Mazinger Z, Cutey Honey, Gaiking
Today a plethora of Go Nagai anime has been licensed for North American distribution.
Discotek announced on their Facebook page they’re going to be releasing the original Mazinger Z (1972) and Cutey Honey (1973) anime series sometime in 2013. Discotek’s licensing relationship with Toei Animation, the studio that created Go Nagai’s blockbuster animated hits in the seventies, seems as strong as ever. Each of these shows are archetypal watershed moments in Go Nagai’s success, Mazinger Z being primarily responsible for the super robot mecha genre, in which giant robots are piloted by youngsters much in the manner of driving a car, and Cutey Honey channeling the tropes of the Kamen Rider tokusatsu franchise into a magical girl series for boys.
Just as surprising is the news Shout! Factory is releasing Gaiking compilation movies. The compilation movies were assembled by Toei and dubbed in English by William Winckler Productions for Japanese audiences only a few years ago, but the original cartoon itself dates from 1977. Though Go Nagai originally came up with the concept for this giant horned super robot show, he had to sue Toei Animation for royalties, basically ending their long-running partnership.
So yeah, vintage Go Nagai cartoons everywhere. Also, renewed hope for the possibility of the WWP-dubbed Fist of the North Star compilation movies being released over here someday.