The appeal and evaluation of "Koutetsu Jeeg": A monumental achievement in robot anime

Steel Jeeg: A robot anime masterpiece by Go Nagai and Tatsuya Yasuda

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

October 5, 1975 - August 27, 1976 Every Sunday 18:00-18:30

■Broadcasting station

NET

■Frequencies

25 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 48

■Original Story

Original story: Go Nagai, Tatsuya Yasuda and Dynamic Productions

■ Director

・Direction: Masayuki Akehi

■ Production

Produced by Toei (animation), NET, Japad

■ Story

After being seriously injured during a car race, Shiba Chu is reborn as a cyborg using the technology of his father, Dr. Shiba. Although Dr. Shiba himself has already passed away, all of his intelligence and will are stored in a giant computer, and he guides Shiba as the Machine Father.

The reason why Dr. Shiba was killed was because the bronze bell he excavated held an important secret of the enemy's ancient empire, Jamataiko. Now, it is embedded in Shiba Chu's body. In order to steal the bronze bell, the ancient invaders, Queen Himika and her subordinates, the Haniwa Phantoms, attack.

The Jeeg parts fired from the Big Shooter piloted by Uzuki Miwa combine with Sora, who transforms into a head, to become Steel Jeeg, and using the magnetic combat option parts, defeat the Haniwa Phantom and crush Himika's ambitions!

■Explanation

The original robot action movie was created by Go Nagai and Tatsuya Yasuda with a motif of ancient Japanese history. The mechanism of the main robot Jeeg, which combines using magnetism, was reproduced in a toy and became a big hit at the time.

■Cast

・Hiroshi/Toru Furuya ・Miwa/Rihoko Yoshida ・Machine Father/Masahiko Murase ・Himika/Kazue Takahashi

■ Main staff

・Original story: Nagai Go, Yasuda Tatsuya and Dynamic Productions ・Planning: Yokoyama Kenji, Miyazaki Shinichi ・Production: Ohno Kiyoshi ・Screenplay: Yamaura Hiroharu, Fujikawa Keisuke, Ando Toyohiro ・Series Director: Akehi Masayuki ・Direction: Miyazaki Kazuya, Nitta Yoshikata, Nishizawa Nobutaka, and others ・Character design: Nakamura Kazuo ・Art designers: Urata Mataji, Katsumata Geki ・Music: Watanabe Chumei

■ Theme songs and music

・OP
・Song of Steel Jeeg ・Lyrics by Haruo Hayashi ・Music by Chumei Watanabe ・Song by Ichiro Mizuki, Korogi '73

・ED
・Hiroshi's Theme ・Lyrics by Haruo Hayashi ・Music by Chumei Watanabe ・Song by Ichiro Mizuki, Korogi '73

The appeal and evaluation of Steel Jeeg

During the robot anime boom of the 1970s, Go Nagai and Tatsuya Yasuda's "Steel Jeeg" won many fans with its unique setting and attractive characters. The story is based on ancient history and features a magnetic combination system, making it very popular with children at the time.

The appeal of the story

The story of "Steel Jeeg" begins with a young man named Chu Shiba being seriously injured in a car race and being reborn as a cyborg using the technology of his father, Dr. Shiba. Although Dr. Shiba has already passed away, his knowledge and will guide his son as a giant computer called "Machine Father." This setting depicts the bond between father and son while also suggesting the progress of science and technology and its ethical issues.

The story revolves around a secret hidden in a bronze bell excavated by Dr. Shiba. This bronze bell is an important key to the ancient empire of Jamataiko, and is embedded in Shiba Chu's body. In order to steal the bronze bell, Queen Himika, an ancient invader, and her subordinate Haniwa Phantom appear. With the help of Miwa Uzuki, Shiba Chu transforms into Jeeg and fights against the Haniwa Phantom in a battle using magnetic force. This story offers a thrilling twist where ancient mysteries and modern science and technology intersect.

Character Appeal

The main character, Shiba Sora (Hiroshi), is played by Toru Furuya, whose voice acting is outstanding. Hiroshi is seriously injured in a car racing accident, but his strong will and courage in fighting is impressive. Miwa Uzuki (Rihoko Yoshida) is also an important character who supports Hiroshi, and her bravery and kindness add depth to the story.

The characters on the enemy side are also fascinating, especially Queen Himika (Takahashi Kazue), whose presence is overwhelming. Her ruthlessness and beauty add tension to the story. The voice actor's performance of Machine Father (Murase Masahiko) also conveys the love and strictness of a father, deeply moving the viewer.

The charm of mechanics

One of the biggest attractions of "Steel Jeeg" is the Jeeg combination system. Jeeg combines with parts ejected from the Big Shooter and Shiba Chu transforms into the head. This combination system uses magnetism and has been reproduced in toys. This system stimulates children's imaginations and has attracted many fans.

The optional combat parts for Jeeg are also attractive, and various attack methods using magnetism are depicted. These mechanical designs, combined with Kazuo Nakamura's character designs, create a visual impact.

The appeal of music

The music of "Steel Jeeg" is also a big attraction. The opening theme "Steel Jeeg's Song" and the ending theme "Hiroshi's Theme" are composed by Chumei Watanabe and sung by Ichiro Mizuki and Korogi '73, and they really liven up the atmosphere of the show. These songs leave a strong impression on viewers and can be said to be symbols of the show.

Evaluation by the production staff

The production staff of "Steel Jeeg" has also been highly praised. Nagai Go and Yasuda Tatsuya's original work created a unique world view based on ancient history and provided a story that drew the audience in. Meanwhile, Akihi Masayuki's direction skillfully portrayed tense battle scenes and moving drama.

The scriptwriting team of Hiroharu Yamaura, Keisuke Fujikawa, and Toyohiro Ando developed fascinating episodes for each episode, never letting the viewers get bored. The character design team of Kazuo Nakamura and art designers Mataji Urata and Geki Katsumata enhanced the appeal of the work by pursuing visual beauty and impact.

Impact and Evaluation of Steel Jeeg

"Steel Jeeg" had a huge impact on the robot anime boom of the 1970s. In particular, the combination system that used magnetic force influenced subsequent robot anime, with similar systems being adopted in many works. In addition, the story, which was based on ancient history, gave viewers a fresh surprise and established the originality of the work.

This work was widely supported by adults as well as children. It touched and sympathized with viewers by depicting deep themes such as the father-son relationship between Sora Shiba and Dr. Shiba, and Himika's ambition and the fight against it. The quality of the music and mechanical design was also highly praised, enhancing the overall perfection of the work.

Recommended points of Steel Jeeg

"Steel Jeeg" can be recommended for the following reasons:

1. Unique story and setting

The story, which is based on ancient history, and the combination system that uses magnetic force are unique to this anime, and these elements stimulate the viewer's imagination and increase their immersion in the work.

2. Charming characters

Characters with unique personalities such as Shiba Sora, Uzuki Miwa, Himika, and Machine Father add excitement to the story. In particular, the father-son relationship between Shiba Sora and Dr. Shiba leaves a deep impression on viewers.

3. High-quality mechanical design

The Jeeg's combination system and optional combat parts have both visual impact and technical appeal. These designs also made it popular as a children's toy.

4. Impressive music

The opening and ending theme songs enhance the atmosphere of the work and leave a strong impression on the viewers. The composition by Chumei Watanabe and the singing by Ichiro Mizuki and Korogi '73 are a symbol of the work.

5. High production quality

Thanks to the original work by Go Nagai and Tatsuya Yasuda, the direction by Masayuki Akehi, and the cooperation of each staff member, the overall quality of the work has been highly praised. Don't miss the story development and character growth in each episode.

Conclusion

"Steel Jeeg" is a shining example of the robot anime boom of the 1970s, and is praised for its unique story and setting, attractive characters, high-quality mechanical design, impressive music, and high production quality. The work has been supported by a wide range of people from children to adults, and has created many fans. If you are interested in robot anime or ancient history, "Steel Jeeg" is a must-see work. Please watch it at least once and experience its charm.