Grendizer U ep.3 Review: Display of Power

SCREW CRUSHER PUNCH!!! Besides Grendizer’s first appearance in episode 1, viewers haven’t seen the UFO Robot fight much and are probably craving to know what the special moves will look like in Grendizer U. Not keeping us waiting for long, episode 3 completely crushed it with the special moves demonstration.

After a short scene explaining more about Planet Fleed and the Vega’s background, Grendizer U returns to the face-off between Zeoladizer and Grendizer. Although a great beef between Duke and Cassado was brewing before the confrontation, this battle was one-sided and felt more like a display of Grendizer’s weapons. Anti Gravity Storm, Screw Crusher Punch, Double Harken – Grendizer’s classic moves are recreated quite well. On the contrary, Cassado and the Zeoladizer proves that his title of a Starker Knight is just for show, focusing on running and outnumbering Grendizer instead of a direct face-off.

This episode’s battle scene is okay. The storyboard is badass and epic, but I feel like the animation quality can’t keep up with the quality of the storyboard. However, I think the animation team tried their best with the combat scenes in this episode. The effects are good and bad – Anti Gravity Storm’s effect looks cool, as does Screw Crusher Punch’s effect, but otherwise, the effects either look too simple or just look a bit off. The scene where Grendizer charges the last Screw Crusher Punch and launches it at the same time as the triumphant music plays is really epic, and I absolutely love it.

Besides the battle, we also get much more information and some character moments. Episode 3 confirms that Duke Fleed has the same biological characteristics as humans and further strengthens the theory that Earthlings and Fleedians may have a common origin. In addition, this episode also introduces viewers to the final boss of the series, Vega Daioh, his mystery, and his silhouette. Like previous episodes, episode 3 also presented information straightforwardly, and I appreciate this, especially for a Super Robot series that focuses on action.

On the other hand, the previous episode’s confirmation that the ancient language on Hikaru’s island showing off the 3 spazers as well as the grendizer silhouette really strengthens the theory that the 2 planets came from the same origin, maybe even share its creator since Grendizer was also confirmed to NOT be built by Planet Fleed. All of this really sounds like a certain Super Sentai series about Kings…

One scene that I appreciated in this episode, besides the fight scene, is where Kouji talks to Mazinger Z, or what’s left of it. This scene is good because if you don’t know anything about the bond between Kouji and Mazinger Z before watching this anime, the fact that Kouji talks to Mazinger like a friend and even sheds tears makes you understand how deep the bond is. Everything in this scene is also executed very well, from the gestures and dialogues to Hiro Shimono’s acting, highlighting that Kouji is trying to maintain his cheerful self but cannot hold back his tears. After that, it’s neat that the episode showed Duke coming to thank him and thereby cheering up Kouji. This entire segment is simple but really effective.

Episode 3 showcases Grendizer’s classic moves and marks Duke Fleed’s first heroic victory. It concludes the first arc well and opens up the next story. Up to this episode, Grendizer U still maintains a not-excellent, although still quite good performance for me. Let’s wait and see what Naida is planning for the next episode. If we go by the original series, her life will soon be forfeited, but as Fukuda has said, he wanted to create a less depressing story for Duke. Let’s hope Naida will survive this time.

//Getter Andy//

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