GR: Giant Robo is a 2007 anime written by Chiaki Konaka (Serial Experiments Lain, The Big O), directed by Masahiko Murata (Mazinkaiser) and produced by A.C.G.T.. Created for the 40th anniversary of the Giant Robo franchise, the series served as a reimagining of the original manga, with no relation to previous adaptations. While originally intended as a direct adaptation of the manga (as evidenced by the pilot), the series instead reimagines the story for the 21st century by combining Yokoyama's manga with an ancient war against Eldritch Abominations.
At the dawn of the 21st century, a terrorist organization called Gigantic Rebellion Operators (GRO) has managed to uncover an ancient army of giant robots, which they have redubbed as GRs and unleashed upon the world. In response, the United Nations paramilitary organization known as UNISOM rushes to secure hidden ruins which may house more GRs to fight back, with the two organizations closely followed by a 24/7 new network known as Broadcasting Frontline Network (BFN). When an 18-year old scuba diver named Daisaku Kusama uncovers a new GR, code-named GR-1, he learned of the mechs' origins, and decides to use it as a champion against GRO.
The series lasted for 13 episodes. However, poor ratings and reception not only ended the series short but also effectively cancelled any future adaptations of Yokoyama's properties.
GR: Giant Robo includes examples of...
- Adaptational Backstory Change: In previous media, Giant Robo was built by Big Fire. In this series, he originated from an ancient civilization.
- Adaptation Name Change: Big Fire, the evil organization from previous media is know as G.R.O. note in this series.
- Adapted Out: Commander Azuma, the leader of the UN spec ops team Daisaku is apart of in the manga, is nowhere to be seen in the series, with Alex Mckenzie taking over his role.
- BFG: GR-1's arm turns into one in the Series Finale
- Body Horror: Whenever Giant Robo defeats an enemy GR unit, the operator of said unit is terminated in a gruesome manner.
- Composite Character:
- Giant Robo's design for this series is a mix between his appearances from the Live Action series and the 1992 OVA.
- GR-2 is a mix between the manga and tokusatsu designs while GR-3 is a mix between his manga design and the design from his brief appearance in the OVA's Evolving Credits.
- Darker and Edgier: The Series has a more grim and foreboding tone in comparison to previous adaptations.
- Gray-and-Gray Morality: The GRO commits acts of terrorism to get their way, however their intention of stopping the Eldritch Abomination enemies by capturing all the GR units built to stop them isn't inherently bad and the UNISOM agents aren't much better, with them being under the orders of the same man running the GRO
- Heroic Sacrifice: Alex Mckenzie takes the full brunt of the GRO's machine gun fire to save the life of Daisaku near the end of the show
- I Cannot Self-Terminate: After being contracted with GR-1, Daisaku effectively becomes immortal. Whether or not this only applied to his time operating the title character or if he really has been permanently immortalized is never addressed in the series. note
- In Name Only: While the series does feature Daisaku and Giant Robo battling an evil organization, it lacks the camp of the source material in favor of being a gritty reboot of the live action version.
- Lost Technology: The GR units are portrayed as ancient mecha from a lost civilization.
- Mythology Gag: Plenty of them.
- GR-4 being based on Calamity/Cleopat from the live action series.
- One of the bad guys is named Johnny "Soccor". note
- GR-5 is loosely based off of an obscure Giant Robo villain from a side manga Mitsuteru Yokoyama made for Shogakukan Comics.
◊ - GR-0 and its planet destroying powers are modeled after Gaia from Mitsuteru Yokoyama's 1976 manga Mars. GR-7 is based on Titan from the same manga.
- In Episode 10, Daisaku briefly wears the plaid trench coat, neck tie and khaki pants that his manga counterpart wore.
- The Manga version features a plethora of cameos of various Mitsuteru Yokoyama robots in the art style of GR Giant Robo at the very end of the manga. Several of the most identifiable ones include Monster, Black Ox, VL-2, and the titular robot from Tetsujin 28, The title robot from Yokoyama's obscure manga Thunder Daioh and Titan from Mars.
- The Manga version features an upgraded "Shin" form for GR-4 that models itself after the obscure OVA GR-4/Calamity design from the 1992 OVA Giant Robo manga and a "Mummy" themed upgrade for GR-1 that takes on a monstrous, mouthless version of the design from the GR manga.
- The Organization UNISOM being a name changed variant of the UNICORN organization from the 1967 series.
- The Man Behind the Man: Johnny Soccor, the producer of the BF tv network manipulated both GRO and UNISOM into fighting the GR units to sow fear and panic among the people to boost ratings.
- This Is a Drill: GR-4's right arm can transform into a giant drill for combat.
- United Nations Is a Superpower: Alex McKenzie calls UNISOM an "independent United Nations army".
- Would Hurt a Child: In the manga, D and V are abused by the GRO to the point where they are turned into a power source for the Shin GR-4 Tempest to fight against Giant Robo.
- Would Shoot A Woman: GRO will take zero prisoners if it means achieving their goals, as Poor Alex found out...
