UFO Robot Grendizer(UFOロボ グレンダイザー,Yūfō Robo Gurendaizā),also known asGrandizer,GoldrakeandGoldorak,is a Japanesemangaandanimatedtelevision series created byGo Nagai.The series is the third entry in theMazingerseries, later relegated into a spinoff series. The series is produced byToei DogaandDynamic Planning,directed byTomoharu Katsumata,and written by Shozo Uehara. It aired onFuji TVfrom October 5, 1975, to February 27, 1977.[3][4]The mecha's first appearance in the United States was as a part of theShogun Warriorsline of super robot toys imported in the late 1970s byMattel,then in Jim Terry'sForce Fiveseries. A remake of the original anime series,Grendizer U,aired from July to September 2024.
| UFO Robot Grendizer | |
 Cover art for the first DVD volume | |
| UFOロボ グレンダイザー (Yūfō Robo Gurendaizā) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Mecha |
| Created by | Go Nagai |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Go Nagai |
| Published by | Kodansha |
| Magazine | TV Magazine |
| Demographic | Shōnen |
| Original run | October 1975–May 1976 |
| Volumes | 2 |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Go Nagai |
| Illustrated by | Gosaku Ota |
| Published by | Akita Shoten |
| Magazine | Boken Oh |
| Demographic | Shōnen |
| Original run | October 1975–March 1977 |
| Volumes | 5 |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Go Nagai |
| Illustrated by | Eiji Imamichi |
| Published by | Tokuma Shoten |
| Magazine | TV Land |
| Demographic | Children |
| Original run | October 1975–March 1977 |
| Volumes | 1 |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Tomoharu Katsumata |
| Written by | Shozo Uehara |
| Music by | Shunsuke Kikuchi |
| Studio | Toei Animation |
| Original network | Fuji TV |
| Original run | October 5, 1975–February 27, 1977 |
| Episodes | 74 |
| Anime film | |
| Directed by | Yoichi Kominato |
| Produced by | Masahisa Saeki |
| Written by | Shozo Uehara |
| Music by | Shunsuke Kikuchi |
| Studio | Toei Animation |
| Released | December 20, 1975 |
| Runtime | 24 minutes |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Go Nagai |
| Illustrated by | Yu Okazaki |
| Published by | Kodansha |
| Magazine | TV Magazine |
| Demographic | Shōnen |
| Original run | June 1976–March 1977 |
| Volumes | 1 |
| Anime film | |
| UFO Robot Grendizer: Akai Yuuhi no Taiketsu | |
| Directed by | Tokiji Kaburaki |
| Produced by | Chiaki Imada |
| Written by | Tatsuo Tamura |
| Music by | Shunsuke Kikuchi |
| Studio | Toei Animation |
| Released | December 19, 1976 |
| Runtime | 24 minutes |
| Manga | |
| Grendizer Giga | |
| Written by | Go Nagai |
| Published by | Akita Shoten |
| Magazine | Champion Red |
| Demographic | Seinen |
| Original run | September 2014–July 2015 |
| Volumes | 2 |
| Video game | |
| The Feast of the Wolves | |
| Developer | Endroad |
| Publisher | Microids 3Goo (Japan)[1] |
| Genre | Open world,Action |
| Platform | PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Xbox One Xbox Series X and Series S Nintendo Switch Microsoft Windows(Steam) |
| Released | Steam/PlayStation/Xbox
|
| Manga | |
| Grendizer U: The Inception | |
| Written by | Go Nagai |
| Illustrated by | 8KEY |
| Published by | Shogakukan |
| Magazine | Comiplex |
| Demographic | Seinen |
| Original run | June 28, 2024– present |
| Anime television series | |
| Grendizer U | |
| Directed by |
|
| Written by |
|
| Music by | Kohei Tanaka |
| Studio | Gaina |
| Licensed by | |
| Original network | TXN(TV Tokyo) |
| Original run | July 5, 2024–September 28, 2024 |
| Episodes | 13 |
Plot
editThe Vega homeworld has become unstable due to the exploiting of Vegatron, a powerful radioactive ore. Seeking to expand his militaristic empire and find a substitute planet to settle upon, the ruthlessKing Vegaunleashes his armies—composed of flying saucers and giant robotic monsters—and turns first against neighbors such as Fleed, a highly advanced but peaceful world. The once verdant, idyllic Fleed is turned into a radioactive wasteland. Too late, the only known survivor of the royal family, the Crown PrinceDuke Fleed,manages to steal the Grendizer, the robotic embodiment of the Fleedian God of War, from the Vegan invaders who plan to use it to spearhead their invasion fleet. Grendizer is a giant monster robot that interfaces with Spacer (Spaizer), a flying saucer that enables the robot to fly.
Fleeing Vegan space by flying atfaster than lightspeed, the Duke enters our solar system and switches course to Earth, making a rough landing in Japan, on the slopes ofMount Fuji.He is befriended by Doctor Umon, a noted scientist who oversees a research laboratory called the Space Science Lab near a smallranch.The kindly Umon takes in the young humanoid alien as his son, under the assumed name of Daisuke, and assists him in hiding Grendizer. Taking the name Daisuke Umon, Duke Fleed works at the ranch run by Danbei Makiba (based on Abashiri Daemon of Go Nagai's mangaAbashiri Ikka).
Roughly two years later,Koji Kabuto,after studying abroad, returns to Japan in a flying saucer he personally designed and built, called the TFO. He heads to the Space Science Lab after hearing of multiple sightings of "flying saucers". He plans to contact the aliens if possible and make peace with them. Daisuke, however, scoffs at the notion and fears that these aliens, the Vegans, led by generalsBlakiandGandal,are preparing to attack Earth. Koji ignores his warnings and flies out to meet the incoming saucers, only to discover the horrible truth. In order to save Koji and protect his adoptive homeworld from destruction, Daisuke is forced to return to his true identity as Duke Fleed. He unearths Grendizer from its hiding place under the lab and sets off to fight his enemies.
The Vegans establish a base on thefar side of the Moonand start to attack Earth from there. Koji discovers Duke Fleed's true identity and their bitter rivalry soon turns to friendship. The daughter of Danbei Makiba, Hikaru, also discovers Daisuke's secret and becomes a pilot in order to assist him despite his objections. Later on, it is revealed that there were two more survivors from planet Fleed: Duke's younger sister Maria Grace Fleed and a man who had rescued her and fled to Earth, raising her under the guise of her grandfather. Caught in a crossfire between Grendizer and a Vegan beast, he reveals to Maria that she is the last survivor of the royal family of Fleed (under the belief that Duke was killed) before dying from his wounds. Maria swears revenge on Grendizer and its pilot. She tries to ambush Duke, Koji and Hikaru at the Space Science Lab, but the fight is short. Maria's attacks bring Duke's necklace (which is the same as the one she wore) into view and the truth is revealed. The lost siblings are reunited at last and Maria becomes the last addition to the team.
As the conflict nears its end, it is shown that Duke Fleed was engaged to King Vega's daughter, Princess Rubina, prior to the attack on Fleed. When Rubina discovers that planet Fleed is no longer polluted with Vegatron radiation and that her fiancé is alive and well, she rushes to Earth to bring him the good news. Unfortunately, one of King Vega's generals uses this opportunity to ambush Duke Fleed, and Rubina is killed when she takes a shot aimed at Duke. This makes Duke even more determined to wipe out the Vegan menace once and for all.
King Vega decides to gather his remaining forces and make an all-out attack on Earth, destroying the Moon Base to coax his troops into fighting to the end and finally succeed in invading Earth and taking it as their new home planet. Duke and company go out to intercept them in Grendizer and the newly designed space combat Spazers. After a fierce battle, they finally manage to destroy the Vegan mother ship along with King Vega himself. Soon afterwards, Duke and Maria bid a tearful farewell to Earth and their friends and return to help reconstruct planet Fleed.
Production
editUFO Robo Grendizer's origins dates back toUchu Enban Daisenso( vũ trụ viên bàn đại chiến tranh,Uchū Enban Daisensō), translated and also known asBattlefield of The Space SaucersandThe Great Battle of the Flying Saucers,a 1975 animated short film created by Go Nagai and produced by Toei Doga. It is also known asSpace Disk Warand was also released in Italy under the nameUFO Robot Gattaiger-La grande battaglia dei dischi spaziali.It was originally shown along with the short filmGreat Mazinger tai Getter Robot G: Kuchu Daigekitotsu,also from Toei and Nagai.[citation needed]
Nagai and Dynamic Productions created Grendizer using some of the elements and characters from Daiseno including Duke, the Makiba family, and even Blaki. Some changes were made to make it more original. The most obvious are the changes in design and the addition of characters such as Koji Kabuto and Maria Fleed.
UFO Robot Grendizerwas developed to be a sequel toGreat Mazingerafter the initial concepts of a sequel were rejected by Toei. With the appearance ofUchu Enban Daisensoat the March 1975 Toei Manga Festival a remake was pitched using elements fromMazinger.To breathe new light into the series, the villains of the series were decided to be aliens, a trend that followed in other Toei mecha series while also making Duke a more Blue Blood character with his suit being based on a knight including more romantic elements with its characters and sense of adventure.[citation needed]
Go Nagai, however, at one point stated in an interview that the anime series was considered a fun side project and does not considerGrendizerto be part of the series timeline. This is mainly because he had many disagreements with Toei and Shingo Araki over the direction the show should take as well has Toei not paying him royalties for the show's overseas airings, which culminated in a 1986 court settlement that lead to Toei paying Nagai his royalty earnings. In the end,UFO Robo Grendizeris more of a stand-alone spin-off in theMazingeruniverse.[citation needed]
Media
editAnime
editThe series was first aired onFuji TVfrom October 5, 1975, to February 27, 1977, replacingGreat Mazingerin its initial timeslot.Isao Sasakiperformed both the show's opening and ending themes: "Tobe! Grendizer"(とべ!グレンダイザー,Tobe! Gurendaizā,"Fly! Grendizer" )(with Columbia Yurikago-kai and Ko'orogi '73) and "Uchuu no Yuusha Grendizer"(Vũ trụ の dũng giả グレンダイザー,Uchū no Yūsha Gurendaizā,"Grendizer, Hero of Space" ).Shunsuke Kikuchicomposed the music for the series.
Episodes
edit| # | Air date | Title | Saucer Beast/Vega Monster |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10/5/1975 | Đâu giáp nhi とデュークフリード (Koji Kabuto and Duke Fleed) | Viên bàn thú ・ギルギル (Saucer Beast Girugiru) |
| 2 | 10/12/1975 | ああ! わが đại địa みどりなりき (Ah! My Land That Was So Green) | Viên bàn thú ・ガメガメ (Saucer Beast Gamegame) |
| 3 | 10/19/1975 | Nguy cơ bách る bạch hoa mục tràng (Crisis Approaches Makiba Ranch) | Viên bàn thú ・バルバル (Saucer Beast Barubaru) |
| 4 | 10/26/1975 | Nhược き huyết triều は hồng に nhiên ゆ (Young Blood Burning Crimson) | Viên bàn thú ・ゴルゴル (Saucer Beast Gorugoru) |
| 5 | 11/2/1975 | Viêm の ái を tịch dương に nhiễm めて (Flames of Love Dyed In The Sunset) | Viên bàn thú ・ドムドム (Saucer Beast Domudomu) |
| 6 | 11/9/1975 | Đại không を trảm る đấu hồn (Fighting Spirit Kills The Sky) | Viên bàn thú ・ダムダム (Saucer Beast Damudamu) |
| 7 | 11/16/1975 | たとえ ngã が mệnh つきるとも (Even If It Costs My Life!) | Viên bàn thú ・ギンギン & viên bàn thú ・フイフイ (Saucer Beasts Gingin & Fuifui) |
| 8 | 11/23/1975 | Địa cầu の lục はあたたかい (The Warm, Green Earth) | Viên bàn thú ・ダルダル (Saucer Beast Darudaru) |
| 9 | 11/30/1975 | Hứa されざる nộ りを việt えて (Beyond Unforgiven Anger) | Viên bàn thú ・ジルジル (Saucer Beast Jirujiru) |
| 10 | 12/7/1975 | あこがれは tinh の bỉ phương に (Longing Beyond The Stars) | Viên bàn thú ・グリグリ (Saucer Beast Guriguri) |
| 11 | 12/14/1975 | Hắc い thái dương の trung の ác ma!! (The Demon In The Black Sun!!) | Viên bàn thú ・バリバリ (Saucer Beast Baribari) |
| 12 | 12/21/1975 | Hồng の kiều を độ る thiếu nữ (The Girl Across The Rainbow Bridge) | Viên bàn thú ・ガニガニ (Saucer Beast Ganigani) |
| 13 | 12/28/1975 | Thư われたグレンダイザー (Grendizer Under Fire) | Viên bàn thú ・ゲルゲル (Saucer Beast Gerugeru) |
| 14 | 1/4/1976 | ボスボロットがやって lai た!! (Boss Borot Is Here!!) | Viên bàn thú ・ドリドリ (Saucer Beast Doridori) |
| 15 | 1/11/1976 | Dao かなる mẫu への thủ chỉ (A Letter To My Mother, Far, Far Away) | Viên bàn thú ・ガルガル (Saucer Beast Garugaru) |
| 16 | 1/18/1976 | こころにひびく ái の chung (Here, A Bell Resonates With Love) | Viên bàn thú ・フルフル (Saucer Beast Furufuru) |
| 17 | 1/25/1976 | Tiểu さな sinh mệnh を cứu え! (Save A Tiny Life!) | Viên bàn thú ・ギバギバ (Saucer Beast Gibagiba) |
| 18 | 2/1/1976 | Phát tiến! Bí mật ルート7 (Launch! Secret Route 7) | Viên bàn thú ・ガデガデ (Saucer Beast Gadegade) |
| 19 | 2/8/1976 | Khủng phố のエアロライト! (The Terrifying Aerolight!) | Viên bàn thú ・ゴズゴズ (Saucer Beast Gozugozu) |
| 20 | 2/15/1976 | Quyết tử の tuyết sơn thoát xuất tác chiến (The Desperate Snowbound Escape Operation) | Viên bàn thú ・ベドベド (Saucer Beast Bedobedo) |
| 21 | 2/22/1976 | Quyết chiến! オーロラの huy き (Decisive Battle! The Shining Aurora) | Viên bàn thú ・ゲドゲド (Saucer Beast Gedogedo) |
| 22 | 2/29/1976 | Hoa nhất luân の dũng khí (The Courage Of A Single Flower) | Viên bàn thú ・ギロギロ (Saucer Beast Girogiro) |
| 23 | 3/7/1976 | Kích lưu に khiếu ぶひかる (Hikaru's Screaming Torrent) | Viên bàn thú ・ギスギス (Saucer Beast Gisugisu) |
| 24 | 3/14/1976 | Nguy うしデュークフリード! (Watch Out, Duke Fleed!) | Viên bàn thú ・ドグドグ (Saucer Beast Dogudogu) |
| Movie | 3/20/1976 | Grendizer vs. Great Mazinger | Jinji/Gubigubi/Koakoa |
| 25 | 3/21/1976 | Đại không に huy く ái の hoa (The Flower of Love Shines In Space) | Viên bàn thú ・ダリダリ (Saucer Beast Daridari) |
| 26 | 3/28/1976 | スカルムーン tổng xuất kích! (Skullmoon: Full Mobilization!) | Viên bàn thú ・ウルウル, ギドギド & ハドハド (Saucer Beasts Uruuru, Gidogido & Hadohado) |
| 27 | 4/4/1976 | Mãnh công kích! グレンダイザー (Onslaught! Grendizer) | Viên bàn thú ・ウルウル & ハドハド (Saucer Beasts Uruuru & Hadohado) |
| 28 | 4/11/1976 | Ám dạ に hưởng く ác ma のベル (The Devil's Bell Tolls At Midnight) | Viên bàn thú ・ベルベル (Saucer Beast Beruberu) |
| 29 | 4/18/1976 | さらば vũ trụ の hữu よ! (Farewell, My Friend In Space!) | Viên bàn thú ・デラデラ (Saucer Beast Deradera) |
| 30 | 4/25/1976 | Xích い thương tích のバラード (The Ballad Of A Red Scar) | Viên bàn thú ・ゴダゴダ (Saucer Beast Godagoda) |
| 31 | 5/2/1976 | Không に hoa tiếu け! ボスの hữu tình (A Flower Blooms In The Sky! Boss' Friendship) | Viên bàn thú ・ライライ (Saucer Beast Rairai) |
| 32 | 5/9/1976 | Mẫu に hướng って kích て! (Shoot At Your Mother!) | Viên bàn thú ・ザウザウ (Saucer Beast Zauzau) |
| 33 | 5/16/1976 | Tất sát! ミュータントの tối hậu (Sure Kill! The Mutant's End) | Viên bàn thú ・ザリザリ (Saucer Beast Zarizari) |
| 34 | 5/23/1976 | Lang の lệ は lưu れ tinh (The Wolf's Tears Are Falling Stars) | Viên bàn thú ・ゴメゴメ & ゴンゴン (Saucer Beasts Gomegome & Gongon) |
| 35 | 5/30/1976 | Phi べ! ダブルスペイザー (Fly! Double Spazer) | Viên bàn thú ・ブンブン (Saucer Beast Bunbun) |
| 36 | 6/6/1976 | Nhiên える đại không の thệ い! (An Oath To The Blazing Skies!) | Viên bàn thú ・ジラジラ (Saucer Beast Jirajira) |
| 37 | 6/13/1976 | Dực にいのちをかけろ! (Bet Everything On The Wings Of Life!) | Viên bàn thú ・ガンガン (Saucer Beast Gangan) |
| 38 | 6/20/1976 | ひかる, lệ のドッキング! (Hikaru, The Engagement of Tears) | Viên bàn thú ・ドイドイ (Saucer Beast Doidoi) |
| 39 | 6/27/1976 | Kỳ tập! ベガ tinh đột kích đội (Surprise Attack! The Assault Troops of Planet Vega) | Viên bàn thú ・ウラウラ (Saucer Beast Ullaulla) |
| 40 | 7/4/1976 | Kích đột! Viêm の hải nguyên (Clash! The Fiery Ocean) | Viên bàn thú ・ブイブイ (Saucer Beast Buibui) |
| 41 | 7/11/1976 | マリンスペイザー xuất động せよ! (Marine Spazer, Intervene!) | Viên bàn thú ・ガモガモ (Saucer Beast Gamogamo) |
| 42 | 7/18/1976 | Nguy cơ! Nghiên cứu sở よ lập ち thượng がれ (Crisis! The Research Institute To The Rescue!) | Viên bàn thú ・ガウガウ (Saucer Beast Gaugau) |
| 43 | 7/25/1976 | Vẫn thạch lạc hạ! Mê の cô đảo (Meteor At The Lonely Isle!) | Viên bàn thú ・グメグメ (Saucer Beast Gumegume) |
| 44 | 8/1/1976 | Tế りの dạ viên bàn thú が lai る! (Festival Night! Here Comes The Disc-Robot) | Viên bàn thú ・ドズドズ (Saucer Beast Dozudozu) |
| 45 | 8/8/1976 | Nhiên えろ! ドリルスペイザー (Fire Up! The Drill Spazer) | Viên bàn thú ・ゴドゴド (Saucer Beast Godogodo), ベガ tinh nghĩ (Vega Star Ants) |
| 46 | 8/15/1976 | Không からサメが hàng って lai た!! (The Sharks Falling From The Sky!!) | Viên bàn thú ・ガリガリ (Saucer Beast Garigari) |
| 47 | 8/22/1976 | Hồ が địa ngục の hỏa を thổ いた! (The Lake Erupts The Hell-Fire!) | Viên bàn thú ・ガドガド (Saucer Beast Gadogado) |
| 48 | 8/29/1976 | Địa の để に ác ma がいた! (The Demon In The Earth's Depths) | Viên bàn thú ・ダクダク (Saucer Beast Dakudaku) |
| 49 | 9/5/1976 | Xích い tịch dương に huynh を kiến た! (I Saw My Big Brother In The Crimson Sunset!) (Note: Shown at the Toei Manga Festival event on 19.12.1976 under the changed title Akai Yuuhi no Taiketsu ( xích い tịch dương の đối quyết )) | Viên bàn thú ・デキデキ (Saucer Beast Dekideki) |
| 50 | 9/12/1976 | Ám sát!! Đâu giáp nhi を tiêu せ (Murder!! Eliminate Koji Kabuto!) | Viên bàn thú ・フビフビ (Saucer Beast Fubifubi) |
| 51 | 9/19/1976 | Đại tiếp cận!! Ác ma の tinh (It's Coming!! The Demon's Star) | Viên bàn thú ・ガレガレ (Saucer Beast Garegare) |
| 52 | 9/26/1976 | ベガ đại vương quân đoàn đại di động! (The Massive Shift of The Vegan Army!) | Viên bàn thú ・グルグル (Saucer Beast Guruguru), viên bàn thú ・ドモドモ (Saucer Beast Domodomo), ベガ thú ・キングゴリ (Vega Monster King Gori) |
| 53 | 10/3/1976 | Tử đấu! キングゴリを đảo せ (The Desperate Fight! Defeat King Gori) | ベガ thú ・キングゴリ (Vega Monster King Gori) |
| 54 | 10/10/1976 | Mê の khủng phố! Nhật bổn hải câu (Mysterious Terror! The Ocean Trench of Japan) | ベガ thú ・バニバニ (Vega Monster Banibani) |
| 55 | 10/17/1976 | Khủng phố! Ác ma の quái khí cầu (Assault! The Mysterious Sinister Spheres) | ベガ thú ・グレグレ (Vega Monster Guregure) |
| 56 | 10/24/1976 | Nguy cơ を hô ぶ ngụy bác sĩ! (The Warning of the Fake Scientist) | ベガ thú ・ダイダイ (Vega Monster Daidai), ベガ thú ・ザミザミ (Vega Monster Zamizami) |
| 57 | 10/31/1976 | Hống えろ! ぼくの quái thú (Roar! My Monster) | ベガ thú ・ブドブド (Vega Monster Budobudo) |
| 58 | 11/07/1976 | Ác ma にされたグレンダイザー! (Grendizer, The Demon!) | ベガ thú ・ベニベニ (Vega Monster Benibeni)/ ngụy グレンダイザー (False Grendizer) |
| 59 | 11/14/1976 | ああ! Thiếu niên コマンド đội (Ha! The Boy Commands) | ベガ thú ・ダキダキ (Vega Monster Dakidaki) |
| 60 | 11/21/1976 | Ngọ hậu thất thời đông kinh タワー bạo phát!! (Tokyo Tower, 7PM: Explosion!) | ベガ thú ・ズネズネ (Vega Monster Zunezune) |
| 61 | 11/28/1976 | Đặc công スパイ đại tác chiến! (The Great Spy Strategy!) | ベガ thú ・グワグワ (Vega Monster Guwaguwa) |
| 62 | 12/5/1976 | Chiến lật! Bạch điểu が lai た nhật (Tremble! The Day of Cygnus has come) | ベガ thú ・ゴエゴエ (Vega Monster Goegoe) |
| 63 | 12/12/1976 | Tuyết に tiêu えた thiếu nữ キリカ (Kirika, the young girl that disappeared in the snow) | ベガ thú ・ズメズメ (Vega Monster Zumezume) |
| 64 | 12/19/1976 | Đông kinh toàn diệt ngũ phân tiền! (Five minutes before Tokyo's total destruction!) | ベガ thú ・グドグド (Vega Monster Gudogudo) |
| 65 | 12/26/1976 | Đâu giáp nhi nhất bổn thắng phụ! (Koji Kabuto's Single Match) | ベガ thú ・ザスザス (Vega Monster Zasuzasu) |
| 66 | 1/2/1977 | Tử の hải để 400M ( メートル )! (Undersea Base of Death - 400 M!) | ベガ thú ・ワグワグ (Vega Monster Waguwagu) |
| 67 | 1/9/1977 | Quyết tử の hải để cơ địa bạo phá (Suicidal Explosion of the Undersea Base) | ベガ thú ・イブイブ (Vega Monster Ebeebe), ベガ thú ・ラグラグ (Vega Monster Raguragu) |
| 68 | 1/16/1977 | Xuy tuyết の trung のマリア (Maria in the Blizzard) | ベガ thú ・ブエブエ (Vega Monster Buebue) |
| 69 | 1/23/1977 | Phụ に phủng げる ái のオーロラ (Father Offers an Aurora of Love) | ベガ thú ・ガイガイ (Vega Monster Gaigai) |
| 70 | 1/30/1977 | Lệ は hung の áo thâm く (Tears from the deep of the heart) | ベガ thú ・ガビガビ (Vega Monster Gabigabi) |
| 71 | 2/6/1977 | Bi kịch の thân vệ đội trường モルス (Tragedy of Elite Bodyguard Mors) | ベガ thú ・ジガジガ (Vega Monster Jigajiga) |
| 72 | 2/13/1977 | はるかなる cố hương の tinh (Our so-distant home star) | None |
| 73 | 2/20/1977 | この mỹ しい địa cầu のために (In the name of the beautiful Earth) | ベガ thú ・グラグラ (Vega Monster Gragra) |
| 74 | 2/27/1977 | Vĩnh viễn に huy け! Nhị つの tinh (Shine forever! The two stars) | ベガ thú ・グラグラ (Vega Monster Gragra) |
Grendizer U
editA reboot of the original anime series, titledGrendizer U(グレンダイザーU,Gurendaizā U),was announced on August 5, 2023. It was produced byGainaand directed by Shun Kudō withMitsuo Fukudaserving as chief director, Nagai serving as executive producer,Ichirō Ōkouchioverseeing and writing series scripts alongside Tatsuto Higuchi,Yoshiyuki Sadamotodesigning the characters, Kō Inaba, AF_KURO and Junichi Akutsu providing mechanical designs andKohei Tanakacomposing the music.[5][6]It aired from July 5 to September 28, 2024 on allTX Network-affiliated stations in Japan.[7][8]The opening theme song is "Kaishin no Ichigeki" performed byGlay,while the ending theme song is "Protect You" performed byBand-Maid.[9]
Home media
editToei released the entire series in Japan on DVD from May 21 to October 21, 2006. In 2013, following an agreement with Toei, an official "fully remastered and uncensored" DVD release of the complete series is available onFrench-speaking countriesfollowing the controversy regarding the unlicensed DVD releases byManga DistributionandDéclic Imageswhich resulted to a court ruling to pay €7,200,000 back to Toei. The series has also aired on the FrenchMangasanime TV channel.[10]The entire Arabic dub is available onIstikana,a paid streaming service that has On-Demand Arab movies and TV shows.[11]
Manga
editThe manga adaptation was serialized in several magazines in Japan, notably inAkita Shoten'sBoken Ohmagazine from October 1975 to March 1977. A remake of the series, titledGrendizer Giga(グレンダイザー ギガ,Gurendaizā Giga)was serialized inAkita Shoten'sChampion Redmagazine from September 2014 to July 2015.[12]Two tankobon volumes were released.[13]
Grendizer makes several cameos in other media, one in 2002 in the sixth chapter ofDynamic Superobot Warsand in 2004 inDynamic Heroes,also known asNagai Go Manga Gaiden—Dynamic Heroes(Vĩnh tỉnh hào まんが ngoại vân ダイナミックヒーローズ,Nagai Gô Manga Gaiden Dainamikku Hîrôzu)and asGo Nagai Manga Heroes Crossover Collection—Dynamic Heroes,a Japanese manga based on several works of Go Nagai, including most of his most famous robots, such as Mazinger Z, Getter Robot and Great Mazinger. It was originally published as a monthly manga magazine e-manga from Kodansha, from June 2004 to July 2007.
Video games
editCharacters from the series also appeared in several installments ofBanpresto's (nowBandai Namco Entertainment) popular crossover video game seriesSuper Robot Wars,making its debut in the second installment of the franchise,2nd Super Robot Wars.In recent years, however, Grendizer has made far less appearances in the mainline games but has recently been making a comeback starting withSuper Robot Wars MX.
Anopen worldaction video game adaptation titledUFO Robot Grendizer: The Feast of the Wolves(UFOロボ グレンダイザー たとえ ngã が mệnh つきるとも[14],Yūfō Robo Gurendaizā Tatoe Waga Inochi Tsukirutomo)was announced by French video game publisherMicroidsin February 2021.[15]The game is being developed by Endroad and was released worldwide forSteamas well as PlayStation and Xbox consoles on November 14, 2023,[16]while it releases in Japan on April 18, 2024. ANintendo Switchport is also planned to be released in 2024.[16]
Toys
editJapanese Toy company Popy released several toys based on the mechs on the series in the show's initial run in Japan under both theChogokinandJumbo Machinderlabels, which were later released in the United States in the late 1970s byMattelas part of theShogun Warriorsline of super robot toys. The titular mecha is also included inBandai's line ofSoul of Chogokinfigures, starting with the GX-04 Grendizer.
Cultural impact
editThis articlemay contain an excessive amount of intricate detail that may interest only a particular audience.Specifically, Too many details that favored Europe and Middle East that it basically made it more like a propaganda than a cultural impact. Rewriting it in a much shorter but precise detail is needed.(July 2024) |
Grendizerwas the second longest running animatedMazingerseries in Japan, having 74 episodes. However, it has been criticized about its connection to the otherMazingerseries in the franchise, especially with Koji's status as a mere sidekick and giving him a different romantic interest who was not Sayaka, as well as the lack of the otherMazingermechs.
This created the popular assumption that the anime was not a success in Japan, especially since the merchandise based on the anime did not sell as well as the merchandise for bothMazinger ZandGreat Mazinger.However, Go Nagai disputes this, saying the anime was actually quite successful in Japan: “It was actually a hit in Japan. Maybe some people thought it was not as popular asMazinger Z,becauseMazingerwas super popular.”[17]The average viewership metrics forUFO Robot Grendizer's original Japanese broadcast was around 20.9% audience share across its 74 episodes with a peak share of 27.6% for Episode 21.[18]
Regardless of its disputed success in Japan,Grendizerwas one of the first anime programs to be a major success in both Europe and the Arabic regions of the Middle East, and continues to have a strong following in those parts of the world to this day. It only had limited success in the United States, where it was one of 5 mecha shows included in the 1980 TV anthologyForce Five.The series was renamedGrandizerfor the American market, and only had 26 episodes, which were run out of order. Despite the low episode count, it enjoys a small but dedicated cult following among East Coast American viewers who saw the show as children, as well as children who grew up with military families becauseForce Fivewas frequently aired on the cable TV feed of US military installations in Europe.[citation needed]This was also the version of the show broadcast in the United Kingdom, India, and the Philippines (though an earlier local Filipino English dub of the show existed before it was taken off the air by orders of the Ferdinand Marcos regime).
Europe
editIn Europe, Grendizer was a major success in France and Italy, known in both countries asGoldorakandGoldrakerespectively.[19]In Italy, the Italian dub theme songs were among the best-selling singles of 1978, with the first selling over 700,000 copies and the second selling over 1,000,000 copies.[20]It would also get its own comic series titledAtlas UFO Robot Presenta Goldrake (Atlas UFO Robot Presents Goldrake),whose story diverged even further from the source material. This comic ran for 89 issues and spawned several other similar comic adaptations of anime airing on Italian television at that time.[21]
The French dub was the first anime series to be telecast in France and legend goes that the series was so popular among French viewers that several episodes scored a 100% TV rating. Like the Italian dub, it changed all of the characters’ names and inserted additional songs, although it did translate the series’ original opening and ending themes into French. Some versions of the dub have a completely different theme simply titled "Goldorak", which was sung by Franco-Israeli singerNoam Kaniel.Kaniel's performance earned him unprecedented celebrity status in France; by the timeGoldorakhad ended its original run on French TV, its theme song achieved platinum status in France.[22]The Francophone dub was also one of the first anime programs to be a major success in Canada where it was broadcast on Quebec'sTVA network.The show continues to have a strong following, garnering widespread news coverage of its DVD release and return to broadcast TV in Canada. In October 2021 a fully licensed French-languageGoldorakgraphic novel was released by Editions Kana. According to the creative team, Go Nagai himself gave his blessings to the comics story, which serves as a sequel to the original Toei anime set 10 years after the final episode. The comic has received positive reviews from readers for its detailed art and a story that keeps the spirit of the original series.[23]To coincide with the graphic novel's release, the French postal company,La Posteissued stamps inspired by the anime.[24]
UFO Robot Grendizer Raidwas released theatrically asGoldorakand became a hit at the French box office, selling 922,964 tickets upon release in 1979.[25]
Arab World
editIn Arab countries, the show was extremely popular, first airing inwar-tornLebanon onTélé Libanin 1979 under the titleمغامرات الفضاء: يوفو - غرندايزر(Moughamarat Al Fada: UFO - Grendizer, Adventures In Space: UFO - Grendizer) before being distributed to most other Arabic speaking regions. Unlike the Italian and French dubs, the Arabic dub retained the characters’ names and kept songs from the Japanese version. Unlike most other Arabic dubs of anime, the show retained most of its plot details without any alteration or censorship in most Arabic-speaking markets, although some markets—such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE did censor certain scenes.[26]
The Arabic language version ofGrendizerwas so popular when it first aired that it spawned several long-runningGrendizercomics published for the Arabic market. Many of these were translations of the Italian-produced comics, the most well known of these being for the Lebanese comics anthologyما وراء الكون(Ma'Wara El Koun, Beyond The Universe). The magazine founded by Lebanese publisher Bassat Al Reeh (Flying Carpet) and headed by the company's editor Henry Matthews, published Arabic translations ofscience fictioncomics ranging from one-off short stories to licensedStar Trek,Star Wars,andMarvelsuperhero comics, as well as TV licensed comics adaptations likeSix Million Dollar ManandThe Bionic Woman.Grendizerdid not make its appearance until the fifth issue, but was so popular that it became the top feature on the title, running for 140 issues.[27][28][29]It later spawned its own comic series titledمغامرات غرندايزر(Moghamarat Grendizer, Grendizer Adventures) that ran for over 70 issues. The series' popularity continues on in the region, asArab Newsjournalist Hala Tashkandi stated; “Grendizermemorabilia still sell like hot cakes in the region, and its popularity has barely declined.”[17]Lebanese pop starSami Clark,who sang the Arabic version of the opening and ending in the Arabic dub, had frequently sung the theme in his concerts,[30][31]including an orchestral rendering in 2018 .[32]Clark also performed a duet with the singer of the original Japanese themes, Issao Sasaki, at the 2019 Saudi Anime Expo.[31]There's even a store in Kuwait that started out mainly sellingGrendizermerchandise, before expanding to selling other anime merchandise.[33]In 2016, a Kuwaiti volunteer group made aGrendizermural in Kuwait City during Urban Culture Week.[34]Karim El Mufti, a professor of political science, said in his article about the anime, "UFO Robo Grendizerhas surpassed the initial expectations of its producers. Although the conversion works of the original Japanese version into Arabic had kept the Japanese phonetics, sites and cultural references, the cartoon has actually blossomed into a life of its own. As such, the domestication process of this character and of its whole narrative set was intimately connected to the Arab context and politics at the inception moment of the series, thus mirroring the deep preoccupations of the generations of that time. High exposure to violence, aggression, and injustice in the Middle East had established a hospitable environment for the super-powerful resistance figure and pro-justice hero. "[35]Go Nagai stated in an interview withArab Newsthat he believes the geopolitical climate in the Arab world played a big role inGrendizerbecoming popular in Arab regions.[36]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"UFO ロボ グレンダイザー: たとえ ngã が mệnh つきるとも – 3GOO Japan".
- ^"Grendizer U – Manga Productions".
- ^"UFO Robot Grendizer - Toei Animation"(in Japanese). Toei Animation.RetrievedMay 18,2009.
- ^"UFO Robot Grendizer (1975's anime television series) - animemorial.net".animemorial.RetrievedMay 18,2009.
- ^Loo, Egan (November 16, 2023)."Grendizer U TV Anime Unveils Main Cast, More Staff".Anime News Network.RetrievedNovember 16,2023.
- ^Hodgkins, Crystalyn (August 5, 2023)."Grendizer U TV Anime Revealed for Debut in 2024".Anime News Network.RetrievedAugust 5,2023.
- ^Cayanan, Joanna (April 30, 2024)."Grendizer U Anime's 2nd Promo Video Reveals More Cast, July Premiere".Anime News Network.RetrievedApril 30,2024.
- ^Mateo, Alex (June 7, 2024)."Grendizer U Anime Reveals 3rd Promo Video, Manga Adaptation, July 5 Premiere".Anime News Network.RetrievedJune 7,2024.
- ^Cayanan, Joanna (December 10, 2023)."Grendizer U Anime Reveals Trailer, New Cast, Theme Song Artists".Anime News Network.RetrievedApril 30,2024.
- ^"Archived copy".Archived fromthe originalon 2013-09-28.Retrieved2013-11-04.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^"Istikana - On-Demand Arabic Independent films, documentaries, shorts, and classics".
- ^"Go Nagai to Launch Grendizer Giga Manga in September".4 September 2023.
- ^"Go Nagai Ends Grendizer Giga Manga".4 September 2023.
- ^"Vĩnh tỉnh hào thị nguyên tác アニメのゲーム hóa tác phẩm 『Ufoロボ グレンダイザー たとえ ngã が mệnh つきるとも』 viên bàn thú とグレンダイザーの chiến đấu を thâu めたゲームプレイ ánh tượng が công khai. Chế tác trận にはアニメ bản の công thức アーティストも".23 February 2023.
- ^"Microids announces UFO Robot Grendizer game for consoles, PC".Gematsu.24 February 2021.RetrievedOctober 31,2021.
- ^abRomano, Sal (July 18, 2023)."UFO Robot Grendizer: The Feast of the Wolves launches November 14 for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, and PC; in 2024 for Switch".Gematsu.RetrievedJuly 18,2023.
- ^ab"How Japanese anime 'Grendizer' galvanized the Arab world".25 October 2019.
- ^"UFO Robot Grendizer (1975's anime TV series) - animemorial.net".
- ^An Illustrated Guide to Samurai History and Culture: From the Age of Musashi to Contemporary Pop Culture.Foreword by Alexander Bennett. North Clarendon, Vermont:Tuttle Publishing.2022. p. 240.ISBN978-4-8053-1659-7.
{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: others (link) - ^"Hit Parade Italia - Top Annuali Single: 1978".
- ^"Atlas Ufo Robot Presenta Goldrake (Volume)".
- ^"French single certifications – Noam"(in French). InfoDisc.Retrieved20 June2022.SelectNOAMand clickOK.
- ^"Goldorak, le retour en album en 2021 chez Kana".
- ^"Goldorak: Une bande-annonce pour la BD de Kana, et des timbres pour le dessin animé, 13 October 2021".Manga-News.com.
- ^"Goldorak (UFO Robot Grendizer Raid)".JP's Box-Office.Retrieved12 April2022.
- ^"مغامرات الفضاء جرندايزر الحلقة 46 - فيديو Dailymotion".14 September 2020.
- ^"Memories With Beyond The Universe Comics - ذكريات مع كوميكس ما وراء الكون".YouTube.21 August 2016.
- ^"عرب كوميكس -تسجيل الدخول".
- ^"ما وراء الكون - المعرفة"(in Arabic). Marefa.org.Retrieved2022-08-31.
- ^Grendizer Song - Music Hall - Sami Clark.Ghazi Meouchy. August 17, 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-12-12.RetrievedOctober 5,2021– viaYouTube.
- ^ab(لأول مرة في التاريخ ) أغنية غرندايزر بصوت الياباني ايساو والعربي سامي كلارك.Lucky Man. January 17, 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-12-12.RetrievedOctober 5,2021– viaYouTube.
- ^"orchestral".
{{cite web}}:Check|url=value (help)[permanent dead link] - ^Grendizer in Kuwait غرندايزر في الكويت - محل بوصالح للهوايات.BouSalehHobbies. October 6, 2009.Archivedfrom the original on June 29, 2019.RetrievedOctober 5,2021– viaYouTube.
- ^"Ashekman's Mural in Kuwait: Why Grendizer?".redbull.com.July 16, 2017.RetrievedJuly 13,2024.
- ^El Mufti, Karim (2020)."Influence and success of the Arabic edition of UFO Robo Grendizer: Adoption of a Japanese icon in the Arabic-speaking world".Mutual Images Journal(9): 3–37.doi:10.32926/2020.9.elm.grend.S2CID243283409.
- ^Mangaka Go Nagai on the geopolitics of Grendizer's success in the Arab world.Arab News.October 25, 2019.Archivedfrom the original on March 2, 2021.RetrievedOctober 5,2021– viaYouTube.
External links
edit- Official websiteatToei Animation(in Japanese)
- UFO Robo Grendizer(anime) atAnime News Network's encyclopedia
- UFO Robo Grendizer(film) atAnime News Network's encyclopedia