Mazinger Edition Z: The Impact!, known in Japan as True Mazinger Impact! Chapter Z (真マジンガー衝撃! Z編), translated in the Soul of Chogokin toys line as Shin Mazinger Impact Z!, is a Mazinger anime series, directed by Yasuhiro Imagawa (of G Gundam, Giant Robo and Getter Robo Armageddon fame) which premiered in Japan on April 4, 2009. According to the production staff, it has no relation to the 1970s show and should not be described as a Mazinger Z remake. The series is a "retelling" of the basic story of Mazinger Z, featuring most of the same characters, mechanical beasts, and some general plots of the original series, plus some additional material. It keeps the original plot line of Mazinger Z, but makes references to other Go Nagai works, such as Z Mazinger, Devilman, Violence Jack, Mao Dante, Abashiri Family, and others. Elements from other related Mazinger works appear in the series, such as the story of Kedora (based on an original Mazinger Z story by Ken Ishikawa) and the appearance of Energer Z, the original concept before Mazinger Z. Along with the TV series, a new manga, Shin Mazinger Zero started on April 18, 2009 (cover date June 2009) in the magazine Champion Red. The pair responsible for the shōnen manga Akumetsu, Yoshiaki Tabata and Yuki Yogo, write and illustrate the Shin Mazinger Zero manga. In 2010 a game based on the series was released for the PC.

Plot

In the near future, a mineral known as "Japanium" is discovered under Mount Fuji. This ore is discovered to produce a powerful energy source known as "Photon Energy". Dr. Juzo Kabuto and his associates have begun researching Photon Energy, planning to use it as a solution to the energy crisis plaguing the earth, when the nefarious Dr. Hell and his associate, Baron Ashura attack his lab. Along with this, the mysterious "Kurogane House" also has begun to become entwined with the affairs of these two parties. During all of this, Juzo's grandchildren, Kouji and Shiro, encounter one of Baron Ashura's robots on its way to attack Dr. Kabuto's mansion, where he has begun work on his greatest invention. Dr. Kabuto, seeing the danger at hand, sends out the Pilder to Kouji, allowing him to combine with the giant robot, Mazinger Z, to fight against Dr. Hell's forces.

Characters

Kabuto family

Photon Power Laboratory

Kurogane house

Bardos Island

Mycenae

Other characters

Anime versions

Along with the TV Tokyo broadcast, a web stream that uses the mms protocol is available in the Bandai Channel exclusively for Japanese users. The version available here, as with other anime, includes extended scenes not seen in the TV broadcast. The Bandai Channel logo of the series does not have the "on television" legend that the TV Tokyo logo has. After episode 15, the contents of both version are the same, with no extra scenes in the Bandai Channel version.

Episodes

Staff

Source(s)

Media

Home video

Besides the several video on demand internet services that show the Bandai Channel stream freely in Japan, the series will be released in both DVD and Blu-ray formats. So far two DVDs and one Blu-ray box have been announced. Discotek Media has licensed the series, which was released on DVD in 2015. The series is also scheduled for a release on DVD and Blu-ray in Spain and México (only in DVD) as Mazinger Edición Z Impacto!. The series is available in both DVD and Blu-ray in Italy as "Mazinger Edition Z: The Impact!", by Yamato Video.

Music

Each one of the opening and ending themes have been released as EP CDs. Also the soundtrack is available in CD. All of them have been published by Lantis.

Manga

Shin Mazinger Zero

Although published along the anime series, the manga Shin Mazinger Zero (真マジンガーゼロ) is not an adaptation of its story. Written by Yoshiaki Tabata with art by Yuki Yogo, it is an original production which takes elements from several past versions of the Mazinger concept. The plot deals with Humanity being destroyed by an evil Mazinger Z. Koji Kabuto, the last man alive, is killed by a human-sized, human-looking Minerva X so his spirit can travel back in time to prevent the disaster—but it takes several tries. Ultimately, parallel universes become a theme in the story, enabling cameos from several different versions of Mazinger Z, including Gosaku Ota's manga version of Koji (a cyborg) and Nagai's 1990 reimagining of Mazinger Z, Mazin Saga (a man wearing an armor that turns him into a giant). Shin Mazinger Zero also includes guest stars from Nagai's more risqué works, such as the nude warrior Kekko Kamen, and as such, contains high-levels of gore and sexual content. It spawned a sequel entitled Shin Mazinger Zero vs. The Great General of Darkness (真マジンガーゼロVS暗黒大将軍), which focuses on Great Mazinger, with cameos from UFO Robo Grendizer and its cast. The sequel is four volumes long and still ongoing as of July 2014.

Mazinger Edition H: The Impact!

Mazinger Edition H: The Impact! (真マジンガー衝撃！H編) is a special one-shot sexy gag comedy done by Go Nagai and published in the magazine Champion Red Ichigo on August 19, 2009 (cover date October 2009).