Giant Robo (TV series)

Did You Know?

• The American version had sound effects remixed or re-recorded in addition to dubbing.
• At least one US TV station, WXON in Detroit, ran disclaimers before each show saying, 'Remember, kids, Johnny Sokko is make-believe and the actors are just pretending.'

Characters

The Gargoyle Gang, as seen in the American adaptation of the series, is a terrorist organization that is both overly ambitious and notably inept, suffering a very high casualty rate among its members. Their uniforms are a bizarre mix of Soviet and Wehrmacht military gear, Central American guerrilla attire, and Italian designer sunglasses. Each member carries an explosive device implanted in their body, set to detonate instantly if they are ever captured. To fight their enemies, the gang unleashes a series of monsters. Dakolar (also called Dracolon) appears in episodes 1 and 11, able to swim, use tentacle-like arms, and spit sand. Globar (known as Nucleon and the Radion Globe) shows up in episodes 2 and 20, looking like a walking limpet mine. The Satan Rose (or the Gargoyle Vine) appears in episodes 3 and 17, with powers including rapid growth, constricting vine tentacles, suction flowers, and lava bombs. Lygon (Ligon-Tyrox) is seen in episodes 4 and 10, wielding a forehead horn drill, mouth flames, a wrecking ball, and the ability to swim. Gangar (the Gigantic Claw) appears in episodes 5 and 18, capable of flight, firing missiles, and using a rope. Dorogon (Dragon and Staaker) appears in episodes 6 and 21, with flight, swimming, missiles, invisibility, and the ability to consume aircraft and ocean vessels while growing or shrinking in size with a special device. Ikageras (Scalion) appears in episodes 7 and 26, swimming, generating hurricane winds, and spraying acid. Doublion (Double Head) appears in episode 8, rotating its head and emitting sticky petroleum liquid and flames from its two mouths. Sparky (Tentaclon) appears in episodes 9 and 22, levitating and using electric tentacles and rays. Unbalan (Amberon) appears in episode 12, with self-mummification, resistance to electricity, and photosynthesis. Gummons (Opticon or Opticorn) appears in episodes 13 and 26, levitating, using retractable legs, a vacuum, a searchlight, and an energy ray. Iron Power (Flying Jawbone) appears in episode 14, flying, using sharp teeth, and separating its body. Icelar (Igganog) appears in episodes 15, 24, and 26, burrowing, generating freezing winds, and having a low body temperature. GR-2 (Torozon) appears in episodes 16 and 19, using an electric head boomerang, burrowing, and firing eye lasers.

In popular culture

Frank H. Wu, who loved the show as a child, wrote about several of its episodes in his book Yellow: Race in America Beyond Black and White. Musician Buckethead named both his early band and his second album after the series, and his music includes nods to its characters and events. The punk group The Vandals released a track called "Big Bro vs. Johnny Sako" on their 1984 album When in Rome Do as The Vandals. The indie band Johnny Socko also took their name from the show. The magazine Giant Robot, which started in Southern California in 1994 and covers Asian and Asian-American pop culture, was named after the series. In the 1987 arcade game Ginga Ninkyouden, Giant Robo shows up without permission as a boss called G Robo, who gets a nosebleed when beaten. The robot appears in the background of the South Park episode "Imaginationland Episode III" and the 1991 OVA Otaku no Video. Other mecha series like Daitetsujin 17 and The Iron Giant have paid tribute to the show's well-known ending. Dav Pilkey, a big fan of the series, included a cameo of Giant Robo on page 66 of the tenth Captain Underpants book.