On March 4, 1978, around 3:30 p.m., as every Saturday, several million Spanish children stood in front of the television to watch an animated series. Released last week Naughty Michael. Success and crying gone Marco from the Apennines to the AndesAnd TVE was looking for something different this time. And boy did he find it. Suddenly, a pool appeared on the screen at that time, from which a giant robot emerged. “Mazinger,” a booming, high-pitched voice shouted, then “Glider down.” Although many homes still have black and white televisions, the luckiest have been able to see it in colour. These images are accompanied by catchy music and “Terror, evil, Koji can control and with it the robot Mazinger!” Added smug voice of a singer who says The children’s eyes widened, aware that they were facing something completely new. They were captivated during that first episode, gaping, snatching a new species for them. a story and some characters that introduced them to the genre science fiction.
Quickly, many of these children took to the streets to play football, hats, rubbers or marbles, the traditions of that time and today in the big cities have almost disappeared and are inevitably the subject of conversation. Mazinger Z: “Have you seen the robot? To Doctor Hell? Koji? Unbelievable.” A few weeks later, they would recite the words to the show’s opening song. It didn’t take long for albums of stickers, donuts, comics, toys, and all kinds of stuff to come out. by the giant robot’s claim. The success was as sudden as it was overwhelming.
Adult Crusade
In almost parallel, several thousand adults reacted instantly with disbelief at what came out of television and what this new cartoon series brought. It had nothing to do with kindness. heidi. not even with the naughty ones Pippi Stockings. Explosions, missiles, fights, destruction… Mazinger Z faced evil forces ready to dominate humanity, causing disasters and victims when necessary. A crusade was launched from the very beginning against a series that captivated children and adolescents in record time. A large number of articles were written in the Letters to the Editor section of the newspapers, and all kinds of analyzes were published, examining the series from psychological, sociological and pedagogical perspectives. Messages of alarm were also sent to those in charge of TVE at the time, faced with a difficult balancing act in the middle of the transition and now complicated by a children’s drama. It was more than a generation gap. The pressure was so great that the public agency decided to give up and park the emissions. to the disgust and disbelief of children before they complete the broadcast of the parts whose rights have been taken.
Despite the ephemeral nature of the show on television, the novelty it represents Mazinger ZToday, collectibles, whose significance, influence, and influence are still hidden in thousands (or those about to be) fifty years old and whose hero is a robot, are sold for gold today. The trace it left 45 years after the first episode aired is indelible. Many consider it the most shocking series of his childhood. And some even from their lives.
A robot born in 1972
It all started in 1972. Japanese screenwriter and cartoonist gonagai (Wajima, 1945), a loose and irreducible string of the Japanese animated series, conceived Mazinger Z that year. The first manga appeared in the magazine Shonen Jump On October 2, and only two months later, the Fuji TV network began airing the series. Six years later the drawings reached Spain, thus becoming the first European country to spread them. TVE bought 33 of the 92 existing episodes. The same choice was not a decision of the Spanish public channel, but was made by Japanese producer Toei. This was intended to sell only the episodes it deemed to be of higher quality. Between March 4 and September 9, 1978, 27 of these episodes aired.
The story of Mazinger Z began on the island of Rhodes in the Dodecanese. There, Dr. A group of scientists under the command of Infierno conducted an archaeological investigation when they found the remains of some giant automatons from an ancient civilization. Doctor Hell secretly revived them and presented them to his team of scientists, informing him that he would use these robots for world domination. When the scientists refused to follow his plan, Hell destroyed them. He just managed to escape at the cost of his life. Doctor Kabuto, who took refuge in Japan, where he created Mazinger using his own invented superalloy Z and photon energy from the Japanium reactor, a mineral only found in a hidden deposit in Japan.
But Baron Ashler, a half-male, half-female character sent by Doctor Hell, found Kabuto and took his life, although he had previously managed to reveal the existence of his robotic creation to his scientist grandson Koji and entrusted him with the responsibility. “Pilot” and face the forces of evil to save humanity.
Mazinger’s Weapons
Mazinger Z thus became the first manned giant robot. And from then on, with Koji in control, the giant, Dr. He would have to face the evil mechanical creatures sent by Hell. Hiding in a hangar under a swimming pool, the robot had a wide variety of powers and weapons. Photonic laser beams were emanating from his eyes; hurricane winds with abrasive particles from its chin; a fire erupted from the red fins in their pectorals, which could reach up to 30,000 ºC; he could swing his fists to hit his opponents; and was capable of launching penetrating missiles and even knives that cut through iron like butter. Later, late in the series, Mazinger would get wings attached to him to allow him to soar through the air and face hostile robots, as well as move and go faster to where they need him.
Mazinger’s name comes from the Japanese root “Ma” meaning “demon” and “jin”, which is equivalent to “god”. Finally, the syllable ‘ger’ (recovered from the name) occur originally thought to be called a robot) and Z (corresponding to the superalloy from which it was produced). In this way, Mazinger could be considered an element who sought favor but had to use force and destruction to finish off their opponents. Koji Kabuto controlled Mazinger from a glider attached to the robot’s head. In the conflicts it waged against its enemies, the cities were razed to the ground, and the chaos and destruction became almost permanent.
cult figure
Today, the Mazinger Z figure lives in thousands of articles on the Internet. tradeThe original products from the 70s, which give their names to bars, cafes and even companies, are the desire and target of thousands of collectors and nostalgia enthusiasts. In Más de Plata urbanization, A statue of a robot about ten meters high was erected in the Tarragona town of Cabra del Camp in 1979. It is the largest that still exists in the world today. More recently, in 2021, a family from Granada grew another large Mazinger figure (7 meters high) in their garden. The latter is a reflection of the persistence of the fascination the fictional figure aroused in children who are adults today, unable to forget not only the robot but also the characters of the series: Koji, Sayaka, Shiro Kabuto, Professor Yumi, Count Brocken and the evil automatons (kikaijus) Garada K-7, Grengus C3, Balager M1…
In just a few months, the series Mazinger Z it could forever remain embedded in the memory of those boys and girls. When asked about the validity of his invention a few years ago, Go Nagai replied, “I wouldn’t change a comma; Mazinger belongs to children’s dreams.”