Ah, Giant Robo. Best anime I’ve reviewed so far this year. This classic 7-episode OVA, directed by Yasuhiro Imagawa, combines classic Chinese wuxia, Western retro-future, and good ol’ mecha action to give us a celebration of Mitsuteru Yokoyama’s work. It’s a real stunner, folks. It has exciting action, gripping drama, splendid art/animation, fantastic music and sound design, and is even greater than the sum of its parts. Imagawa is criminally underrated and we’re all lucky to have him in the industry. So join me in this look at one of my favorite anime of all time, Giant Robo: The Day the Earth Stood Still!
Yasuhiro Imagawa
Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z-Hen – Episode 26 Review
Episode 26, "Conclusion! 100 Rapid Shots of Rocket Punch!"
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: The King of Hell easily deflects attacks by the Mazinger Corps and absorbs the shots fired from the Photon Power Labs fortress. Kenzo reveals that when he and Dr. Hell found Tristan and Iseult, an acid dripped from their cacoon and ate away at his body. Dr. Hell combined him with a Kedora, which eventually took him over. However, Zeus’ arm saved him and he escaped from Dr. Hell, hiding for years. Still, Tsubasa is unwilling to forgive him. Akokuji and Gamia appear, with Gamia absorbing energy from King of Hell. Inside of Bardos Island, Kouji appears in the Pilder, along with Baron Ashura. Ashura reveals that he learned from the dying Kedora that Tristan and Iseult were found intact, but the acid substance was used to half them, and Kenzo got some on him when destroying the rest of the crypt. Dr. Hell warns Kouji that he’ll regret it if he kills him. He tries to get the Photon Power from the Photon Power fortress. Suddenly, a rocket punch hits the King of Hell. Then several more. All the fallen support robots for the Mazinger Corps turn into rocket punches and attack. Mazinger docks with the God Scrander and transforms into a giant fist. The giant fist destroys the King of Hell. However, the world falls into darkness, and Ashura reveals this was all part of its plan. Dr. Hell wanted Photon Power to fight the gods this whole time. With him dead, Ashura can finally kill himself, his blood reawakening the rest of the Mycenean forces, which he does.
Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z-Hen – Episode 01 Review
Episode 1, "Finale"
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: A young man named Kouji Kabuto, piloting the giant robot Mazinger, tries to save the world from the forces of Dr. Hell with the help of the Mazinger Corps. However, things seem very bad for the team, one after another falling in battle. Kouji battles hard, however, and vows to perserve the peace of the world.
Comments:
So… a lot of things happen…. and… hm.
The first episode of Mazinger is in medias res, or more accurately, at (or near) the end of things. Kouji Kabato, the hotblooded young man piloting the giant robot Mazinger and his allies are already at the climax of a pitched battle with the forces of Dr. Hell, Baron Ashura, and Count Brocken. Kouji encounters Zeus, the greek God, and then ends up attacking Count Brocken. At the end, Dr. Hell’s floating islands float in the sky as Kouji vows to protect the peace with Mazinger.