Mazinger Z Vs. Devilman
Encyclopedia
is a 1973 animated movie that crossed over two then-popular Anime series, both of which were created by Manga artist Go Nagai. Note however that the movie features alternate versions of events from both series, and is therefore not canonical to either one.
s Mazinger Z
and Aphrodite A
against three of Doctor Hell’s Mechanical Beasts
. The heroes win, but the battle apparently frees the female demon Sirène
from below the ground. She flies away before they can do anything about it. However she is seen by Akira Fudo, who transforms into his real form of Devilman
to fly after her.
Dr. Hell, who observed the battle, correctly realizes that Sirène is part of a “demon tribe” that according to a legend ruled the Earth in prehistoric times. Using a flying fortress
(not the Gool, the one seen in the regular Mazinger series, but rather the Navalon, one exclusive to this movie) Hell and his henchman Baron Ashura
follow Sirène to the Himalaya Mountains, were the rest of the tribe is frozen. Hell helps to free some of the demons (notably absent is their leader, Zenon) and makes a deal with them to help them defeat their enemy, Devilman, if they will help him defeat Mazinger. They are unaware that Devilman has spied on their conversation.
Later, Akira goes to warn Koji about this but ends up mocking the Mazinger for being unable to fly; this leads to the two hot-tempered teenagers racing each other on motorcycles (it ends in a draw.) It turns out that Mazinger’s headquarters, the Photon Research Laboratory, is already working on solving the robot’s disadvantage against flying enemies by making the Jet Scrambler, a giant winged jetpack. However one of the demons has spied on them and reports this development to Dr. Hell. He sends the shapeless demon and Sirène to destroy the Scrambler. They manage to damage it before being driven off by Koji’s raygun; Sirène escapes by taking Koji’s brother Shiro and his friend Sayaka hostage. She then lets them fall from the sky, but they are saved by Devilman. When Koji goes to pick them up, he watches Akira change into Devilman and so learns his secret. Devilman follows the amorphous demon to the sea, but falls into a trap; he’s rescued by Koji in the Mazinger. Afterwards they talk, and Akira reveals to him that he’s a rogue member of the Demon Tribe who fights to protect humanity.
The combined forces of Dr. Hell and the demons then attack the Laboratory; Devilman flies to help defend it, but is overwhelmed and captured. He’s taken to some (obviously magical) clouds, where he’s placed on an ice cross and tortured by the demons for being a traitor. However, as soon as the Scrambler is repaired, Koji uses it to fly the Mazinger into the clouds, killing the demons, freeing Devilman and finally destroying the flying fortress, although Hell and Ashura escape alive.
The movie ends with Koji and Akira on good terms, with the two flying off together into the sunset.
Story
The movie opens with a battle between the Super RobotSuper Robot
is a term used in manga and anime to describe a giant robot or mecha, with an arsenal of fantastic super-powered weapons, extreme resistance to damage unless the plot calls for it, sometimes transformable or combined from two or more robots and/or vehicles usually piloted by young, daring heroes,...
s Mazinger Z
Mazinger Z
, known briefly as Tranzor Z in United States, is a Super Robot manga and anime series created by Go Nagai. The first manga version was serialized in Shueisha Weekly Shōnen Jump from October 1972 to August 1973, and it later continued in Kodansha TV Magazine from October 1973 to September 1974. In...
and Aphrodite A
Aphrodite 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....
against three of Doctor Hell’s Mechanical Beasts
Mechanical Beasts
The Mechanical Beasts , also known as mechanical monsters or mechanical brutes, were the antagonist mecha from the Mazinger Z anime and manga series, created by Go Nagai. Almost all of them were created by Koji Kabuto's nemesis, Dr. Hell...
. The heroes win, but the battle apparently frees the female demon Sirène
Siren
In Greek mythology, the Sirens were three dangerous mermaid like creatures, portrayed as seductresses who lured nearby sailors with their enchanting music and voices to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island. Roman poets placed them on an island called Sirenum scopuli...
from below the ground. She flies away before they can do anything about it. However she is seen by Akira Fudo, who transforms into his real form of Devilman
Devilman
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Go Nagai which originally started as an anime adaptation of the concept of Nagai's previous manga series, Demon Lord Dante. A 39 episode anime series was developed by Toei in 1972 and Nagai began Devilman as a manga in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen...
to fly after her.
Dr. Hell, who observed the battle, correctly realizes that Sirène is part of a “demon tribe” that according to a legend ruled the Earth in prehistoric times. Using a flying fortress
Fortresses (Mazinger)
Throughout the Mazinger saga, the evil enemy forces used several large flying and submarine ships called Fortresses in addition to their monsters to attack Mazinger Z, Great Mazinger, Grendizer, and Mazinkaiser. They were armed with powerful weapons and their primary goal besides direct aggression...
(not the Gool, the one seen in the regular Mazinger series, but rather the Navalon, one exclusive to this movie) Hell and his henchman Baron Ashura
Baron Ashura
is a fictional character featuring in the works of Go Nagai. It is the main henchman of Dr. Hell, the antagonist of Super Robot series Mazinger Z. It plagues the hero Kouji Kabuto for much of the series' run, until finally being killed in one of the later episodes....
follow Sirène to the Himalaya Mountains, were the rest of the tribe is frozen. Hell helps to free some of the demons (notably absent is their leader, Zenon) and makes a deal with them to help them defeat their enemy, Devilman, if they will help him defeat Mazinger. They are unaware that Devilman has spied on their conversation.
Later, Akira goes to warn Koji about this but ends up mocking the Mazinger for being unable to fly; this leads to the two hot-tempered teenagers racing each other on motorcycles (it ends in a draw.) It turns out that Mazinger’s headquarters, the Photon Research Laboratory, is already working on solving the robot’s disadvantage against flying enemies by making the Jet Scrambler, a giant winged jetpack. However one of the demons has spied on them and reports this development to Dr. Hell. He sends the shapeless demon and Sirène to destroy the Scrambler. They manage to damage it before being driven off by Koji’s raygun; Sirène escapes by taking Koji’s brother Shiro and his friend Sayaka hostage. She then lets them fall from the sky, but they are saved by Devilman. When Koji goes to pick them up, he watches Akira change into Devilman and so learns his secret. Devilman follows the amorphous demon to the sea, but falls into a trap; he’s rescued by Koji in the Mazinger. Afterwards they talk, and Akira reveals to him that he’s a rogue member of the Demon Tribe who fights to protect humanity.
The combined forces of Dr. Hell and the demons then attack the Laboratory; Devilman flies to help defend it, but is overwhelmed and captured. He’s taken to some (obviously magical) clouds, where he’s placed on an ice cross and tortured by the demons for being a traitor. However, as soon as the Scrambler is repaired, Koji uses it to fly the Mazinger into the clouds, killing the demons, freeing Devilman and finally destroying the flying fortress, although Hell and Ashura escape alive.
The movie ends with Koji and Akira on good terms, with the two flying off together into the sunset.
External links
- Mazinger Z tai Devilman at allcinema
- Mazinger Z tai Devilman at Animemorial