Tetsujin 28-gō – 鉄人28号 – رعد العملاق

              “Tetsujin 28-gō, is a 1956 manga written and illustrated by Mitsuteru Yokoyama, who also created Giant Robo. The series centred on the adventures of a young boy named Shotaro Kaneda, who controlled a giant robot named Tetsujin 28, built by his late father. The manga was later adapted into four anime TV series, the first in 1963. It was the first Japanese series to feature a giant robot. The 1963 series was later released in America as Gigantor. A live action motion picture with heavy use of computer generated graphics was produced in Japan in 2005.” (Wikipedia, accessed March ’10)

Then there is the 1980 and 1992 Tv anime serieses. My favorite, and the favorite of most of the arab fans, is the 1980’s (Shin Tetsujin 28-gō) as it was dubbed into arabic. The dub was really good performed by mostly lebanese voice actors/actresses خالد السيد from جونكر  and وفاء طربيه from رانزي المدهشة, and many others. Their arabic pronounciation is perfect besides it’s relevant to the plot and storyline unlike other recent dubs that I don’t want to btother in bringing it up here for now…Tetsujin the 80’s Tv series is my age, I’ve watched it in 80’s and I’m watching it again now, liked neither the 60’s nor the 00’s versions of it, 70s-80s are always my favourite in anime.

Now there is a 1:1 (18 m) Tetsujin 28-gō statue in Kobe, where Mitsuteru Yokoyama was born. Unfortunately, it’s from the 50’s manga/60’s anime, not the 80’s shin Tetsujin 28-gō, but it’s still good. Hope to see Astroganga (アストロガンガー جونكر) and (الثور الأسود) somewhere in  Honshū soon!