Kotetsushin Jeeg


Koutetsushin Jeeg is a Japanese animated television series and a sequel to the 1975 Super Robot series Steel Jeeg, created by Go Nagai. It is directed by Jun Kawagoe. The show began airing on the satellite network WOWOW on April 5, 2007 at 11:30 p.m. JST.
Press material describes the show as "A simple tale of 'Good versus Evil' while at the same time a robot anime created for the sake of the adult core audience."
On February 19, 2007, it was announced that the JAM Project song "STORMBRINGER" would be the show's opening theme.

Plot

The story of Koutetsushin Jeeg takes place fifty years after the original and features a new cast of characters—primarily the new main character Kenji Kusanagi, a high school student and motorcycle racer who becomes Koutetsushin Jeeg to fight the sudden reappearance of "Haniwa Genjin" from the Great Jama Kingdom ruled by Queen Himika. Other characters include Tsubaki Tamashiro and Kyo Misumi, Kenji's partners. Other main characters from the original series also appear.

Background

1975, Kyushu. The war against the Great Jama Kingdom is turning against the Japanese Security Forces. During a violent clash between Queen Himika and her generals against the first Jeeg, piloted by Hiroshi Shiba, the bronze bell embedded within Jeeg activates and he is transported to the crater of an extinct volcano. There, he grasps a giant sword, creating an energy vortex that surrounds the entire island. Dark clouds swirl and Kyushu is engulfed in an impenetrable space, later dubbed the "zone." All communication with Kyushu ceases. As years go by with no change in the zone recorded, people and even the world's governments lose their interest in the zone, and the world moves on. The Japanese Government, however, decides to build a new Build Base to watch over the zone in preparation for a possible attack.

Characters

Build Base

Haniwa Phantoms serve as the monsters of the week for the series much like in the original series. In episode 12 all of them return to fight both Jeegs on the Moon. They are usually transported by the large manta ray-like ship called the Daikaenguu.

Kenji's motorcycle. Built by Build Base with the bronze bell as its core. While riding the motorcycle, Kenji can activate the Raikoba's transformation by slamming his fists together and yelling "Build Up!". The Raikoba will then transform into the Jeeg's head unit. Kenji later learns that his own parents were part of the Jeeg project and his father designed Raikoba.

Big Shooter

A large jet that houses the Jeeg's body parts and weapons. The Big Shooter is mainly piloted by Kyo who controls the jet's flight and on-board weapons. The "Shooter" is operated by the co-pilot, Tsubaki. She can shoot the Jeeg parts out of the openings of the jet where they will set up and combine to form Jeeg's body. Unlike the original Big Shooter, Kyo and Tsubaki's jet is actually made of 2 units, the main plane and the shooting unit which attaches underneath. During flight, Big Shooter can also house Raikoba and launch it and its rider like a catapult. Miwa also has her original Big Shooter used in the Anime.

The mecha used during the largest part of the series. When the Raikoba has changed into the head part and the Big Shooter has launched the Jeeg Parts, they combine into Jeeg through the "Build up!" process. Jeeg's armor is very durable and can take a lot of punishment before any signs of damage are shown. The mecha has various weapons embedded into the design:
Jeeg is also equippable with various other parts, such as the Earth Parts, Sky Parts, the Mach Drills, Jeeg Bazooka and a Baruba rider mode in which Jeeg sits on the back of Baruba.

Original Jeeg

Hiroshi's battle form after he changes to the Jeeg Head part plus the Original Jeeg Parts. It retains the same Weapons as the old series, especially the Earth Parts, Sky Parts, the Mach Drills and the Jeeg Bazooka. In Super Robot Wars K, the original Koutetsu Jeeg was renamed "Jiigu" to avoid confusion with the new Koutetsu Jeeg.

Jeeg's Final Form after Hiroshi sacrificed his Bronze Bell to Kenji to save his life plus the power of Baruba. Called the "Steel God", it was Jeeg's most powerful form. Its most powerful attack is the "Triple Storm".

Staff

Koutetsushin Jeeg is in the Super Robot Wars game, Super Robot Wars K for the Nintendo DS, as well as the new Super Robot Wars L for the Nintendo DS.