Hello there.
Say, I was wondering if anyone's heard of the absolutely brilliant "Giant Robo" anime...
If you haven't seen it, then you need to stop what you're doing and get the boxed set. I'd love to do a review of the series.
Giant Robo: The Animation
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I thought only the first Volume was out? Does it come packaged with a box to fill up with later volumes or something? Is the animation really good? By the way, welcome to the forums. ^_^
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Ichigo_89 - Posts: 1365
- Joined: Wed May 05, 2004 10:00 am
- Location: KY
ZIPO_MASTER* wrote:I thought only the first Volume was out? Does it come packaged with a box to fill up with later volumes or something? Is the animation really good? By the way, welcome to the forums. ^_^
Thanks for the welcomes.
Actually, GR is from 1992. It's only 7 epsiodes, but took from '92 until '98 to finish it. A real labour of love. Granted, the eps aren't short. Epsiode 1 is 50 minutes, 2-6 are about 40, and episode 7 is an hour.
The VHS tapes are hard to come across (Amazon.com has them), and media Blasters just re-released the first two episodes on DVD.
You're thinking of the Monster Orb set, which holds the DVDs.
Do what I did, and head over to eBay and get the Korean Boxed Set. It's 3 discs, and contains both the english and Japanese dubs, plus it's in english(aside from the third disc, which contains random commercials and such).
As I said, I'd love to do a review of it. Anyway, the animation IS good. The first episode is the lowest quality in terms of action, story, animation, etc.. But it's still pretty good. The anime is best appriciated when watched fully.
And if you're wondering about the weird username, Imapct Alberto is a GR character. If anyone wants a plot description, I'd be happy to provide one.
...
That was long-winded.
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Joshua Christopher - Posts: 1982
- Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2004 9:00 am
WOW, that WAS a mouthfull. Does the korean box have DVD quality picture and such, or is it crappy? Private message me if you'd rather. 
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Ichigo_89 - Posts: 1365
- Joined: Wed May 05, 2004 10:00 am
- Location: KY
ZIPO_MASTER* wrote:WOW, that WAS a mouthfull. Does the korean box have DVD quality picture and such, or is it crappy? Private message me if you'd rather.
Well, I don't fell like it
Sorry, anyway...
(I tend to be long-winded. Darn you Norm Scott!)
It's a great DVD. The quality is spectacular. Some of the subtitles are a bit awkward, but from what I've heard it's a direct translation from the Japanese. Overall, the only real flaw with the set is the special features disc is in Korean. Nothing that big a deal on it.
One of these posts I'll actually explain what the heck GR is about. But for now, I have to say it really isn't part of the "giant robot" genre.
I am reachable on AIM by the name 'vortekks'.
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Joshua Christopher - Posts: 1982
- Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2004 9:00 am
ZIPO_MASTER* wrote:WOW, that WAS a mouthfull. Does the korean box have DVD quality picture and such, or is it crappy? Private message me if you'd rather.
X_____X
HEY! Korean stuff ain't bootleg! They're just as good! Just.... Korean
bleh...... meanie
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Mr. SmartyPants - Posts: 12541
- Joined: Sat Aug 21, 2004 9:00 am
Mr. SmartyPants wrote:X_____X
HEY! Korean stuff ain't bootleg! They're just as good! Just.... Korean
bleh...... meanie
OMG! AWESOME!! *had no idea obviously*
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Ichigo_89 - Posts: 1365
- Joined: Wed May 05, 2004 10:00 am
- Location: KY
Okay, time for my explantion of Giant Robo.
As I said before, the anime took six years to finish, and only has seven episodes (There are 3 side stories that I haven't seen, and don't much care to).
The Plot: It's hard to explain. I can't really tell the plot without spoiling too much, but here's the setup.
In the distant future, A man named Dr. Shizuma invents a clean energy source that can be recycled any number of times.
A terrorist group called "BIG FIRE" (Together! Allegiance or death! Big Fire!) seeks to wipe out the Shizuma Drives, but must contend with The IPO's group, "The Experts Of Justice." One of the members of BIG FIRE, Genya, gains control of the "Monster Sphere/Volger Eye", which deploys an "Anti-Shizuma field", overloading the drives and causing them to explode.
Here's the bad thing, basically EVERYTHING runs on Shizuma Drives.
Genya is after the third "sample" to give the anti-Shizuma field the ability to destroy all of the drives, not just the independent places he attacks.
Anyway, The IPO's Experts Of Justice are made up of a colourful cast. Since this anime isn't told from a specific point of view (It is near the end), there isn't really a main character. Now, if you wanted to name the "main" character, it'd be Daisaku Kusama. He's 12, and guess what, HE HAS A GIANT ROBOT, unoriginally named Giant Robo. But it goes deeper than little kid with Big Robot. Wait until episode 5.
Why's it so good?: Many reasons. First, it just has a super-epic feel to it. Included is the amazing orchestral score by the National Poland Warsaw Phillharmonic Orchestra.
The plot seems kind of cliche' at first, but starts getting good in episode 2. By the end, it isn't cliche' at all.
The characters feel so real. It's hard to explain.
The animation is very retro, but also very good. Simple character designs, but they move well. It's comparable to the Osamu Tezuka style.
The music is flipping brilliant.
Content: Aside from Gin Rei's insanely short skirt, nothing even close to fanservice. Not even any panty shots. The English dub added a LOT more swearing. Luckily, no G-d's or f-bombs. Just PG13 stuff. The violence isn't just there for the sake of violence. Whenever blood is shed, it has a reason behind it. It's not really graphic, however. Though, one character splits beople in half. Oddly enough, these scenes contain no blood. Again, it's nothing that couldn't be shown on Cartoon Network (Adult Swim). As far as religion, one character is a Taoist Sorcerer. Actually, when one of the other characters died, the character "Chujo" held a Christian style funeral. Plus, Chujo is just awesome.
*Note: There are 3 "Gin Rei parody" episodes. From what I've heard, they contain some shower scenes. They're just wacky slef-parodies anyway, but I haven't seen them.
Now, I have to say, as odd as this may sound: Giant Robo isn't really a giant robot cartoon. It's mainly a drama. Also, many of the battles are martial arts.
Intersting note: I told a friend of mine to check it out. After seeing the sub-par dub, he said, though it wasn't his #1 favourite, GR was the best anime he'd ever seen. I agree. Though, GR is my favourite.
And last but not least: The Paris destruction scene is insanely cool.
So, look for the Korean Boxed Set. You want this, now.
...Longest thing ever >_<
As I said before, the anime took six years to finish, and only has seven episodes (There are 3 side stories that I haven't seen, and don't much care to).
The Plot: It's hard to explain. I can't really tell the plot without spoiling too much, but here's the setup.
In the distant future, A man named Dr. Shizuma invents a clean energy source that can be recycled any number of times.
A terrorist group called "BIG FIRE" (Together! Allegiance or death! Big Fire!) seeks to wipe out the Shizuma Drives, but must contend with The IPO's group, "The Experts Of Justice." One of the members of BIG FIRE, Genya, gains control of the "Monster Sphere/Volger Eye", which deploys an "Anti-Shizuma field", overloading the drives and causing them to explode.
Here's the bad thing, basically EVERYTHING runs on Shizuma Drives.
Genya is after the third "sample" to give the anti-Shizuma field the ability to destroy all of the drives, not just the independent places he attacks.
Anyway, The IPO's Experts Of Justice are made up of a colourful cast. Since this anime isn't told from a specific point of view (It is near the end), there isn't really a main character. Now, if you wanted to name the "main" character, it'd be Daisaku Kusama. He's 12, and guess what, HE HAS A GIANT ROBOT, unoriginally named Giant Robo. But it goes deeper than little kid with Big Robot. Wait until episode 5.
Why's it so good?: Many reasons. First, it just has a super-epic feel to it. Included is the amazing orchestral score by the National Poland Warsaw Phillharmonic Orchestra.
The plot seems kind of cliche' at first, but starts getting good in episode 2. By the end, it isn't cliche' at all.
The characters feel so real. It's hard to explain.
The animation is very retro, but also very good. Simple character designs, but they move well. It's comparable to the Osamu Tezuka style.
The music is flipping brilliant.
Content: Aside from Gin Rei's insanely short skirt, nothing even close to fanservice. Not even any panty shots. The English dub added a LOT more swearing. Luckily, no G-d's or f-bombs. Just PG13 stuff. The violence isn't just there for the sake of violence. Whenever blood is shed, it has a reason behind it. It's not really graphic, however. Though, one character splits beople in half. Oddly enough, these scenes contain no blood. Again, it's nothing that couldn't be shown on Cartoon Network (Adult Swim). As far as religion, one character is a Taoist Sorcerer. Actually, when one of the other characters died, the character "Chujo" held a Christian style funeral. Plus, Chujo is just awesome.
*Note: There are 3 "Gin Rei parody" episodes. From what I've heard, they contain some shower scenes. They're just wacky slef-parodies anyway, but I haven't seen them.
Now, I have to say, as odd as this may sound: Giant Robo isn't really a giant robot cartoon. It's mainly a drama. Also, many of the battles are martial arts.
Intersting note: I told a friend of mine to check it out. After seeing the sub-par dub, he said, though it wasn't his #1 favourite, GR was the best anime he'd ever seen. I agree. Though, GR is my favourite.
And last but not least: The Paris destruction scene is insanely cool.
So, look for the Korean Boxed Set. You want this, now.
...Longest thing ever >_<
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Joshua Christopher - Posts: 1982
- Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2004 9:00 am
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Ichigo_89 - Posts: 1365
- Joined: Wed May 05, 2004 10:00 am
- Location: KY
bigsleepj wrote:Sounds good. I should look into it. It sounds like its in much the same vein as "Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro."
*bigsleepj exits with a swoop.
I wouldn't really compare it to Lupin. It's not that old, actually.
It's a culmination of Yokoyama's many mangas, including Giant Robo, and some Chinese-Warrior type mangas. Actually, Giant Robo had a live action show back in the sixties...it was...scary.
That's Johnny Sokko's Flying Robot.
Paris: PWNED! From episode 1.
That's Daisaku, Gin Rei, and GR-1. Goodness Gracious, her skirt is short >_<.
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Joshua Christopher - Posts: 1982
- Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2004 9:00 am
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