| Aphrodite A アフロダイ A |
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|---|---|
| Creator | Go Nagai |
| Profile | |
| Weapons | Missiles |
| Construction | Chogokin (Super-Alloy Z) |
| Energy source | Photo-atomic Energy |
Aphrodite A (アフロダイA Afurodai Ēsu) (sometimes romanized as Aphrodai A) is a female mecha from the Mazinger Z anime and manga series, created by Go Nagai. It was the first giant robot in the genre to resemble the female anatomy.
She was named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty.
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The robot was created by Dr. Yumi (Dr. Kabuto's apprentice) and since it was originally built for peaceful uses at first it didn't feature any weapons; eventually it acquires the ability to fire missiles from its chest, this was called the Oppai Missile System (Oppai is a Japanese slang term for breasts). Aphrodite was the first female mecha to have this kind of weapon.
Despite the fact it was made of the same alloy as Mazinger (Chogokin or Super-Alloy Z) it usually suffers substantially greater damage from attacks. Regardless of these shortcomings, in several opportunities she provides help in battle, and even destroys three Mechanical Beasts in the anime, Gumbina M5, (Chapter 49), Yubrin T9 (Chapter 56), and Giant F3 (Chapter 58). Her missiles also cause the unintentional destruction of Minerva X.
In one of the most memorable chapters, her infamous breast missiles win Mazinger a battle, when Mazinger (not yet able to fly, as its Jet Scrander upgrade had not yet been built) was unable to destroy the aerial monster Gelbros J3. Sayaka was infuriated when she discovered her robot had, without her consent, been equipped with supersized breast missiles that totally ruined the elegant lines of Aphrodite. Kouji used these modified missiles to give Mazinger Z enough thrust to fly, and forced the enemy to land. (See External Links for footage). In one of Nagai's later works, Kotetsu Jeeg, a similar technique was reused and was actually the titular robot's sole means of flight.
Sayaka usually finds support in Boss and his Boss Borot, since Kouji always diminishes their mechas for their lack of weapons and attacks and refers to them as nuisances rather than effective help. In fact, Aphrodite and Borot can be seen in many chapters being trashed together by the mechanical monsters. However, many times he has to acknowledge their importance; such as when Dr. Hell almost takes over the Photonic Research Institute (chapter 57), it is Aphrodite and Borot who stop his infantry from actually entering the building.
Aphrodite was once piloted by Kouji. In chapter 52, Kouji and Sayaka have a fight, and during battle she refuses to help him. As a result, he is severely hurt and comes close to death. Full of regret, Sayaka is willing to risk her own life to defeat Varison M1, but Aphrodite is no match to the powerful monster, so she decides to pilot Mazinger. When Kouji realizes this, he takes control of Aphrodite to aid Sayaka, who was losing the fight against the evil mecha. In his way to the place where they were fighting, he complains on how slow the lady robot is. With no time to switch robots the usual way, they make an acrobatic jump to each other's robot and finally the monster is destroyed.
Towards the last part of the anime series (Chapter 74), Aphrodite A is destroyed by one of Archduke Gorgon's monsters, Harpia Π7, to save Mazinger from its deadly electrified feathers.
This causes Sayaka a lot of grief since she misses her robot and even has visions of her in one chapter, and she also feels the need to help in battle again. Afterward, a somewhat improved female robot called Diana A is built to replace her in her role as Mazinger's companion.
In the Shin Mazinger reboot of the series, Aphrodite A is first seen in the second episode where Sayaka saves Kouji from a Tauros that is chasing him and Shiro. While it is able to hold its own at first, once the Tauros transform into the Mechanical Beasts Garada K7 and Doublas M2, Aphrodite A is immediately outclassed (it is immediately crippled by Garada K7). It is later revealed that Aphrodite A in this version is made only from regular Alloy Z not the Super Alloy Z of Mazinger, however this is enough that Sayaka considers her robot to be Mazinger's younger sister.
Aphrodite is piloted by Sayaka Yumi, Dr. Yumi's daughter, and many times the robot's attitudes reflect those of the pilot. Unlike Koji Kabuto (Mazinger's pilot) she does not control the mecha from a detachable vehicle, but from a built-in cockpit in the robot's head. This cockpit has the shape of a large glass dome. Within it, Sayaka is surrounded by a large amount of controls to pilot the mecha.
Sayaka is most commonly shown entering from a gate at the back of the robot's head, but in one chapter the glass dome opens to allow Kouji, who was driving Aphrodite, to jump from her head to Mazinger's.
Because Aphrodite A was originally designed for peaceful purposes, she initially had no weaponry whatsoever. In order to be more useful against the enemy, Aphrodite is soon armed with missiles on her chest, posing as breasts.
Sayaka asks many times to have her robot improved even more, but her requests are virtually always dismissed; however, Aphrodite would eventually gain the ability to fire multiple missiles, having previously been capable of only carrying two at a time. Ultimately, Sayaka's wish is only granted in full after Aphrodite's destruction, when she receives the more combat-ready Diana A as a replacement.
The Mazinger Angels version is remarkably more powerful, and in addition to her breast missiles she has weapons such as Iron Cutter Missiles, Megaton Hammer, and a Mazinger Sword.
Besides the manga and anime versions, Aphrodite was featured in the first Mazinkaiser OVAs, with a design that closely resembled her looks in the classic manga version, especially the shape and size of her large head and the colouring scheme, based on darker colours.
In this version, she is captured by Dr. Hell's mechanical beasts and dismembered, putting Sayaka's life in danger as a way to force Koji to abandon Mazinger Z. After this the robot is so heavily damaged that she is replaced by a modified version of Venus A.
In Tranzor Z, the Americanized dub of Mazinger Z from 1985, the episode in which Aphrodite was destroyed was not included in the 65-episode package. The subsequent introduction of Diana A was instead treated as an extensive (albeit off-camera) upgrade of Aphrodite.
She is also included in the Mazinger Angels manga, which focuses on the four classic Mazinger ladies as protagonists, showing an updated design and way more powerful weapons and more resistance to attacks. This version is closely related to the Soul of Chogokin model line.
Aphrodite A, along with Sayaka, are also featured in the 2009 TV series Shin Mazinger Shogeki! Z Hen.
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