221st G-View: Robot Girls Z

Mecha is one of my least favorite anime genres…unless the protagonists are female and the show is mostly lighthearted until it gets serious. Girls cosplaying as famous anime robots in a parody/spoof show works too. This is Robot Girls Z.

Genres: Action, Comedy, Science-Fiction, Slice of Life

Themes: Mecha, Robots

Number of episodes: 3 but technically 9. The episodes were broadcast in three sets, each having three short stories in it, thus 9 episodes. Oh and it also got a promotional vid before the main series.

G-Rating: 7/10

Plot Summary: There is a new team of “Toei robot girls” named “Team Z” that is made up of three girls based on Toei’s Mazinger Z franchise: Mazinger Z, Great Mazinger, and UFO Robot Grendizer. Usually they perform in activities around Nerima ward in Tokyo to raise the awareness of the promising future energy source “Photon Power”. However, there are times when “Mechanical Beast” team of girls emerge from the “Subterranean Empire” and attempt to steal the energy. Thus “Team Z” has to battle them to prevent this, though sometimes they just go and beat up the “bad girls” to relieve stress

Source:

http://slyboyseth.deviantart.com/art/Robot-Girls-Z-Demotivational-Poster-2-440163129

 

The show is simply a parody/spoof starring girls dressed up like iconic Japanese robots from series like Mazinger Z, Gaiking and Balatack to name a few fighting each other either to “fail at saving the city because their ensuing battle usually destroy said city”, “picking fights because for petty reasons or they feel like it” and “getting into fanservice situations…because”. Basically the point of this show is not to revolutionize storytelling or introduce the ultimate definition of what anime is (At least I don’t think so), but to make a show about cute, cheeky, bratty and some horny girls cosplaying as legendary robots doing silly stuff and frequently beating the crap out of each other using iconic moves from their respective shows. Of course fans of each classic series will have some fun recognizing the iconic robots each girl is cosplaying and possibly notice other references newcomers do not. There is some dramatic moments but are mostly there to pity a certain group I will be talking about in a bit.

The animation leaves very little to speak of. It is okay and the special moves are thankfully as over the top as one would expect from a mecha parody/spoof. Some of the girls are adorable while most are okay.

Other than the super catchy OP the overall soundtrack is also average. It fits the over the top nature of the show so that’s good.

The main trio consist of the hotheaded, egotistical leader in the middle, the sharp tongued, quiet(ish) girl on the right and the deceptively cheerful (but really sadistic when upset) girl with the decent bod on the left. They’re super jerks most of the time but occasionally show signs of kindness, as rare as those occasions are.

My personal fav characters are Baron Ashura and her two main lackeys, mainly because of how sad they are. I know they’re intentionally pitiful but I cannot help but cheer for these three. I especially enjoy their debriefing segments with the “Big Fathead”. The Baron also has two halves for some reason. The male half reminds me of butch. Maybe the baron’s lesbian? Could be. Just looking at this picture makes me feel sorry for these three.

Yes, there is yuri in RGZ, specifically the second set (Eps 4-6). How good it is depends on the viewer but it’s kinda worth it.

Overall do not expect much from RGZ. But really, a show about cosplaying cuties destroying each other and everything else around them should be enough for any viewer who isn’t a prune or lemon to give a go at least once.

PS; Before anyone tries to contradict me about the most important part of the review, SHE IS A HERMAPHRODITE! DO NOT LET NAYSAYERS CONVINCE YOU OTHERWISE! But if viewers prefer the excuse that was used…fine.