by In the Showa-era robot anime, the standard was for the protagonist to fight for justice, defeat the root of all evil, bring about peace, and achieve a happy ending.
However, looking back, sometimes the final episodes are not satisfying, and even in some cases, the protagonists are blatantly “terrible.” For example, in the final episode of “Mobile Suit Gundam,” Amuro miraculously survives after a deadly battle with Char at the A Baoa Qu fortress.
However, in the sequel, “Mobile Suit Z Gundam,” the protagonist, Kamille Bidan, defeats Paptimus Scirocco but ends up developing a mental illness, leaving a nasty aftertaste. For some reason, the final episodes of robot anime that leave a sour aftertaste like this are memorable. So, this time, I would like to look back on some of the Showa-era robot anime that I can’t forget, in which the main characters suffered terrible experiences.
The once-reliable hero robot is in a pitiful state.
Japan’s first “giant robot” anime was “Tetsujin 28” (broadcast in 1963) by Mitsuteru Yokoyama, but Japan’s first robot anime with a pilot was “Mazinger Z” (broadcast in 1972) by Go Nagai. The story is about high school student Koji Kabuto piloting a giant robot, “Mazinger Z,” that runs on photon power to fight against the mechanical beast army led by Dr. Hell, who is plotting world domination. The idea of Koji, a traditional hero, docking his small fighter, the “Hover Pilder,” to the head of Mazinger Z fascinated children at the time. The opposing enemy camp is also full of unique characters.
There are many enemies with innovative visuals, such as “Baron Ashura” with a woman’s right half and a man’s left half, “Count Brocken” who holds his head under his arm, and ” Grand Duke Gorgon, “a cyborg with a human upper body above the waist of a tiger. Koji, who has been fighting a tough battle against the mechanical beasts, finally defeats his nemesis Dr. Hell in episode 91, “Last Chance!! Dr. Hell’s Deadly Battle!!”.
However, in the final episode of “Mazinger Z” (episode 92), “Death Match!! Revive Our Mazinger Z”, the surviving Grand Duke Gorgon returns to his old home, the Mycenae Empire, and suggests an attack on the Photon Power Laboratory. At this time, the Photon Power Laboratory, basking in the afterglow of their victory, is completely off guard, and the damaged machines have not been repaired.
Under the orders of the ruler of Mycenae, the “Emperor of Darkness,” the Dark General dispatches two combat beasts. When Sayaka Yumi’s Diana A and the boss, Boss Borot, are in a difficult position, Koji, covered in bandages and pain, sets out in Mazinger Z. However, the rocket punch, which is synonymous with Mazinger Z, is destroyed, and the combat beasts also melt the missiles.
The wings that allowed it to fly were broken, and the “photon beam” that had defeated many mechanical beasts was ineffective. The tragic scene when the drill fired by the combat beast pierced Mazinger Z’s abdomen was too shocking. In such a desperate situation, “Great Mazinger,” piloted by Ken Tetsuya, appeared. Although it had a similar form to Mazinger Z, it defeated the combat beast with overwhelming strength. The author, a young child at the time, was astounded by Great Mazinger’s strength. In fact, “Great Mazinger” (broadcast from 1974) began broadcasting the following week as a successor to the immensely popular “Mazinger Z.”
The Dark General, who thoroughly beats Koji and his friends, becomes the enemy that Tetsuya will fight. In other words, the final episode of “Mazinger Z” was both a showcase of the characters and robots from the new program and a change in the main character. However, it was a cruel and rather shocking final episode to see the main character’s robot, which we had all been rooting for, torn to shreds and treated like a scapegoat.
