After much anticipation of the eventual first episode premiere on July 5th, Grendizer U’s first episode released to much acclaim in Japan and in Arabian regions such as Saudi Arabia. With a task such as reinventing Grendizer for the new generation, does the first episode do a good job at introducing old and new fans to the character? Note: this review may contain mild spoilers for not only the episode, but the manga and the Toei anime as well (which may as well be plot points that will appear later)
The first major point of interest when watching the show is that the animation is pretty impressive off the bat, a great use of color and framing to show Duke Fleed’s descent onto Earth (for reasons that will be brought up later) as he enters the atmosphere in a fiery blaze and crashes into the dunes of Saudi Arabia to which Sayaka is introduced tracking down the crash site and discovering Duke unconscious in the craft. Sayaka feels off the bat very spunky, something that I feel is a breath of fresh air from the Toei portrayals of her which honestly don’t ever rub too hot with me. This also applies to Kouji Kabuto who makes his grand reintroduction in his very energetic, veteran hero fashion after saving the planet not too long ago prior to the events of the show.
The remnants of the Hell Army reappear which is lovely to see, mind you, and I am glad they are using them to set up the difference in power between what is left of the previous war before the oncoming threat of the Vega Empire. I think what this episode excels at is showing how big of a threat Vega will be when Hell Army can be done away with relative ease at the current power level of Sayaka, Koji Kabuto and Mazinger Z, which the series changes to him being a direct pilot of Mazinger rather than of the TFO (Terrestrial Flying Object). I welcome this change, I think it is necessary for this to be done to show the difference between Mazinger and Grendizer in terms of power, while also showing that even someone as experienced as Kouji Kabuto will struggle against the Vega Empire and that Mazinger is not up to snuff compared to them.
A big noticeable departure in the story is that, compared to the original manga, this feels a lot more upbeat and hopeful when Grendizer is attributed to its darker, less optimistic tones. Initially I was skeptical, but as the episode went along I realized that this approach is exactly what this show needs. In a way, Fukuda Mitsuo and co are turning the series into this almost Robot Romance type of storytelling akin to say, Toshio Daimos. The sequence of Duke (Daisuke) tending and befriending a horse that shows rather punk-like attitudes towards Kouji is very cute and not much like what we typically think of the series as, but it feels very perfect for the type of show this is to have those moments to keep things from feeling extremely drab. Daisuke, Kouji, and Sayaka make for a great trio, in a cute sense it’s like Kouji and Sayaka essentially inducted him into their little throuple and they treat him as their adorable boyfriend they picked up from a hitchhike. But I digress, it’s fun when the episode goes along we feel how much Daisuke has learned to trust and care for these two in a way that fills this void he (at the current time) has forgotten due to amnesia.
Flashing forward to seeing Koji on the motorway racing in a motorbike race was super fun to watch, lots of good animation here n there and reactions from crowds, Sayaka, and Daisuke before Daisuke is offered to trade places with Koji and takes the wheel of the race when deaths start flying left and right on the track as Daisuke drives which drives flashbacks from Daisuke to his life as Duke. This culminates in the arrival of an unknown enemy that forces Koji to fly out in Mazinger while Daisuke and Sayaka watch as he departs. Memories begin triggering of the destruction of Fleed, Daisuke remembers now clear as day what had happened in his past and why he was here on Earth, and explains it to Sayaka subtly before departing out to the crash site he was found at for some unfinished business. Koji catches wind from Sayaka and follows behind, learning from Daisuke about his past and that his purpose for coming to Earth was to be rid of the machine that he came to this planet on: Grendizer.
I really do love how these sequences are executed. Koji and Sayaka are really kind and patient with Duke as he remembers and reveals more about himself and don’t automatically build suspicion nor hostility towards him and still care about him despite all this heavy history he has that we see through flashbacks of his life on Fleed with his lover, his family, and the inevitable destruction of the planet. I feel the original anime had kind of fumbled a lot of these sequences and the only media I can think of that better executed an adaptation of these characters and their stories was in the SRW games.
Unfortunately, further explanation to Koji from Duke is interrupted by an eruption of chaos that this episode does a superb job at showcasing the stakes of the attack by Vega and Sayaka handling the evacuation of the nearby area of attack well, she doesn’t fall on her face pathetically or puppy eye Koji while she orderly evacuates them or anything like that. I also find it incredibly bittersweet that the moment Mazinger lands to the scene that the civilians start cheering Mazinger Z and Koji on, like this is incredibly cute especially since the episode primarily takes place in an Arabian region and the Grendizer/Mazinger IP is incredibly important to the people in the region.
Koji does his best against the strange new enemy that attacked the city, the Vega monster is handling Mazinger without much of a showcase of damage on it while Koji takes a real beating from it. Koji ultimately resorting to a suicide tactic of leaping onto it in Mazinger at getting it at the neck with a finisher beautifully shows how much of a threat they are at the level present, and then when the audience sees the bigger, more threatening enemies show up shortly after and job Mazinger incredibly easily is so incredibly well done.
This is exactly how you do it, you wanna show the threat of the new enemy and having even the lower level grunts be incredibly hard for Mazinger to keep up with shows how important Grendizer and Duke are to combating them. Duke ultimately taking up arms knowing he has to save his friends and the people from experiencing his pain in this moment are extremely cheer-worthy, as he calls upon Grendizer and enters the mecha to take on the Vega Empire himself. And WOW the visuals of this scene paired with the superb voice acting and music as Grendi completely annihilates them with relative ease kicks total ass. This is how you introduce Grendizer, it feels like an EVENT that is worth throwing your arms up and cheering for.
An incredible ending song, Protect You by J-METAL girl group BAND-MAID, provides the icing on the cake of what was an epic first episode to this show. Coupled with the post-ED stinger of his friends Teronna and Rubina being still alive provides interesting setup to future drama that many Grendizer fans are quite familiar with!
Overall, this premier episode was excellent. Sure, it could be animated a little bit better, and it does really breeze through major points of the first few chapters and episodes of the show, but it isn’t to its detriment as much as it is to the total benefit. Our central cast of protagonists feel correct, and it provided a total shock to feel like Grendizer is in safe hands with this team of creatives who love and respect what is important about the series and its themes. Can’t wait to talk about the next few episodes, there is a LOT to unpack in those that leave me brimming with excitement.
