Shout Out / SSSS.GRIDMAN

General

• While the "SSSS" means something different, it matches up with the initials for Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad, the localized version of the original Gridman.
• In the opening, one of the girls in the classroom is a dead ringer for Akko, from Trigger's own Little Witch Academia. She remains a background character throughout the series.
• One of the late scenes in the opening, where Alexis Kerib opens his hand to fire on Gridman (who flips to evade the blast) is either a Tekkaman Blade reference or one for the Gaiking LOD second opening (comparison video here).
• Speaking of, Alexis Kerib himself homages a couple different things. First, his black, teal, and dark pink color scheme are based on Black Convoy, or Scourge, from Transformers: Robots in Disguise. But much more noticably, he looks like an evil robotic/digital version of Over Justice from Space Patrol Luluco and is heavily implied to be Over Justice's vampiric inner darkness, which was confirmed by his voice actor but could have been a joke.
• Sho Utsumi frequently references how things should/would play out if the kaiju attacks were happening in an Ultra Series. This is of course a call out to Gridman being a Tsubaraya series that's essentially an Ultraman in everything but name.
• In a move which has surprised fans on both sides of the Pacific, SSSS.GRIDMAN is FULL of Transformers and Go-Bots references. Many of the people working at Studio Trigger are long time Transformers fans who have contributed to the franchise both officially and unoffically, and references have popped up in a number of Gainax and Studio Trigger series. But those were blink and you'll miss it affairs (e.g. a Gunman in a Gurren Lagann crowd scene is shaped like a Decepticon symbol). In Gridman if you're a character with any kind of distinct visual style, you're probably a Transformers reference. Not only that but the references are dominated by call-outs to Shattered Glass, an obscure piece of long-running convention fiction which created a mirror universe of good Decepticons and evil Autobots. Other references include the aforementioned Go-Bots, the Movieverse, and even the toy production companies. These references make a bit more sense when one considers that the original Denkō Chōjin Gridman as actually a collaboration between Tsuburaya and Takara Tomy, the primary holder of the Transformers brand in Japan, and that the original God Zenon toy was designed as an homage to Optimus Prime.
  • Yuta takes design cues from Classics Cliffjumper, the universe hopping POV character from the first comic — His hair is styled into horns, his shoes are inspired after his toy's front bumper and his backpack is designed after the toy's jetski addon.
  • Utsumi takes design cues from Shattered Glass Sideswipe — His shirt has the same color scheme as the toy. The '8' on his shirt has the same slash as the toy's Autobot brand, and his backpack has TURBO on it, just like the toy. He also carries a pair of yellow binoculars that look just like Longview's transformed state.
  • Akane takes design cues from Shattered Glass Optimus Prime — Her color scheme is just like the toy's, the right lens on her glasses are shattered in the same way as the toy's right windshield and her headphones are closely modeled after the toy's head antennae. Even her chest is a reference, mirroring Optimus' own top-heaviness in the truck portions that make up his chest. Her real self wears white, much like Shattered Glass Optimus Prime once he was revived as Nova Prime.
  • Rikka takes her cues from Shattered Glass Megatron — her colour scheme and clothes markings corresponding with the toys layout and her backpack resembles the toy's rumbler tank accessory.
  • Anti takes his cues from Shattered Glass Rodimus — color scheme and clothes designs corresponding to the toy's layout. He also uses a buzzsaw, which Rodimus had in place of a hand as a punishment. Anti also has a mutilated body part, though it is his eye, as opposed to Rodimus's hand.
  • Rikka's friends take their cues from Shattered Glass Starscream and Soundwave — color schemes and designs, like Namiko's hairclip (a Cyber Planet Key) and tie are based on the toy and its accessories, and Hass has a white facemask and "Ravage" printed on the blanket she always carries around.
  • Appearing more prominently later on, Rikka's other two friends, Ramo Marusa and Ako Furuma, take their cues from Shattered Glass Astrotrain and Thundercracker
  • Rikka's mom's apron has G1 Megatron's torso printed on it and has a colour scheme matching a specific toy reissue. Additionally, the eye-like single earring she wears implies she's based on Rewind, given her business of collecting and passing on old junk or, given they are in cyberspace, old data.
  • Yuta's classmates include call outs to Shattered Glass Straxus, Octopunch, and Treadshot as well as Go-Bot leader Cy-Kill.
  • Samurai Calibur and the other three Assist Weapons are inspired by the Dinobots from Transformers: Age of Extinction, particularly Slug, Grimlock, Scorn, and Strafe — with the patterns on their collars matching molded details from their toys.
    • Additionally, the Assist Weapons and their attacks are named after the Samuraized Attack Vehicles from Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad and their controllers (Tank, Syd, Amp, and Lucky), with Samurai Calibur being named after the show itself ("Superhuman Samurai").
  • The series' first victim, Sakiru Tonkawa, meanwhile, is a homage to Cy-Kill from Challenge of the GoBots, right down to her name referencing both Cy-Kill's and Tonka, the company that created the Go-Bots. Her role in the story, meanwhile, is an allusion to Cy-Kill's recurring role as an "easter egg" who gets killed off in various Transformers stories.
  • The four-man college group Arcadia in Episode 4 is comprised of various versions of Jetfire: Shattered Glass, Generation 1, Generation 2, and Animated.
  • Though primarily based on her predecessor, Anosillus, the young girl from Episode 6 has a green-and-brown color scheme not dissimilar to Shattered Glass Primus himself. Her shirt is colored like G1 Wreck-Gar's chest as well.
  • Other characters are also named after toy companies: Kena stands for Kenner, Hass stands for Hasbro, Namiko is Bandai Namco, Toiko is ToyCo, Takara is Takara Tomy, and Doi Hako is ToyBox.
  • Two of the Monsters of the Week are partially based on Japanese exclusive characters Powerhug and Sensuimaru.
  • At the very end, the pass holder given to Akane from Rikka uses the G1 Autobot Matrix of Leadership as the snap. That "Megatron" gives "Optimus Prime" the Matrix is an interesting comment.
• Gridman and Sky Vitter's combined form looks and fights remarkably similar to Blue Comet SPT Layzner, having a similar paint job, a fighter jet canopy for a head and lower legs filled with thrusters and missile launchers.
• There are a lot of homages to mecha anime scattered throughout the show; see the below folders for specific examples.

Episode 1

• The story opens with the view of a ceiling, a particular shot that is very well known to Neon Genesis Evangelion fans.
• The Bland-Name Product of 7-Eleven parody, which was called "7-Two-One" is a reference to Ultraseven 21.
• Sakiru Tonkawa had her pouch modeled after Kazuki Komon's charm, which was given to Riko. Just like the latter character, we know what would her next fate be by the next episode.
• When Akane talks to Yuta, she puts her fingers in a way that resemble Alien Baltan's pincers. Incidentally, the Kaiju Metallus from Gridman is known for referencing this as well.
• In Hass' YouTube channel, one of the users comment Gridman's similarity to Lightning Attacker.
• The PC that the Gridman Alliance utilizes to summon Gridman is modeled after the very same PC utilized in the original live-action Gridman series, whereas the store carries its namesake.
• An item in the junk shop shelves is Akko's stuffed Alcor bird.

Episode 2

• The monster sculpts in Akane's glass shelves are those from Ultraman: Towards the Future, Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero, Ultraman Zearth, pilot episode of Ultraman Neos, and Ultraman Nexus.
• Throwbacks to Ultraman Orb:
  • The monster of the week attacks the city in the same way as Maga-Grand King from episode 2, including its fight with Gridman.
  • The monster opens fire on a building, causing it to almost drop on the Gridman Alliance in a similar fashion to Maga-Grand King towards the SSP.
  • The optimized Gridman appears on top of a building, not unlike Hurricane Slash's debut.
  • Gridman confronts the kaiju from the top of a building, then leaps and kicks it over, in a way that references the first episode of DanGaiOh (Comparison video here).
• With the Gridman Calibur in use, Gridman first replicates the memetic Masami Obari sword pose before delivering Grid Calibur Blade in a similar way to Fighbird's Flame Sword Charge Up from The Brave Fighter of Sun Fighbird. Fridge Brilliance if you remember that the original God Zenon from Denkō Chōjin Gridman is made by Ippei Baba from a robot toy in episode 12, which is actually a repainted Jumbo Saber, a character from The Brave Fighter of Legend Da-Garn.
• The way Gridman charges at the kaiju with the truster on his back to cut him up with Gridman Calibur is visually similar to the same way that Ryuko from Kill la Kill uses the thruster on the back of her outfit to slide-charge then slice enemies with her sword. More specifically, it is visually similar to the way Ryuko defeats Nonon.

Episode 3

• This time the monsters in Akane's shelves are Powered Dorako, Kodara, IF, Reicubas, Zogu and Grozam.
  • The one that Akane just sculpted was Sasahiller.
• Anti uses a pair of retractable claws and is presented as Gridman's counterpart, a nod to Satanbizou from the movie version of Ultraman Gaia.
• Anti's forehead, while functions in a similar way to Gridman's, is also based on the Color Timer used by the Ultramen, especially if taking account of how it also colored in cyan.
• Battle Tracto Max had its color scheme themed after the titular exploration vehicle of Dinosaur Exploration Team Born Free, an anime/tokusatsu hybrid in 1976-77 that was under Tsuburaya Productions.
• The newcomers are the Neon Genesis Junior High Group. Not exactly a subtle reference, though it also serves as foreshadowing of their ultimate goal — to convince a teenager who's closed herself off from the world to reconnect with others.
• The charge-up pose of Max Gridman is very reminiscent of the titular mecha GaoGaiGar when enacting Hell and Heaven technique.
  • Additionally keeping with the Transformers theme, the hand clasping motion is also one that resembles Optimus Prime/Convoy in the Japanese opening of Transformers: Armada.
• The shot which had Gridman lands on the ground while focusing on Anti references a fight scene in The Brave Express Might Gaine.
• Max Gridman and Anti's punching scene replicates the memetic punching scene of Masami Obari.
• At one point while seeing the inside of Akane's trash-filled room, the display cases are filled with clay models... Including many Heroes of the Storm characters, including Pajamathur, The Butcherlisk, and Zagara.

Episode 4

• While the Gridman Alliance and Neon Genesis Junior High are peeping on Rikka and Akane, they hide in a pastry shop that played the ending theme song of Ultraman R/B, "Yume Hiko". Since the singer is Suzuko Mimori and her character Namiko is in this episode, it helps.
• One of the donuts resembles Hellfire Boy of ''Inferno Cop''. Speaking of Inferno Cop, the video playing on the karaoke bar's screen is the karaoke version of Die Hollen Polezei.
• The back of Yuta's phone case has an Autobot-symbol-shaped hole for the phone's brand logo.
• The profile picture of Akane's phone is Alien Reguran, which gets mistaken for Alien Baltan.
• The elevator scene, which had Akane rapidly pressing the "close" button is seen as a throwback to the same scene with Asuka and Rei (Comparison video here).
• The boys of Arcadia are based on the real-life Youtuber group Toukai On Air. Their group name as well as their individual names are taken from toy companies that produce Macross figures. Doubling down on them, each one is designed after an alternate version of the Transformer Jetfire (Generations 1 and 2, Animated and of course Shattered Glass), whose original figure was an imported Super Valkyrie figure from Macross.
• Wooser made his cameo appearance in Yamato's video.
• Since former Kaiju designer of Ultra Series, Hiroshi Maruyama returns, this episode's monster resembles a cross between Twin Tail, Litomalus and Pedoleon.
  • Its modus operandi pretty much resembles that of Kutuura.
• As Gridman stands up next to the building where Rikka and Calibur are standing, it's a direct call out to a similar scene in ''Metal Armor Dragonar".
• The final blow to the Kaiju was Super Inazuma Kick!.

Episode 5

• Yuta's T-shirt has the initials C.J., calling out his connection to Cliffjumper.
• The pair of vans that collect the students are designed to match the original alt mode of Generation 1 Ironhide.
• The payphone and phone book are designed after a similar phone in Neon Genesis Evangelion. even the framing is alike. (Comparison video here).

Episode 6

• Anti, Max and Calibur all wield weapons modelled after those used by their transformers counterparts (Rodimus' saw, Grimlock's mace and Slug's swords).
  • Additionally, Borr's dagger is modelled after Skorn's swords, and Vit's weapon is modelled after a sword that Slug uses. They're only shown in the opening, however.
• The magazine Sho is reading is the real life Uchusen, a trimonthly hobby magazine which features information on tokusatsu shows. The front cover features Hunter Knight Tsurugi, Techtor Gear Zero and Andro Melos, which makes it doubly funny if you know the background of this anime's production.^note Akira Amemiya first approached Tsuburaya and proposed to them to make an Ultraman anime. Tsuburaya told him Ultraman characters are basically off-limits, but he can use Gridman and Andro Melos. Guess which one he chose.
  • The back cover in fact has pictures of OxT and Maaya Uchida, both of which sing the opening and ending themes of this anime respectively.
• The music store is playing a piano version of "Die Hollen Polizei", the ending theme to Inferno Cop.
• The kaiju-girl that Yuuta meets is inspired heavily by Anosilus, a kaiju from the original Gridman series. The symbol on her shirt is worn by a character in the same episode as her original debut. Also, her namesake was noted for being a peaceful kaiju that, much like how the new Anosilus hadn't been made by Akane, wasn't made by Gridman's Takeshi Todo.
• When Anosilus and Yuuta speak, a piano rendition of "Yume no Hero" (the original Gridman OP, known colloquially as "Baby Dan Dan") plays.
• Akane's backpack has the words "Till All Are Gone", Transformers: Shattered Glass' Optimus Prime's catchphrase, printed on the side.
• The notebook Rikka looks at has the Autobot Matrix as a decoration.
• Starbows Coffee is named after the SF parody Star Bows, while its logo is a stylized version of the helmets the show's Clone Trooper spoofs wear.
• The toys Utsumi and his young relatives play with are Sky Musketty and Zaigorg from Ultraman X.
• Utsumi and Akane talk about Red King and references the monster's appearances in

Ultraman 80, Ultraman Powered and Ultra Zero Fight.

• The store Utsumi and Akane meet in is monitored by a Cat's Eye-brand security camera. While it may seem like a nod to the anime/manga Cat's Eye, it's actually a throwback to the security company featured in Episode 12 of Gridman.

Episode 8

• Full-powered Gridman's punch is a reference to Tekkaman Blade slugging his evil brother in the face (Comparison videohere).

Episode 9

• The store that Utsumi and Akane go to is called Sevendarake, a clear parody to the Japanese used book and goods store Mandarake, and a reference to Ultraseven, complete with the latter's Eye Slugger present in the logo.
  • Also something of note while on the topic of references - the "Man" in Mandarake? In the original series, Ultraman was often addressed as just "Man".

Episode 10

• Utsumi wrote “God's in his heaven, All's right with the world”^note an excerpt of the Pippa Passes by Robert Browning, the slogan of NERV, in English on a piece of paper while studying for exams.
• Akane's stabbing of Yuta is framed exactly like the scene in Transformers: Shattered Glass when SG!Optimus kills SG!Hot Rod in exactly the same fashion.

Episode 11

• When the crew stands around in the hospital, a nurse can be heard calling for a "Yuichirou Kanesue". That's a character from Kinpachi-sensei, whose actor went on to play Koji Doigaki, a major character from Ultraman Cosmos.

Episode 12

• Anti launching as Gridknight is in the Gainax Pose.
• Gridman's finishing punch to Alexis Kerib's face is done up just like the final punch in Ninja Slayer.
• The scene of Rikka, Sho and Yuta convincing Akane to give the real world a chance is framed as an homage to the scene◊ from the finale of Ultraseven where Dan reveals his identity.
• Rikka's gift to Akane of a passholder uses the Autobot Matrix of Leadership as the snap.
• In the final live action scene there is a poster for Promare on the wall in the back.
• Japanese fans believe that the actress portraying the live action Akane Shinjo is Akane Sakanoue, Asuna Yamase from Ultraman X. However, this has been disproven; as it's found out that Coco Nitta is the actress, based on the official music video for the opening theme (just look at the credits) as well as Ms. Nitta's Instagram account.