Manga
Mazinger Z is written and illustrated by Go Nagai. It began serialization in Weekly Shōnen Jump in October 1972.[7][8] While the manga was being published in Weekly Shōnen Jump, Go Nagai made an agreement with Kodansha to have Mazinger Z also be published in TV Magazine (Kodansha), in an effort to reach a younger audience.[8] After Tadasu Nagano, the editor-in-chief of Weekly Shōnen Jump, heard of this agreement, it was announced that the serialization of Mazinger Z in Weekly Shōnen Jump would be discontinued, as Shueisha thought it unacceptable to serialize the same manga as a rival company.[8] The serialization of the manga in Weekly Shōnen Jump ended in August 1973, and it was serialized in TV Magazine from October 1973 to September 1974.[7][8] The manga was collected into four volumes by Shueisha in 1973 and five volumes by Kodansha in 1975 and 1976.[9][10] The manga was also collected into five volumes by Asahi Sonorama in 1974, four volumes by Chuokoron-Shinsha in 1994 and 1995, and three volumes by Daitosha in 1996.[11][12][13]
Anime
An anime adaption of Mazinger Z was produced by Dynamic Planning and Toei Animation, with Toei handling the animation.[14][15] The series ran for a total of 92 episodes from December 3, 1972, to September 1, 1974.[14]
In the 1980s, on behalf of Dynamic Planning, Masami Ōbari and other independent animators (Toshiki Hirano) not part of Toei Animation began work on a miniseries of Mazinger Z. The OVA (Original Video Animation) would have been called Dai-Mazinger (大魔神我) and would have presented the same characters known to the general public, starting with the main protagonist Koji. The robot would be more realistic: for example, it would have exhaust pipes, and its rocket fists would not be able to return to its arms automatically.[16]
International release
In 1976, Honolulu-based entertainment concern, Consolidated Amusement Co., licensed the first 52 episodes of the series from Toei, as reported by the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, and commissioned M&M Communications, a local sound studio, to produce an English language dub. Consolidated, which ran four of the biggest theater chains in Hawaii, packaged the episodes of Mazinger Z for weekend kiddie matinee screenings in their venues, starting with a big promotional push over Thanksgiving weekend (November 27 & 28) that same year with a "personal appearance" (a 10' electronic model) at the Pearlridge Shopping Center, as promoted in the Honolulu Advertiser. The first package of episodes debuted at the Pearlridge 4-Plex Theaters on Saturday, December 4, 1976 (according to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin). Unlike other English adaptations of various anime series at the time, Mazinger Z was left with its plot and character names unaltered. This English dub also aired in the Philippines; it proved so popular there that additional episodes were locally dubbed.[17]
The series partially aired in Spain on TVE 1 at the same time. Rumors emerged that the series was pulled from broadcast because it reportedly induced violence to an underage viewer, but according to Claudio Biern Boyd in a 2021 interview, nothing happened at all.[18]
Tranzor Z
In the United States, Three B. Productions Ltd., a production company headed by Bunker Jenkins, developed Mazinger Z for American television by producing an English-dubbed version, which Jenkins retitled Tranzor Z. This adaptation aired in 1985 and was, like many English-dubbed anime shows that were on American TV at the time, re-edited for American audiences.[25] Many of the Japanese names used in Mazinger Z were changed for its adaptation into Tranzor Z; for example, Koji Kabuto became Tommy Davis, Sayaka Yumi became Jessica Wells, Shiro became Toad, Professor Yumi became Dr. Wells, Dr. Hell became Dr. Demon, Baron Ashura became Devleen, Count Brocken became Count DeCapito, and Archduke Gorgon became Genghis the Ghastly. Only 65 out of the 92 episodes were dubbed into English, as 65 was the minimum number of episodes required for syndication. The final episode was not dubbed in English, instead the series ended with the defeat of Dr. Demon. The fate of Genghis was left up in the air.
Films
The shows spawned so-called "team-up movies" early on, which were like longer episodes that teamed up Mazinger Z with one of Go Nagai's other creations, as in Mazinger Z vs. Devilman in 1973 as well as Mazinger Z Vs. Dr. Hell and Mazinger Z Vs. The Great General of Darkness both released in 1974.
On the franchise's 45th anniversary, a sequel film titled Mazinger Z: Infinity was announced, taking place ten years after the events of the original series. It was released theatrically in Japan on January 13, 2018.
Video games
Mazinger has also been successful in the video game area (at least in Japan) as one of the main stars in the acclaimed battle simulation game series Super Robot Wars, released by Banpresto, featuring characters and units from almost all Mazinger-related shows, alongside other anime franchises. In 1994, Banpresto released an arcade game called, Mazinger Z, which is a vertical shoot 'em up with three selectable characters: Mazinger Z, Great Mazinger, and Grendizer.[26] Announced on December 3, 2022 by Hamster Corporation, Mazinger Z was eventually included in the Arcade Archives series on May 11, 2023, for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4. The Sega Genesis title, Mazin Saga: Mutant Fighter, was released by Sega in 1993. It can be played in two different ways: one as a side-scroller, and the other as a one-on-one fighting game.[27]
