UFO Robo Grendizer (1975–1977) User Reviews (12)

Got A Lot Of Arabian Viewers Like Me Into Anime

[bbally81 · 7/10 · 21 January 2009]

One of my all time favourites! It was between the late 70's or the early 80's. A special cartoon show from Japan came out of nowhere and quickly won the hearts of Arab children everywhere, that show was UFO Robot Grendizer.

From the mind of Mazinger Z, Cutey Honey, Getter Robo and Devilman creator Go Nagai, comes a story that chronicles the tale of Duke Fleed, a young alien prince from a now destroyed alien planet who lands on planet Earth and landed in Mount Fuji, Japan. Wounded, he was rescued by Dr. Umon of The Space Science Lab.

Taking up the name Daisuke Umon, he began working in a ranch near the Lab helping out Hikaru Makiba an ordinary girl who helps out in Shirakaba farm with her UFO obsessed father Danbi Makiba and her little brother Goro. Duke Freed wanted to live a peaceful life, but when he realised that the Vegans, the same alien force that conquered his home planet have selected Earth as their next target, he is forced to use Grendizer, a robot built on planet Freed and which helped escape from his home planet to fight against the Vegan invasion. He isn't alone in his battle, joining him is Mazinger Z's Kouji Kabuto who unfortunately doesn't use Mazinger in this show, Hikaru joins in the fight and near the end he is joined by his long lost sister Maria Freed.

If you're expecting this to be another campy Go Nagai super robot show, well prepare to be surprised, this 72 episode anime made in 1975 has a lot of great drama, wonderful character development and beautiful music score especially the ones used to give the perfect atmosphere for a tragic scene which occurs a lot in the show. One of the many reasons why Grendizer became such an enormous hit in Arabic speaking countries was because it was the first "Serious" cartoon Arabs have ever seen and something different to other cartoons that were shown at that time like Disney, Looney Toons, Popeye and Tom & Jerry.

UFO Robot Grendizer could be seen as an Anti-War cartoon as it shows the horrors of wars (Not as shocking as Gundam shows or Ideon)as Duke Fleed hates war, fighting, and destruction.

Mazinger Z and Mazinkaiser fans would be disappointed that Kouji isn't using Mazinger Z in his battle but he is still an important character, him and Daisuke started on the wrong foot but then became a reliable friend and has helped out Daisuke/Duke when he needed help. Hikaru started out as a usual damsel in distress type of role but with more character but then she becomes a member of the team and gets her own ship and is quite the fighter. Maria, Duke's lost sister appears in the later half of the show then developed feelings for Kouji and was also hinted that he became attracted to her as well. This become a running gag in many Super Robot Wars games as well in the Dynamic Heroes e-click manga that Maria and main female Mazinger Z character and Diana A pilot Sayaka Yumi are rivals for Kouji's attention.

The other characters are great Umon and his crew at the centre serve as the men behind the gadgets as well as Umon plays something as a father figure to Daisuke. Hikaru's father Danbi serves as a great comic relief of the show, who started from UFO freak to a caring father who would do anything to save his family while still being the comic relief.

The Vegan empire had a lot of great villains like Lord Vega who is your usual Galactic dictator, but not all of them are pure evil, some do it because of their loyalty to their empire like General Zuril, while were forced to fight believing that Grendizer was an evil threat to their planet like in the episode when Vegan assigned a group of young Vegans mostly children who were trained to be fight and who were learnt to believe from Vega that Grendizer was an evil force bent on destroying the Galaxy. While did because they were either brainwashed or doing it to save their planets from an Vegan attack.

Although not as popular in Japan as Go Nagai's other Super Robot classics Mazinger Z, Great Mazinger and Getter Robo, Grendizer is often credited as one of the major contributors to popularising Anime in Central Europe (particularly in France and Italy) where it was called Goldrake. I hear it also holds a strong following in the Quebec part of Canada, Russia and Malta. 26 episodes of the anime were shown on American TV as part of the multi-mecha show Force Five. However, it wasn't a big success in the US.

With all the remakes of Go Nagai works that came out recently, I've been waiting forever for a Grendizer remake. Well, I guess the original anime is satisfying enough.

This anime is a MUST SEE for Mecha, anime and cartoon fans.

Great show that teaches morals, ethics and toughness unlike today's soft cartoons.

[marc5477 · 9/10 · 25 July 2014]

I grew up watching this anime in Arabic and I can still watch it today. Please note that the English dubbed version of this anime is horrible and I would claim it is unwatchable. It was so bad that the translations were canceled after about 8 episodes (out of 72) I believe. If you want to see this anime, get the original Japanese with English subtitles and avoid the dubbed version like the plague.

I really believe that this cartoon helped shape my personality somewhat because it introduced me to the idea of heroes in a clear and direct way. Daisuki is a clean cut hero similar to Superman in the Western world, except in a giant robot. He always did good and never wavered which I believe is a good lesson to teach kids. Unlike Supes however, Daisuki had to get his hands dirty and there was a lot of killing in this show. The deaths usually happen during battle with the bad guys getting blown up. There is nothing overly gross or graphic so don't worry about questionable content however bad guys do die in this show as do some not so bad guys. I don't know about you, but I hate how western cartoons have degenerated to be politically correct. They end up breeding soft kids who are easy prey for bullies and whatnot. I don't think there is anything politically correct about avoiding human violence to a minimal degree and if anything it is good to show how a hero should behave in the face of wrong. Note that I am about as liberal a person as you will find and I think that this show is perfect for kids. People are too quick to forget that nations are founded by those who fight, not those who get run over or run away. The world already has too many underachieving ninny whiners and I am tired of it. Its important to have courage and not be passive in the face of evil people so you can bet your petuty that my kids will be watching this anime as they get older.

Grendizer is a lot better than many modern anime and cartoons but its old. This was made in the 70's so you cannot expect modern quality animation. The show is also a bit repetitive but so are many other TV shows, cartoons and anime so I don't didn't knock it down too much for that. I really do wish that this anime is remade to modern technology and with deeper script but for now, this gets the job done.

An outstanding mecha

[rainforevermore · 9/10 · 28 December 2023]

The 3rd of Go Nagai's mecha, Grendizer carries over much of what made Mazinger Z and Great Mazinger successful, but manages to freshen things up. Even though Kabuto Koji is present, it feels a lot more like a standalone series.

The art and the animation are much cleaner than the previous entries in the catalog, often closer to the more polished OVAs. The sound design is also vastly superior.

The silly and often annoying comic relief element is not as omnipresent as it was in Great Mazinger, where Boss is often the focus of attention for much of the episode. In fact, thankfully enough, Boss is only featured in a handful of episodes. Grendizer's own cast of silly characters such as Danbei and Banta is somewhat easier to ignore for the most part. And thankfully, there are no such absurdities as taking crows either.

Even if it's made for kids, the tone is more serious, with romantic and even tragic elements, and the characters have a lot more depth.

And this is reinforced by the extraordinary music of Shunsuke Kikuchi, one of the great Japanese composers of the late 20th century. The score is full of pathos and remarkably dynamic, often reminiscent of Ennio Morricone. The music alone gives much more depth to the series than what you find in Mazinger Z and Great Mazinger.

Of course, the series has its share of fillers but overall it is very enjoyable.

I would recommend watching it in Japanese if you do have that option, as the progression of the series makes more sense. The translated versions can sometimes feel as though they were done in batches of a few episodes, without any real notion of the overarching plot. That being said, I grew up watching it in French, and I can attest that they did a fantastic job with that version, despite some issues. I assume that the same goes for the Arabic and Italian versions, seeing how beloved this series remains in France, Quebec, Italy and some Arab countries almost 50 years later.

One of the First Arabic Dubbed Shows

[ibbl · 10/10 · 20 October 2004]

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).

Grandizer and the Lebanese war in the seventies and eighties

[tony-farah · 10/10 · 3 September 2016]

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.

Great childhood memories

[lefrelonvert · 30 March 2006]

OK, the animation may be stiff and the characters cardboard, but this show carries great memories for thousands of people around the world. Mildly successful in Japan, "Grendizer" aka "Goldorak" or "Goldrake" was one of the first Japanese cartoons to achieve such great success and retain a cult following for such a long time. Even today, the struggle of the hero Actarus (aka Duke Fleed) against the evil hordes of "Great Strateguerre" Vega give me shivers down my spine! BTW, among the corny aspects of the show, which add to its appeal : why the heck does Vega keep sending his giant robots ONE BY ONE (gettings their asses kicked by Grendizer episode after episode) instead of sending them all in one big assault? Beats me. Talk about a lousy galactic overlord! Seeing a Grendizer episode is like a fountain of youth to me ! I just can't get enough of its cheesy charm!

The best series of my childhood

[paolois · 10/10 · 4 July 2019]

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.

LA PIU' GRANDE AVVENTURA DI UFO ROBOT: GOLDRAKE ALL' ATTACCO {Feature-Length Version Of Japanese TV Series UFO ROBO GRENDIZER} (Go Nagai, 1979) **1/2

[Bunuel1976 · 6/10 · 4 August 2007]

Note: This review also concerns the following "Goldrake" feature films - GOLDRAKE L'INVINCIBILE, GOLDRAKE ADDIO! and MAZINGA VS. GOLDRAKE.

I grew up watching the original series – and a handful of similar anime – on Italian TV; consequently, re-acquainting myself with it on DVD via an Italian 5-Disc Set proved extremely nostalgic...but, at the same time, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it generally held up after all these years!

Admittedly, I'm averse to today's children's programmes – from what little crosses my path while TV zapping, the style of animation itself has largely gone to the dogs: even if the "Goldrake" series dates from the mid-1970s, the detail is incredible – with beautiful colors, imaginative settings and an action-packed narrative. The four films (compiled expressly for Italian consumption where Goldrake was, at the time, a phenomenon) package together a number of episodes, so that they feature a battle (designating the climax of each programme) every 20 minutes or so. Characterization is not exactly one-note, but certainly clearly-defined (especially the villains); it was also interesting to note the changes made to characters, robots, vehicles and settings throughout the films which in the series was, obviously, done more gradually. The comic relief is the most dated and childish aspect about it, though this is thankfully downplayed in the last 2 films.

The third film is the longest and best – with the villains more engrossed in doing in one another, and which includes scenes that never made it into the series as originally broadcast on Italian TV! The fourth, then, was exhibited in the widescreen format: it brings together a plethora of robots/mutants (Devilman, Mazinga Z, Mazinger, Getta Robot) and villains – but results in being extremely muddled in development (and disjointed in effect) by trying to cram too much in a mere 75 minutes! Other DVDs of these type of animated series – such as Mazinga Z and Mazinger (the latter being a continuation of the former, and both among my personal favorites) – are available for rental and I'd love to check them out eventually...

nice one

[chera_khalid · 7/10 · 23 September 2023]

"UFO Robo: Gurendaizâ" is a nostalgic anime gem that combines sci-fi adventure and mecha action with a delightful sense of wonder. The voice acting brings the diverse characters to life, making their struggles and triumphs all the more relatable. The film editing maintains a steady pace throughout the series, keeping the excitement levels high. The music complements the epic battles and emotional moments, adding depth to the storytelling. The show's strength lies in its ability to explore themes of teamwork, sacrifice, and the enduring spirit of humanity in the face of extraterrestrial threats. While the cinematography may not be groundbreaking, it effectively captures the grandeur of the mecha battles. With a 7/10 rating, "UFO Robo: Gurendaizâ" is a classic anime that continues to captivate with its blend of action, heart, and a touch of intergalactic mystery, making it a beloved choice for fans of old-school mecha adventures.

A fun series

[whamontree · 18 November 2001]

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.

Cult series through 70s and 80s

[bebebert · 27 July 1999]

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. ;-)))

Goldorak

[Jason-173 · 29 April 2000]

This bland robot show (which aired as 'Goldorak' as I remember it) lacked the amorality, female nudity and blood splattering violence of 'Albator, le corsair de l'espace'(another children's cartoon on French tv in Canada at the time) -- thus it was less interesting to young boys in my grade.

Interestingly, the Quebec courts passed a law in 1999 forbidding parents from naming their child 'Goldorak.' I'm not making this up.