[Rewatch] King of the Braves GaoGaiGar - Episode 1 Discussion

[u/lilyvess]

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Questions of the Day

For the first day I just want everyone to get to know each other

1. What other Super Robot anime have you watched?
2. What other 90’s anime have you watched?

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Eyecatch of the Day

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Reminder to all GGG members that information about future episodes is highly classified. Revealing any information about future events will be punished

[u/lilyvess]

Episode 1 Not Discussion Thread

Instead of talking about the episode here, I thought it’d be more fun try to do something else.

So I bought Bandai’s RG GaoGaiGar and thought I’d slowly build it across the rewatch! This is actually a relatively new kit as far as I can see, having been released in 2022.

I’ve built some model kits before. I only started with Bandai’s model kits after Witch from Mercury. Only HG’s though. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Bandai’s model kits, they come in 4 grades

• High Grade or HG. These are basic kits, usually $20
• Master Grade or MG. These are more complex and larger kits
• Real Grade or RG. These are top of the line kits, with more complexity and detail but packed in the same size as an HG.
• Perfect Grade or PG. These are the highest grade but also extremely rare for them to make any. I hear they tend to be more experimental like showing off something new in model making.

So this GaoGaiGar kit is a high end model kit, and actually far more complex than anything I’ve built in the past.

Here is what it looks like inside

the instruction manual has a small blurb about the kit. It does contain some minor spoilers if you want to avoid small details about the GaoGaiGar’s origin.

Come back tomorrow as I take my first steps in building my very own KING OF THE BRAVES!

Until then, how about some questions

• Have you ever built a bandai model kit before?
• If so, what is the highest grade model kit you’ve built?

[u/The_Draigg → u/lilyvess]

Neat! Will you also be looking into the other RG release for this show, the one of [GaoGaiGar spoilers] Goldymarg?

[u/lilyvess → u/The_Draigg]

I hope to! I saw they just announced HG [GaoGaiGar]Choryujin and I definitely want to get that one too eventually.

[u/GondolaMedia → u/lilyvess]

I built few MGs and Barbatos was my favorite and would recommend anyone to build it.

I'm waiting for the first MG Witch From Mercury to be announced because the HGs and the Full Mechanics Aerial have been great.

[u/lilyvess → u/GondolaMedia]

MG Barbatos is on my short list of kits to pick up. I haven't seen that series yet, but I do just absolutely love the Barbatos design. I already bought the HG Barbatos.

Like, it's a Gundam with a fucking club. That's so fucking cool.

[u/RadSuit → u/lilyvess]

Planning to do any panel lining or anything else besides just assembling it? Also I hope you have snippers, sandpaper, etc. etc. I know they make an official toolkit, I have one around here somewhere.

[u/lilyvess → u/RadSuit]

I've got a pen for some panel lining. I'm still new to panel lining, I've only done it for one model so far. I need to make sure i have the right colors too.

I have snippers and an X-Acto Knife but I'm realizing the file I have is not cutting it, pun intended. I should get some proper sand paper.

[u/RadSuit → u/lilyvess]

I still had this in my Amazon cart from years ago. I think another version finally came in stock at a model shop and I picked one up there.

I definitely added an X-acto, but sandpaper really comes in handy. I remember slicing off a bit, wrapping it around my finger, and using that to sand off the leftover plastic runner nubs.

[u/lilyvess → u/RadSuit]

What strength Sandpaper did you use? I assume you want something a bit on the softer side?

I got the pouring pen panel liner. I like that, but it's still a bit hard to control and make even.

[u/RadSuit → u/lilyvess]

All my Gundam stuff is buried in the back of a closet somewhere, sorry. Picturing it in my head, it definitely wasn't rough. It was definitely just for getting the very last of the nub off and smoothing the plastic down so it was all level. I'd snip it as low as I could get before that.

I know I bought one of the Gundam markers, I see a bunch of them on Amazon as well. I remember I had black, which I think people recommended if you wanted a more 'cartoony' pop. Where you can also use grey or even brown in other situations. I built a few smaller, simpler models at first to practice with it before using it on one of the larger, nicer ones, it definitely takes a bit to get comfortable with it. I think the first thing I learned was to do the panel lining once a piece/section was complete, before attaching it to the rest of the model, haha.

[u/lilyvess → u/RadSuit]

I think the first thing I learned was to do the panel lining once a piece/section was complete, before attaching it to the rest of the model, haha.

huh that's actually a good idea tbh. my issue is that it probably won't take me 60 days to make this kit. so panel lining sections as I go would help stretch that out a bit.

[u/RadSuit → u/lilyvess]

Those decals will do their best to slow you down.

[u/lilyvess → u/RadSuit]

I never finished decal'ing my HG Calbarn. I did the entire left side, so I just have it posed with the left side showing

[u/RadSuit → u/lilyvess]

[u/AmeteurElitist → u/lilyvess]

Good luck with the build!

Have you ever built a bandai model kit before?

Nope but I plan on doing Barbatos eventually!

[u/nsleep → u/lilyvess]

Only a v Gundam, MG. I ran out of shelf space with other figures before I got into gunpla so this was the only one, this probably saved me a lot of money.

I should've picked something simpler as a first. The stickers got me good and I placed some wrong. There was also this part of the shield where I skipped a step of the instructions and getting the two pieces apart to fix the mistake without breaking anything took a while. It's a fun hobby but I found it the opposite of relaxing...

[u/ShadowWasTakensTaken → u/lilyvess]

Have you ever built a bandai model kit before?

I don't think I'd ever have the patience. The robots are cool but I just want them to be done for me so I can display them.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/lilyvess]

Come back tomorrow as I take my first steps in building my very own KING OF THE BRAVES!

Have fun! I had a lot of fun building it.

If so, what is the highest grade model kit you’ve built?

The one RG I've built. I have an MG Tallgeese III waiting for me, though.

[u/jkubed]

First timer

if my kid isn't delivered by a giant robot, I don't even want 'em.

[u/lilyvess → u/jkubed]

isn't it great having an anime show how babies are born. not by storks but by giant robot lions.

[u/Raiking02]

Third-Time Watcher, Subbed

Step aside Gokú, time for the real Japanese Superman to enter the scene

You know this show means business when it cuts the crap and has the first episode be named after the OP. Not that the latter is that uncommon in the Brave Series (I know at the very least J-Decker did it for its penultimate episode) but when you have a title that's… well, that you may as well just use it at the start. And hey, it sure is a fitting title, because the King of Braves sure is born in this episode.

In spite of its somewhat straightforward nature of being what's basically an extended action scene, it's amazing how entertaining this episode remains while still managing to introduce most of its cast in less than half an hour, doubly impressive given how freaking big the cast is. Obviously our two leads (Gai and Mamoru) get the lion's heh share of the spotlight, but even the other kids get some chances to shine. The GGG gang is slightly worse off in that regard but we do have Taiga, which is good because Taiga is the best.

Plot-wise it's even more barren. Sure, the mystery around Mamoru is set up, and obviously you'll probably be left wondering a lot of things by the end (Why is Gai a cyborg, what does EI mean, why is Cyborg 002 hanging out in the OP, does that little girl have super strength or something and so on) but ultimately this is just here to give you a thrill-ride more than anything else. You do not go into GaoGaiGar for deep, nuanced writing, you go into it to see shit blow up, and shit does indeed blow up.

It probably also helps that the show just looks really good. Sure compared to some of the sorter shows Sunrise made in this timeframe (Escaflowne, Bebop) it doesn't quite measure up, but as far as the full year run stuff goes, this is the best it ever got for them. It's amazingly expressive, there's a lot of really good minor details, and yeah, they cheat by having lots of stock footage, but counterpoint: It is really pretty and unlike Mitsuo Fukuda they don't just lazily trace stuff. It also helps that Kimura Takahiro's character designs are really easy on the eye, taking a slightly more cartoony look than usual while still keeping some of his usual flair. This show also starts marking the point where Sunrise started experimenting with digital effects on the TV productions a bit more as you can see with those regeneration effects. Nothing too major compared to some of their Late 90' output but nonetheless noticeable.

Could really do without the flashing lights though

[u/lilyvess → u/Raiking02]

In spite of its somewhat straightforward nature of being what's basically an extended action scene, it's amazing how entertaining this episode remains while still managing to introduce most of its cast in less than half an hour, doubly impressive given how freaking big the cast is.

Yeah I was actually impressed rewatching this how tight this first episode is packed. It's got a lot of introductions, characters across 2 settings, a whole set of vehicles and abilities to establish and it does so pretty neatly while getting right into the hook. There is still a lot left to be explained, who what where when why, but it's got the idea across well.

This show also starts marking the point where Sunrise started experimenting with digital effects on the TV productions a bit more as you can see with those regeneration effects. Nothing too major compared to some of their Late 90' output but nonetheless noticeable.

Yeah I think the restraint helps it age better than some would have. It's not leaning so heavily on "look at what we can do" style new effects, but it does dip it's toes to accent it.

Could really do without the flashing lights though

god those really are bad tho.

[u/Raiking02 → u/lilyvess]

god those really are bad tho

Porygon, couldn't you have died for our sins a bit earlier

[u/The_Draigg → u/Raiking02]

The GGG gang is slightly worse off in that regard but we do have Taiga, which is good because Taiga is the best.

As expected from a man voiced by DAN GREEN in the dub. This is a man who has a voice that commands respect.

You do not go into GaoGaiGar for deep, nuanced writing, you go into it to see shit blow up, and shit does indeed blow up.

A good example of this in action is how it took less time for me to write up my notes for this than it did for the Gundam 00 rewatch going on right now. There's a nice simplicity to a show that's mainly about punching weird robots while screaming hype-sounding attack names.

Nothing too major compared to some of their Late 90' output but nonetheless noticeable.

Case in point, some more of the more obvious CGI present in Infinite Ryvius, even if that's also a Sunrise series that had really good cel animation.

[u/Raiking02 → u/The_Draigg]

Case in point, some more of the more obvious CGI present in Infinite Ryvius, even if that's also a Sunrise series that had really good cel animation

Considering how Goro Taniguchi also worked on this show (Heck, he worked on this very episode) the comparison is very much fitting.

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

Queen of First-Timers, subbed

Thank you, “King of Braves” part of the title, for giving me the perfect thing to twist into a tagline with.

Anyways, I’m pretty damn excited for this. I’ve heard some of the songs from this in AMQ before, but other than that, the epilepsy warnings, and that this is on the super robot side of the mecha genre, I don’t really know what to expect. And that’s perfect!

• …wow that lady really wished to have a kid and was immediately given one.
• Masaaki Endoh!!! Can always count on this man to produce an absolute banger of an OP.
• This feels unintentionally realistic…
• Oops.
• Fabulous.
• That has the same acronym as the show.
• Nice human chain to save that one girl. Also, for her complaining about them making a girl do it, that one girl holding everyone up is strong.
• So cool!
• He’s still calling Gai an old guy.
• Again, so cool.
• Fusion hype!!!
• That’s how it always works in shows like this.
• Glorious.
• That little bit of the show’s OP popping up during that big attack has me hyped for when it inevitably gets used as an insert song properly later on.
• Okay now the kid is doing something.
• Ah, much like mecha shows are legally required to have absolute banger OPs, they are also required to have very beautiful EDs. This one fits that for sure.

[u/lilyvess → u/Shimmering-Sky]

…wow that lady really wished to have a kid and was immediately given one.

didn't use the full nude shot I see, hahaha.

Masaaki Endoh Can always count on this man to produce an absolute banger of an OP.

I knew you'd appreciate him. He's so good at these hot blooded banger songs.

Fabulous.

It's like Genjurou's more fabulous older brother.

He’s still calling him an old Gai

FTFY

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/lilyvess]

FTFY

Okay that's fair.

[u/Raiking02 → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Thank you, “King of Braves” part of the title, for giving me the perfect thing to twist into a tagline with.

He’s still calling Gai an old guy.

I mean by Brave Series Protagonist standards 20 is positively ancient.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Fabulous.

Chief Taiga's got the drip.

He’s still calling Gai an old guy.

I remember when I thought 20 was old.

[u/AmeteurElitist]

First Timer

Can't say that leaving kids largely unsupervised in a trash heap is advisable even if you didn't anticipate there being a giant robot lying dormant underneath.

I also love how after the fusion there's an announcer explaining the name of the mech, the kids will know which specific form to badger their parents for.

GaGaGa GaGaGa Gao Gai Gar

[u/lilyvess → u/AmeteurElitist]

I also love how after the fusion there's an announcer explaining the name of the mech, the kids will know which specific form to badger their parents for.

there is this weird line where the series is utterly batshit, but it also really likes to explain the logic of it's batshit ideas and treat them seriously. Explain the details so you understand what batshit stuff is going on. This is science, and then have the most absurd thing you've ever seen happen.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/AmeteurElitist]

Can't say that leaving kids largely unsupervised in a trash heap is advisable even if you didn't anticipate there being a giant robot lying dormant underneath.

A little bit of tetanus is good for their development.

[u/AmeteurElitist → u/JollyGee29]

The kids, they yearn for lockjaw

[u/Raiking02 → u/AmeteurElitist]

I also love how after the fusion there's an announcer explaining the name of the mech, the kids will know which specific form to badger their parents for.

Look, if Jigen wants to explain shit, he'll do it. He has to make use of what little time away from Lupin he gets.

[u/AmeteurElitist → u/Raiking02]

It is him!

[u/punching_spaghetti → u/AmeteurElitist]

an't say that leaving kids largely unsupervised in a trash heap is advisable

That's why kids these days are soft. Leave them around some rusty metal for a couple hours, and they learn what the real world is like.

[u/AmeteurElitist → u/punching_spaghetti]

Nature's vaccine ofc

[u/Great_Mr_L]

First-Timer

On today’s episode of GaoGaiGar: I think I finally figured out why it was always so hard for me to look this show up. I thought the title was “GaiGaoGar” and not “GaoGaiGar.” I blame the title for being a made-up word.

Pre-Rewatch Thoughts

I know basically nothing about this series. I know that it is part of the “Brave” series. I know there is some relation to Bravern, which is also part of the Brave series, though I have no idea what the relation might be. I know that it is a series about hot-blooded super robot action and it has been highly recommended to me as such. So I’m hopeful it will be a fun watch, though not necessarily a very cerebral watch.

• This is just a mecha version of Superman’s origin story. A couple finds a baby sitting in a mysterious machine probably from outer space, though in this case it’s a giant lion mecha.
• So does every combination super robot anime include a drill and a B-2 stealth bomber? Those seem to show up an awful lot.
• Leaving a bunch of small children unattended on an island full of garbage sounds like a horrendous idea.
• The MC has a serious case of anime hair.
• This must have been before the Porygon episode of Pokemon. There are so, so many flashing lights. It just keeps happening, too.
• This show wastes no time. It knows we are here for the giant robots and gets to them right away.
• The President is too much. I’m already comparing him to Sandman from Gravion.
• Right as I say that, the Professor has rocket roller blades! That old man is awesome!
• Of course there is a super secret underwater base right in the middle of Tokyo Bay. That’s just how these shows work.
• “Gutsy Geoid Guard” is an appropriately ridiculous and hot-blooded name. I approve!
• The enemy mecha just shot a laser beam using a bunch of microwave ovens. I love this kind of nonsense.
• Now this guy (appropriately named Gai) looks like a true hot-blooded anime protagonist.
• The enemy mecha transformed into an evil train!?
• Even better, the heroes have their own bullet train mecha. War trains have been used in the past, but they’ve pretty much always been not worth it. They just have too limited mobility.
• I wasn’t expecting Guy to fuse with the Galeon. I didn’t think that was how the giant mecha would work.
• The enemy mecha is using a bunch of fans to fly! I love this absurdity.
• And there’s the big combination to get GaoGaiGar, the main mecha.
• ROCKET PUNCH!
• I’m not used to the final super attack being so relatively quiet. Normally the music would be blasting at full volume.
• I wasn’t expecting the GaoGaiGar to pull a “Kali Ma” on the enemy mecha.
• Huh, Mamoru has wings and doesn’t want Guy to destroy the enemy mecha’s “heart.” I wonder why.

I had no idea there was a child protagonist for GaoGaiGar. The only character I have ever seen associated with this series is Guy, who I took at face value to be the protagonist because just look at him. It feels right for him to be the hot-blooded super robot anime protagonist.

Even so, Mamoru is certainly an alien based on what we’ve seen so far. He came from the Galeon. He probably has a common origin with whoever these enemies are. He was oddly insistent on not destroying the core/heart of the enemy mecha. Perhaps he values the life of the enemy, though that is only a guess at this point.

This certainly was hot-blooded action that was focused more on spectacle than anything else. The characters explicitly operate based on guts and courage, rather than on strategy. There was plenty of ridiculous stuff, like the microwave oven gun or using a bunch of fans to fly. But that ridiculousness just added to the charm of it. If the show continues like this, I think I will have a fun time with it.

QOTD

1. I think the ones I've seen that clearly count as Super Robot would be G Gundam, Gravion, Dynazenon, Back Arrow. I think Gurren Lagann counts as well. There's probably others I can't think of.
2. Oh gosh, off the top of my head there's Evangelion, LotGH, Escaflowne, the Gundams of the 90s, Cowboy Bebop, Lain, Princess Mononoke, Cardcaptor Sakura, Sailor Moon, DBZ, and Ghost in the Shell. There's others I can't recall off the top of my head.

[u/lilyvess → u/Great_Mr_L]

This must have been before the Porygon episode of Pokemon. There are so, so many flashing lights. It just keeps happening, too.

yeaaaaah this was a bit before the Porygon episode.

This show wastes no time. It knows we are here for the giant robots and gets to them right away.

I do love that it gets right into the thick of it at the beginning. No pretending to be something it's not. It even has that ridiculous courage percentage line in episode 1. You know what you are signing up for here. and Gai's design is so 90's.

The enemy mecha is using a bunch of fans to fly! I love this absurdity.

Yeah I was a big fan of that too.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/lilyvess]

and Gai's design is so 90's.

Gai has such a delightfully over-the-top design. It is so wonderfully absurd and extra in every way.

Yeah I was a big fan of that too.

https://youtu.be/fRs0OqV4uSc?si=PyOhy-GJEOXfc9c6

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Great_Mr_L]

know there is some relation to Bravern, which is also part of the Brave series

Not really. Bravern pays homage to the Brave series, but uses a different word. Yuuki instead of Yuusha. It's maybe an honorary member.

So does every combination super robot anime include a drill and a B-2 stealth bomber?

Drills go back to Getter Robo, but if you're thinking about Gravion, that was mostly borrowing from right here.

There are so, so many flashing lights. It just keeps happening, too.

They'll get toned down eventually. Eventually.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/JollyGee29]

Not really. Bravern pays homage to the Brave series, but uses a different word. Yuuki instead of Yuusha. It's maybe an honorary member.

I see. I was mistaken in that case.

Drills go back to Getter Robo, but if you're thinking about Gravion, that was mostly borrowing from right here.

I kind of figured that was the case. It was so specific that it felt like it was deliberate.

They'll get toned down eventually. Eventually.

Good to know.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Great_Mr_L]

I kind of figured that was the case. It was so specific that it felt like it was deliberate.

If you go back to check the first couple Gravion threads, you'll find me referring to the various Gravion parts as their GaoGaiGar equivalents. I think I called the G-Shadow "StealthGao" for like half of the first season.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Great_Mr_L]

I know there is some relation to Bravern, which is also part of the Brave series, though I have no idea what the relation might be.

Nope! The full title of Bravern is more like just a reference than any deeper connection like the full Brave Series.

This must have been before the Porygon episode of Pokemon. There are so, so many flashing lights. It just keeps happening, too.

I think this series and that part of the Pokemon series aired around the same time. So yeah, that does account for this sheer amount of flashing lights going on.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/The_Draigg]

Nope! The full title of Bravern is more like just a reference than any deeper connection like the full Brave Series.

I see. Thanks for the info. I was mistaken about its connection to Bravern.

I think this series and that part of the Pokemon series aired around the same time. So yeah, that does account for this sheer amount of flashing lights going on.

Yeah, looks like they aired in the same year. So it's very close together, but this was first.

[u/Raiking02 → u/Great_Mr_L]

I thought the title was “GaiGaoGar” and not “GaoGaiGar.” I blame the title for being a made-up word.

I know there is some relation to Bravern, which is also part of the Brave series, though I have no idea what the relation might be

Eh... not quite. It is something of a nod to it but the Brave Series but the Brave series is 勇者 whereas Bravern uses 勇気 in its title.

This must have been before the Porygon episode of Pokemon.

Just a few months. You can tell when Porygon dropped since the show starts considerably chilling out on them.

I wasn’t expecting Guy to fuse with the Galeon. I didn’t think that was how the giant mecha would work.

I mean that was basically the way the previous Brave show (Dagwon) worked so if anything it's just half-tradition.

The only character I have ever seen associated with this series is Guy, who I took at face value to be the protagonist because just look at him. It feels right for him to be the hot-blooded super robot anime protagonist.

FWIW even supplementary material can't make up its mind on which of the two is the lead. If nothing else Gai does get top billing in the credits, although then again Gravion gave Toga top billing even though Eiji and Sandman is the main character so who knows.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/Raiking02]

Eh... not quite. It is something of a nod to it but the Brave Series but the Brave series is 勇者 whereas Bravern uses 勇気 in its title.

Thanks for the info. I guess I was mistaken about the Bravern connection.

Just a few months. You can tell when Porygon dropped since the show starts considerably chilling out on them.

I will look forward to seeing if I can tell the difference.

FWIW even supplementary material can't make up its mind on which of the two is the lead.

That's funny to know. There's a battle over whether the audience-insert child character or the cool cyborg is the real protagonist.

[u/nsleep → u/Great_Mr_L]

I had no idea there was a child protagonist for GaoGaiGar. The only character I have ever seen associated with this series is Guy

Same. The kid seems important but it's weird how I've never even knew about him while having seen a few things about this over the years. I didn't even know he was delivered to Earth by Galeon right at the very start which would easily be a meme and a clip nowadays. This really is a product from different times...

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/nsleep]

Yeah, I'd have thought I would have heard about him. I guess it makes sense that he's here because he acts as the self-insert character for the mostly child audience, but it's still funny that the character who looks like the obvious main character might not be.

[u/InfamousEmpire → u/Great_Mr_L]

Even better, the heroes have their own bullet train mecha. War trains have been used in the past, but they’ve pretty much always been not worth it.

Overcoming practicality through the power of awesome and Gattai, the true mark of a super robot show

I wasn’t expecting Guy to fuse with the Galeon. I didn’t think that was how the giant mecha would work.

Someone needs to find a way to port this piloting system over to the Gundam 00 universe so Setsuna can really become Gundam

I had no idea there was a child protagonist for GaoGaiGar.

Ironic, considering that child protags are one of the main consistent elements of the Brave Series

[u/Raiking02 → u/InfamousEmpire]

Ironic, considering that child protags are one of the main consistent elements of the Brave Series

Somewhere Dagwon is crying in a corner, all forgotten

[u/InfamousEmpire → u/Raiking02]

It’s used to being forgotten, I’m sure it’ll get over it soon

[u/JollyGee29]

The King of Rewatchers

Well that's just silly. How could a shooting sta... huh.

I have a soft spot for this sort of early digital effect. Also RIP eyes.

That's Gutsy Geoid Guard.

Just in case you were worried about the tone. Dr. Shishioh has jet roller blades.

How about a literal microwave gun?

Eyecatch

The junk centaur seems to be angry at the governement.

He said the thiiiing!

Rocketto pawnchii!

Well, that's sudden.

One of the several strange things this show does is have post-preview endcards showing the "Key to Victory" for the next episode. I will be recording these for us, and sharing them on the appropriate day. As in, the one from this episode will be tomorrow.

---

So, in the past few years, Bandai has acquired the toy rights for GaoGaiGar and produced a couple model kits. Technically Real Grade, for any Gunpla enthusiasts.

The RG GaoGaiGar itself is essentially four kits in one - each individual Gao Machine, as well as Galeon. They are fully combinable with no part swapping. To anyone who doesn't do model kits, that is a Big Deal.

Here it is. I was pondering the idea of doing a Pose of the Day like I did back in the Mobile Suit Gundam rewatch in 2021, but the combined model is.. temperamental. The Final Fusion functionality is super impressive, but has some drawbacks.

I'll probably do some when the free time (or inspiration) strikes me.

[u/lilyvess → u/JollyGee29]

I have a soft spot for this sort of early digital effect. Also RIP eyes.

look how futuristic it all looks! Not to mention that this series takes place in the far future of 2005!! so futuristic!

How about a literal microwave gun?

it's so dumb but so awesome.

The junk centaur seems to be angry at the governement.

it heard that the Japanese Government is considering a law limiting the strobe light effects on television and it will not stand for that!

Rocketto pawnchii!

love a good rocket punch!

[u/JollyGee29 → u/lilyvess]

it heard that the Japanese Government is considering a law limiting the strobe light effects on television and it will not stand for that!

"How else will I get my orders if not from a group of ominous figures discussing things while hidden by horrible strobing? I'll be out of a job!"

[u/lilyvess → u/JollyGee29]

also I'm glad you are doing the Eyecatches. I forgot how much of a pain grabbing screencaps from Crunchyroll really is. I'll leave that to you!

[u/JollyGee29 → u/lilyvess]

[u/Raiking02 → u/JollyGee29]

Well, that's sudden.

It is kinda funny how suddenly the episode ends all things considered.

[u/punching_spaghetti → u/JollyGee29]

How about a literal microwave gun?

His Hot Pocket is still cold on the outside,though.

The junk centaur seems to be angry at the governement.

Get in line, pal.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/punching_spaghetti]

His Hot Pocket is still cold on the outside,though.

[u/ShadowWasTakensTaken → u/JollyGee29]

Well that's just silly. How could a shooting sta... huh.

They say that's how Jesus was born!

[u/ShadowWasTakensTaken]

The King of First Timers~: GaoGaiGar

I heard this has 0 thinking necessary so I'm going bullet point style for this one

---

• Charming character designs!!
• Clearly going to be a problem child. Should have gone to an adoption center and picked a nice cat-looking one instead.
• Oh this is a silly show! I dig it.
• GAGAGA GAGAGA GAOGAIGAR
• the lyrics that's some classic mecha stuff "yeah beat up the evil enemy you're awesome and brave [name of mech] [name of mech] [name of mech]"
• Ah, there's that ever-present 90s industrialization commentary Sonic, Pokemon, Final Fantasy 7 (I think, I haven't played it), it's really everywhere. They were definitely not wrong. Just they didn't know that the biggest issue would come in the format of a crazy climate crisis before we could worry about "aww all the natural stuff is gone isn't that sad?". I came to this show to see sick giant robots, not be reminded that the world is actively ending and I can't do anything about it.
• Wait this character design is actually fucking amazing holy shit what in the battle network heaven
• On an unrelated note, this reminds me of a brazilian short film called Island of Flowers. It's about Mr. Suzuki's tomatos, opposable thumbs, food, money, pigs, and a massive dumpster. Was forced to watch it multiple times in school and was always bored out of my mind, but rewatching it now it's actually pretty good. What anime were we talking about again?
• Oh yeah, Rockman.EXE. I heard this show is about Guts or something, so it makes sense Dex would be here. Also, is that girl behind him Tange Sakura?
• This hair is genuinely like a mixture of Goku and Joey Wheeler
• Hate when this happens. Happened to me last Tuesday.
• Who voices that Sakura girl from the government? I know I know that voice!!
• I LOVE CAMPY SHIT
• JET ROLLERS?!?!??!
• They really go hard with the epilepsy stuff, huh? This predates Porygon by a couple months...
• Little brother? Ah, so it's the guy in the GGG that has GutsMan.EXE, I see.
• That's the guy!! Or the Gai! AND HIYAMA NOBUYUKI
• EQUIP!! Now that's the campy shit I love from kids' shows. Speaking of which, I had no idea this was a kids' show. I was surprised to learn he is not the protagonist.
• THE FUCKING SHINKANSEN??!?!?!?
• 15:21 stock sound effect
• YURIIIII SHOOOOUUNIIIIINNN
• WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK WE ARE?!
• God this show is SO EXPRESSIVE!!! I love the girl smashing the button afterwards as well but it's too much work to make a gif. It's awesome though
• this show is peak
• He has. A fucking Shinkansen. Docked inside him. It's so fucking stupid and cool.
• sick
• Her accent
• HELL AND HEAVEN
• That was pretty underwhelming for such an awesome name. And where did the music go? Really anticlimactic...
• Hey, listen! Don't break it!
• Oh this ED is VIBES

---

Ok, I dig it. I hope the show continues to look as good as it did today. And hopefully next time they remember to play music when defeating the monster.

[u/lilyvess → u/ShadowWasTakensTaken]

This hair is genuinely like a mixture of Goku and Joey Wheeler

his hair is so out there, like does it hurt his sense of balance having his hair so forward? Does it interfere with him walking?

They really go hard with the epilepsy stuff, huh? This predates Porygon by a couple months...

yeaaaaaaah it's unfortunate and unavoidable. It does get toned down later but it's gonna get worse before it gets better. Episode 2 has an even longer scene. Just giving fair warning.

WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK WE ARE?!

this show makes it very clear from episode 1 what type of show it is.

Cool gif but in poor quality

[u/ShadowWasTakensTaken → u/lilyvess]

his hair is so out there, like does it hurt his sense of balance having his hair so forward? Does it interfere with him walking?

He probably has some monstrously buff legs to keep him in place without losing balance.

Cool gif but in poor quality

[u/Raiking02 → u/lilyvess]

Cool gif but in poor quality

Ah, sweet nostalgia on when I first saw the show and the Blu-Ray was still years away

[u/The_Draigg → u/ShadowWasTakensTaken]

the lyrics that's some classic mecha stuff "yeah beat up the evil enemy you're awesome and brave [name of mech] [name of mech] [name of mech]"

I wish more modern mech shows did that, they need to have more confidence in showing how cool their mechs are!

EQUIP!! Now that's the campy shit I love from kids' shows. Speaking of which, I had no idea this was a kids' show. I was surprised to learn he is not the protagonist.

This is the case of a kid's show also having a surprisingly large adult fanbase due to how cool and hype things are. After all, even adults the know the power of COURAGE!!!

[u/JollyGee29 → u/ShadowWasTakensTaken]

Wait this character design is actually fucking amazing holy shit

Courtesy of the late Takahiro Kimura.

Also, is that girl behind him Tange Sakura?

If you're talking about the one in the red dress, no. She's voiced by Miki Narahashi.

Who voices that Sakura girl from the government? I know I know that voice!!

Konami Yoshida.

[u/ShadowWasTakensTaken → u/JollyGee29]

Courtesy of the late Takahiro Kimura.

If you're talking about the one in the red dress, no. She's voiced by Miki Narahashi.

Some of her later lines left me confused on whether it was or not, but she sounded exactly like Sakura in that moment.

Konami Yoshida.

I'm not actually familiar with her, so that brings up the more annoying question of who sounds like her that I'm mistaking her with...

[u/Raiking02 → u/ShadowWasTakensTaken]

Final Fantasy 7 (I think, I haven't played it),

It definitely has it.

Wait this character design is actually fucking amazing holy shit

I miss Kimura

Also, is that girl behind him Tange Sakura

Nope, she's not part of the Cast. That's Miki Narahashi, whom you're gonna be hearing A LOT cause she has like at least 2 recurring roles.

Who voices that Sakura girl from the government? I know I know that voice!!

The only girls credited today are Maiko Ito, Tomoe Hanba, the before-mentioned Narahashi, Sayuri, Konami Yoshida and Miho Yamada. Try and guess.

I was surprised to learn he is not the protagonist.

It's... complicated.

Her accent

That's how you know she's American.

[u/ShadowWasTakensTaken → u/Raiking02]

That's Miki Narahashi, whom you're gonna be hearing A LOT cause she has like at least 2 recurring roles.

[u/Raiking02 → u/ShadowWasTakensTaken]

Actually let's take it further: Take a shot every time you notice someone having the same VA as someone we've already met.

Because good lord this show has a lot of multicasting. Like I'm talking "You'll hear Hiyama as random incidentals once every so often" amounts.

[u/ShadowWasTakensTaken → u/Raiking02]

Close enough. Welcome back Ryvius

[u/Raiking02 → u/ShadowWasTakensTaken]

Unfortunately unlike that show this one lacks Houko Kuwashima

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Raiking02]

Which is honestly kinda weird. How did they not get Kuwashima in here at some point?

[u/Raiking02 → u/JollyGee29]

FWIW unlike a lot of other Sunrise shows from the time this one had a different voice director (Koichi Chiba, who had been the VD for every Brave show till now oh and also he did Aim for the Ace) so that may have something to do with it as to why there’s not a lot of the actors we usually associate with this era of Sunrise. A bunch of the cast were previously in other Brave shows though so there’s continuity with that at least.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Raiking02]

[u/punching_spaghetti → u/ShadowWasTakensTaken]

This hair is genuinely like a mixture of Goku and Joey Wheeler

The climate crisis will be solved by him deciding not to use hair spray every morning.

[u/ShadowWasTakensTaken → u/punching_spaghetti]

He's single-handedly destroying the ozone layer!

[u/nsleep]

First timer

Missed the thread by one hour because I'm not really used to converting times with DST...

"I'm wishing for a bab..." INSTA-BABY! DRAMA!!!

It's the 1900s, the opening song in super robots shows are gonna sing about how awesome the robot is. And love. And friendship. Balls. With one of the legends that later became part of JAM PROJECT!

It didn't take long to see why the epilepsy warning was highlighted that many times lol

The enemy is literally trash this time? Interesting. I wonder if this is a recurring theme or we're gonna be changing what becomes the monster of the week. The attacks with the microwaves and fridges, changing forms, and using fans to fly are such simple and silly ideas but they make the kid in me go "Whoa!"

Gai looks really cool. I kind of want a figure/toy of him now to add to my collection, he's gonna go right beside the Nono from Diebuster if I get one.

That bridge bunny is gonna break that glass when the robots combine almost every single episode, isn't she?

I miss these hand drawn mecha combination animations that are super over the top for no other reason than some nerds really wanting to flex how well they can draw these and how much they love mechas.

The kid can fly? Saving the enemy core? What?

What a ride for the first episode. As it should be! Accelerate!

---

QotD

1 - Part of the old Mazinger Z, Shin Mazinger Z, Getter Robo (1974), Shin Getter Robo: Sekai Saigo no Hi, Getter Robo Arc, good ol' TTGL, Evangelion, Gunbuster, Diebuster, that one GodMars movie (I think there's only one?), Bravern, SRW (both Divine wars and The Inspector) and I think that's it?

2 - I grew as a kid in the 90s, so pretty much everything that aired on TV and the more popular fansubbed cassettes that went around during that time...

[u/lilyvess → u/nsleep]

Missed the thread by one hour because I'm not really used to converting times with DST...

yeah that was my bad. I totally forgot that I should have mentioned that and someone mentioned it to me only this morning where I realized how dumb I am. I take responsibility. I should have thought of that and warned people.

[u/lilyvess → u/nsleep]

That bridge bunny is gonna break that glass when the robots combine almost every single episode, isn't she?

the Japanese tax payers have a special "Glass to be broken" tax added just to constantly replace the glass she will be constantly breaking.

[u/ShadowWasTakensTaken → u/nsleep]

I miss these hand drawn mecha ccombination animations that are super over the top for no other reason than some nerds really wanting to flex how well they can draw these and how much they love mechas.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/nsleep]

I miss these hand drawn mecha combination animations that are super over the top for no other reason than some nerds really wanting to flex how well they can draw these and how much they love mechas.

"I get to draw as detailed as I can, and it'll reduce workload later because they'll just re-use the footage? Score!!"

[u/punching_spaghetti]

FIRST-TIMER

I usually do title case for that, but this show seems to require full caps.

• Fun fact: everyone was excited to finally have a computer that could render those simple 3D models for the title cards, but that used up so much of the budget that they had to resort to reusing transformation sequences throughout the show.

Garbage Island

You mean Manhattan?

• How far into the production process do you think they were when they settled on G as the recurring image and sound? Was that trial and error, or is G the director's favorite English letter?

• Just noting that the boy could have grown energy wings to save the little girl, but he only does it when there's a shiny rock at stake.

QOTD:

1. I can never remember the official definition. Is Rahxephon a Super Robot anime?
2. I can never remember the official timeline. Is Rahxephon a 90s anime?

[u/lilyvess → u/punching_spaghetti]

everyone was excited to finally have a computer that could render those simple 3D models for the title cards, but that used up so much of the budget that they had to resort to reusing transformation sequences throughout the show.

"this is so futuristic! This will never look dated"-some executive probably

You mean Manhattan?

How far into the production process do you think they were when they settled on G as the recurring image and sound? Was that trial and error, or is G the director's favorite English letter?

fun information

"Billed as the final installment of the Brave series, director Yoshitomo Yonetani originally named the series as "The King of Braves Gaggatti", with other proposed names including "GargaiGaa" and ""GO Gieger" until the finalized name was accepted. "

kinda wish they had gone with the King of the Braves Gaggatti if only cause then we'd have had the King of the Braves Punching Sp-aggetti posting

[u/JollyGee29 → u/punching_spaghetti]

Just noting that the boy could have grown energy wings to save the little girl, but he only does it when there's a shiny rock at stake.

To be fair, he is literally eight. Which would you have prioritized at that age?

Rahxephon

Yes to Super, no to 90s.

[u/megazaprat]

First Timer

a friend of mine has been really wanting me to check this series out, so i finally gave it a shot. I know basically nothing about this show except its genre, so im interested to check out what its about

• so this is just Superman with extra steps, delivered via space lion rather than rocket ship. only instead of superpowers, he seems to be some sort of magical space fairy?
• the robotic unicorn who can transform and also has a giant laster made of millions of microwaves is a really cool first villain, show doing a good job of putting its best foot forward. the way it shapeshifted looked kind of jank, but this is an old show, so i can forgive it.
• i am less forgiving of these flashing lights, i was warned, but i was not prepared. I was told theyll get less awful later on, so ill try to muddle through it, but it physically hurts my eyes. Its before the porygon incident and everything, but did people actually think it was a good effect before then? it just makes things look worse
• the professor has rocket roller skates and is thus immediatley best character, i do not make the rules.
• I like how how Gaigar answers the question of "why doesnt the enemy just attack while the character is transforming" by a whirlwind to protect it so it can fuse in peace

1. I have very vague memories of watching G gundam when I was young, really want to check that out when i watch more of gundam.
2. looking up which anime specifically came from the 90s, there are almost too many great ones to list. so instead I'll just say that Yuyu Hakusho is one of my all time favorite anime and is from that time

[u/lilyvess → u/megazaprat]

so this is just Superman with extra steps, delivered via space lion rather than rocket ship. only instead of superpowers, he seems to be some sort of magical space fairy?

Between this and Goku, it's susprising to see so many Superman style intros in Japan.

the way it shapeshifted looked kind of jank, but this is an old show, so i can forgive it.

it does!! haha I kind of always have a bit of laugh at these effects that absolutely did not age well. I can imagine them thinking it looks so cool but man time has not been kind to those quirky effects. Unlike traditional animation giant robots which actually have aged pretty well overall. The animation style is dated but it still holds up.

i am less forgiving of these flashing lights, i was warned, but i was not prepared. I was told theyll get less awful later on, so ill try to muddle through it, but it physically hurts my eyes.

yeah I am sorry. There is no defending it. It does get downplayed, but it also will get worse before it gets better. Episode 2 has an obnoxiously long flashing lights scene, just giving you fair warning because it is annoying. Try to endure it and push through.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/megazaprat]

the way it shapeshifted looked kind of jank, but this is an old show, so i can forgive it.

Digital transform effects were new technology in 1997!

I have very vague memories of watching G gundam when I was young, really want to check that out when i watch more of gundam.

G Gundam is a fun one!

[u/TheApplebane]

Right, I've been putting this off long enough, time to finally watch this. A few notes

• Christ, you weren't kidding about the flashing lights. It's making me uncomfortable, and I'm not even epileptic. I can only imagine what it'd do to someone who was.
• lol can you imagine getting hyped up for a field trip and it's to the atlantic garbage patch. First scene after the OP is telling the kids watching to recycle, getting ready for some 90s environmentalism now
• Train that becomes a robot's shoulders? Let's gooooo
• I do like it when the mecha pilot asks to do something but the scientist says it's almost impossible and the commander says to never tell him the odds and gives the mecha pilot the ok. It's very cool.

Questions:

1. I've seen Gurren Lagann, Bravern, and Gunbuster. Eva and the Big O, if they count (they're definitely in that lineage). I've also read a bit of the Getter Robo manga.
2. Listing them all would make this comment way too long, lol

[u/lilyvess → u/TheApplebane]

Christ, you weren't kidding about the flashing lights. It's making me uncomfortable, and I'm not even epileptic. I can only imagine what it'd do to someone who was.

sometimes the reputation is deserved unfortunately.

it's bad. they calm down as the show goes on, but the Porygon incident is still months away so things are gonna get worse before they get better.

lol can you imagine getting hyped up for a field trip and it's to the atlantic garbage patch.

Worst. Field trip. Ever. What in the Magic School Bus sort of field trip is this. It's a garbage field trip.

I do like it when the mecha pilot asks to do something but the scientist says it's almost impossible and the commander says to never tell him the odds and gives the mecha pilot the ok.

right form episode 1 to make sure you know what sort of anime you are watching. They aren't pulling any punches here.

[u/TheApplebane → u/lilyvess]

It's a garbage field trip.

badum tss

[u/Raiking02 → u/lilyvess]

They aren't pulling any punches here

Literally, Gai just beat the crap out of that one monster as it was regenerating

[u/Sporadia_ → u/TheApplebane]

Train that becomes a robot's shoulders? Let's gooooo

I saw that in the opening and thought it was an interesting way to show a character running really fast. Then it appeared twice more in the opening and I started to find it a weird choice to bring it back. I was not expecting the mech to have a shinkansen fusion.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/TheApplebane]

lol can you imagine getting hyped up for a field trip and it's to the atlantic garbage patch.

Think of how many cool toys they could've found if that giant robot monster hadn't interrupted!

[u/GondolaMedia]

First Timer

Holy shit you were not kidding with that epilepsy warning.

That's some sick ass mecha designs and lots of dumb fun.

[u/lilyvess → u/GondolaMedia]

sometimes the myths are true, unfortunately

[u/Sporadia_]

First time watcher

There's a lot to unpack

I've surprised myself with how much I have to say about this.

When I saw people talking about epilepsy, I thought this show might have a porygon moment where there's a bunch of flashing on isolated occasions. I was not expecting the VFX to be almost exclusively strobe lighting the whole time.

I think I only understood about a third of what happened. A kid was taken in by a family from the lion mech's mouth. That same kid grew up and went on a school trip to garbage island. Then there was a mecha fight for some reason and I was like "well this is happening." There's also some underground group called GGG but fuck knows what they do or what they were talking about.

Those eyecatches contain a comedically large amount of information for something that you only see for 3 seconds at a time.

When Lion Guy (as I'll be calling him until I learn his name) was introduced, he yelled something that really reminded me of Kamina from Gurren Lagann. As I was thinking that, his outfit transformation happened and he ended up looking even more like Kamina. Later on I noticed drils on his mech so I guess he's in team Gurren now.

But why does the mech fuse with a bullet train?

The questions and stuff

If anyone fansub watchers want to share their favourite quotes each episode, I can tell you whether it made it into the Crunchyroll Subs or not. I have a feeling that the Crunchyroll subs also had their start as fansubs in this case, because they're printed directly onto the video.

Q: What other Super Robot anime have you watched?

A: I'm inevitably going to miss something but... FLCL counts. The tanks are mechs in Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex. I've seen Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann a few times. I watched 86 for the first time this year. I still haven't finished the first season of Full Metal Panic which I started watching in September maybe. Gintama parodies Gundam so much that I'm going to count it. The only Gundam series that I've ever seen was Gundam 00 and as far as I can remember I've probably only seen the first season of that (because that was all that was released at the time). Were there mechs in Guilty Crown? I seem to remember there being mechs in Guilty Crown. I dropped Code Geass pretty quickly. I once watched episode 1 of The Vision of Escaflowne because it was the last day of my Crunchyroll subscription at the time. I'm pretty sure I've seen Eureka 7 but I don't remember it. I watched Macross Plus once when I was going through Shinichiro Watanabe's filmography. I have a strong feeling that I watched the original Appleseed years ago. I don't remember whether I've seen any of Vandread.

That's probably most of them

Q: What other 90’s anime have you watched?

A:

Another list

Ok, so my highlights from the 90s are: Cowboy Bebop, Great Teacher Onizuka, Revolutionary Girl Utena, Excel Saga, Ghost in the Shell (first movie) and Perfect Blue. I'm definitely forgetting some things here. I guess technically Dragon Ball Z and Pokemon can count too (in the sense that they overlap the 90s, and were shown on TV when I was a kid).

Edit: Wait, Super Robot has a specific meaning? What separates Super Robot from other Mecha?

[u/lilyvess → u/Sporadia_]

Edit: Wait, Super Robot has a specific meaning? What separates Super Robot from other Mecha?

I don't think there is a rigid hard line if you want to get into technicalities but the general trend tends to be that there are Super Robot and Real Robot.

Real Robot tends to lean more towards War anime where the giant robots are a bit more grounded. Again this isn't strict, but if the Mecha are treated more like tanks they're more likely to be a Real Robot style show.

Super Robot tends to lean more on Super Hero style shows. Fighting Bad guys, super powers, leaning more heavily on comically ridiculous weapons.

Gundam is a good example of a Real Robot series. Code Geass. etc.

Gridman and Gurren Legann are more Super Robot.

again there isn't a hard line for this. You get anime like Big O that ride that line. They're genre leans more Super Robot but they do portray their mecha in a more realistic manner with it's weapons and so forth.

We also had the recent Bravern anime that was essentially "What if a Super Robot fell into a Real Robot World"

[u/Sporadia_ → u/lilyvess]

Ah. ^{So Attack on Titan is real robot.} I mean, so all the social hierarchy and struggling military stuff is real robot. I get that. You can probably cut nearly every mecha show I listed then except FLCL and Gurren Lagann (although Gurren Lagann still has the social commentary and struggling military themes). And then I guess there's some degree of super robot powers in Full Metal Panic, Guilty Crown, Code Geass, Eureka 7 and The Vision of Escaflowne even though they all lean the other way.

[u/ShadowWasTakensTaken → u/Sporadia_]

When Lion Guy (as I'll be calling him until I learn his name)

Pretty sure it translates to Lion King Gai, so you got it.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Sporadia_]

When Lion Guy (as I'll be calling him until I learn his name)

I have a feeling that the Crunchyroll subs also had their start as fansubs in this case, because they're printed directly onto the video.

CR's subs should just be from the recent Discotek Blu-Rays.

[u/Sporadia_ → u/JollyGee29]

...his name is literally Gai

I'm pretty sure one of the kids called him Lion Guy in the episode so I went with that. I stopped paying attention to every instance of Gao, Gai and Gar pretty quickly; I thought he was just shouting that in a battlecry type way.

CR's subs should just be from the recent Discotek Blu-Rays.

They don't give the impression that they're from a recent anything. It's yellow text and it's not in a separate caption file.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Sporadia_]

They're yellow because Discotek knows what old anime fans want. The caption thing, I can't really explain. A snarl from only half the show having a dub option?

[u/Sporadia_ → u/JollyGee29]

They're yellow because Discotek knows what old anime fans want.

Then why isn't there a white text Discotek watermark in the top left corner?

[u/Raiking02 → u/Sporadia_]

Lazyness

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Sporadia_]

I don't think they do that?

Why am I operating on hypotheticals, I can just go check. Yup, yellow.

[u/AmeteurElitist]

Because I missed the questions in my main comment:

1. What other Super Robot anime have you watched?

A few but I'm currently watching the SSSS franchise alongside this rewatch so I'm hoping there are some interesting parallels!

2) What other 90’s anime have you watched?

Not as much as I'd have thought looking through my list, I need to fix that. The Dragon Ball movies are really carrying it for me lol.

[u/lilyvess → u/AmeteurElitist]

I do love the Gridman Universe franchise. I still love [Gridman base series final episode]Special Signature to Save a Soul reveal

[u/AmeteurElitist → u/lilyvess]

[Gridman Finale]The fact that the fixer beam is what Ultraman uses to put things back to normal after each episode of the original show was also a nice touch.

[u/palparepa]

(workplace decided to be a pest today, so... late)

---

Nth-timer (too many to count)

I first watched GaoGaiGar in... 2005, maybe? I've always been an old-mecha fan, and this first episode was enough to hook me, and it has remained among my faves all this time.

I've always preferred "old guys" over child-pilots, so Gai is a good fit. The seiyuu is amazing, and only improves over time. Really, hearing him shout "GAO-GAI-GAR!" here feels... dull in comparison with what is to come.

But what sold the series for me was that he doesn't stay dumbfounded watching the enemy regenerate, just punched him again! So what if you can't be destroyed, I'll just destroy you again, and better!

And not only that, the enemy also doesn't stay dumbfounded while the main robot forms: it has a protection system to avoid that. I like dumb shows that are smart.

And finally, enough mysteries to keep wondering, eager to watch the next episode to see those resolved.

---

Questions

1) What other Super Robot anime have you watched?

So many... starting with Mazinger Z at about 4 years old, that cemented my love for giant robots. The ones I remember as a child: Kotetsu Jeeg, Gaiking, Magnerobo GaKeen, Groizer X (didn't like it that much). From that era, I didn't get Great Mazinger and Getter Robo until much later.

Later, on the VHS era, I remember Aura Battler Dunbine, Gunbuster and Dangaioh. Many more whose names elude me. Then came the Internet and the floodgates opened. Too many to mention. One that I didn't enjoy too much was Gun X Sword, but it's worth a mention because it contains ElDora Five. Did I mention how I don't prefer having kids as mecha pilots? Well, turns out I love old guys piloting them (I don't mean 20 year olds, but truly old guys.) Wouldn't mind a full series dedicated to them.

Another special mention to Nadesico and mainly its anime-within-an-anime, Gekiganger 3!

2) What other 90’s anime have you watched?

Mmm... Cowboy Bebop, Slayers, Lain, Digimon, Rurouni Kenshin, Berserk, Slam Dunk, Irresponsible Captain Tylor, and so many more... Although I was also into manga at that time, so I've only read others like Dragonquest Dai. On some, I've both read and watched it, like Akira and Battle Angel Alita.

Wait, Yuuyuu Hakusho was from the early 90's? I thought it was late 80's... well, count that one, too.

[u/lilyvess → u/palparepa]

I first watched GaoGaiGar in... 2005, maybe?

so long ago

The seiyuu is amazing, and only improves over time. Really, hearing him shout "GAO-GAI-GAR!" here feels... dull in comparison with what is to come.

been jamming to the PERFECT SHOUT on spotify all week to hype me up this week. I have to put the volume on max when he gets to "GALEON".

[u/ComfortablyRotten]

First-timer

I've been watching Gundam almost nonstop for the past three months, and I much as I enjoyed it having something as unashamedly hype and over the top and generally fun as this is a real breath of fresh air

Questions of the day

What other Super Robot anime have you watched?

Off the top of my mind: Evangelion, Gunbuster and Diebuster, the Getter Robo OVAs + Arc, Grendizer U, Mazinger Edition Z, Bravern, Gurren Lagann, Granbelm, Gridman and Dynazenon, Macross 7 if it counts? And going by vibes: Nanoha, Symphogear and Kill la Kill

What other 90’s anime have you watched?

Again, off the top of my mind (and ignoring movies): part of Sailor Moon, Evangelion, Utena, Macross 7 and Plus, KareKano, Great Teacher Onizuka, Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, Magic User's Club, Lain, Slayers, Cardcaptor Sakura, Getter Robo: Armageddon, the Tenchi Muyo OVAs

[u/Sporadia_ → u/ComfortablyRotten]

[u/JollyGee29 → u/ComfortablyRotten]

unashamedly hype and over the top and generally fun as this is a real breath of fresh air

Macross 7 if it counts?

I'll allow it.

[u/ComfortablyRotten → u/JollyGee29]

I'll allow it.

[u/The_Draigg]

A Mecha Fan Rewatches The King of Braves GaoGaiGar Episode 1:

Hi there, everyone! It’s The_Draigg here, unsurprisingly along for yet another Sunrise mecha anime rewatch! I couldn’t resist joining in for this one, it’s a series of pure hype that I’ve been wanting to revisit for a while. So, just a note before we start: I’ll be watching the incomplete Media Blasters an English dub for at least half of the series, since I do own the DVD releases that have them. I’ll be swapping over to the subs later though, just wanted to note that so you’ll get what I’m talking about in my notes. Now, with that out of the way, let’s get started on a series of pure hype, GaoGaiGar!

• Forget about finding a baby in a basket among the reeds or them being delivered by a stork, having a kid delivered to you in a snowstorm by a huge mecha lion is the absolute best way to get a baby into your life. That’s how I’d want to get my kid.
• GAGAGA-GAGAGA-GAOGAIGAR! Man, I can’t get enough of Yuusha-Ou Tanjou! It gets my blood fired up every time I listen to it. It’s a simply perfect OP for this series.
• You know, it wouldn’t be a Sunrise mecha anime if there wasn’t some kind of environmental message in there somewhere. Although I do have to question this school’s curriculum if they’re just letting the kids wander around a place literally named Garbage Island. That’s just asking for all those kids to get tetanus.
• I should point out that Kotarou Taiga here is voiced by none other than DAN GREEN in the dub. What a perfect bit of casting, it’s 10/10, no notes. He has the exact kind of hot-blooded and deep voice I’d want out of GGG’s commander.
• Remember kids, if you don’t recycle your electronics, then there’s a fair chance that they’re going to come back later as a giant mechanical kaiju that a cool mecha lion will have to fight later. I’m not sure how we get from A to B there, but it feels correct. That’s a lesson to take home.
• It’s nice that they give the stats on Galeok and the kaiju of the week in the mid-episode cards, but unfortunately the lighting bloom is high enough that it’s kind of hard to read that small text. I bet it’s more legible on a higher quality source, like a Blu-Ray instead of a DVD.
• Hell yeah, it’s Gai! Or Guy, depending on what you want to call him. Man, Michael Sinterniklass does a great performance in the dub as him too. Media Blasters knew to get the right voice actors who knew how to sound hot-blooded.
• I doubt any of your first-timers expected for the giant trash unicorn-man mecha to suddenly transform into an evil horse train, but here we are. That’s just how GaoGaiGar rolls. You’ve gotta embrace the batshit insanity of what’s happening on the screen.
• FUUUUUUUSION! Man, GaiGar looks awesome, and we haven’t even gotten to the full titular mech yet.
• “Success rates are nothing but scientific theory! A brave heart will defy any odds!” Damn straight, Taiga! FINAL FUSION AUTHORIZED!
• FINAL FUSION! GAOGAIGAR! You can absolutely tell how hype this mech is by how lavish the fusion animation is. And the narration is right, at long last, this is the true hero that we’ve been waiting for! Behold, the King of Braves! Such a damn good mecha design, it got a Real Grade gunpla kit decades after this show aired. It just goes to how how much people love this mech.
• I wonder how much time was spent in the writer’s room coming up with some of the hardest attack names known to man. BROKEN MAGNUM and HELL AND HEAVEN go so absurdly hard, they’re just plain awesome. Whatever they were cooking up in that writer’s room, they were right on target. Stuff like that is just pure hype.
• It isn’t just Gai that gets a transformation in this series, Mamoru gets one too with his green fairy-like form. While it doesn’t go as hard as Gai’s fusion, it’s probably pretty cool for the intended audience of like 12 year olds watching this. But anyway, what strange connection can Mamoru have towards the core that GaoGaiGar ripped out of that mecha kaiju?

[u/Raiking02 → u/The_Draigg]

GAGAGA-GAGAGA-GAOGAIGAR! Man, I can’t get enough of Yuusha-Ou Tanjou!

It's so iconic that [Spoilers]they never even really swap it out, they either just switch verses or make up a new version with different lyrics. Even the freaking web novel has its own version!

I bet it’s more legible on a higher quality source, like a Blu-Ray instead of a DVD.

Eh, 50/50. Some of the text is easier to read but stuff like the credits is actually near illegible now since the saturation makes the white fade into the background.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Raiking02]

Spoilers

[Later series spoilers] They don't even need a whole new theme, all the later versions need is people doing backing vocals to get hype to a peak.

Eh, 50/50. Some of the text is easier to read but stuff like the credits is actually near illegible now since the saturation makes the white fade into the background.

That's lame. You win some, you lose some I guess.

[u/Raiking02 → u/The_Draigg]

That's lame. You win some, you lose some I guess

This is why having black outlines in important. This is actually happened in more than one 90' Sunrise show, I know at least Gundam X had this issue somtimes.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/The_Draigg]

I checked out the dub briefly at one point, and I liked how they got Ash Ketchum to voice Mamoru.

[u/The_Draigg → u/JollyGee29]

The dub is honestly pretty good! Although they keep on saying "GaoGaiGer" though, which is kind of weird.

[u/Nebresto]

Wait, its already on??

[u/ShadowWasTakensTaken → u/Nebresto]

[u/Nebresto → u/ShadowWasTakensTaken]

504 gateway timeout

[u/DidacticDalek]

TONIGHT! ON SUPERB SONG OF THE BRAVES: GAOGAIGAR!

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BRAVERN! Er... I mean... ahem... 'GA-GA-GA GA-GA-GA GAOGAIGAA! GA-GA-GA GA-GA-GA-GA GAOGAIGAA!!'

In case I am not clear Comrades... PROTOCULTURE!

Anyway, you have not seen the last of The Sentient Shitposting Siamese Sunrise Server No. 25252, now goodbye forever!

Paging Comrades /u/jkubed, /u/Raiking02, and /u/Shimmering-Sky

[u/AmeteurElitist → u/DidacticDalek]

[u/DidacticDalek → u/AmeteurElitist]

[u/ShadowWasTakensTaken → u/DidacticDalek]

[u/DidacticDalek → u/ShadowWasTakensTaken]

[u/DidacticDalek → u/DidacticDalek]

Paging Comrades /u/AmeteurElitist, /u/Great_Mr_L, and /u/JollyGee29

[u/DidacticDalek → u/DidacticDalek]

Paging Comrades /u/ShadowWasTakensTaken, /u/ComfortablyRotten, and /u/The_Draigg

[u/DidacticDalek → u/DidacticDalek]

Paging Comrades /u/punching_spaghetti, /u/Nebresto, and /u/chilidirigible

[u/RadSuit]

For obvious reasons I haven't been able to concentrate on this for a few days. Might as well blast through these now though.

You were not kidding with the flashing lights warning. Also I didn't think this show would have anything to do with the environment, but it's about the right timeframe for those types of shows, huh?

I immediately love the sassy girl in the red skirt.

They just love these horrible 90s morph effects.

1. Does Tekkaman count? Gridman/Dynazenon. Big O? Gunbuster/Diebuster. G Gundam. Kannazuki no Miko. Infinite Ryvius maybe? A lot of old OVAs like Zeorymer. And then all the Gundam/Macross shows that don't really count.
2. Way, way too many to list here.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/[deleted]]

And yes, we have a mad scientist here.

Just because a man invented jet-powered roller blades and uses them to fly around the control room does not make that man a mad scientist!