Comments on: A Terrible Darkness

By: Mazinonymous

Mazinonymous — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:03:51 +0000

The original TV show is just 92 episodes of monster of the week, really. No real story or much else going on.

By: Brack

Brack — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:39:22 +0000

Given Imagawa’s oft-stated love of the film, it’s possible that the gothic themes in Shin Mazinger are coming via The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Certainly the themes of RHPS gel a lot better with Go Nagai’s work than they did with Yokoyama’s work in his adaptation of Giant Robo.

By: Cuchlann

Cuchlann — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 02:46:49 +0000

Oh. I imagined the manga being an epic, years-long affair that was too intimidating to start anytime soon. I might read it then, though I guess I’ll wait until SMZ is finished.

The older show, on the other hand, meets my expectations nicely… O_o

By: Mazinonymous

Mazinonymous — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 01:14:56 +0000

I’ve only read the first two volumes of the original (5 volume) manga. The basic story seems to be the same (Dr. Hell and Juuzo discover the mechanical beasts, Juuzo builds his grandson Mazinger Z and Kouji uses it to fight Dr. Hell and his minions), and a few scenes are lifted directly from the manga. But otherwise, it’s very different. The biggest addition are Tsubasa and her followers, they’re brand new characters in this show. Juuzo sticks around a lot longer, whereas in the manga he dies as soon as Kouji gets the robot. The manga is really about Kouji, Sayaka and Boss, and has much more mecha fighting.

As for Lorelei, I haven’t seen her (yet), but I know that her and her father were in one (about 90) episodes of the original TV show.

By: Cuchlann

Cuchlann — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:31:34 +0000

I actually just posted something on 13. You’re right, they went all out. I’ve been wondering how much of this stuff is in the source material and how much is new for this iteration of the show.

By: Mazinonymous

Mazinonymous — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:16:38 +0000

Great post! I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the thought put into Shin Mazinger, at least based on my previous experiences with super robot shows.

Also, I don’t know if you’ve seen episodes 13 and 14 yet, but they’ve really gone all out with the Gothic aesthetic with the Schtroheim family.

By: ghostlightning

ghostlightning — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 06:05:29 +0000

I recommend the manga, though the anime is quite digestible viewing — it works even as a mere study of mood and atmosphere. The manga however, will give you a lot of atmosphere too, and a whole lot of characterization. At 11 scanlated volumes it’s not a tough read at all. I recommend getting touch with Owen about it.

I haven’t read Monster but I can swear by 44 of the 74 episodes I’ve seen of the anime. It really is top-class stuff. As for the SF Classics being intimidating, I don’t blame you. Gundam is easier to penetrate but is so freaking large a franchise to take on. LotGH however, is frightening at 110 episodes but once you’ve started it’s quite easy to finish in 4-6 episode marathons.

By: Cuchlann

Cuchlann — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:51:50 +0000

I’ve resisted Monster for a while. If I ever do take it up, OGT will likely pump his fist in manly triumph, and he will not know why (until I tell him about it, or twitter it or something). I may poke around the other stuff soon, as well. I’m meaning to include some anime/manga in my dissertation, but don’t have a lot of ideas yet. It’s part of the impetus behind my drive to catch up on some anime SF classics. I’ve always wanted to, but they’re intimidating; now I have an excuse.

Your Shigurui posts have intrigued me. Should I start with the anime or the manga?

By: ghostlightning

ghostlightning — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 03:26:31 +0000

Good stuff! I find it a bit difficult to relate anime into literary traditions, but this is my problem. It's merely a reflexive resistance to meaning making. In any case, I'm convinced. If there's any anime that fits gothic literature the way you've presented it, it's got to be this particular edition of Mazinger. You may want to explore Urasawa Naoki's manga works. It would seem Monster and 20th Century Boys would fit the bill. Also perhaps Tezuka Osamu's Black Jack, though Tetsuwan Atom is a push, but Pluto (Urasawa's take on Atom) may be. Also, Shigurui.