Grendizer is one of the several jillion giant robot anime series made in Japan in the '70s. The titular robot only made it to America as part of the Shogun Warriors toyline, but for some reason, the anime became super-popular all over Europe, especially France, where is was called Goldorak, and Italy, where it was called Goldrake. None of this explains the above video, however, of two kids and a woman -- a family? -- in disturbingly tight spandex doing a song and dance routine in front of a crowd of people in super-cheap alien and robot costumes holding sparklers, while a mysterious announcer occasionally says "GOLDRAKE." That occasional call-out is the only mention of Goldrake/Grendizer, meaning if it's a promotion for the anime, it's terrible, and yet if it's not, I truly cannot comprehend what purpose this nightmare was made for. When this video haunts your dreams tonight, you can blame Mie S. for giving me the tip.
22 comments
Comments
Michael Llakor Ryan said:
For what it's worth (not much) Goldorak is also hugely popular in Quebec, where we got the same versions of the cartoons as France.
Lily412 said:
Is Darth Vader watching them, holding a sparkler?
Space Monkey X said:
This is probably a song from the Italian dub. I may not understand Italian, but I heard the word "Vega" several times and that's where the evil aliens are from.
Jeff said:
If Canada hadnt won WW2 this is what America would be doing every day haha
Steve Harrison said:
Yes, yes they do loves them some Grendizer. And most of the other Toei/Go Nagai robots. They lose their mud over Groizer X for example.
But America DID get a tiny dose of Grendy love back in the late '70s, 25 episodes thanks to Jim Terry's Force Five syndi block.
It suffered the usual transliteration (aka localization) mangling as was the custom of the time.
Pedwalk said:
Man, don't sparklers only last for twenty seconds or so? I can't even imagine how many takes it took to put that whole thing together.
gianluca said:
goldrake grandizer is very popular in italy.. it has a very big cult arund him (and a lot of classic robot has too)
this is another versione of the song less colourful but more suggestive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d87RK4mhiwg
RubyRoses said:
well I was into the mini-history lesson....I have a headache so I won't attempt to watch this now...
fakeassname said:
*facepalm*
oh god .... i cant un-watch it, I CANT UN-WATCH IT!
Bill said:
I still love me some Shogun Warriors, but I won't even attempt to watch this carwreck!
Neodymium said:
Where Are They Now?: Boy dancing in that italian goldrake video from '79.
Anonymous said:
Is this from a Space Mutiny prequel ?
Michaela said:
I was born in Italy. I do NOT love this. I am ashamed.
pKrime said:
This show features the opening song of the Italian release of Grendizer (Goldrake here). Of course it's very loved here, in 70s popular TV, Japaneese animation and science fiction had just began to reach the masses and Grendizer something with robots, aliens and starships gained very much attention.
No wonder a TV show makes a dance about a phenomenon.
pKrime said:
ah, it's not a misterius announcer, the man shouting "Goldrake" is part of the song. It would be the pilot.
Fez the Baron said:
Well yes, we in Italy DO love a LOT Goldrake/Grendizer(and as was said, all GO Nagain stuff). Is very hard to explain how much Goldrake and his peers influenced generations of young Italian Kids(now Adults). They were something completely different from the toons that we used to watch. Goldrake/Grendizer in particualr is comparable to Optimus Prime in term of popularity/symbolism toward italian kids.
Of course sometimes love tend to be tad excessive, like in this case. But hey eveyr geek does such things once a while.
KB_SBI said:
Man, i loved (well still like) Goldorak as a Kid.
Dedalus said:
Rob write "...I truly cannot comprehend what purpose this nightmare was made for"
Me neither man, and I am Italian.
Asat said:
Is that Xuxa?
Wait, 1979? That must be the woman who built and programmed Xuxa. Cool.
Maicolengel said:
In the seventies japanese cartoons were a big hit in Italy. And we used to have show on tv where we were able not only to see the cartoons but also things like the disturbing one you posted here. There were live sketches with people dressed like that. For the fun of it!nothing else nothing more. But belive me, for a kid it was fun. Anyway the song was the end theme of the italian "Grendizer".
