The appeal and evaluation of Choryoku Robo Galatt: A must-see robot anime masterpiece

Super Power Robo Garatt - Super Power Robo Garatt

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Broadcast period

October 6, 1984 - April 5, 1985 Every Saturday 17:00-17:30

■Broadcasting station

Nagoya TV

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 25

■Original Story

Original author: Hajime Yatate

■ Director

Director: Takeyuki Kanda

■ Production

Japan Sunrise

■Works

©Sunrise

■ Story

In a peaceful future where the possession of weapons and arms is prohibited, robots are all small and useful for daily life, such as those children use to commute to school. One day, a giant robot suddenly appears and starts wreaking havoc. Dr. Kiwi is consulted by the helpless state governor, who says he will summon the "Messenger of Justice from the Universe" in exchange for research funds. The doctor kidnaps Jambu, a school robot he made for a boy he knows, Michael, and modifies it without permission using an expanding super alloy that he also developed. With the flip of a switch, it grows huge and transforms upside down, giving birth to the cool hero robot Garat. With Michael, who wants to be popular with the girls, as its pilot, Garat's exploits begin.

■Explanation

"Galatt" combines the best of slapstick comedy and hero action featuring giant robots. It introduced fresh ideas that are reminiscent of variety and comedy shows, such as the insertion of sudden, out-of-context gags. At a time when realistic robot anime was the norm, it was quite a challenging work.

■Cast

・Michael Marsh/Katsuhiko Nakagawa ・Patty Pumpkin/Yoshino Takamori
・Kamil Casimir Jr. / Hirotaka Suzuoki
・Dr. Kiwi/Naoki Tatsuta・Jambu/Kenichi Ogata・Patigue/Eriko Hara・Sakiko Jidaiin/Kumiko Takizawa・Dosukoi Sisters/Yoshiko Sakakibara・Hahera/Kei Toyama・Salad Doyu/Yuji Mitsuya・Narrator/Keaton Yamada

■ Main staff

・Planning/Nippon Sunrise ・Original story/Yatate Hajime
・Character design: Toyoo Ashida
Mechanical design: Kunio Okawara Guest mechanical design: Koichi Ohata Art director: Toshihisa Tojo, Toshihide Kawana Director of photography: Hosaku Miura Editing: Tsurubuchi Films Sound director: Katsumi Ota Music: Masanori Sasaji Chief director: Tetsuro Amino (episodes 4-25)
Director: Takeyuki Kanda Producer: Kei Moriyama (the old character for "path" with the radical "sanzui") (Nagoya TV), Masuro Ueda (Nippon Sunrise)

■Subtitle

Episode 1: When evil runs rampant, Garatt arrives!!
-Episode 2: When a dog barks, the monster (mecha) screams!
・Episode 3: Beautiful rival Kamil appears!!
Episode 4: Born with a smile! I'm Patigue!!
Episode 5: Oops, that's dangerous! Sunny with occasional bulky trash Episode 6: Pirate Kid, don't kiss me!
Episode 7: Let's go find the great thief Jambu!!
Episode 8: An unprecedented event: eggs falling from the sky?
・Episode 9 / Fierce Battle!! The Obstacle Race is a Signal for Killing ・Episode 10 / Romance of the Ancients? The Doctor's Abnormal Desire ・Episode 11 / Wandering Hero Space Part I
Episode 12: Deadly Battle, Duel at the Dinosaur Ranch, Space Part II
Episode 13: Stuntmen have a dangerous scent - Space Part III
・Episode 14: The Messenger of Justice is a Bounty Hunter? Space Chapter IV
・Episode 15/And so, the three finally return. ・Episode 16/What an amazing telekinetic Bose?!
- Episode 17/Small worries: Will dancing the Jumpuu bring back my memories?
・Episode 18/Let's poke! The professor's butt ・Episode 19/The encounter is thrilling!! Are the beautiful women's army on a high plane?
・Episode 20 / How can I meet him? My beloved Garratt・Episode 21 / What the hell! Marian is kidnapped and Dosan is exhausted・Episode 22 / A big surprise! The secret of the Dosukoi sisters・Episode 23 / Michael is muddy, Garratt is in danger・Episode 24 / Never give up, the big fireworks counterattack!
Episode 25: Shout from your uvula with incredible power!

■Detailed evaluation and recommendation

"Galatt: Super Robot Wars" is a TV anime series produced by Sunrise Japan that aired from 1984 to 1985. It was written by Hajime Yatate and directed by Takeyuki Kanda. The 25-episode series was broadcast on Nagoya TV every Saturday from 5:00 to 5:30 p.m. and had a huge impact on children at the time. Below, we will explain in detail the appeal and features of this series, as well as the recommended points.

Story and setting

"Galatt" is set in a peaceful future where the possession of weapons and arms is prohibited. In this future, most robots are small and useful in daily life, such as those used by children to go to school. However, a giant robot suddenly appears and begins to destroy the city. In the face of this crisis, Dr. Kiwi receives a request from the state governor and decides to summon the "Messenger of Justice from the Universe" in exchange for research funds. The doctor kidnaps Jambu, a school robot made for a young boy named Michael, and modifies it without permission using an expanding super alloy. Galatt is born, a hero robot that can grow huge with the touch of a switch and transform upside down. Michael becomes Galatt's pilot because he wants to be popular with girls, and Galatt's exploits begin.

A mix of comedy and action

The greatest feature of "Galatt" is that it combines slapstick comedy with giant robot hero action. At the time, realistic robot anime was the mainstream, but "Galatt" surprised viewers by introducing fresh ideas such as sudden gags and variety shows. In particular, the gag scenes that start out of nowhere and the unique behavior of the characters are designed to entertain viewers without disrupting the progress of the story, while providing laughs to the viewers.

Characters and cast

Each character in "Galatt" is unique and has a charm that captures the hearts of viewers. Katsuhiko Nakagawa, who plays the main character Michael Marsh, brings the character of Michael to life with his boyish voice and acting. Yoshino Takamori, who plays Patty Pumpkin, and Hirotaka Suzuoki, who plays Kamil Casimir Jr., also deliver performances that bring out the charm of their respective characters. Naoki Tatsuta, who plays Professor Kiwi, and Kenichi Ogata, who plays Jambu, also play important roles that add depth to the work.

Mechanical Design and Art

The mechanical design of "Galatt" was handled by Kunio Okawara and Koichi Ohata, and the scenes of Galatt's transformation and giantization are visually very impactful. Additionally, the background and set designs by art directors Tojo Toshihisa and Kawana Toshihide also realistically portray the futuristic worldview. The technical aspects of the film, such as the director of photography, Toyosaku Miura, the editor, Tsurubuchi Eiga, and the sound director, Katsumi Ohta, also contribute to the quality of the film.

Music and Production

The music by Masanori Sasaji plays an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the work. In particular, the background music during Galatt's battle scenes and comedy scenes has the effect of drawing out the emotions of the viewer. In addition, the direction by the chief director Tetsuro Amino and the director Takeyuki Kanda skillfully depicts the development of the story and the movements of the characters, drawing the viewer in.

Recommended points

"Galatt" is a unique work that combines slapstick comedy with giant robot hero action, and it had a huge impact on children at the time. In particular, the sudden gags, unique characters, and scenes where Galatt transforms and grows giant are full of visually enjoyable elements. The music and direction are also important elements that enhance the quality of the work, and have the power to draw the viewer in. "Galatt" is a work that can be enjoyed from a fresh perspective while also feeling nostalgic, so we highly recommend giving it a watch.

Supplementary Information

Even after the broadcast of "Galatt" ended, fans continue to hold events and sell merchandise, and the popularity of the show continues to this day. DVDs and Blu-rays have also been released, so viewers can enjoy the show anytime. In addition, there are many reviews and impressions by fans posted online, providing many opportunities to rediscover the appeal of the show. "Galatt" is a show that can be enjoyed by both children and adults, so we recommend that you give it a watch at least once.