Shin Mazinger
Shougeki Z-Hen
Number of episodes: 26
Production Studio: Bee Media, Code
Fansub Release Viewed: Shinsen Subs
Likelihood of US Release: Low
A miracle ore called Japanium is discovered underneath Mt. Fuji, and the evil forces of Dr. Hell attack the lab responsible for the discovery. Kabuto Kouji, in order to defend against Dr. Hell, combines with the great robot Mazinger Z.
Episode Summary
Disclaimer: Because the introductory episode of this series is supposedly the last episode, with subsequent episodes explaining how the characters got to this point, the summary may not be as understandable as usual. However, if the studio wants this to be its introductory episode, then this is what I’ll judge it on.
Kabuto Kouji is the young pilot of the robot Mazinger Z, and must defend his comrades against the assault of the evil Dr. Hell and his various minions, including Viscount Pygman, Baron Ashura (a person half man and half woman), and various other baddies. They all appear to be after some sort of Photonic power source, being developed at a lab run by the good guys. Along the way, some yakuza family gets involved, as well as some delinquent thugs. During the battle, Kabuto Kouji meets the god Zeus himself, also a giant robot.
The second half of the episode involves giant tentacle monsters, guys getting chopped up, a headless general, fists of doom, breast fire, and a pledge by Kabuto Kouji to defend the world against Dr. Hel
Thoughts
Okay, so I can understand the narrative choice to put the final episode (or at least show the events which happen in the finale) at the beginning of a series. In theory, it should get the audience interested in seeing what events lead up to that point, and serve as a goal for the rest of the series to attain. But that of course assumes that the intro episode makes some sort of sense, which this episode certainly does not. There are friends, enemies, gods, demons and various robots peppered throughout this episode, saying and doing things that are so out of context that they make no sense whatsoever. From what my research suggested, this series was supposed to be a complete retelling of the Mazinger Z story, and yet only a person familiar with the original would have any idea what the heck was going on.
As for me, I feel like someone ripped my brain out of my head, stomped all over it and then tossed it, shivering and violated, into the gutter. I have nothing against giant robot shows, really I don’t, and this is a series by Go Nagai, one of the acknowledged masters of the genre. But this episode is so unforgivably terrible that I feel like Go Nagai is turning in his grave, and he hasn’t even died yet (though if he’s aware of how badly his property has been raped, he may soon decide to commit suicide). I believe the people behind this adaptation intended for it to pay homage to the over-the-top mecha action anime tropes that were once commonplace, including ludicrous attacks and hot-blooded heroics. However, things which may have been clever and funny when done by Gainax are clumsy and ineffectual here.
As for aesthetics, the visuals are serviceable, but despite this being a first episode, the animation seems a bit choppy. I think someone needs to tell the animators that they can reference the 1970’s without animating like it’s 1970. The music was so-so until near the end, when a song came on that sounds like some sort of 1980’t butt-rock guitar riff, and I nearly fell out of my seat laughing. They might as well have just licensed “The Final Countdown” and been done with it.
Perhaps the second episode is a bit more toned-down and makes some sense, but I am so put off by having my intelligence insulted by episode 1 that I don’t care to find out. Next time they should hire some writers who can write an episode that doesn’t seem like someone’s terrible fanfic.
Pros
- It’s over, thank god it’s over
Cons
- Just about everything is completely incomprehensible
