Gigantor / Tetsujin 28

[Fauna]

Is anyone else on this forum a fan of this giant robot series? For the uninitiated, a young boy named Jimmy Sparks/Shotaro Kaneda receives a giant robot made by his late scientist father, and with the help of a police officer and his father's colleague (Jimmy's uncle in the dub), he uses the giant robot to stop various crises. In different versions, Tetsujin is modified and given to Shotaro's son, or another one where Tetsujin is apprehended alien technology. You guys would probably like this series; it's very similar to Tezuka's style.

Tetsujin 28 was brought to America as Gigantor, and it was the second anime ever dubbed. Following that were The New Adventures of Gigantor/New Tetsujin 28 (from 1980, dubbed 1993) and Tetsujin 28 FX (1992), and a colour remake in 2004 that was closer to the original manga and set in 1955. There's also a comic from 2000 that I consider NOW! Comics Lite.

I know a few people on this forum who might be old enough to remember Gigantor, which is amazing to me (I know it's on DVD but virtually unobtainable where I live). I got into the 2004 series when I was in 9th grade, and I've been trying to make it more well-known since then.

So, anyone into this?

[Black Rabbit]

Sounds like a cool anime. Iza will looks into it.

[Fauna]

The first episode of the 2004 series is on Youtube and in english: Part One, Part Two, Part Three
Note: The odd part with the banana is an inside joke...in the manga and original anime, Shotaro uses a gun very frequently. Since the 2004 series was supposed to be a kid's show, they weren't supposed to show a ten-year-old boy with a gun, so they gave him a banana. :d oh:

And the entire dubbed series of Gigantor is on Hulu, but only available to Americans.

[Alittleacorn]

It's never struck my interest because from what I could tell it was a boy controlling a giant robot. That's why I don't like Pokemon anymore because it's just giving orders.

Although I could have a change of heart after watching this like I did Gatchaman *watches* o.o

[AprilSeven]

I watched Gigantor, as well as the other anime that appeared after Astro Boy vanished. But here's how they stacked up for me

Gigantor -- didn't "grab" me because he was remote controlled (Astro was far more advanced and "human" with his own personality)

Kimba -- Liked it but felt it was almost like "Astro Boy as an animal" -- and I didn't want a substitute for the REAL THING.

Speed Racer - Rather liked Speed Racer, but some of the characters annoyed me

Eighth Man - Probably liked the most after Astro Boy -- but mostly because he was a robot and very human.

No substitute for the real deal -- Imma Astro gurl!

[Fauna]

In the beginning, I kind of expected Gigantor/Tetsujin to have some sort of personality - like a tough, reserved fat guy - but after learning he was just a big doll, I got into the series for the human characters. Most of the character development in the 1960's series was in the first 26 episodes, but the Japanese studio advised Fred Ladd not to dub them because of the heavy wartime material.

Plus, I don't know about anyone else, but Jimmy/Shotaro has a huge Astro vibe coming off him.

And since I know I need to bring him up, my favorite character of the franchise is the spy and reporter Kenji Murasame/Dick Strong. Suave and badass (I can say that here, right?), he's the one who really kept me interested in Tetsujin. It's a shame at least one of his brothers dies horribly early on in anything he appears in...*



*And it's not even a spoiler to say this. The youngest Murasame, Tatsu, disappears by the end of the third manga chapter, and the end of the first episode.

[AprilSeven]

I think I know what you mean about Jimmy -- and once I finish getting my fill of Astro, I'm definitely going to have fun rediscovering these other programs that I unfairly rejected as a kid, just because my favorite was cancelled.

[jeffbert]

I could look in my notes, but am about to close the browser & watch a dvd, but is this the same series as JOHNNY SOKKO? I adore that one, as it was just so over-acted, at least by the villains. I have the set that includes the Ginri disc, but well, time for dvds.

[Fauna]

I could look in my notes, but am about to close the browser & watch a dvd, but is this the same series as JOHNNY SOKKO? I adore that one, as it was just so over-acted, at least by the villains. I have the set that includes the Ginri disc, but well, time for dvds.

Well, a few things I can tell you...it's not the same series, but both G/T28 and Johnny Sokko were created by the same man, Mitsuteru Yokoyama. And as well, it's also known as Giant Robo, which had a seven episode remake from 1992-1998 (and I think you mean Ginrei there) with a Star System-esque Yokoyama character throwdown. One of the G/T28 characters appears in it, along with about four more in Giant Robo's new comic edition.


...It's been two years since I got into Tetsujin, and already I'm an information dispenser for it. hmy:

[jeffbert]

Thanks, Fauna.