"Mazinger Z" was an epoch-making TV anime.
It was broadcasted since 1972 to 1974 by a Japanese TV broadcaster, Fuji TV.
It made new format of Robot anime, and it was enthusiastically watched by Japanese boys.
There were some anime of huge robot before "Mazinger Z", like "Gigantor" or "Ambassador Magma".
But "Mazinger Z" was the first anime which a boy as hero gets inside and operates. It gave a new concept of robots as weapons, like battle planes.
It became the base of following anime, like "Gundom","Evangelion" or "Rahxephon".
Revolution by the anime wan't only it.
The sponsor of the anime was Poppy (Now we call the company "Bandai"), a Japanese toy maker.
Poppy launched the figure of Mazinger Z made with iron and zinc. It was very heavy and crafted.
Poppy called the figure "chô-gôkin".
The word means superalloy material. "Chô-gôkin" was new advanced metal's name on the story.
Poppy used the name as the name of their new toys. Now in Japan, it means all metallic firure toys. It had become a general noun.
A Japanese newspaper, Mainichi Shimbun, tells that Bandai will launch the special chô-gôkin of 2 million yen (= about 20,000 US dollars)as a memorial of Mazinger Z's 35 years anniversary.
Old boys loved Mazinger Z have been around 40 years old, now.
They have enough money to buy the special figure.
They are the hot targets to many companies.
The new TV anime series of Mazinger Z will start since this April.
Middle agers will be like children with watching the anime.
And Bandai will earn much money.
