well after a motocross accident. Byston Well is located in another dimension located "between the sea and the land", and is populated with dragons, castles, knights, and powerful robots known as Aura Battlers. Once Sho is discovered to possess a powerful energy called 'Aura', he is drafted into the Byston Well conflict as an Aura Battler pilot.

Dunbine was a huge success and spawned several model and toys lines. To be honest, I have very little interest with the plot of Dunbine, and even less interest in the poorly designed characters, but the setting of Byston Well and the Aura Battlers themselves make it on my lists of favorites.

Aura Battler Dunbine was followed up with a movie called Tales of Neo-Byston Well, and a series of side stories. The most famous of all of these is from the book Aura Phantasm.

Luft tons (Lt): A unit of weight where one Luft ton is roughly equivalent to a ton.
Rill: A unit used to indicate speed or distance. The term is derived from rivers and streams. In distance, its base is determined by the length a person has to walk to reach the mouth of a river to its source. In speed, it is approximately 3-5 kph.
Aura conversion performance: A number that indicates the efficiency of aura response. The higher the number, the greater the mobility and output of a unit with a small amount of aura.
Basic aura power: The minimum amount of aura required to power a machine.
Maximum aura power: The highest amount of aura power that an aura converter can absorb. Exceeding that limit will produce no visible effects.

Dunbine		Dana O'Shee
Name: Dunbine Unit type: Prototype Aura Battler Manufacturer: House Drake Operator(s): House Drake; Shou Zama First deployment: unknown Accommodation: Pilot only Dimensions: Head height 6.9 meters Weight: 4.4 Luft tons Construction: Bio-armor (gatder carapace and kamai-lug shell) Performance: Cruising speed 200 rill; maximum speed 280 rill Aura Conversion Performance: 0.92 Aura power: 10 aura (basic); 16 aura (max level after upgrade) Fixed armaments: 10 x cable talon, mounted on hands and feet, sword, stored on backpack, hand-carried in use; 4-barrel auto cannon, mounted on left arm		Name: Dana O'Shee Unit type: Aura Battler Manufacturer: House Given Operator: House Given First deployment: unknown Accommodation: Pilot only Dimensions: Head height 7.6 meters Weight: 5.2 Luft tons Construction: Bio-armor (gatder carapace and kamai-lug shell) Performance: Cruising speed 160 rill; maximum speed 190 rill Aura Conversion Performance: 0.65 Aura power: 10 aura (basic); max power unknown Fixed armaments: 4-tube reloadable rocket launcher, held by left hand; sword, stored on backpack, hand-carried in use

Gedo		Virunvee
Name: Gedo Unit type: Mass Production General Purpose Aura Battler Manufacturer: House Drake Operator: Kingdom of Ah First deployment: Unknown Accommodation: Pilot only Dimensions: Head Height 6.7 meters Weight: 5.1 Luft tons Construction: Bio-armor (gatder carapace and kamai-lug shell) Performance: Cruising speed 150 rill; maximum speed 180 rill Aura conversion performance: 0.78 Aura power: 13 aura (basic); max power unknown Fixed armaments: sword, stored on backpack, hand-carried in use		Name: Virunvee Unit type: Production Type Aura Battler Designer: Shot Weapon Builder: House Drake Height: 9.2 meters Imperial weight: 9.5 Luft tons Armor: bio-armor (gatdner and kamai-lug shell) Aura conversion performance: 1.2 Basic Aura Power: 7 aura Maximum Aura enhancer power: 16 aura Cruising speed: 200 rill Maximum speed: 300 rill Armament: cable talon x 2, sword x 1 Optional armament: 4-barrel auto cannon x 1, aura beam launcher x 2 Pilot(s): Todd Guinness, Bern Bunnings, Jerryl Coochibi, Musiy Poe, Allen Brady

Bastole		Billbine
Name: Bastole Unit type: limited production aura battler Manufacturer: House Drake Operator: House Drake First deployment: unknown Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso Dimensions: head height 9.4 meters Weight: 7.1 Luft tons Construction: bio-armor (gatder carapace and kamai-lug shell) Performance: cruising speed 210 rill; maximum speed 320 rill Aura conversion performance: 1.0 Aura power: 5 aura (basic, later upgraded to 9 aura); 12 aura (max level) Fixed armaments: 2 x cable talon, mounted on wrists; sword, stored on backpack, hand-carried in use; 4-barrel auto cannon, mounted on left arm; aura beam launcher		Name: Billbine Unit type: custom-built prototype transformable aura battler Manufacturer: Kingdom of Na Operator: Shou Zama First deployment: unknown Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso Dimensions: head height 6.9 meters Weight: 8.6 Luft tons Construction: unknown Performance: cruising speed 290 rill; maximum speed 360 rill Aura conversion performance: 0.99 Basic aura power: 14 aura Maximum aura enhancer power: 19.8 aura Fixed armaments: 6 x cable talon, mounted on hands and feet, sword, stored on backpack, hand-carried in use, 2 x aura shot cannon, mounted on backpack Optional hand armaments: aura beam rifle/sword

Drumlo		Bozune
Name: Drumlo Unit type: mass production general purpose aura battler Manufacturer: House Drake Operator(s): House Drake; Kingdom of Ku First deployment: unknown Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso Dimensions: head height 7.4 meters Weight: 6.9 Luft tons Construction: bio-armor (gatder carapace and kamai-lug shell) Performance: cruising speed 180 rill (later upgraded to 190 rill); maximum speed 220 rill (later upgraded to 230 rill) Aura conversion performance: 0.88 Aura power: 10 aura (basic, later upgraded to 9 aura); 16 aura (max level after upgrade) Fixed armaments: 2 x flame bomb; 2 x aura shot, mounted in hands; 6 x small aura cannon, mounted in hands; sword, stored on backpack, hand-carried in use		Name: Bozune Unit type: production type aura battler Designer: King Foizon of Lao Builder: Kingdom of Lao Height: 8.2 meters Imperial weight: 5.8 Luft tons Armor: bio-armor (gatder carapace and kamai-lug shell) Aura conversion performance: 0.66 Basic aura power: 10 aura Maximum aura enhancer power: 12 aura Cruising speed: 180 rill Maximum speed: 200 rill Armament: flame bomb launcher x 2, sword x 1 Optional armament: Gatling auto cannon x 1 Pilot(s): Marvel Frozen, Nie Given, Keen Kiss, Foizon, Granto, Tolstol Chesilenko

Wryneck		Botune
Name: Wryneck Unit type: Todd Guinness use custom-built prototype aura battler Designer: Bishot Hate Builder: Kingdom of Ku Height: 8.5 meters Imperial weight: 9.2 Luft tons Armor: unknown Aura conversion performance: 1.3 Basic aura power: 9 aura Maximum aura enhancer power: 18 aura Cruising speed: 270 rill Maximum speed: 370 rill Armament: missile launcher x 4, aura shot cannon x 2, cable talon x 4, dagger x 2, sword x 1 Pilot(s): Todd Guinness, Musiy Poe, Bern Bunnings (aka Black Knight)		Name: Botune Unit type: production type aura battler Designer: King Foizon of Lao Builder: Kingdom of Lao Height: 7.0 meters Imperial weight: 4.6 Luft tons Armor: bio-armor (gatder carapace and kamai-lug shell) Aura conversion performance: 1.1 Basic aura power: 8 aura Maximum aura enhancer power: 18 aura Cruising speed: 200 rill Maximum speed: 250 rill Armament: flame bomb launcher x 2, aura shot cannon x 4, sword x 1, cable talon x 2 Pilot(s): Keen Kiss, Foizon, Marvel Frozen, Riml Luft, Nie Given, Tolstol Chesilenko

Vierres		Leprechaun
Name: Vierres Unit type: aura battler Designer: Bishot Hate Builder: Kingdom of Ku Height: 9.1 meters Imperial weight: 9.5 Luft tons Armor: unknown Aura conversion performance: 1.2 Basic aura power: 8 aura Maximum aura enhancer power: 16 aura Cruising speed: 240 rill Maximum speed: 360 rill Armament: aura flame launcher x 2, aura shot cannon x 2, cable talon x 4, tomahawk x 2, shield x 2 Pilot(s): Todd Guinness, Galamitei, Dar, Nyett		Name: Leprechaun Unit type: prototype aura battler Designer: Shout Weapon Builder: House Drake Height: 8.8 meters Imperial weight: 9.0 Luft tons Armor: unknown Aura conversion performance: 1.3 Basic aura power: 9 aura Maximum aura enhancer power: 16 aura Cruising speed: 200 rill Maximum speed: 290 rill Armament: aura shot cannon x 9, grenade x 4, sword x 1, cable talon x 2, knuckle spike x 8, shield x 1 Pilot(s): Jerryl Coochibi, Bern Bunnings, Fei Cheung Kwan

Zwarth
Name: Zwarth Unit type: limited production aura battler Designer: Shot Weapon Builder: House Drake Height: 7.9 meters Imperial weight: 7.6 Luft tons Armor: unknown Aura conversion performance: 1.2 Basic aura power: 10 aura Maximum aura enhancer power: 16 aura Cruising speed: 300 rill Maximum speed: 380 rill Armament: missile launcher x many, pelvis aura shot cannon x 2, cable talon x 10, sword x 1, shield x 1, shield aura shot cannon x 3 Pilot(s): Bern Bunnings (aka Black Knight), Musiy Poe

I am a HUGE fan of the Aura Ships in Dunbine, especially the Zelerna, which is the main ship the protagonists use throughout the series. The Zelerna sits in my top 5 ships of all time, but there are many other really cool ships from the series as well. Keep in mind these are meant to fly in an atmosphere, as I can't remember seeing any time where an Aura Ship went into space.

Zelerna Unit type: aura ship Length: 52 meters Imperial weight: 132 Luft tons Aura conversion performance: 0.6 x 3 Basic aura power: 15 aura Cruising speed: 130 rill (improved version 160 rill) Maximum speed: 200 rill (improved version 220 rill)

Bull-Beggar Unit type: aura ship Length: 108 meters Imperial weight: 1060 Luft tons Aura conversion performance: 0.6 x 6 Basic aura power: 20 aura Cruising speed: 100 rill Maximum speed: 150 rill

Gea-Gring Unit type: aura battleship Length: 320 meters Imperial weight: 142000 Luft tons Cruising speed: 70 rill Maximum speed: 97 rill Estimated aura power generator output: 5 aura x 100

Graon Unit type: aura battleship Length: 820 meters Imperial weight: 102000 Luft tons Cruising speed: 96 rill Maximum speed: 110 rill Estimated aura power generator output: 20 aura x 5 + 5 aura x 5

Guran-Galan Unit type: aura battleship Length: 510 meters Imperial weight: 48000 Luft tons Cruising speed: 69 rill Maximum speed: 93 rill Estimated aura power generator output: 7 aura x 12

Grimley Unit type: aura ship Length: 63 meters Imperial weight: 287 Luft tons Aura conversion performance: 0.45 x 4 Basic aura power: 25 aura Cruising speed: 130 rill Maximum speed: 160 rill

Spriggan Unit type: aura cruiser Height: 102 meters Imperial weight: 870 Luft tons Aura conversion performance: 0.7 x 6 Basic aura power: 22 aura Cruising speed: 200 rill Maximum speed: 300 rill

Nam-Wan Unit type: aura ship Length: 56.7 meters Imperial weight: 206 Luft tons Aura conversion performance: 0.4 x 4 Basic aura power: 20 aura Cruising speed: 120 rill Maximum speed: 160 rill

Will-Wipps Unit type: aura battleship Length: 260 meters Imperial weight: 108000 Luft tons Cruising speed: 90 rill Maximum speed: 100 rill Estimated aura power generator output: 7 aura x 20

In addition, a variety of mobile-armor like vehicles called Aura Bombers and Aura Fighters appeared in Dunbine that kind of fit into the 'Monster of the Week' catagory. I've also included several smaller vehicles called Wing Calibers used to compliment Aura Battlers or humans.

		Bubuly Unit type: aura bomber Length: 34 meters Imperial weight: 54.3 Luft tons Aura conversion performance: 0.6 x 2 + 0.4 x 2 Basic aura power: 20 aura Cruising speed: 350 rill Maximum speed: 600 rill
Tungy Unit type: aura bomber Height: 10.5 meters Body diameter: 22.2 meters Imperial weight: 5.2 Luft tons Aura conversion performance: 0.5 x 4 Basic aura power: 5 aura Cruising speed: 220 rill Maximum speed: 280 rill

Galava Unit type: aura fighter Length: 22.3 meters Imperial weight: 14.2 Luft tons Aura conversion performance: 1.2 x 2 Basic aura power: 8 aura Maximum aura enhancer power: 16 aura Cruising speed: 380 rill Maximum speed: 400 rill

Gunan Unit type: aura bomber Height: 6.5 meters Body diameter: 15.1 meters Imperial weight: 3.0 Luft tons Aura conversion performance: 0.5 x 3 Basic aura power: 4 aura Cruising speed: 170 rill Maximum speed: 200 rill

Doro Unit type: aura bom Height: 11.7 meters Body diameter: 13.8 meters Imperial weight: 3.4 Luft tons Aura conversion performance: 0.5 x 2 Basic aura power: 5 aura Cruising speed: 160 rill Maximum speed: 170 rill

Fou Unit type: wing caliber Length: 13.2 meters Wingspan: 11.8 meters Imperial weight: 2.3 Luft tons Aura conversion performance: 0.53 x 2 Basic aura power: 5 aura Cruising speed: 320 rill Maximum speed: 400 rill

Barau Unit type: wing caliber Length: 8.2 meters Imperial weight: 1.9 Luft tons Aura conversion performance: 0.55 x 2 Basic aura power: 5 aura Cruising speed: 320 rill Maximum speed: 400 rill

Zuron Unit type: wing caliber Length: 25.6 meters Imperial weight: 6.9 Luft tons Aura conversion performance: 0.75 x 2 Basic aura power: 7 aura Cruising speed: 340 rill Maximum speed: 410 rill

Myu Unit type: gly wing Length: 2.37 meters Imperial weight: 0.2 Luft tons Aura conversion performance: 0.33 Basic aura power: 7 aura Cruising speed: 150 rill Maximum speed: 200 rill

Shoot Unit type: gly wing Length: 2.05 meters Imperial weight: 0.14 Luft tons Aura conversion performance: 0.28 Basic aura power: 8 aura Cruising speed: 180 rill Maximum speed: 280 rill

Pigsy Unit type: aura machine Height: 2.35 meters Imperial weight: 0.55 Luft tons Aura conversion performance: 0.33 Basic aura power: 2 aura Cruising speed: 30 rill Maximum speed: 40 rill

When the designers of the Aura Battlers began the designing process, they were frustrated with the director's and producer's limits on the creativity placed on their original designs. As a matter of fact, the Billvine wasn't even in the original story, and was sort of forced in by toy companies trying to cash in on the 'transformer' fad that was going on at the time. Politics. . .

Sometime later B-Club released this book as a model guide, but also included several pictures of the Aura Battlers that could have been. Some were shown in a Dunbine movie Tales of Neo-Byston Well, and the second book in this series summarizes those events.

I cleaned up much of the background art that these Aura Battlers came with, and I think you can agree how much more amazing Dunbine could have been it designs like these replaced the existing ones. To be honest, the driving force behnd my love for the Dunbine Universe lies with these could-have beens.

Guitorre	Bellvine
Vierres	Garth
Garegoyle	Masarug
Gadram	Sirbine
Lehnaun-Shee	Brownie II