Product Details

• Actors: Nobuyuki Hiyama, Maiko Itô, Kenichi Ogata, Fûrin Cha, Kôichi Chiba
• Format: Animated, Color, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: Japanese
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Anime Works
• DVD Release Date: August 29, 2006
• Run Time: 125 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000FKPE4W
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #373,057 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "King of the Braves Gaogaigar: Heir to the Throne, Vol. 1" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

This is the story of the brave men and women who will defend our world. On a desolate road in the snowy mountains, a childless couple wished upon a falling star. The star is revealed to be Galeon, a mechanical lion who delivers the baby Mamoru into their arms. Mamoru grows into an ordinary grade school student, until the day when his class is caught up in a ferocious attack by the mechanoid alien Zonders. The young cyborg hero, Gai Shishio, is sent by the UN alien defense force "3G." He risks his own life without question to protect Mamoru's class and all of Earth. Drawn by the power of his mysterious origins, Mamoru becomes a member of 3G, joining the ranks of humanity's bravest defenders. They wage all out war against the Zonders with they’re advanced vehicles, weapons and AI robots.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Historic Super Robot Show., November 16, 2006

By 

Paul Sebert (Barboursville, West Virginia USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: King of the Braves Gaogaigar: Heir to the Throne, Vol. 1 (DVD)

Throughout the 90s the venerable "Super Robot" genre of anime had entered something of a decline. While this had lead to some interesting deconstructions of the genre such as Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Giant Robo, more traditional entries in the field suffered. A throwback to the kinds television programs which gave Americans the Shogun Warriors toy line and Voltron, GaoGaoGar is simple and unpretentious: it's a program about a cool looking robot having fight scenes with bizarre monsters.

While competing shows in the genre were unsuccessfully trying to shovel nihilistic themes onto a children's genre (*cough, cough* Getta Robo Armageddon) GaoGaiGar applied a back-to-the basics formula, mixing in well staged fight scenes with an over-the-top approach to weapon and mecha design which was later imitated by Gear Fighter Dendo, Gravion, and Goddanar. Though the plots are relatively simplistic, they carry an interesting underlying theme of corruption and redemption. The "Zondar" monsters which GGG fights are kaiju-sized embodiments of human vices, frustrations, and failings taken from innocent victims.

GaoGaiGar holds an interesting place in the history of the super robot genre because it marks both the end of the Takara's long-running "Brave" series of mecha shows, and the beginning of modern Super Robots. Though it's animation lacks polish the show's eclectic cast of characters, immense fight scenes, and completely over-the-top mentality make GGG a crowd pleasure. Die-hard fans of the Super Robot genre, or anyone giving a serious look to anime history of the mid-to-late 90s should give the show a look.

Fans of the horror anime-series Betterman may also want to give the show a passing glance as it takes place in the same continuity according to both series producer Sunrise's Studio 7, though aside from a few winks and nods in the latter GaoGaiGar Final OVA we don't see an official crossover between the shows.

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent giant robot show, July 12, 2008

By 

Gilron "Gilron" (Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: King of the Braves Gaogaigar: Heir to the Throne, Vol. 1 (DVD)

This show is a throwback to the halcyon days of giant robot shows. It is rather formulaic - most episodes follow the formula of setup-giant monster-giant robot fight. Don't let that fool you into thinking the show is generic or bad, though. The hero, Guy, is cast in the mold of the true hero (much like Kamina in the more recent Gurren Lagann). There's none of the angst that plagues most giant robot shows, and while the plot is a little slow, it more than makes up for it with the action. Later episodes also include additional giant robot allies (the idea of a robot that is also a ninja is at once ridiculous and awesome).

If you want a show that mimics older robot shows, with completely over the top characters who are courageous and kick butt, this is a series for you.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GaoGaiGar is a must own for Super Robot fans., August 4, 2007

By 

Thomas Boyer - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: King of the Braves Gaogaigar: Heir to the Throne, Vol. 1 (DVD)

GaoGaiGar is a series that fans of Super Robot should own. Not only is it a fun series, it pays homage to classic super robot shows. This series isn't well known but it's well known to the mecha/super robot fans on the internet. The characters are great and very likable. The first half of the show is good. The second half is amazing from what I hear. Id say if your fan of Super Robot or want to get into the genre, id say check this one out. There are some reviews on here that are pretty negative, but this show always isn't a hit for everyone. Also it's by Sunrise, so when you hear the OP song, it will get stuck in your head for days.