Mazinger Z | Through the Shattered Lens

July 12, 2013 will be the date that will go down in otaku history when anime and live-action finally come together to prove that dreams of a live-action versions of some of the most beloved anime titles can work outside the animator’s studio. Guillermo Del Toro may not admit it but this Wonder-Con exclusive trailer for his upcoming Pacific Rim is chock full of anime influences.

Giant mecha aka Giant robots piloted by humans: CHECK

Giant monsters alien or interdimensional in origin: CHECK

Humanity brought to the brink of extinction and living in fortified cities: CHECK

It sounds like the basic outlines for anime of the past 30 or so years. There’s a bit of Neon Genesis Evangelion. There’s definitely a healthy dosage of the Mazinger Z DNA in this film. We can’t forget the classic Voltron that introduced many young people in the West in the 80’s to the joy of ultra-violent anime. Outside of anime there’s the Ultraman versus kaiju live-action Saturday serials that continues to be popular in Japan to this day and was a staple of any growing boy’s entertainment agenda on Saturday mornings.

Whether this film lives up to the hype it’s been gaining since the first teaser was shown late last year is still an unanswered question, but for fans of action anime this film looks like a love-letter to us and everyone else should just hang on for the ride whether they want to or not.

Plus, for those not steeped in otaku culture it has something for you as well: Jax Teller, Luther, Clay Morrow and Charlie “Kitten Mittens” Kelly.

On July 12, 2013 will be the date to cancel the apocalypse.

Source: Joblo Movie Network

I think I may have just found my No. 1 most-anticipated film of 2013. It’s a no-brainer really considering my taste in pure, surefire entertainment. Let’s go through the check-list shall we….

Summer blockbuster: CHECK
Guillermo Del Toro directing: CHECK
Live-Action Mecha goodness: CHECK
Kaiju roaring and fighting: CHECK
Giant Mecha fighting and rocket punching: CHECK
GLaDOS doing voice-over work: CHECK and CHECK.

Guillermo Del Toro has been the champion of genre fans and even though the multitude of projects he gets his name attached to never even make it past the concept stage when they do he always goes full-bore, balls-to-the-wall and damn the torpedo forward with his vision. It looks like Pacific Rim he gets to give his fans and those who just want some crack-a-lacka, eyes-going-to-bleed action a chance to watch his vision of giant robots fighting giant monster for the fate of the planet. This film brings me back to my days as a youngling staring wide-eyed in front of the TV watching such classic anime as Mazinger Z and Voltron.

It helps to have GLaDOS providing the voice of the giant “Jaeger” mechas and current badass Jax Teller aka Charlie Hunnam be one of the two main Jaeger pilots. We even get to see Idris Elba acting in hia natural voice. This looks to be a film that just wants to give and give and give. It’s a giver.

Pacific Rim punches everyone in the groin and we’ll love it for doing so on July 12, 2013.