CHANGE! GETTER ROBO

—by Keith Rhee

Giant robot shows have changed a great deal since the 1970's. The emphasis of style over realism that characterized the "golden age" of mecha gradually gave way to functional, more believable designs. But as successful and enjoyable GUNDAM and MACROSS turned out to be, that certain charm in the mecha shows of days gone by seems to be missing in more recent efforts.
The GUNDAM juggernaut hasn't completely stomped out the older genre, however. AIM FOR THE TOP! and the BRAVE ROBOT series from Sunrise incorporated many a retro element that endeared the older classics to its viewers. The epic GIANT ROBO was almost entirely "old-fashioned" in its design and story. And now, following in the giant footsteps of GIANT ROBO comes CHANGE! GETTER ROBO.
For the uninitiated, the first episode starts with a brief recap of the original story, explaining how the threat of an alien invasion was repelled by the mighty Getter Robo team. The flashback then switches over to the death of Professor Saotome, creator of the Getter series, apparently murdered by Nagare Ryoma, the lead pilot of the Getter Robo! As thunder rolls in the distance, the narrative explains that this is the beginning of the world's last day...
Flash forward to the present. It's a dark and stormy night, three years since the tragic incident, and our Getter pilots are still coping with the painful memories of the professor's death and the betrayal of their former teammate. As our heroes prepare to transport a mysterious cargo box, an alien invader breaks its disguise and makes a run for the cargo! Though Getter 3 pilots Musashi and Benkei attempt to defend the box (its contents revealed to be a cloning tube), it is wrested away from them—not by the monster, but by an unidentified third-gen Getter Robo, its pilot none other than... Professor Saotome?!
Indeed, the professor is back from Hell—and he's back for revenge. His massive army of Getter Dragons (from the second-gen Getter Robo G series) begins to crush the opposition and close in on the heroes' base. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and it is decided that the current Getter pilots will be replaced with the ultimate weapon—yes, him. Once more in the cockpit of the Getter Robo, Ryoma literally mows down the army of Getter Dragons and, closing in on Professor Saotome, vows to kill him for good this time. But both the professor and Ryoma are stopped by a sudden voice from the cloning tube.
What does Ryoma know about Professor Saotome and his plans that the others don't? What is the identity of the person gestating in the cloning tube, so coveted by both Professor Saotome and the invaders? And is the new Getter Robo a force for good or evil? The first episode raises a dizzying amount of questions, and the break-neck pace at which they are delivered will no doubt leave many viewers bewildered by the time the ending credits roll.
Whereas GIANT ROBO and KISHIN HEIDAN benefited from the clean-cut look of modern animation, the "retro" nature of GETTER ROBO goes one step further and extends to the rougher lines and effects in the visuals. The only nod towards modern aesthetics come in the imposing, muscular appearance of the third-gen Getter Robo, to which the viewer is treated but a brief glimpse. Most of the time in the first episode goes to the original Getter Robo and Getter Robo G mecha, whose designs are kept faithful to the original, right down to the plump torsos and stovepipe limbs.
The rougher style, coupled with Nagai Go's gritty character designs, lends the show a decidedly "older" look and feel compared to other retro-themed shows of recent. The creepy character designs in particular will take some getting used to; some of them look like they just walked off the set of FRANKENSTEIN'S MONSTER or one of Nagai Go's own horror flicks.
In the end, what you get out of the show may depend on when you got into anime. If you're the type that scoffs at anything created before BUBBLEGUM CRISIS, the rough visuals, retro mecha designs, and unusual characters may prove tough to swallow. But for veteran mecha fans, CHANGE! GETTER ROBO marks the return of one of the 1970's classics with a new story, and a strong whiff of nostalgia from "the good ol' days."
Last but not least, it is noted that Imagawa Yasuhiro was to originally direct the series, but was asked to leave mid-production. While this viewer will no doubt miss Imagawa's special touch, one can hope that the seven-episode CHANGE! GETTER ROBO OVA will actually adhere to the planned release schedule of one episode a month.

Change! Getter Robo
Bandai Visual
BELL-1133