Gigantor: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 09:36, 13 September 2020

Revision as of 21:47, 8 January 2021

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{{nihongo|'''''Gigantor'''''|鉄人28号|Tetsujin Nijūhachi-gō|lit. "Iron Man No. 28"|lead=yes}} is a 1963 [[anime]] adaptation of ''[[Tetsujin 28-go]]'', a [[manga]] by [[Mitsuteru Yokoyama]] released in 1956. It debuted on US television in 1964. As with ''[[Speed Racer]]'', the characters' original names were altered and the original series' violence was toned down for American viewers.<ref name=cd>CD liner notes: ''Saturday Mornings: Cartoons' Greatest Hits'', 1995 MCA Records</ref> The dub was created by [[Fred Ladd]] distributed in the US by [[Peter Rodgers Organization]].

A new series was produced in Japan in 1980 and was later shown as ''[[The New Adventures of Gigantor]]'', on the [[Syfy|Sci Fi Channel]] from 1993 to 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/gigantor/201660 |title=Gigantor TV Show: News, Videos, Full Episodes and More |publisher=TV Guide |access-date= |accessdate=April 8, 2020}}</ref>

== Plot ==

The series is set in the year 2000. The show follows the exploits of little Jimmy Sparks, a 12-year-old boy who controls Gigantor, a huge flying robot, with a remote control.<ref name=Woolery>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Children's Television: The First Thirty-Five Years, 1946–1981 |date=1983 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-1557-5 |url=https://archive.org/details/childrenstelevis0000wool/page/120/mode/2up |accessdateaccess-date=March 14, 2020 |page=121}}</ref> The robot is made of steel and has a rocket-powered backpack for flight, a pointy nose, eyes that never move and incredible strength, but no intelligence (although he started to tap his head as if trying to think in one episode). Whoever has the remote control controls Gigantor.

Originally developed as a weapon by Jimmy's father, Gigantor was later reprogrammed to act as a guardian of peace. Jimmy Sparks lives with his uncle, Dr. Bob Brilliant, on a remote island. Jimmy usually wears shorts and a jacket, carries a [[firearm]] and occasionally drives a car. Together, Jimmy and Gigantor battle crime around the world and clash with the many villains who are always trying to steal or undermine the giant robot.

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An American-made ''Gigantor'' comic book series was released in 2000 by [[Antarctic Press]]. The comic lasted for 12 issues and was later collected in 2005 in [[Trade paperback (comics)|trade paperback]] form. The comic used elements from the anime ''[[Giant Robo (OVA)|Giant Robo]]'' as well as [[Marvel Comics]] references, though the later issues became closer to the original animation.

The creators of Gigantor have unveiled plans for another updated design, a "Gigantor for the New Millennium." This newest form of the giant robot is called '''G3''' and differs from past designs. The new Gigantor is a meld of [[robot]] and [[cyborg]]. According to the main site: "Driven by a complex neuro-system of DNA-impregnated neurochips, Gigantor G3 is a living Cybot!".<ref>{{cite web|title=Gigantor G3|url=http://www.gigantor.com|work=Author Unknown|publisher=Fred Ladd's Official Gigantor and more...|accessdateaccess-date=May 27, 2012|author=Chuck Scholt|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030205212849/http://www.gigantor.org/next.html|archivedatearchive-date=February 5, 2003|year=2001|quote=Driven by a complex neuro-system, Gigantor G3 is a roborg!}}</ref>

== Theme song and miscellany ==

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* In the film ''[[Speed (1994 film)|Speed]]'', a man on the bus refers to another man on the bus as "Gigantor".

* [[Styles of Beyond]] sampled the original theme song for the hidden track "Gigantor" from the album ''[[Megadef]]''.

* The series was parodied as ''Torboto'' in a 2007 ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' ''[[TV Funhouse]]'' sketch.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxqapxhOvjg |title=TV Funhouse: Torboto – SNL |publisher=YouTube |date=September 2, 2013|accessdateaccess-date=April 8, 2020}}</ref>

==See also==