Goldorak

Goldorak (UFO ロボグレンダイザー Yūfō Robo Gurendaizā ), is a Manga of Go Nagai, adapted in Animé in 1975.

The Televised series of Animation, produced by Toei Animation, account 74 26 minutes episodes. It was diffused in Japan from October 5th, 1975 to February 27th, 1977. In France, it made its appearance on Antenne 2 in the emission Récré A2 the July 3rd 1978, in the same way with the Quebec on the Réseau VAT (then named TV-Metropolis, which never diffused the last two episodes of the series) in the same years. That is to say a few months after having unloaded on television Italian under the title Goldrake , a Christian name close to that which Jacques Canestrier will choose which sold the series in Antenne 2. The diffusion in France is done in several salvos: news will be programmed at least until the end 1980. The series will be repeated thereafter in particular on the Five and M6.

The second version of the manga, drawn by Gosaku Removed on a scenario of Go Nagai, was published in French with the editions Dynamic in four volumes. A first version, which inspired the graphics of the Animé, drawn by Ken Ishikawa, is, to date, new in France but knew a translation in Italian in 1998.

Short summary of the history

Actarus (Duke Fleed) is the prince of the planet Euphor (Fleed). Attacked by the galactic empire of Véga , this planet is destroyed and polluted by radiations, the population is reduced to nothing and the parents of the prince are killed. Prince d' Euphor succeeds in fleeing while concealing in Véga Goldorak (UFO Grendizer Robot), a robot transported by a flying saucer, designed by the scientists of Véga, which Actarus during the attack Euphor It seized joined the planet Ground then and is collected by the professor Procyon (Genzo Umon) who adopts it and hides Goldorak in the basement of the research center space of which he is the director.

On Earth, Actarus (Daisuke Umon) lives peacefully and tries to forget the torments of the war which destroyed its native planet. He lives like a simple farmer and deals with horses in the ranch of Riguel (Danbi Makiba) of which the girl, Vénusia (Hikaru Makiba), is secretly in love with Actarus. Put aside professor Procyon and some scientists, nobody knows the true identity of Actarus.

The series begins when a young but experienced pilot, Alcor (Koji Kabuto the old driver of Mazinger Z), joined the teams of the professor on board a saucer built by its care: OVTerre (TFO). In same time, the forces of Véga start to be interested of close with the planet Ground and build a base advanced on the hidden side of the Moon (the “ camp of the Black Moon ”). They will discover quickly that Actarus is present on Earth and will deliver against him a war without mercy, obliging it with replonger in the combat for the defense of the Blue planet .

The forces of Véga then will deploy treasures of imagination to fight Goldorak, while launching attacks of robots. Uniformly named Enbanjū (wild saucers) in Japanese, these robots are divided into 2 categories in the French version:

the golgoths , autonomous; (put aside Golgoth 7 controlled by Janus in the 7th episode and Golgoth 32 controlled by Astrida in the 32e episode), animated thanks to the clerk's office of the brain of a citizen of Euphor.
the antéraks , controlled by the men (or women) of the army of Véga.

which one adds separately:

the monstrogoths (Végajû), animals gigantifiés and robotized by Véga.

The forces of Véga will call sometimes upon commanders of the division Ruine . This unit of elite gathers the best pilots and has the most powerful weapons of the army of Véga.

Later in the series, Actarus will be assisted by the “ patrol of the Eagles ” consisted of Alcor, controlling Alcorak (Double Spazer), then of Venusia, controlling Vénusiak (Spazer Marine) (amphibious), and finally of Phénicia (Maria Grace Fleed), the proper sister of Actarus miraculeusement escaped from the destruction of Euphor and arrival on Earth it also, and controlling Fossoirak (Spazer Seed-planting drill) (being able to evolve/move under ground).

To the wire of the 74 episodes, Actarus will have to fight Hydargos (Blaki), Minos (Gandal), Horos (Zouril), and finally the supreme leader of the forces of Véga, Large Stratéguerre (Large Véga). At the conclusion of these battles, the forces of Véga will be completely destroyed. In same time, the Euphor planet cures its radiations, and in the ultimate episode, Actarus and Phenicia bid their farewell with the Earth and leave in Goldorak to join their native planet.

The original version Manga presents a history definitely shorter than that of the televised series. The conclusion more pessimistic, is marked of it moreover by a message ecologist: Vega causes a nuclear war between the terrestrial nations and tries to benefit from the situation, but Goldorak puts a term at the hopes of the aliens. The Earth is destroyed by radiations. Duke fleed (Prince d' Euphor, Actarus) and his/her sister as for them are placed in hibernation within Goldorak damaged and buried under the pit of Mariannes in waiting of a hypothetical return to the life. The manga is considered as minor in the work of Go Nagai and its popularity is quite less than that of the Anime which of it was drawn.

Characters

Note that the first names of the majority of the characters refer to star names. (Actarus, Alcor, Procyon, etc…)

Actarus : Crown prince to the Euphor planet, which escaped on board Goldorak after the destruction of its civilization by the forces of Véga. It is silent, introverted, and melancholic person, dreaming only of peace and love. Its extraterrestrial nature confers moreover superhuman faculties to him.

Alcor : former national hero (see the series Mazinger Z) and engineer with NASA, of return in its native land to study recent passages of UFOS in the area of the Fuji mount. Alcor is an impetuous young person enthusiast of justice, which often puts its life in danger. Its combat at the sides of Actarus will teach him wisdom and patience. It will initially fight with the orders of a small experimental saucer called OV-Ground, before designing a machine much more powerful, Alcorak.

Professor Procyon : celebrate scientific and director as a chief of the Center of Space studies located on the grounds of the Ranch of the White Birch; Procyon is a scientist of an exceptional intelligence, doubled of large humanistic; it collected Actarus when Goldorak was crushed on Earth, and raised it like his/her son.

Rigel : owner of the ranch of the White Birch, not far which the Space center is; It is an old small, aggressive, obstinate and mythomaniac man, whose single obsession is to come into contact with the UFOS (he is the President besides - and of not to doubt the single member - “Committee of Reception of the Men of Space”). Despite everything, it has good bottom, and is an attentive father…

Vénusia : girl of Rigel, secretly in love with Actarus (and this in spite of the continual remonstrances of his/her father); first of all unconscious of the true nature of Actarus, it will corrode bloods thereafter to each time he leaves to the combat. Seriously wounded during an attack of Véga, it will be saved thanks to a blood transfusion of Actarus, and will take share with the combat thereafter, the orders of the amphibious vessel Vénusiak.

Phénicia : princess heiress of Euphor and little sister of Actarus, which it also found refuge on Earth; dynamics and intrepid, Phénicia is the prototype of the real tomboy, but it can also be soft and sensitive to the desired moment. It seems to have feelings for Alcor; in combat, it controls a machine provided with a drill called Fossoirak.

Mizar : little brother of Vénusia, which idolâtre Actarus and would wish to resemble to him.

Antarès, Argoli and Cochyre : scientific assistants of Professor Procyon, working at the Space center.

Banta : farm hand whose stoutness has of equal only the silly thing… He and his/her mother lives in a firm neighbor of the ranch of the White Birch. When it does not dispute with Alcor, Banta spends its time making the court with Vénusia, which is worth a slap as well as possible to him, and in the worst case discharge of buckshots on behalf of Rigel.

Ram, Cocker spaniel and Setter : large friends of Alcor, already appeared in Mazinger Z , and who make on the occasion an appearance. They control Béliorak, a made humorous robot of bric and pitcher which spends its time being thrown out of gear.

Minos : commander-in-chief of the forces of Véga, bench to the camp of the Black Moon, on the hidden side of the Moon. It is devoted body and heart with the cause of Véga, and is ready with all the sacrifices to eliminate Actarus and to seize the Earth. Minos with the characteristic to be androgyne, and to divide his body with one second female creature called Mined, kind of woman tiny residing inside her cranium, and occasionally speaking in its place.

Hydargos : second in command of the forces of Véga; with the difference of Minos, Hydargos is an underhand and heinous being, which is justified only by its personal glory. He does not hesitate, on the occasion, to betray his pars to monopolize all the honors. He will find death at the beginning of the 2nd season, in the explosion of his saucer amirale.

Horos : scientific officer who will come to replace Hydargos on the Moon, after many defeats cuisantes vis-a-vis Actarus; he often praises himself to be a “scientist”, and not a soldier, and seems to have ideas some not very different from those of Minos as for the conquest of the Earth.

Large Stratéguerre Véga : sovereign of the empire végan, residing on the Stykadès planet; it will remain first of all with the variation of the conflicts, before taking itself the things in hand in front of the incompetence of its men.

Végalia : Girl of Véga (it appears only in 1 episode) but it is the opposite one of her father because it likes peace and was in love with Actarus before the destruction of Euphor. The father of Actarus had proposed a marriage between his son and Végalia to maintain peace intergalactic but Véga did not do anything. However Actarus and Végalia really loved themselves but the madness of Véga very wasted. She believed during years that Actarus had died during the destruction of Euphor. But she finally learned that it was in life and practically joined it on Earth at the oddment. During a combat against Horos it sacrificed its life to save Actarus, it was avenged because Horos was killed by Alcor. The death of Végalia upset Actarus much but he promised to him to do everything to restore peace in the galaxy.

Guide French/Japanese names

Goldorak : Grendizer
Actarus : Daisuke UMON
Prince d' Euphor: Duke Fleed
Euphor : Fleed
Professor Procyon: Professor Genzo UMON
Alcor: Kōji KABUTO (hero of the series 'Mazinger Z )

Venusia: Hikaru MAKIBA

Phénicia : Maria Grace Fleed

Rigel: Danbei MAKIBA

Mizar : Goro MAKIBA

Ram: Boss

Hydargos: To order Blaki

Minos: Gandal

Mined: Lady Gandal

Horos: Zuril

Véga Large Stratéguerre: Vega Kyōsei Daiho

Stykadès : Vegatron

Alcorak : Double Spacer (“truth” Spacer being the saucer of Goldorak)

Vénusiak: Marine Spacer

Phossoirak: Seed-planting drill Spacer

Golgoths/Antéraks: Enban-jū (literally “monster-saucers”)

Monstrogoths: Vega-jū

Béliorak : Boss Borot

It will be noted that in the VF due to Jacques Canestrier, the majority of the characters bear star names: Rigel, Alcor, Procyon, Mizar, Antarès, of planets: Vénusia and of astrological phenomena: Aphelion, Nadir… As for the name of Actarus, it seems to derive from the traditional name of the star α Bootis, Arcturus, name undoubtedly less easy to pronounce and perhaps less elegant.

List weapons of Goldorak

Planitronk (Saucer Spin) (episode 1 to 11)
Fulguro-fist (Screw Crusher Punch) (episode 1 has 74)
Missiles gamma (Spin Seed-planting drill) (episode 1,3,5,9,11)
Clavicogyres (Shoulders Boomerang) (episode 1,4,5,7,8,10)
Astéro-axe (Double Harken) (episode 1,5,6,7,10)
Pulvonium (Hand Beam) (episode 1,2,6 to 8,10)
Mégavolts (Melt Shower) (episode 1,4 to 6,8 to 11)
Retro-laser (Hanjūryoku Storm) (episode 1,4,5,7 to 11)
Corno-fulgurates (Space thunder) (episode 1 to 4,6,7,9,10)
Super Corno-fulgurates
Hyper Corno-fulgurates Anti-scratch
(other names: parasitic, jammer radar) (episode 3 by the center, 7)
Météopunch (Dizer Punch) (episode 5,9)
Ophto-fisseur (Dizer Beam) (episode 5)
Helicopter-punch (Screw Punch)
Tarriero-punch
the Retro-lightning
Maxi Rétrolaser
Achilléochoc
Brain-fulgurates (episode 21)
Voltogyre
Incrustochoc

List weapons of Alcorak

Missiles alpha
Victorang
Mortanium

List orders of Goldorak

Goldorak, Go! (episode 1 to 11)
Transfert (episode 1,2,4 to 11)
Car-loose (episode 1,7 to 10)
Récupération (episode 1)
Arrimage (episode 1,4,5,7 to 9,11)
Spirolargue (episode 3,10)
Ovostable ( episode 4,5,7 to 9)
Cabré (episode 4,11)
Dégagement (episode 5,6,11)
Aimant scratches (episode 10)
Translucidateur (episode 10)
Megamach
Minimach
Hyper-metabolism
Désaneige
dead Feuille (episode 55)
Car-traction (episode 21)

French voices of the televised series

Daniel Gall: Actarus
Pierre Guillermo: Alcor
Michel Gatineau: Professor Procyon
Jacques Tool bag: Rigel
Jane Valley: Vénusia
Marcelle Lajeunesse: Mizar, mother of Banta
Catherine Lafond: Phénicia
Claude Chantal: Phénicia (episodes 49-52)
Jacques Berthier: Véga
Jeanine Forney : Végalia
Marc de Georgi: Hydargos
Jean-Claude Michel: Minos
Paule Emanuele: Undermined
Henry Djanik: Horos (2ère voice)
Claude Bertrand: Banta, Ram
Philippe Dumat: Argoly
Pierre Fromont: Antarès
Claude Joseph: Cochir

French credits

“Goldorak” (interprets: Noam, author: Pierre Delanoë, type-setter: Pascal Auriat)
“Run towards us…” (interprets: Enrique, author: Pierre Delanoë, type-setter: Shunsuke Kikuchi)
“will fight your enemy” (interprets: Enrique, author: Pierre Delanoë, type-setter: Shunsuke Kikuchi)
“the legend of Actarus” (interprets: Goldies, author: Pierre Delanoë, type-setter: Shunsuke Kikuchi)
“the prince of space” (interprets: Goldies, author: Pierre Delanoë, type-setter: Shunsuke Kikuchi)
“And the adventure continues” (interprets: Lionel Leroy, author: Haim Saban, type-setters: Shuky Levi, Jean Canestrier)
“the justice of Goldorak” (interprets: Lionel Leroy, author: Haim Saban, type-setters: Shuky Levy, Jean Canestrier)
“Goldorak Go” (interprets: Bernard Minet, author: Jean-François Porry, type-setter: Jean-François Porry, Gerard Salesses)

Episodes of the televised series

the brothers of Space
the prince of another world
the tragic fiesta
the island of the fear
the trap of dead the
Attaque on Perlepolis
the feast of the wolves
the radars keep silent
the camp of the black moon
the spy who came from Véga
the day when the sun stopped
blood on snow
By iron and fire
the day of the rising sun
Akerebe the Red
been engaged of the dead one the
the infernal ride
the new time of the caves
the village crushed
Ground in danger
the submerged continents
the massacreurs of the sky
The flood of the new worlds
the executor
in love ones with Euphor
the edges of the abyss
To overcome or perish
the new Masters of darkness
the bird of fire
the stone of the lightning
Don Quichotte of Space
the phantom queen
the wings of dead the
the mercenary of oppression
the first raid
the invincible one of cosmos
a star died
the makers of darkness
the patrol of the eagles
the alarm clock of the volcanos
the baptism of fire
Péril in the residence
the victory of the eagles
When the dogs are released
ants and men
the ballet of the sharks
It lake set ablaze
a world in fusion
the surviving last
the eagle with four heads
the black star
the generation of the monsters
the animal
the snake
the monster of the Log Born
the lynx of space
the monster and the child
the double
the commando
the rats
PEGASE
the swans
the polar bear
Five minutes to die
large between large the
death comes from the sea
Opération plunged
the great pain
Like father, like son
imposture
the best friend
the princess in love
For the love with the Earth
It is only one goodbye

Goldorak with the cinema

There exist currently two films (not exceeding an hour each one), in which Goldorak intervenes: Goldorak against Great Mazinger and the attack of the dragosaure - both left in rooms in Japan during the year 1976.

One can consider the film Uchū enban daisensō , left during the summer 1975, as being the “pilot” of Goldorak, although it is not yet completely the splendid robot which one knows since the diffusion of the first episodes of the series.

This list would be incomplete if one did not mention here The UFO , a project of feature-length film carried out by an Italian team, and mixing real sequences and synthesized images. This film, started in 2001, and initially announced for the end of the year 2004, seems to be currently outstanding - all at least if one sticks to the information given on the site of the authors, which was not updated probably any more since two or three years. A band announces is however available on the site, as well as a report on turning, one duration of a little more than eight minutes.

It as should be specified as in France, an assembly of the first five episodes was exploited in room and that a disc 33 turns was the derivative product (Goldorak as with the cinema)

Comments

Esthetics borrows much from the traditional armours of the Samurai S. Goldorak is an animated series which with the characteristic to follow the various seasons of the year as in American series. We can then attend the episodes of Christmas, the new year or the festival of spring (But also the fall of the sheets to the autumn or snow melt). Few cartoons still nowadays follow this model.

During its diffusion in Japan, the televised series will be a certain success (contrary with an generally accepted idea, the audiences were as good, even slightly better as those of Great Mazinger , whose Goldorak took the changing), but its success quite less will admittedly be compared with that of Mazinger Z (first controlled giant robot of the interior, created him also by Go Nagai, in 1972) or that of Getter Robot .

The Japanese appreciated only their hero Alcor (who was the hero of Mazinger Z ) is relegated to the row of development of Actarus, whose calm one contrasted besides with the impetuosity of the heroes of the time), but such was the will of Go Nagai. Indeed, at the beginning this last did not want that Goldorak is the third shutter of very popular the saga of the Mazinger , but in front of the insistence of the Toei, it accepted finally that Alcor (of which the original name is Koji Kabuto) appears in Goldorak, provided that it has a secondary role.

It is with export that Goldorak will obtain a success without precedent: in Italy, in Quebec, in many Arab countries, like in France, of course, where it became the cartoon worship of a whole generation: during its first diffusion in France success was immediate. The multiple credits of the series (almost one by diffusion) have for certain summer disc of gold; reassemblies of episodes were diffused with the cinema, short Goldorak was everywhere, including in the polemic, certain newspapers showing it (wrongly) racism and going even until making assemblies mingling image with Goldorak and Adolf Hitler… One entitled book With five years, only with Goldorak is even written by Liliane Lurçat, without to prove convainquant. But despite everything, Goldorak will hold good. Besides it is a question of the only program in France ever to have reached the 100% of TV rating , and it is also him which opened France with the Japanese cartoons, quite cheaper than the French and American cartoons for the diffusions in the emissions youth.

the birth of the Audimat system goes back to 1985 and results from the will of the actors of the sector from audio-visual to have a scientific measurement of the audience; one can thus very strongly doubt this result of 100% of TV rating for a program such as Goldorak in 1985 or afterwards, whereas that had could be possible in 1978. Unfortunately, measurements of audiences before 1985 are prone to guarantee, such a score for Goldorak is not verifiable. Moreover, before the scission of the ORTF in 3 chains and even following this scission at the time of movements of grêve, a single program was diffused on television and this on the 3 chains - one can, inter alia, to quote the first diffusion of Faithful Ardéchois Cœur in 1974, whose first episode was looked by 100% of French having lit their television (cf presentation of Faithful Ardéchois Cœur by Pierre Tchernia at Koba Films) - here one speaks well about 100% of the effective audience and not about 100% of the public having the possibility of looking at the TV.

To note a polemic raised by the newspaper the Computer virus (ED. ACBM): why Actarus, during the operation transfer, does it rotate twice? (The answer that Go Nagai gave during a conversation with the French public was: to be able to check that there is no enemy in the back.)

In the French version, the robots of Véga carry the number of the episode.

Contrary to the majority of the animated series of the same time, Goldorak was still not marketed in France with format DVD because of conflicts legal between the potential editors and the Japanese holders of the royalties.

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