UFO Robot Grendizer vs. Great Mazinger: A thorough analysis of the ultimate robot showdown!

UFO Robot Grendizer vs. Great Mazinger - Nagai Go's dream collaboration and the trajectory of the battle

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

comics

■ Release date

March 20, 1976 - January 1, 0000

■Distribution company

Toei

■Frequencies

27 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Go Nagai and Dynamic Productions

■ Director

Osamu Kasai

■ Production

Toei Animation

■ Story

A fierce battle unfolds on Earth between Duke's Dizer team and the Vega Alliance. Frustrated by the slow progress of the invasion of Earth, King Vega dispatches his Imperial Guard Captain Barendos as a trump card. Koji is captured by Barendos, and the existence of Great Mazinger becomes known. Barendos steals Great Mazinger from the Robot Museum and attacks Grendizer.

■Explanation

This is the second movie version of "UFO Robot Grendizer". Unlike the first movie, the story is completely original for this movie. There were other movies with "Tai" in the title before this one, where heroes dreamed of teaming up, but in this movie, as the name suggests, Grendizer and Great Mazinger clash. However, no characters from "Great Mazinger" appear, and this episode is more of a side story to "Grendizer".

■Cast

・Duke Freed/Takayoshi Toyama/Hikaru Makiba/Chiyoko Kawashima/Koji Kabuto/Hiroya Ishimaru/Genzo Umon/Joji Yanami/Captain Barendos' Guard/Hidekatsu Shibata/Commander Gandal/Kosei Tomita/Captain Blackie/Kenichi Ogata

■ Main staff

・Producer / Imada Tomonori・Planning / Ariga Ken, Katsuta Toshio・Original story / Nagai Go and Dynamic Productions・Screenplay / Fujikawa Keisuke・Music / Kikuchi Shunsuke, Watanabe Chumei・Key animation / Tomonaga Hidekazu, Kogawa Shigeru, Kinoshita Yuki・Animation / Nagasaki Shigenobu, Goto Noriko, Tsukima Emiko, Tanji Michio・Background / Matsumoto Kenji, Ebisuzawa Kazuo, Harada Kenichi, Nozaki Toshiro・Finishing / Takahashi Tatsuo, Maeda Takehiro・Special effects / Okada Yoshiaki, Dango Noboru・Cinematography / Sugaya Nobuyuki・Editing / Matsubara Chikako・Music selection / Miyashita Shigeru・Assistant director / Matsuura Johei・Chief progress director / Saeki Masahisa・Development / Toei Chemical・Recording / Date Etsuko・Sound recording / Ikegami Nobuteru・Effects / Ishida Sound Pro・Art director / Ito Iwamitsu・Animation director / Komatsubara Kazuo・Direction / Kasai Osamu


・Theme song
OP
"Grendizer, King of the Universe"
Lyrics by Yasutomi Yasugo Music by Kikuchi Shunsuke Vocals by Sasaki Isao, Korogi '73

■ Main Characters

Duke Freed: Prince of the planet Freed who fled to Earth. In order to protect his second home, Earth, he pilots the Grendizer and continues to fight against the Vega Alliance.

Hikaru Makiba: A girl who has feelings for Duke. For Duke's sake, she throws herself into the battle against the Vega Star Alliance as a member of the Dizer team.

A young man who once saved the Earth with Mazinger Z. He uses his wealth of experience and knowledge to support Duke in his battles.


Grendizer: A giant robot worshipped as the guardian of Planet Fleed. By combining with its support unit, the Spazer, it becomes capable of long-distance flight and flight under gravity.

■Detailed evaluation and analysis

"UFO Robot Grendizer vs. Great Mazinger" is a theatrical animation released in 1976 that depicts the dream battle between two of Nagai Go's greatest robots. This work was produced to meet the expectations of fans, backed by the popularity of the TV series "UFO Robot Grendizer." Below, we will analyze in detail the appeal of this work and its background.

The appeal of the story

The story of this work is based on the episodes of the TV series, but has a completely original development. With the Vega Alliance's invasion not progressing, Captain Barendos of the Imperial Guard is dispatched and Koji Kabuto is captured, creating a tense situation. Then, Great Mazinger is stolen and confronted by Grendizer, which is a dream scene for fans and a highlight that you cannot miss.

The relationship between Duke Freed and Hikaru Makiba is also depicted in depth, and the human drama that unfolds during the battle is one of the highlights. In particular, the way Hikaru's feelings for Duke affect her actions is depicted, making it an element that allows viewers to empathize with her.

Character Appeal

Duke Freed is the prince of Planet Freed, but he is also depicted fighting to protect the Earth. His bravery and sense of justice leave a strong impression on viewers. Hikaru Makiba's pure feelings and drive are also important elements that add excitement to the story. Koji Kabuto uses his experience with Mazinger Z to support Duke, and he also has a strong presence.

The showdown between Grendizer and Great Mazinger is visually very impactful, bringing out the best in Nagai Go's robot designs. In particular, the scene where they combine with Spazer and the scene where Great Mazinger is snatched are very effective visual highlights.

Background and influences

This film was produced by Toei Animation and distributed by Toei. It was directed by Osamu Kasai, written by Keisuke Fujikawa, and composed by Shunsuke Kikuchi and Chumei Watanabe. In particular, Shunsuke Kikuchi's theme song, "Grendizer, King of the Universe," is an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the film.

This film was produced based on the popularity of the TV series, but many staff members worked hard to give it the sense of scale and impact that only a feature-length film can offer. In particular, the visual beauty and impact were achieved as a result of the teamwork of staff from each department, including key animation, animation, backgrounds, and special effects.

This work also occupies an important place in the history of Go Nagai's robot anime, and had a major influence on his later works. In particular, the theme of heroes fighting together has been incorporated into many of his later works, and it has become an episode that is passed down among fans.

■ Recommendations and ratings

"UFO Robot Grendizer vs. Great Mazinger" is a must-see for fans of Go Nagai's robot anime. In particular, the confrontation scene between Grendizer and Great Mazinger is well worth watching, with a perfect match of visual impact and the tension of the story. The human drama between Duke Freed and Hikaru Makiba is also an element that deeply moves viewers.

This work has been loved by many fans since its release in 1976, and its charm has never faded and continues to shine forever. It is a work that you should definitely see at least once, whether you want to learn about the history of robot anime or enjoy the world created by Go Nagai.

■ Additional information

At the time this film was released, the TV series "UFO Robot Grendizer" was enjoying immense popularity, and this momentum led to the production of the film version. In particular, the dream battle between Grendizer and Great Mazinger became a big topic of conversation among fans, drawing in many viewers.

In addition, many staff members were involved in the production of this film, and their efforts and passion are reflected in the work. In particular, the visual beauty and impact of the film was achieved as a result of the teamwork of staff from each department, including key animation, animation, backgrounds, and special effects.

Furthermore, this work occupies an important place in the history of Go Nagai's robot anime, and had a major influence on his later works. In particular, the theme of heroes fighting together has been incorporated into many of his later works, and it has become an episode that is passed down among fans.

■ Recommended content

After enjoying "UFO Robot Grendizer vs. Great Mazinger," be sure to check out the following works, which will also let you enjoy the worlds created by Go Nagai.

1. Mazinger Z

A representative work by Go Nagai, this robot anime stars Koji Kabuto as the protagonist. It can be considered the predecessor to Great Mazinger, and stands out for the depth of its story and the appeal of its characters.

2. "Great Mazinger"

A sequel to "Mazinger Z," this is the story of a new robot and its pilot who succeeds Koji Kabuto. The showdown scene with Grendizer is also not to be missed.

3. Getter Robo

Another of Go Nagai's masterpieces, this is a story about robots that use getter rays as their energy source. The story revolves around themes of teamwork and friendship, and the viewers will be touched by the story.

4. Devilman

A dark fantasy work by Go Nagai, it tells the story of the battle between demons and humans. It is characterized by its deep themes and epic scale, making it a work that leaves a strong impression on viewers.

5. "Cutie Honey"

It is a heroine work by Go Nagai and a story about a transforming heroine. It is a work that combines action and drama, and the story unfolds to provide entertainment to the viewers.

You will be able to enjoy the worlds that Go Nagai has created in these works as well. We hope that you will use "UFO Robot Grendizer vs. Great Mazinger" as an opportunity to experience other works by Go Nagai.