Great Planet Evil-Destroyer Dangaio

With no memory of who they are or how they got there, four teenagers wake up on a spaceship. That's already unsettling enough, but it turns out a scientist named Dr. Tarsan has been experimenting on them — enhancing their psychic abilities and training them to pilot Dangaioh, a massive combining robot made from four specialized fighter planes. As fragments of their pasts slowly surface, they're also being hunted by the Bunker Space Pirates, led by the relentless Captain Galimos. So they're basically fighting an interstellar war while simultaneously trying to remember their own names. The amnesia angle gives the action real weight — these aren't confident heroes, they're confused kids piecing themselves back together between battles. At just 3 episodes, it's a tight watch with no fat on it. The mecha designs come from Shoji Kawamori, who also worked on Macross, and the action sequences have that late-80s hand-drawn energy that holds up surprisingly well. Character designs are from Toshiki Hirano, giving everyone a distinct look you won't mix up mid-fight. If you enjoyed Gunbuster's blend of psychic pilots and intense space combat, this hits a similar register. Fans of Giant Robo who appreciate classic combining robot action will also find a lot to like here. It's a short, punchy OVA from 1987 that doesn't overstay its welcome — worth an afternoon if retro mecha is anywhere on your radar.