GaoGaiGar discussion thread.

[Go-chin]

Since discussion of fansubs aren't allowed here, I'll try not to go into that.
In any case, the final episode has been released of this long series. After YEARS of waiting. (It was released about 1 episode every month or 2, with 49 episodes total.)

Back to the point.

I believe the final episode of this show to be possibly the greatest episode of anything I have EVER seen in my life. And no, I'm not exaggerating.

GaoGaiGar is the most hot-blooded show I have ever seen, and definitely a must-see for EVERYONE.

Hopefully once the licensing rights get cleared up we'll see R1 DVDs in the future, because this will be one show that I will most definitely put in my collection.

GaoGaiGar TV series gets a 10/10.

[LordByronius]

The "licensing issues" would be the toy rights belonging to both Takara (Hasbro, right?) and Bandai, two very bitter rivals, if I remember the situation correctly.

I still consider the chance of this show getting released in the US as nil. Still, it's a lotta fun.

[Conan-san]

I'm sorta milling though GaoGaiGar just now and I've got to ep 28 or so, (The "Destruction of Tokyo" arc) and even there it's absloutly great.
Each one of the Mecha King's Deaths were absouly fantastic, from Volfog's Sacrifice right up to the purifaction of the pipe smoker guy I can't rember the name of.

Episode 49 is one of the greater anime moments indeed and I loved how every last point was cleared up and how they resoved.
Poor Hana, only 10 and she's already Chi-Chi ;p

But the series is great, truely the last of the great hot blooded robot anime. (Gunbuster 2 doesn't count as it sucks imho).

[PowerZord]

I only seen 4 eps of this anime, if it ever gets dubbed, they could market it as a darker voltron. But the chances of this show ever gettin dubbed, are around 1,0000-1

[Conan-san]

Which is a bloddy shame becuase It could work with Animaze, realy.

[Beat]

In a perfect world, GaoGaiGar would be on Toonami while Gravion's rights would be in total dissaray.

Unfortunately, such is not the case. Hasbro and Bandai won't stop fighting until it's too old to effecitvely licesne.

[D.Shaffer]

So...how's the OAV series stand up? And anything more on the rumors of a new season/show?

[Batmex]

I got very interested in this series thanks my good friend Beatdigga, it's a shame that two companies stupid rivalry it's keeping what it seems an anime of high quality, both plot and production wise:sad:

[Conan-san]

In a perfect world, GaoGaiGar would be on Toonami while Yu Gi Oh's rights would be in total dissaray.
Fixed for poetic justice.

[Batmex]

Fixed for poetic justice.
Nice Nice:sweat:

Can't a third company like ADV or Geneon get the rights? Saint Seiya was a Bandai and Toei product and ADV got it.

[Beat]

Fixed for poetic justice. Now I want someone to draw Guy beating the living crap out of Yugi...:evil:

In any case, GaoGaiGar was definetely a throwback to the era of old super-robot action, while having enough twists and turns to be a thourghly modern piece. The first 10 episodes of the show started out as average, but as the series progressed, it got better, more hot-blooded, and more fun. Episode 49 was the roaring end to all of this, with a combination of a brutal battle and even some heartfelt moments. The ending fight reminded me exactly why I liked anime so much, cheering on the main hero.

It also proves once and for all that it's more fun to cheer for the hero than wanting to slap him for being such a wuss.

[Batmex]

It also proves once and for all that it's more fun to cheer for the hero than wanting to slap him for being such a wuss.
*Cough Cough* Shinji Ikari from Evangelion:p

That sounds like good old Koji Kabuto(Mazinger Z) or Ryoma Nagare(Getter Robo):cool:

[Dark Fact]

Can't Hasbro and Takara just take their little feud to the supreme court and let THEM decide who gets the rights?

Oh, and GaoGaiGar has the strangest but most catchiest theme song ever. :D

GAGAGAOGAGAGAGAOGAIGAR!
GAGAGAOGAGAGAGAOGAIGAR!!!! :cool:

[Conan-san]

Now I want someone to draw Guy beating the living crap out of Yugi...:evil: Now now, it's unslightly for a hot blooded anime hero to beat the crap out of a kid.

Mamoru on the otherhand could beat the snot out of Yugi.

[JohnCrichton]

So...how's the OAV series stand up? And anything more on the rumors of a new season/show?
GaoGaiGar Final was definately up there as one of the greatest things I'd ever seen.

Here are a few words I had to say about it. (http://www.japanhero.com/super%20robot%20reviews/gaogaigar_final.htm)

I'll definatley be trying to track down the series, I never got to finish that. How's the series compared to the OVA?

[Conan-san]

Another thing of note was the music direction, especaly when leting music run over through the Eye Catch and also the use of Scilence thoughout.

That was brilliant imho.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

GaoGaiGar (and Giant Robo, for that matter) were always what kids' serial shows SHOULD be. High drama, neat-looking toys (for merchandising), cool action and nailbiter cliffhangers on a regular basis. None of this quiet, subtlety crap (although GaoGaiGar is more subtle in its grandeur than many other shows presuming themselves to be "subtle").

[Batmex]

GaoGaiGar (and Giant Robo, for that matter) were always what kids' serial shows SHOULD be. High drama, neat-looking toys (for merchandising), cool action and nailbiter cliffhangers on a regular basis. None of this quiet, subtlety crap (although GaoGaiGar is more subtle in its grandeur than many other shows presuming themselves to be "subtle").
I agree, this series seems to have what most recent shows lack, that spark of creativity and action and drama.:gir:

[Conan-san]

Ok, 31 Primval Arc...

Ok, While other shows have had their giant robots complely wrecked to high hell, only GaoGaiGar has the balls to bring the pilot to near death as a result.

Oh, and have HQ blown up aswell with the apprent death of all the robots and personel, plus the pilot's main squeeze.

Plus we finaly get to see that stupid bishonen kid was upto.

Stupid Kaido.

Oh, and Pizza lives on, in spirt anyway, yay for that.

I also fell that Mamoru, the obglitory link between the show and the viewers at home (or the childrens anyway) was well handed in this series. I meen, they actauly made him useful, unlike Chris and the Transfromer Kids (minus Kicker but he was a whiney litte Sod)

[Sprocket]

The "licensing issues" would be the toy rights belonging to both Takara (Hasbro, right?) and Bandai, two very bitter rivals, if I remember the situation correctly.

I still consider the chance of this show getting released in the US as nil. Still, it's a lotta fun.
Well, Sunrise pretty much seems content to license all anime to Bandai Entertainment, hence the licensing of Betterman, the loosely connected spin off. They'd probably license GaoGaiGar to them too, if it wasn't for the fact that Bandai would probably want the merchandising rights too, and Takara isn't going to deal with anyone on that except Hasbro, given their relationship goes back to the late '60's, when Hasbro sold them GI Joe, leading to a symbiotic relationship (Joe begat Henshin Cyborg, which begat Microman, which begat the concept for the 80's Joes and Transformers) between both companies that has lasted for decades.

Shame, but what can you do.

Not only that, I'm pretty sure hand-drawn anime is frowned upon these days here in the US.

[Conan-san]

Well, Sunrise pretty much seems content to license all anime to Bandai Entertainment, hence the licensing of Betterman, the loosely connected spin off. They'd probably license GaoGaiGar to them too, if it wasn't for the fact that Bandai would probably want the merchandising rights too, and Takara isn't going to deal with anyone on that except Hasbro, given their relationship goes back to the late '60's, when Hasbro sold them GI Joe, leading to a symbiotic relationship (Joe begat Henshin Cyborg, which begat Microman, which begat the concept for the 80's Joes and Transformers) between both companies that has lasted for decades.

Shame, but what can you do.

Not only that, I'm pretty sure hand-drawn anime is frowned upon these days here in the US. These days, anything that isn't Tit and Ass is frowned apon these days in the US.

[Sprocket]

That's more Japan's fault than ours these days. Moe ka, maid, and cute girl anime (aimed at fanboys) has become FAR too popular over there these days.

[Conan-san]

That's more Japan's fault than ours these days. Moe ka, maid, and cute girl anime (aimed at fanboys) has become FAR too popular over there these days. Now, hold on, that's not exactly true. Black Jack has been doing exceptionaly well over there.

[Beat]

That's more Japan's fault than ours these days. Moe ka, maid, and cute girl anime (aimed at fanboys) has become FAR too popular over there these days.
Case in point, GaoGaiGar's evil fanservice doppleganger Gravion.

The show's going to be licensed eventually. Whether one year from now or 30 like Gatchaman remains to be seen.

[Go-chin]

Case in point, GaoGaiGar's evil fanservice doppleganger Gravion.

The show's going to be licensed eventually. Whether one year from now or 30 like Gatchaman remains to be seen.
Not really related, but Godannar has about 4 times as much fanservice as Gravion does, and the same character designer for GaoGaiGar was the one who did Godannar.

[Beat]

Not really related, but Godannar has about 4 times as much fanservice as Gravion does, and the same character designer for GaoGaiGar was the one who did Godannar.
Yeah, but Godannar had better action and direction, so the fanservice complimented (Hell, I want Godannar on CN) instead of hindered.

[D.Shaffer]

I have to give GGG credit for not having much fan service. But Swan White was one big exception. Says a lot about Japanese stereotypes of the US.

Did Mamoru's GF show up in the OAV?

[Conan-san]

I have to give GGG credit for not having much fan service. But Swan White was one big exception. Says a lot about Japanese stereotypes of the US. What? Between being a damsel in destress that unlocks Mic Sounders 13th's System Change or the over the top wnglish (Uh, you know, the japanese equivilant of otaku trying to speak japanese, ********?)?

Woulda never gussed :p

Bah, they got a few fanservice shots of Mikoto in there too, and that's fine.

Realy loved this shot though, I love semi live action shots.
http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/3962/snapshot200508051704152xf.jpg

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

That's more Japan's fault than ours these days. Moe ka, maid, and cute girl anime (aimed at fanboys) has become FAR too popular over there these days.
It's catching on too much here as well. Whenever I say, "Who wants some more hard, kick ass science fiction shows?" I get crickets chirping and then a huge stampede to the harem section of anime.

[Beat]

It's catching on too much here as well. Whenever I say, "Who wants some more hard, kick ass science fiction shows?" I get crickets chirping and then a huge stampede to the harem section of anime. That could be attributed to the audience being targeted. I'll stop there.

I think that's also why so many of the early internet reviews of GaoGaiGar were so horribly negative. No angsty whiny teens? No psychobabble? No harem hunting after the hero? EVIL! [/sarcasm]

[Conan-san]

That could be attributed to the audience being targeted. I'll stop there.

I think that's also why so many of the early internet reviews of GaoGaiGar were so horribly negative. No angsty whiny teens? No psychobabble? No harem hunting after the hero? EVIL! [/sarcasm] Indeed. However, They make up for it in some fashion with Episode 45 (to some degree, Kaiudo was being a whiny sod) and
the prof's death, that was a punch in the face for me.

GGG is not afraid to walk in some areas that might be taboo in other "Toy" shows and it shows it at times. (One could argue that for the whole time with Gai's desin ;p)

[GWOtaku]

I'd just like to say that I've only seen a very little bit of GaoGaiGar (including the final episode), and I can already tell that it kicks the living crap out of that ridiculous Godannar (weird plot, characters "dying" only to come back for no reason, fanservice every two minutes, come on). Its all cheesy as hell, but as the genre goes what I've seen of GGG makes it look like Cowboy BeBop compared to what else I've been exposed to that are classified as giant robot shows. So yeah...anyway consider that an endorsement of GGG.

And the announcer explaining how awesome GaoGaiGar is every time its combined is priceless. I mean: All hail our King of Braves! Fight! Never give up! Rwar! All your base belong to our mech! Etc etc.

[Conan-san]

I'd just like to say that I've only seen a very little bit of GaoGaiGar (including the final episode), and I can already tell that it kicks the living crap out of that ridiculous Godannar (weird plot, characters "dying" only to come back for no reason, fanservice every two minutes, come on). Its all cheesy as hell, but as the genre goes what I've seen of GGG makes it look like Cowboy BeBop compared to what else I've been exposed to that are classified as giant robot shows. So yeah...anyway consider that an endorsement of GGG.

And the announcer explaining how awesome GaoGaiGar is every time its combined is priceless. I mean: All hail our King of Braves! Fight! Never give up! Rwar! All your base belong to our mech! Etc etc. Ironicly, I thought the subbers diliberalty panted them purple so it would sorta blend in with the scene and not be a bother.

Yeah, GGG is the cowboy bebop of the Super Robot genere.

In more ways than one, GGG just predates CB and as far as I can call, is the first to use CGI.

[Sprocket]

I should warn everyone right now, GaoGaiGar Final piles on the fan service to the point where you can't help but look at it and say, "Oh, that's just tacky." Trust me, I think when you watch episode 4, you'll agree.

[Conan-san]

I should warn everyone right now, GaoGaiGar Final piles on the fan service to the point where you can't help but look at it and say, "Oh, that's just tacky." Trust me, I think when you watch episode 4, you'll agree. As long as it's not Hanna-chan, it's all good. (Though, mind you, she's jsut about the only young girl I recall having a backside shot in a tv anime, not that I condone it by any meens of course.)