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GAOGAIGAR: NINJA ROBOTS (VOL. 3) |
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Monday, 19 March 2007 |
 | | ▪ | RELEASED BY: | | MEDIA BLASTERS | | | ▪ | ASPECT RATIO: | | 1.33: 1 FULL FRAME | | | ▪ | AUDIO: | | ENGLISH AND JAPANESE DD 2.0 | | | ▪ | RUNNING TIME: | | 125 MIN | | | ▪ | RATING: | | 7UP | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 02/27/2007 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 03/20/2007 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | HOLLY ELLINGWOOD |
With the secret of the dastardly Zonder metal still eluding the scientists of GGG, everyone is busy trying to figure out how the metal transforms humans into Zonder creatures of destruction. Now if only the Zonders would stop attacking to let the team have the time to figure it all out! The GGG are infiltrated by the nefarious metal and helpless, the agents each separated, Gao must stand alone against the attacking Zonder. That is until a new member of GGG makes its appearance. Zolfogg appears in the nick of time but what are the powers of this mysterious black mecha? The outcome leaves the 3G team with some Zonder metal for the team’s own investigation. But while trying to decipher its essence, a trip to Okinawa turns deadly when Zonders attack again. Then when the team thinks they’re about to catch a break, they are attacked from within when one of their own becomes a Zonder. The team is unable to use their automated Final Fusion System to join into Gaogaigar. Now they’ll have to try to do it manually. Yet even if they are successful, something seems to be going wrong with Gao and the Gaogaigar!
Two things are being accomplished at once in these latest five episodes. First, there is the same fun mecha action in each episode that one expects from this series that can play very much like stand alone episodes. Second though, is the underlying progression forward with the sub-plot that spans the anime so far: what are the Zonders? This arc focuses on the discovery and examination of the Zonder metal. But it also brings about new dangers and the arrival of a new team player for the 3G team: Zolfogg. This mysterious and smaller black mecha has interesting abilities quite unique compared to the other 3G robots. The final part to this set of episodes is the cliff-hanger showing Gao and Gaogaigar in flux. Just what is happening to both man and machine?
The continuing plot helps to give the anime added depth but otherwise the show plays out like an undemanding formulaic mecha action series with all the peril, dastardly enemies, creative robotic transformations and lively mecha action that mecha fans are sure to enjoy.
EXTRAS:
Bonus features include trailers of other anime titles from Media Blasters, clean opening animation version 3, and a production art gallery.
IN SUMMARY:
Mecha action done right. Gaogaigar is a lively anime that is true to the mecha genre and stays pure in its rendition of the episodic formula that has made mecha anime a classic hallmark of animation. |
