History YMMV / GaoGaiGar

* NightmareFuel:
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RgIU5tgCkA Penchinon]]. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLTqGkUGCzE Oh dear GOD Penchinon.]]
** Pasder himself also counts as this, due to his menacing appearance, with his red, bulbous eyes, and his grimacing mouth, as well as his deep, menacing voice, combined with how he's constantly squirming and pulsating, which even includes his eyes, give him a truly freaky and unsettling appearance.
** In episode 3, the [[spoiler:government decides]] to [[spoiler:send a full assault squad and helicopter to "retrieve"]] little Mamoru, after the kid [[spoiler:transformed and purified another monster. They have at least five guys yank the kid, thrashing and crying for his parents, off of his feet.]] All while saying that [[spoiler:they didn't want to hurt him.]]
** Also the previews for episode 31. [[spoiler: A satellite drifting quietly in space, a close-up of a small rock beside it... spooky music? And then BOOM! FULL-SCREEN PASDER, complete with evil laugh and Pagliaccio DEVOURING HIM WHOLE.]] And just to top it all off? Episode 31's title: [[spoiler:Farewell, GGG]].
** Episode 16: [[spoiler:a university festival vanishes into a fireball, with little warning, leaving nothing but a massive crater]]. What would give small children nightmares is the way the attack is presented - it's very reminiscent of Sarah Connor's dream sequence in ''Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay'' and unlike any other so far, we see the injured and the scale of the disaster, implying that people actually ''died'' this time.
** Guy's [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown BRUTAL Beatdown]] of the [[spoiler: Zounda]]. Sure, it seems awesome, but [[spoiler:when you hear Guy's anguished and enraged shouts as he destroys the beast that contains Mikoto by ripping it apart, even after [=GaoGaiGar=] starts falling apart,]] you can't help but shiver. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbytQqXwXAU Watch and Listen...]] He doesn't even resort to using any of his attacks, just shouting in rage and tearing it limb from limb. And when it comes to the core...he just rips it out, no Hell and Heaven.
** FINAL invokes this by the boatload, but special mention has to be given to episode 2 :
*** Mamoru (actually a replicant, but the color scheme and Mamoru using his powers makes it EXTREMELY hard to tell) goes and manipulates or outright kills everyone in his way to acquire Q-Parts, with blatant disregard for life or decency, pulling at heartstrings and gas-lighting his friends with lines such as "Believe me! The whole universe is in danger! Why won't you understand?", "If you won't listen to reason, [[WhyDidYouMakeMeHitYou you leave me no choice]]!", "I'm not wrong, YOU are!", while refusing to actually give any explanation, to stall for time before pulling a sucker punch. The whole thing would leave most people feeling downright nauseous.
*** And then it is revealed that Mamoru's replicant has been twisted into THAT by Palparepa's MindControl.
*** The fight between "Mamoru" in [=GaoGaiGar=] (based on a deathly white Galeon, which immediately raises a lot of questions) versus Guy in [=GaoFighGar=]. Some of the expressions Mamoru wears are downright inhumane, and Guy himself is reduced to barking orders for the Goldion Hammer (even Goldymarg is very much nonplussed at the idea of being used against Mamoru), and to finish, BerserkerTears as he finally resolves to go beyond the GodzillaThreshold and use Hell and Heaven, after seeing Mamoru destroy [=ChoRyuJin=]. That Mamoru might have been a replicant, but what Guy did in that fight was 100% on him and [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone he was clearly NOT okay at all with having had to go that far]].
*** Not to say anything of the damage to the city both super mechanoids are fighting in, which Guy lampshades as Mamoru winds up a RocketPunch.
** FINAL episode 5 :
*** We get an absolutely horrifying flashback of Renais going through ColdBloodedTorture to coerce her into loyalty to [=BioNet=]. Her backstory as a whole is this too, what with being abducted and having her mother killed.
*** Just as the good guys have a HopeSpot after freeing J and J-Ark, Palus Abel reveals what the Sol Masters have in store : the replicants of GGG super mechanoids, brainwashed and uttering the MadnessMantra of "Destroy. Destroy. Destroy.", and for good measure a BrainwashedAndCrazy Guy piloting replica-[=GaoFighGar=], who also follows the MadnessMantra before going in full ScreamingWarrior mode, prepped to use the Goldion Hammer. Not only is the OhCrap factor utterly horrifying, but this is nothing compared to Guy's face while under the MindControl, and the anguished scream of Mikoto.

*** We get an absolutely horrifying flashback of Renais going through ColdBloodedTorture to coerce her into loyalty to BioNet. Her backstory as a whole is this too.
*** Just as the good guys have a HopeSpot after freeing J and J-Ark, Palus Abel reveals what the Sol Masters have in store : the replicants of GGG super mechanoids, brainwashed and uttering the MadnessMantra of "Destroy. Destroy. Destroy.", and for good measure a BrainwashedAndCrazy Guy piloting replica-GaoFighGar, who also follows the MadnessMantra before going in full ScreamingWarrior mode, prepped to use the Goldion Hammer. Not only is the OhCrap factor utterly horrifying, but this is nothing compared to Guy's face while under the MindControl, and the anguished scream of Mikoto.

*** Mamoru (actually a replicant, but the color scheme and Mamoru using his powers makes it EXTREMELY hard to tell) goes and manipulates or outright kills everyone in his way to acquire Q-Parts, with blatant disregard for life or decency, pulling at heartstrings and gas-lighting his friends with lines such as "Believe me! The whole universe is in danger! Why won't you understand?", "If you won't listen to reason, [[WhyDidYouMakeMeHitYou you leave me no choice]]!" to stall for time before pulling a sucker punch. The whole thing would leave most people feeling downright nauseous.

*** The fight between "Mamoru" in [=GaoGaiGar=] (based on a deathly white Galeon, which immediately raises a lot of questions) versus Guy in [=GaoFighGar=]. Some of the expressions Mamoru wears are downright inhumane, and Guy himself is reduced to barking orders for the Goldion Hammer (even Goldymarg is very much nonplussed at the idea of being used against Mamoru), and to finish, BerserkerTears as he finally resolves to go beyond the GodzillaThreshold and use Hell and Heaven, after seeing Mamoru destroy ChoRyuJin. That Mamoru might have been a replicant, but what Guy did in that fight was 100% on him and [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone he was clearly NOT okay at all with having had to go that far]].

* NarrowedItDownToTheGuyIRecognise: In FINAL, Kotaro is replaced with this old bugger in the command chair, and the UN makes its move to acquire GGG's resources, which they're planned for some time. Turns out the old guy wasn't part of their plan - [[YouShallNotPass he even ends up holding the line.]]

* SequelDisplacement: ''[=GaoGaiGar=]'' is the most easily recognized of the eight ''Anime/BraveSeries'', particularly outside of Japan. All but the hardest-core Anglophone mecha fans will react with a blank stare and "Wait... there was a series?" when the ''Brave Series'' is brought up in the context of ''GGG''.[[note]]Even in Japan, it's by far the most visible of the lot and in the [=21st=] century is treated as the franchise's flagship entry; it's pretty much always front and center of ''Brave''-wide promotional material like the [=30th=] anniversary celebration, and thanks to ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' and the like, it's the entry most folks who weren't kids when the shows were airing are likely to be familiar with.[[/note]] This was all compounded by the fact that, for ages, only three other ''Brave Series'' (''Anime/TheBraveFighterOfSunFighbird'', ''Anime/TheBraveFighterOfLegendDaGarn'' and ''Anime/BravePoliceJDecker'') had been fully-subbed in a coherent way, though by 2019 much of ''Anime/TheBraveExpressMightGaine'', ''Anime/BraveExkaiser'', ''Anime/TheBraveOfGoldGoldran'', and ''Anime/BraveCommandDagwon'' and its OVA had fan-made subtitles available, and an internet meme was born based on ''Anime/TheBraveFighterOfTheSunFighbird'', giving awareness even without it entering ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars''

* SequelDisplacement: ''[=GaoGaiGar=]'' is the most easily recognized of the eight ''Anime/BraveSeries'', particularly outside of Japan. All but the hardest-core Anglophone mecha fans will react with a blank stare and "Wait... there was a series?" when the ''Brave Series'' is brought up in the context of ''GGG''.[[note]]Even in Japan, it's by far the most visible of the lot and in the [=21st=] century is treated as the franchise's flagship entry; it's pretty much always front and center of ''Brave''-wide promotional material like the [=30th=] anniversary celebration, and thanks to ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' and the like, it's the entry most folks who weren't kids when the shows were airing are likely to be familiar with.[[/note]] This was all compounded by the fact that, for ages, only three other ''Brave Series'' (''Anime/TheBraveFighterOfSunFighbird'', ''Anime/TheBraveFighterOfLegendDaGarn'' and ''Anime/BravePoliceJDecker'') had been fully-subbed in a coherent way, though by 2019 much of ''Anime/TheBraveExpressMightGaine'', ''Anime/BraveExkaiser'', ''Anime/TheBraveOfGoldGoldran'', and ''Anime/BraveCommandDagwon'' and its OVA had fan-made subtitles available.

* PeripheryDemographic: The TV series was originally aimed at kids, yet suffered poor TV ratings. Its popularity actually came from massive DVD sales to older otaku.
* SequelDisplacement: ''[=GaoGaiGar=]'' is the most easily recognized of the eight ''Anime/BraveSeries''. All but the hardest-core mecha fans will react with a blank stare and "Wait... there was a series?" when the ''Brave Series'' is brought up in the context of GGG. This is all compounded by the fact that, as of this writing, only three other ''Brave Series'' (''Anime/TheBraveFighterOfSunFighbird'', ''Anime/TheBraveFighterOfLegendDaGarn'' and ''Anime/BravePoliceJDecker'') have been fully-subbed in a coherent way.
** Somewhat alleviated as of the time of December 2018, as with the sole exception of the final 12 episodes of ''Anime/TheBraveExpressMightGaine'', the rest of the ''Brave Series'' (''Anime/BraveExkaiser'', ''Anime/TheBraveOfGoldGoldran'', and ''Anime/BraveCommandDagwon'' and its OVA) have now been completely subtitled.

* MostAnnoyingSound: Good god, Sunou's voice is like like scratching nails on a chalkboard made of screeching kittens.

* EarWorm: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocX4vWBIdvg GAGAGA GAGAGA GAOGAIGAR!]]

* SugarWiki/SuperlativeDubbing: ''Damn'' the dub is awesome. Which makes it all the more unfortunate that it was canceled halfway through, just when it was about to get good. Apparently low sales sealed the dub's fate and season 2 was released subtitled only.

** Somewhat alleviated as of the time of December 2018, as with the sole exception of the final 12 episodes of ''Anime/TheBraveExpressMightGaine'', the rest of the ''Brave Series'' (''Anime/BraveExkaiser'', ''Anime/TheBraveOfGoldGoldran'', and ''Anime/BraveCommandDagwon'' and its OVA) have now been completely subtitled. Now, if only we could find a way to make ''Might Gaine's'' [[BlindIdiotTranslation Hong Kong subs]] completely obsolete...

** King J-Der's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24G1ip05QJs Utsukushiki Tsubasa]] (Beautiful Wings of Light). Plenty of Super Robots have HotBlooded Rock themes. How many have a fricking OPERA? And sung by a legendary stage actor best known for playing Theatre/ThePhantomOfTheOpera in the Japanese production?

** King J-Der's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24G1ip05QJs Utsukushiki Tsubasa]] (Beautiful Wings of Light). Plenty of Super Robots have HotBlooded Rock themes. How many have a fricking OPERA? And sung by a legendary stage actor best known for playing [[Theatre/ThePhantomOfTheOpera]] in the Japanese production?

** King J-Der's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24G1ip05QJs Utsukushiki Tsubasa]] (Beautiful Wings of Light). Plenty of Super Robots have HotBlooded Rock themes. How many have a fricking OPERA?

* GrowingTheBeard: The first 20 or so episodes are fairly standard monster-of-the-week-beaten-with-new-GGG-gadgetry fare and reveal the show as the MerchandiseDrvien kid's show it was... but around episode 27 or so, the quality of the story, the acting, the animation, the hot blood, and the absurdity all takes a sharp uptick and the show grows ever more entertaining from there.

* GrowingTheBeard: The first 20 or so episodes are not actually that impressive and reveal the show as the kid's show it was... but around episode 27 or so, the quality of the story, the acting, the animation, the hot blood, and the absurdity all takes a sharp uptick and the show grows ever more entertaining from there.

* BrokenBase: The darker tone present in ''[[Anime/GaoGaiGarFINAL FINAL]]'' divides quite a few fans. Some view it as out of place while others welcome it and feel that it was a logical next step for the series.

* TheScrappy: Mikoto can be this to some; while she's not really all that obnoxious per se, most of what she does seems to be turning into annoying crybaby whenever Guy shows even a little bit of vulnerability. This is quite common especially in first episodes.

* TheScrappy: Mikoto can be this to some; while she's not really all that obnoxious per se, most of what she does seems to be turning into annoying crybaby whenever Guy shows even a little bit of vulnerability. This is quite common especially in first episodes.

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: Mikoto's photo album in episode 37 inexplicitly has live action photos in it, including a woman performing a [[Series/KamenRider henshin pose]] and a shiba inu. Also of note is the conspicuous also live action hand holding the page for one shot.

** In episode 3, the [[spoiler: government decides]] to [[spoiler: send a full assault squad and helicopter to "retrieve"]] little Mamoru, after the kid [[spoiler: transformed and purified another monster. They have at least five guys yank the kid, thrashing and crying for his parents, off of his feet.]] All while saying that [[spoiler: they didn't want to hurt him.]]
** Also the previews for episode 31. [[spoiler: A satellite drifting quietly in space, a close-up of a small rock beside it... spooky music? And then BOOM! FULL-SCREEN PASDER, complete with evil laugh and [[TheManBehindTheMan Pagliaccio]] DEVOURING HIM WHOLE.]] And just to top it all off? Episode 31's title: [[spoiler: Farewell, GGG]].
** Episode 16: [[spoiler: a university festival vanishes into a fireball, with little warning, leaving nothing but a massive crater]]. What would give small children nightmares is the way the attack is presented - it's very reminiscent of Sarah Connor's dream sequence in ''Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay'' and unlike any other so far, we see the injured and the scale of the disaster, implying that people actually ''died'' this time.

* GlassCannon: The 11 Sol Masters from FINAL (with the exception of Pia Decem Pit). They're able to dish out a serious beating, but they have the defense of wet cardboard, breaking apart from even medium-strength attacks. Their "infinite regeneration" is the only thing that keeps them from being curb-stomped by GGG in combat.

* HilariousInHindsight - "Made in China" stamps on Fuuryu and Rairyu toys.'

* MemeticMutation: "Symmetrical Docking" became a FanNickname for two women pressing their breasts together after a memorable ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' YonKoma gag comic.
** Seen [[http://danbooru.donmai.us/post/show/150779 here]]

* NightmareFuel: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RgIU5tgCkA Penchinon]]. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLTqGkUGCzE Oh dear GOD Penchinon.]]

* {{Padding}}: Especially prevalent in the first half of the series, the mediocre first half would have much shorter episodes if not for the constant blabbering during the battles.

* SugarWiki/SuperlativeDubbing: ''Damn'' the dub is awesome.[[note]]Which makes it all the more unfortunate that it was canceled halfway through, just when it was about to get good. Apparently low sales sealed the dub's fate and season 2 was released subtitled only.[[/note]]

** Though given her backstory, [[spoiler:it might not be suprising her being emotionally fragile about her now cyborg crush/boyfriend risking his life in battle against frightning extra-terrencial mechanoids - he's all she has left...]]
* ToyShip: Mamoru and Hana. Driven home with a big golden hammer at the end [[spoiler:when their schoolfriends present Hana to Mamoru in a wedding dress, veil and all, before he leaves.]]

** No mention of Guy's [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown BRUTAL Beatdown]] of the [[spoiler: Zounda]]? Sure, it seems awesome, but [[spoiler: when you hear Guy's anguished and enraged shouts as he destroys the beast that contains Mikoto by ripping it apart, even after [=GaoGaiGar=] starts falling apart,]] you can't help but shiver. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbytQqXwXAU Watch and Listen...]] He doesn't even resort to using any of his attacks, just shouting in rage and tearing it limb from limb. And when it comes to the core... he just rips it out, no Hell and Heaven.

* SugarWiki/SuperlativeDubbing: ''Damn'' the dub is awesome.
** Which makes it all the more unfortunate that it was canceled halfway through, just when it was about to get good. Apparently low sales sealed the dub's fate and season 2 was released subtitled only.

* SuperlativeDubbing: ''Damn'' the dub is awesome.