Atomic Robot: Mazinkaiser (1999)(2001) OVA

Friday, January 9, 2026

Mazinkaiser (1999)(2001) OVA | Retro Anime Rewind

Written By: Ken Hulsey

In 1997, Banpresto approached Go Nagai to create an advanced version of his famous mecha, Great Mazinger, for the later stages of their Super Robot Wars video game. The design Nagai came up with, Mazinkaiser, is considered one of the most powerful mechas ever created. Its popularity led to its eventual inclusion in the Mazinger franchise's storyline. In 1999, a seven-episode Original Video Animation (OVA) series was produced to explore the origins of the mecha.

Many American fans might be familiar with the Mazinger Z storyline, which aired in the U.S. as Tranzor Z shortly after the popularity of Robotech. Many American children also had the chance to play with a 3-foot-tall Mazinger toy released as part of Mattel’s Shogun Warrior line in the late 1970s. I know I had one, and so did most of my friends.

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In the original series, Mazinger Z often faced off against various robots created by Dr. Hell, the enemy of the Photon Energy Research Laboratory. His henchman, or perhaps henchwoman, Baron Ashura, would always oversee the attacks. In typical Japanese superhero fashion, the enemy robot usually gained the upper hand during most of the battle until Mazinger Z unleashed its full power and ultimately destroyed it.

I often wondered why Dr. Hell didn't simply build one robot after another and store them away, amassing an army to take down Mazinger Z.

In the Mazinkaiser series, Dr. Hell finally makes some progress. Baron Ashura leads an army of menacing robots into battle against both Mazinger Z and The Great Mazinger, which is a more advanced version of Mazinger Z. Ashura manages to score a victory, forcing The Great Mazinger to retreat and leaving Mazinger Z severely damaged. The pilot, Kouji Kabuto, manages to escape and follows an automated signal to a hidden cave, where he discovers a holographic message from his grandfather, Juuzou Kabuto, who designed and built both Mazinger machines.

Dr. Hell rebuilds Mazinger Z and sets out to destroy the Photon Laboratory. However, The Great Mazinger struggles against Ashura’s army, led by Ashura piloting the former defender of Japan. Just when it seems like all hope is lost, an unseen mecha begins to decimate the enemy forces. Emerging from the smoke is the Mazinkaiser, piloted by Kabuto. This new machine runs amok, destroying everything in its path. After vanquishing the enemy, the Mazinkaiser turns its attention to The Great Mazinger. This new machine proves to be far too powerful for the inexperienced Kouji to handle. However, he manages to regain control just before it wreaks havoc on the laboratory. It’s no surprise that Juuzou Kabuto considered his creation too powerful and kept it hidden.

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As the series progresses, Kouji dedicates hours to perfecting his piloting skills and eventually learns to control the mighty Mazinkaiser well enough to defeat Dr. Hell and his minions.

Mazinkaiser is a fantastic mini-series that combines thrilling robot battles with plenty of comic relief and a good amount of fan service. It's definitely geared towards a male audience. As a fan of the original Mazinger Z series, I was very pleased with how this series continues the storyline, advancing it while showcasing new technology. As a fan of Japanese mecha, especially The Great Mazinger, I was thoroughly impressed by the design of Mazinkaiser. It truly stands out as the greatest of the greats, hands down. I recommend this series to anyone who ever fired missiles from their Shogun Warriors in an attempt to shoot their cat. Don’t pretend you’ve never tried it!