# Mazinger Z (1972)

> A young pilot climbs into a giant robot built by his grandfather-figure scientist to defend Japan against monstrous invaders from Dr. Hell's mechanical empire.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/17790

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 92
- Episode runtime: 30 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: animation, action, science fiction
- Created by: Go Nagai
- Network: Fuji TV
- Cast: Joji Yanami, Minori Matsushima, Hiroya Ishimaru, Haruko Kitahama, Hidekatsu Shibata, Hiroshi Otake, Kosei Tomita, Isamu Tanonaka
- TMDB rating: 7.8/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0169473/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: moderate
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: mild
- Tone: earnest, heroic, breathless, retro, playful

## What critics say

Viewers broadly regard Mazinger Z as a landmark super robot series, rated positively by its audience for its giant robot battles and Go Nagai's bold mecha concepts.

## Synopsis

Mazinger Z (1972-1974) is a Japanese anime television series created by Go Nagai for Fuji TV, produced by Toei Animation and adapted from his manga. It follows teenager Kouji Kabuto, voiced in the original Japanese cast by Hiroya Ishimaru, who pilots Mazinger Z, a giant super robot designed by his grandfather-figure scientist Professor Gennosuke Yumi (Joji Yanami) and supported by Sayaka Yumi (Minori Matsushima). Their engine is a simple but enduring one: a robot built to defend the world must repeatedly rise against the monstrous machines and schemes of Dr. Hell (Kosei Tomita) and the rival Baron Ashura. Each episode is built around a weekly clash of spectacular robot battles, transforming launches and escalating showdowns that define the classic shonen tradition. Across 92 episodes in one season, the tone stays bold, earnest and heroic, with a retro sense of wonder and cartoon spectacle. Set in an invented near-present Japan, it is a foundational super robot series, a precursor that fans of UFO Robot Grendizer, Mobile Suit Gundam and Voltes V will find resonance with, and a cornerstone of the giant robot genre.

## Shows like Mazinger Z

- [Steel Jeeg (1975)](https://ember.film/tv/8484)
- [Gurren Lagann (2007)](https://ember.film/tv/20022)
- [Mazinger Edition Z: The Impact! (2009)](https://ember.film/tv/33333)
- [SSSS.DYNAZENON (2021)](https://ember.film/tv/81398)
- [Great Mazinger (1974)](https://ember.film/tv/8481)
- [Mobile Cop Jiban (1989)](https://ember.film/tv/499)
- [Astro Boy (1963)](https://ember.film/tv/10070)
- [Godzilla Singular Point (2021)](https://ember.film/tv/92742)
- [Giant Robo (1967)](https://ember.film/tv/4754)
- [UFO Robot Grendizer (1975)](https://ember.film/tv/41931)

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