The appeal and reviews of "REIDEEN": Why it's recommended for modern anime fans

REIDEEN - Reviews and Recommendations

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Broadcast period

March 3, 2007 - September 1, 2007
WOWOW March 3, 2007 to September 1, 2007 (1st to 26th episodes) Every Saturday 19:00-19:30
TOKYO MX October 23, 2007 to December 25, 2007 (Episodes 1 to 26) Every Tuesday 21:00 to 21:30

■Broadcasting station

WOWOW

■Frequencies

24 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 26

■Original Story

Tohokushinsha

■ Director

Mitsuru Hongo

■ Production

・Animation production: Production IG
・Production/Tohokushinsha, Production IG

■Works

©2007 Tohokushinsha/Production IG

■ Story

"Ordinary high school students fighting on giant robots is something that only happens in old manga. It's impossible in reality. Why is that...?"
The setting is the near future, Japan.
Atsuki Saiga, who lives an ordinary high school life, heads to Mount Kurokami in Iwate Prefecture after hearing that the body of his father, an archaeologist who went missing 10 years ago, has been discovered at an archaeological site.
Junki loses consciousness in the ruins and has a strange hallucination. The golden bracelet he is left with has the ancient Japanese characters engraved on it. "The Great One, Reideen"...
At the same time, a meteorite falls and a giant robot appears from the dam lake!
And as if in response, something shining gold appeared from Mt. Kurokami...

The story vividly depicts the confusion, conflict, and human drama of the protagonist, who finds himself traveling between the everyday world of "day" and the extraordinary world of "night" - a world consumed by battle.
The protagonist has acquired an immense power.
…Is it glory or terror?

*Quoted from Production.IG official website

■Explanation

"REIDEEN" once again overturns the conventional wisdom of robot anime!
"Brave Reideen" aired in 1975. It is said that this masterpiece changed the history of robot anime thereafter, and inheriting the DNA of this masterpiece, a completely new Reideen TV anime series, "REIDEEN" has been produced!
Production IG's 3DCG team has used the know-how they gained from producing IGPX to bring a new Reideen to life with beautiful images never before seen, making full use of their outstanding 3DCG technology.

The legend returns!
The team is staffed with a talented team, including director Mitsuru Hongo of "IGPX" and "Outlaw Star," character designer Takuya Saito of "Sakura Wars: Motion Picture," mechanical designer Atsushi Takeuchi of "Innocence" and Shinji Aramaki of "Appleseed," and music by Yoshihiro Ike of "BLOOD THE LAST VAMPIRE."
In addition, "REIDEEN" has already been adapted into a comic! The "REIDEEN" world drawn by up-and-coming manga artist Karasuma Tasuku will begin serialization in the January issue of "Monthly Shonen Ace" (scheduled for release on November 25th, published by Kadokawa Shoten).

*Quoted from Production.IG official website

■Cast

・Atsuki Saiga/Masataka Wagatsuma・Rei Aoino/Sako Chiba・Taro Maedazaki/Shinichiro Miki・Hana Hoshikawa/Takako Honda・Muneji Terasaki/Keiji Fujiwara・Shiori Kobayakawa/Yuka Okada・Kurana Saiga/Kimiko Koyama・Ringo Saiga/Sayuri・Roccel/Yuji Nojima・Keto/Yuki Mitsugi

■ Main staff

・Original work: Tohokushinsha ・Director: Mitsuru Hongo ・Assistant Director: Shunsuke Tada ・Series Composition: Masahiro Yokotani, Mitsuru Hongo ・Character Design: Takuya Saito ・Mechanic Design: Atsushi Takeuchi, Shinji Aramaki ・Prop Design: Shinji Suetomi ・Art Director: Masanobu Nomura (Studio Biho)
Art setting: Yoshinori Shiozawa (Studio Biho)
・Color design: Yoko Watanabe ・3D director: Shigeki Hayashi ・3D producer: Eiji Mizutani ・Director of photography: Makoto Furukawa ・Music: Yoshihiro Ike ・Sound director: Masafumi Mima ・Sound effects: Hiromune Kurahashi (Soundbox)
・Animation production: Production IG
・Production/Tohokushinsha, Production IG

■ Main Characters

・Atsuyoshi Saiga
15 years old. First year at Tokyo Metropolitan Rikkoku High School. A smart, cool, modern high school student. From the day his father's body was discovered at the Kurokamiyama ruins, his fate began to change...
・Rei Aoino
15 years old. A beautiful girl who transferred from Miyanobe Village, which was hit by a disaster. A first-year student at Rikkoku High School.
・Taro Maedazaki
30 years old. Member of the Self-Defense Forces Document Arrangement Department. His personal interest and research subject is O-Parts. He is the leader of the specialist group "Shirasagi Unit."
・Hoshikawa Hana
25 years old. Member of the Shirasagi Unit. After an airplane accident at the age of 7, he awakened to his psychic powers. He has the ability of telekinesis and telepathy.
・Muneji Terasaki
23 years old. Member of the Shirasagi Unit. A martial artist and firearms professional. He doesn't open up to anyone, but he does his job perfectly as a professional.
A first-year student at Rikkoku High School. A childhood friend and classmate of Atsuki. She prides herself on being the person who understands Atsuki the best.
・Saigakure Natsu Atsuki's younger sister. A first-year student at a private junior high school.
Saiga Ringo is Atsuki's mother. Since her husband Takumi went missing near Miyabe Village 10 years ago, she has been raising Atsuki and Kuraka on her own.
・Rokser Ticket Alien. The pilot of the "Gadion", which was created in a newer era than Reideen.
Keto: A mysterious creature that can take any shape as long as its mass remains the same. Roxel's pet. It seems to express its emotions through its horn-like part.

■ Main robot items

・Reideen is a golden giant that appeared from Mount Kurokami. It is piloted by Atsuki Saiga. It can transform into God Bird and other forms.
A silver giant controlled by Gadion Roxel. It was created in a newer era than Reideen.

■Subtitle

・Episode 1: The Resurrection of the Legend (2007/03/03)
・Episode 2: The Legendary Hero (2007/03/10)
Episode 3: Invisible Shadow (2007/03/17)
・Episode 4: Battle with the Shadow (2007/03/24)
Episode 5: White Herons Gather (2007/03/31)
・Episode 6: The Divine Bird (2007/04/07)
Episode 7: A New Wind (2007/04/14)
・Episode 8 / Gale Runaway (2007/04/21)
Episode 9: The one who calls for darkness (2007/04/28)
Episode 10: Cut through the darkness! (2007/05/12)
・Episode 11/Gadion (2007/05/19)
Episode 12: Escape from Space (2007/05/26)
Episode 13: Festival (2007/06/02)
・Episode 14: Challenge from the Deep Sea (2007/06/09)
・Episode 15: The Legend Sleeping in the Sea (2007/06/16)
・Episode 16: Crazy Sky (2007/06/23)
Episode 17: Attack in the Storm (2007/06/30)
Episode 18: The Smell of Goodbye (2007/07/07)
Episode 19: Unwanted Power (2007/07/14)
Episode 20: Time Stops (2007/07/21)
Episode 21: The Plot Begins (2007/07/28)
Episode 22: Awaken and Fight (2007/08/04)
Episode 23: Roxel, Again (2007/08/11)
・Episode 24: Gadion Stands Up (2007/08/18)
Episode 25: Raideen's Recapture (2007/08/25)
Episode 26: The Final Battle (September 1, 2007)

■ Related works

・Ura REIDEEN

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・Manacles
Lyrics by sheena and Tomiko Ban Composer by Jin Nakamura
Arrangement: Leo Nishikawa Vocals: Tomiko Ban

・ED1
・Lyrics by Nakamura Naka・Music by Nakamura Naka・Arrangement by Ura Kiyohide・Singer by Nakamura Naka

REIDEEN - Reideen - Evaluation

"REIDEEN" is a robot anime that was broadcast in 2007, and while it inherited the DNA of 1975's "Brave Reideen," it captivated viewers with a new story and beautiful visuals. The visuals, which made full use of Production IG's outstanding 3DCG technology, went beyond the boundaries of traditional robot anime and made a visual impact. In this review, we will delve deeply into "REIDEEN" from various perspectives, including the story, characters, visuals, and music.

story

The story of "REIDEEN" is set in the near future in Japan, and begins when Junki Saiga, an ordinary high school student, has a strange hallucination on Mount Kurokami, where his father's body was found. There he obtains a golden bracelet engraved with the words "Great One Reideen," and Junki is led by its power to become the pilot of the giant robot "Reideen." The story travels between the everyday and the extraordinary, depicting battles against giant robots and the bonds between friends.

The appeal of this work is that it realistically depicts the conflict and growth that the main character experiences as a result of his enormous power. At first, Atsuki cannot accept that he is the pilot of Reideen, and feels fear and confusion. However, as he meets and fights with his comrades, he gradually comes to terms with himself and grows, which is moving to watch. In addition to the battles with the giant beast machines, the human drama is also carefully depicted, drawing the viewer in.

character

The characters in "REIDEEN" are all unique and charming. The main character, Saiga Junki, is a smart and good-looking high school student, but he is portrayed realistically as someone who feels a sense of responsibility and struggles as a Reideen pilot. Aoino Rei is a beautiful girl who transferred to the school after a disaster, and she is a source of emotional support for Junki. Maedazaki Taro is the leader of the Shirasagi Unit, and leads the team with calm and accurate judgment. The abilities and backgrounds of each character, such as Hoshikawa Hana's psychic powers and Terazaki Munetsugu's combat techniques, add depth to the story.

Particularly impressive are the presence of Roxel and Keto. Roxel is a Tickett alien and serves as the pilot of the Gadion. His alien perspective and his comical interactions with Keto add humor to the story and entertain the viewers. In addition, the presence of his family, such as Saiga Kuraka and Saiga Ringo, is also an important factor in supporting Junki's growth.

picture

The visuals of "REIDEEN" are a collection of the best of Production IG's 3DCG technology, and are characterized by their beautiful visuals. In particular, the battle scenes between Reideen and Gadion captivate viewers with their realistic movements and powerful effects. Additionally, the backgrounds of Mt. Kurokami and the dam lake are depicted in great detail, enriching the worldview of the story.

The use of 3DCG shows new possibilities for robot anime, and realizes a visual beauty that sets it apart from conventional 2D anime. The combined efforts of a stellar team of staff, including director Mitsuru Hongo, character designer Takuya Saito, and mechanical designers Atsushi Takeuchi and Shinji Aramaki, have resulted in a work with a strong visual impact.

music

The music for "REIDEEN" was written by Yoshihiro Ike and is an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the story. The opening theme "manacles" is a memorable song that combines Tomiko Ban's powerful singing voice with the composition of Jin Nakamura and the arrangement of Leo Nishikawa. The ending theme "Kakeruashi no Ikigata" is a moving song that reflects the theme of the story and is written, composed and sung by Nakamura Naka.

In addition, the background music is carefully crafted to match each scene, enhancing the tension of the battle scenes and the calmness of the everyday scenes. Music helps the viewer to become immersed in the story and plays a role in improving the quality of the work as a whole.

Recommendation

"REIDEEN" is recommended not only for fans of robot anime, but also for viewers who want to enjoy human drama and beautiful visuals. The story, which beautifully combines the protagonist's growth, the bond with his friends, and giant robot battle scenes, has the power to draw viewers in. In addition, the beautiful visuals created by Production IG's 3DCG technology create a visual impact and further enhance the appeal of the work.

Furthermore, while "REIDEEN" inherits the DNA of the 1975 "Brave Reideen," it will surprise viewers with new interpretations and developments. It is a noteworthy work as a remake of a masterpiece that changed the history of robot anime, and it will also provide a new perspective for fans of good old robot anime.

To enjoy this work to the fullest, we recommend that you pay attention to the following points when watching.

• The growth and conflicts of the protagonist, Atsuki Saiga
• A human drama featuring unique characters
• Beautiful images created using Production IG's 3DCG technology
• Music and theme song by Yoshihiro Ike
• Comparison with 1975's "Brave Raideen"

"REIDEEN" is a visually and narratively satisfying work that shows new possibilities for robot anime. Please watch it and experience its charm for yourself.