Mazinger Z (1972)

Description

Mazinger Z was a Super Robot anime, who basically popuralized a Mecha genre once and for all. And also, it's the first robot to be controlled from a person inside the cabin. The series was adapted for the US and was named "Tranzor Z", also, some of the characters names was changed (ex. Koji became Tommy, Sayaka became Jessica, Baron became Devleen, etc.), the adaptation ran for only 65 episodes and final wasn't adapted either.

During an archeological expedition on the Aegean Sea, two world renowned scientists, Dr. Hell and Dr. Kabuto, discovered the secret weapons of the Mikenese Empire, giant robots, which the empire used to protect their many treasures and drive invaders away from their island. Whereas everyone else thought that these findings were of great positive value to humanity Dr. Hell saw them as a tool that he could use to take over the world. Immediately he ordered the Mikenese robots to attack the rest of the expeditionary group so that no one else knew of his plans. However, Dr. Kabuto managed to escape and go back to Japan, where he began working on the only weapon that would be able to stand up to Dr. Hell's plans for conquest, Mazinger-Z. Dr. Kabuto's robot, Mazinger-Z was the result of two of the Doctor's secret projects, a new metal alloy known as super alloy Z (composed of a new element discovered on the stratum of Mt. Fuji known as Japanium) and a new energy source (Photo-Atomic energy). However before he could tell anyone about Mazinger-Z Dr. Hell's minions, lead by Baron Ashura, caught up to Kabuto and were quick to bomb his home/laboratory. Thankfully Dr. Kabuto's grandchildren, Kouji and Shiro arrived at his demolished home before he passed away, the dying man was able to tell them about Mazinger-Z and Dr. Hell's nefarious plans. Angered by his grandfather's death Kouji set out to learn how to use Mazinger-Z and even though at first he didn't know how to control the machine. He eventually mastered the robot's controls and with the help of the Photo-Atomic Research Institute began his long battle against Dr. Hell's robot army.

Main Characters

Photo	Name	Description
	Kabuto Kouji	Kouji Kabuto is the protagonist of the show, an average student with great skill in driving motorcycles. He lived with his brother Shiro and his grandfather Juuzo, after his parents were apparently killed in a lab accident caused by his grandfather. One day, Koji receives a call from his grandfather to meet him at his mountain cabin. Just as Kouji arrives however, the cabin explodes. Searching the remains, he uncovers a hidden doorway into the mountain and inside, he finds his dying grandfather who tells him with his dying wish to pilot "Mazinger Z" and stop a man named Dr. Hell. Kouji continues into the hidden lab and discovers the huge, humanoid robot Mazinger Z, and the hover pilder which is used to control it. Honoring his grandfather's last wish, he joins up with the Photon Power Labs and fights the forces of Dr. Hell with his Mazinger Z.
	Shiro Kabuto	Kouji's younger brother. Kouji is very protective of Shiro, as he is the only family the other has. At least, as far as he knows. Taken in by his father after Mazinger Z is defeated by Ankoku Daishogun.
	Sayaka Yumi	After her mother passed away, Sayaka was raised by her father, Gennosuke Yumi. Since her father was a man dedicated to his job, Sayaka decided to assist in his projects by becoming the test pilot of Aphrodite A, a humanoid robot he designed for manual labor purposes.
	Boss	A comic relief character and pilot, mostly joke robot, Boss Borot. Boss has been friends with Sayaka Yumi since middle school and getting a crush on her. At school he has been a bully and formed his own gang since there were no other gangs in the area.
	Gennosuke Yumi	A scientist heading the Photon Power Laboratory after the retirement and later death of Dr. Juzo Kabuto. Prof. Yumi once worked under the professor and was inspired by his designs to create his own robot, Aphrodite A. Later with the Aphrodite's destruction Prof. Yumi and other scientists replaced her with Diana A. Both robots were piloted by Prof. Yumi's daughter, Sayaka Yumi.
	Nuke & Mucha	Boss's underlings. Both mostly do what Boss's tells them to do and both see him as an idol
	Dr. Hell	The main villain Mazinger Z. He was a brilliant, cunning and evil scientist, obsessed with world domination through his creations, the armies of Mechanical Beasts. He was seemingly killed in the final assault on his island fortress by Mazinger Z. However, the Emperor of Darkness brought Dr. Hell back from the dead as the Great Marshall of Hell and trusted him with military command over the Mycenae Empire's Seven Armies.
	Baron Ashura	The main henchman of Dr. Hell, the antagonist of Mazinger Z. He/she is depicted as a disturbing half-man, half-woman combination who speaks with both a male and female voice (often depending on which face is shown on screen). In the original series, he/she was created by Dr. Hell from the remains of two mummified lovers, who had half their bodies crushed when their tomb collapsed.

Episode List

.Vs Devilman crossover movie

In 1973, Toei being a studio for both Mazinger Z and Devilman (both of which is Go Nagai's works), hitted a cinemas with a wild crossover movie "Mazinger Z .Vs Devilman". The movie was not whatsoever adaoted for the whole world.

The Evil Demon Clan is attacking! Only the Super-Robot Mazinger Z can save us. And here comes Devilman, the good one of the Demon Clan. He will help you defeat Dr. Hell and Lord Zennon, the leaders of the Demon Clan! Go, Mazinger Z!!!

.Vs General of Darkness

This movie serves as an alternative link between Mazinger and Great Mazinger and a, sort of, final episode of a series. It's basically introducing Great Mazinger and the Mikene Empire.

Kouji and his friends have defeated Dr. Hell and are now enjoying a break, but suddenly a strange prophet appears and warns everyone of an oncoming danger, mechanical beasts never seen before start appearing all around the world wrecking havoc. Its up to Kouji and his Mazinger Z to stand up to this threat but it seems he is vastly outnumber and outmatched.

2009 "re-telling"

In 2009, Shin Mazinger came out. According to the staff, this is not a "remake" of a 1972 series, but rather a "re-telling" of the original manga. Fun-fact: Energer Z, a concept that was made before Mazinger, appears in this series!

In the near future, a mineral known as "Japanium" is discovered under Mt. Fuji. This ore is discovered to produce a powerful energy source known as "Photon Energy". Dr. Kabuto Juuzou and his associates have begun researching Photon Energy, planning to use it as a solution to the energy crisis plaguing the earth, when the nefarious Dr. Hell and his associate, Baron Ashura attack his lab. Along with this, the mysterious "Kurogane House" also has begun to become entwined with the affairs of these two parties. During all of this, Juuzou's grandchildren, Kouji and Shirou, encounter one of Baron Ashura's robots on its way to attack Dr. Kabuto's mansion, where he has begun work on his greatest invention. Dr. Kabuto, seeing the danger at hand, sends out the Pilder to Kouji, allowing him to combine with the giant robot, Mazinger Z, to fight against Dr. Hell's forces.

My review

Kind of a reason why this site exists in a first place, not because i'm a big fan or anything, but the idea of such a fansite came out to me while watching some original Mazinger and other Go Nagai's crossover movies.
This whole franchise is wholesome to be completely honest, yes, it's not a Real Robot, theme that i deeply love, but i can appreciate some of the Super ones too, and Mazinger is, without a doubt, a big face of them to me, right next to GaoGaiGar. I didn't watched like a whole 92 episodes yet, but i like to binge them by 2 or 3 in a row, it's a specific mood. Score: 7.5/10