2024’s Grendizer U anime has received a new promotional visual, along with another wave of cast and staff reveals.
For the cast, the new names include Miyu Irino as Duke Fleed, Hiro Shimono as Koji Kabuto, Sumire Uesaka as Sayaka Yumi, Nao Touyama as Hikaru Makiba, Minami Tanaka as Grace Maria Fleed (Duke’s daughter), and Haruka Tomatsu as the twins Telonna Aqua Vega and Rubina Aqua Vega. Visuals for the female characters (Duke and Koji’s were revealed in August) and the Spazer were also released.
Meanwhile, the new staff announcements include:
• Director: Shun Kudou (Kimi dake ni Motetainda.)
• Scriptwriter: Tatsuto Higuchi (Fuuto PI series composer)
• Mechanical designer: Kou Inaba (Macross Delta Zettai Live!!! co-mechanical designer)
• Mechanical designer: AF_KURO (SHOJO-HATSUDOKI illustrator)
• Mechanical designer: Astray’s Junichi Akutsu (Gundam Build Divers Re:RISE co-mechanical designer)
• Main animator: Hiroyuki Taiga (Girly Air Force mechanical designer)
• Main animator: Takashi Hashimoto (Revue Starlight the Movie co-main animator)
• Main animator: Rihiro Yamane (Fuuto PI Kamen Rider Dopant co-animator)
• Main animator: Toru Yoshida (Gattai Robot Atranger director)
• Sub-character designer: Mari Araki
Grendizer made its debut in the 70s with the Toei Animation-produced UFO Robot Grendizer Raids TV anime series, which aired from 1975 to 1977 with 74 episodes. A manga version was serialized from 1975 to 1977 in TV Magazine. Manga creator Go Nagai, who is credited as a co-creator of Grendizer with Dynamic Pro, was in charge of the first eight chapters of the manga while Yuu Okazawa (Mobile Suit Gundam manga [Bouken Ou version]) was involved for chapters 9 to 18.
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.
UFO Robot Grendizer Raids has the same setting as Nagai’s previous co-creations Mazinger Z and Great Mazinger (Koji is the pilot of the Mazinger Z). 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.
Staff
• Chief director: Mitsuo Fukuda (Mobile Suit Gundam Seed)
• Character designer: Yoshiyuki Sadamoto (Neon Genesis Evangelion, Summer Wars, Great Pretender)
• Series composer and scriptwriter: Ichirou Ookouchi (Code Geass, Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch of Mercury)
• Music composer: Kouhei Tanaka (One Piece co-composer, Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team)
• Animation production: GAINA
Sources: Press release, @grendizer_anime, Comic Natalie
