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"Hang in there! Robokon" is a story about robots attending robot school who are dispatched to human society. While working for humans, they strive to become Class A robots through their efforts and achievements.
00:00Hello. Thank you for watching today. Today's topic is "Ganbare! Robocon!"
00:22Remember back in the heyday of superheroes in the 1970s, when there was a clumsy robot hero who always failed at everything he did?
00:35Yes, Robocon lives in a human's house and gets into crazy antics and slapstick comedy every time, but there's something about him that's so lovable, with his red body and heart markings.
00:49This time, I would like to introduce Robocon.
00:52Now, let me explain about Robocon.
00:59The original creator of the TV show Ganbare! Robocon was Shotaro Ishimori, who also created many heroes such as Kamen Rider and Kikaider, and the show aired for a total of 118 episodes from 1974 to 1977.
01:18A later remake, Moeyo Robocon, aired for 51 episodes from 1999 to 2000, and Ganbare! Robocon was released in theaters in July 2020.
01:35However, this time I would like to introduce the first Robocon, which was aired during the Showa era.
01:41Ganbare! Robocon is a story about robots employed at a robotics school who are sent out into human society to work for humans, striving to become A-class robots through their efforts and achievements.
01:56The main character, Robocon, a G-class robot, ends up staying with the Oyama family by chance, but no matter what he does he ends up failing and dragging everyone else down with him.
02:09Then, in the second half of the program, when the robots return from their destinations, they hand over cards recording their behavioral data for the week to Professor Gantz in front of everyone, who then grades them.
02:25And if you got 100 points, you would receive a heart mark.
02:31I'm always full of confidence in Robocon, but I got zero points almost every time.
02:37At worst, you could be laughed at with a negative mark or deemed unworthy of grading.
02:46The line "Robocon, zero points" became very popular among children at the time.
02:54Now, Robocon had a variety of robotic functions.
02:59First of all, the power source was a four-cylinder gasoline engine, and the gasoline tank capacity was 10 liters, the same as the daily consumption.
03:10So, every day, I go to the gas station and fill up my car myself.
03:16However, alcohol can also be used as solar fuel, but it can get you drunk and cause mayhem.
03:26Although the exact horsepower is unknown, the maximum power output was reported as 100 horsepower on the show.
03:33In addition, it could fly by unfolding the rotors built into its back, and could also move around in two-wheeled form by retracting both legs into its body and unfolding wheels on its lower body.
03:49The eyes can also become lights and record video like a video camera.
03:55As you can see, the robot has decent performance, but it has some weaknesses in Robocon.
04:04It turns out to be a cockroach, and just seeing one will make you panic and destroy everything around you.
04:14And surprisingly, even though it's a robot, it does sleep, but it snores so loudly that it often draws complaints from family and neighbors.
04:25Robocon, who causes trouble here and there, is surrounded by many of his classmates who are also running around in human homes.
04:37At the time, these classmates were the show's biggest attraction and were a major factor in its popularity.
04:43At the same time, the composition of the classmates was just like the classmates in an elementary school classroom at that time, with a mix of brats, honor students, bad kids, and beautiful girls.
04:56I think this situation was also one of the reasons why many elementary school students sympathized with the story.
05:02Also, many of my Robocon classmates were robots working in real-world jobs.
05:11In particular, it seems that robots working in occupations that elementary school students at the time dreamed of or that they would be interested in were chosen.
05:20Along with showing the workers at work, the content of their jobs was also introduced in a comical way.
05:25Robocon was extremely popular among elementary school students,
05:31At the time, Robocon was not included in the Chogokin series, which was a very popular toy.
05:38There were apparently complaints from Robocon fans and production staff alike.
05:43At the time, the Chogokin series was full of cool characters like Mazinger Z,
05:50Apparently, the comedic robot wasn't adopted right away.
05:54However, thanks to a sudden rise in viewership, the show was suddenly aired during the Christmas shopping season in 1974.
06:03The product was launched and became a huge hit.
06:08And 26 characters from one program were made into Super Alloys.
06:14Apparently Robocon was the first.
06:16By the way, Poppy, the distributor of the Chogokin series,
06:22The success of Robocon seems to have been a stepping stone to becoming the top in the toy industry.
06:28By the way, do you remember the final episode of the show?
06:35I was also feeling a bit dazed,
06:38Robocon built a Robocon village named after himself,
06:43The program ends with him becoming the village chief.
06:47The background to this is that at that time, rapid urbanization
06:51There is no place for children to play freely,
06:54There seems to have been a sad social background to the high number of accidents that resulted from playing on the road.
07:00People around me tell me that it's impossible and that I should give up,
07:06There, Robocon Castle is pouring all its energy into building the village.
07:10Finally, it is completed.
07:13After the village is completed, the robot school will
07:17Dr. Gantz gives people the courage to live,
07:21The importance of robots serving humans,
07:24He was praised for teaching me,
07:27Robocon is the highest score in the school.
07:31500 points will be awarded,
07:33The Golden Heart Mark and Super Diamond Award are also
07:37I ended up winning the award.
07:40After that, Robocon graduated from robotics school,
07:44He was appointed as the mayor of Robocon Village,
07:48The program ends.
07:50At this scene, some viewers were moved to tears of joy.
07:53There must have been quite a lot of them.
07:56Now, let's take a look at Robocon's success at the time.
08:26I'm a robot, a robot,
08:34If you believe it, it will cost you your life.
08:39Press 1, press 2, press 2, press 3,
08:45No matter what, I'll push through
08:51Propeller, pulsating, flying in the sky,
08:56Who will lose? Robocon's success at the time,
09:00Denbengangan Hodengan
09:04Ganbae no Goko
09:07There was no electricity. There was no electricity.
09:10I'm freshly made
09:27It's Shinmai
09:30Let's see how far we can go
09:371 push 2 push 3 push
09:43Even if pushing doesn't work, I'll push through
09:47The engine roars as it drives along the road
09:54Why the hell are you going to lose, Novocon?
09:58Denbengangan Hodengan
10:01Ganbae no Goko
10:04There was no electricity. There was no electricity.
10:07What did you think? I think Robocon was trying to say that no matter how clumsy you are and how many times you fail, if you don't give up and do everything with determination and effort, you can become a different kind of hero, different from cool heroes like Kamen Rider.
10:34As an aside, Moero Robocon was remade in 1999, but it seems that there were no plans to produce it at all. However, due to the Robocon boom and enduring popularity in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong where Ganbare Robocon was broadcast, a remake was suddenly decided upon.
10:57Japanese special effects have spread all over the world without us even realizing it. Well, that's all for now. See you next time!
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