Toon Zone Talkback - "Gigantor:The Collection Volume 1" Bigger Than Big, Duller Than Dull

The theme song is probably the best part of the show in either language. Poor Gigantor...he should have done what Bender did. Fight the human opressors!
 
It was kind of surreal to read about this after experiencing Tetsujin 28. I also have extremely vague memories of seeing a Gigantor show on Sci-Fi channel once, which was apparently an adaptation of a 1980-81 series.

It's interesting how things change. Seems like this was basically a formulaic crime-fighting show, whereas the most recent take is preoccupied with the WWII issues mentioned in the review. It makes me wonder if there's a similar difference between classic Black & White Astro Boy and the 2003 adaptation of the character, which had a lot of lightweight episodic adventure but also some focus on discrimination since a good chunk of people don't trust sentient robots.

I may rent this sometime just for a quick look at history. I lazily overlooked recording episodes back when Adult Swim was airing them late at night.
 
Yeah, it's certainly unforgettable:

"PYUUN tondeku Tetsujin...NIJUU-HA-CHI-GO!"

I kid, I kid, I kid. I knew which one you meant; that one is a classic too.

@GWOtaku:

It's interesting that you mention the "most recent take was preoccupied with the WWII issues". The original manga, and the Japanese version of this version originally took place just shortly after the end of WWII. When Fred Ladd adapted this show as Gigantor, he changed the setting to "the future" (forget the exact year, though). For the 1980 version, the Japanese version takes place in the present day, and is a more "modern" interpretation of "the space age robot" (as the English song calls it). However, the English version of that made it out to look like a sequel in which the "Gigantor" we see is a "faster" and "stronger" version. Meanwhile the 2004 version returned to the original version of the story as Mitsuteru Yokoyama (the original author) envisioned it.

Incidentally, I first heard the Japanese theme song on You Tube. Fun fact: before the opening begins proper, there's actually a plug for the show's original sponsor ("GURIKO, GURIKO, GU-RI-KO!"; look up "Glico" on Google or Wikipedia). In all honesty though, I kinda like the Japanese theme song better...to the point where they should have adapted that one instead of creating the timpani-driven most people are familiar with (not that it's bad mind you, I'm just saying). The Japanese one is more "superheroic" sounding, and IMO fits the show somewhat better.

Anyhow, while I'm not in a real hurry to get this DVD, it's one I certainly would like to have.
 
I'm in no big rush to own the series, either...unless the next volume features one or two of the episodes in its original Japanese-language format, theme song and all! (I kinda wondered what "Gu-ri-ko" was. I thought it was the nuraber 28 in Japanese.)

Anyway, it will be interesting to watch the 60's Gigantor cartoon and compare it to later versions, especially 2004's Tetsujin 28 remake. At least the latter is giving us the backstory which Mr. Ladd's version sorely lacked. (I don't buy "poorly animated" as the reason for only buying 52 out of 83 episodes!)
 
I thought it was pretty funny that Jimmy and Gigantor went to "Australia" to hang out with "cowboys" and shoot "Indians".

That and the fact that Jimmy, a 12-year-old boy, can drive a car and shoot guns.
 
Uh, no offense, and I don't mean to nitpick, but I already mentioned "Glico" in my previous post (although FWIW, I knew they were a candy company, but I didn't know they made pocky).
 
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