Giant Robo (OVA)

Infobox animanga/Header
name = Giant Robo


caption =
ja_name = ジャイアントロボ - 地球が静止する日
ja_name_trans = Giant Robo: The Day the Earth Stood Still
genre = Martial arts, SteampunkInfobox animanga/OVA
title =
director = Yasuhiro Imagawa
studio = Mu Animation Studio
licensor = Phoenix Entertainment
licensor_other = France: Pathé Hong Kong: Asia Video Italy: Granata Press (Expired) Shin Vision Netherlands: Manga DVD North America: L.A. Hero (Expired) U.S. Renditions (Expired) Manga Entertainment (Expired) AnimeWorks (Media Blasters)
episodes = 7
released = July 22, 1992 (Episode 1) February 20, 1993 (Episode 2) August 20, 1993 (Episode 3) January 20, 1994 (Episode 4) October 21, 1994 (Episode 5) June 25, 1995 (Episode 6) January 25, 1998 (Episode 7)

nihongo|"Giant Robo: The Day the Earth Stood Still"|ジャイアント・ロボ - 地球が静止する日|Jaianto Robo - Chikyū ga seishi suru hi is an original video animation series written and directed by Yasuhiro Imagawa ("G Gundam", "Seven of Seven"), and inspired by Mitsuteru Yokoyama's manga series of the same name.

"Giant Robo" is an homage to Yokoyama's career. The series features characters and plotlines from the manga artist's entire canon of work, effectively creating an all-new story. The events take place in the near future, ten years after the advent of the Shizuma Drive triggers the third energy revolution. The series follows the master of the titular Robo, Daisaku Kusama, and the Experts of Justice, an international police organization locked in battle with the BF Group, a secret society hell-bent on world domination.

The OVA is recognized for its "retro" style and operatic score. The character designs emulate Yokoyama's drawing style and the mechanics are inspired by steampunk literature. The action setpieces are influenced by Hong Kong action cinema, specifically the new school of "wuxia" and the 1970s "kung fu" wave.

The first installment of the series, "The Black Attaché Case," was released July 22, 1992. Originally intended to finish within 36 months, the seven volumes series was ultimately released over the span of six years. "The Grand Finale" was released January 25, 1998. The OVA has since been translated into English, Cantonese, Dutch, French, Italian and Korean.

Plot

The series takes place in a retro-futuristic setting, where the Shizuma Drive ends the depletion of petroleum resources and the need for nuclear power. The system is a non-polluting recyclable energy source that powers everything on land, sea and air. Ten years prior to the events of the series a team of scientists, led by Professor Shizuma, created the revolutionary system. In the process they nearly destroyed the world and one of their own, Franken Von Vogler, was lost in the event that went down in history as the "Tragedy of Bashtarle." At the start of "Giant Robo", the BF Group is in the middle of recreating the event with aid from the resurfaced Vogler.

"Giant Robo" is a steampunk tale where the power of steam is replaced by the Shizuma Drive. The story explores a society completely brought down, within the span of one week, because of dependency on a single energy source and a state of prosperity tainted by compromise and deceit.cite web| url = http://insider.ign.com/videos/articles/378/378759p1.html | title= Anime Video Archives: Giant Robo | date = 2002-11-26 | accessdate= 2007-01-01 | author = IGN Staff | publisher = IGN Insider ] cite web | url = http://www.ex.org/3.2/04-feature_gr1.html | title = "Giant Robo" Feature | accessdate = 2007-01-01 | last = Luce | first = Eric | publisher = EX: The Online World of Anime & Manga]

Characters

BF Group

The nihongo|BF Group|BF団|Bīefu dan is the main antagonist of the series. Their origin is unknown, but not so their reason to be: to lead mankind down a road of ruin. The Group's forces consist of mechanical monsters, foot soldiers and nihongo|"Experts"|エキスパート|Ekisupāto, individuals with superhuman powers.

The most powerful Experts form the ruling cadre of the organization, the cabal of nihongo|The Magnificent Ten|十傑集|Jūkesshū. Its members swear allegiance to nihongo|Big Fire|ビッグ・ファイア|Biggu Faia, the Group's founder and leader, with faltering loyalty punishable by death. At the time of "The Day the Earth Stood Still," The Ten are gearing up for the final showdown with the IPO.

The IPO

The nihongo|International Police Organization|国際警察機構|Kokusai Keisatsu Kikō is the BF Group's counterpart in the "Giant Robo" universe."The world of "Giant Robo": The BF Group vs. the IPO". Liner Notes. (1993). "Giant Robo", Volume 3. Bandai Visual.] The leaders of the world acknowledged Big Fire as a threat to world security and signed the charter creating the IPO. The IPO's methods are information and espionage, looking to bring down the BF Group rather than defeating them in an all-out war.

However, to counter Big Fire's superhuman elements, "Experts" are recruited and granted special international jurisdiction. The agents assembled are known as the nihongo|Experts of Justice|正義のエキスパート|Seigi no Ekisupāto. Daisaku Kusama is the youngest of the Experts from the Peking Branch of the IPO. While he does not possess any special powers, he is the one and only master of Giant Robo. Constructed by Daisaku's father,"Character biographies". Liner Notes. (1992). "Giant Robo", Volume 1. Bandai Visual.] Giant Robo is the IPO's trump card against Big Fire.

Production

The "Giant Robo" manga first appeared in "Weekly Shōnen Sunday" on May 1967. Written by Mitsuteru Yokoyama, it tells the story of Daisaku Kusama, the titular Robo and an evil secret society known only as "Big Fire." In October of the same year, a live-action adaptation premiered on TV Asahi. In 1990, producer Yasuhito Yamaki ("Ninja Resurrection", "Urotsukidoji") approached Yasuhiro Imagawa about working on an animated version of the "Giant Robo" manga."The Steel God cometh!". Liner Notes. (1992). "Giant Robo", Vol. 1. Bandai Visual.] Imagawa, a self-proclaimed fan of Yokoyama's work,"Vibrant Designs". Liner Notes. (1993). "Giant Robo", Vol. 2. Bandai Visual.] jumped at the chance of working on the project.

In pre-production, Imagawa was informed he could not use any of the supporting characters from the manga or live-action versions. Instead, with Yokoyama's permission, he populated the series with characters from the artist's entire canon of work including "Akakage", "Babel II" and "Godmars".cite web| url = http://web.archive.org/web/20030713151326/http://animejump.com/giantrobo/index2.html | title = Behind the Night's Illusions - the characters of Giant Robo: the Animation (Archive) | publisher = Anime Jump | year = 1999 | accessdate = 2007-01-01] The "Giant Robo" OVA still follows Daisaku and Robo, and the main antagonist is called "Big Fire," but it features an all-new storyline with a completely different cast of characters.

The first episode was released July 22, 1992 with the following three installments staying close to the proposed schedule of six months between releases. In the nine months between the releases of Volumes 4 and 5, two OVA's focusing on the character of GinRei were produced.cite journal | last = Ouellette | first = Martin | year = 1994 | month = September-October | title = Ginrei | journal = Protoculture Addicts | issue = 30 |pages = 14–21] Nihongo|"Barefoot GinRei"|素足のGinRei|Suashi no GinRei is a humorous take on GinRei's job as a spy for the IPO. Nihongo|"Mighty GinRei"|鉄腕GinRei|Tetsuwan GinRei, a send up of super robot series, features Ken Ishikawa as guest mech designer. A third OVA, Nihongo|"GinRei with blue eyes"|青い瞳の銀鈴|Aoi hitomi no Gin Rei, was released after Volume 5 of "Giant Robo".

The final episode was released January 1998, almost three years after episode six. In between releases, members of the "Giant Robo" staff worked on other projects including "The Big O",cite web|url= http://www.fansview.com/2003/animecentral/051703c.htm |title= Anime Central 2003 Panel |accessdate= 2007-01-01 | publisher = A Fan's View] "Getter Robo Armageddon",cite web|url= http://www.fansview.com/1999/032099a.htm | title= Animazement - Yasuhiro Imagawa | date = 1999-03-20 | accessdate= 2007-01-01 | publisher = A Fan's View] and an animated version of Shunro Oshikawa's "Kaitei Gunkan" novel.

Imagawa intended "The Day the Earth Stood Still" to be part of a greater story, the penultimate chapter in a saga starring the Experts of Justice and Big Fire."Imagawa Answers Your Questions!". Liner Notes. (1993). "Giant Robo", Vol. 3. Bandai Visual.] The OVA would be preceded by "The Birth of Zangetsu the Midday," [The 2007 Nihongo|"Tetsujin 28-go: Hakuchuu no Zangetsu"|鉄人２８号　白昼の残月 feature film, written and directed by Imagawa, shares its name with this story.] "The Plan to Assassinate Daisaku - the Canary Penitentiary," "The Boy of Three Days," "The Greatest Battle in History - Kanshin vs. Koumei," and "The Boy Detective, Kindaichi Shōtarō, Appears!" [The title is a reference to Shōtarō Kaneda, the boy detective of "Tetsujin 28-go", and Kosuke Kindaichi, the fictional detective created by Seishi Yokomizo.] The final chapter is to be titled "The Siege of Babel". No further stories have been animated.cite web | url = http://www.animefringe.com/magazine/02.09/feature/9/index.php3 | title = The Yasuhiro Imagawa Lecture | accessdate = 2007-01-01 | last = Khan | first = Ridwan | year = 2002 | month = September | publisher = Animefringe: Online Anime Magazine]

Music

"Giant Robo"'s score was composed, arranged and conducted by Japanese Academy Award nominee Masamichi Amano ("The Geisha House", "Battle Royale") and performed by the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir. The music ranges from grand pieces like "Charge! His Name is Giant Robo" to more light-hearted tracks like "Tetsugyu in Love." Amano makes use of leitmotifs, recurring musical themes associated with different characters, places or events.

audio|Dies Irae (Giant Robo).ogg|Tragedy Occurs Again… is "Giant Robo's Dies Irae", first heard during the destruction of the "Champs-Élysées" in episode one. The hymn, written in Medieval Latin, describes what is known in Christian eschatology as Judgment Day. Along with Amano's original compositions, the soundtrack features “Una furtiva lagrima” from the 1832 opera "L'elisir d'amore".Clements, J. & McCarthy, H. (2001). "The Anime Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese Animation Since 1917". Berkley, CA: Stone Bridge Press. ISBN 1-88-065664-7.] For Imagawa, the aria embodies one of the themes of "Giant Robo": "the sorrow of others not understanding your true feelings".

The music of "Giant Robo" has been called one of animation's crowning achievements, comparable to the works of Ennio Morricone,cite web| url = http://www.soundtrack.net/albums/database/?id=3592 | title= "Giant Robo" I Soundtrack | date = 2004-11-16 | accessdate= 2007-01-01 | last name = Ruiz | first name = Rafael | publisher = SoundtrackNet ] John Williams and Richard Wagner.Drazen, Patrick. “Giant Robo: Anime as Wagnerian Opera.” In "Anime Explosion!: The What? Why? & Wow! of Japanese Animation". Berkley, Stone Bridge Press, 2002, pp. 246–252. ISBN 1-88-065672-8.] The complete score was released in seven soundtracks by Nippon Columbia. The first two soundtracks were released in North America by AnimeTrax.

Adaptations

Along with the animated version, Imagawa scripted a manga illustrated by Mari Mizuta. Serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's "Comics Genki", it delves deeper into the machinations of the BF Group and introduces nihongo|Yellow Emperor Rai-se|黄帝・ライセ|Kitei Rai-se as Big Fire's counterpart in the IPO. The issues were later collected in two volumes published under the Newtype 100% Comics imprint.

:* "Giant Robo" Volume 1 (ISBN 4-04-852343-0) Released August, 1992.:* "Giant Robo" Volume 2 (ISBN 4-04-852441-0) Released September, 1993.

A novelization by Hiroshi Yamaguchi was released on September, 1993. (Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko: ISBN 4-04-413104-X)

December 2002 saw the release of the only chapter in nihongo|"Giant Robo: The Beginning"|ジャイアントロボ - 誕生編|Jaianto Robo - Tanjō-hen, scripted by Kensei Date and illustrated by Masayuki Fujihara. The manga was to be serialized in Eichi Publishing's "Trauma Manga", but the magazine was discontinued after its third issue.

In commemoration of "Giant Robos 40th anniversary, Imagawa began scripting '. The manga, illustrated by Yasunari Toda, chronicles Daisaku's involvement in a three way battle between the IPO, the Magnificent Ten and the Murasame Clan. "The Day the Earth Burned" follows the general tone and style of the OVA but set in a different continuity.

Design

For series director Yasuhiro Imagawa, the world where the story unfolds must be convincing, for it is the setting and themes what determine the character and mecha designs.cite web|url= http://www.ex.org/2.5/06-feature_3amigos.html | title=Interview with "the three amigos" |last = Cahill |first = Peter | accessdate= 2007-01-01 | publisher = EX: The Online World of Anime & Manga] In the world of "Giant Robo", "anything goes." The technology is futuristic and the morals are modern. The world's outlook is bright but there's an underlying sense of some sinister motive beneath it. "Wuxia" heroes coexist with modern day espers and giant robots as soldiers in a struggle between good and evil.

Art style

The "Giant Robo" OVA is one of many anime titles based on old properties produced in Japan during the 1990s. [cite journal | last = Duffield | first = Patricia | year = 2000 | month = April | title = Remakes of the '90s | journal = Animerica Extra | volume = 3 |issue = 5] While titles like "Bubblegum Crisis 2040", "Dirty Pair Flash" and "Tekkaman Blade" gave modern spins to old classics, the creators of "Giant Robo" decided to go with a "retro" look.

The characters were designed by Toshiyuki Kubooka ("The Idolm@ster", "Lunar" series) and Akihiko Yamashita. ("Princess Nine", "Tide-Line Blue") The designers were asked to emulate Yokoyama's characters rather than create new ones. Admittedly "it took some time to catch on to Director Imagawa's intentions," but with repetition the staff was able to achieve Imagawa's vision of characters that look like they stepped out of anime from the 1960s.cite web|url= http://www.animeboredom.co.uk/anime-reviews/giant-robo/957/ |title = "Giant Robo" review | accessdate= 2007-06-01 | date = 2007-01-21 | last = Huxley | first = John | publisher = Anime Boredom]

The mechanical design is a case of high technology meets old school engineering. The titular mecha is an advanced piece of machinery, equipped with booster rockets and hidden weapons all through out. Sporting big stovepipe arms and exposed rivets, the hulking giant is more like a weapon of mass destruction rather than a "robot superhero." Vehicles like the Shizuma powered Beetle or the Experts' airship fortress in the design of a zeppelin appear as if they had been conceived at the turn of the 20th century,cite web|url= http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/disc_reviews/1226.php |title = Giant Robo Giga Premium Collection (3) | accessdate= 2007-01-01 | last = Black | first = David | publisher = Anime on DVD] giving the world of "Giant Robo" a timeless feel.

"Giant Robo" is credited with generating interest in re-imagining other artists' works, including Osamu Tezuka and Go Nagai, and creating a "retro" style that's been copied in productions like "Sakura Wars".

Influences

The modern notion of the giant robot genre can be traced back to the 1970s.cite web|url= http://www.animenation.net/blog/2000/02/25/ask-john-how-did-anime-start/ |title= Ask John: How Did Anime Start? |date = 2000-02-25 | accessdate= 2007-01-01 | publisher = Anime Nation] The works of Go Nagai ("Mazinger", "Getter Robo") created the genre and the debut of Yoshiyuki Tomino's "Mobile Suit Gundam" in 1979 solidified it. In this genre, the mecha is the focal point of the action. But for a genre anime, "Giant Robo" does not feature many giant robot battles;cite web | url = http://www.mahq.net/rants/cons/imagawa/imagawa.htm | title = Yasuhiro Imagawa, Director of Mobile Fighter G Gundam | date = 2002-08-15 | accessdate = 2007-01-01 | author = MAHQ Staff | publisher = Mecha Anime HQ] instead, it is the human characters who do the fighting.

Most of the "Experts" featured in "The Day the Earth Stood Still" come from Yokoyama's manga adaptations of "Outlaws of the Marsh" and "Romance of the Three Kingdoms",Neidengard, M. (January 30, 1999). The World's Mightiest Robot. "Cornell Japanese Animation Society Newsletter".] both "wuxia" novels and half of the "Four Classics" of Chinese literature. "Wuxia" are martial arts adventures populated by skilled, honorable fighters.Bordwell, David. “Hong Kong Martial Arts Cinema.” In "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: A Portrait of the Ang Lee Film". New York: Newmarket Press, 2000, pp. 14–21. ISBN 1-55-704459-7.] In Hong Kong action cinema, the genre is associated with swordplay epics sprinkled with mysticism.

Given their origin, the heroes and villains of "Giant Robo" are superhuman combatants who share many elements with the errant knights of "wuxia" like strength, magic powers and the ability to fly.cite web | url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/old-school/2003-02-09 | title = Old School: Giant Robo | date = 2003-02-09 | accessdate = 2007-01-01 | last = Crandol | first = Mike | publisher = Anime News Network] In "wuxia" adventures, the characters are given nicknames that allude to their mastery of weapons, their physical appearance or their demeanor ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"). Imagawa, inspired by Yokayama's adaptation of "Outlaws of the Marsh","Imagawa Answers Your Questions! (Part 3)". Liner Notes. (1995). "Giant Robo", Volume 6. Bandai Visual.] followed this convention and gave "Giant Robo"'s characters similar descriptive names like "Shockwave Alberto," "Silent Chūjō" and "The Immortal."

In "jiang hu", secret societies plot against the "status quo" ("House of Flying Daggers") and powerful clans do war with each other.cite web | url = http://www.kungfucinema.com/categories/wuxiapien.htm | title = Wuxia Pian - Introduction | date = 2004-02-17 | accessdate = 2007-01-01 | last = Pollard | first = Mark | publisher = Kung Fu Cinema: Screen fighting news & review] "Giant Robo" features the ongoing conflict between the Experts of Justice and the BF Group. Woven into the story are values commonly associated with martial arts films like honor, loyalty and individual justice, best exemplified in the rivalry between Alberto and Taisō."Character biographies". Liner Notes. (1994). "Giant Robo", Volume 5. Bandai Visual.]

Themes

"Giant Robo" is structured as a "character driven drama," emphasizing the relationships and personal histories of the characters over a mystery surrounding the titular mecha or a philosophical . At the time of the series, Daisaku is 12 years old and the only child in the Experts of Justice. "Giant Robo" is the story of how Daisaku grows up and works to respect his father's last will and testament of protecting the world from the BF Group.

The OVA is comparable to a "bildungsroman",Thacker, J. (September 14, 2002). Well, what would you prefer? Yellow spandex?. "Cornell Japanese Animation Society Newsletter".] where the story traces the main character's development from childhood to maturity. The two most important characters in the boy's coming of age are his fellow Experts Tetsugyu and Kenji Murasame."Imagawa Answers Your Questions! (Part 2)". Liner Notes. (1994). "Giant Robo", Volume 5. Bandai Visual.] Tetsugyu is a grown-up but still a "child" at heart. In the course of the story he and Daisaku grow-up, and mature, creating a parallel between them. Kenji, on the other hand, is what Daisaku sees as an "adult." Willing to sacrifice others for the sake of happiness, Kenji contrasts Daisaku's idealism.

The story delves on the relationship between fathers and sons and the unbreakable bond that exists between them.Oshiguchi, Takashi. “Yasuhiro Imagawa.” In "Anime Interviews: The First Five Years of Animerica, Anime & Manga Monthly (1992-97)". VIZ Media LLC, 1997, pp. 78–83. ISBN 1-56-931220-6.] The characters of Daisaku and Genya lost their fathers at a young age and entrusted with a legacy that turns them to adversaries during "The Day the Earth Stood Still." Mirror images of one another, the characters fight to fulfill their respective fathers' dying wish at the expense of the other's.

Dr. Kusama's dying question to Daisaku ("Can happiness be obtained without sacrifice? Can a new era be achieved without tragedy?") is at the crux of the series. Shizuma and his colleagues gave the world a new era of prosperity at the expense of billions of lives. The BF Group is willing to cause great misfortune to make their ideal world a reality, while many sacrifice themselves to protect it. The ending is bittersweet, with both sides suffering losses. For Imagawa, this was the only way of getting his point across. The series ends with a dedication to all fathers and their children "giving a glimmer of hope in the midst of all the sorrow."

Media

The series was originally released by Bandai Visual on VHS and LaserDisc from 1992 to 1998. On March 24, 2000, Toshiba Entertainment released the series on Region 2 DVD. The "Giant Robo Giga Premium Collection" (ASBY-1600) features digitally remastered video and audio, interviews with the creators and a companion book.

The distribution of the English language version has been handled by four different companies. A LaserDisc edition was released by L.A. Hero in 1994. After L.A. Hero's license expired, it was released on VHS by U.S. Renditions and Manga Entertainment. [U.S. Renditions, a division of Books Nippan, was the original licensor. After Books Nippan went out of business, Manga Entertainment picked up all their licenses, including "Giant Robo".] After Manga Entertainment's license expired, Media Blasters released "Giant Robo" on DVD. Media Blasters' 2004 release includes the Japanese language track and an all-new dub by NYAV Post.

"Giant Robo" was distributed in the Netherlands by Manga DVD and in Hong Kong by Asia Video. The French version, dubbed by "Saint Maur" Studios, was distributed by "Pathé". The series was released in Italy by Granata Press, with an upcoming release by Shin Vision.

;Video gamesThe "Giant Robo" video game (SLPM-62526) was released for PlayStation 2 on November 3, 2004 by D3 Publisher. Set in "The Day the Earth Stood Still" continuity, the player leads Daisaku Kusama and Giant Robo on a quest to defeat the BF Group. As Daisaku, the player can pick up items and power-ups on the battlefield; as Robo, it does battle with other mechas. A Versus Mode allows players to compete against each other using any of the robots featured on the series. The game is not available in Europe or North America.

"Giant Robo" made its debut in the "Super Robot Wars" with "Super Robot Taisen 64", released October 29, 1999. It later appeared in "Super Robot Taisen Alpha" for the Playstation and Dreamcast.

;Audio drama"Mighty Ginrei: Final Fight" (COCC-12444), an audio drama sequel to the "Mighty GinRei" OVA, was released on April 21, 1995 by Nippon Columbia. "Love Fight", a music collection tie-in, was released the same day.

Reception

The final installment of "Giant Robo" was released on January 25, 1998, eight years after production began and a full decade since its inception."The journey of ten years". Liner Notes. (1998). "Giant Robo", Vol. 7. Bandai Visual.] The feature suffered from high running costs and low sales, but was better received in America. The series appeared in the 62nd position of "Animage"'s Top 100 Anime List,cite web | url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2001-01-15/animage-top-100-anime-listing | title = Animage Top-100 Anime Listing | date = 2001-01-15 | accessdate = 2007-01-01 | publisher = Anime News Network] published on January 2001. On July of the same year, the series appeared on a list of the all time top 50 anime, according to "Wizard Magazine".cite web | url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2001-07-16/wizard-lists-top-50-anime | title = Wizard lists Top 50 Anime | date = 2001-07-16 | accessdate = 2007-01-01 | publisher = Anime News Network]

Critical reception has been largely positive. Three different reviewers from the AnimeOnDVD site gave "Giant Robo" an "A+".cite web|url= http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/disc_reviews/1224.php |title = Giant Robo Giga Premium Collection (1) | accessdate= 2007-01-01 | last = Lee | first = Kenneth | publisher = Anime on DVD] cite web|url= http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/disc_reviews/1225.php |title = Giant Robo Giga Premium Collection (2) | accessdate= 2007-01-01 | last = Hobbs | first = Ryan | publisher = Anime on DVD] John Huxley of Anime Boredom "highly recommends" the series and Anime Academy gives it a grade of 88%.cite web |url = http://animeacademy.com/finalrevdisplay.php?id=118 |accessdate = 2007-01-01 |title = "Giant Robo" Review |publisher = Anime Academy ]

"Giant Robo" is considered one of the true classics of anime, an epic in the vein of Homer's "Iliad" and Wagner's "Der Ring des Nibelungen". Mike Crandol of Anime News Network says Imagawa "takes the best of the old and mixes it with the best of the new to create the definitive giant robot story." John Huxley of Anime Boredom concludes the series is "the super robot show as it was in your mind’s eye, a perfect combination of the old without the disappointment of reality."

References

External links

anime-links
title = Giant Robo
ann = 669
imdb = 0101950
*" [http://www.japanhero.com/profiles/giant_robo_animation_profileL.htm Giant Robo] " in the Japan Hero Encyclopedia