Mazinger Z
Mazinger Z ( Japaneseマ ジ ン ガ ー Z majingā Z ) is a manga series developed in 1972 by the Japanese illustrator Go Nagai , which has also been filmed several times as an anime .
Mazinger Z (1972–1974) was the first anime series in which children and adolescents pilot giant robots as pilots in order to protect the world from almost insurmountable threats. This basic theme has been modified again and again since then, making Mazinger Z the pioneer of a new genre, which includes a large number of titles such as the Gundam Universe (since 1979), Saber Rider and the Starsheriffs (1984–1985), Kidō Keisatsu Patlabor (1989 -1990), Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995-1996), and Candidate for Goddess (2000-2002).
action
Doctor Hell, a German scientist, wants to rule the world with an army of robots . Juzo Kabuto, a Japanese scientist, discovers Doctor Hell's intent and builds the Mazinger Z robot to fight Doctor Hell's robots. But Baron Ashura, a henchman of Doctor Hell, murders Professor Kabuto. Before Professor Kabuto dies, he speaks to his grandson Kouji about Mazinger Z and Doctor Hell's sinister intentions.
From then on, Kouji and Mazinger Z fight Doctor Hell. Professor Gennosuke Yumi, a former employee of his grandfather and head of the research institute for photonic energy, helps Kouji, who from then on competes with Mazinger Z against the mechanical beasts of Doctor Hell, which appear in Japan and destroy buildings.
Eventually, Doctor Hell is killed by Mazinger Z. But again the world is threatened. The underground kingdom of Mikene wants to conquer the surface of the earth and its inhabitants. Mazinger Z is almost destroyed by two robots from the Miken realm. A new super robot appears, the " Great Mazinger ". Tetsuya Tsurugi is the pilot of the "Great Mazinger". The "Great Mazinger" destroys the robots of the Miken realm. Professor Yumi later discovers the secret of the "Great Mazinger". The new robot was built by Kenzo Kabuto, a scientist. Kenzo is Kouji's father. He believed that his father died in an accident. The orphan boy Tetsuya was trained by Kenzo to pilot the new robot.
In the end, Kouji travels to the United States to study at an American university. Tetsuya, with his "Great Mazinger", is the new fighter against the Miken realm.
characters
Heroes
- Kouji Kabuto (兜 甲 児, Kabuto Kouji ): The pilot of the Mazinger Z robot and Professor Juzo Kabuto's grandson. Kouji Kabuto is a courageous but also haughty boy. Kouji is known as Tommy Davis in the United States, Ryo Kabuto in Italy, and Koji Kabuto in Spain and Latin America.
- Sayaka Yumi (弓 さ や か): The pilot of the female robot Aphrodita A. She is known in the US as Jessica Davis .
- Boss (ボ ス): The pilot of the robot Boss Borot and the boss of the motorcycle gang. He is known as Bobo in the United States .
- Mucha (ム チ ャ) and Nuke (ヌ ケ): Two comrades of Boss.
- Professor Gennosuke Yumi (弓 弦 之 介): A scientist and the head of the Photonic Energy Research Institute. He was a former employee of Professor Juzo Kabuto. Professor Yumi is Sayaka's father.
- Professors Morimori (も り も り 博士), Sewashi (せ わ し 博士) and Nossori (の っ そ り 博士): three scientists who work in the research institute for photonic energy. They repair and improve Mazinger Z.
- Shiro Kabuto (兜 シ ロ ー): Kouji's younger brother.
- Professor Juzo Kabuto (兜 十 蔵 博士): A scientist. He is Kouji's and Shiro's grandfather. He built Mazinger Z to fight Doctor Hell's army of robots. He was murdered by Baron Ashura in the first episode.
rogue
- Doctor Hell (ド ク タ ー ・ ヘ ル, Dokutā Heru ): A German scientist. Doctor Hell wants to conquer the world with his army of robots. Doctor Hell is in the USA as Dr. Demon , in Italy as Dottor Inferno , in Spain and Latin America as Dr. Hell or Dr. Infierno known.
- Baron Ashura (ア シ ュ ラ 男爵, Ashura- danshaku ): a henchman of Doctor Hell. Baron Ashura leads the iron mask troop. He murdered Professor Juzo Kabuto. Ashura's big rival is Count Brocken. Ashura is known in the US as Devleen , in Italy as Barone Ashura , in Spain and Latin America as Barón Ashler or Barón Ashura .
- Count Brocken (ブ ロ ツ ケ ン 伯爵, Burokken- hakushaku ): Another henchman of Doctor Hell. He was a German soldier and is now a cyborg . It is known in the USA as Count Decapito , in Italy as Conte Brocken , in Spain and Latin America as Conde Decapitado or Conde Brocken .
- Archduke Gorgon (ゴ ー ゴ ン 大公, Gōgon-taikō ): The ambassador of the Miken realm is half man and half tiger. Archduke Gordon is dressed as a Roman soldier. He is known as Genghis the Ghastly in the US , Duca Gorgon in Italy , and Duque Gorgon in Spain and Latin America .
- Viscount Pigman (ピ グ マ ン 子爵, Piguman- shishaku ): He is half pygmy and half Maasai warrior. The Viscount Pigman practices black magic . He is known in Italy as Marchese Pigman , in Spain and Latin America as Vizconde Cerdo .
weapons
- Rocket Punch : Mazinger Z's most famous attack. Both forearms are fired at the enemy like missiles.
- Koushiroku Beam (photon beam): Mazinger fires photonic beams from his eyes.
- Breast Fire : The two red fins on Mazinger Z's chest are used to cool the photon reactor. The resulting heat can be used as a weapon that even melts steel.
- Rust Hurricane : A strong gust of wind blows from the grill in Mazinger Z's face, which instantly rusts any metal.
- Iron Cutter : An attack that is started like Rocket Punch, except that two ax-like blades are extended.
- Raitou Beam : Rays are fired from the antennas on Mazinger's head that freeze everything.
- Navel Missile : Mazinger Z fires a missile from his belly.
- Drill Missile : Mazinger fires a variety of needle-shaped missiles.
Meaning of the name
The name Mazinger comes from the Japanese words Ma (魔, translated "demon") and Jin (神, "God"). Professor Juzo Kabuto told his grandson Kouji that he could be a god or a demon with Mazinger Z because the robot is extremely strong.
Publications
The manga appeared in Japan from October 1972 to August 1973 weekly in individual chapters in the manga magazine Shōnen Jump . From October 1973 to September 1973 further chapters in Terebi Magazine followed . The Shūeisha- Verlag published these individual chapters in four anthologies. Several new editions appeared later. The Japanese magazine published Mazinger Z from 1972 to 1973.
Film adaptations
Anime TV series
The 92-episode anime series based on the manga produced by Toei Animation was first broadcast in Japan from December 1972 to September 1974 on Fuji TV .
Due to the success in Japan, the series ran in 1978 in Spain, 1980 in Italy, in the 1980s in Latin America, 1984 in the USA and 1988 in France. Mazinger Z was a huge success in Japan, Spain, Central and South America. Kouji Kabuto is still an icon in Japan and has many fans in Italy, but the series was not a great success in the USA, probably because the production company Bunker Jenkins censored and shortened many episodes. In France, the series was canceled after broadcasting 24 episodes.
The anime series is in the US as Tranzor Z , in Italy as Mazinga Z , in France, Spain and Latin America as Mazinger Z known.
In 2009, the Japanese TV station TV Tokyo released a new edition of the first Mazinger Z series under the name " Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z Hen ". The series has 26 episodes.
Further films
From September 1974 to September 1975, the 56-part follow-up series Great Mazinger (グ レ ー ト マ ジ ・ ガ ー) was broadcast. There are also two films: Mazinger Z Vs. Devilman from 1973 and Mazinger Z tai Ankoku Daishougun from 1974. In 1999 an OVA appeared under the title Mazinkaiser .
2004, of the 30 episodes of five minutes seemed to existing series Panda Z (パンダーゼット), a parody of Mazinger Z represents. Many of the gags occurring in Panda Z are allusions that cannot be understood without precise knowledge of Mazinger Z.
Web links
- Official Website (Japanese)