The anime series developed by Manga Productions will launch in July 2024.
Manga Productions has unveiled the second promotional video for the upcoming anime series Grendizer U, marking the return of the beloved franchise after four decades since its original inception. This latest reveal delves into numerous details, showcasing various regions of Saudi Arabia, France, and Italy. Additionally, viewers were treated to glimpses of fresh character designs and saucer beasts, accompanied by the announcement of a broadcast date set for July 2024.
The second promotional video was launched across four languages—Arabic, French, Italian, and English—on Manga Productions’ YouTube channel under the handle @MangaPrductions. It is now readily accessible on the official international social media accounts of Grendizer U via @GrendizerAnime.
Dr Essam Bukhary, CEO of Manga Productions, said: “We at Manga Productions, in collaboration with our partners in Japan, are delighted to reintroduce the character of Grendizer to future generations in a fresh and thrilling manner, catering to global audiences through distribution and marketing efforts. We envision Grendizer U in its new rendition to ignite inspiration among tomorrow’s heroes worldwide.”
The genesis of this revival traces back to a strategic partnership announced in 2022 between Dynamic Planning and Manga Productions, facilitating the licensing of Grendizer for utilisation in products and characters across cities and entertainment events globally, excluding Japan. This alliance culminated in the unveiling of the colossal “Grendizer” statue in Riyadh, earning a coveted spot in the Guinness World Records as the tallest metal statue of a fictional character, towering over 33 meters tall. The series’ first teaser premiered at the AkibaDaisuki Festival in Tokyo in August 2023, followed by the release of the inaugural promotional video in December of the same year. Last year witnessed the launch of the game “UFO Robot Grendizer: The Feast of the Wolves” in the Middle East and North Africa, developed in collaboration with the French company Microids.
According to the official English trailer on Manga Productions’ YouTube channel, the new series draws inspiration from Go Nagai’s UFO Robo Grendizer. The second promotional video introduces the stellar lineup behind Grendizer U, spearheaded by General Director Mitsuo Fukuda. Notable contributors include Ichiro Okouchi for Series Composition and Screenplay, Tatsuhito Higuchi for Script, Yoshiyuki Sadamoto for Character Design, and Mari Araki for Sub-character Design. Mechanical Design is crafted by Wataru Inata, AF_KURO, and Junichi Akutsu (Astrays), with Design Works by Pinakes, Tomoyuki Aoki, Zenseava, and Masato Yoshinaga.
The animation team features Hiroyuki Taiga, Takashi Hashimoto, Masahiro Yamane, and Toru Yoshida. The series boasts Art Direction by Hiroshi Kato and Hirofumi Sakagami (Totonyan), vibrant colour design by Tomoe Yoshimura, and cinematography by Atsushi Usuta (Nexus). Yukio Nagasaki serves as Sound Director, with Sound Effects crafted by Toshiya Wada and Maki Takuma (Swara Pro). The musical score is composed by Kohei Tanaka, with Music Production overseen by PONY CANYON, and Animation Production undertaken by GAINA.
The storyline of Grendizer U unfolds with the mysterious arrival of a man in the desert devoid of memories. Rescued by Koji Kabuto and dubbed Daisuke, this enigmatic figure earns Koji’s trust despite his shadowy past and remarkable abilities. As tranquillity envelops their days, an unforeseen phenomenon descends upon major cities worldwide—the Vega Star Alliance, a formidable military force hailing from a distant star system. Earth finds itself outmatched by Vega’s superior weaponry, prompting the emergence of Mazinger Z as humanity’s final bastion against the onslaught of saucer beasts. Amidst the chaos, a legendary hero emerges from obscurity, with Daisuke revealing himself as Duke Fleed, the exiled prince of planet Fleed, ready to confront destiny aboard the iconic Grendizer.
