Great Mazinger
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Great Mazinger | |
グレートマジンガー (Gurēto Majingā) | |
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Genre | Mecha, Adventure |
Predecessor | |
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Anime television series | |
Directed by | Michiaki Watanabe |
Studio | Toei Animation |
Licensed by | |
Original network | Fuji Television |
Original run | 8 September 1974 – 28 September 1975 |
Episodes | 56 |
Manga | |
Written by | Go Nagai |
Published by | Kodansha |
Magazine | TV Magazine |
Demographic | Shōnen |
Original run | October 1974 – October 1975 |
Volumes | 2 |
Sequel | |
| |
Other series | |
Great Mazinger (グレートマジンガー, Gurēto Majingā) is a Japanese manga comic book and anime television series by manga artist Go Nagai. The story is a sequel and direct continuation of Mazinger Z series after its initial success.[1] The series was aired on Japanese television in 1974, immediately following the end of the first Mazinger series. It ran for 56 episodes.
Mazinger Z: Infinity, a theatrical film sequel, taking place 10 years after this series, was animated by Toei Animation and released in theaters on January 13, 2018.[2]
Plot
The story centers on
Tetsuya's training with Great Mazinger is completed just in time to come to Kabuto's aid as the Mycenae Battle Beasts overwhelm Mazinger Z. With the original Mazinger destroyed, Kabuto went to America to study space travel and left Japan's defense in the hands of Tetsuya and the Fortress of Science. Nevertheless, Tetsuya won against his fight with the Mycenae Battle Beasts, led by their military leader, Ankoku Daishogun (Great General of Darkness) after the Great General of Darkness' defeat,
Production
Casting
Produced as a direct sequel to Mazinger Z, Great Mazinger also includes some cast members of the original series. This includes Shiro Kabuto (Kouji's little brother) and comic-relief robot
Originally, Great Mazinger was to be included in
Appraisal and spin-offs
Although Great Mazinger did not achieve the same astronomical ratings as Mazinger Z, it was still highly popular to run a very successful 56 weeks. In fact, it even spawned a line of best-selling toys and merchandise as did its predecessor, as well as several spin-off theatrical featurettes. For example, it paved way for the creation of
Great Mazinger was also the star of the short theatrical "team-up movie features" released in Japan such as Great Mazinger versus Grendizer, and Great Mazinger versus Getter Robo G among others. They were based on the anime crossovers of the manga creations of Go Nagai. For example, Tetsuya pilots an earlier version of Mazinger Z called Energer Z.
Along with Jun, Tetsuya and the Great Mazinger are also featured in the
Modern versions
2002: OVA version
In the 2002
2003: Movie
Great also returns in the 2003 movie
2009: TV series
In the 2009
The Battle Beasts of Mazinger
Battle Beasts | |
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Created by | Go Nagai |
Weapons | Varied (beams, missiles, bombs, swords, spears, axes, nets, acids, drills, etc.) |
Construction | Mystical alloy and organic parts |
Energy source | Geothermal |
The Battle Beasts (or sentoujuu/ Warrior Beasts), are the monsters and evil mecha from Great Mazinger. In the story, the Warrior Beasts are the secret super-weapons of the
Characteristics and history
Like their predecessors
They are far more powerful and thanks to their cyborg nature, they also have better reaction time, adaptability and skills than the Mechanical Beasts. Some of them are even capable of showing emotions or even speak. However, their cyborg nature is also a weakness: a direct hit on the human head or face can destroy or severely weaken the Warrior Beast.
Throughout the series, there is a little information about them. In episode 2, the idea of imprisonment has been used on traitors; they have free will, but some might prove as psychotic. In episode 9, the idea of personal relationships is known:
- The seven armies
The Battle Beasts could be grouped into one of 7 categories, as the entire Mikene Empire's forces could be divided into 7 armies.
- Superhuman Battle Beasts: Led by General Julius Caesar, it is the largest of the seven armies. As the name suggests, most of this army's Battle Beasts are humanoid in shape. They often carry weapons such as swords, shields and spears. A whooping total of twenty-five appear in the series.
- Spectral Battle Beasts: Led by General Hadias, this army specializes in inspiring fear in the enemies of the Mikene Empire. This army's forces tend to take the form of demons or ghosts. A total of three appear in the series, making it the lowest count of any warrior beast type.
- Aerial Battle Beasts: The main air force of the Mikene Empire's forces, this army is led by General Birdler. Virtually every member of this army is winged, though some fly using thrusters or jets. A total of six appear in the series.
- Mammalian Battle Beasts: One of the Mikene Empire's ground forces, this army is led by the vile General Ligern. The Battle Beasts of this army are based on mammals, many of them being four-legged. Ramming targets seems to be a favorite tactic. An above average total of nine appear in the series.
- Reptilian Battle Beasts: Commanded by the dragon-like General Draydou, this army has a mix of air and ground troops. Being based on reptiles, the Battle Beasts of this unit tend to be more vicious than most. A total of six appear in the series.
- Aquatic Battle Beasts: The navy of the Mikene Empire is led by General Angoras. This army is strongest in the water, though many Warrior Beasts that are part of this army are amphibious. A total of six appear in the series.
- Insect Battle Beasts: Tough and adaptable, this army follows their leader General Scarabethinto battle. Like the Reptilian Battle Beast army, this force has a combination of air and ground troops; although leaning more towards air power. A total of four appear in the series, making them the second least common warrior beasts after spectral types.
All seven armies are beneath the supreme command of the
In other media
Various battle beasts have appeared in the majority of Super Robot Wars titles including Obeleus, Zugar, Psychoveia, Gracious, Tollukan, Dolark, Jerunicas, Jiran, Dukaider, Gogler, Gold Phoenix, and Vulcania from the series and Dante, Saraga, and Arsoth from Mazinger Z vs. The Great General of Darkness; the Mazinkaiser version of Dante and Psychoveia are the only true battle beasts in Super Robot Wars Judgment and W with others being the seven generals of the Mikene Empire led by the Great General of Darkness.
The generals Julicaeser, Birdler, Hadias, and Draydou have few appearances, the former two only having their original versions appear in
Great Mazinger Weapons
- Atomic Punch - アトミック パンチ: Great Mazinger launches his fist, together with his forearm, giving a spinning effect to make the impact of the fist very powerful.
- Mazinger Blade - マジンガー ブレード: From his legs, a couple of swords can be launched, for melee attacks or duels.
- Great Boomerang - グレート ブーメラン: The great red "V" plate on his chest can be picked up and thrown at enemies, with a boomerang effect.
- Navel Missile - ネーブル ミサイル: From his waist, the light blue cell is opened, and a strong missile is launched from there.
- Great Typhoon - グレート タイフーン: From Great Mazinger's mouth, a powerful breath of wind is sent off, strong enough to lift up even a giant monsters.
- Breast Burn - ブレスト バーン: From is great red "V" plate on his chest, a powerful heating beam is cast off. It can be converted to be a glacial beam.
- Thunder Break - サンダー ブレイク: Great Mazinger signature move. From his antennas on his ears, an electric beam is sent to the sky. Those beams makes the clouds to electrify and to send giant thunderbolts on the earth. Some of this thunderbolts are caught by Great Mazingers antennas, and this tremendous energy is released from his finger or the tip of Mazinger Blade to the enemy, most probably killing it instantly.
- Drill Pressure Punch - ドリル プレッシャー パンチ: In order to make the Atomic Punch more dangerous, this is, later in the series, powered up by a set of sharp blades that make their appearance on the forearm only before the attack, making the Atomic Punch to be more powerful than the normal Atomic Punch.
- Back Spin Kick - バック スピン キック: In order to make the Great Mazinger flawless, the professors discovered that Great Mazinger's weak points are his legs, because there are no weapon on them. So, in order to correct this fault, a giant round blade appears from the knee to the foot, to make his kicks very powerful. However, this weapon is used rarely.
- Knee Impulse Kick - ニー インパルス キック: As just said, together with Back Spin Kick, another weapon is discovered for Great Mazinger's legs. From the plate on his knee, a metal tip is shown from his knees, in order to make his knee strike more powerful. However, this weapon is used rarely.
- Great Booster - グレート ブースター: Great Mazinger's best weapon and improvement. A separated jet is built and dispatched from the base, to fuse with great Mazinger "Scranduru Jet" and to improve his top speed. This improvement is also a weapon because it can be dispatched from Great Mazinger to the enemy, destroying it at impact. His sharpened wings may cut through enemies. The Great Booster is equipped with laser cannons, rarely used.
See also
- UFO Robot Grendizer vs. Great Mazinger
- Grendizer, Getter Robot G, Great Mazinger: Kessen! Daikaijuu
References
- ^ "Mazinger Z website". Retrieved 2014-07-03.
- ^ 「劇場版マジンガーZ」 2017年10月にイタリア公開、日本より3ヵ月先行 - アニメーションビジネス・ジャーナル
- ^ "Discotek Announces "Great Mazinger" DVD Release". Crunchyroll. January 15, 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
External links
- Information of Great Mazinger in Toei Animation; in (in Japanese)