UFO Robo Grendizer

I knew it as Goldrake in my childhood in Italy and I love it above all other cartoons. Japanese animation was massive in Italy at the anime with all sorts themes from mechs like Goldrake, Gundam, Jeep Robot, Mazinga and Daitarn 3 or Captain Harlock to the weird and sinister like Bem to the sweet and romantic like Heidi and Lady Oscar. All massively popular. I would love to see a live action version of Goldrake but the japs are napping on this subject whilst Hollywood subjects us to imitations like Transformers and Pacific Rim for a perceived western audience.

There are at least two United States versions of this series. One (the superior in my opinion) was part of Jim Terry's Force Five, a show composed of five different animated series from Japan. Another is a feature-length "movie" composed of four or five of the show's pivotal episodes spliced together. The Force Five version went all the way through the original series while the "movie" only covers the first "boss villain's" introduction and defeat.

Either way you get it, Grandizer is a fun show. The hero, Duke Fleed (aka Orion Quest) is an experienced pilot right off the bat so they can skip the tedious training and such that seems to be the mainstay of most super and giant robot shows. Grandizer is also interesting in that he doesn't triumph because he is much more powerful than his foes (though he is powerful), he wins because he's *better* than they are.

Duke himself is an alien, physically superior to humans. Also, he is the reluctant hero type. However, he knows it was his fault the Vegan empire came to Earth and it's his responsibility to fight them. He only hesitates for the briefest of moments before unearthing Grandizer and heading into combat once more. His angst is there but not the alpha and omega of his character. Contrast this to shows like Evangelion, in which the characters' angst was all there was to them.

The supporting cast, including Koji Kabuto from "Mazinger Z", come off well with the exception of a midget cowboy apparently put in just to make fun of Americans. Fortunately, he doesn't do much. It's a lot of fun to see how Duke will prove himself superior to Koji from episode to episode. It's as if Go Nagai, creator of both "Grandizer" and "Mazinger Z", didn't really like Koji and wanted to humiliate him at every opportunity.

If you can find the "movie" version, pick it up. It's a lot of fun especially if you enjoy "old-school" super robots. The Force Five version is more satisfying, if you can get ahold of it. I am unaware of any subtitled in English versions of the original Japanese unless you can track down a fan sub.

Cult series across France, Belgium, Italy, Quebec, as well as some part of the Arabic world, like Tunisia. The show was a huge hit for children growing in the late 70s or early 80s. Adults may find it somewhat repetitive, unless they have an interest for anime and mangas. It has been designed with a target audience of 5 and 6 y.o. boys in mind.

Crappy English tranlastions can account for part of its lack of success in the English-speak world. One UK translation is supposed to be correct, more respectful of the original.

A web search should reveal more than a few fan sites. The series ran on French tv (FR2, FR3 and TVA) from 1978 to 1989.

A lot more imaginative than what most shows offer today--although its not a family show, just a children show. ;-)))

This bland robot show (which aired as 'Goldorak' as I remember it) lacked the amorality, female nudity and blood splattering violence of 'Albator, le corsair de l'espace'(another children's cartoon on French tv in Canada at the time) -- thus it was less interesting to young boys in my grade.

Interestingly, the Quebec courts passed a law in 1999 forbidding parents from naming their child 'Goldorak.' I'm not making this up.

Being in North America, I only got 26 episodes of the whole series as a kid. The only reason I remember it is because of the "movie" we rented so often, where Jim Terry Productions had taken scenes from several eps and cut them together, with some fresh voiceovers.

I just got hold of the entire series in Japanese with English subs this year. I had NO idea it had so many underlying themes, like belonging, protecting the environment, learning to rely on others, PTSD, and more. And Hikaru/Brenda's story arc was awesome.

My only gripes are the 70s-style comic relief. Danbi/Panhandle is annoying as hell, whether in English or Japanese. Boss is annoying, and Banta/Carlos usually is, too. It is also very plot-driven, e.g., Koji/Lance lights sticks of dynamite to free Hikaru from a seaweed trap...underwater. And sometimes Duke Fleed/Orion Quest uses the spazer to tag-team against a foe, and sometimes he doesn't. That sort of thing.

But was also the predominant way of writing cartoons back then. That they tackled such heavy themes as the after-effects of war on a person really surprised me.

Oh! One other thing that was so beautiful: almost every episode ends with a view of the sun, either direct or as a background. It was a lovely touch to show that this show is Japanese.

The American version that I watched as a kid erased almost all signs of the show's actual location. Given the American-style ranch, it was easy to do. And although I haven't watched the full French series yet, I've noticed the erasure, too, where possible. Heck, even the subtitles of the Japanese original that I have sometimes erase "Japan" or "Japanese" for English speakers.

But to demonstrate with actual dialogue from the scene in ep 1 where Koji lands his TFO at the ranch:

1. Japanese original: Koji confirms he's Japanese (he says, "Nihonjin"), not an alien.

2. American dub: "I'm more human than you are!" 3. French dub: "I'm a friend."

So, all in all, a beautiful series that's tons of fun, and you can hear the voice actors having fun while they're at it.

"Grendizer, go!"