"Mazinger Z" fascinated kids when it was broadcast from 1972 to 1974. The legendary TV anime, an adaptation of the namesake manga by Go Nagai, depicted a deadly battle for justice led by a high school student against an evil scientist. The protagonist used the gigantic humanoid robot Mazinger Z in this fight, and the anime greatly influenced later works featuring robots.
Now the robot has been revived, this time in a new feature-length movie.
"Mazinger Z: Infinity" has just opened in movie theaters in Japan, showing the grown-up protagonist, Koji Kabuto, taking on a new fight for global peace with the 25-meter-tall robot. Pleasing old fans, the film features an arrangement of the original anime's theme song, which includes the catchy phrases, "Mazin!! Go!!" -- a cue to the robot to attack.
When the TV anime aired at 7 p.m. on Sundays, its viewer rating exceeded 30 percent at its peak.
"I believe my story captured the desire boys have to grow up as soon as possible and become stronger," Nagai said.
As a boy, Nagai, an Ishikawa Prefecture native, was fascinated by "Tetsuwan Atom" (Astro Boy) and "Tetsujin 28-go" (Iron man No. 28, also known as "Gigantor" in English). He made his debut in 1967 after working as an assistant for manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori.
The following year, Nagai was thrust into the spotlight after releasing "Harenchi Gakuen" (Shameless school), as it featured erotic and violent elements -- themes considered taboo for boys' manga at that time. Also known as the creator of "Cutie Honey," a story about a charming android fighter, Nagai has greatly influenced the nation's subculture scene after World War II.
Even before starting his professional career, Nagai, now 72, aimed to create a new type of a robot character different from Atom, which has feelings like human beings, or the remotely controlled Tetsujin.
The story of how he got the idea for Mazinger Z has been told over and over like a legend: One day, Nagai was looking at vehicles caught in a traffic jam, and he imagined one of the vehicles growing two legs and stepping forward, striding over the others. "A human being suddenly becomes massive, and the real world switches into a fiction in a flash. When I got this idea, I thought, 'This is it,'" Nagai recalled.
His concept of a robot character that a human being controls like a vehicle was a model for later works like the Mobile Suit Gundam and Neon Genesis Evangelion series.
Message behind setting
In "Mazinger Z," Koji fights against the Kikaiju robot troop dispatched by Dr. Hell, a scientist plotting to conquer the world. This setting undoubtedly captivated the hearts of children back then, but behind the story, Nagai had a message about how human beings should act.
The monstrous robot was created by scientist Juzo Kabuto, the protagonist's grandfather, who left it to the boy in his will. "You can become a god or a demon as long as you have Mazinger Z," he told the hero.
"From today's viewpoint, [the setting] appears to be outrageous because a high school student is given a powerful robot that can be as destructive as a nuclear weapon if it runs out of control," Nagai said. "[Juzo] definitely trusts his grandson and believes he can save the Earth."
Japan saw high economic growth in the 1960s, and at the time of the anime's broadcast, the nation was enjoying a higher standard of living while also developing various technologies. On the other hand, it was also a time when Japan began to face various issues, such as environmental destruction and the crisis of nuclear war, all of which remain serious today.
"Dream technologies can become dangerous weapons depending on who uses them," Nagai said. "I believed that human beings would have a dark future if we weren't made aware of it."
The manga artist's pessimistic view played an important role in "Devilman," which he released just before "Mazinger Z."
Devilman merges with one of the vicious creatures called "demons" to achieve great power. In the finale, almost all the characters perish in an Armageddon-like war.
"I meant 'Devilman' to be a warning against the human ego," Nagai said. "In 'Mazinger Z,' on the contrary, I put my forward-looking hope that we can face a grave situation while believing in human virtue."
"Mazinger Z: Infinity" is set 10 years after Koji restored peace with his robot. The protagonist, whose voice is provided by Showtaro Morikubo, has followed in his grandfather's footsteps to become a scientist. While he is studying a huge, ancient structure called Infinity that has been discovered deep below Mt. Fuji, Dr. Hell activates it, throwing the global community into chaos, as the structure has overwhelmingly destructive power.
Watching the film, Nagai said he was impressed with action scenes involving robots, which are created using computer-generated image technology.
"The film shows their realistic movements, which were technologically impossible in the past," the manga legend said. "Honestly, that is what I wanted to see."
It is another highlight to see how Koji and other familiar characters have grown up. For example, Sayaka Yumi (Ai Kayano), who fought with Koji by operating a female robot in the original anime, now serves as director of an energy research lab.
"Koji was mischievous when he was a boy, but he's now depicted as a shy young man who can't be proactive in his relationship with Sayaka," Nagai said. "It was surprising to discover what he's like.
"Director Junji Shimizu and people who loved 'Mazinger Z' so much have created the new film with a free, fresh spirit," he continued. "I hope both old and new fans thoroughly enjoy the fierce robot fighting."
Inspiration beyond borders
"Mazinger Z" has enthusiastic fans not only in Japan, but also around the world. In Spain, for example, the audience rating for the anime's TV broadcast has reached 70 percent. Nagai has given lectures and held autograph sessions in nearly 20 countries over more than 30 years.
Prior to Japan, the new film premiered in Italy. In June, the manga artist was invited to the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France, at which a special event was held to share the work's production process with fans.
Film director Guillermo del Toro showed up at the event venue, hugging Nagai. It is said the director so loves the "rocket punch" in "Mazinger Z" that he featured what looks like a variation of the attack method in his 2013 sci-fi film "Pacific Rim."
"He looked so happy that I wasn't able to say to him: 'You got the idea [from the killer move in my work], didn't you?'" Nagai said.
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