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The original
Getter Robo (1974) aired in the U.S. as
Starvengers, part of
Force Five (1980). A number of sequels were produced over the years, including the 1998
Change Getter Robo, which A.D. Vision is releasing as
Getter Robo Armageddon. The series purports to pick up where the original left off, after the death of Professor Saotome, the inventor of the Getter Robots, and the conviction of heroic pilot Ryoma for his murder. The artists try to recapture the look of the original series, but many characters are so ugly, they don't look human. Although they were defeated years earlier in the Moon Wars, the Invaders, nasty aliens that consist largely of eyes and fangs, are attacking humanity, and only the Getter Robots can defeat them. The story is notoriously difficult to follow: the characters are underdeveloped, are difficult to distinguish, and have the unnerving habit of returning from the dead. Director Ukata Sato complicates matters by cutting to seemingly unrelated actions at a breakneck pace. The dubbed dialogue, which the actors tend to scream out, often fails to mesh with the subtitles. In one episode, Ryoma says, "No, he wouldn't make such a beast!" but the subtitle reads, "I don't know what he's planning to do with that thing." Fans of
Nadesico may have trouble watching this sci-fi epic with a straight face, as it was clearly one of the inspirations for the mecha spoof
Gekiganger 3. (Rated 15 and older: grotesque imagery, often graphic violence, tobacco use)
--Charles Solomon
Product Description
"Getter Robo: Armageddon" is the latest chapter in the more than two decades strong "Getter Robo" franchise Created by the legendary Go Nagai, "Getter Robo" blazed new trails in the world of anime when it originally aired on Japanese television in the seventies. Featuring three different vehicles that combined to form one massive robot, "Getter Robo" was the original transforming battle robot, spawning an entire genre of anime including "Robotech" and "Transformers." The Getter Robos were created to defend the planet from all that would threaten it. But the massive robot weapons were so powerful; those they protected began to fear them. A fear so great it drove humanity to destroy its saviors and their creator. But now a shadow has crept across the moon. The faint echoes of evil laughter can be heard. Terrified whispers tell of the Invaders. Mankind now cowers under the watchful eye of an extraterrestrial menace beyond their nightmares. Their only defenses are the Getter Robos, and the only man who can bring them back lies rotting in the Earth. Or does he? The Armageddon Power Pack contains the entire thirteen-episode "Getter Robo" series on four discs in one collector's edition case. Episodes come in the English-language, as well as the Japanese language with English subtitles. DVD extras include behind the scenes features, clean credit animation, Japanese laser disc covers and insert materials, production sketches and ADV previews.
