Series Recommendation: Shin Mazinger Impact! Chapter Z
Will you become a Devil, or a God?
The Mazinger franchise is a beloved super robot series created by Go Nagain in 1972. It is one of the most influential mecha series that pioneered many of the genre’s best work. The manga was originally created in 1972 and an anime series was also made that year. Being decades old, the quality of the animation and music wasn’t as good as today’s standard, so of course they do the best choice for the series: “remake” the series with a modern touch.
Shin Mazinger Shogeki! Z-hen is a 26-episode series produced by Dynamic Planning, Bandai Visual and Lantis with BEE Media in charge of animation. The series was aired in 2009 and act as a retelling/reimagined Mazinger Z series, with many differences compared to the original series, however still keeping the core characters and concepts, with a sort of interconnectivity with other Go Nagai works mostly for homages.
Shin Mazinger Shogeki! Z-hen is a 26-episode series produced by Dynamic Planning, Bandai Visual and Lantis with BEE Media in charge of animation. The series was aired in 2009 and act as a retelling/reimagined Mazinger Z series, with many differences compared to the original series, however still keeping the core characters and concepts, with a sort of interconnectivity with other Go Nagai works mostly for homages.
Shin Mazinger Z tells the story of Kouji Kabuto – an orphaned boy who live with his grandpa and little brother. His gramps is an eccentric inventor but very doting on his grandkids, so much so that he built a literal giant robot for Kouji. The giant robot is named Mazinger Z – and according to his grandpa Juuzou – is capable of unleashing power that can make it a Devil (akuma) or a God (kami) depends on Kouji’s will. Being a hot-blooded and righteous boy, Kouji chose to use Mazinger to fight against Dr. Hell and his army of Mechanical Beasts to protect the his town, family and friends and the most potent energy source on Earth: Photon Energy.
+ Plot: Shin Mazinger episode is sorta….wonky. As the events unfold give you the impression of the weirdest case of ‘in media res’ where things start of in the middle of the story – but in this case – the ending. So if you’re reading this and haven’t watched the series, start from episode 2 instead, then go all the way to 26, then watch ep 1. It might not be the intended effect by the creator, but it makes for a better experience. For veterans who are very familiar with the franchise, the original episode order probably won’t bother you too much, but it will still feel a bit weird. Not a deal-breaker in anyway, but the way episode one was presented might created some confusion.
In terms of plot and characters, Shin Mazinger has pretty much the same starting concept as the original series. Some very classic Super Robot tropes are present here – since Mazinger is pretty much one of the forefathers that popularize those tropes in the first place. We have the hot-blooded, stubborn hero that sometimes is too hard-headed for his own good, yet always follow the call of justice and sacrifice anything to protect his loved ones. The most interesting part of Mazinger cast is definitely the supporting characters, aside from the staple Mazinger cast like Sayaka, Prof Yumi and Boss, we also get various characters from other Go Nagai works – mostly from Devilman, Violent Jack and others. They bring a new flavor to the Super Robot tropes and through them, Kouji got some critical development that he doesn’t need to go through 70+ episodes to gain.
+ Plot: Shin Mazinger episode is sorta….wonky. As the events unfold give you the impression of the weirdest case of ‘in media res’ where things start of in the middle of the story – but in this case – the ending. So if you’re reading this and haven’t watched the series, start from episode 2 instead, then go all the way to 26, then watch ep 1. It might not be the intended effect by the creator, but it makes for a better experience. For veterans who are very familiar with the franchise, the original episode order probably won’t bother you too much, but it will still feel a bit weird. Not a deal-breaker in anyway, but the way episode one was presented might created some confusion.
In terms of plot and characters, Shin Mazinger has pretty much the same starting concept as the original series. Some very classic Super Robot tropes are present here – since Mazinger is pretty much one of the forefathers that popularize those tropes in the first place. We have the hot-blooded, stubborn hero that sometimes is too hard-headed for his own good, yet always follow the call of justice and sacrifice anything to protect his loved ones. The most interesting part of Mazinger cast is definitely the supporting characters, aside from the staple Mazinger cast like Sayaka, Prof Yumi and Boss, we also get various characters from other Go Nagai works – mostly from Devilman, Violent Jack and others. They bring a new flavor to the Super Robot tropes and through them, Kouji got some critical development that he doesn’t need to go through 70+ episodes to gain.
Furthermore, the villains are also elevated. Dr. Hell less so but more on Baron Ashura – an iconic figure in the franchise. The story – aside from the basic premise – are significantly different from the original anime and manga as well. This give more depth to the story and the main cast in a lower episode count – which is pretty much how modern animes are made with. You cant expect a 60+ episode mecha series in the post 2000 era anymore. So they were forced to make a faster-paced, less monster-of-the-week and a tight but cohesive storyline. And for Shin Z, they have managed to did a great job.
+ Animation: A very obvious update from the original. The difference is 37 years after all. Shin Mazinger is a very good combination of modern 2D hand-drawn mecha and classic 2d hand-drawn mecha. The more heavier and chunky feeling in addition with the fluid, crisp digital coloring brings the series to new heights. Original fans who watched the Mazinger Z anime would be mindblown when they watch Shin. Everything looks so much more fluid and crisp, while still retain the “iron castle” clunkiness of Z. And who doesn’t love a Rocket Punch in HD!
+ Mecha Design: Since this a mostly a reimagined, the designs of the mechs have some minor changes but still retain the distinct aesthetic of the original. There are some different details on Z – most notably the heatsink, the color (from dark blue to black like in Mazinkaiser), different face details and overall slightly different proportions (but still barrel-shaped limbs like always). The Mechanical Beasts are still the standard designs, with some slight variation here and there. But you can imagine them as stock MotW stuff. There is, however, a huge surprise in the series when it comes to unit, so definitely watch out for that one. When it debuted, my jaw was dropped.
+ Animation: A very obvious update from the original. The difference is 37 years after all. Shin Mazinger is a very good combination of modern 2D hand-drawn mecha and classic 2d hand-drawn mecha. The more heavier and chunky feeling in addition with the fluid, crisp digital coloring brings the series to new heights. Original fans who watched the Mazinger Z anime would be mindblown when they watch Shin. Everything looks so much more fluid and crisp, while still retain the “iron castle” clunkiness of Z. And who doesn’t love a Rocket Punch in HD!
+ Mecha Design: Since this a mostly a reimagined, the designs of the mechs have some minor changes but still retain the distinct aesthetic of the original. There are some different details on Z – most notably the heatsink, the color (from dark blue to black like in Mazinkaiser), different face details and overall slightly different proportions (but still barrel-shaped limbs like always). The Mechanical Beasts are still the standard designs, with some slight variation here and there. But you can imagine them as stock MotW stuff. There is, however, a huge surprise in the series when it comes to unit, so definitely watch out for that one. When it debuted, my jaw was dropped.
+ Music: Just like with Getter, Jam Project has taken over the hype tracks! The first opening Kanjite Knight by Hironobu Kageyama will set your spirit on FIRE! The heavy rock song is a collaboration between Jam Project and Kageyama’s former heavy rock band Lazy. It is just the epitome of hotbloodedness for a Super Robot series. The 2nd OP “The Guardian” by Jam Project has more in common with the original Mazinger Z opening, but with more badassness and an apocalyptic feeling to it – which is pretty suitable for the series.
+ Conclusion: Shin Mazinger Z is one of the best reboot the genre has to offer. It served as a good modern entry point into the franchise for everyone one new. If you think Shin Mazinger is just a MotW motif just like its original anime, you’re very mistaken. The series blend the manga’s darker theme into an intricate plot that pays off at the end (or at the start depend on how you view it) with some nice modern animation production and music. And as an amalgamation of Go Nagai’s work, it can also serve as your entry into the career of a great mecha master!
+ Conclusion: Shin Mazinger Z is one of the best reboot the genre has to offer. It served as a good modern entry point into the franchise for everyone one new. If you think Shin Mazinger is just a MotW motif just like its original anime, you’re very mistaken. The series blend the manga’s darker theme into an intricate plot that pays off at the end (or at the start depend on how you view it) with some nice modern animation production and music. And as an amalgamation of Go Nagai’s work, it can also serve as your entry into the career of a great mecha master!
Check out more recommendations:
Despite often being overlooked by newer fans, After War Gundam X is a must watch for any Gundam lovers.
Passion makes satisfaction. A group of student show what they can accomplish with a mecha short film that leaves you desperately wanting more!
A seemingly impossible task of building Mazinger Z hangar in real life. A ragtag team of a planning company assembled the Fantasy Division to turn fiction into reality.
A light-hearted series that turned into intense space opera. The Girl Who Leapt Through Space leaps through many genre to deliver a unique experience and turn everyone’s expectation upside down.
A desolate planet now submerged in liquid. A totally unique and fresh mecha series where all the robots are underwater. Oh and there’s also a talking whale.
A love story that spans through 12000 years. The war between Angels and humans fueled by passionate emotions. Shoji Kawamori shows us why he’s the master of the sky.
What happens if we mix Mahou Shoujo, Mecha and Battle Royale into one? We get Granbelm – an emotional story about the lives of young girls entangled in an ancient war.
In the city of smoke and steam, a young kid works as a detective alongside his nurse and butler to protect the peace. An old classic for fans of the steampunk style.
The 2nd season of the lovely Mass-Produced Riko series. Join Riko and co as they embark on an all new venture, while drawing interesting lesson from building plastic models.
The long-awaited continuation of the mecha isekai of pain. Season 2 of Muv-Luv Alternative is definitely trying to woo you by slamming intense scenes at you – but is it worth it?
One of the most difficult to adapt Mecha series, Muv-Luv Alternative anime started off with a questionable season, but you should still check it out.
A remake of another Tatsunoko hero. The Space Knight returns with a completely new story, design and brings us on an emotional journey of a tragic hero.
The continuation of the hot-blooded saga, this time filled with emotional drama and even more badass action. A great video game adaptation but not without flaws.
The long awaited legend’s return that satisfy all mecha fan’s longing for a good game. Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is an experience you have to play to believe.
Universes collide as the cast of Gridman and Dynazenon is caught in a dimensional anomaly. But what’s more troubled is Yuuta – who has to become Gridman again with a troubled heart.
When you talk about the most badass mecha, you have to mention SRW OG and Masami Obari. And when these two combine, you get the best SRW anime of all time.
A unique series where the true pacifism versus justice. A bold premise and interesting gimmick make Planet With a very selective series in terms of audience – but it definitely deserves a chance.
From the studio that created Buddy Complex and Valvrave, Cross Ange is another Sunrise’s original that challenges the limit of its audience once more .
What will you do if you’re teleported to a time with giant grotesque monsters? For teenage student Daisuke Doujima, it’s a perfect chance for him to become a hero, and a saviour. But can he?
After 2 lukewarm series, Gundam Build rose to form again with Re:Rise. A story with deep characterization for a diverse and likeable cast and awesome Obari action.
Time to go digital! Build series is going full SAO and virtual with Build Divers – a light-hearted series and fun to enjoy without the need to complicate things.
Following GBF, Sunrise wanted to capture the magic with TRY. However, they fell just short of greatness but still create a series with amazing Gunpla battles.
A hobby turned combat sport. Sunrise’s effort to attract new fans turned into a compelling series with gorgeous battles featuring iconic MS from the franchise.
The first animated Build series, Beginning G opened up new venues and excitement for the hobby, with light-hearted yet intense traditional MS battle.
Do you want a Gundam series with a brighter tone but still has banger battles? Then Metal Armor Dragonar is a perfect series for you!
A series about building regular model kit, and using them to find inspiration in life. A very uplifting and chill series for mecha fans to change their perspective on their hobby.
The sequel to SEED – a series that brought Gundam on top of the radar. Destiny is a sequel that earned both the intense love and hate within the fandoms.
An anime adaptation of a sci-fi novel with the same name, Yakitori really stir up the scene with its unusual storytelling and animation style. However, the characters really hold the series up.
A Fafner novel written by Tow Ubutaka – the person who understand Fafner the most. Explore Kazuki’s POV and his relationship in a way you’ve never seen before.
A new Gundam for a new era. Gundam Seed is one of the most popular modern Gundam series that has fans all around the world. And it also received much love from Sunrise as well.
A love letter to commemorate the pioneer of the Mecha genre, Mazinger Z Infinity remind us of the conviction and justice that the Iron Castle had, is, and will stand for.
A badass and action-packed super robot series with an age-gap marriage between the two main characters. A hearth-throbbing and passionate tale about love and perseverance.
A new story of the boy who awoken a machine. Casshern Sins follow a conflicting young man in a world where life seems meaningless, yet everyone yearn for it anyway.
Just when things have calmed down, the Gear Users once again face an apocalyptic threat from a mysterious high order. This put Hibiki and her friends at risk once more.
New threats emerged to threaten the world. But new allies also appear to bring the Gear’s songs to a new level. A new battle await the girls!
Mahou Shoujo x Tokusatsu combined with plenty of mecha references, Symphogear bring us an audio and visual experience that is just the beginning. of a great franchise.
A new nation, a new story, a new battlefield. The reborn Eighty Six must choose between a life of peace or death. Will the Reaper be able to move on?
The depressing, gripping yet hopeful world of Eighty Six brought to life with A-1’s adaptation. The vision of Asato receives a depiction so emotional like no others.
A fun dogfight experience with some mecha combat thrown into the mix, Strike Suit Zero scratches some of that Macross action game that PC gamer has been wanting.
With his life completely smashed apart and turned upside down, teenage boy Ayato had to navigate a new world while being the key to control the winged giant RahXephon.
Not just your usual 70s Super Robot, Zambot 3 is more than just a battle between good and evil, but also about endurance, perseverance and the unyielding heart to do what’s right.
Expanding upon the original work of Yokoyama-sensei, GR: The Day The Earth Stood Still introduces a world where the supernatural and super-technology co-exist. And in the midst of that is a Giant Robo.
If you fancy beautiful girls cladded in sleek power armor fighting cyborg crimes, then Bubblegum Crisis is the choice for you, with amazing 90s cyberpunk dystopia atmosphere!
The Cyber Beast Force may have disbanded, but their burning hearts are still raging. Dancouga combines once again to fight an unexpected enemy. Is it human, or something else much more sinister?
Suit up! It’s time for some Oni hunting! An anime tribute to the Tokusatsu genre, Shikizakura show us the power of hope, willpower and compassion to overcome any darkness.
The bullet-train robot is back! Two young kids take on a new threat to protect the world. Shinkalion Z takes off after its predecessor and set itself apart from other Takara series.
A song that rings during the apocalypse. Vivy is a bold idea involving a century of fighting and yearning. Vivy will bring your visual and auditory sense to the max!
What is a true Ally of Justice? What kind of “Heroism” is worth fighting for? Linebarrels of Iron is a manga that you won’t be able to put down!
Hot-blood, explosive and FIRE! S-CRY-ed tells a badass yet emotional adventure of two youths on their way to unravel the truth of a world changed forever.
Absolute music, Absolute animation, and…Absolute LIVE! Macross Delta Zettai Live brought the emotional climax of Hayate and Freyja story to a breathtaking conclusion.
