Well, one supposes this movie could be a parable for ambition or energy or determination, but let us face it: this is a commercial for the Mazinger Z (a.k.a. Mazinger Z Super Robot) anime series that ran on Japan's Fuji TV from 1972 to 1974 which, like most successful Japanese anime, was based on a manga and would also go on to spawn multiple sequels and offshoots. They even mention Toei Animation, whose parent company Toei has a notable history in Japan with films like Battle Royale. Like most Mecha Anime, which it heavily influenced, Mazinger Z is reliant on Japanese technology, nationalism and the battles between good and evil and could become insanely complicated and technical. Knowing nothing about the manga or animation - one character in the film even confuses Mazinger with Gundam - one will still come away figuring out quite a bit about the story and its context and even pick up quite a few implicit and explicit references (hint: city beneath surface, Mount Fuji's sediments and geology and water pressure) from this movie.
The story begins at Maeda Corporation, which is an engineering firm. The PR team is stunned when its manager comes up with the idea of a project that has nothing to do with their competency or its current projects. It is to build a Mazinger Z hangar on paper fashioned after the one in the cartoons. It would surely impress clients who would be impressed by the firm's engineering prowess and realistic design capability of a fantasy concept.
So to repeat:
This story demands that the viewer be interested in a public relations department in Japan working on an anime-based project,
That is focused on engineering, excavation and project management,
That is not actually building a thing, but a plan for the company's website,
That is nonetheless based on a 1970s' anime,
That is not centred on the robot itself (someone else can take care of that!), but the hangar for it.
Anyone still reading? No? Didn't think so. I can write anything I want to...
The level of geekdom is gigantic and soon enough the reluctant PR professionals in the department are converted from voluntolds to enthusiastic participants who have to transpose a fantasy story into scientific territory. They are all nerds in suits and dresses soon enough having received a crash course in Mazinger Z alongside the movie's audience. The mecha robot is eighteen metres high and six metres wide and its hangar is no small marvel. Moreover, it has to be launched from it while concealed underwater to shield it from view by the minions of Doctor Hell. Thank goodness it is made from Japanium and can withstand crashing through the hangar's cover and tons of water every time! The crew have loads of help from the animation and the footage they (we) watch culled from the DVD sets they get their hands on. To their credit they come across as quite serious in their assigned endeavour and after multiple site visits, mock-ups, consultations and revisions it not only seems earnest, but one also comes away feeling more knowledgeable about engineering. Lucky for them there are many undercover Otakus working in plain sight in Japan and the PR team has help. Indeed the team goes to extreme measures to make the plans realistic including measuring underwater pressure, requirements for a vertical take-off and metallic resistance. After all, the company's image, acumen and reputation are at stake.
The film introduces a rather forced and brief hint of a romance and for some reason has multiple germane conversations occur in the men's washroom at the urinals. No idea. Perhaps a Mazinger fan could tell us? Is it all entertaining? Up to a point. Most of these guys are not engineers and yet are all animated about an anime-related project. Surely, having a boss and oddball project like that at work cannot be such a bad thing.
The story begins at Maeda Corporation, which is an engineering firm. The PR team is stunned when its manager comes up with the idea of a project that has nothing to do with their competency or its current projects. It is to build a Mazinger Z hangar on paper fashioned after the one in the cartoons. It would surely impress clients who would be impressed by the firm's engineering prowess and realistic design capability of a fantasy concept.
So to repeat:
This story demands that the viewer be interested in a public relations department in Japan working on an anime-based project,
That is focused on engineering, excavation and project management,
That is not actually building a thing, but a plan for the company's website,
That is nonetheless based on a 1970s' anime,
That is not centred on the robot itself (someone else can take care of that!), but the hangar for it.
Anyone still reading? No? Didn't think so. I can write anything I want to...
The level of geekdom is gigantic and soon enough the reluctant PR professionals in the department are converted from voluntolds to enthusiastic participants who have to transpose a fantasy story into scientific territory. They are all nerds in suits and dresses soon enough having received a crash course in Mazinger Z alongside the movie's audience. The mecha robot is eighteen metres high and six metres wide and its hangar is no small marvel. Moreover, it has to be launched from it while concealed underwater to shield it from view by the minions of Doctor Hell. Thank goodness it is made from Japanium and can withstand crashing through the hangar's cover and tons of water every time! The crew have loads of help from the animation and the footage they (we) watch culled from the DVD sets they get their hands on. To their credit they come across as quite serious in their assigned endeavour and after multiple site visits, mock-ups, consultations and revisions it not only seems earnest, but one also comes away feeling more knowledgeable about engineering. Lucky for them there are many undercover Otakus working in plain sight in Japan and the PR team has help. Indeed the team goes to extreme measures to make the plans realistic including measuring underwater pressure, requirements for a vertical take-off and metallic resistance. After all, the company's image, acumen and reputation are at stake.
The film introduces a rather forced and brief hint of a romance and for some reason has multiple germane conversations occur in the men's washroom at the urinals. No idea. Perhaps a Mazinger fan could tell us? Is it all entertaining? Up to a point. Most of these guys are not engineers and yet are all animated about an anime-related project. Surely, having a boss and oddball project like that at work cannot be such a bad thing.
