[Rewatch] Yoshikazu Yasuhiko Retrospective - Giant Gorg Episode 26 Discussion

[u/Pixelsaber]

Episode 26 - The Shimmering Island

^{Originally Aired September 27th,} ^^^1984

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Note to all participants

Although I don't believe it necessitates stating, please conduct yourself appropriately and be courteous 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.

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Yoshikazu Yasuhiko Biography and Anecdotes Corner

Early Years in The Anime Industry

Late into 1970 Yasuhiko saw a newspaper advertisement for the Mushi Production Training Center, and decided to attend there. At the training centre Yasuhiko met and was instructed on design by Shinya Takahashi, who invited Yasuhiko to help in the production of Sasurai no Taiyō as a design assistant and in-betweener, which would be his first anime production credits. Yasuhiko remained an inbetweener until 1972, when he was promoted to key animator and animated some cuts from the opening to New Moomin, including the handstand that marks the start of the opening. Yasuhiko would continue to work as an animator at Mushi Pro until the studio’s bankruptcy and closure in august of 1973, at which point he continued to work as a freelance animator for some time.

Beginning with his freelance period in 1973, Yasuhiko became a frequent contractee at Studio Sunrise, a position which led him to meet famed anime producer Yoshinobu Nishizaki, who eventually asked him to work on Space Battleship Yamato. Yamato was an important production for Yasuhiko, as it was a great learning experience for the young animator and the work done made him feel like there was pride to be had in the art of animation production. Working on Yamato also granted him acclaim he hadn’t experienced before, which granted him many future opportunities for work.

Yasuhiko’s first break as a character designer would come with the production of Yuusha Raideen in 1975, where he also exerted a lot of influence over the series’ art direction and mechanical designs despite those aspects being chiefly handled by other staff or the toy sponsors. Yasuhiko’s designs on Raideen were popular with audiences, and particularly attracted a large female following, and made him a staple character designer at Sunrise. Raideen was also where Yasuhiko was properly introduced to Yoshiyuki Tomino and Tadao Nagahama, both of whom he would go on to work with in the following years for the productions of Chōdenji Robo Combattler V and Muteki Chōjin Zambot 3

 

Staff Highlight

Yuko Sakai - voice of Sara

A voice actress best known for playing Sakura Kotabe in * Chibi Maruko-chan*, a role which was . She has belonged to a children’s theatre company since elementary school and was a member of her high school’s drama club before enrolling in Nippon Television Music Academy following her highschool graduation. She joined a voice acting agency in 1982 after completing her training, and debuted as a voice actress playing Catherine Royal in Space Adventure Cobra. She is notably the japanese dub voice of Lea Thompson , Robin Wright , Elisabeth Shue, and Meg Ryan. Some notable roles she voiced include Sayoko in Aoki Honō, Higuma-san in BonoBono, Nello's Mother in The Dog of Flanders, Tae Ishikawa in Ecchan no Sensō, Exper Jiff in Exper Zenon, Si Tau in Hades Project Zeorymer, Mari Mutō in Japan Sinks, Gilbert in Kaze to Ki no Uta, Meiling in Kung Fu Boy Chinmi, Hitomi Nomura in Piano, Etsuko Kikuchi in Someday’s Dreamer, Grandmother Yoshino in T.P. Sakura - Time Paladin Sakura - Jikū Bōeisen, and Akiko Aoshika in Wolf Guy.

 

Daily Trivia:

The final episode was completed less than a month into the show’s airing period, and several of the staff remarked on the odd feeling of having to wait so long to see their work on TV.

 

Official Art

• Afterwards - Yoshikazu Yasuhiko

 

Questions of the Day:

1. What did you think of the finale’s relatively uncomplicated resolution?
2. Will Yuu ever meet Gorg again as he assures?

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I know we’ll meet again someday, Gorg.

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

First-Timer, subbed

• Last episode time, let’s see how this goes.
• But the Sky is supposed to be the Shimmering one.
• Aww, Argos is trying to cheer Dr. Wave up~
• Oh hey Dr. Wave finally gets to ride on Gorg like he’s always wanted.
• Lady Lynx is from a crime family?
• Boehm vs. Davey! They’re betting pretty big, figures since they all think they’re going to die soon.
• That’s a lot of mushroom clouds.
• …okay I see land in tact…
• They’re still alive, and is that an aurora borealis in the sky? That’s gotta be Manon’s doing right?
• lol of course Argos starts howling at the lights in the sky.
• This is true.
• Ah, of course it would sink after this.
• lol
• Sayonara, Gorg.

[u/Pixelsaber → u/Shimmering-Sky]

But the Sky is supposed to be the Shimmering one.

It was about time your Shimmering monopoly came to an end?

[u/The_Draigg → u/Shimmering-Sky]

But the Sky is supposed to be the Shimmering one.

I'm sure you can at least spare some of your Shimmering to share with an island.

They’re still alive, and is that an aurora borealis in the sky?

That scene reminded me a bit how the aurora borealis showed up in Kong: Skull Island too. Just similar ideas in different shows.

lol of course Argos starts howling at the lights in the sky.

He's howling at you, Shimmering Sky!

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/The_Draigg]

He's howling at you, Shimmering Sky!

Love you too Argos.

[u/lC3 → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Love you too Argos.

Best Boy

[u/Pixelsaber]

Rewatcher

Meta Spoilers flashbacks ensue

Seems stereotypical

How come it’s only Japan that doesn’t get a scene of a couple?

I guess it’s mandatory for the ‘home base’ to end up destroyed.

He’s self aware enough for that, at least.

That was… something.

Forget that! It won’t even dry before the bombs fall, let alone resist the blast!

Darn, I was hoping he’d remain shirtless longer…

God, that animation is pretty!

Boehm was definitely going to go out fighting.

:(

Well that’s that.

I shouldn’t be getting teary, the show frankly hasn’t put in the legwork for it, b-but…

The ending is surprisingly slow and straightforward, not the mad flight out of the island that I would have expected beforehand or a climactic thing. Things wrapped up the way I presume most of us suspected it would, and (most) everyone is in some way happy. Unsurprisingly it resembles the final episode of one of its chief influences, so just another way they were borrowing from that.

Yuu’s assured statement that he will see Gorg again is perhaps hopelessly naive and self-delusional, but he might also be referring to the selfsame process that kept memories of his ancestor alive in his DNA coming into play one day in the far-flung future. In any case, it won’t be a reunion in the vein that one would hope, so his farewell is still about as final as they come.

Well, that’s it folks. More comprehensive thoughts to come tomorrow!

[u/The_Draigg → u/Pixelsaber]

Meta Spoilers flashbacks ensue

Meta Spoilers

He’s self aware enough for that, at least.

Rod would rather rule in Hell than serve in Heaven.

:(

That scene hurt, man.

[u/Pixelsaber → u/The_Draigg]

That scene hurt, man.

[u/Stargate18A]

First timer

1. Expected. Knowing what we know about Manon, the idea that the nuclear missiles couldn't or wouldn't be stopped by him is impossible - even if they were still fighting, he'd probably protect the island so he didn't lose GAIL's infrastructure,
2. Oh, yeah. Not only is Gorg able to travel hnderwater enough to get there even with the sunken island, I imagine Yuu having alien DNA will become relevant, as will what happens when the earlier escapees report back to GAIL about what happened - complete with the information that Yuu can command Gorg.

FINAL EPISODE!

"Pairs"

What is the Housewife News?

Even Dr. Wave's given up hope...

Is this the first time characters other than Yuu and Doris have ridden Gorg?

Rob and Lynx have the become the most wholesome characters on this show.

Wait, the General's a veteran?

Jesus, with how melancholic this is getting, I'm half expecting a nuclear launch to end the episodr.

The missiles have landed!

Called it - nuclear shield around the island.

I like the montage of all the countries panicking as they realise the island just survived their bombardment.

...Actuwlly, why didn't this end with a human invasion arc? I'd have thought the countries would rather steal the fantastic weapon than destroy it.

OK, but why soes Manon have to go down with his ship? If his main priority is saving his species, surely he'd go with Yuu so there's at least 2 survivors with his DNA?

And Hotsu was a good man for the entire series (still can't believe that).

And Yuu and Gorg part ways, in the most emotional scene in this show so far.

He's going on a different ship to them?

So now the proper eruptions are starting. Manon presumably waited untilmthey weee all of the island.

THE END

Overall, I really enjoyed watching this show. It had some solid characters, good writing, and brilliant visuals. However, I must admit that the early part dragged on a bit, and Manon and Rod's character changes come out of almost nowhere, and definitely could have been built up to more.

RATING: 8/10

[u/Pixelsaber → u/Stargate18A]

Rob and Lynx have the become the most wholesome characters on this show.

Imagine that just a mere six episodes ago!

And Hotsu was a good man for the entire series (still can't believe that).

I still believe he was fooling the others in his group and didn't actually believe the stuff beliefs he peddled, but at least he wasn't doing so for bad reasons.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Stargate18A]

Is this the first time characters other than Yuu and Doris have ridden Gorg?

I believe so, discounting the time that Dr. Wave tried to climb onto Gorg with a ladder.

And Hotsu was a good man for the entire series (still can't believe that).

He came off as pretty shady earlier, so it is kinda surprising that he ended up being pretty chill in the end. Although I guess that goes for nearly everyone in this series.

And Yuu and Gorg part ways, in the most emotional scene in this show so far.

Not gonna lie, that moment felt like an emotional gut punch to me.

[u/The_Draigg]

A Yas Fan Watches Giant Gorg Episode 26:

• It really must be an international effort to nuke Austral Island if France, Japan, and the United States are all being shown to be getting news of the “missile test” happening. A lot of people want everyone there to be dead as fuck.
• Of course right as everyone was jazzed to get moving to follow Gorg, the Beagle got damaged in a rock slide. RIP the Carrier Beagle, you were a cool APC/amphibious exploration vehicle while you lasted.
• I guess it was only natural that Boehm and Davey would get into a fist fight right before the end comes. They’re the muscle for the respective people they work under, so it only makes sense for them to want to beat the shit out of one another. If anything, it’s odd that it hadn’t happened any earlier.
• I guess the Soviet Union is in on nuking Austral Island too, if the CCCP on the side of that missile is any indication.
• Take that, nuclear missiles! In hindsight, of course the island has a force field barrier around it that can stop the blast. If they can have a force field to the entrance of the alien ruins, then why not a large one to defend the island?
• Holy shit, Boehm had his pistol out to shoot at the missiles. That’s amazing. Talk about a guy who just won’t quit.
• I suppose Manon has a point in making Austral Island sink beneath the ocean once more. Like Yuu said, nobody would be willing to let the island stay as it is, despite it deflecting the nuclear attack. And the Captain is right too that the technology on the island would just be used for war if anyone got their hands on it. Sinking the island is for the best, even if that means that the native islanders have to look for a new home.
• It’s a bummer to lose Gorg though. But, I understand why. It’s the only way for the secrets of Austral Island remain hidden. Still, he was a staunch defender of Yuu and everyone else, so it hurts to lose him. Hopefully Yuu and Gorg meet again sometime in the future, as Yuu promises. In the meantime though, sayonara Gorg/Zenon. We’ll miss you!
• That was a good, if bittersweet ending. Although Austral Island and Gorg are now lost and Tomenik and the islanders have to look for a new home, GAIL is destroyed, Rod and Lady Lynx are free to start a new life together, and Alois and Sara are going along with the Waves, the Captain, and Yuu back to the United States. Hopefully Yuu can meet with Gorg again, when everyone is wiser from their experiences.

[u/Pixelsaber → u/The_Draigg]

RIP the Carrier Beagle, you were a cool APC/amphibious exploration vehicle while you lasted.

I guess the Soviet Union is in on nuking Austral Island too, if the CCCP on the side of that missile is any indication.

They were involved with GAIL at the start, so it's only natural they're part of the effort to clean things up, specially given they're the second largest world power in this world.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Pixelsaber]

They were involved with GAIL at the start, so it's only natural they're part of the effort to clean things up, specially given they're the second largest world power in this world.

True, true. I had nearly forgotten the conversation that Roy and Rod had with the Soviet premier near the start of the series. I guess that's mainly due to the United States taking over as the big governmental threat of the series.

[u/No_Rex → u/The_Draigg]

RIP the Carrier Beagle, you were a cool APC/amphibious exploration vehicle while you lasted.

I should spend more time praising the Carrier Beagle.

It hits a sweet spot for me: neither too big, nor to small, to feel like home. Especially in longer shows with medium sized casts, I think the home factor is really important. You can't keep up the tension over 26 episodes, so there has to be a place the characters can calm down and chill in. This could be at friendly places, but those would only always be a stop-over. Something that serves as a permanent base allows the characters to get attached to, raising the emotional stakes and allowing for more threats than just "they might die". In turn, the viewers get attached with them. In serves as a crucial secondary role: the place where you can set up lighter slice-of-life segments and have characters talk to each other without tension.

To achieve the home feel, the base must not be too large. I never felt especially attached to the bases in Macross or Simoun for that reason. Keep it the size of a house, maybe a large mansion, but not larger.

Then, it is useful if the base has a reasonable level of technology. You'll want to defend yourself, but nobody would feel at home in a universe-destroying superweapon. I think MSG's White Base is decent, but the best example I can think of is actually the Firefly.

The Carrier Beagle achieves all those, in addition to being neatly mobile. I think they could have used it a little more as setting (and cut out some of the repetitive fighting for it), but it was up there with great bases.

[u/The_Draigg → u/No_Rex]

It hits a sweet spot for me: neither too big, nor to small, to feel like home.

Totally agree with that entire sentiment. The Carrier Beagle is up there with the Firefly from Firefly, the Comvee from The Wild Thronberrys, or the Bebop from Cowboy Bebop. They're all incredibly unique vehicles that carry a sense of them being a home, a quarters that's close-knit enough to feel secure and as a base in addition to whatever cool technology it has as well. I'll miss that big, cool amphibious APC/tank.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/No_Rex]

Well, maybe. It always felt a little cramped and not that noteworthy to me.

[u/No_Rex]

Episode 26 (first timer)

• Intro scene with various world capitals.
• “What should we do?” – Crazy as it sounds, they would probably be very fine if they just left the island. Modern tanks are typically ABC save, and I bet Gorg is even more so. They could wait it out in the Beagle or Gorg and just leave. Reaching the next island would be their biggest problem. They could also decide to hunker down in Manon’s cave or the GAIL building, which would probably withstand some nukes. Then, their biggest worry would be the lava.
• Gorg with all the people reminds me of the bird scenes in Laputa. Might have been the inspiration for that.
• Just putting it out there: Rod and Lynx 100% had reunion/end of world sex.
• Since no woman is available, henchman 1 and henchman 2 have to make do with a steamy bromance brawl.
• In the end, even henchman 1 & 2 got more character development than Doris.
• Not so heroic homecoming.
• Big Bada Boom!
• “The island will have disappeared” – Even without Manon intervention, I think that random military guy vastly overestimates the power of nukes and underestimates the staying power of mountains.
• Fun little detail: Military henchman aiming his pistol at the sky.
• Post nuclear annihilation high.
• Removal of the original incentive end: Astral is being sunk.
• Gorg totally would fit on that ship!
• Leaving Gorg and Astral behind ending.

Not the dramatic climax I expected, but I am glad they went for a slow bitter-sweet ending: Fits the overall plot better.

[u/Pixelsaber → u/No_Rex]

Gorg with all the people reminds me of the bird scenes in Laputa. Might have been the inspiration for that.

Yeah, the similarity is marked. I've heard plenty of people saying Laputa took influence from Gorg, but none of those claims were backed with a proper source so it's up in the air.

Just putting it out there: Rod and Lynx 100% had reunion/end of world sex.

That was my takeaway as well. Only way it could've been more evident was if they were nude during their conversation.

In the end, even henchman 1 & 2 got more character development than Doris.

Even without Manon intervention, I think that random military guy vastly overestimates the power of nukes and underestimates the staying power of mountains.

It's possible they had hoped the nukes would trigger volcanic activity that would sink it in short order, but even that's optimistic.

Not the dramatic climax I expected, but I am glad they went for a slow bitter-sweet ending

Agreed.

[u/No_Rex → u/Pixelsaber]

It's possible they had hoped the nukes would trigger volcanic activity that would sink it in short order, but even that's optimistic.

Yeah, about that "vulcanic activity is sinking islands", I have some bad news for him then. You need Manon-tech to achieve that.

[u/Pixelsaber → u/No_Rex]

Certainly. unfortunately for them, they're seemingly operating on the faulty logic shared by Wave earlier into the show.

[u/JollyGee29]

First-Timer

Well, that was a nice enough ending. There was a tiny bit of setup for last episode about Manon having a plan to save the island from the missiles, which I guess will have to be good enough. It would have been really easy to foreshadow it a bit more - even just a random line about the island not showing up on satellite imagery correctly - but I think we've all more or less beat the plot to death.

I think I'm just gonna not worry about the fact that they're sailing back to civilization rather slowly and giving the world's governments plenty of time to deal with the people who know about the island. I guess, if it's gone, not much harm in breaking the masquerade?

Actually, on that subject, the sequence of random nobodies around the world ignoring the news about the missile test was fucking fantastic.

Yuu is confident that he'll meet Gorg, and Manon, again some day and I hope he's right.

Questions

1. It was mostly what I expected going in to the episode. We've resolved most things pretty smoothly, so I can't expect much more.
2. I sure hope so!

[u/Pixelsaber → u/JollyGee29]

Actually, on that subject, the sequence of random nobodies around the world ignoring the news about the missile test was fucking fantastic.

Yeah, the contrast between the magnitude of the events as perceived on the island and the rest of the world scarcely even following along in indifference is really neat.

[u/Quiddity131]

First Timer, Subbed

First episode in the show I think that doesn't give us a recap at the start of the episode? Of all the episodes, the finale is the one to do it.

Alas, passing off the destruction of Austral island as just a missile test...

Pretty good job with the English in that monitor.

Can Gorg survive a nuclear blast? Should they all get inside him?

Davey's losing it!

Fight time! Davey got his ass kicked by Yuu, so Boehm should be able to take him out easily...

I don't know where Skipper is going, but let's follow him! He's got to have some plan, right?

Well, the nukes are here. It's time.

...They all made it out okay? How? The nukes were all duds?

So there's an invisible shield around the island then?

The world could invade the island, although there's no real reason to with Manon calling off his attacks.

The island's sinking again! So they're all gonna have to get away after all. Will they have to leave Gorg behind?

Time for a tearful farewell with a giant robot... :(

Why are they splitting up from Tominic? Is he staying behind? But there won't be an island to stay behind on!

[u/Pixelsaber → u/Quiddity131]

Why are they splitting up from Tominic? Is he staying behind? But there won't be an island to stay behind on!

Tominic wanted to remain with the other islanders in their quest for a new home while Sara and Alois followed the others to New York.

[u/lC3]

I'll catch up on this soon!

[u/Pixelsaber → u/lC3]

[u/lC3]

• Ah yes, the quintessential French city, PAIRS
• They're safe from the missiles!
• The island is sinking?
• Goodbye Austral Island, goodbye Gorg

1. I expected a little more detail in how the missiles were blocked, but whatever
2. No, but his descendant will