Megadeus
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"Megadeus" (メガデウス, Megadeusu) is the name given to the giant robots of The Big O anime series. Forty years prior to the events of the series, the world was turned into a vast desert wasteland and the survivors were left without memories. The megadeuses are portrayed as remnants of the previous civilization, a lost technology few citizens of Paradigm know how to control.[1] The word is a blend of the Greek Megas, meaning "Great", and the Latin deus, meaning "god".
The robots were designed by series creator Keiichi Sato, who also designed the Mazinger mechas featured on the Mazinkaiser OVA and the mutant creatures of The SoulTaker TV series.[2]
The megadeuses are portrayed as semi-sentient beings, capable of acting on their own.[3] The designs are strange and "more macho than practical."[4] Unlike the giants of other robot anime, the megadeuses do not exhibit ninja-like speed nor grace or possess voice-activated special attacks; but for what they lack in agility, they more than make-up in power. The robots come armed with old-school weaponry like missiles, piston powered punches, machine guns, and laser cannons.[5][6]
The nature of the megadeuses is tied to the event forty years prior.[7] In the final episode of the first season, Roger Smith has a flashback in the form of a nightmare: an army of megadeuses burn down the city as a group of bald-headed children look on. In the second season premiere, he experiences a lucid dream of a town without domes, where its citizens have not forgotten who they are and megadeuses are nowhere to be found. In the final episode, he gets another burst of memories: the city stands in ruins and the megadeuses fight amongst themselves while a winged giant oversees the onslaught.
The Big O
Monster of the week
The series follows the "monster of the week" formula, meaning the protagonist is hired to do a job and by episode's end he must battle a monster using a giant robot of his own. Given the series' style, for some critics the robot battles seem out of place,[8][9] while others praise the "over-the-top-ness" of their execution.[10][11] The wildly varied nature of the robots stems from the fact the creators intended to create a toy line based on their design.[12] Following is a list of the monsters and giant robots, in order of appearance.
Dorothy-1
Dorothy-1 is the first giant robot that Big O does battle with in Act:01 and Act:02. It was built by the same creator of the android R. Dorothy Wayneright, Soldano. R. Dorothy and Dorothy-1 are considered sisters to Soldano, who soon dies after warning Roger about Beck's hijacking of the Dorothy units. Dorothy-1 is initially used by Beck to rob a bank of its mint plates, but is quickly destroyed by The Big O. R. Dorothy and Dorothy-1 are apparently intertwined technologically, as Beck proves capable of resurrecting Dorothy-1 by implanting R. Dorothy into the control unit of her sister unit. Throughout the episode, R. Dorothy displays a subtle synchronization with Dorothy-1 in the form of mimicking movement and sound.
Dorothy-1 is equipped with a pair of claws on each arm from which long metallic tentacles and power drills extend. These tools suggest that Dorothy-1 was built as a fairly benign robot: it excels at robbing banks, but can barely hold its own in combat. The Dorothy units, while seemingly trivial in the scope of the series, are some of the few objects constructed according to memories prior to The Event; the existence of such memories strongly implies that the Megadeuses and other large robots were produced en masse using contemporary Paradigm City technology. The interactions between R. Dorothy and Dorothy-1 also help to illustrate the nature of Megadeus-Android relationships and suggest an even closer technological bond between Megadeus-type units and Androids, especially R. Dorothy. Beck's intricate knowledge of this relationship implies extensive previous experience with Megadeuses prior to The Event on his part. Dorothy 1 bears a resemblance to one of Ultraman's monsters, Baltan.
Eel
A monster located near Electric City, the product of genetic research by a resident scientist. The Eel, believed to be a deity of the lake, fed on electrical energy and was in a slumber under the lake until Angel reactivated the dam's turbine systems and reawakened the creature. The "Water God" could fire an electric shock from its mouth. It was blasted to bits by Big O's Chomebuster. The monster's remains were eventually gather by the Paradigm Science group for a big project.
Archetype
The Archetype is introduced in the Act:04, "Underground Terror", buried amidst the ruins of a technological expo beneath Paradigm. The unmanned robot lacks the armor and faceplate worn by other megadeuses and appears to be in complete ruin. Upon contact with the android Dorothy Wayneright, the Archetype is revealed to be functional and aggressively seeks to either capture or crush both Dorothy Wayneright and Roger Smith.
The Archetype makes a brief appearance in Roger's dream in Act:14, as a character in a comic strip. In Act:17, it is revealed the Paradigm Corporation salvaged the megadeus as part of their effort to reconstruct the Big Duo and Big Fau.
Osrail
Osrail, who makes its appearance in Act:05, is a mysterious megadeus hidden beneath the sea, which activated to rescue a fallen police officer. It was capable of generating a fog and holographic ghost, and its primary weapons were large balls of fire. It was defeated when Big O's radar revealed its true location to Roger and he used the Chromebuster to destroy it.
Constanze
Featured in Act:06. Constanze is piloted by the android R. Instro, after realizing that his late father's supposed legacy was a weapon made to destroy the city. Constanze produces sound waves capable of cracking Big O's armor and acting as a shield. It was defeated with the help of Dorothy's piano playing, which distracted Instro long enough for Roger to destroy its arms with missiles.
Dagon
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The megadeus featured in Act:07, The Call from The Past, is named after Dagon, the sea deity of H.P. Lovecraft's short story of the same name. In the episode, the local fishermen stopped fishing out of fear of it. Without a pilot to control it, the titan goes on a rampage above water before it is defeated by Roger and the Big O.[13][14]
Dagon's servants are the "frog-men" who scared the fishermen into not going out to sea. They are actually a Paradigm investigation team wearing scuba-gear, hired to search for Memories in the South Sea. Their design is inspired by the Deep Ones, the frog-men worshippers of Dagon in Lovecraft's The Shadow Over Innsmouth novella.[15][16]
Chimera
Featured the Act:08, "Missing Cat". It is revealed that in Paradigm City, a cat or dog is worth a lot of money, since most animals were wiped out during or shortly after the event that occurred forty years ago. A man named Eugene had been conducting experiments to bring back these types of animals using genetic research, funded by Paradigm until he back-stabbed them and started to created mutated versions. One of his creations was Pierrot, a cat created from the tissue of a boy named Roy Ferry. Pierrot found itself in possession of R. Dorothy until Eugene kidnapped her to retrieve him. When Roger arrived at Eugene's lair, he encountered a large cat-like beast with tendrils on its back and a chest-mouth - a mutated Pierrot - but its memories of R. Dorothy allowed it to kill its creator before entering the burning laboratory to die.
Beck Victory Deluxe
Featured in Act:09, the Beck Victory Deluxe is a short-lived robot designed and assembled by Jason Beck. Notable only as evidence of Beck's memories of Megadeus design and one of the least dangerous enemies in the series. Its inferiority to the Big O is highlighted when it attempts to rise from underground, similar to the Big O, but gets stuck halfway.
Eumenides
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The megadeus featured in "Winter Night Phantom" is named after the creatures of Greek mythology, the Eumenides. It is a large-scale model of the toy-robot bombs used throughout the episode.[17][18] Eumenides is the first megadeus of foreign origin to attack Paradigm City. It is controlled by "Phantom" (ファントム, Fantomu), the woman who carries out the bombings.
Daemonseed
Featured in Act:11, "Daemonseed". The "daemon seed" was originally in the possession of a mysterious man dressed as Santa Claus. He gave it to another man named Oliver, who was living outside the domes with his girlfriend Laura. As 'Santa' walked away, he claimed that the entire city was suffocating, and vanished. The man was revealed to be a scientist who claimed that before the event, the world was covered in trees. It is assumed he created the seed. The Daemon Seed itself grew into a massive Christmas tree, that threatened to destroy the dome it was growing inside of. Roger Smith and Big O fought it off, until it stopped growing, having reached its full height.
Big Duo
Big Duo is the second Big found in the series, piloted first by Schwarzwald. It was found by former reporter in a hangar to the south of Paradigm City. Prior to its "death," The Big Duo reaches towards Paradigm City, suggesting a link with the Domes or another potential pilot in the area. It is the only megadeus possessing the ability of flight.
A modified version of the megadeus, named Big Duo Inferno, appears in season two. The robot is piloted by the cyborg Alan Gabriel, hard-wired directly to the controls. Alan Gabriel may have died after losing control of the Megadeus; Big Duo itself attacked Alan with wires after displaying the message "Ye Guilty" instead of the traditional "Ye Not Guilty", and Schwarzwald's image appeared and his thoughts were heard by Alan as Big Duo rejected the cyborg. Alan was dropped from Big Duo in a veritable cocoon of wires. Big Duo Inferno finally explodes when he collides with what appears to be a gigantic stage light, miles above Paradigm City.
Judging by the rapid flight capabilities of Big Duo and its ability to carry bombs with extremely powerful (possibly nuclear) payloads it is possible that megadeuses like it functioned as long range heavy bombers and possibly as heavily mechanized "paratroopers" to quickly secure an area after a bombing. This is further backed up in memory flashbacks where squadrons of megadeuses similar in appearance to Big Duo are seen flying above a ruined city (presumably Paradigm City). Big Duo bears a small resemblance to Giant Robo.
- Features
While Big Duo may not be as heavily armed and protected as Big O or Big Fau, Big Duo more than makes up for its lack of fire power in maneuverability and flight ability.
- Eye Beams: A standard weapon for every Big, the Eye Beams are super heated beams of light that are shot out of the eyes. This weapon can be used as a long range attack and for cutting through objects. The Inferno version of Big Duo fires a single but more concentrated Eye Beam out of the larger lens rather than out of both eyes much like Big O's Chromebuster.
- Machine Guns: Although used only once by Alan Gabriel (due to the awkward flight maneuvering required to aim them, just like the Megaton Missiles), Big Duo comes with machine gun placements in its arms (each with two mounted on the wrist block and one in the hand propeller cone) and around its cockpit (two right below it). These machine guns appear to be based on the Browning M2 Machine Gun usually seen on World War II aircraft, namely "Flying Fortress" bombers and fighters.
- Mummy Disguise: Only seen during Big Duo's first appearance, this mummy-style disguise was most likely employed by Schwarzwald to hide Big Duo's real identity from Roger Smith. Schwarzwald was however able to manipulate the bandages to wrap around Big O and pull the Megadeus towards itself.
- Smoke Screen: Big Duo can expel a thick smog through vents on the outside of the Megadeus to be used for getting away undetected or blinding an opponent for a stealth attack. Schwarzwald uses the smoke screen to blind its flight feature from Roger Smith.
- Finger Blades/ Rocket Boosters: Big Duo's most impressive and useful feature is its flight ability. While in flight, both hands of Big Duo spin at high speeds and are used as propellers and the rocket engines located on the portion of the arm behind the elbow are used as propulsion. This exclusive feature makes Big Duo the most maneuverable of the four Bigs in the series. While not in flight, Big Duo can use its spinning hands as cutting weapons. This can be seen during the first confrontation between Big O and Big Duo. However, on the Inferno version of Big Duo, the fingers are much longer and extremely sharp and can also be repositioned and spun to form a drill-like weapon, much like Alan Gabriel's cyborg hands and exactly the same weapon Dorothy 1 uses against Big O in act 02 of the first season entitled "Dorothy, Dorothy".
- Missiles: Big Duo can fire miniature Missiles in an alternating pattern from two launchers situated in his chest. Both of the launchers are six-barreled, rotating missile launchers. The chest has two holes, so the launchers fire like a gatling gun. These Missiles must be replaced after each battle. After Big Duo was destroyed and rebuilt into Big Duo Inferno it appeared that these launchers were removed. The reason behind this is unknown.
- Megaton Missiles: The Megadeus's most powerful and devastating attack, Big Duo's Megaton Missiles are located inside its hollowed out cnemis. When activated, Duo's cnemis moves outward to reveal the Megaton Missiles pointing straight up. Due to its position and launching limitations, the Megaton Missiles can only be fired straight forward while in flight while making a dive maneuver towards the target. The destructive force of both Megaton Missiles are very roughly equal to five tons of TNT. There is only enough room in the legs for one missile in each leg, so they must be replaced after use. In the manga, it is suggested that they are nuclear weapons.
Foreign Megadeuses
First seen at the end of Act:13, the foreign megadeuses came from the sea in order to attack Paradigm City and briefly disabled the Big O before they were destroyed. One possesses a sound attack similar to that of Constanze, and another bears drills upon its arms. Their bizarre and distorted appearances are a clue to their true nature: They are later revealed to be simple vessels designed to deliver individual parts of Big Fau to Alex Rosewater. The remaining scrap parts are eventually reassembled by the Union to form the powerful Bonaparte.
Glinda
Featured in Act:15, Glinda is a feminine robot constructed by Dr. Wayneright at his private estate as a security measure. Activated only once during an investigation of Wayneright's manor laboratory, it was easily destroyed by The Big O. Its extremely sharp sword is the only weapon in the series capable of penetrating The Big O's arm shields. It was quite agile, however, able to jump extremely well for a megadeus. It's fingers were also made into claws, and could be used for a stabbing attack similar to punches, although this doesn't even faze Big O. It possessed a green laser that overheated metal, causing a whole line of tanks to explode.
Leviathan
Featured in Act:17. The Leviathan's four claws can be energized and turn anything that it touches into sand. It was defeated when Big O turned its own energized claws against itself. It is a reference to the mythical sea beast Leviathan, and thus a counterpart to Behemoth.
Beck the Great RX3
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Beck the Great RX3 (ベック・ザ・グレートRX3, Bekku za Gurēto Āru-Ekkusu-Surī) is featured in Act:18, "The Greatest Villain."[19] Commissioned by Beck, with the purpose of finally humiliating Roger and Big O, and constructed by Yoshifura-Yakamoto Industries, in a ploy for lucrative contracts with the Paradigm Corporation.
The megadeus is an pastiche of mechas from "Super Sentai" and "Super Robot" series. Piloted by Beck and his two henchmen, three vehicles combine into the giant robot. The combination (合体, gattai) sequence is started by the command "Final Together" (ファイナル・トゥゲザー, Finaru Tugezā).[20] The image then fades to black, as if cutting to stock footage. T-bone's trailer transforms into RX3's lower body. In a move reminiscent of Gekisou Sentai Carranger's RV Robo, the blue vehicle's performs a bootleg turn to form the legs and waist. Dove's construction vehicle makes up the upper body, pulling itself up onto the blue lower half. The torso sprouts hands from a drill and a pincer, as do Getter Robo's Getter-2 form. Beck's sports car jumps off a nearby ramp and dives into a recess in the head to form the cockpit, in an homage to Mazinger Z, completing the sequence. After this display of bravado, Roger and his Big O humorously destroyed it in a single continuous blast of O Thunder.
Bonaparte
Built from the remains of the three foreign megadeuses after Big Fau's parts were extracted from them. Bonaparte was eventually destroyed by Alex Rosewater in Big Fau.
Hydra
The Hydra was a more advanced triple-headed version of the Eel from Act:03. When the Eel's remains were recovered by the Paradigm Science group, they used their genetic know-how to create a mutated albino clone. The Hydra was used by Paradigm's systems until Vera detonated the creature's holding cell, letting it loose on the city. The research team's original intention was to use the Hydra's bio-electricity to reactivate Big Fau, which they achieved by extending a lightening rod and syphoning off the Hydra's electricity, allowing Roger Smith and Big O the opportunity to kill it.
Big Fau
First appearing in Roger's memories of "The Event" in Act 13, and first seen in action during Act 21, aptly titled "The Third Big", Big Fau is the third and final "Big" found in the series which had a certain importance and was piloted by Alex Rosewater. Considered by the Union and Alex to be the most powerful "Big". The parts for Big Fau were transported within the three foreign megadeuses that fought Big O offshore of Paradigm City at the end of the first season and the beginning of the second season. After the foreign megadeuses were disabled (but not destroyed), they were recovered by the Paradigm science team and Big Fau's parts were salvaged and re-assembled secretly under the supervision of Alex, but lacked a memory core. Despite missing this vital component, Big Fau was activated and piloted by Alex Rosewater. Judging by Big Fau's streamlined appearance, its ability to travel effortlessly through the water, its conning tower shaped head, and the flexible periscope-like laser cannons on its back, it is likely that the Big Fau units were used primarily for naval combat, functioning as heavily armed amphibious craft, and providing ocean-based combat support for land- and air-based megadeuses.
During its maiden battle against the Union Megadeus Bonaparte, Alex could completely control the Big, allowing him to tear Bonaparte to pieces before finally destroying it with Fau's dorsal beams. Once Bonaparte was vanquished, however, Big Fau's dorsal beams disobeyed Alex's orders and began to assault the domes. In response to Alex's claim that he was Big Fau's dominus, Big Fau displayed the message "Cast in the Name of God... Ye Not" before shutting down. Later, Big Fau was jerry-rigged into working by Jason Beck using R. Dorothy's Memory Core, finally completing Fau and allowing it to declare Rosewater "Not Guilty." The Big Fau is the only Megadeus in the series to defeat the Big O after a challenge from Roger Smith. Fau is also the only known Megadeus to fuse with its pilot, Rosewater, via a series of cables plugged into the pilot's back, although Big O attempted to do the same with Roger. Big Fau was eventually disabled by Big O's Final Stage at the end of the Act 26 and removed by Big Venus. Big Fau may be a reference to Frankenstein because of its long head and bolt-like ears, as well as the nature of its reconstruction.
- Features
Due to its limited screen time, Big Fau did not display as much armament as the other Bigs. Still, it filled this gap by using advanced weaponry and technology which gave Fau the ability to easily defeat the Union megadeus Bonaparte and later, seriously damage Big O and injure Roger Smith during their final confrontation in the last episode.
- Saw Cuffs: As the name indicates, Big Fau's wrists are equipped with extremely sharp rotative blades which are very useful in close-combat. Used very effectively against the Union Megadeus Bonaparte and later, Big O, they are powerful enough to damage and grind into tiny bits even the thickest armor. They also give Big Fau the ability to travel underwater by using them as turbines.
- Eye Beams: A standard weapon for every Big, the Eye Beams are super heated beams of light that are shot out of the eyes. This weapon can be used as a long range attack and for cutting through objects. Not actually used during a battle in the series, Big Fau is seen using this weapon in the flashbacks Roger has of the rampaging Bigs.
- DD Beams: There are two lasers on Big Fau's back called "DD Beams" or "Dual Dorsal Beams" that are attached to a snake-like movable tubing situated on his back which allow these lasers to be fired in any direction. They are powerful enough to destroy a normal Megadeus as seen in the episode "The Third Big" but are no match against Big O's Arm Shields.
- Charger Cannon: More powerful and larger than the Dorsal Beams, these cannons are integrated in Big Fau's frontal upper torso and deployed horizontally when needed. They appear to use kinetic projectiles instead of beams- they need to charge first before attacking, and combined with their incredibly long-range, could be likened to howitzers. The main problem with them is, that they can only fire at objects situated in front or above the Big Fau and the Megadeus must pivot on himself in order to fire in other directions.
- Impact Barrier: Big Fau is the only "Big" of the whole series to exhibit a standard non-physical barrier. A special invisible shielding which protects Big Fau especially from frontal attacks, making him almost untouchable and invincible. Big O's Final Stage was the only weapon able to penetrate it. It is possible that this was a "non-standard" modification added during Big Fau's construction, but it bears similarities to Big O's Plasma Gimmick.
- Rocket Drills: Big Fau can spin his fists and Saw Cuffs at extremely high speeds while his arms are shot out of their sockets by small rocket boosters situated at the back of the arms, turning them into highly destructive moving drills. This seems to be more of a last ditch weapon, as the rocket drills can be destroyed while in flight, literally disarming Big Fau and taking away its ability to move underwater as well.
Behemoth
The Behemoth, named after the creature mentioned in the Book of Job, appears at the end of Act:25. It is many times larger than the other megadeuses, and bears large drills on its shoulders and a quadruped design, suggesting that it may have served largely as a mining machine (for overt or covert use). This may serve to explain some of the underground areas throughout Paradigm City, although this is never explicitly stated. The Behemoth is activated by Vera Ronstadt, the leader of the Union, and is only seen for a brief time. As Big O lifts it into the air it is crushed under the weight of debris falling from above the city. Vera is presumed dead, as her screams are heard as the megadeus is destroyed.
Big Venus
Big Venus appeared briefly in the last episode of the series, Act:26: The Show Must Go On (but was seen in previous flashbacks), when Angel realized that she was "The Director", and started to erase Paradigm City. R. Dorothy Wayneright revealed that a similar event was the cause of "The Event" that wiped everyone's memories of 40 years ago. Roger pleaded with the Big Venus and Angel to allow everyone to live a normal life, including herself. It worked, and the Big Venus "reset" Paradigm City back to the way it was. The design of Big Venus is almost identical to Big O, except in chestplate, and head design; its colours were negatives of Big O's (and its erasure power also causes negative colours as a side-effect). Venus is mentioned to be 'Lucifer' (perhaps due to the mutual allusion of 'Venus' and 'Lucifer' to the term "morning star"), or likely, a 'fallen' Angel. Dorothy referred to Big Venus as "a bird whose wings have been plucked", referring to the quotation "A bird whose wings have been plucked will shed all it's feathers, and turn into the beast it was before it evolved into a bird", which is quoted many times during the second season. This may indicate that Big Venus represents the raw power of a Megadeus unleashed and out of control.
The only power Big Venus is directly shown to use is an ability to erase the area and objects around it, leaving only a strange white grid; this is extremely powerful, and negates the entire world with the exception of Big O, which it eventually merges with following Roger's successful negotiations with Angel. It is shown to generate lasers from its mouth in a flashback, and presumably has the same abilities as Big O, given its near-identical structure. A flashback depicts it with wings on its back, but in its present-day appearance those wings have been removed, so its flight capabilities are unknown.
Manga-only
Charybdis
A ghost ship.
Don Juan
Dantalion
Unearthed by a scientist looking for memories.
Vodyanoy
Gigadeus
A three-legged, three-headed monster piloted by Beck.
References
- ^ Roger Smith (voice-over): There isn't anyone who really knows exactly what did happened forty years ago. The only thing that seems that have been left behind is the fear that whatever it was may have completely changed the world... No, there is one other thing. The megadeuses, they left us a technology that surpasses any other in the world. (Act:12)
- ^ Megadeus ({{{type}}}) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- ^ Dan Dastun (seeing Big Duo move on its own): But that's impossible! No one's piloting it! // Schwarzwald: You don't need a master, or do they choose their own master? Do we control them, or do they control us, Roger Smith? (Act:12, "Enemy Is Another Big!")
- ^ Rhee, Keith (2000-02-03). "The Big O". EX: The Online World of Anime & Manga. Retrieved 2006-11-04.
- ^ Hayward, Keith. "Super Robot Review: The Big O". Japan Hero. Retrieved 2006-11-23.
- ^ Shimura, Shinichi. (2004). Anime rebel with a cause: The Big O's Keiichi Sato. AnimePlay, 5, 22-26.
- ^ "The Big O: Megadeuses". Anime Adrenaline. Retrieved 2007-01-01.
- ^ "The Big O/The Big O II". The Anime Review. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
- ^ Robinson, Tasha (2004-01-12). "The Big O II". SCI FI Weekly. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
- ^ "Big O Review". Anime Academy. Retrieved 2006-11-04.
- ^ Shepard, Chris. "Big O Review". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2006-11-04.
- ^ "Birth of the Big O". The Big O DVD Volume 1. Bandai Entertainment.
- ^ ""Dagon" Profile". Paradigm City. Retrieved 2007-01-01.
- ^ ""Dagon" Entry". The Big O Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2007-01-01.
- ^ "Digimon Tamers Trivia". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2007-01-01.
- ^ Bush, Laurence (2001). Asian Horror Encyclopedia. Writers Club Press. ISBN 0-595-20181-4. "Official Site". Retrieved 2007-01-01.
- ^ ""Eumenides" Profile". Paradigm City. Retrieved 2007-01-01.
- ^ ""Eumenides" Entry". The Big O Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2007-01-01.
- ^ ""Beck the Great RX3" Entry". The Big O Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2007-01-01.
- ^ The Engrish sounding line resembles two Sunrise-produced series: 1977's Voltes V ("V Together!") and 1997's GaoGaiGar ("Final Fusion!").