Groizer X

Groizer X
グロイザーＸ (Guroizā X)
Genre	Mecha
Manga
Written by	Go Nagai
Illustrated by	Panchosu Ishiwata
Published by	Asahi Sonorama
Magazine	Manga Shōnen
Demographic	Shōnen
Original run	June 1976 – September 1976
Volumes	2
Anime television series
Directed by	Hiroshi Taisenji
Produced by	Kiyoshi Nishino Norio Kondo
Written by	Toyohiro Andō
Studio	Knack Productions Dynamic Productions
Licensed by	NA: Discotek Media
Original network	Tokyo Channel 12
Original run	July 1, 1976 – March 31, 1977
Episodes	36
Manga
Written by	Go Nagai
Illustrated by	Gosaku Ota
Published by	Shogakukan
Magazine	TV-kun
Demographic	Children
Original run	August 1976 – February 1977
Volumes	2
Manga
Written by	Go Nagai
Illustrated by	Shigeru Akimoto
Published by	Shogakukan
Magazine	Shogaku Ichinensei
Demographic	Children
Original run	September 1976 – December 1976
Volumes	1

Groizer X (Japanese: グロイザーＸ, Hepburn: Guroizā X) is an anime series aired from 1976 to 1977. There were 36 episodes. It is also referred to as Gloyzer X and Gloizer X.

The Gaira aliens, hidden in the Arctic, plan to conquer Earth. Captured and forced to work for the aliens, Dr. Yan creates the ultimate weapon, a transformable aerial robot called Groizer X. Groizer X was 100 meters tall and weighed 1200 tons. Entrusted to his daughter Rita, Groizer X escapes the clutches of the Gaira and lands in Japan, where pilot Joe Kaisaka meets a wounded Rita. Taking up the controls of Groizer X, Jo and Rita fight against the Gaira invasion.

The anime was created by Go Nagai and Gosaku Ota as a side project during the time they were busy with the various Mazinger series. Groizer X nevertheless managed to be converted into a TV series. The robot transforms into a jet, while the show included intense battle sequences and aerial combat, it remained a secondary super robot series.

The original Groizer X toyline are one of the very few Super Robot toys produced by Nakajima Manufacturing Company instead of the industry dominant Popy.^[1]

Yamato then did a GN-U Groizer X figure released in 2007. A manga version of the figure was produced, only painted in green.

While not being a great success in Japan, Groizer X had a considerable impact in Brazil, where it was aired under the name O Pirata do Espaço ("The Space Pirate") in 1984/1986 at the Manchete Network. Only two 70's mecha anime were shown in the country up until that point, and Groizer X was the only one to air in its entirety (Voltes V, the other one, only aired for five episodes). In Latin America, the anime was aired under the name El Justiciero. In Italy it was one of the few robotic anime to be aired on Silvio Berlusconi's Canale 5, in 1981, where it failed to garner much following and was never replayed.

In the 2009 anime Mazinger Edition Z: The Impact!, Count Brocken deploys an updated Groizer, "Groizer X-10" to attack Mazinger Z and the Mazinger Corps. Later on, Groizer's X-9, X-11 and X-12 are also shown, used by the Count to sink the Submarine Fortress Saluud.

• Groizer X (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
• Groizer X (in Japanese) at The World of Go Nagai webpage
• Groizer X, LP (in Japanese)