Mazinger Z: Difference between revisions

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Along with his brother Shiro, Kouji takes Mazinger, reaches the Photoatomic Research Institute directed by Juuzou's former right hand man Dr. Gennosuke Yumi, who practically adopts the boy. Eventually he's pitted in a continuous battle against Dr. Hell, presented in a good ol' [[Monster of the Week]] fashion.

''Mazinger Z'' was followed by ''[[Great Mazinger]]'' and ''[[UFO Robo Grendizer]]''. However, being a forty-years-old [[Long Runner]], it has got many sequels, spin-offs and remakes throughout four decades:

 

* ''[[Great Mazinger]]'': The first sequel, narrating the rise of the Mykene Empire after the [[Final Battle]] against Dr. Hell, and the battles between them and Tetsuya Tusurgi, Great Mazinger's pilot. the anime was produced by [[Toei]] and Dynamic Planning, and it was broadcast for first time by Fuji TV in 1974. Two manga versions were produced in 1975. One of them was written by [[Go Nagai]] and it is two-volumes-long, and the second was written by [[Gosaku Ota]], and it is also four-volumes-long (and it features a pretty different ending).

* ''[[UFO Robo Grendizer]]'': The last series of the original trilogy, it narrates how Kouji Kabuto found Duke Fleed and Grendizer, and how they fought together against the [[Alien Invasion]] from the planet Vega. The anime was produced by [[Toei]] and Dynamic Planning, and it premiered in Fuji TV in 1975. Grendizer had THREE manga versions in 1976: [[Go Nagai]] version is two-volumes-long; [[Gosaku Ota]] version is three-volumes-long; and [[Hidearu Imamichi]] version is comprised of one single volume.

* ''[[God Mazinger]]'': It has nothing to do with the original series, but originally it was meant to be its sequel. However the idea was discarded, and the other two series were made instead. Hibino Yamato, a Japanese [[Ordinary High School Student]] has frequent hallucinations about a weird world: the Kingdom of Mu, a world resembles ancient Greek. Suddenly he is forcefully thrown into that world through a dimensional portal to relive God Mazinger, a giant stone statue where inhabits a [[Physical God]] only can be awoken by the chosen one. Hibino is led to its presence to wake up the giant, fuse with it spiritually and fight together a threat is invading the kingdom. It was produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha and Dynamic Planning, and aired by Nippon TV in 1984. A manga based on it was produced in 1984: ten volumes were published by Kadokawa Shoten and four volumes by Shogakukan.

* ''[[Mazinkaiser]]'': Following the success of ''[[Super Robot Wars]]'', and the Mazinger Z upgrade Mazinkaiser created for the series, this anime received a retelling in 2001 as an OVA series, ''[[Mazinkaiser]]'', which introduces said mecha into the Mazinger canon. The OVA also featured the characters from the second of the trilogy, ''[[Great Mazinger]]''. [[Go Nagai]] published an alternate one-shot in 2001, but in 2003, was published one volume adapted the OVA history, written by [[Go Nagai]] and drawn by [[Naoto Tsushima]].

* ''[[Mazinkaiser SKL]]'': Made in 2011, it has nothing to do with the formers series. A digital manga based on this story was made, by [[Go Nagai]] and [[Kazumi Hoshi]].

 

Other than in all [[Super Robot Wars]] games, ''Mazinger Z'' also appears in several videogames: Mazinger Z, a Beat'-Em-Up for [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]; Mazinger Z, an arcade Shoot'-Em-Up featuring all robots in the trilogy; Mazin Saga Mutant Fighter, a Beat'-Em-Up for Genesis based on the [[Mazin Saga]] manga; and CB Chara Wars, an action game based on the [[CB Chara Go Nagai World]] OVA.

 

== A-H ==

* [[Abusive Parents]] <- -> [[Parents as People]]: Prof. Yumi suffers from this. Though he does care for her, [[Parental Neglect|throughout the series he rather neglected Sayaka]]. It was obvious his family was less important to him than his career, and often he was absent when her daughter needed him. Likewise, his niece Yuri is a conceited, cranky, brat, and he explains that is cause her parents never have time for her. YMMV if this is caused by the huge number of problems that is caused by Doctor Hell, [[Married to the Job|forcing him to work harder -- and likely much harder than he may have wanted.]]

** A bigger example is {{spoiler|Kenzo Kabuto. He almost died cause a laboratory experiment gone wrong, but his father saved his life. However both of them thought it would be better not telling Kouji and Shiro -- Kenzo's sons -- he had survived. For YEARS Kouji and Shiro grew up mostly alone, thinking their father died alongside their mother while he was building a [[Humongous Mecha]] to defend humankind. When Kenzo revealed the truth to them,}} Kouji was too glad to hold a grudge, but Shiro took a long while until before he could forgive him. Also, {{spoiler|Kenzo had no troubles slapping his adoptive son when he thought Tetsuya was crossing the line.}} All of it finally bit everyone's butts at the end of the series.

** Justified, {{spoiler|considering what happened in the series, its rather understandable why he didn't reveal himself to be alive, since he took care of Tetsuya and Jun}}. How he treated Tetsuya on the other hand, is a good example. During one the first chapter of the manga, he ordered Tetsuya to throw his doubt and attack the enemy who hold Jun hostage(which is not only his love interest, shes technically his family). Sure, Tetsuya is a trained soldier, but the way that Tetsuya reacts shows how much of a [[Sadistic Choice]] it really is.

* [[Abusive Precursors]]: The Mykene Empire.

* [[Accidental Pervert]]: It happened several times, not only to Kouji but also to Sayaka. One example of it was original manga's episode 8 when they saw each other naked in the hot springs. Curiously there was not slapping or reproaching. After the initials screams they calmed down and apologized at each other. It was even cute.

** And in the Mazinger vs Great General of Darkness movie, Kouji accidentally walked in Sayaka when she was having a shower in one of the first scenes. This time he was slapped.

* [[Action Girl]]: Sayaka was among the first action-geared ladies in Japanese anime

* [[Adaptation Distillation]]: Seeing [[Pragmatic Adaptation]] below.

* [[Advanced Ancient Acropolis]]: The Mykene inhabited the Greek island of Bardos. Their technologic level was miles ahead of any other culture of the same time, and the rest of the world would need millennia to catch up. However, one earthquake shook their island and destroyed their cities, and they were forced to seek shelter underground. They founded another civilization [[Beneath the Earth]], but on the surface the only remainder left of their presence were abandoned, decaying ruins, and old legends about the [[Humongous Mecha]] they used to defend their land.

* [[All Your Base Are Belong to Us]]: The Institute is a preferred attack target.

* [[All Your Colors Combined]]: The Mazinger trilogy series have extensively played with this trope:

** Great Mazinger and ''[[Getter Robo]]'' have also combined their attacks in several movies.

** The ''[[Super Robot Wars]]'' games have exploited this. When several of the [[Go Nagai]] mechas show up in the same game, they are given combination attacks. It is usually called Final Dynamic Special, and it is always impressive: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfEIAKpJP14\].

* [[Ancestral Weapon]]: Kouji probably counts, if you count his grandpa's {{spoiler|and his dad's}} ''giant robot'' as an ancestral weapon.

** And in the second chapter of ''[[Shin Mazinger Zero]]'' she {{spoiler|falteringly uttered she loved Kouji}} shortly before {{spoiler|dying.}}

* [[Animal Mecha]]: Several Mechanical Beasts resembled animals (insects, crabs, birds, whales, seahorses...), specially the Beasts commanded by Gorgon, which looked like mythological creatures (dragons, harpies...).

** [[Phlebotinum Battery]]: Mazinger Z runs on an engine powered by Photon Atomic engine. When it runs out of Photon energy, it ceases functioning and it has to be replenished to work again. Great Mazinger and Mazinkaiser also works with a Photon engine. Grendizer works with the same principle but different energy source.

* [[Arc Words]]: "When you pilot Mazinger, you can become a god or a devil."

* [[Armor-Piercing Slap]]: Kouji, being a tactless [[Idiot Hero]], finds himself in the receiving end of these rather often.

* [[Asskicking Pose]]: Mazinger-Z asskicking pose was pretty simple: upon activation, the robot flexed its arms over its head. Most likely it is a [[Shout-Out]] to ''[[Gigantor]]'', what did the same thing. ''[[Great Mazinger]]'' and ''[[UFO Robo Grendizer]]'', on the other hand, had not one.

** And in another episode, Kouji and Sayaka got an actually serious fight, and Sayaka refused to back him up in battle. When he was seriously injured, Sayaka took care of him in the hospital and kissed him in his comatose sleep.

* [[Badass Biker]]: Kouji. Boss also ''arguably'' counts.

* [[Badass in Distress]]: Although he undoubtedly is a [[Badass]], and he is a competent fighter can take care of himself even when he is outside of his [[Humongous Mecha]], Kouji often needed being rescued either because he had fallen into a trap or because the odds were brutally against him. It happened in all series in the trilogy and in [[Mazinkaiser]], but it was specially glaring in ''[[UFO Robo Grendizer]]'', where he was demoted from [[The Hero]] to [[The Lancer]], and instead of a [[Humongous Mecha]] he piloted a support unit. However usually he was saved by a [[Big Damn Heroes]] moment from Sayaka, Boss, Tetsuya or Duke, so even when he was in danger, usually it ended up in a [[Crowning Moment of Awesome]].

* [[Baka]]: Sayaka calls this to Kouji when he gets her angry... which happens often.

* [[Bash Brothers]]: Kouji and Boss (when they were not fighting), Kouji and [[Great Mazinger|Tetsuya]] (when they were not arguing) and Kouji and [[UFO Robo Grendizer|Duke]].

* [[Batman Gambit]]: Kouji used several throughout the whole trilogy, often mixing them with [[Crazy Enough to Work]]. For example, in one chapter a Mechanical Beast -Kirma K5- sliced a chunk of one Mazinger-Z's wing during an aerial battle. Kouji could not balance his [[Humongous Mecha]] and he fell towards the ground. Then he ''goaded'' Kirma into attacking him again, and positioned Mazinger so his foe's [[Sinister Scythe]] sliced a chunk of the another wing. Now the Mazinger wings were the same length again, and his enemy was nearby, he could balance Mazinger back and grab Kirma. As he was beating the crap out of the [[Robeast]] he gloated it should have let him drop.

* [[Battle Couple]]: Sayaka and Kouji, at their best.

* [[Beam-O-War]]: Sometimes Mazinger Z and a [[Robeast|Mechanical Beast]] engaged in this, and usually Kouji used Mazinger's [[Chest Blaster|Breast Fire]] to couterattack their energy beams or waves. Some examples happened in episode 11 (against Brighton J2) and episode 30 (against Brutus M3).

* [[Becoming the Mask]]: {{spoiler|Erika.}} She was a android built by Dr. Hell. However, she suffered from amnesia and had forgotten her origins. She genuinely believed she was a normal girl, and when she was told her true nature, she rejected it. And the end she helped Kouji {{spoiler|and she died cause it.}}

* [[Beehive Barrier]]: The Photonic Research Institute uses a energy barrier to protect the facility when under attack.

* [[Beneath the Earth]]: Not surprisingly, Mazinger Z introduced this trope in [[Humongous Mecha]] anime. The Mykene were a civilization lived and thrived in the Greek island of Bardos millennia ago, using [[Humongous Mecha|mechanical giants]] [[Chest Blaster|blast fire from their chests]] to protecting their land from invaders. An earthquake destroyed their island and forced them to seek shelter underground. They lived below Earth for millennia, building their cities in networks of subterranean tunnels and caverns and grafting their bodies into [[Humongous Mecha]] to survive.

* [[Berserk Button]]: Kouji has several of them: insulting his grandfather, hurting Sayaka, harming innocents... Sayaka also gets easily mad when someone mocks her skills or makes [[Stay in the Kitchen]] statements directed to her (needless to say, Kouji pressed her [[Berserk Button]] constantly).

** And in the ''[[Shin Mazinger Zero]]'' manga, you do NOT try and harm Sayaka. Otherwise, Kouji... [[Understatement|will not be nice to you]].

* [[Between My Legs]]: The intro of the show... with [[Humongous Mecha]] instead of [[The Vamp]].

* [[Big Eater]]: Kouji and Boss.

* [[Big No]]: Kouji utters one when his grandfather dies.

* [[The Blade Always Lands Pointy End In]]: It happened every so often, but not so often like in the sequel.

** As mazin sounds like majin (demon god) this may explain why Mazinger is translated as Tall Evil God.

** Crabstick. Asia directs the beast king armies of Dr. Hill with its Crabstick.

* [[Boss Subtitles]]: Every time a Kikaiju appeared for first time, its name was splashed on the screen. Two exceptions were Zaila and Danchel, since the title stated their names but not their respective letter/number code. [[All There in the Manual|You would have to read any of the Mazinger-related books]] for finding out.

* [[Bragging Theme Tune]]

* [[Brainy Brunette]]: Professor Gennosuke Yumi and his daughter, Sayaka. Yumi is a [[Badass Bookworm]], and although Sayaka is an [[Action Girl]], she is pretty smart and knowledgeable.

* [[Bratty Half-Pint]]: Yuri, Sayaka's cousin. She showed up in episode 23. [[The Woobie|She was a wheelchair-bound little girl felt lonely because her parents were never at home;]] so she refused training her legs because she wanted people looked to her, and she demanded all paid attention to her and oblige her whims (she seemed having a crush on Kouji, too). Needless to say, she got in big trouble, that led to a [[It's All My Fault]] moment.

* [[Breast Expansion]]: In a rare, non-human example Aphrodite A once got this. Kouji thought it would help to fight a flying mechanical beast (Gelbros J3). [[It Makes Sense in Context]].

* [[Breath Weapon]]: Rust Hurricane. Mazinger blows a jet of particle-charged wind from its mouth grill that corrodes the enemy into nothingness. Many Mechanical Beasts also had breath-based attacks, usually expelling out fire, acid or even poison.

* [[Character Title]]: Take a guess.

* [[Chest Blaster]]: "Breast Fire!"

* [[Climactic Volcano Backdrop]]: Several climatic battles happened next to volcanoes and lava pools. In episode 25 Kouji fought Aeros B2 and B3 next to Mount Fuji's crater, and lava bubbled and spilled out of the pool as they brawled, threatening with engulfing them. In one manga chapter penned by Gosaku Ota, Kouji and Holzon V3 battle took place into the crater of Mount Fuji, with the sheer walls of the volcano as background, toxic fumes rising and swirling around them and magma sizzling and churning under their feet. And then you have the episode where Mazinger-Z got dunked in lava...

* [[Clingy Jealous Girl]]: Sayaka, sometimes. The most egregious example, though, is "Minerva X", a Sentient Mecha that loves Mazinger Z and is openly jealous of Sayaka's Aphrodite A.

* [[Combat Pragmatist]]: Koji, like you wouldn't believe. In his first appearance, in which he just received Mazinger. his fight is filled by abusing the fact that Mazinger really IS invincible(at least for that point). During his second appearance, he is not above tricking his opponent to think that he gives up the fight only to kick ass. And he does this several time during the course of the series.

** Let's think of it, is there some [[Go Nagai]] character is NOT a [[Combat Pragmatism]]? Kouji, [[Great Mazinger|Tetsuya]], [[Devilman|Akira]], [[Cutey Honey|Honey]], [[Dororon Enma-kun|Enma-kun]]... Neither of them seems worried about fighting fairly.

* [[Combat Tentacles]]: Several Mechanical Beasts: Stronger T4, Megaron P1 and its "siblings", Gambina M5... And in ''[[Shin Mazinger Zero]]'' {{spoiler|Juzo Kabuto.}}

* [[Combining Mecha]]: Mazinger-Z is the first example -not surprise here- of this trope in [[Humongous Mecha]] anime, being of the Mecha Expansion Pack Augment kind: the robot is powered by dropping a small aircraft (the Hover Pilder) onto its head. And then it is combined with a [[Jet Pack]] to allow it fly.

* [[Cool Airship]]: Guru, Count Brocken's aerial fortress. It appears for first time at the episode 40.

* [[Cool Bike]]: Kouji is a [[Go Nagai]] main character. [[Go Nagai]] main characters ride bikes. Sayaka and Boss also ride bikes.

* [[Cool Helmet]]: Kouji and Sayaka wear one. Kouji began wearing it (along his [[Latex Space Suit]]) after his first battles since his head got hit several times.

* [[Cool Ship]]: Salude and Bood, Baron Ashura's submarine fortresses.

** [[Underwater Base]]

* [[Crazy Prepared]]: In one episode, an enemy was unceasingly shooting missiles at the Hover Pilder to preventing Kouji from docking with Mazinger. Kouji pressed a button, and his vehicle let go a trail of smoke to make the enemy believing he had been shot down and having him stopping to shoot as he docked.

* [[Crossover]]: with [[Devilman]] in the Mazinger Z vs Devilman movie; with [[Devilman]] and [[Violence Jack]] in the [[CB Chara Go Nagai World]] OVA series (with cameos from a few other Nagai series); with [[Great Mazinger]], [[UFO Robo Grendizer|Grendizer]], [[Getter Robo]] and [[Kotetsu Jeeg]] in the [[Ken Ishikawa]]'s manga Super Robo Retsuden; and with [[Great Mazinger]], [[UFO Robo Grendizer]], [[Getter Robo|Getter Robo, Getter Robo G]], [[Devilman]] and [[Cutey Honey]] in the Dynamic Heroes e-manga (also known as Nagai Go Manga Gaiden - Dynamic Heroes or Go Nagai manga heroes crossover collection - Dynamic Heroes), an e-manga released in 2004 and later compiled in tankoubon.

* [[Crucified Hero Shot]]: Both Kouji and Mazinger are subjected to this several times in the course of the series. So did Shiro, Boss, Nuke and Much. Ashura seemed to love this Trope. Also, {{spoiler|[[Devilman]]}} himself in the movie Mazinger vs Devilman.

* [[Cut Lex Luthor a Check]]: Dr. Hell is wealthy enough to build dozens of giant, humanoids war machines, Doomsday weapons, squad of cyborgs, several HQ, aircrafts, submarines... It was kind of [[Justified Trope|justified]] in the Ota's manga when Dr. Hell revealed {{spoiler|shortly after finding the old Mykene's mechanical warriors, Count Brocken took over several ancient European [[The Mafia|Mafia]] in order to earn cash for Hell.}}

* {{spoiler|[[Daddy Had a Good Reason For Abandoning You]]:}} It is both played straight and subverted:

** It is played straight with Kenzo. His sons, Kouji and Shiro grew up believing their parents had died cause a laboratory experiment that went wrong. {{spoiler|However, Kenzo's father saved his son's life by turning him into a cyborg. However, neither of them told Kouji and Shiro he was alive because Kenzo was going to build a [[Humongous Mecha]] to repel the Mykene invasion they predicted, and train its pilot. And both his father and he wanted to shield Kouji and Shiro from danger and psychological shock.}} It was not a bad reason, even if it was somewhat weak because Juzo was also building another [[Humongous Mecha]] and he raised them, even if he hired a maid because he was nearly always absent. {{spoiler|When Kenzo revealed the truth to his little son, it took a long while for Shiro forgiving him. Though Kouji forgave him right away.}}

* [[Dangerously Genre Savvy]]: The Kikaiju Grengus C3. It confronted Mazinger-Z in a lake. The first thing it did was violently hitting the water's surface to splash the Pilder's glass cockpit. So Kouji was unable to see its attack and prepare for it.

* [[Darkest Hour]]: Its [[Darkest Hour]] happened in episode 92, but the Mazinger vs Great General of Darkness expanded upon it and turned it even more tragic: The army of Mykene Empire struck, easily razing several big cities (Londo, New York, Moscow...) to ruins. When they raided Tokyo, Kouji flew to fight them... and got the crap beaten out of him. When he returned to the Institute, he found out several Mykene Beasts had smashed the place, destroying Sayaka and Boss's [[Humongous Mecha]]. And Shiro, his little brother, had been hurt when a ceiling collapsed, and he urgently needed a blood transfusion. In spite of he was weak -and he was underage- Kouji DID demand they used his blood. Later, at the night, he was sitting in what was left of his bedroom, observing a picture of his father and his grandfather and crying [[Manly Tears]] as he muttered the Mykene Beasts would return, and he could not win, but he would fight even though he knew he was going to die (unbeknownst to him, sayaka was observing him, shedding tears as she heard him talking).

* [[Death From Above]]: Jenova M9 was a [[Robeast]] could shoot an enemy down [[Improbable Aiming Skills|several milles away]]. It tried to shoot [[The Hero|Kouji Kabuto]] down from the atmosphere, where neither him nor Mazinger-Z could reach it.

* [[Destructive Saviour]]: This trope was played tragically. As soon as the first episode we could see how destructive Mazinger-Z may be (in the original manga, [[Unbuilt Trope|Kouji destroyed half city]] [[Falling Into the Cockpit|as he was trying figuring out how handling the damned machine]]. In the anime series he activated Mazinger on an unpopulated area; still, he destroyed his grandfather's lab, went on a rampage through the landscape and nearly got his little brother killed). When Kouji and Sayaka battle a [[Robeast|Mechanical Beast]], usually there is not much left of the battlefield in the wake of the fight. And when it is a city, buildings crumble down and people dies. As soon as the episode 7 it was shown people did NOT appreciate this and as far as they were concerned, Mazinger-Z was just so bad like Dr. Hell's Mechnical Beasts.

* [[Detachment Combat]]: Several of the giant robots fought by Mazinger Z had this ability: Deimos F3, Velgas V5 (its parts had individual rocket propulsion and could attack separately), and a third one. Mazinger Z itself and one of its successors, ''[[Mazinkaiser]]'', also did it sometimes (detaching [[Mid-Season Upgrade|the]] [[Razor Wings|Scrander Jet/Scrander Kaiser]] off themselves. Moreover, Mazinkaiser used its wings like a cutting, oversized boomerang).

* [[The Determinator]]: Kouji never gives up. Not even when he is going against several [[Robeast|Kikaiju]] at once. Not even when the [[Robeast]] is completely impervious to his [[Humongous Mecha]]'s attacks. Not even when it has abilities his robot could not match (he faced submarine and flying Kikaiju long before Mazinger got upgraded to be able to fly or swim or got weapons worked under water or in air). Not even when he is buried under rubble. Not even when he gets dumped into a freaking volcano! Not matter the odds, he will think fast, analyze his foe (and its weapons and capabilities), come up with a plan or cheat like crazy.

** The only way you can get him stopping to fight is holding someone hostage. And even then he will try to exploit any edge to release the hostage and giving you a sound trashing.

* [[Delinquents]]: The [[Moral Guardians]] of the era didn't like Kouji, because he skipped school and used rough language.

* [[Disposable Woman]]: Rumi was the maid Prof. Kabuto had hired to take care of his grandsons while he was creating Mazinger Z. She was cold-bloodly murdered by Baron Ashura less than five minutes after her first appearance. Kouji and Shiro cried when they found the corpse, but she was not mentioned again after the first episode.

* [[Distaff Counterpart]]: Aphrodite A and Diana A; Minerva X is a greater example, since it is quite literally a feminine version of Mazinger.

* [[Distracted by the Sexy]]: It happened fairly often in the manga. Usually was Sayaka the one did the -unwilling- distraction -either because her clothes were torn or because she was involuntarily naked-, but sometimes it was done by enemies to distract Kouji. The Gamia sisters come to mind...

* [[Do-Anything Robot]]: Mazinger Z has weapons to solve nearly any situation it can find (although it helps Mazinger is piloted by a quick-thinking [[Genius Ditz]] is able of devising new strategies -or ways to get himself out of trouble- on the fly), and throughout the series it gets upgraded equiped to combat at any enviroment.

* [[The Dog Shot First]]: Inverted. In the ''Mazinkaiser'' OVA, {{spoiler|Doctor Hell dies because his base exploded while he was trying to escape.}} When Go Nagai penned the ''Mazinkaiser'' manga, {{spoiler|Kouji shoots him in an abrupt, albeit iconic and stylized, sequence.}}

* [[Do Not Adjust Your Set]]: Done as soon as the SECOND episode, when Baron Ashura announced the world belonged to Dr. Hell henceforth and all who opposed to him (i. e.: Mazinger-Z and the Photonic Research Institute) would be destroyed. Since then it was often employed by Dr. Hell and Baron Ashura to threaten, make demands, blackmail the Japanese Government, spreading lies and misinformation about the heroes and -successfully- scare people away in making their biding. In ''[[Great Mazinger]]'', Great Marshall Of Hell was the only Mykene commander broadcast his demands by TV, showing {{spoiler|Dr. Hell did not lose that custom even after dying and being brought back to life.}}

* [[Doomsday Device]]: Several of them. Dr. Hell -and sometimes Ashura- loved to build them (and in the manga of [[Gosaku Ota]], he stated he was already working on them when he working for Hitler, but he kept them for himself. He also claimed if he would have revealed all his inventions, Germany would have won the war).

** In ''[[Great Mazinger]]'', [[The Dragon|Great Marshall of Hell]] {{spoiler|a revived Dr. Hell grafted into a [[Humongous Mecha]]}} kept on that tradition. One of those devices -appeared only in one of the manga versions- was a giant, ice lens orbited around Earth and worked like a [[Kill Sat]].

* [[Downer Ending]]: The original series ended with {{spoiler|Kouji killing Dr. Hell. However, the Mykene Empire -that had been awaiting for one of their enemies destroying the other- struck inmediately, razing to rubble several major cities -New York, London, Paris, Moscow and Tokyo-, bringing down the Photon Power Research Institute, destroying Diana-A, Boss Borot and Mazinger-Z itself. Kouji almost died, and he was saved by Tetsuya Tesurugi pulling off a [[Big Damn Heroes]] moment with ''[[Great Mazinger]]''. The series ended with the humanity on the brink of being wiped out as several characters told Mazinger-Z was now useless. And later, in ''[[Great Mazinger]]'', Dr. Hell returned, showing Kouji's efforts and struggle had been all for nothing.}} It was even worse in several retelling of the series:

** In ''[[Shin Mazinger Zero]]'', the characters are locked in a [[Groundhog Day]] time loop where {{spoiler|Mazinger-Z has became a demon/EldritchAbomination and destroyed the world.}} It has happened 2,977 times so far...

* [[The Dragon]]: Baron Ashura.

* [[Drives Like Crazy]]: Koji is a not a bad driver. Oh, no. In fact, when he drives he is the only person on the road is absolutely safe. He is a [[Badass Biker]] believes traffic regulations are mere suggestions, limit speed is a myth and bikes were made to pull crazy stunts with them.

* [[Dropping the Bombshell]]: Kouji and Tetsuya talk after {{spoiler|the later saved the former's life by pulling a [[Big Damn Heroes]] moment}}:

'''Kouji''': It is WHAT? }}

* [[Dug Too Deep]]: An archaelogical expedition researching ancient ruins in the Greek Island of Bardos went too deep in the underground mazes of the island and found an army of [[Humongous Mecha]]. Subverted, since Dr. Hell ''hoped'' finding them and using them to further his goals. Also, when Hell seized those robots, he drew the attention of the Mykene Empire -[[Beneath the Earth|an ancient civilization had been forced to live underground]]- and they decided return to the surface ''quite'' violently.

* [[Everything's Better with Dinosaurs]]: In ''[[God Mazinger]]'', the [[Big Bad]] used an army of dinosaurs.

* [[Everything's Better with Princesses]]: In several series there is at least one princess:

** ''[[God Mazinger]]'': Princess Aira, who ruled the kingdom of Mu alongside her father.

* [[Evil Is Hammy]]: Dr. Hell.

* [[Eye Beams]]: "Koushiryoku Beeeeeeeeeam!"

** [[The Dark Chick]]: Viscount Pygman. He was not a girl but [[Captain Ethnic|he definitely]] [[Body Horror|stood out]] and he definitely was considered a freak. His skills, abilities and powers were also very different of his colleagues' ones.

* [[Flat What]]: In a chapter of ''[[Shin Mazinger Zero]]'', Kouji and Minerva-X are together inside the cockpit. During the battle Minerva lands on Kouji on a ''very awkward and embarassing'' position. Sayaka -who has just arrived and destroyed three Mechanical beasts in a fit of jealous rage- sees him, and they -after displayin a tremendously comical [[Oh Crap]] stares- try to explain it is not what it seems, and Minerva is not human but she actually is a Super Robo created by [[The Professor]] Dr. Kabuto to be Mazinger-Z's partner. Sayaka's reaction?

* [[Flying Brick]]: Mazinger Z after its [[Mid-Season Upgrade]], but also several Kikaiju. one of the worst offenders was Jinray S1 (It flew at Match-5 speed when Mazinger could not fly yet, it threw bolts of lightning, and [[Macross Missile Massacre|shot missiles]])

* [[Forgotten Phlebotinum]]: It was played straight often. Many times Dr. Hell came up with a [[Robeast|Mechanical Beast]] equiped with a weapon put Kouji or Mazinger-Z in a serious disadvantage: Gromazen R9 shot an acid could melt Aphrodite A's armor (that was made of Japanium, although it was less tough than Mazinger Z's), Kingdan X10 projected mirages, Holzon V3 set eathquakes off, Jinray S1 flew at Match 5, Aeros B2 could absorb Mazinger's attacks and hurling them back, Desma A1 caused hallucinations, Gumbina M5 was nearly invulnerable... and they were not used again. However, sometimes Dr. Hell reused and improved some strategies or weapons, or deceived the enemy in believing he was using the same trick.

* [[Forgotten Superweapon]]: In episode 10 Mazinger-Z shot missiles from its fingers. That weapon never showed up again. It is somewhat subverted, though, since it was not so useful and Mazinger-Z had better and more powerful weapons, so it is likelier than the animators realized it was silly placing missiles in the fingers of a [[Rocket Punch]], and they chose to forget about it and replace them with weapons were not [[Awesome but Impractical]].

* [[Freeze Ray]]: one of the weapons of Mazinger Z: its helmet's horns shoot freezing beams tat turn the enemy into a chunk of frozen, brittle ice. It is called [[Calling Your Attacks|REITOU BEAM!!!]]

* [[Freudian Excuse]]: Dr. Hell was an a unwanted child -a fact his mother took great pains to remind him of constantly-. When he was a school student, he was constantly belittled by professors (who believed it was impossible he got those marks without cheating) and beaten by his schoolmates. When he was in college, he took pride on his grades... and then a foreign student (Juzo Kabuto, Kouji's Grandfather) surpassed him easily before wooing the woman he was in love with. After saving a little girl and being beaten up by her father (since he falsely believed he was molesting her), he declared he was sick of it all and one day everybody would [[Kneel Before Zod|kneel to him]]. And then Nazism happened and he... got tips.

* [[Get a Hold of Yourself, Man!]]: Subverted. Sometimes Kouji slapped Sayaka to try to calm her down or get her out of a [[Heroic BSOD]] (it happened as soon as episode 7). However, given that he is ''infamously'' tactless, it did not work. The only thing it accomplished was getting her mad -or madder-.

* [[Giant Robot Hands Save Lives]]: Several examples. A particularly awesome instance happened in the episode 28 when Mazinger Z saved {{spoiler|Professor Yumi}} with a Rocket Punch when he was falling down a cliff. In the Ota equivalent manga chapter, he was faling from a flying fortress and Aphrodite A was the one caught him.

* [[Give Me a Sword]]: In ''Mazinger-Z vs Great General of Darkness'', Kouji has been defeated by the Mykene War Beasts, his [[Humongous Mecha]] is utterly trashed, it barely functions, and its weapons are useless. [[Big Damn Heroes|Then Tetsuya shows up piloting Great Mazinger]], and as he begins to deliver a sound beating, he throws one of his swords at Mazinger-Z saying "You can use this" ([[Throwing Your Sword Always Works|and conveniently and intentionally impaling a Warbeast]]). Kouji catches the sword, and even though his [[Humongous Mecha]] is barely capable to move, he still manage to destroy one of the Mykene War Beasts, and he impales the Mykene commander was leading the squad. The sword was returned to Great Mazinger afterwards, along a heartfelt "Thank you".

* [[Giving Someone the Pointer Finger]]: Kouji ''loves'' doing this.

* [[Good Wings, Evil Wings]]: Mazinger-Z's [[Mid-Season Upgrade]] was a [[Jet Pack]] equipped with red, metallic -and [[Razor Wings|razor]]- wings. Many flying [[Robeast|Mechanical Beasts]] were also equipped with all sort of wings: bat wings (Deimos F3, Deviler X1), bird wings (Harpy X7), manta ray wings...

* [[Gratuitous English]]: The Toei dub has theme songs sung entirely in English by famed anime singer Isao Sasaki.

** Though not nearly as gratuitous as the version Ichiro Mizuki did, which was pretty much nonsensical.

* [[Green Aesop]]: Several times we were given messages about the dangers of depleting the planet's natural resources and polluting the enviroment. They were not subtle. [[Anvilicious|AT ALL]].

* [[Gonk]]: Boss.

* [[Gundamjack]]: After a fashion. Minerva X was designed by Professor Kabuto, but never actually built; Dr. Hell got his hands on the plans and constructed Minerva, using mundane armor materials instead of [[Unobtanium|Super Alloy Z]], and installing an AI "crown" piece in place of a Pilder.

** In episode 27, Ashura captures Aphrodite A and scans it in order to learn how building a photong engine. He hands over the records to an Iron Mask and commands him go and hand them out to Dr. Hell. Though, a Kikaiju -that had been deployed by Ashura to delay Mazinger Z- is returning to base right on that moment, and steps on the Iron Mask, killing him and ruining the records.

* [[Home Base]]: The Photon Atomic Research Institute was the heroes's base where they kept the [[Humongous Mecha]] and all tools they needed to repair them and upgrade them. Originally it was a civilian use building -a laboratory researched the newly discovered Photon Atomic energy-, but Dr. Hell pretty much forced them to make some modifications (such like installing a [[Beehive Barrier]]). Over the half of the series, [[The Hero]] and his little brother moved to the Institute, making the example even more literal. [[Big Bad]] Dr. Hell had two [[Supervillain Lair]]: Bardos Island And Hell Island. Both of them counted like [[Elaborate Underground Base]], [[Island Base]] and [[Mad Scientist Laboratory]].

* [[Hot-Blooded]]: Koji is the ''posterboy'' for this.

* [[Hotblooded Sideburns]]: But of course!

* [[Huge Guy, Tiny Girl]]: Inverted in ''[[New Mazinger]]''. Major Kabuto is human-sized. Princess Krishna is Mazinger-sized (around eighteen-meters tall). He -understandably- complains she is the most beautiful woman he has found, but they are the wrong size.

* [[In Name Only]]: [[Go Nagai]]'s manga and anime series, [[God Mazinger]] has aboslutely nothing to do with Mazinger whatsoever. The original concept was intended to be a Mazinger sequel, though.

* [[Indy Ploy]]: Kouji is able to think strategically and plotting strategies beforehand. However, given his rash, hotheaded nature, he is VERY prone to impulsively leap into a dangerous situation and figuring out along the way how he will walk out of it alive. These [http://www.mangago.com/r/l_manga/manga/mazinger_z_relic_of_terror/mf/manga/mazinger_z_relic_of_terror/c000/26/ two] [http://www.mangago.com/r/l_manga/manga/mazinger_z_relic_of_terror/mf/manga/mazinger_z_relic_of_terror/c000/27/ pages] of the "Mazinger Z: Relic of Terror" one-shot are a godd example:

'''Kouji:''' I'll find out along the way! }}

* [[Inferiority Superiority Complex]]: {{spoiler|Tetsuya}} had this IN SPADES.

* [[Inventional Wisdom]]: In one of the versions of the story there was one lever on Hell Island served to launch the island spacewards and detonate it. Dr. Hell used it to {{spoiler|try to}} [[Taking You with Me|take Mazinger Z with him]] when he realized the battle was lost. It happened in [[Gosaku Ota]]'s manga version.

* [[It's All About Me]]: Dr. Hell wants to rule over the entire world because he got fed up with being insulted, scorned, envied and beaten when he was young, and he wants to purge the world out of idiots and forcing the survivors to [[Kneel Before Zod|kneel before him]]. Likewise, when he was a college student, he befriended Juzo Kabuto. When he realized the woman he loved was in love with Kenzo, he convinced himself they had pretended being his friends planning to backstab him later. [[Love Makes You Evil|The result]] [[Love Makes You Crazy|was]]... [[Understatement|not pretty]].

* [[Jet Pack]]: Mazinger-Z's [[Mid-Season Upgrade]] was a [[Jet Pack]] with red wings docked with Mazinger-Z. It was yellow with red [[Razor Wings]] and could shoot star-shaped shurikens to whoever tried attack Mazinger-Z from back. Its name was Jet Scrander.

* [[Kangaroo Court]]: In one episode Baron Ashura had trapped Kouji and decided "judging" him, playing judge, jury and executioner.

* [[Latex Space Suit]]: The pilot suits for both male and female characters.

* [[Lava Adds Awesome]]: Mazinger-Z's [[Home Base]] was located on the foot of Mount Fuji. Such a perfect setup was used for animating many battles and squirmishes would have been less cool without the [[Climactic Volcano Backdrop]], the characters brawling around a [[Lava Pit]] or soaring above Mount Fuji's crater. In one episode, Dr. Hell attempted to set an eruption off to bury the Photon Research Institute beneath tons of lava. In another episode, Mazinger-Z was tossed into a volcano. In the [[Gosaku Ota]] manga episodes, [[The Dragon]] Baron Ashura's master plan involved to set volcanic eruptions off throughout Japan...

* [[Lava Pit]]: Several [[Robeast|Mechanical Beasts]] were fought beside or over lava pits on the crater of a volcano -usually Mount Fuji-: Aeros B2 and B3, Holzon V3 -in one of the manga versions-, Debira X1... And in one episode, Kouji was dumped in one.

** And one of the [[Death Traps]] in Hell's Island was a [[Lava Pit]].

* [[Love Makes You Crazy]]: Dr. Hell can be a subversion because he was already quite unstable and troubled before... but when he was in college and fell in love with a cute Japanese exchange student he started behaving obsessively (getting angry if someone dared to spend time with her) and erratically (his grades started slipping because he was too obsessed to study). And when he found out she was in love with another person, he flipped out completely and tried to [[Murder the Hypotenuse]] (and even stormed into the campus with a shotgun!).

** Boss also tended to act in a very dumb, irrational and even obsessive way when he was in presence of Sayaka or ''[[Great Mazinger|Jun Hono]]''. Sayaka tended to ignore it, but Jun did not appreciated it or found amusing.

* [[Lovely Angels]]: Sayaka and [[Great Mazinger|Jun]]

* [[Luke, I Am Your Father]]: Subverted. In episode 90, {{spoiler|a woman}} showed up in the Institute, claiming being {{spoiler|Kouji and Shiro's mother.}} It is subverted because {{spoiler|in reality she was a cyborg, pretending being their real -and very deceased- mother.}} This trope was nearly played straight when {{spoiler|Kenzo Kabuto}} showed up, but Kouji and Shiro would find out about it until the next series.

* [[Macross Missile Massacre]]: Ashura and Brocken's ships and many kikaiju tried that tactic against Mazinger Z. Results varied.

** And in the short story ''[[New Mazinger]]'' {{spoiler|Mazinger-Z itself}} used that tactic against an army of monsters.

* [[Made of Explodium]]: Many Mechanical Beasts exploded easily -and spectacularly- even if there was no reason for it (other than animating spectacular explosions, of course). Aeros B3 reinforced this trope: it was loaded with explosives since its purpose was diving in Mount Fuji and exploding inside to awaken the volcano and bury the Institute under a tidal wave of lava. A subversion was Balanger M1, that were clusters of submarine, guided mines did NOT exploded but stuck to their target and shocked it with electricity. Several Warrior Monsters and Saucer Beasts from ''[[Great Mazinger]]'' and ''[[UFO Robo Grendizer]]'' also followed this trope.

* [[Mad Scientist]] (Dr. Hell. In some versions, Dr. Juzo Kabuto as well)

** <s> [[Mad Scientist's Beautiful Daughter]]</s> [[Mad Scientist's Beautiful Daughter|Mad Scientist's]] [[Hot-Blooded]] [[Mad Scientist's Beautiful Daughter|Grandson]]: Kouji, in the continuities where Juzo is crazier.

* [[Mad Scientist Laboratory]]: Dr. Hell's lab, installed in his base. It was barely seen in the series, though. Dr. Kabuto's lab in the original manga also counts.

* [[Make My Monster Grow]]: In episode 12, Baron Ashura used a size-changing ray to turn a tiny robot into a giant [[Robeast]] -Bicong O9-. That ray had been invented by Dr. Hell, who previously tested it with Ashura himself/herself, briefly transforming it into a giant. Throughout the series, [[Big Bad]] Dr. Hell used more Mechanical Beasts could grow their size.

* [[The Man Behind the Man]]: In the original manga, Baron Ashura shows up before Dr. Hell, leading several Mechanical Beasts and the Iron Masks troops and calling it "Ashura's army". In that chapter he seemed like the [[Big Bad]], but one chapter after Dr. Hell is introduced and we learnt Hell was behind the whole operation and he is the real [[Big Bad]].

** In the anime, Archduke Gorgon was apparently a Dr. Hell's ally. In the last chapters we learnt he was a [[Dragon with an Agenda]] was working for a [[Bigger Bad]], Great General of Darkness/Ankoku Daishogun.

* [[Manly Tears]]: Kouji has often cried these.

* [[Meaningful Name]]: Professor Kabuto describes the titular mecha as being powerful enough to make its pilot a devil - "Ma" in Japanese - or a god - "Zin". This is also the first line in Mazinkaiser's first theme song.

** Also, "Kabuto" means "helmet" in Japanese, alluding to the way Koji activates Mazinger by landing his Jet Pilder on it's head like, you guessed it, a helmet.

* [[Missing Mom]]: Kouji and Shiro's mother died in a laboratory experiment went wrong. Likewise, Sayaka's mother is nowhere to be found and she and her father live alone, so it is implied her mother died or left.

** In episode 90, {{spoiler|Dr. Hell fabricated a cyborg looked right like her and sent it to the Institute in order to wreak havoc while he made preparations for the final battle. Naturally, that stratagem}} caused much grief, especially to Shiro.

* [[Mission Control]]: Kouji and Sayaka were assisted by Prof. Yumi (Sayaka's father, who was the [[Older and Wiser]] [[The Mentor]], [[The Professor]] and [[The Lab Rat]]) and [[Home Base|Photonic Research Insitute's]] [[Bridge Bunnies]], who gave them assistance during missions via communicators.

* [[Mohs Scale of Science Fiction Hardness]]: It varies between ''[[Mohs Scale of Science Fiction Hardness/Science in Genre Only|Science in Genre Only]]'' and ''[[Mohs Scale of Science Fiction Hardness/World of Phlebotinum|World of Phlebotinum]]'': The series aims to try and be consistent, but real world physics often are cast away in favor of having fun.

* [[Monster of the Week]]: All the time. Several times Dr. Hell sent several monsters instead of one to attack Mazinger-Z simultaneously, though.

*** In the [[Super Nintendo]] video game, the first [[Boss Battle]] was against {{spoiler|Garada K7.}}

* [[Ms. Fanservice]] (The busty yet brainy twins Lori and Loru, from ''Great Mazinger'' and ''Mazinkaiser''. Sayaka also wasn't free of this; just watch the 4th OAV.)

* [[Multicolored Hair]]: In ''[[New Mazinger]]'' [[Not as You Know Them|Major Kabuto]] is black-haired, but his hair's central part is red.

* [[Naked People Are Funny]]: In one manga episode, several characters (Boss being one of them) strip themselves for absolutely no reason. Since [[Go Nagai]] introduced and made (in)famous the trope in manga, that gag was entirely expectable.

* [[Names to Run Away From Really Fast]]: Dr. Hell. Enough said.

* [[Never Recycle Your Schemes]]: Played straight most of the time but sometimes averted by Dr. Hell. Seeing [[Forgotten Phlebotinum]] example above.

* [[Never Trust a Trailer]]: The show used extreme hyperbole in its next-episode previews, and was not above outright lying to the audience to hype up an episode. The most famous example is an episode called "Koji Kabuto Dies in Lava!"

* [[Not Hyperbole]]: In the first episode, Dr. Kabuto tells Kouji who pilots Mazinger-Z has the potential to become a god or a devil. Such like later retellings and versions of the history (especially ''Z-Mazinger'' or ''[[Shin Mazinger Zero]]'') have proved, Dr. Kabuto was *NOT* exaggerating.

* [[Not Drawn to Scale]]: The applied scale is not consistent at all. There are plenty examples of it: In episode 10, Dian N4 grabbed skyscrappers and moved them to elsewhere with one of his hands, and they seemed so big like the buildings they were carrying. Later, though, he was just so tall like Mazinger-Z (18 meters).

** On the other hand, [[The Dragon|Great Marshall of Hell]] from ''[[Great Mazinger]]'' was more careful about using it. Seemingly he learnt his lesson {{spoiler|since he was a resurrected Dr. Hell}}

* [[Nuclear Weapons Taboo]]: Curiously, it was averted. In the episode 36 it was clearly stated Dr. Hell was fabricating nukes, and a nuclear missile was detonated, even.

** A considerably more tragic happens when Prof. Yumi and Prof. Gordon are arguing about a Mechanical Beast is sinking ships... and then Prof. Gordon realizes his wife and their daughter are traveling to Japan by sea.

* [[Obviously Evil]]: During his time overseeing a research team, despite his blue skin and "somewhat telling name", the scientists didn't seem to suspect Dr. Hell might just be evil.

* [[Only Sane Man]]: Prof. Yumi, Boss and Shiro alternated that role in different episodes.

* [[Omnidisciplinary Scientist]]: Dr. Hell. He could make nearly anything he could imagine, and he dominated multiple fields of science. On the other hand, Dr. Kabuto {{spoiler|and his son Kenzo}} and Professor Yumi subverted the trope, being experts on one specific field and needing help and experts' advice in other matters, and using the trial-and-error method to make scientific breakthroughs.

* [[OOC Is Serious Business]]: Tetsuya Tsurugi is serious, grim-looking and moody, and he seldom smiles. So when he grins, everyone freaks out and dons [[Oh Crap]] stares. Mainly Warrior Monsters, since it usually means they are about of dying horribly and painfully.

* [[Our Dragons Are Different]]: One of the Kikaiju (Dragon Omega1) resembles a robotical dragon.

* [[Pervert Revenge Mode]]: Sayaka took no kindly when she was spied in the anime series. One example happened in the the Mazinger vs Great General of Darkness movie, when Kouji walked into her when she was having a shower, and she slapped him.

** Subverted in the original manga. Kouji and Sayaka saw each other naked accidentally... and they just apologized each other calmly (blushing the whole time). It was especially funny because it was Sayaka the one walked into Kouji.

* [[Powers in the First Episode]]: In the first episode Kouji finds a [[Humongous Mecha]] in his grandfather's underground lab and is told it will be his power from that day on, and he can become a god or a devil with it.

* [[Pre-Explosion Glow]]: When Mazinger hits an enemy with its Photon Beams, the Mechanical Beast uses to glow before exploding (although sometimes it disintegrates).

* [[Power Armor]]: In ''[[New Mazinger]]'' (one of the alternate manga continuities) the characters (including Kouji Kabuto) wore power armor.

* [[Power Crystal]]

* [[The Professor]] (Sayaka's father, Dr. Gennosuke Yumi. Also the trio composed of Sewashi, Nozori and Morimori. Dr. Kabuto is sometimes this, overlaping with [[Mad Scientist]] in the manga and ''Mazinkaiser''.)

* [[Psycho Supporter]]: Both Ashura and Brocken.

* [[Pyrrhic Victory]]: After a long and hard battle, Kouji defeated Dr. Hell with Mazinger Z. However, the Mycene immediately attacks without giving any time to rest and he is unable to do anything to stop them. He's saved by Tetsuya and his Great Mazinger, who claims that Mazinger Z isn't needed anymore.

** [[The Bus Came Back]] - [[Back for the Finale]]: Several of them {{spoiler|-Kouji, Sayaka and Prof. Yumi-}} returned for the [[Grand Finale]] of ''[[Great Mazinger]]''.

 

 

== Q-Z ==

* [["The Reason You Suck" Speech]]: In the Ota's manga, Count Brocken delivers an EPIC one to Dr. Hell. During the final battle Hell ordered Count Brocken go and battle Mazinger... in spite of Brocken was a normal-sized human and he had no weapons to take down a [[Humongous Mecha]]! Brocken reluctantly agrees... but before leaving he tells EXACTLY what he thinks of Hell, calling him out on all his failures and flaws, blaming him for their defeats, bitterly stating he does not care his troops risk their lives everyday, and making very clear he served Hell out of gratitude -for saving his life- but he never wanted working for such an inept. Then he announces if he survives he will return to Germany before leaving to fight as Hell threw a fit. It was a [[Crowning Moment of Awesome]] for Brocken.

* [[Refuge in Audacity]]: You are bound to find this trope in a [[Go Nagai]] manga, but one example stands out: Aphrodite A (and Diana A). [[Torpedo Tits]]. Enough said.

* [[Restraining Bolt]]: Mazinger-Z's [[Restraining Bolt]] is its pilot. It was implied in the original series and outright shown in ''[[Shin Mazinger Zero]]'' Mazinger Z has a [[Restraining Bolt]]: its pilot. If Mazinger lacks from a pilot controls and restrains its power, it can became a demon destroys the world. ''[[Mazinkaiser]]'' showed if the [[Humongous Mecha]] is not controlled, it simply goes berserker and destroys all it meets. ''[[Shin Mazinger Zero]]'' elaborated further on this, showing that {{spoiler|if it is not piloted or it is piloted by someone is dominated by negative emotions (sadness, hurt, fury, hatred, helplessness...), Mazinger-Z evolves into an [[Eldritch Abomination]] and destroys the world.}}

* [[Robeast]]: Dr. Hell's Kikaiju (Mechanical Beasts) and Mykene's Warrior Beasts.

** [[Power Fist]]: Mazinger-Z not only sported a [[Rocket Punch]], but in one episode extendable cutters were added to the forearms (the Iron Cutter). And in another episode, its fists got reinforced to make them sturdier.

** [[Hand Blast]]: In one of the first episodes, Mazinger-Z shot missiles from its fingertips. This weapon was quickly ignored [[Rocket Punch|for obvious reasons]].

* [[Sacrificial Lamb]]: {{spoiler|"MORIMORI-HAKASEEEEEEEEE!!!!"}}

* [[Sadistic Choice]]: It happened many times. Often Baron Ashura held someone hostage and threatened with to kill him or her if Kouji did not surrender, but there were different instances:

* [[Sliding Scale of Anime Obscurity]]

* [[Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism]]: Even though they have plenty instances of dark, cynical moments, Mazinger Z and its sequels fall firmly into the idealistic side. When push came to shove, it was through courage, guts, faith and The Power of Friendship the heroes and heroines managed to prevail.

* [[Spell My Name with an "S"]] (Notable for managing to largely ''avoid'' this, outside the twin blonde research assistants. Rori, Loli, Lori, Roli? Roru, Lolu, Rolu, Loru, or possibly Roll? ''Nobody'' knows for sure.)

* [[Star-Crossed Lovers]]: Shiro and Lorelei. Lorelei was {{spoiler|a [[Robot Girl]] built by a scientist wanted to prove he was better than Dr. Kabuto, builder of Mazinger-Z. He built an [[Humongous Mecha]] -Rhine X1-, and a [[Robot Girl]] -Lorelei- was meant to fuse with it to make it work. When her father got a fatal wound, he confessed the truth to her and pleaded her to defeat Mazinger. Determined to fullfil her father's last will, she merged with Rhine and challenged Mazinger to a death match. Kouji was forced to fight and kill her.}} Shiro was devastated after that.

** a war room to argue strategies

** quarters for his [[Co-Dragons]]

** [[Insecurity System]] for [[Humongous Mecha]] was absolutely useless against Mazinger-Z

** transmision equipment to broadcast to every TV set in the world

** Hell's [[Mad Scientist Laboratory]] where he fabricated his weapons, mechas and cyborgs

** And in the original manga, his second fortress could transform into a humongous [[Humongous Mecha]]. And in the [[Gosaku Ota]] episodes, he could launch it off to the space and blow it up (in case his enemies invaded his island and he could not win).

* [[Tagalong Kid]]: Shirou.

* [[Tap on the Head]]: Boss used the "low blow to the solar plexus" variant with {{spoiler|Kouji}} to try to avoid he {{spoiler|fought against the Mykene Warrior Monsters in the last episode.}} Maybe it was used in a more realistic way than usual, though, since when {{spoiler|Kouji}} regained consciousness shortly after, he seemed being in pain.

* [[A Taste of Power]]: In the first dozen of episodes, the [[Robeast|Mechanical Beasts]] barely can even scratch Mazinger-Z, let alone threatening it. They were too weak, their weapons not powerful enough, and the battle was over as soon as [[The Hero]] Kouji managed connecting several consecutive attacks. The only reason for Kouji struggled during that time was [[Falling Into the Cockpit|he was still trying to learn how piloting his HumongousMecha]]. When Spartan K5 -a [[Gladiator]]-alike Beast single-handily beat the crap out of Mazinger as easily shrugging all its weapons off- showed up in episode 14, it was a wake-up call of playtime was over and [[Big Bad]] Dr. Hell was at last stepping up his challenge.

* [[Telescoping Robot]]: Mazinger-Z has two extendable, razor-sharp cutters (properly named Iron Cutter) embedded into its forearms, several drilling missiles stuck into its upper arms, and its belly has a hatch to launch MORE missiles from. And then you have his [[Mid-Season Upgrade]] [[Jet Pack]], Scrander Jet, which can shoot shurikens. ''[[New Mazinger]]'' (an one-shot story set on an alternative universe) went deeper in this trope, and in one scene, many hatches opened up all over its body, revealing dozens of missiles underneath.

* [[That's No Moon]]: A nearly literal example. Salude, Baron Ashura's submarine fortress was simultaneously a [[Cool Ship]] and an [[Island Base]] camouflaged itself like a real island (it had two parts: the lower part was a submarine [[Home Base]] and the upper part was an artificial island. Both parts were interconected via a tube. When Salude surfaced, only the upper part was visible). The first time Kouji saw it, he exclaimed: "That is not a island!"

* [[Thematic Rogues Gallery]]: Dr. Hell's Mechanical Beasts.

* [[Third Person Person]]: Dr. Hell occasionally refers to himself in third person when he is ranting, angry or uttering [[Badass Boast|BadassBoasts]]. [[Go Nagai]]'s ''[[Great Mazinger]]'' manga offers a good example:

* [[This Is a Drill]]: Several robotical foes (such like Danchel and Stronger T4) were endowed with weaponized drills. As well, one of the weapons of Mazinger Z are drilling missiles located in its upper arms.

* [[This Is Unforgivable!]]: Whenever Kouji said this sentence you knew he was REAL angry, and someone was going to be summarily trashed in the near future. A good example was in the manga, after he learnt Dr. Hell had created a weapon was able to nullify gravity... and had used one whole city like subject test. Another two memorable instances happened in the ''[[Mazinkaiser]]'' movie (Mazinkaiser vs Great General of Darkness: at the beginning, after Lori and Loru's {{spoiler|[[Heroic Sacrifice]]}}, and at the end, right before he {{spoiler|absolutely destroys the Mykene empire army}}:

** This sentence was also used fairly often by Baron Ashura (to Kouji and his friends after being defeated) and Dr. Hell (to Ashura after his servant botched still another operation).

* [[Those Wacky Nazis]]: Count Brocken and his [[Mooks]].

* [[Toei Animation]]: It made the 1972 anime and its sequels.

* [[Tokyo Is the Center of the Universe]]: Subverted. For start with, the Headquarters of the good guys are not in Tokyo but in the vicinity of Mount Fuji. Therefore, the enemy feels not compelled to exclusively target and attack Tokyo. A lot of Japanese cities are destroyed, ships are sunk in ocean, and often Mazinger-Z needed fighting in open sea (and in one chapter of one of the manga alternate continuities, it got deployed in another country). And in the Mazinger Z versus Great General of Darkness movie, the Mykene army struck New York, Londres and Moscow before striking Tokyo.

* [[Too Dumb to Live]]: Several characters of the series (including the main characters) get at least one occasion where they seem determined to off themselves. The civilians thought it was a good idea remaining near from the place where a [[Humongous Mecha]] and a [[Robeast]] were fighting, or blamed the heroes for the destruction and deaths Hell and his lackeys were responsible of, or pressed the Government to yield EVERY TIME Dr. Hell was blackmailing it are good examples. A good, specific example is Yuri, [[Bratty Half-Pint]] Sayaka's cousin: Let's go over the facts, Yuri. You are a disabled, little [[Ill Girl]] can't run or move quickly because you need a wheelchair. You know there is a giant robot in the city, stomping on buildings and people. Kouji has gone out to stop it after telling you very clearly you must stay in home because you are safer. Still do you insist on leaving the home and go to where the giant robots are fighting because you have a crush on Kouji and you want to see him? Okay, you can leave. After all, what can possibly go wrong?

* [[Torpedo Tits]]: Aphrodite A's "Oppai Missiles".

* [[Tricked-Out Shoes]]: In episode 18, Mazinger-Z's feet got modified to include rockets allowed the [[Humongous Mecha]] move underwater.

* [[Trope Codifier]] / [[Genre Popularizer]]: When people talk about any [[Super Robot]], this is what they inevitably measure it against.

* [[Two-Faced]]: Baron Ashura.

* [[Ugly Guy, Hot Wife]]: In episode 89 we meet {{spoiler|an impersonator of}} Kouji and Shiro's mother. In episode 92 we meet Kouji and Shiro's {{spoiler|supposedly}} late father. His wife was definitely beautiful. He... not so much. Although maybe he was more handsome when he was younger {{spoiler|and he was not a cyborg.}}

* [[Unexplained Recovery]]: At the second-to-last episode, {{spoiler|the [[Cool Airship]] where Dr. Hell was escaping got blown up.}} Whatever got left from him after that explosion surely sank in the ocean. Nonetheless he showed up again in the last season of ''[[Great Mazinger]]'', his body grafted into a [[Humongous Mecha]]. One eyepatch covering his left eye was the only mark of the ordeal he had endured. Little explanation was given other than an statement of [[Big Bad]] and [[Physical God]] Emperor of Darkness had relived him and turned into one of his Warrior Monsters (and high commander of his army). It can may be worth mentioning many Mazinger-Z characters returned in the last episodes from the sequel, so maybe [[Executive Meddling]] was involved.

* [[Ungrateful Bastard]]: People constantly blames Mazinger and the Photon Intitute for the destruction the battles between the Mechanical Beasts and Mazinger cause, [[Too Dumb to Live|apparently forgetting]] if Mazinger Z didn't exist, all of them would be dead.

* [[Unobtainium]]: Japanium. It is a rare mineral can only be found on a lode on Mount Fuji and was discovered by Proffesor Kabuto. Mazinger Z, Aphrodite A {{spoiler|and Great Mazinger}} are built with it {{spoiler|and the [[Robeasts|Kikaiju]] after Dr. Hell stole a sample}}

* [[Unresolved Sexual Tension]]: Kouji and Sayaka were the couple defined [[Belligerent Sexual Tension]]. In spite of being attracted to each other, fierce competitiveness and pride issues on both sides prevent them from reaching an understanding and being together. It was not so bad in the original manga, though. And in another manga version, they kissed when they thought Kouji was going to die. He survived, but Kouji avoided Sayaka for a while because he was still too afraid and unsecure.

* [[Use Your Head]]: Kouji -who is a full-blown [[Combat Pragmatist]]- has no qualms uisng that tactic when he is fighting with Mazinger-Z. It should be justified, since he is using his [[Humongous Mecha]]'s head to ram the enemy instead of his own, but it is not, because Mazinger-Z's cockpit sits on the head of the giant robot.

* [[Villain Team-Up]]: In the ''Mazinger-Z versus Devilman'' feature, Dr. Hell and the demons collaborate to take down Kouji Kabuto and ''[[Devilman]]''. It may be subverted, since Hell used a mind-control device to enslave the demons, and he was mainly interested on taking down Mazinger-Z (he only sent some demons and Mechanical Beasts against Devilman because the demons warned him he would interfere).

* [[Villainous Breakdown]]: It happened to Dr. Hell several times. The first of them happened in the THIRD episode, when he realized [[The Professor|Juzo Kabuto]] still could surpass him and thwart his lifelong plans even after death. He destroyed all Mykene [[Humongous Mecha]] he had found, declaring them being uselesss, and he very nearly gave up right then. Another memorable one happened in episode 68, when finally he saw himself unable to triumph over Kouji Kabuto. He destroyed all of his newest Beasts, and swallowing his pride, asked help to Archduke Gorgon.

* [[Villains Out Shopping]]: Several times, when the heroes infiltrated into one of the submarine fortress of Baron Ashura, he/she was taking a relaxing shower (and he/she did not appreciate being interrupted. Nobody -including the heroes, Ashura's minions and the audience- did, in fact). And often he/she was shown playing organ or drinking a glass of fine wine in his/her private chambers. Ashura could be quite laid-back when he/she wanted.

* [[Wham! Episode]]: The final episode was an endless succession of shocking moments altered the status quo irremissibly: it was revealed that {{spoiler|Gorgon was actually working for someone was infinitely more powerful and most dangerous than Dr. Hell,}} Mazinger-Z was {{spoiler|utterly and easily defeated by a new enemy,}} a new and more powerful {{spoiler|Mazinger showed up, named ''[[Great Mazinger]]''}} and it was revealed {{spoiler|Kouji's father was alive.}} The Wham factor was even bigger in the movie version of that episode, when the Mykene army razed to ruins New York, London, Paris and Moscow in one single stroke before leading towards Tokyo and destroying it as well, and at the end of the movie, the prophet {{spoiler|removed his mask and revealed his real identity: Kenzo Kabuto, Kouji's father.}}

* [[Wham! Line]]:

* [[What Is Evil?]]?: In the manga version penned by [[Gosaku Ota]], Baron Ashura [[Badass in Distress|kidnaps Kouji]] and suggests him joining him/her. When Kouji states he has no interest in serving a criminal, Ashura gets indignant, and angrily utters "good" and "evil" are nothing but concepts made up by humans, and the only true rules exhist in the world are the law of the jungle and the survival of the fittest.

* [[What Measure Is a Mook?]]: The Iron Masks and the Iron Crosses are {{spoiler|reanimated corpses turned into cyborgs}}, mindless and faithfully serve Dr. Hell and his henchmen. Kouji wonders in the manga if it is right kill them.

* [[Whip It Good]]: Several Mechanical Beasts used weaponized whips like weapons. Some examples are Gorias W3 and one of the Kikaiju from the Mazinger vs Devilman feature.

* [[Wolverine Publicity]]: In the ''[[Super Robot Wars]]'' series, Kabuto Kouji is the worst offender/most notable example of this category (even more than [[Mobile Suit Gundam|Amuro Rei]] and [[Getter Robo|the Getter Team]]). He appears in EVERY single [[Super Robot Wars]] games to date. Of course it makes sense due to the fact that Kouji is the FIRST mech pilot. Removing him would be like removing your ancestor out of the family tree.

* [[The Woobie]]: This series had plenty Woobies:

** Shiro. His parents died when he was barely a toddler. His grandfather Juuzo took them in, but he hired a maid to raise them because he was barely in home. Several years later, in one single day, Rumi -the maid; he treated her like a a kind of older sister- was murdered, his grandfather was murdered (and Juuzo died right in front of his grandsons), and his older brother Kouji nearly stomps him under the foot of an [[Humongous Mecha]]. We see during the series he is sad because he don't have parents to hang with, and Koji, Boss, and Sayaka are most likely busy fighting a [[Robeast|Mechanical Beast]]. He had a crush on a cute kid called Lorelei, but she {{spoiler|died}}. And in one of the last episodes, {{spoiler|Dr. Hell created a robot looked right like Kouji and Shiro's mother. She managed to convince him she was his real mother and tried to manipulate him to blow up the Jet Scrander. Later he had to shoot her, in spite of he was not sure of she was not his real mother.}} Have I mentioned he was only ten-years-old when the series began? Later, in ''[[Great Mazinger]]'' Kouji and Sayaka travel to America and he stays in Japan. Several times he complains he finds himself alone, his older brother does not write letters, and he even wishes upon a star Kouji returns soon. Jun tried to act like his [[Cool Big Sis]] because she was real sorry for him. And later in the series, he found out {{spoiler|his father was not dead. And he had let his sons believed during years he was dead.}} And then, shortly after {{spoiler|Shiro forgave him and they made up, his father Kenzo died. [[Killed Off for Real|For real, this time]].}} Also, in ''[[UFO Robo Grendizer]]'' Kouji Kabuto shows up, but Shiro does not, so it is fair wondering who was taking care of him. I guess the most obvious answer is Tetsuya and Jun {{spoiler|-since they were his adoptive siblings and they were not underage-}} or Prof. Yumi -since he had been a [[Parental Substitute]] for Kouji and Shiro in the original series. It definitely suckes to be him. Although, on the other hand, [[Iron Woobie|he does not constantly whine about it]].

* [[X Meets Y]]: ''[[Gigantor|Tetsujin 28-go]]'' meets ''[[Astro Boy]]'' meets ''[[Science Ninja Team Gatchaman]]''.

* [[Xanatos Gambit]]: Archduke Gorgon's master plan. He agreed helping Dr. Hell to destroy Mazinger-Z with his visibly more powerful Mechanical Beasts. However his true intentions were watching Hell closely and {{spoiler|making both sides weakened each other battle after battle until one side won. Then, he would annihilate the weakened victor, and the Great General of Darkness -his real boss- would conquer the surface world without any real opposition.}} Consequently, he could not lose, not matter how the war between Dr. Hell and Kouji Kabuto ended. And, indeed, he was successful: {{spoiler|he betrayed Dr. Hell in the worst possible moment, leaving him to die or personally murdering him -depending on the version-. Straight after he sent several Mykene Warrior Monsters after Mazinger-Z, and they destroyed the [[Humongous Mecha]].}} In one single day and from one single stroke he had looked after all his enemies. However, his plan did not cause the expected outcome due to a [[Spanner in the Works]].

* [[You Killed My Father|You Killed My Grandfather]]: It happens in the first episode, when Dr. Hell gets Dr. Kabuto assassinated, and Kouji vows to avenge him. And it again happened to Kouji {{spoiler|and his own father, Kenzo,}} in the sequel.

* [[You Shall Not Pass]]: It happened fairly often:

** Episode 6: A Mechanical Beast is trashing one city to keep Mazinger-Z and Aphrodite-A busy as a second Beast and a squad of [[Mook|Iron Masks]] take over the [[Home Base|Photon Atomic Research Institute]]. Kouji tells he will deal with the first Beast to let Sayaka go to protect the Institute.

** Another example taken from episode 74: A Mechanical Beast was completely trashing Mazinger-Z around. Sayaka -as piloting Aphrodite-A- stepped between both and stood in the way of the Beast to protect Kouji, receiving all its attacks to prevent it from killing Kouji and destroying Mazinger-Z even though it meant {{spoiler|Aphrodite-A was destroyed for good.}}

** Episode 92: Kouji is hurt and can not fight, so {{spoiler|Boss knocks him out,}} and he and Sayaka deploy their [[Humongous Mecha]] to try to hold back the Mykene Warrior Beasts marching towards the Institute. {{spoiler|They fail badly.}}

* [[You Watch Too Much X]]: In the first chapter of the manga, Mazinger ends up going on a destructive rampage during Kouji's first attempt to pilot it. When some concerned citizens try to tell the police about it, their claims of a "giant monster" destroying the city are dismissed with "You watch too much TV."

* [[Your Princess Is in Another Castle]]: Dr. Hell is defeated before the final episode... and, needless to say, the final episode wasn't just a peaceful day.

[[Category:Science Fiction Anime and Manga]]

[[Category:Trope Makers]]