Galactic Drifter Vifam

Galactic Drifter Vifam (銀河漂流バイファム, Ginga Hyōryū Baifamu), or also known as Round Vernian Vifam is a 1983 Japanese mecha anime television series produced by Sunrise. The first season aired at both MBS and TBS from October 21, 1983 to September 8, 1984, followed by 4 OVAs and a sequel entitled Galactic Drifter Vifam 13 that aired from March 21 to October 3, 1998.

Plot
Sometime in the far future, hostile alien forces (collectively known as the "Astrogaters") attack the human colony at Clayad, the third planet of the Ypserlon system, which is located 43 light years away from Earth. Thus the colonists are forced to evacuate Clayad to the Belwick colony. Amidst the confusion, some of the human children become stranded from their parents and escape in the training combat space ship, the Janous. With the help of the ship's defense systems, they manage to arrive at Belwick only to discover that the colony had already been destroyed by the alien forces. Learning to pilot the VIFAMs and other mecha, the 13 children decide to escape to Earth by themselves.

On their way to Earth, they discover a damaged alien ship piloted by a friendly Astrogater. From him they learn that one of the children is actually an alien as well; their parents have been captured and taken to the Astrogater home planet Kukto's artificial satellite, Tuat. After numerous battles with Astrogaters (or Kuktonians as they call themselves), and receiving some help from Earth military forces, they manage to reach Tuat. One of the children is captured and taken prisoner on Tuat where he learns that there is a rebel faction among the Kuktonians and effects an escape with the help of the imprisoned rebels. After liberating the alien prisoners, the children learn that their parents have been moved planet side to Kukto, where they make an attempt to rescue them.