GR - Giant Robo 2007.... what's all this about?

[Dagger]

Official site (http://gr-anime.com/)

"In 2007, the LEGEND will come out." So seriously, what is this? A sequel? A remake? I'm part thrilled and part bewildered. /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif

[Gatts]

Hopefully they don't pull a Gunbuster 2 with it. (yeah, I know it's not Gainax)

[Curse_7781]

Whoa. That was cool /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

Hopefully it is a sequal, didn't the last OAV of the series ended on a somewhat open-note?

Especially since <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'> The members of Big Fire were talking about some plan considering Giant Robo? </span>

Enhance the Trance,
Curse

[Andrew Cunningham]

It could also be an animated remake of the original Giant Robo live action show, and nothing to do with the greatest anime of all time at all.
The robot design seen at the end looks more like the original live action version.

[Mr. Nail Bat]

[ QUOTE ]
Andrew Cunningham said:
It could also be an animated remake of the original Giant Robo live action show, and nothing to do with the greatest anime of all time at all.
The robot design seen at the end looks more like the original live action version.

[/ QUOTE ]

(Bolded for truth)

I'm inclined to believe this is probably the case.

Which, of course, does not mean that it can't still be awesome.

If Yasuhiro Imagawa is involved with the project, I'll be excited. If Masamichi Amano is involved, I'll be ecstatic.

[Mazinkaizer]

More Giant Robo is surly welcomed for me especially if the original seiyuu will reprize their roles like the PS 2 game that came out 2 years ago /images/graemlins/happy.gif

I just hope it's not a live action or something like that /images/graemlins/relief1.gif

[Mr. Nail Bat]

[ QUOTE ]
Mazinkaizer said:
I just hope it's not a live action or something like that /images/graemlins/relief1.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, since the url is "gr-anime".... /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[Ialdaboth]

Best news of the day.

I hope it's a follow-up to where the previous OVA series left off, and that Yasuhiro Imagawa is involved.

[Legion]

[ QUOTE ]
Ialdaboth said:
Best news of the day.

I hope it's a follow-up to where the previous OVA series left off, and that Yasuhiro Imagawa is involved.

[/ QUOTE ]
I'm keeping my fingers crossed too. If it doesn't pick up where the OVA left off and it turned out to be a prequel of some sort, that'd be cool too. The only complaints I have about Giant Robo is the somewhat open-ended finale and the fact that the story just starts suddenly, there wasn't as much exploration into the background of Experts of Justice vs Big Fire and various rivalries like Taiso and Alberto.

If they did both, that'd be ideal. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[Gatts]

[ QUOTE ]
Legion said:
there wasn't as much exploration into the background of Experts of Justice vs Big Fire and various rivalries like Taiso and Alberto.

[/ QUOTE ]

It would be nice if the OVA focused on Taiso and Alberto's fight where Alberto lost his eye, but then it wouldn't really be "Giant Robo" because that was before Daisaku.

[JohnThacker]

[ QUOTE ]
Geoduck said:
[ QUOTE ]
Mazinkaizer said:
I just hope it's not a live action or something like that /images/graemlins/relief1.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, since the url is "gr-anime".... /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Indeed. And there's a meta tag with the description, "横山光輝原作のアニメーション『GR -GIANT ROBO-』の公式サイトです," or roughly, "This is the official site for the animation based on the original work of Mitsuteru Yokoyma "GR - GIANT ROBO."

[Ialdaboth]

What would be even nicer : More Gin-Rei /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

[Legion]

[ QUOTE ]
Gatts said:
[ QUOTE ]
Legion said:
there wasn't as much exploration into the background of Experts of Justice vs Big Fire and various rivalries like Taiso and Alberto.

[/ QUOTE ]

It would be nice if the OVA focused on Taiso and Alberto's fight where Alberto lost his eye, but then it wouldn't really be "Giant Robo" because that was before Daisaku.

[/ QUOTE ]
Well, I wouldn't say the OVA should've *focused* on Taiso and Alberto's rivalry, but a flashback of some sort would've been nice.

[tuffy]

That's got my interest. Judging by Robo's silhouette, I'm guessing this is a new "alternative continuity" story and not closely tied to the original OVAs. But whatever they do, I want it to be really good.

[Arcturus]

[ QUOTE ]
Gatts said:
[ QUOTE ]
Legion said:
there wasn't as much exploration into the background of Experts of Justice vs Big Fire and various rivalries like Taiso and Alberto.

[/ QUOTE ]

It would be nice if the OVA focused on Taiso and Alberto's fight where Alberto lost his eye, but then it wouldn't really be "Giant Robo" because that was before Daisaku.

[/ QUOTE ]

I actually liked that they didn't go into detail about that in Giant Robo, personally. It provided a little bit of background of the characters without diverging from the plot by telling us the whole story.

[Gatts]

[ QUOTE ]
Arcturus said:
I actually liked that they didn't go into detail about that in Giant Robo, personally.

[/ QUOTE ]

I just want to see the fight. /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif

[Mr. Nail Bat]

[ QUOTE ]
Gatts said:
[ QUOTE ]
Arcturus said:
I actually liked that they didn't go into detail about that in Giant Robo, personally.

[/ QUOTE ]

I just want to see the fight. /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, I want to see them <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>both come back from the dead (again, in Alberto's case), have a truly epic fight, then, for completely plausible reasons, team up against Big Fire and... wait, when did I turn into a fanboy?</span>

I've been checking it for hours but all I get is a big fat "not found" /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif

[Dagger]

[ QUOTE ]
FigNewton said:
I've been checking it for hours but all I get is a big fat "not found" /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
Hm, you're right. Looks like it vanished; maybe the page went online earlier than it was supposed to.

[Vicserr]

[ QUOTE ]
Dagger said:
[ QUOTE ]
FigNewton said:
I've been checking it for hours but all I get is a big fat "not found" /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
Hm, you're right. Looks like it vanished; maybe the page went online earlier than it was supposed to.

[/ QUOTE ]

Looks like it's back /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[stfram]

[ QUOTE ]
Vicserr said:
Looks like it's back /images/graemlins/happy.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Gone again. /images/graemlins/sad.gif

Must be running Personal Web Server under Win98...

[Chiyosuke]

Holy fuckin' shit! How'd it go from Toshiba Entertainment and Bandai Visual to Softgarage? 0_______0

Anyways, I found what I saw of the original OVA to be rather entertaining, so this might be a good thing if pulled off right /images/graemlins/happy.gif.

- Lemar pka Chiyo

[christianlf]

Whoa, if this is a continuation of the OVA by the same team, this would be the...second coolest thing ever. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

*crosses fingers*

[Chiyosuke]

[ QUOTE ]
Christian said:
Whoa, if this is a continuation of the OVA by the same team, this would be the...second coolest thing ever. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

*crosses fingers*

[/ QUOTE ]

The what's the coolest thing ever?

[gnikdrazil]

[ QUOTE ]
Chiyosuke said:
[ QUOTE ]
Christian said:
Whoa, if this is a continuation of the OVA by the same team, this would be the...second coolest thing ever. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

*crosses fingers*

[/ QUOTE ]

The what's the coolest thing ever?

[/ QUOTE ]

That it would continue the plot at the end of the 7th episode. All hail the BFG Robot (Big Fire Giant).

[christianlf]

[ QUOTE ]
Chiyosuke said:
[ QUOTE ]
Christian said:
Whoa, if this is a continuation of the OVA by the same team, this would be the...second coolest thing ever. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

*crosses fingers*

[/ QUOTE ]

The what's the coolest thing ever?

[/ QUOTE ]

The coolest thing ever hasn't happened yet. That would be more Berserk. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[Chiyosuke]

[ QUOTE ]
Christian said:
[ QUOTE ]
Chiyosuke said:
[ QUOTE ]
Christian said:
Whoa, if this is a continuation of the OVA by the same team, this would be the...second coolest thing ever. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

*crosses fingers*

[/ QUOTE ]

The what's the coolest thing ever?

[/ QUOTE ]

The coolest thing ever hasn't happened yet. That would be more Berserk. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh hell yeah, I'm with ya there man. /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

[ObiKenobi]

[ QUOTE ]
JohnThacker said:
Indeed. And there's a meta tag with the description, "横山光輝原作のアニメーション『GR -GIANT ROBO-』の公式サイトです," or roughly, "This is the official site for the animation based on the original work of Mitsuteru Yokoyma "GR - GIANT ROBO."

[/ QUOTE ]

If only he was still alive. /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif But yeah I'm definitely psyched about this.

[yatsuhashi]

I absolutely love Giant Robo, but this looks totally different from the 90's OAV.

[tuffy]

[ QUOTE ]
yatsuhashi said:
I absolutely love Giant Robo, but this looks totally different from the 90's OAV.

[/ QUOTE ]
Judging from the new info, it shares a lot in common with the original 1967 live-action Giant Robo series and has nothing to do with the OVA series.

[PhilipReuben]

[ QUOTE ]
tuffy said:
Judging from the new info, it shares a lot in common with the original 1967 live-action Giant Robo series and has nothing to do with the OVA series.

[/ QUOTE ]

According to the official site for this new anime, the live action series was based on a manga, which the new anime is also based on.

[Legion]

[ QUOTE ]
tuffy said:
[ QUOTE ]
yatsuhashi said:
I absolutely love Giant Robo, but this looks totally different from the 90's OAV.

[/ QUOTE ]
Judging from the new info, it shares a lot in common with the original 1967 live-action Giant Robo series and has nothing to do with the OVA series.

[/ QUOTE ]
Which is dissapointing, but I'll still buy it immediately if and when it's licensed.

[Lum-chan]

The same writer/director (Imagawa) on this GR anime as on the OVA = teh win!... Now if they only get the OVA's composer as well. Then we'll have the uber-aw3some.

[yatsuhashi]

Dunno. Imagawa was involved in the new Gigantor and I was underwhelmed by it (as much as I wanted it to be another GR). Here's hoping he brings the magic back with this one.

[Andrew Cunningham]

Didn't Imagawa specifically say he had nothing to do with the new one?

[Lum-chan]

[ QUOTE ]
Andrew Cunningham said:
Didn't Imagawa specifically say he had nothing to do with the new one?

[/ QUOTE ]

http://www.animenewsservice.com/ (article pretty low down the page) says that Imagawa is back for this. That's where I got that from.

[Andrew Cunningham]

If you read it again, he's only writing a manga, and is not involved in the anime at all.

[Lum-chan]

[ QUOTE ]
Andrew Cunningham said:
If you read it again, he's only writing a manga, and is not involved in the anime at all.

[/ QUOTE ]

"1992 anime director Yasuhiro Imagawa will return to manga version as script writer." With its choppy Engrish, I took this to mean that Imagawa will not be writing a sequel to his 1992 GR series, but will return to the manga version (from 40 years ago) for the source material. Then they mention "New manga serials are planned in two magazines (Comic Gum, Comic Red) now as well." Which sounds like this has nothing to do with the previous Imagawa news.

That's just how I read it. /images/graemlins/happy.gif Hopeful as always.

[Panon]

[ QUOTE ]
Andrew Cunningham said:
Didn't Imagawa specifically say he had nothing to do with the new one?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, at CNAX 2006.

[Brunnen-G]

http://aeug.blogspot.com/2006_09_01_aeug_archive.html

scroll down to it

[Lum-chan]

[ QUOTE ]
Brunnen-G said:
http://aeug.blogspot.com/2006_09_01_aeug_archive.html

scroll down to it

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the link. Sucky news, but good that it's cleared up. That's a shame, really.

[Andrew Cunningham]

Maybe somebody should change the AOD news page then.

[Mazinkaizer]

It seems that the offical site has the seiyuu cast list. Can someoen please translate them....it seems that Kappi Yamaguchi isn't in the show /images/graemlins/sad.gif

[Pyocola]

Top to bottom it looks like:

Namikawa Daisuke (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=1289)
Sawai Miyuu (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=17474)
Paku Romi (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=7021)
Tachiki Fumihiko (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=1465) (Awesome! /images/graemlins/cool.gif)
Omoro Masayuki (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=3185)
Chiba Saeko (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=3170)

Nakamura Hidetoshi (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=2402)
Toriumi Katsumi (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=5177)
Chiba Isshin (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=3057)

Kayumi Iemasa (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=2380)

And for the record, I used an online translator, just so no one thinks that I actually know this kind of stuff. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[StudioZEL]

It's definately the greatest anime of all time.

Kinda makes me wonder why Toshiyuki Kubooka doesn't get more work as a character designer/animation director, his work on GR and LUNAR was most impressive. ^^

[Gatts]

Some information for GR has been put up on Hobby Channel (http://hobby-channel.net/content/view/1756/67/) (japanese) for those interested.

[Curse_7781]

[ QUOTE ]
Gatts said:
Some information for GR has been put up on Hobby Channel (http://hobby-channel.net/content/view/1756/67/) (japanese) for those interested.

[/ QUOTE ]

Wow, are they using a different character or did Daisaku grow up? Either way, I hope this anime kicks ass.

Enhance the Trance,
Curse

[roastedpekingduck]

The GR-Giant Robo OVA has been subbed. I'll definitely watch it later tonight.

[Redshirt 24]

So this is a TV show, right? (Kanji-impaired over here.)

[roastedpekingduck]

No. This is the OVA released in early 2007.

[Redshirt 24]

Ah, thanks.

Looks kind of pretty, in its way.

[mikedude]

I'm so confused.. has this show actually aired yet? Unless the official site is horribly out of date, the DVD release dates would suggest it has. Yet... I've heard or seen nothing about it.

[roastedpekingduck]

It's been released and already been subbed.

[Andrew Cunningham]

No. This is the OVA released in early 2007.

That was a TV show (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6939). But it never showed up anywhere before now, so I'd assumed it was really bad.

[roastedpekingduck]

Well that was fucking awesome. I sincerely hope there's more. While I was expecting a cheesefest, GR actually was not that cheesy at all, but instead was darker and edgier than what I expected. Despite the storyline and its roots, everything actually seemed quite modern, as reflected by the art and character designs. The production values as expected were quite nice with some smooth animation and complementing music. The opening credits sequence was one of the best I've seen in a while, the engrishy headlines included. The Daisaku in GR is also different from the Daisaku in Giant Robo, and for the better I feel. The Daisaku has a much more "boyish" feel to him, perhaps thanks to the fact that a guy is voicing him. Mackenzie is so cool by the way.


Anyhow, great stuff. I wanna see the next episode already. Andrew, have you seen this yet?

[roastedpekingduck]

A search on CD Japan reveals that volumes of GR are coming out monthly, with four episodes listed so far. Why, just why is this so unknown? :(

[Andrew Cunningham]

It aired on a subscription only sattelite thing, which is why there were no raws or fansubs.

[Andrew Cunningham]

This Daisaku is old enough to drive. He always was voiced by a male, though, even in the OAV.

I liked it a lot more than I was expected, even though structurally it hit a lot of beats that normally irritate me - why does every giant robot show take the entire first episode to get the hero in the damn robot? But the deep sea diving aspect of it was different enough to make up for that, and the slow pacing ended up feeling lyrical instead. Animation isn't great, but it was good enough.
And the soundtrack definitely rocks the fuck out.
I can't decide if I'm only giving it the time of day because they've used the Giant Robo name, or if I'd like it a lot more if they weren't attaching that name to something that basically has fuck all to do with what I think Giant Robo should mean.

[roastedpekingduck]

The soundtrack indeed is fucking awesome. The electric guitar tracks were especially badass.

[Andrew Cunningham]

I forgot to mention - I should have been ready to check out the moment the cryptic albino goth gimp girl showed up, but the combo of fetishes sort of canceled each other out and I kind of liked her.

[Redshirt 24]

I kind of liked the music, too.

The one thing I'm wondering about is exactly what the hell was up with the HUD-style Daisukevision before he ever met V (the gimp girl) or "Edogh the Metal God." Maybe I'm just jaded, but I couldn't help but think "Oh, great, he's a robot."

[Garasharp K7]

I saw a couple of episodes of this a while ago, and I wasn't too impressed with it. I thought it lacked that sense of fun and high adventure the OVA and original tv series had - no flambouyant villains, no over-the-top heroics and so on. To be honest, I would've preferred a cheesefest. :)
Didn't care much for the angular character designs and cg robots either.
I suppose I'm just harping on it because it ain't like the OVA or TV series, but it just seemed a little darker and well, a bit dull to me. Reminded me a little of that Raideen remake, which I also thought was a bit on the dull side.

Still I may give it another chance and try to judge it on it's own merits.

[roastedpekingduck]

I guess the fact that I don't watch many super robot shows means I was able to be less affected by the cliches.

[HellKorn]

I guess the fact that I don't watch many super robot shows means I was able to be less affected by the cliches.

What, you didn't learn that lesson with the first episode of RahXephon? (Dunno if you've seen Evangelion or not...)

Not that either are super robot shows, but they pretty much pride themselves with homages to such anime.

My gripe with the first episode is what Andrew mentioned: there isn't much progress in the first episode beyond what we already know of the premise. At least after the obligatory "boy meets robot" first episode it seems that the plot kicks into gear in the next one.

Other than that, I was overall pleased. I wasn't expecting a heroic cheese-fest with manliness and bat-shit insane developments, and everything indicates that I won't love this as much as the OVA from the nineties, but it hasn't disappointed me yet.

Incidentally, MacKenzie reminds me of Angel from The Big O.

[roastedpekingduck]

Incidentally, MacKenzie reminds me of Angel from The Big O.
That's why she looked so familiar.

[roastedpekingduck]

The episode was still fairly standard in execution and was the "boy realizes how to control robot" episode seen in many giant robot shows that takes place after the "boy meets robot" episode. Still though, I liked the episode. Daisaku is 18, and it shows, as he has a still young, but slightly mature feeling about him. It seems that GR may be actually going for 26 episodes or more at least from various places that I've read and already has 13 "cubits" for sure. My favorite part of the episode was probably the ED. For some reason, I quite liked the ED song.

[Andrew Cunningham]

I totally forgot I watched the second episode while we were away.
Basically nothing happened, but I didn't notice until the ending credits snuck up on me.
Which I guess is a good thing...
Just as I was being annoyed by the requisite main character wuss out moment, bad ass girl held a gun to his head and solved it.
What happened to the music though? Not a single bit of rock all episode.

[HellKorn]

I liked the second episode way more than I should've. The build-up work well, and it ends on a cliff-hanger that keeps my interest. (And I was thinking the episode would've finished with the end of a giant robot battle.)

It seems that GR may be actually going for 26 episodes or more at least from various places that I've read and already has 13 "cubits" for sure.

I haven't seen any indication that it's twenty-six episodes. Judging from the massive box (http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=JDXA-26256) release back in July, I'd say it's thirteen episodes.

How well the plot will hold up is another issue, though I think this mean we won't have to put up with a meandering plot and totally pointless filler.