Ranked #715

New Getter Robo

The original Getter Robo anime and manga by Go Nagai and Ken Ishikawa were the definitive classics of the 70's. Thirty years later, the original story gets an alternate re-telling in the form of New Getter Robo. The question is, does it live up to the hefty getter name? For the most part, yes.

The story of New Getter Robo is definitely not its forte. Rather than focusing on actual storytelling, the plot mostly just seems like an excuse to pit the three violent and near-psychotic men against legions unfortunate foes. While this may put off some viewers, it does make for plenty of screen time featuring the getter team turning its enemies into bloody smears on the ground, with or without their trusty super robot. Think of New Getter Robo as a Power Rangers series that kids were never meant to watch -- if you like the monster-of-the-week feel that is light on the plotting, you should be able to enjoy what New Getter Robo offers.

The characters, on the other hand, are definitely the strength of the series. The three protagonists are simply, for the lack of a better word, badass. There is never a dull moment while watching the trio pulverize oni large and small, because you can see their love for the job when they shout those iconic phrases such as "Change Getter One!" asvthe catchy battle theme boom from your speakers. Though neither deep nor complex, Ryoma, Hayate, and Benkei are perfect for New Getter Robo, which happens to be a simple and straightforward story.

The art style featured in this series is nostalgic yet dynamic. Sketch lines are used for shading, much like older anime series', but the use of thick lines in the rendering of each scene creates a bold sensation that makes it feel larger than life. However, though that animation is crisp and clean, the amount of detail is rather low. Background art never goes beyond being functional, the frame rate never enters the realm of smooth, and the transformation sequences are either reused or omitted. Though the style and limitations of New Getter Robo's animation certainly does add to the air of nostalgia, it does put the production value of the series into question.

The amount of enjoyment derived from New Getter Robo depends strongly on personal taste. If you enjoy shows of the super robot genre such as mazingkaiser and other Go Nagai classics, or if you just want some action that is light on thinking, New Getter Robo is definitely worth a look. But if the idea of watching three grizzled men in colorful tights fighting in a giant robot only evoke thoughts of ridicule in your mind, chances are, this is not for you. read more