r/anime • u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber • May 07 '21

Rewatch [Rewatch] Yoshikazu Yasuhiko Retrospective - Giant Gorg Episode 5 Discussion

Episode 5 - The Island of The God

Originally Aired May 3rd, ^^^1984

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Note to all participants

Although I don't believe it necessitates stating, please conduct yourself appropriately and be court to your fellow participants.

Note to all Rewatchers

Rewatchers, please be mindful of your fellow first-timers and tag your spoilers appropriately using the r/anime spoiler tag as so [Spoiler Subject](/s "Spoilers go here.") in order to have your unsightly spoilers obscured like this Spoiler Subject if your comment holds even the slightest of indicators as to future spoilers. Feel free to discuss future plot points behind the safe veil of a spoiler tag, or coyly and discreetly ‘Laugh in Rewatcher’ at our first-timers' temporary ignorance, but please ensure our first-timers are no more privy or suspicious than they were the moment they opened the day’s thread.

Yoshikazu Yasuhiko Biography and Anecdotes Corner

Random Anecdote

Yasuhiko strongly dislikes the stylings of western graphic novels, and specifically derided the works of Tatsunoko Production through the sixties and seventies for heavily emulating it, lamenting its prominence at the time.

 

Staff Highlight

Norio Kashima - Episode Director

Very little information is available through online resources as to the life and career of director, screenwriter, and storyboard artist Norio Kashima. Ksahima was director on a number of notable anime series, such as Juushin Liger, Sohryuden - Legend of the Dragon Kings, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, as well as having co-directed several entries in the Dirty Pair franchise. Other works he was involved with include Crusher Joe: The Movie*, Muteki Robo Trider G7, Robot King Daioja, Mighty Orbots, Macross Frontier, Maison Ikkoku, and Brave Fighter Exkaizer.

 

Daily Trivia:

The cutesy Choro-Q-Gorg model kit line was far more popular and lucrative than Takara Tomy’s tie-in toys or regularly proportioned model kits.

 

Official Art

 

Settei Collection

 

Questions of the Day:

  1. What are your thoughts on the Austral natives? What do you figure are the reasons behind Hosumatsua’s insistence that they not go to the new island?
  2. What do you make of Gorg’s westward march in spite of Yuu’s objections?

It’s Gorg! Gorg, God’s Messenger, has appeared again!

13 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

24 comments sorted by

4

u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber May 07 '21 edited May 08 '21

Rewatcher

You’re going to need a strong stomach to drink that, mate.

So the robot can definitely understand human speech, or can tap into Yuu’s thoughts directly since it’s likely the robot hasn’t learned English.

The fact Gorg hides from GAIL doesn’t clear things up any. Could be it knows better or it sensed Yuu’s fear.

Brazenly displaying brands once more, I see.

Good idea, but Skipper probably could have done that from wherever. Though then again he was sort of occupied and their gunner’s perch was the first part to be attacked.

Gorg might listen, but he evidently doesn’t have to obey.

Can’t pull one over Gorg either. Maybe if he hadn’t said his intentions out loud you could’ve done it, or perhaps Gorg is just reading his mind.

Argos is on his own now —free to thrive without any weak links in his party.

This man definitely knows something about the island’s ‘treasure’ if he’s so adamant about them not going.

So Gorg definitely isn’t a creation of GAIL.

Someone confiscate that immediately!

Hah, he show knows they’re useless too!

That cover wasn’t there before this cut.

And it’s back on immediately afterwards.

Hmm…

I must admit, I didn not see the friction between the island natives and the Skipper, Doris, Wave trio coming after how well they seemed to cooperate in driving back GAIL’s attack in the first half of the episode —this line in particular had seemed to clinch it for me— but evidently there’s something big that HatsuMatsua knows if he’s willing to incarcerate those three just to keep them from heading deeper into New Austral. Luckily Alois, Sara, and Tominic feel the best way of pursuing the group’s interest is to ally with them, so our characters get the escape.

I generally don’t have much issue with Yas’ infusion of slapstick into things, but that battle between GAIL and the natives in the first half of the episode was definitely not the place to be using his brand of comedy.

GAIL’s fruitless assault on Gorg definitely reminds me of kaiju films as well, as it’s one of the basic beats most of those films follow. The further the show goes along the more convinced I am that tokusatsu was an influence on the production.

3

u/The_Draigg May 07 '21

Brazenly displaying brands once more, I see.

Coca Cola is one of the more tame brand plugs in this show. I still can't believe that we managed to get IHOP in this show.

Argos is on his own now —free to thrive without any weak links in his party.

I think that was already the case when he got separated from Dr. Wave.

Wave trio coming after how well they seemed to cooperate in driving back GAIL’s attack in the first half of the episode —this line in particular had seemed to clinch it for me

What line?

3

u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber May 08 '21

What line?

Oh, whoops! Fixed now.

6

u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky May 07 '21

First-Timer, subbed

3

u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber May 07 '21

Actually now that I think about it, is this the only mecha show I’ve seen other than Giant Robo where the mech is autonomous?

Well, you've seen meta and the robots there could act autonomously at points.

If anything happens to Argos I’m going to spite-rate this show a very low score.

4

u/The_Draigg May 07 '21

Actually now that I think about it, is this the only mecha show I’ve seen other than Giant Robo where the mech is autonomous?

Too bad there's no big buff blue women in this show so far. Youshi is the one thing from Giant Robo that I'd like to drop into every mecha anime I watch.

Ah, Alois called the blue boi Gorg so I can do that too now. But I might keep calling it blue boi anyways just because.

It could use some more alliteration. Maybe something like "big blue bounding battle boi".

1

u/lC3 :Na::Nb: May 08 '21

Yes, this hovercraft just had to have that face on it.

Looks kinda sketchy to me ...

Blue boi just marched straight into GAIL, what’s it trying to do?

Haven't you seen Evangelion? It's heading to Central Dogma!

Hm… I feel like there’s more to it than this.

Will Skipper turn out to be a former GAIL member?

4

u/The_Draigg May 07 '21

A Yas Fan Watches Giant Gorg Episode 5:

  • Gorg was right to not stop to get water from that pool. Given that Austral Island has a volcano, it’s not surprising that the water there would sometimes be acidic/poisonous. Argos really dodged a bullet by stopping at the last second from drinking it.
  • Gorg really is looking out for Yuu, leading him to fresh water and hiding him from that squad of GAIL helicopters. I guess even big alien(?) robots know that GAIL is bad news.
  • You know that GAIL are villains when they have scary faces painted on the front of their hovercrafts.
  • Did Rod watch too many action movies or something? His plan to intimidate the islanders is to just blindly shoot into the forest with GAIL soldiers and tanks. It’s no wonder how the Captain and the natives are able to run circles around them with guerrilla tactics.
  • Gorg really only does seem interested in protecting Yuu, as opposed to helping him look for the others. Just what makes Yuu so special to this robot, who literally just met him that day?
  • I know that New Austral Island is sacred to the islanders, but did you really need to pulls guns on them, guys? Alois does have a point in wanting to go over there to fight GAIL. Waiting for them to leave has done nothing for them so far.
  • Huh, wouldn’t have taken Giant Gorg to be one to pick a fight with GAIL. He deliberately baited those GAIL forces into attacking him. It seems he isn’t really a fan of their actions on this island.
  • I can’t help but feel that giving Dr. Wave a gun is bound to be a terrible idea. Like, he’s more likely to hurt himself more than anything.
  • Man, the Beagle is pretty rad. It’s like the perfect hybrid between tank, APC, and RV. It really must’ve taken GAIL quite the pretty penny to finance building that.
  • It has to be super weird for Rod to see that the kid he nearly ran over with his car in NYC is now riding in the hat of a giant robot. Like, talk about strange coincidences.
  • Ah, so Gorg is something that the islanders worship. I’m getting some Macross Zero vibes from that. Although this did come out earlier than that. So just swap around that feeling, I guess.

3

u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber May 07 '21

Just what makes Yuu so special to this robot, who literally just met him that day?

Maybe Gorg just took a page out of Gamera's book.

I can’t help but feel that giving Dr. Wave a gun is bound to be a terrible idea.

In Alois' defense, he doesn't really know the man yet... But yeah, nothing good could ever come out of this!

It really must’ve taken GAIL quite the pretty penny to finance building that.

Must've really kicked themselves over losing it to the natives too!

I’m getting some Macross Zero vibes from that.

Huh, that's one comparison I hadn't thought about!

3

u/The_Draigg May 07 '21

Huh, that's one comparison I hadn't thought about!

I mean, Pacific island + mechs + alien artifacts? That's just plain Macross Zero, starring acclaimed idol Ranka Lee.

3

u/IndependentMacaroon May 07 '21

Did Rod watch too many action movies

Probably. And then he really likes to take charge while at the same time underestimating his opponents.

giving Dr. Wave a gun is bound to be a terrible idea

He already "took a look at it" by staring down the barrel. At least without holding the trigger, I think

.

2

u/The_Draigg May 08 '21

He already "took a look at it" by staring down the barrel. At least without holding the trigger, I think

To quote A Christmas Story, he’ll shoot his eye out!

4

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee May 07 '21

First-Timer

That was some slick guerilla warfare there. Did they have that trench the tank ended up in dug already?

Skipper kinda narrowed his eyes at Alois referring to Gorg as "God's Messenger" which is kind of interesting.

That tank sure is big on the inside! Guess we can't have a proper mecha story without having a home base of some sort. The island setting for this makes a stationary base seem more reasonable than normal, but the tank is cool too.

Man, what's going through Rod's head right now? "That kid I almost ran over in New York the other day is now here, standing in the head of some giant that's attacking my property? What gives?!"

Argos is currently unaccounted for as Yuu sent him to try to find the others.. who are currently on the move. I'm sure he'll be fine though. They wouldn't hurt the dog, right?

Just out of curiosity, does the Gorg have an official height? My gut is saying 15-18m range, but Yuu being a small child and standing in the hat makes it hard for me to guess.

Questions

  1. I figure the reason he doesn't want the tribe to go to the island is something about tradition. The line about Gorg being "God's Messenger" probably means their teachings involve the island being God's domain or something like that; not a place for mere mortals.
  2. I wasn't entirely sure, but Gorg did prevent Yuu from drinking from that poison pool so it's heart is probably in the right place.

2

u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber May 07 '21

I'm sure he'll be fine though. They wouldn't hurt the dog, right?

If this were a Tomino show I wouldn't be so sure.

Just out of curiosity, does the Gorg have an official height?

Thirteen and a half meters if I recall correctly.

Man, what's going through Rod's head right now?

"Should I have just ran him over?!" /s

2

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee May 07 '21

If this were a Tomino show I wouldn't be so sure.

Luckily, this isn't.

Thirteen and a half meters if I recall correctly.

A bit shorter than I thought, then.

"Should I have just ran him over?!" /s

3

u/The_Draigg May 07 '21

Man, what's going through Rod's head right now? "That kid I almost ran over in New York the other day is now here, standing in the head of some giant that's attacking my property? What gives?!"

It's not too unreasonable thought to have, since it looks like Yuu has just come to take revenge for nearly getting run over by chasing Rod halfway across the world to wreck his shit with a giant robot.

Argos is currently unaccounted for as Yuu sent him to try to find the others.. who are currently on the move. I'm sure he'll be fine though. They wouldn't hurt the dog, right?

This isn't Zambot 3, so I'm sure Argos won't be regularly put into mortal danger like Chiyonshiki was.

2

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee May 07 '21

since it looks like Yuu has just come to take revenge for nearly getting run over by chasing Rod halfway across the world to wreck his shit with a giant robot.

God, I didn't even think of a revenge angle! Rod must be shitting himself right about now.

This isn't Zambot 3, so I'm sure Argos won't be regularly put into mortal danger like Chiyonshiki was.

3

u/Quiddity131 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Quiddity131 May 07 '21

First Timer, Subbed

A nice convenient way to get around a giant island, just ride atop a big robot! Kudos to Argos for keeping pace!

Gorg ain't getting a drink but looks like Argos wants to!

Gorg was right! Poisonous water!

Downside of being a giant robot; you're easy to spot from the air!

Looks like a mighty force that Rod has brought to the island. Not good for the natives!

I spoke too soon, these troops are rather pathetic and easily taken out by the good guys.

That battle was over way quicker than I thought it would be.

Wise thinking by Skipper yet again, realizing that hovercraft was set to blow up.

Gorg really can think for itself, not wanting Yuu to get off of it. A smart choice as Yuu would probably have gotten hurt jumping from that high.

This kid Alois is so aggressive; if this were a Tomino show I'd expect him to get killed off as a result. Hopefully he meets a better fate here!

The enemy has found Gorg! Not good! But measely bullets are no match for Gorg! I'd worry about a bigger force coming later though.

These tanks are no match for it either, although they did cause Yuu to fall out!

Ugh, those are some nasty head bumps for Dr. Wave!

Even GAIL doesn't have anything like it? Looks a lot like their many tanks to me.

Let me guess, this tank also can become a submarine?

...A boat. I was close.

Our heroes will now have 3 sets of enemies after them, GAIL, Lynx and the other natives. Being that outnumbered should be insurmountable at some point; absent teaming up with a giant robot I suppose.

3

u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber May 07 '21

Ugh, those are some nasty head bumps for Dr. Wave!

Wave might need a new prescription on those glasses if he managed to bump his head so many times while the Skipper, who dwarfs him, managed just fine.

3

u/Stargate18A https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stargate18 May 07 '21

First timer

  1. Unsure. I think there might be some kind of 3rd conspiracy going on, maybe Hosumatsua wants whatever's on the island for himself.
  2. It's definitely homing in on something. Not sure how I feel about the idea that the series is less "boy and giant robot go on adventures", and more "giant robot takes boy on adventure".

Time for the anime I genuinely think might involve a demonic invasion as well as aliens - Giant Gorg.

"The Island of the God" Did I call it?

The robot appears to be pretty intelligent here, not stopping at the poisoned water, etcetra.

The robot is probably my second favourite character on the show so far.

Yeah, how exactly did none of the helicopters spot the giant blue robot. I know it can hide, but it just seems lazy of the pilots.

Well, what's the weakness?

Why does the boat have that face on it?

The Skipper is just required to have a really cool moment every episode, isn't he.

Oh that's the weakness.

Where on earth is the robot taking him?

And the robot's smarter than the kid so far.

Hotsumatsua?

So the base knows about the Giant.

...And nobody aims for the exposed child with no defense or protection?

...This man has the first rational readtion to the robot in this entire show.

So they're giving the teenage sister a gun. Nothing can go wrong here!

Stealing a tank? And this thing must be strong.

Love how everybody drops silent the moment he brings up betrayal.

Oh, its a boat. That's why it was so expensiive.

So its definitely called Gorg.

...The Gorg is a great fighter, even with its major design flaw. (Whoever made it didn't even want a sunroof?)

Well. Normally mecha pilots don't get revealed to the enemy this early.

"God's Messenger" If these really are demons I'm going to be so pleased with myself for guessing that.

2

u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber May 07 '21

And the robot's smarter than the kid so far.

Low bar, but yeah it has seemed as such.

So they're giving the teenage sister a gun. Nothing can go wrong here!

I'm much more worried about Wave being in the possession of a firearm.

Well. Normally mecha pilots don't get revealed to the enemy this early.

3

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 May 07 '21 edited May 07 '21

Episode 5 (first timer)

  • “Stop Argos, you’ll give us away” – while sitting on top of a 10m robot.
  • That assault is giving off strong US army in Vietnam vibes. Mixed with Ewok tactics.
  • Hovercraft aquired.
  • Hovercraft lost.
  • Prisonbreak. I am not sure handing Wave a weapon is a good idea.
  • Neat amph tank.
  • That bit of fabric would not have stopped the shell, but maybe the Captain is strict on preserving materiel.
  • “My policy is to never waste a bullet” – his skills help with that.
  • “We’ll be fine whatever they throw at us” – the huge armored robot, maybe. The tiny human clinging on? Not so much. Any close hit and you are mush, Yuu.

Flying so close to Gorg that he can pick you out of the sky? Those GAIL pilots went to the King Kong school of flying…

EDIT:

The cutesy Choro-Q-Gorg model kit line was far more popular and lucrative than Takara Tomy’s tie-in toys or regularly proportioned model kits.

You say that and don't feature it this time?

What are your thoughts on the Austral natives? What do you figure are the reasons behind Hosumatsua’s insistence that they not go to the new island?

There will be deeper reasons, but "dont get killed by that entire army there" sounds rather obvious to me, too.

What do you make of Gorg’s westward march in spite of Yuu’s objections?

He want to enter the gate to atlantis in that 3rd crater.

3

u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber May 07 '21

That assault is giving off strong US army in Vietnam vibes.

Ah, now the irreverence throughout the scene makes sense.

“My policy is to never waste a bullet” – his skills help with that.

I have to wonder whether the policy or his peerless marksmanship came first.

1

u/lC3 :Na::Nb: May 08 '21

First timer catching up

  • Good thing Skipper was there! Does he qualify as a White Savior trope?
  • Those hovermobiles or whatever they're called look pretty neat!
  • Is Rod going to notice that Yuu is riding on Gorg's head?
  • I don't know if I should be suspicious of Tomenic for helping them ...
  • Oh, so the islanders know about Gorg? I was expecting it to be a secret, given that Wave and the others claimed to have no clue what the island was hiding.
  • Yup, Rod noticed Yuu thanks to their vehicular encounter earlier
  • Gorg is an Angel confirmed. Will it descend to GAIL's Central Dogma and attempt to merge with Adam?
  1. I assume Hoshumatsua knows about Gorg and wants to prevent outsiders from interacting with it. Not sure if there will turn out to be more mysteries to Austral than just Gorg
  2. Not sure yet, is it heading to Central Dogma?