Grendizer U (alternatively called Goldorak U and Goldrake U in other countries) is a 2024 Humongous Mecha anime series. It is a reimagining of the classic 1975 anime UFO Robo Grendizer.
Daisuke Umon is the adopted son of Professor Genzou Umon, living a peaceful life on Earth. However, when the dictatorial Vegan Empire arrives on Earth, seeking to take it over to replace their own lost world, Daisuke learns the truth about his life - he's actually the alien prince Duke Fleed, having crash-landed on Earth and lost his memories. His memories returned, Duke Fleed now fights to save his adopted home from the forces of evil with his giant robot, the mighty Grendizer. Together with Koji Kabuto and his castle of black iron, Mazinger Z, the Vegan Empire doesn't stand a chance!
The series is directed by Mitsuo Fukuda and written by Ichiro Okouchi, animated by Gaina. The cast includes Miyu Irino as Daisuke Umon/Duke Fleed, Hiro Shimono as Koji Kabuto, Sumire Uesaka as Sayaka Yumi, Nao Tōyama as Hikaru Makiba and Minami Tanaka as Maria Grace Fleed.
This series contains examples of:
- Adaptational Badass: In the original Grendizer, Koji was stuck behind either the TFO or the many Spazers. This time, Koji enters the battlefield with the Mazinger Z itself!
- Adaptation Deviation:
- According to the introduction section of the official site, Koji picked up Duke in the desert, with the latter taking up the name Daisuke afterwards. In the original 70’s anime, Koji and Duke first met at a ranch after Duke had already started going by Daisuke.
- Genzo Umon’s character profile states that he works at the Photon Power Laboratory as Professor Yumi’s Number Two, being the latter’s kohai. The source material had Genzo work as the head of the Space Science Laboratory with no stated relationship with Professor Yumi.
- Adaptational Dye-Job: In every other incarnation, Sayaka is shown to be a brunette. In this series, since Hikaru and Maria Grace are also brunettes, Sayaka gets purple hair.
- Adaptational Expansion:
- In the original Grendizer, Koji was the only character from the original Mazinger series to show up with Boss having a few guest appearances and Great Mazinger only showing up in a movie. This time, Koji is joined by Sayaka, her father Professor Yumi and the Mazinger Z itself.
- Teronna, a character from Uchuu Enban Daisensou who served as the basis for Grendizer’s Rubina, was integrated into this story as the latter's older twin sister.
- The first trailer features a new silver robot with a striking resemblance to Grendizer.
- Truer to the Text: The Mazinger Z shown here is much closer to its manga incarnation, lankier, more curves, golden joints and a silver Hover Pilder.
- You Don't Look Like You: The official site shows that some characters have strikingly different designs from their original counterparts:
- Between her darker skin tone, different style of clothes, and new hairstyle, this version of Hikaru is unrecognizable from her appearance in the original Grendizer.
- In their respective source material, Teronna was a blonde, while Rubina was a redhead with a more pale skin tone. Here, their designs were switched.
