Mazinkaiser: Shitou! Ankoku Dai Shogun

Almost exactly the opposite of the mazinkaiser Ova series
This final addition to the Mazinkaiser franchise has the much needed depth in drama, and gore, that the Mazinkaiser Ova lacked

I feel so bad having to post-pone this amazing movie thinking that it was just the same as the series, but boy have I wronged myself

Right off the bat you are greeted and spoiled with scenes you cannot imagine being incorporated into the Mazinger universe

As a long childhood fan, I loved this addition to the series, I could feel it expanded the audience's taste while at the same time maintaining that classic lustrous feel that all the ... mazinger fans came to apprecaite and love

Ps: Do watch the series before the movie, that way you don't miss out on some of the events :)

Almost the opposite of the other Mazinkaiser OVA series (not SKL) this one could have been very good as a longer series and by adding truer darker events in it's plot line allowed itself to build the shallow characters in ways the original OVA series didn't.

That said, I can't recommend this as a stand alone since when I watched this I thought this was the conclusion to the OVA series and not a separate series which is why I had a high enjoyment of this so much because of the way it seems to be saving the Mazinkaiser OVA series in general.

The premise, action and ... events were so good (for a Super Robot lover) that despite the poor boss battle scene at the end, I rate the story a 10 but that last battle scene is still something that needs to be watched out.

I can't speak for all Super Robot fans but I think most of us have been desensitized by the crappiness of an end battle because we're so used to seeing classic Super Robots killing off their opponents eventually so if you're not used to do this the story could even sink down to a one just because of the ending.

Everything else though is so gripping and suspenseful which is rare for a Super Robot series and despite the predictability it can be forgivable because of the destruction and premise that surrounds this series compared to the OVA before this. This is simply one of those series that you need to have bundled with that longer OVA series or else the whole Mazinkaiser series doesn't feel as epic as it is.

Still, this is a 7 mainly because there are better "epic" Super Robot plots out there but seeing as I haven't even read most of them, it's hard to really gauge how subpar or exciting this is but general fans of Super Robot shows won't be hurting themselves from watching this show to the end as long as they don't get too hyped up around the prospect of Mazinkaiser having an OVA (which if you watched the OVA series before this will already tone down any excitement you may originally have for Mazinkaiser)

It's September 6th, and that means it's Go Nagai's birthday. Following the success of the Mazinkaiser OVA, this movie was produced to give the Mazinger franchise a proper climax until Shin Mazinger would be released six years later to reboot it. Taking inspiration from the Great General of Darkness plot of the Mazinger Z TV series, said villain launches a worldwide attack with the Mikene army. National landmarks are destroyed and multiple Mazinger characters die as they fail to combat the enemy army. Most of the movie is Kouji and Sayaka trying desperately to get back to Mazinkaiser as many people sacrifice themselves to ensure ... he gets there safely.

This is drastically different in tone from most Mazinger works. Though Mazinkaiser did get more serious in its finale, it never got as violent. In this movie, in addition to several long-time characters dying, many people are literally decapitated with blood galore. It feels similar to a recent Getter Robo anime in that respect, even with certain frames as they're filled with thick outlines and sharp, sketchy movement like some of Getter Robo Armageddon. It seems like it could'v been a direct inspiration. Anyway, if you want to see apocalyptic Mazinger this is about the closest you'll get, though I don't think it transcends the Mazinkaiser OVA. That one felt interesting as a modern Mazinger update in the spirit of the original TV series. Whereas Shin Mazinger was much more of a drama, Mazinkaiser still placed a large emphasis on (effectively funny) humor and a light tone that escalated properly during the finale. The Mazinkaiser movie storms right out of the gate with violence and plot, but that's all it is: an over-the-top fireworks show. The final battle with the Great General of Darkness is even a letdown, being extremely short and simple for how long it took to get to it. If you view this as an extension of the Mazinkaiser OVA it's easier to justify it, but as a stand-alone work it has less charm and diversity. JAM Project's music is great besides the opening song which is a rip-off of Europe's "The Final Countdown" even to the point of including the song's title during the chorus. This a must-watch for Mazinger fans anyway, especially now that it's properly subbed.