Giant Robo 1 and 2 are the first in a series of OAVs released by Hikari Productions/Amuse Video/Plex/Atlantis. Based on the older live action series, Giant Robo the Anime is the story of a boy and his robot. The boy, twelve year old Daisaku Kusama, and the most powerful robot on earth, Giant Robo, are engaged in an epic struggle against the forces of Big Fire. Big Fire, along with the assistance of the mysterious Magnificent Ten, seek no less than world domination and is willing to employ any means to achieve these ends. Standing alongside Daisaku in his struggle to oppose Big Fire are the Experts of Justice, an international police organisation devoted to upholding justice throughout the world.
This struggle takes place in a future earth much like our own, except that it is dominated by the presence of the Shizuma Drive. Most resembling some sort of recyclable chemical battery, the Shizuma Drive provides cheap, pollution-free, power which now runs almost everything on earth, from the largest factories to the smallest cigarette lighters. However, the history of the Shizuma Drive is tainted by the tragedy of Bashitarlle. A disaster of such magnitude that it destroyed the peaceful country of Bashitarlle and plunged the earth into darkness for seven days, killing nearly a third of the earths population. Now it seems that Big Fire is near to recreating that disaster. Daisaku and the Experts of Justice may well be the only things standing against Big Fire, but their cause is far from hopeless as they possess the power of the mightiest robot on earth Giant Robo.
Director Yasuhiro Imagawa has retained few elements of the original live action Giant Robo in his animated version. In fact only the boy Daisaku, his wristwatch which he uses to control Giant Robo, and Robo itself are left from the original show. Responsible for the visual elements of Giant Robo are Animation Director Kazuyoshi Katayama, Image Concept Designer Makoto Kobayashi, and Art Director Hiromasa Ogura.
Their talents have combined to craft a visual style reminiscent of much older works but completed with skill enough to make any studio jealous. This fascinating visual style extends into all facets of Giant Robo including both the character designs and the mecha designs. Made famous by his work on Gundam, designer Takashi Watabe is responsible for the mecha design of Giant Robo, while his colleagues, Toshiyuki Kubooka and Akihiko Yamashita, are responsible for the character designs as Giant Robo itself is as much a character in anime as it's master Daisaku. Though it lacks the ability to speak or to change its expression, Robo still manages to convey a sense of strong emotion through the artists manipulation of camera angles, shadows, and body language. All of these elements combine in an anime that is both a visual and auditory delight for the viewer.
It should be mentioned at this time that this is a review of the original Japanese version of Giant Robo. Since its release, Giant Robo has been dubbed into English by L.A. Hero, a subsidiary of U.S. Renditions. The text of the dubbed version and the quality of the voice acting varies so much from the original that they cannot be considered together in any way. In fact the script used by L.A. Hero (based on a translation by fan translator Tonghyun Kim) is anything but literal. Whole lines of dialogue are changed to such an extent that they convey different meanings than in the original Japanese. Other times dialogue has been added that was not in the original, often causing confusion as to what is supposed to be going on. Some of the dialogue of the English dub us incomprehensible - you simply cannot understand what the characters are saying. None of the English voice actors seem to have a feel for the personality of the character they are supposed to be portraying, and as a result the voice acting lacks any sort of emotion. The original Japanese release however, features many skilled voice actors and actresses who give exceptional performances that add a great deal to Giant Robo.
Daisaku Kusama: Voice actor Kappei Yamaguchi puts in an excellent performance as the 12 year old Daisaku Kusama. Kappei Yamaguchi's past credits include the voice of the male Ranma from the animated version of Rumiko Takahashi's Ranma «. Yamaguchi creates the impression that Daisaku is a determined young boy who is mature for his age. Daisaku has the unenviable responsibility of commanding the most powerful robot on earth - Giant Robo. Daisaku's parents were killed by Big Fire after his father completed Giant Robo; this tragedy has robbed Daisaku of his childhood and thrust him into considerable danger. However, Daisaku is possessed of a strong spirit and has held up well under the strain of such great responsibility.
Gen-rei: Voice actress Sumi Shimamoto provides an exceptional performance as the young woman Gen-rei. Gen-rei is a member of the International Police Organisation and a close friend of fellow Expert Tetsugyu. She is an attractive young woman with long black hair. When she first appears she is disguised as a man wearing an iron mask. It is soon revealed that this mysterious individual is Gen-rei when she rescues Dr. Shizuma from the clutches of Big Fire.
Taiso: Voice actor Tadasuke Wakamoto plays the role of Taiso, one of the International Police Organisation's top Experts of Justice. Taiso is good friends with both Gen-rei and Tetsugyu having known Tetsugyu since they were both recruited by the IPO at the age of 12. Taiso is a bit of a clown and a carouser, but when the time for action comes he is a fearless fighter with amazing power. Taiso is also referred to as Aniki ("big brother") by Tetsugyu but whatever the name, the man himself remains the same; loyal, selfless, brave, and noble. He is the arch-nemesis of Big Fire member Lord Alberto.
Tetsugyu: Voice actor Akikazu Iizuka plays the role of Tetsugyu. Often referred to as Ox by Gen-rei, Tetsugyu is a giant of a man with a heart of pure gold. While he may seem blusterous and a bit awkward, he is a man of deep sensitivity who cares a great deal for his friends. He shares a special relationship with Gen-rei, who he loves above all others. In the face of the enemy he is fearless to the point of recklessness. He is also stubborn to a fault which may have led Gen-rei to bestow upon him the nickname of Ox. Then again, it may have been only his great size and awkward behaviour around Gen-rei that elicited the nickname.
Professor Go: Voice actor Masahito Ebara plays the role of the often reserved Professor Go. Go is an Expert in intelligence and all scientific matters. In addition to his academic skills, Professor Go is a master of the ancient martial art of the Iron Fan technique. Quiet and reserved Professor Go neither wastes words or actions, earning him the respect of fellow Experts.
Chief Chugo: Voice actor Iemasa Kaumi provides the voice for the chief of the IPO and the most powerful of all the Experts of Justice. The true nature of "Silent Chugo" is not revealed during the first two episodes of Giant Robo, but is implied that the chief of the Experts possesses vast destructive power. Cool and collected, Chief Chugo is the leader of the Experts and responsible for their actions.
Gen'ya: Voice actor Sanemori Ogawa plays the role of the leader of the Magnificent Ten, Big Fire's elite inner circle. Gen'ya is responsible for the creation of the three anti-Shizuma Drives, one of which is stolen by Dr. Shizuma himself. When these three devices are installed in the immense machine Von Fogler built it will be able to drain the power of every Shizuma Drive on the planet.
Lord Alberto: Voice actor Yosuke Akimoto provides the voice of Lord Alberto, one of Big Fires most powerful and ruthless agents. Alberto's power is equalled only by his arrogance, and his hatred for the Experts knows no bounds. Alberto lost both his close friend and his right eye in battle with Taiso. Now he is looking to settle the score.
Ivan: Voice actor Yasuyoshi Hara plays the roll of Ivan, Lord Alberto's right hand man. Ivan is loyal to his superior Lord Alberto without question. Ivan is a peculiar figure who seems tortured by some great tragedy in his past.
Ko-Enshaku: No voice actor plays the part of Ko-Enshaku as Ko-Enshaku never speaks. In fact he is not only clad in armour from head to toe, but wears a mask to hide his face. The other members of the Magnificent Ten of Big Fire seem suspicious of Ko-Enshaku because of his strange behaviour, however it is clear he shares their goals. But aside from this Ko-Enshaku is a mystery to both his allies and his enemies.
Professor Franken Von Fogler: Voice actor Koichi Chiba plays the part of the mysterious figure of Professor Franken Von Fogler. Originally one of the five members of the Shizuma design team, Professor Von Fogler went over the edge after repeated failures seemed to endanger the development of the Shizuma Drive. It was this maniacal determination to complete the project that led to Franken Von Folger's apparent death.
Professor Shizuma: Voice actor Kazuo Harada plays the role of Professor Shizuma, the principle figure behind the creation of the Shizuma Drive. Professor Shizuma is a tortured soul driven to the point of near madness over his misgivings about the nature of the Shizuma Drive that he helped to create. He seems convinced that Von Fogler will return from the dead to recreate the great disaster that nearly destroyed the world and punish humanity for their blind reliance on the Shizuma Drive.
Giant Robo was released in Japan by Hikari Productions/Amuse Video/Plex/Atlantis. All rights under copyright reserved. The dubbed version of Giant Robo is released by L.A. Hero, a division of U.S. Renditions. All rights under copyright reserved.