The classic super robot anime Grendizer is making a modern comeback with Grendizer U, a new series that has Mobile Suit Gundam Seed director Mitsuo Fukuda in the role of chief director. The anime will premiere in 2024 and has a teaser trailer and visual.
Aside from Fukuda, Grendizer U boasts the involvement of Yoshiyuki Sadamoto (Neon Genesis Evangelion, Summer Wars, Great Pretender) as character designer, Ichirou Ookouchi (Code Geass, Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch of Mercury) as series composer and scriptwriter, and Kouhei Tanaka (One Piece co-composer, Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team) as music composer. GAINA is the animation production company.
The new Grendizer TV anime will once again feature the characters of Duke Fleed, the pilot of the titular mecha, and Koji Kabuto, the pilot of the Mazinger Z. Design images of the three were released. Ookouchi says that Grendizer U will offer a new story instead of being a sequel.
The existence of a new Grendizer anime project was announced in August 2022. The original Toei Animation-produced UFO Robot Grendizer Raids series aired from 1975 to 1977 with 74 episodes and received a manga version which was serialized from 1975 to 1977 in TV Magazine. Prolific manga creator Go Nagai (who is credited as a co-creator of Grendizer with Dynamic Pro) handled the first eight chapters of the manga while Yuu Okazawa (Mobile Suit Gundam manga [Bouken Ou version]) drew chapters 9 to 18.
As indicated by Kabuto’s appearance, UFO Robot Grendizer Raids shares the setting of Nagai’s previous co-creations Mazinger Z and Great Mazinger. The Grendizer robot has also previously appeared in various titles like UFO Robot Grendizer vs. Great Mazinger and Grendizer, Getta Robot G., Great Mazinger: The Decisive Battle! Huge Sea Animal.
Toei Animation describes UFO Robot Grendizer Raids as:
The Fleed-a planet belonging to nebula of Vega two million light-years away from earth-is destroyed through a fierce attack by the allied forces of Vega. However, the prince of the Fleed narrowly escapes the hot pursit of the Vega troops and flees from the planet in his own craft-the Grendizer.After ten years’ travel through space he reaches the earth, and comes to know Dr. Umon, a space scientist. The prince names himself Daisuke Umon, and leads a peaceful life as a member of the Umon Family.In the meantime, Vega the Great, whose ambition knows no limits now that he has conquered all the planets in the nebula of Vega, intends to invade our galactic system. He starts his offensive with the earth. Daisuke, Dr. Umon, and his assistant, Koji set themselves against the devils to protect humanity. In this story we see Grendizer acting bravely to encounter the UFO monsters.
Update: An earlier version of this article stated that the UFO Robot Grendizer Raids anime is an adaptation of the manga; this has been corrected. Additional information such as GAINA being the animation production company have also been added.
Sources: Manga Productions YouTube channel, press release
