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Rating: Since, by now, on DeBaser you can, practically, review everything (or almost everything), I couldn’t wait to review my favorite anime, the one I grew up with throughout the 80s and mid-90s.
An anime that was then mysteriously withdrawn and disappeared from public, private, and local private TV.
A real shame.
I don't consider myself very good as an anime or manga reviewer (in fact, I don't even consider myself that good as a music reviewer), yet I want to try with this "Mazin-Saga" to reach the newcomer in the Mazinger house, which is "Mazinkaiser" and see how it goes.
However, before "exploring" this new work by master Go Nagai, I would like to make a small temporal digression. Starting from “Mazinger Z” and “Great Mazinger” to then reach our Mazinkaiser. Go Nagai created “Mazinger Z” in the early 70s. It was broadcast on Japanese networks in 1972 and had a whopping 92 episodes! In Italy, it arrived about a decade late, only to be brutally cut, censored, poorly dubbed, and, finally, seeing the names of the main characters changed (Koji Kabuto, the pilot and protagonist of Mazinger Z, would become, mysteriously, Ryo…).
In "Great Mazinger", instead, Ryo returns to being Koji, but it too suffers from the same flaws that "killed" its predecessor. Furthermore, “Mazinger Z” was never broadcast in its entirety in Italy but was abruptly interrupted at episode 51 (“The Theft of Super-Alloy Z”), because, in the 52nd episode there was a scene that, according to the scheduling geniuses, could induce violent or, at least, not appropriate behavior to the norms of normality in the little ones who all watched the aforementioned anime. The scene in question (very raw!!!!) was the one where Prof. Yumi, director of the Institute of Photoatomic Energy Research, pointed a gun at his temple in an attempt to kill himself, just to surrender to the hands of the enemy.
No one ever knew how the anime concluded, nor, much less, its close connection with “Great Mazinger”, in which the protagonists of the first “Mazinger Z” return in the last episodes to support the new hero, Tetsuya.
Another fact that really turns the stomach is the complete overturning of the whole plot. “Goldrake”, the third chapter of the trilogy, was aired first with Koji Kabuto, this time, as Alcor (but why?!!??!!), then “Great Mazinger” in its entirety, but with terrible dubbing (for example, in episode 12 when the crow goes to warn Boss of the arrival of a mechanical monster, one of Boss's assistants says: “Maybe it’s more hygienic to stay here….” What the hell does that mean?!? And I could go on indefinitely….) and finally, “Mazinger Z” dubbed even worse (in the initial episodes, the Italian-Japanese languages are overlapped, with the protagonists speaking now Italian and now Japanese, making it impossible for the listener to understand anything).
As you may have understood, very little was saved from the wreck of the legendary trilogy “Mazinger Z – Great Mazinger – Goldrake”, in which the only element of continuity of the series was represented by Koji Kabuto and his friend Boss.
However, I feel compelled to briefly recount the ending of “Mazinger Z”, at least to give an idea, to those who didn’t know, of how the new super robot, Great Mazinger, appears. Essentially, after the repeated beatings received by Mazinger Z, Dr. Hell (in Italy Dr. Inferno) allies with the Mekene Empire, a powerful people hiding in the depths of the Earth. A people who have transformed their own bodies into gigantic automatons, with their faces at the center. Moreover, it seems to be a tribute from master Nagai to the Roman Empire (the names are fantastic, like “General Yuri Caesar”) and the Mycenaean civilization.
In the last episode, after defeating Dr. Hell's armies, Koji and his companions retire to the research institute to celebrate. Koji appears very worn and wounded from the last battle and Mazinger Z is half wrecked. The Mekene Empire takes advantage of this to launch a massive attack on Earth. Koji, undeterred, intervenes piloting his Mazinger Z but is entirely torn to pieces. Then, from an unspecified place (which in the sequel will be called the “Science Fortress”), a mysterious man orders an equally mysterious boy to intervene with an equally mysterious machin. And “Great Mazinger” makes its entrance, swiftly disposing of the mechanical monsters, saving the base and Koji from certain death.
In the manga, Koji will be transformed into a cyborg due to the numerous injuries sustained. In the anime, this is spared us. Koji and Sayaka leave for the United States, leaving Earth in the hands of Tetsuya and Great Mazinger.
Undoubtedly, the dumbest character of the series is Shiro along with his stupid Junior robot. For two simple reasons. He remains in Japan beside Tetsuya and Prof. Kabuto. But he never realizes that Prof. Kenzo Kabuto is none other than his father, whom he thought was dead. Shiro demonstrates being stubbornly foolish. How does he not recognize his father since the scientist shares the same surname? And has he never seen a portrait or a photo of him? Second reason. Junior Robot is more useless than Boss Robot. If I were to build a robot for my son, I would make it super strong and invincible. Instead, Junior Robot is embarrassingly, alarmingly, and frighteningly weak.
Overlooking these things, it is necessary to mention the psychological traits of the two great protagonists: Koji and Tetsuya. Both heroes, Koji appears at the beginning to be a bit clumsy in piloting Mazinger Z, only to gain prowess in various battles. Furthermore, Koji (along with Duke Fleed, in “Goldrake”) can be defined as the hero without stain and without fear, a bit reckless but definitely one who has his head on straight.
The same cannot be said for Tetsuya, who seems mad. His “kamikaze” encounters with the enemies are not rare just to defeat them. He doesn’t hesitate to plunge headlong into danger even if he knows that, surely, he will end up more dead (or just dead) than alive. Moreover, he is not a “pure” and frequently has spats with his “hot” girlfriend of the anime, June, and with Kenzo Kabuto himself, whom he calls “boss,” in a devoted sense. Again, Tetsuya is a true mercenary, perfectly trained to pilot his machin (episode recounting his traumatic childhood, being picked up as an orphan by Prof. Kabuto, raised, and cruelly trained. All done to “forge” him and make him brave and fearless of danger).
“Great Mazinger” (which will remain my favorite anime of the whole trilogy and its various sequels), however, has a major flaw: the ending. Tetsuya himself will appear pitiful by showing jealousy and meanness towards Koji. It will be Mazinger Z who destroys “Demonica” with its commanders but... what becomes of the Emperor of Darkness? Who knows? A mystery of the series that thus concludes.
And now, let's move on to the newcomer, "Mazinkaiser".
In “Mazinkaiser” we find all the characters from the “Mazin-saga”, including the legendary Boss.
This time Go Nagai has decided to amaze us with special effects, and indeed, he has succeeded.
There is a greater link with the manga (Prof. Kabuto, Koji’s grandfather, is shown for what he really is: a crazed, eccentric scientist, while in “Mazinger Z” he was shown as a poor, harmless, and defenseless old man…). The psychological profiles of the protagonists have not changed.
Dr. Hell and Baron Ashura return, bringing to the battlefield all their mechanical monsters to destroy, once and for all, the photoatomic energy research center and its inhabitants, as well as the two great robots. Mazinger Z and Great Mazinger intervene but are brutally beaten by an almost infinite array of enemies. Koji’s Pilder is thrown far away to an undefined area of the world (!), Mazinger Z falls into enemy hands and Great Mazinger returns gravely damaged with a severely injured Tetsuya.
In the second attack, "kamikaze-Tetsuya" intervenes with no hope of victory, expecting to die. But, while at the limit of his strength, a new and more powerful robot intervenes: the Mazinkaiser, who in moments destroys the enemies and, under a Koji out of control, starts destroying the research center with Tetsuya who puts himself in the way taking all the hits from the deadly robot, without being able to react. This continues until Koji regains his mental clarity, finding himself suddenly awake and in bed.
Just as Mazinger is nothing more than the fusion of two words “God-Demon” (from “Majin,” meaning demon, precisely), “Mazinkaiser is the further fusion of “God-Demon-Emperor” (from “Kaiser”). As explained several times, both in the first series, that of “Mazinger Z,” and in “Mazinkaiser,” by Prof. Kabuto himself, both robots have undefined power and those who control them can aspire to become a ruthless demon or a God. Or, in the last case also, a Emperor.
The power of Mazinkaiser is indisputable. Suffice it to consider that to launch the “Fire Blaster” (“Infernal Flame”) from the chest, he must be supported by Boss Robot and Diana Alpha simultaneously because the thrust he bears does not allow him to stay balanced (incredible!). The really surprising thing is the date of its construction, earlier than that of Mazinger Z! Simply because, the Mazinkaiser, during the "testing" phase, proved to be a true mass destruction machine, invincible and indestructible, Prof. Kabuto, bless his soul, had decided to keep it hidden and well-guarded in a secret base buried in the depths of the famous, very indefinite place within the story. This was out of fear that it could become more of a weapon of annihilation of enemies and human beings should it be used improperly or fall into the wrong hands. Hence, therefore, creating a less powerful robot (but much less powerful!) like Mazinger Z built with the famous "Super-Alloy Z".
Regarding the character design, it is indisputable that in “Mazinkaiser” the animation is much smoother. Moreover, the protagonists' Machin are much more “appreciable” and redefined, while remaining practically identical to the originals. What instead is disturbing about the same character design are the facial features and the outlines of the characters, rendered “flat”. Really ugly.
It is also necessary to state that “Mazinkaiser” does not present any continuity elements with “Mazinger Z” and “Great Mazinger”, this is noteworthy by the fact that in “Mazinger Z” Dr. Hell will die, and we will find him in “Great Mazinger” serving the Emperor of Darkness “reconstructed and remade” with the name “Great Marshal of Darkness,” who, in the finale, will be killed along with Marchioness Yanus and Demonica in a combined robot attack. Furthermore, very importantly, is the mention of the “Black General”, defeated by Great Mazinger in an epic hand-to-hand duel (that episode was memorable!). As per the script, we will find him making a comeback in the sequel of “Mazinkaiser,” which is the feature length film “Mazinkaiser Vs. Black General.” A sequel I have no interest in reviewing at this moment, also because I would be going off "topic".
What else is there to say… That “Mazinkaiser” is composed of just 7 (but wonderful) episodes; that, "Great Mazinger" will remain my favorite giant robot and robot series (the same applies to Tetsuya, who in “Mazinkaiser” is relegated to the role of a mere extra but takes great pleasure in having his “June”… we discover that the two are in love!); that the opening theme is the stunning “Fire Wars” by the legendary Jam Project, a cult heavy metal band concerning the soundtracks of new anime, especially those by Go Nagai (listen to believe, besides the already mentioned “Fire Wars”, “Dead Or Alive”, “Break Out” and “Stormbringer”); that despite all this perfection in the drawings, the story remains open-ended in the finale that I will never disclose to you and that, in any case, does not manage to reach neither, much less, match the success of its two legendary predecessors. And that, at least this time, the dubbing has remained very faithful to the original and the scenes of violence have increased, made more raw (and many times border on total idiocy… seeing Great Mazinger "cough" and lose "blood" from the mouth… It's crazy!) but they are NEVER censored, should at least intrigue you to enjoy this saga, available only on DVD (a shame) and which I do not think we will ever see broadcasted on TV.
Finally, for all the fans… a remake of “Mazinger Z” is already airing, titled “Shin Mazinger Z,” which tells in more detail the story of Mazinger Z. It consists of 26 episodes with a sequel, that of “Great Mazinger”, where, hopefully perhaps, we will see what the hell happens to the Emperor of Darkness.
Greetings to all fans of Japanese anime, Go Nagai, and Mazinger!
Sayonara!
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