Van Flyheight (Ban Freiheit in the Japanese version) is a character from the anime series Zoids: Chaotic Century and Zoids: Guardian Force, based on TOMY's Zoids model franchise. Zoids Chaotic Century is the first of four Anime series based on the Zoids range of mecha model kits produced by TOMY. Tomy Co Ltd is the legal English name for the Japanese toy children’s merchandise and entertainment company created on March 1 2006 by the merger of "former" Tomy Zoids (ゾイド short for Zoic Androids is a franchise based around a series of plastic toy models designed and produced by Japanese Voiced by Daisuke Kishio in the original Japanese version and Matthew Erikson in the English dub of the series, he is the protagonist of the story. is a male Seiyū (voice actor He is a member of Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society ( Haikyo) Matthew Erickson is a Canadian Voice actor who works for Ocean Studios in Vancouver British Columbia Canada and the Calgary -based
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Van Flyheight is a typical shōnen hero. is a Japanese word literally meaning few years which can have the following meanings Shōnen a typical Boy, from elementary school through junior high Van's dream is to one day become a great Zoid pilot like his father, Dan Flyheight. Van loves Zoids, seeing them not as tools of war but as partners to protect and assist people, and feels that their lives are worth something.
Endowed with a spunky attitude and a strong sense of justice, Van aims to do what he feels is right and is always looking out for other people. He shows great loyalty to his friends Fiona, Irvine, Moonbay and his Organoid, Zeke, and will do anything to protect them. His open nature means that many people are attracted to him, and he enjoys a good challenge.
Van starts out somewhat amateurish as a Zoid pilot, but as the series progresses his abilities as a pilot begin to grow. His specialty is close range combat, a feature that both the Shield Liger and the Blade Liger excel in.
For all his seeming outer strength, he sometimes questions his own abilities or whether he does the right thing. For example, in episode 16, "New Helic City", Van rescues a lost Imperial Soldier from a group of thugs, but when this same soldier destroys portions of the city with a Power Reinforced Command Wolf in a blind panic, he wrestles with his inner turmoil and wonders if what he did was right. The Command Wolf is a Wolf -type of Zoid one of over 200 mechanical lifeforms depicted by TOMY 's Zoids model toy and media franchise
Van has a healthy appetite, and is particularly fond of papayas. The papaya (from Carib via Spanish) is the Fruit of the Plant Carica papaya, in the genus Carica.
Acquired by Van in the very first episode, "The Boy from Planet Zi", the Shield Liger was Van's first Zoid. The Shield Liger is a Lion type Zoid one of over 200 species of biomechanical lifeforms central to the Zoids model kit toy and media franchises owned and primarily distributed It was resurrected from an old wreck by his Organoid, Zeke. Organoid is a special type of Fictional Mecha which exist within the Zoids anime manga and some of the games specifically in Zoids Van struggled to pilot the Zoid at first, being unable to control it properly or bring out its potential without Zeke's help. As the series progresses, however, eventually Van masters control of the Shield Liger, and is able to bring out its power on his own. Notable opponents of Van's Shield Liger were Rosso's Red Horn and Raven's Zaber Fang. The Sabre Tiger (also known as the Zaber Fang) is a type of Zoid a race of mechanical lifeforms from the fictional Zoids universe
While many Shield Ligers appear during the series, Van's is distinctive from others due to having gold feet instead of grey. This is possibly intended as foreshadowing to his second Zoid, the Blade Liger.
Van pilots the Shield Liger until episode 22, "Farewell to a Friend", when it dies in battle against Raven's Geno Saurer, its core shot out by the latter's Charged Particle Cannon. The Geno Saurer is Tyrannosaurus -type Zoid one of over 200 species of fictional biomechanical lifeforms depicted by TOMY 's Zoids model toy
More technical, detailed info on the Shield Liger can be read in its article.
Van acquired his Blade Liger in episode 25, "The New Liger", after it is resurrected by Zeke from the petrified remains of the Shield Liger. The Blade Liger is a type of Zoid a race of mechanical lifeforms from the fictional Zoids universe Van pilots the Blade Liger for the remainder of the series, defeating Raven's Geno Saurer, as well as the Death Saurer, Geno Breaker and Death Stinger with it. The Geno Saurer is Tyrannosaurus -type Zoid one of over 200 species of fictional biomechanical lifeforms depicted by TOMY 's Zoids model toy The Death Saurer (also written as Deathsaurer) is a Tyrannosaurus -type Zoid one of over 200 species of biomechanical lifeforms depicted by TOMY 's The Geno Breaker is a Tyrannosaurus -type Zoid one of over 200 species of fictional biomechanical lifeforms depicted by TOMY 's Zoids model The Death Stinger is a type of Zoid a race of mechanical lifeforms from the fictional Zoids universe
Through-out Guardian Force, the Blade Liger would see many upgrades to counter opposing threats, and to keep up with Van's increasing abilities as a pilot. The Blade Liger would acquire a stronger shield, would be given the ability to switch between a gatling and a sniper attachment for its ranged weapons, its boosters given the ability to pivot, and its joints reinforced to enable it to run faster. It would also be given the CP-012 Attack Booster upgrade to fight the Geno Breaker.
More detailed, technical information on the Blade Liger can be read in its article.
Though not technically a Zoid he has piloted, Zeke is Van's Organoid partner. Organoid is a special type of Fictional Mecha which exist within the Zoids anime manga and some of the games specifically in Zoids He goes by the name "Sieg" in the Japanese version, and in both versions, Zeke is named after the Command Wolf Van's father once piloted. Zeke is friendly and loyal to both Van and Fiona. In addition to basic Organoid powers, Zeke has the ability to resurrect dead Zoids, and heal Zoids that are damaged in battle. He has displayed this ability on multiple occasions, sealing cracks in the Shield Liger's body and growing back one of the Blade Liger's blades after it broke off in battle.
Van has also piloted the following Zoids temporarily at one point or another: