The appeal and reputation of Tetsujin 28-go Gao!: A modern-day revival of the monumental robot anime

All-round review and recommendation of Tetsujin 28 Gao!

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

Broadcast every Saturday from 4:52 to 5:00 from April 6, 2013 to March 26, 2016

■Broadcasting station

Fuji Television

■Frequencies

8 mins

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 151

■Original Story

Mitsuteru Yokoyama (Hikari Production)

■ Director

Ryuji Yamazaki

■ Production

Fuji TV Aiken

■Works

©Hikari Production Aiken

■ Story

Shotaro Kaneda is an elementary school student who controls Tetsujin 28 with a remote control. With his natural sense of justice, he protects the town from evil. However, whenever he is looking forward to eating his school lunch or doing his homework, the bad guys always appear, so Shotaro has to go to work reluctantly... What will be the outcome of the battle?

■Explanation

This production marks the 50th anniversary of the anime adaptation of "Tetsujin 28," a robot manga originally written by Yokoyama Mitsuteru. It is a pop-cute anime with a bright style. The enemy robots also have a pop design, which, along with the comical content, has become a hot topic. While carefully depicting the daily life of the main character, Kaneda Shotaro, the sub-characters are also explored in depth.

■Cast

Shotaro Kaneda/Tomomi Saito/Chief Otsuka/Takashi Matsuyama/Dr. Shikishima/Kanehira Yamamoto/Tetsuo Shikishima/Kyoko Chigiri/Kayoko Otsuka/Miwa Kohinata

■ Main staff

・Original work: Mitsuteru Yokoyama (Hikari Production)
・Producers: Daisuke Hara, Yoko Matsushita, Shotarou Muroji ・Director: Ryuji Yamazaki ・Series composition, scriptwriter: Mitsuki Hirota ・Original character design: Kunio Nakazawa ・Character design: Tatsuya Koike, Machiko Negishi ・Art setting: Hiroshi Sato ・Art director: Osamu Nakajima, Noriko Kohinata ・Color setting: Yuka Chiyoma ・Director of photography: Kazushi Kudo ・Music: Futoshi Sato

■ Main Characters

Shotaro Kaneda: An elementary school student who controls Tetsujin 28. Every day he protects the city from evil attacks.
Chief Otsuka: The chief of the police station that cracks down on crime, and fights alongside Shotaro.
Dr. Shikishima is the scientist who invented Tetsujin 28 and is responsible for maintenance and research of new equipment.
Murasame Kenji: A mysterious man who appears out of nowhere and secretly helps Shotaro in the countryside.

■ Main robot items

・Tetsujin 28-go is Shotaro's partner and a giant robot that defeats evil. It is controlled by remote control.
・Black Ox: A thinking robot with the same strength as Tetsujin.
・Robbie A self-aware robot who is trying to create his own kingdom.

■ Theme songs and music

・ED
・"Tetsujin 28"
Lyrics: Keiro Miki Composition: Keiro Miki Arrangement: Futoshi Sato Vocals: Tomomi Saito

■Detailed evaluation

"Tetsujin 28-go Gao!" is an anime series based on Mitsuteru Yokoyama's masterpiece "Tetsujin 28-go," and was broadcast from 2013 to 2016. Although it is a long-running series with 151 episodes, each episode is only eight minutes long, so there are many creative ideas to keep viewers from getting bored. Below, we will provide a detailed evaluation of the story, characters, production background, and audience reactions.

Story and development

The story of this series is simple, with elementary school student Kaneda Shotaro, who controls Tetsujin 28 with a remote control, protecting the town from evil. However, the story depicts Shotaro's daily life and battles with villains in a humorous way, making it enjoyable for both children and adults. In particular, the setting in which villains appear during lunch and homework time resonates with viewers and invites laughter.

As it is a long-running series with 151 episodes, the story developments are diverse. Early episodes show Shotaro honing his skills in controlling Tetsujin 28 and his first battle with a villain. As the series progresses, the variety of enemy robots increases and the scale of the battles grows. Furthermore, in the latter half, there are many episodes that show Shotaro's growth and the deepening of his bonds with his friends, which are elements that attract viewers.

Character Appeal

The greatest appeal of this series lies in the individuality and growth of its characters. The protagonist, Kaneda Shotaro, is an elementary school student with a strong sense of justice, but he also has a childlike side. The sight of him controlling Tetsujin 28 with a remote control gives viewers courage and hope, while his looks forward to school lunches and homework resonate with children. Another point not to be missed is Shotaro's growth, and his leadership and sense of responsibility are depicted to increase as the series progresses.

The supporting characters are also fascinating, with Chief Otsuka, Dr. Shikishima, and Murasame Kenji each playing a unique role. Chief Otsuka is a good friend of Shotaro, and is memorable for the way he guides him, sometimes strict and sometimes gentle. Dr. Shikishima, as the developer of Tetsujin 28, supports Shotaro by making full use of his knowledge and skills as a scientist. Murasame Kenji is a mysterious character, and the gradual unravelling of his actions and background is one of the highlights of the series.

Production background and technology

"Tetsujin 28-go Gao!" is based on the original work by Yokoyama Mitsuteru, but features a pop and cute style that is adapted to modern audiences. This was the work of director Yamazaki Tatsushi and character designers Koike Tatsuya and Negishi Machiko, and their skills shine through in the work. The art and color settings are also well-thought-out to create a bright and pop atmosphere, making it very visually appealing.

Furthermore, the music is also an important element that enhances the appeal of this work. Sato Futoshi's music not only livens up the battle scenes, but is also used effectively to portray the emotions of the characters. In particular, the ending theme "Tetsujin 28-go" along with Saito Tomomi's singing voice will surely leave a deep impression on the viewers' hearts.

Response from viewers

"Tetsujin 28-go Gao!" has been popular with many viewers since it was first broadcast, and was especially popular among children. The pop and comical style of the show made it easy for children to relate to, and many viewers looked forward to its weekly broadcasts. Fans of the original work also praised the show for faithfully retaining the essence of the original while adding a new interpretation.

The series also received a lot of attention on social media and the internet, with the cute characters and interesting story becoming a hot topic. In particular, the episodes showing Shotaro's growth and the deepening of his bonds with his friends touched viewers, with many fans even saying they were moved to tears.

■Recommendation details

"Tetsujin 28-go Gao!" is an anime series that can be enjoyed by both children and adults, and is especially recommended for the following viewers:

For kids

The film features a pop and comical style that is easy for children to relate to. The sight of the main character, Kaneda Shotaro, controlling Tetsujin 28 with a remote control will give children courage and hope. Also, the setting in which villains appear during lunch and homework time will resonate with children and make them laugh. Furthermore, the episodes that show Shotaro's growth and the deepening of his bonds with his friends will touch children's hearts and have a positive influence on them.

For fans of the original

For fans of Mitsuteru Yokoyama's original "Tetsujin 28", this film is a work that firmly retains the essence of the original while adding a new interpretation. In particular, it has been praised for its pop and cute style that is suited to modern viewers while recreating the charm of the original, such as Tetsujin 28's design, the personalities of the characters, and the development of the story. For fans of the original, this film will be a work that will give a sense of nostalgia and freshness at the same time.

For robot anime fans

For viewers who love robot anime, this is a work not to be missed. The designs of the robots, including Tetsujin 28, and the battle scenes are visually appealing. In addition, the setting of controlling robots with a remote control shows new possibilities for robot anime, and is an element that draws viewers in. Furthermore, there is a wide variety of enemy robots, and as the scale of the battles grows, the excitement of the viewers will surely increase.

Family Friendly

"Tetsujin 28-go Gao!" is an anime series that the whole family can enjoy. The pop and comical style makes it easy for children to relate to, and parents can enjoy it together. Also, episodes that show Shotaro's growth and the deepening of his bonds with his friends will touch the whole family and have a positive influence. Furthermore, the story, which retains the essence of the original work, will bring back nostalgia for the parent generation and will be a conversation starter for the family.

■ Summary

"Tetsujin 28-go Gao!" is an anime series based on Yokoyama Mitsuteru's masterpiece "Tetsujin 28-go," and is characterized by its pop and comical style. The story, in which the main character, Kaneda Shotaro, controls Tetsujin 28-go with a remote control to protect the city from evil, is enjoyable for both children and adults. It is an excellent work from all angles, including the personalities and growth of the characters, the production background and techniques, and the reaction from viewers. It is a work that I would particularly recommend for children, fans of the original work, fans of robot anime, and families.