Astroganger

Original title: Asutoroganga Characters: Charlie, Charlie's grandfather, Cindy, Mr. and Mrs. Bronson, Charlie's mother, The Blaster alien race, Ganga Production: Knack Productions Regia: Masashi Nitta, Kentaro Yoshida

Country: Japan Year: 1972 Gender: Anime / Science fiction / Robot Episodes: 26 Duration: 24 minutes Recommended age: Children from 6 to 12 years old

The Astroganga cartoons were broadcast for the first time in Italy in 1980 within the various local television stations, but the character was born in Japan in 1972 thanks to the production of Toei Animation and Knack Production. The series is divided into 26 episodes of 25 minutes each and was directed by Masashi Nitta. Compared to many Japanese robots, Astroganga has some completely original points, in fact it is not a mechanical robot guided by a human being, but a real metallic living being, with conscience and speech, which fights enemies by exploiting the use fighting with bare hands (kicks, punches, karate), that is, without the use of other super-technological weapons.

The story of Astroganga begins with a UFO falling to earth. The object is sighted by a scientist who immediately goes there and inside the spacecraft he finds a fainting extraterrestrial woman, holding a metal sphere in her hand. After saving the woman, the two fall in love and from their union Charlie, the child protagonist of the story, will be born. The mysterious metal object has extraordinary properties and once covered by the lava of an underground volcano, it will give rise to the gigantic Ganga. However, the earth is threatened by a monstrous alien population identified only by a number on their foreheads: the Blasters, who kill Charlie's parents with deadly rays. Before dying, his mother gives Charlie two medallions, which will allow him to call Ganga. At the next arrival of the Blaster monsters, Charlie, helped by his grandfather, calls Ganga with the medallion. After a big jump, Charlie's transformation takes place, who is covered in a suit and a helmet and upon the arrival of Astroganga a ray that comes out of the sentient robot's chest, allows him to merge and enter into symbiosis with him. Astroganga quickly gets rid of the enemy thanks to his prodigious strength. Among the various monsters faced by Astroganga we remember the Blaster n ° 5, a large eye that turns into an eagle, the Blaster n ° 16 that takes on human form, the monstrous marine Blasters, robot dogs and many others. Among the noteworthy episodes there is the moving one where the Blaster N ° 1 discovers from a film, the image of Charlie's mother, so she makes the Blaster n ° 104 woman take on her appearance. To attract Charlie's attention, the flying saucer is chased by a monster who, however, with the arrival of Astroganga, destroys himself.When Charlie, seeing that woman, mistakes her for his mother, he is at the height of joy, which however ends soon , as the Blaster woman kidnaps the boy after hugging him. After a long chase Astroganga manages to retake Charlie and destroy the monster's spaceship, but Charlie is very sad that he had the illusion of hugging his mother again. Charlie's only affections are represented by his grandfather, the only one who knows the secret of Astroganga and little Cindy, her inseparable friend, Major Bronson's daughter. In the episode "Hund the Cosmic Dog", we find a ball-shaped monster that feeds on metal. Given its dangerousness, Blaster n ° 1 manufactures many of them which it spreads on the earth, where even military rifles attack. Astroganga is also in serious trouble as he himself is formed from metal.

However, they have not dealt with the willpower of Astroganga, who, witnessing the kidnapping of Cindy, despite the pain, manages to fight and defeat both the winged monster and metal devouring balls. In the episode "The Valley of Mystery", the Blasters take the form of an old man and his granddaughter, who live in a mountain cottage. These are home to Charlie, Cindy and Major Bronson who took refuge from the rain. The Blaster after deceiving them captures them in a cave, making its entrance collapse with the rays emanating from the eyes. The three do not give up and despite Major Bronson's injury, they manage to escape from the cave. The blaster discovered calls a gigantic monster who, however, has to deal with Astroganga who easily wins the challenge. Destroyed the Blaster, the old man and his granddaughter resume their true form. In the episode "War of the Blasters", the aliens kidnapped a forensic technician to try to uncover Astroganga's secret. The technician has undergone a hypnosis therefore he is at the service of the Blasters. Meanwhile, Charlie spots a semi-transparent monster, while Major Bronson is kidnapped by the forensic technician inside his helicopter. Technician Johnny wants to know Ganga's secret, otherwise he'll kill the major. From the phone call, the police identify his position and go to the scene. Johnny being now a Blaster, he also commands the semi-transparent monster. Unfortunately Astroganga this time cannot choose and kills the monster by sacrificing the life of policeman Johnny to save Major Bronson, who mourns the loss of his dear friend. In the episode "Ganga against robots" we find the Blasters disguised as clowns who give robot toys to all children to invite them to the party that will be held in the robot palace, without the parents. Cindy decides to go there with Charlie, but the boy senses something strange in that toy, so he has it analyzed by his grandfather, who discovers the Blasters' deception. Meanwhile, the Blasters have captured the children inside the robot palace and a monstrous robot even manages to defeat Ganga, who falls to the ground unconscious. He is kidnapped by the Blasters who try to study him, but Astroganga recovers and during his escape he has to face the thousands of sharp-toothed robots. Meanwhile, Charlie and his grandfather discover that the robot-palace is only a holographic projection, so they free the children, while Astroganga defeats the powerful robot not without some difficulty.

Astroganga all names, images and registered trademarks are copyright Toei Animation, Knack Productions and of those entitled and are used here for information and dissemination purposes.