Goldorak

Grendizer appeared for the first time in Arab World at the 80's as a complete two-season Arabic dubbed show. It gained a huge popularity among the Arab children in the 80s, especially because dubbed cartoons are very rare at that time. Grendizer popularity in Arab World even very much exceeded Mazinger's; especially in Saudi Arabia where Mazinger has never been shown on TV.

The show is still being aired occasionally on both Space Toon and ART Teens (free-to-air Arabic satellite channels) which can be received in Middle East, parts of Africa, Europe, and Asia on the Egyptian TV satellite (Nile Sat). Also VHS tapes for the complete show (19 tapes)are being sold in Saudi Arabia.

Grendizer fans can obtain more information about the show on this website (http://www.grendizer.net).

Cult series across France, Belgium, Italy, Quebec, as well as some part of the Arabic world, like Tunisia. The show was a huge hit for children growing in the late 70s or early 80s. Adults may find it somewhat repetitive, unless they have an interest for anime and mangas. It has been designed with a target audience of 5 and 6 y.o. boys in mind.

Crappy English tranlastions can account for part of its lack of success in the English-speak world. One UK translation is supposed to be correct, more respectful of the original.

A web search should reveal more than a few fan sites. The series ran on French tv (FR2, FR3 and TVA) from 1978 to 1989.

A lot more imaginative than what most shows offer today--although its not a family show, just a children show. ;-)))

I knew it as Goldrake in my childhood in Italy and I love it above all other cartoons. Japanese animation was massive in Italy at the anime with all sorts themes from mechs like Goldrake, Gundam, Jeep Robot, Mazinga and Daitarn 3 or Captain Harlock to the weird and sinister like Bem to the sweet and romantic like Heidi and Lady Oscar. All massively popular. I would love to see a live action version of Goldrake but the japs are napping on this subject whilst Hollywood subjects us to imitations like Transformers and Pacific Rim for a perceived western audience.

There are at least two United States versions of this series. One (the superior in my opinion) was part of Jim Terry's Force Five, a show composed of five different animated series from Japan. Another is a feature-length "movie" composed of four or five of the show's pivotal episodes spliced together. The Force Five version went all the way through the original series while the "movie" only covers the first "boss villain's" introduction and defeat.

Either way you get it, Grandizer is a fun show. The hero, Duke Fleed (aka Orion Quest) is an experienced pilot right off the bat so they can skip the tedious training and such that seems to be the mainstay of most super and giant robot shows. Grandizer is also interesting in that he doesn't triumph because he is much more powerful than his foes (though he is powerful), he wins because he's *better* than they are.

Duke himself is an alien, physically superior to humans. Also, he is the reluctant hero type. However, he knows it was his fault the Vegan empire came to Earth and it's his responsibility to fight them. He only hesitates for the briefest of moments before unearthing Grandizer and heading into combat once more. His angst is there but not the alpha and omega of his character. Contrast this to shows like Evangelion, in which the characters' angst was all there was to them.

The supporting cast, including Koji Kabuto from "Mazinger Z", come off well with the exception of a midget cowboy apparently put in just to make fun of Americans. Fortunately, he doesn't do much. It's a lot of fun to see how Duke will prove himself superior to Koji from episode to episode. It's as if Go Nagai, creator of both "Grandizer" and "Mazinger Z", didn't really like Koji and wanted to humiliate him at every opportunity.

If you can find the "movie" version, pick it up. It's a lot of fun especially if you enjoy "old-school" super robots. The Force Five version is more satisfying, if you can get ahold of it. I am unaware of any subtitled in English versions of the original Japanese unless you can track down a fan sub.

To all of you Lebanese people born in the seventies or late sixties, this review goes to you. Picture this: finally being able to set a TV inside a shelter of reinforced concrete in the basement of a 7 stories building in Beirut, watching Grandizer with all the building residents while bombs are falling on that same building and carelessly enjoying it! That's me from 1981 and 1989. The duke of Fleed cares about the earth and its people , Daisky cares about the flowers and birds and yet he is so courageous and powerful and protective. Damn, who cares about real wars, the war of Grandizer to defend the earth is all that matters. A big salute to all Lebanese actors who gave their voices to the Arabic version particularly Jihad Al Atrash and the great Sami Clark. Not less than 10 for the best cartoon ever.