The appeal and reputation of Getter Robo: Reexamining the monumental achievement of robot anime

Getter Robo - The eternal icon of robot anime

Getter Robo, which first aired in 1974, is a work that defined an era in the history of giant robot anime, and its influence has not faded to this day, and it continues to be loved by many fans. In this article, we will take a detailed look at the appeal and background of Getter Robo, as well as related works, and explore why this work is still popular with so many people today.

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

April 4, 1974 - May 8, 1975 Every Thursday 7:00pm - 7:30pm

■Broadcasting station

Fuji Television

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 51

■Original Story

Go Nagai, Ken Ishikawa

■ Production

Fuji Television, Toei Animation

■Works

©Dynamic Planning/Toei Animation

■ Story

The Dinosaur Empire, which ruled the Earth long ago, has revived from a long slumber and begun its invasion of the Earth. To begin with, they attack the Saotome Laboratory, which is researching the mysterious energy "Getter Rays," their natural enemy. The Saotome Laboratory attempts to fight back with the Getter Robo, a mecha powered by Getter Rays, but loses both the test pilot and the experimental machine at the same time. The laboratory is in an unprecedented crisis, but with the help of three high school students with outstanding athletic ability, Ryuma Nagare, Hayato Shin, and Musashi Tomoe, they begin a counterattack against the Dinosaur Empire with the Getter Robo, which has been modified for combat.

■Explanation

Among the animes that feature giant robots, this TV anime is considered the original with a combination and transformation mechanism. The concept behind the project was to combine the elements of "robots" that were born from "Mazinger Z" and "transformation" that was born from "Kamen Rider". The feature that was born from this work, that three robots combine and transform into three types for "air use", "ground/underground use", and "underwater use", has been inherited unchanged in the sequels and spin-off works.

■Cast

・Ryuma Nagare/Akira Kamiya ・Hayato Kami/Shunji Yamada (now Keaton Yamada)
・Musashi Tomoe/Noriku Nishio ・Dr. Saotome/Kosei Tomita ・Michiru Saotome/Rihoko Yoshida ・Emperor Goal/Kami Hiromu

■ Main staff

・Planning / Bessho Koji, Katsuta Toshio ・Production / Ohno Kiyoshi ・Original story / Nagai Go, Ishikawa Ken ・Music / Kikuchi Shunsuke ・Key animation / Kaneda Yoshinori and others ・Background / Studio Cosmos, Atelier Roku, Sun Art Studio, Studio Eye, Production Eye, Art Pair, Gendai Seisaku Shudan ・Photography / Machida Kenju, Hirao Miki, Takahashi Kogo, Takei Toshiharu, Hosoda Tamio, Meguro Hiroshi, Ogata Norio, Katayama Yukio, Fujihashi Hideyuki, Sugaya Nobuyuki, Kaneda Kenichi, Sato Takao ・Editing / Komura Hitoshi, Matsubara Chikako, Machida Takako, Toba Ryoichi, Motoyama Osamu, Tanaka Osamu, Kanbara Naomi ・Sound recording / Hatano Isao・Sound effects / Ishida Sound Pro・Music selection / Miyashita Shigeru・Production progress / Kishimoto Matsuji, Matsuura Johei, Inoue Fumiko, Iioka Mariko, Matoba Setsuko, Shakata Tetsuo, Nishimura Tetsuichi, Iuchi Shuji, Narukawa Yuko, Sakurai Toshiyuki, Yamada Miyu, Yanai Jun, Sakamoto Iwao, Igari Hajime, Miyago Hidetake, Sato Shigeko, Tada Yasuyuki, Kataoka Shuji, Takezawa Yumiko・Recording / Matoba Setsuko to Date Etsuko・Developing / Toei Chemical・Art setting / Tsuji Tadanao・Art / Tsuji Tadanao, Fukumoto Tomoo, Ito Iwamitsu, Shimokawa Tadami, Hata Hidenobu, Endo Shigeyoshi・Character design / Komatsubara Kazuo・Production / Fuji Television, Toei Animation

・Theme song
OP
"Getter Robo!"
Lyrics by Go Nagai Music by Shunsuke Kikuchi Vocals by Isao Sasaki

ED
"Combine! Getter Robo"
Lyrics by Takashi Izumi Music by Shunsuke Kikuchi Vocals by Isao Sasaki

■ Main Characters

Ryuma Nagare is a high school student who attends Asama Academy and goes by the nickname Ryo. In order to avenge his soccer club coach, Tatsuto Saotome, he takes over as the pilot of Getter 1.

Hayato Shin A young man who is an all-around athlete and pilots the Getter 2. He has a nihilistic and lone-wolf personality, but is moved by Ryo's straightforward personality.

・The captain of the judo club at Tomoe Musashi Sengen Academy and pilot of Getter 3. At first, he was criticized by the opposite Hayato, but he shows enough growth to gain his trust.

Dr. Saotome is a leading researcher in getter rays. He is usually gentle, but sometimes scolds the Getter Team.

Michiru Saotome: Dr. Saotome's only daughter. She pilots the Command Machine and supports the Getter Robo.

Emperor Gole is the emperor of the Dinosaur Empire. He is a ruthless man who will mercilessly execute those who fail their missions or traitors.



Getter 1
This is the basic form of Getter Robo that is completed after fusion, and is good at aerial combat. Its special move is the Getter Beam.

Getter 2
The second form of Getter Robo, it is capable of high speed movement in land battles and underground activities. It can also use the Getter Vision technique to create clones.

Getter 3
Getter Robo's third form, specialized for underwater combat. It has the greatest power of the three forms, boasting 900,000 horsepower.

■Subtitle

Episode 1: Invincible! Getter Robo Launches Episode 2: Final Battle! The Three Great Mechasauruses Episode 3: Dinosaur Empire Operation Rainbow Episode 4: Burning Blood Southern Cross Episode 5: Getter Team Pierces the Darkness Episode 6: Dinosaurs! Tokyo Jack Operation Episode 7: Don't Forgive Evil! Trumpet Assault Episode 8: Close Call Getter 2
Episode 9: The Glorious Captain Ladra Episode 10: Dive! Getter 3 Goes Episode 11: Clash! Drill vs. Drill Episode 12: Roar! The Immortal Uru Episode 13: One-on-one! The Daisetsuzan Oroshi Episode 14: Risk Your Life in the Crimson Sky!
・Episode 15 / Ballad for Yuko ・Episode 16 / Chase the Mystery of the Dinosaur Empire ・Episode 17 / The Stalker's Blueprints ・Episode 18 / The Amazing Guy of the Dinosaur Empire ・Episode 19 / Ryo's Final Attack!
・Episode 20 / Air Raid! Sudden Fear ・Episode 21 / Robot from America ・Episode 22 / Tragic Getter Q
Episode 23: The Great Invention Madness of Mt. AsamaEpisode 24: Shoot at the Great FortressEpisode 25: Combine! Wind Speed ​​100 MetersEpisode 26: Emperor Goal's Great Eruption StrategyEpisode 27: The Wrath of the Great Demon YuraEpisode 28: Attack! The Earth Dragon Tribe TribeEpisode 29: Deadly Battle in the Flood HellEpisode 30: The Resurrection of the PhoenixEpisode 31: Crisis! Stand Up HayatoEpisode 32: Fear! The Trap of the Red MistEpisode 33: Swear to the Endless Sky!
Episode 34: "The Tears of the Female Dragon Warrior Yunke" Episode 35: "Musashi! It's Tough Being a Man" Episode 36: "Destroy the Fortress! Operation Troy" Episode 37: "Evil's Order! Aim for the Doctor" Episode 38: "Escape from the Devil's Sea!!
・Episode 39: "Sorrow is Beyond the Shooting Star" ・Episode 40: "Operation Freeze the Japanese Archipelago!
・Episode 41: "The Invisible Dinosaur Airstrike Squadron" ・Episode 42: "Set course for the North Pole!
Episode 43: The Stolen Getter Robo Episode 44: Musashi! The Raging Ocean Episode 45: Escape! The Space Graveyard Episode 46: The Terrifying Invasion of the Ice Dragons Episode 47: The Emperor Goal Appears on the Ground!
Episode 48: "Entering the Magma Dinosaur Empire!
Episode 49: "Big Explosion! Fall of the Dinosaur Empire" Episode 50: "Emperor Goal's Desperate Counterattack" Episode 51: "The Day the Dinosaur Empire Falls"

■ Related works

・Sequel "Getter Robo G"
Getter Robo Go

・Theatrical release "Great Mazinger vs. Getter Robo"
"Great Mazinger vs. Getter Robo G: Great Air Clash"
"Grendizer Getter Robo G Great Mazinger Decisive Battle! Great Sea Beast"

・OVA
"True (Change!!) Getter Robo: The Last Day of the World"
"Shin Getter Robo vs. Neo Getter Robo"
"New Getter Robo"

The appeal of Getter Robo and its background

Getter Robo is an anime series based on the manga by Go Nagai and Ken Ishikawa, which aired from 1974 to 1975. This work showed new possibilities for giant robot anime, and its concepts of combining and transforming in particular had a major influence on later anime works.

The story is set in a time when the Dinosaur Empire has been resurrected and is beginning its invasion of the Earth. The Saotome Laboratory develops the Getter Robo, which uses energy called Getter Rays, to fight against the Dinosaur Empire. However, after losing their test pilot and experimental machine, the Laboratory enlists the help of three high school students, Ryuma Nagare, Hayato Jin, and Musashi Tomoe, to pilot the Getter Robo and fight against the Dinosaur Empire.

The appeal of this work lies above all in the Getter Robo's combination and transformation system. The idea of ​​three robots combining and transforming into three forms for aerial, ground, and underwater combat was revolutionary at the time and amazed viewers. In addition, the fact that each form has a different special move also adds excitement to the battle scenes.

The charm of the characters is also not to be missed. Each character has a distinct personality, such as Ryuma Nagare's leadership, Hayato Shin's coolness, and Musashi Tomoe's passion, allowing viewers to empathize with and root for their growth and friendship. Supporting characters such as Dr. Saotome and Michiru Saotome also play an important role in deepening the story.

Music is also one of the elements that enhances the appeal of "Getter Robo." Shunsuke Kikuchi's background music enhances the tense battle scenes and moving scenes, capturing the hearts of viewers. In addition, the opening theme "Getter Robo!" and the ending theme "Gattai! Getter Robo" sung by Isao Sasaki are symbols of the work and are loved by many fans.

Influence of Getter Robo and related works

"Getter Robo" had a huge influence on subsequent giant robot anime. In particular, the concept of combining and transforming was adopted by many works, contributing to the development of the genre. It also crossed over with other works by Go Nagai, such as "Mazinger Z" and "Great Mazinger", which became a hot topic among fans.

Sequels "Getter Robo G" and "Getter Robo Go" were produced, as well as a movie version and an OVA. In these works, new forms of Getter Robo and enemy characters appear, and the story deepens further. In particular, "True (Change!!) Getter Robo: The Last Day of the World" has been highly praised as a work that follows the worldview of the original while adding a new interpretation.

Getter Robo has also been sold as various goods such as figures and plastic models, expanding its fan base. These goods are not only popular because they recreate the worldview of the work, but also because they satisfy the desire of fans to collect them.

Getter Robo's Future and Recommendations

Even now, more than 40 years after its broadcast, "Getter Robo" continues to be loved by many fans. The reason for this is the universal theme of the work, the appeal of its characters, and its innovative combination and transformation system. These elements have the power to attract viewers across generations.

We can expect new developments for Getter Robo in the future. For example, the work will evolve in a way that meets the expectations of fans, such as the production of a remake or the appearance of a new crossover work. We are also looking forward to the appearance of new stories and characters that will further deepen the worldview of Getter Robo.

If you haven't seen Getter Robo yet, we highly recommend that you give it a watch. It is a must-see, especially for fans of giant robot anime and those interested in the concept of fusion and transformation. Also, even if you have enjoyed other works by Go Nagai, you will be able to experience the appeal of Getter Robo from a new perspective.

"Getter Robo" is an essential work in the history of giant robot anime, and its influence will continue into the future. Please experience this timeless symbol of robot anime for yourself.