| Mazinkaizer SKL | |
DVD cover of the first volume of Mazinkaizer SKL |
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| マジンカイザーSKL (Majinkaizā SKL) |
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|---|---|
| Genre | Mecha |
| Original video animation | |
| Directed by | Jun Kawagoe |
| Written by | Tadashi Hayakawa |
| Studio | Actas |
| Licensed by | Media Blasters |
| Released | January 28, 2011[n 1] – March 25, 2011[n 1] |
| Episodes | 3[n 2] |
| Manga | |
| Mazinkaizer SKL Versus | |
| Written by | Go Nagai (original work) Kazumi Hoshi |
| Published by | Emotion |
| Demographic | Shōnen |
| Magazine | Shu 2 Comic Gekkin |
| Original run | April 23, 2010 – ongoing |
| Volumes | 1 |
| Manga notes | |
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The magazine where the series is published is a mobile phone publication. |
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Mazinkaizer SKL[n 3] (マジンカイザーSKL Majinkaizā SKL), also called Mazinkaizer Skull and Mazinkaiser SKL, is a Japanese OVA series which is itself a spinoff of Go Nagai's Mazinkaiser which was itself a spinoff of Mazinger. The first episode was released on January 28, 2011 and was first screened on November 27, 2010. It also has a novel adaptation serialized in ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Hobby Magazine and a manga adaptation published in the mobile phone magazine Shu 2 Comic Gekkin.[1] Like Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z Hen, characters and references to other works of Go Nagai appear in this series.
Contents |
Prior to the events of the anime, the three factions - the Garan Army, the Kiba Army, and the Hachiryokaku (Aira Army), battle for total dominance of Machine Island, which they occupy. The island is basically a prison, isolated from the rest of the world. To assure total quarantine, a "Gravity Curtain" was formed within the island. Only machines created by the worldwide government WSO are capable of entry to the island. The island also contains vast amount of resources, allowing the three factions to create a near-limitless supply of giant robots for their respective armies.
The WSO has learned that the Gravity Curtain has reached an unstable status and will explode within 66 hours, destroying all of Earth and human life itself. Each of the three factions controls a part of the mechanism responsible for the Gravity Curtain's operation. Knowing the danger of disabling the Gravity Curtain and combating the various factions, the WSO decides to send the Skull Force. The Skull Force is divided into two squadrons - one of which is the 2 member-only Death Caprice Squad, composed of Ken Kaido and Ryo Magami, pilots of the Mazinger called Mazinkaizer SKL.....
But he was distracted by Kiba who was killing her in his hall and he was being pressed to death in the his own machine by an attack from Mazinkaiser's tornado blast punch.
The titular mecha of the series. Unlike the Mazinkaiser featured in the first OAV series, manga, and in video games, this version of Mazinkaiser has a completely different design, sporting a more demonic look and an origin surrounded in mystery. One of the biggest changes is the Kaiser Pilder, the aircraft used to dock onto the crown of Mazinkaiser to control it. It has been renamed as the "Skull Pilder" and redesigned to resemble more of a human skull hence its name. The Skull Pilder also requires two pilots to control it, unlike the Kaiser Pilder where it is controlled by a single pilot. Another notable change is the eyelids having a blue color as opposed to yellow from past Mazingers. A skull in the center of Mazinkaizer SKL's chest is used in place of the "Z" symbol from the original Mazinkaiser.
The weapons for Mazinkaizer SKL are also different from that of the original Mazinkaiser. This incarnation of Mazinkaizer is equipped with a weapon known as the "Ganzantou", a gigantic sword attached to its back. The sword's handle can be extended so it can be used as a pole weapon. The spikes extending at the other side of the Ganzatou's blade is designed to tear apart the innards of its target, as seen in the promotional images.
Another weapon unique to Mazinkaizer SKL are the "Breast Triggers". Attached to Mazinkaizer SKL's chest area, they are a pair of handguns SKL can use to shoot its enemies from mid-range. Blades are also attached to the nozzle and beneath the handle of each handgun, allowing the Mazinkaizer SKL to slash at enemies up close. They can also be merged into a battle axe type weapon akin to the Getter Tomahawk and used as a melee weapon. When the Breast Triggers are not in use, they are holstered to the chest, where their red parts form the shape of Devilman's face. The Tornado Crusher (SKL's equivalent to the Turbo Smasher Punch ((named in Episode 3) and Rust Stream (Rust Hurricane)are the only attacks Mazinkaizer SKL retains from the original Mazinkaiser. Despite its heavily armored design, it is extremely agile in combat. As of Episode 3, it is revealed that equipping Wingle's wings unlocks Kaiser's more traditional weapons, also changing the color of its eye (the other gouged out in episode two) to the traditional yellow. SKL's attacks are similar to the previous Mazingers', though with different names. These include Rust Stream (SKL's Rust Tornado), Thor Hammer Breaker (SKL's Thunder Break which is channeled through Ganzantou), and Inferno Blaster (SKL's version of Fire Blaster).
The female support robot for Mazinkaizer SKL. The Wingle's design incorporates the female mechas used in the Mazinger franchise (Aphrodite A, Venus A & Minerva X) as well as elements of Devil Lady. It is given a Black and light Purple colors with some gold trimmings. The bat-like wings attached to the rear of the Wingle's head act as a Scrander part for SKL, allowing the latter flight capabilities. Like SKL, the Wingle also has a detachable cockpit on its head called the "Lady Falcon", which is piloted by Tsubasa in the anime, and Scarlet in the manga. Its weapons include a pair of detachable blades that can be mounted on the arms or the legs and used as boomerang-type projectiles, as well as a flail stored in the left breast.
Kiba's personal mecha. It is a green colored unit with horns shaped like a Crescent Moon on its head and shoulders, almost resembling a samurai warrior. Like Mazinkaizer SKL, it is a very agile unit despite its heavily armored appearance. It rides a vehicle made of Caterpillar Tracks for faster transport and is equipped with two large cannons on the front, although they were never used in the anime.
Another Kaiser modeled after Mazinkaiser SKL and piloted by Kiba in Episode 3. It is red and dark grey colored and has almost the same set of attacks as Mazinkaiser. It wields a dual pointed spear as opposed to Skl's Ganzantou. It has two gattling guns in its arms (parallels to SKL's Breast Triggers), seems to be heavily armored, and is very agile. Unlike Mazinkaiser, it has a Gravitional Reactor power source, granting it control of gravity. Iron Kaiser's attacks include the Iron Tornado (Iron's Rust Tornado), Smasher Punch (Iron's Turbo Smasher Punch) and, by using the Gravitional Reactor, it can generate Gravitional beams akin to Great Mazinger's Thunder Break.
The personal mecha of Garan. It is a large robot with the color schemes of white, gold, and gray. Three horns are attached to its head, with spikes on the shoulder and knee caps and claws for the feet.
A mass-produced female combat mecha of the Hachiryokaku. It is equipped with Beam Weapons for combat, as well as produce a barrier needed to protect the Hachiryokaku's home base from enemy attacks. The Psycho Gears piloted by the Hurricane, Fancy, Misty, and Flash are unique in which they are in different design stylings.
Mass-produced units of Kiba's army. The unit is based on Garada K7, one of the enemy units of Mazinger Z, and carries its signature giant sickles attached to its head. A mono-eyed mechanized head is used in place of a Skull from the original Garada K7 and is given color schemes of purple and light green.
Also a Mass-Produced unit of Kiba's army. This unit is based on the enemy mecha Doublas M2, also from Mazinger Z. It retains the dual head design and spikes on the legs. Changes made were to the lizard-like heads being more mechanic, sporting three sets of scopes and a mounting weapon at its mouth. It is given a more desert-style color scheme and a large Gattling Gun is attached to the right hand.
Garan's personal robot army. This unit is based on KingDan X10, also from Mazinger Z. They are muscular robots with bull-like horns attached to its head. They have various color schemes and also possess a variety of combat weapons, such as lances, glaives, flails, and archery-type weapons.
Appearing only in the novel version, the Mazin Brothers are mass-produced versions of Mazinger Z. While it shares the same appearance as the original, it does not possess the same set of weapons. Instead, the Mazin Brother is either equipped with a set of Missile Launchers, or a large Rust Hurricane Backpack as weapons.
Appearing only in the novel version. This Mazinger Z appears severely damaged as it leads an army of mass-produced versions of itself called the Mazin Brothers in a losing battle against an enemy army. Despite its condition and the grim situation, Mazinger Z continues to battle until the arrival of Mazinkaizer SKL who provides the much needed reinforcement. The pilot of Mazinger Z is not named.
Source(s)[2]
The OVA was first screened at "Anime Fes. 'VS' presented by Bandai Visual".[3]
| # | Title | Original release date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Death caprice" "desu kapurīzu" (デス・カプリーズ) |
January 28, 2011 |
| 2 | "Search-and-Kill" "sāchi ando kiru" (サーチ・アンド・キル) |
February 25, 2011 |
| 3 | "Final Count" "fainaru kaunto" (ファイナル・カウント) |
April 7, 2011 |
These are announced dates and titles.[4]
The first OVA was released by Bandai Visual on January 28, 2011 in DVD (standard number BCBA-4002) and Blu-ray (standard number BCXA-0272).[4][5][6] On December 1, 2010, North American anime distributor Media Blasters announced on their Facebook page that they will release the series in May 2011 on DVD and possibly on Blu-ray.[7]
Along the OVA series, the manga titled Mazinkaizer SKL Versus (マジンカイザーSKLヴァーサス majinkaizā skl vāsasu), authored by Kazumi Hoshi, is published in the magazine for mobile phones Shu 2 Comic Gekkin by Emotion (Bandai), starting on April 23, 2010.[1][8]
The manga is published in printed format by the Kadokawa Group Publishing under the Emotion Comics brand.[9]
| No. | Release date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | December 10, 2010 | ISBN 978-4048992015 |
| 2 | April 8, 2011 | ISBN 978-4048992176 |
A novelization of the series is also released on Dengeki Hobby Magazine.
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