Shin Getter Robo

The inaugural Getter Robo anime and manga, crafted by the ingenious Go Nagai and Ken Ishikawa, indisputably reigned as the quintessential masterpieces of the 1970s. Three decades subsequent to their debut, this foundational narrative receives an alternative rendition through the advent of New Getter Robo. The pertinent inquiry arises: does this reimagining uphold the formidable legacy of the Getter moniker? Predominantly, the response is affirmative.

The narrative framework of New Getter Robo scarcely constitutes its most compelling attribute. Eschewing a meticulous emphasis on intricate storytelling, the storyline predominantly serves as a rudimentary pretext to unleash three ferocious and borderline maniacal protagonists upon a multitude of hapless ... adversaries. Although this approach might repel certain spectators, it undeniably allocates ample screen duration to the Getter ensemble, who gleefully reduce their opponents to gory splatters across the terrain—occasionally employing their reliable super robot, and at times without its aid. Envision New Getter Robo as a rendition of Power Rangers explicitly contraindicated for juvenile audiences; should you relish the episodic "monster-of-the-week" ambiance with minimal narrative depth, this series promises to deliver gratifying entertainment.

Conversely, the characters unequivocally emerge as the bedrock of the series’ allure. The triumvirate of leading figures can be succinctly described—lacking a more apt descriptor—as supremely formidable. Monotony finds no foothold as viewers witness this trio relentlessly decimate oni of varying magnitudes, their fervor for combat palpably radiating through exuberant declarations like "Change Getter One!" accompanied by the resonant strains of an infectious battle anthem reverberating from your audio system. While devoid of profound complexity or intricate depth, Ryoma, Hayate, and Benkei embody the ideal archetypes for New Getter Robo’s unabashedly straightforward and unembellished tale.

The aesthetic presentation within this series evokes a nostalgic resonance while simultaneously exuding vigorous dynamism. Shading techniques employ sketch-like lines reminiscent of vintage anime productions, yet the incorporation of bold, thick contours in delineating each frame engenders a striking impression that amplifies the grandeur beyond mere realism. Nevertheless, despite the animation’s pristine and polished execution, its intricacy remains somewhat sparse. Background visuals seldom transcend utilitarian simplicity, the frame rate rarely ascends to seamless fluidity, and transformation sequences oscillate between repetitive recycling and outright omission. Although these stylistic choices and inherent constraints undeniably enhance the nostalgic aura enveloping New Getter Robo, they concurrently cast a shadow of doubt upon the overall production caliber of the series.

The degree of satisfaction gleaned from engaging with New Getter Robo hinges profoundly upon individual predilections. Should you harbor an affinity for the super robot genre—exemplified by titles such as Mazinkaiser and assorted Go Nagai opuses—or if you merely crave action-oriented fare that demands scant intellectual exertion, New Getter Robo unequivocally merits your consideration for a viewing endeavor.

Unlike Chag, I believe the enjoyment of this series comes not from the preference of Super Robot animes (come on, this is way way better plot-wise than most of the classic TV shows - you don't just diss and rate a show against it's genre) but rather more on how much you know and love the Getter Robo series.

As a person who only sporadically saw Getter Robo and never read the manga especially it's version of Shin Getter Robo (which I've heard was way better), what makes this OVA stand out was that it actually implemented many of the elements from Gunbuster which is one ... of my favorite anime.

The overall events never matched up to how Gunbuster was but at the same time the fact that this was a classic Super Robot series with a very conclusive respectful "death" of the original iconic three speaks volumes for why this is an outstanding anime.

In the end, Shin Getter Robo is not for everyone even including hardcore Super Robot fans but for me, it is certainly among the most epic series out there. The way the timeline shifts, the character evolves, the annoyances of typical characters toned down...I stick to what I said in my original sentence. Sometimes there are shows where you can criticize the show because of it's genre but sometimes there are shows that are presented in such a way that it's like criticizing Batman for wearing his underwear outside which is different from criticizing his having nipples.

Shin Getter Robo has many parallels to the dark iteration of Batman. What many non-fans or even hardcore fans may see as psychotic poorly written turn of events for violence's sake, I see as near-perfectly shifting cookie cutter heroes into charismatic anti-heroes that would strongly appeal to even general classic Super Robot fans who didn't watch the original series.

Being as hopelessly addicted to Super Robot Wars as I am, I really wanted a good way to get into the Getter Robo series, which unfortunately, isn't the easiest task when taking into account media that's been officially translated to English and is legally available is barely in print. Fortunately, New Getter Robo is a fun and succinct way of being introduced to the series premise.

It's a Saturday morning cartoon, the twist being that the protagonists are either morons or bloodthirsty crazies, or somewhere in between - totally unconscionable shit-heels either way. Therefore, as events escalate from dealing with the creature of the week to ... chilling visions of apocalypse and deicide, there's an overabundance of blood and testosterone on the way. And yes, it's plain awesome, ASSUMING that the show can carry it's own premise.

It does, mostly, with a few caveats. I love how Ken Ishikawa's artstyle is interpreted, keeping the abundant scuff marks and the psycho grins in tact, but the animation and the design work is sometimes a step or two behind the story beats. It's a problem, especially, when the story develops in such a gonzo fashion, and you can't help but feel that something that's meant to inspire awe, just ends up feeling plainer and plainer, until it peters off into a borderline lame conclusion. I mean Christ, how do you get me to check out of the act of killing God?

There's probably better Getter stuff out there, and I'm looking forward to trying to find it for myself. For the time being, Shin Getter warmed my blood enough.