Mazinger is a long-running series of manga and anime featuring giant robots or mecha.
One of the main attributes of the Mazinger series is the existence of a large amount of evil mechas, which are incredibly varied in shape and weapons and serve as monsters of the week. Dr. Hell’s Mechanical Beasts, the Mikene Empire Warrior Beasts and the Vegan Empire Spacial Monsters usually have nightmarish appearances. Though they are never as powerful as the hero robot, they are quite capable of putting him against the ropes.
1. Mazinger Z (1972)
| Episodes | 92 |
| Aired | 1972-1974 |
From the island of Bardos in the Aegean Sea comes a new threat to humanity in the form of Doctor Hell and his army of mechanical beasts.
However, a new hero stands in his way: Mazinger Z, a giant robot built out of the indestructible metal chogokin and equipped with an arsenal of advanced weaponry.
Piloting Mazinger Z is hotheaded teenager Kouji Kabuto, who strives to avenge the death of his grandfather and protect Japan from Doctor Hell’s forces.
2. Mazinger Z vs. Devilman (1973)
| Episodes | 1 |
| Aired | Summer 1973 |
The heroes of the series Mazinger Z and Devilman, both of them are works by Go Nagai, fighting against the evil Demon Clan.
3. Great Mazinger (1974)
| Episodes | 56 |
| Aired | 1974-1975 |
A manga comic book and anime television series by manga artist Go Nagai, made as a direct continuation of the successful Mazinger Z series. It was aired on Japan in 1974, immediately following the end of the first Mazinger series.
4. UFO Robo Grendizer (1975)
| Episodes | 74 |
| Aired | 1975-1977 |
Duke Fleed is a survivor of the Fleed Planet who is escaped to the Earth, onboard a mysterious “spaceship”, where is raised by Dr. Umon as his adoptive son, and known as Daisuke Umon.
Years after his arrival, he’s faced with the threat of King Vega and his army, who want to conquer the Earth. With his friends Koji and Hikaru (and later his younger sister Maria Grace), Duke decides to fight back using his best weapon – the almighty Grendizer.
5. GOD MAZINGER (1984)
| Episodes | 23 |
| Aired | 1984 |
The story is set in modern times, but the twist to the story is that Mazinger is an ancient weapon of the gods, left on earth to battle the evil space gods who have returned to take over the universe.
6. Mazinkaiser (2001)
| Episodes | 7 |
| Aired | 2001-2002 |
In one of their epic battles, the Mazinger Team suffers a crushing defeat at the hands of Dr. Hell and his minions after Mazinger Z is stolen and its pilot, the legendary Kouji Kabuto, is rendered missing in action.
Just when Dr. Hell’s second-in-command Baron Ashura uses Mazinger Z against our heroes, Kouji makes a surprise return in Mazinkaiser – an all-new Mazinger with heavier armor and deadlier attacks.
7. Mazinkaiser vs. Great General of Darkness (2003)
| Title | Mazinkaiser: Shitou! Ankoku Dai Shogun |
| Episodes | 1 |
| Aired | 2003 |
They strike without warning and instantly plunge the world into terror. The Great General of Darkness leads the underground Mycenae Empire in a bid to conquer Earth.
The Mazinger Army falls before the seven generals under him, each of them leading an army of superior Warrior Beasts. Meanwhile, Archduke Gorgon is relentlessly pursuing Koji Kabuto, trying to eliminate him before he can reach Mazinkaiser. But a red light in the sky over Mt. Fuji portends the greatest battle in history!
8. Mazinger Edition Z: The Impact! (2009)
| Title | Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z-hen |
| Episodes | 92 |
| Aired | 1972-1974 |
Set in the near future, humanity enters another energy revolution following the discovery of Photon Power. Derived from the ore discovered under the foothills of Mt. Fuji, its intended use was to solve the world’s energy problems with its unimaginable power.
Seeking this energy is Dr. Hell, a madman craving world domination who with his subordinates Baron Ashura, Count Brocken and Viscount Pygman, commands an army of mechanical beasts excavated from the ruins of ancient Greece to seize the Photon Power Lab for himself.
Meeting the attack head on is the hot-blooded teenager Kabuto Kouji, who pilots the Photon Powered robot built by his grandfather, Mazinger Z. But in this battle between Dr. Hell and the Kabuto family, many legends surrounding the Mycenaean Civilization and Bardos Island, as well as the secrets of Mazinger Z remain shrouded in mystery.
A new series based on the mecha show that started it all, Mazinger Z. Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z-Hen starts over from the beginning with a new cast, to tell a new story unrelated to the original show.
9. Mazinkaiser SKL (2010)
| Episodes | 3 |
| Aired | Fall 2010 |
Prior to the events of the anime, three factions – the Garan Army, the Kiba Army, and the Aira Army, battle for total dominance of Machine Island. The island is basically a prison, isolated from the rest of the world. The island contains a vast amount of resources, allowing the three factions to create an infinite supply of giant robots for their respective armies.
The world government learns that the island’s power reactor has become unstable and will explode within 66 hours, destroying all of life and Earth itself. The government sends the Death Caprice squad, composed of mercenaries Ken Kaido and Ryo Magami to solve the issue, along with their giant robot Mazinkaiser, but was that a good idea?
10. Mazinger Z: INFINITY (2018)
| Episodes | 1 |
| Aired | Winter 2018 |
The film is commemorating the 45th anniversary of the original Mazinger Z series.
It has been 10 years since then. Humanity awaits a new fate. Once humanity was on the verge of destruction at the hands of the evil scientist Dr. Hell and his underground empire.
Kouji Kabuto, his Mazinger Z super robot, and his friends at the photon power laboratory put an end to Dr. Hell’s evil ambitions, and returned peace to the world. It has been 10 years since then.
Kouji has followed his father and grandfather and now walks the path of a scientist. He encounters a mysterious life form buried in a giant structure buried deep below Mt. Fuji.
A new encounter, a new threat, and a new fate await humanity. And Kouji, who was once a hero, makes a decision for the future. It can be a god or a demon. Once again the future is entrusted to Mazinger Z.
