The special effects series "Gridman the Superman," which was broadcast in 1993 and was hailed as a "masterpiece that came too early," and is set in the world of computers and networks, has returned as a TV animation. Today, we'll be introducing Gridman, one of the series' central characters.
Gridman Overview
Source: SSSS.GRIDMAN ⒸTsuburaya Productions/TRIGGER, Amemiya Satoshi/"GRIDMAN" Production Committee
An incorporeal energy lifeform who calls himself a hyper agent. It resides in an old computer called "Junk" that is displayed in "Aya", a junk shop run by Takada Rikka's mother. It becomes real and gigantic by combining with Hibiki Yuta through the bracelet "Primal Acceptor" worn on Yuta's arm.
Appearance
It can appear as a gigantic, physical form up to 70 meters tall. It has lost its memories and original powers, and understands only its mission of "protecting the city from the impending crisis". It first appears in a form called "Initial Fighter" with blue and purple tones. Only Yuta can recognize it, and even during battles it can only be contacted by typing messages on the keyboard. However, Samurai Caliber has optimized Junk, improving its functionality. Its main colors change to a tricolor of red, white, and blue, and it can contact anyone.
Initial Fighter Era
Source: SSSS.GRIDMAN ⒸTsuburaya Productions/TRIGGER, Amemiya Satoshi/"GRIDMAN" Production Committee
Gridman when he first met Yuta and the others. Appears in episodes 1 and 2. The coloring is different from the optimized illustrations published on the anime website, and the body is mainly gray and blue, with more light blue glowing parts than the optimized Gridman. In the setting, it is called Initial Fighter.
Some viewers call it a "bot"
It repeatedly warns Yuta through "Junk", but no one can see or hear it except Yuta. Furthermore, its warnings are lacking a subject, such as "Danger is approaching" and "Hurry!", and it is hard to say that it is communicating properly.
Optimized Gridman
Gridman after being optimized by Samurai Calibur. He first appears during the fight with Devadadan. In the first Gungun cut, the color of his body changes to a tricolor color with a red base, reminiscent of the live-action version in the main illustration. His movements are lighter than before optimization, making it somewhat easier to fight. Yuta himself said that his body became lighter during the transformation, so there seems to be a significant difference in specs compared to before optimization.
Function
Gridman refers to the size of his own materialization as "output size," and from what he and Bolar have said, he can reach a size of about 50m at normal output and 70m at maximum output. The larger he becomes, the more energy he consumes, and the shorter the time he can maintain his combined state with Yuta (access flash).
Now able to speak
When communicating, others besides Yuta can now see and hear through "Junk," and the image of Gridman on the screen also begins to move. Furthermore, there is now context to what he says, and he can now say things other than warnings.
Combined form
The New Century Junior High School students transform by shouting the access code. All assist weapons except Gridman Calibur have the ability to combine with Gridman. Even after transformation, each individual maintains their consciousness and can talk to Gridman and Yuta. However, due to the limits of Junk's processing power, when all assist weapons are deployed, Gridman and the rest freeze.
Max
A giant in black clothing wearing a metal mask that covers the lower half of his face. He refers to himself as "I". He is always calm and collected, and is the most sensible (for now) among the eccentric group of new century middle school students. He also has excellent judgment and leadership skills, and can be said to be a leader who takes the initiative to unite the other three.
Battle Tract Max
A self-propelled gun equipped with two large-caliber "tanker cannons" at the rear. It is thought to be the "God Tank" in the original work, but unlike the God Tank, which was a low-profile tracked tank, this is a wheeled trailer-like armored vehicle.
Max Gridman
Gridman combines with Battle Tract Max to create a powerful combined superhuman. The left and right halves of Battle Tract Max dock with Gridman's arms as he makes a fist pump, and the head part at the back covers his head as they combine. As the arms become significantly larger, their strength increases significantly. Boosters are also built into the arms, and their power can be further increased by using them in conjunction with the swing of the arms.
Strongest
Not only does he have the power he looks like, but he can also fight on equal terms with the swift-moving Antis, and his overall specs are very high. In episode 4, when all the students of the New Century Junior High School were deployed, he caused some interference, and when Utsumi asked him, "Then who is the strongest?", he responded by deploying on behalf of the others. It is unclear whether he was recommended by himself or by others, but he seems to be the strongest of the four combined forms.
Bola
She looks like a small girl with orange hair in twin tails and wearing black clothes, but she is actually a man like the other members. She is known for her rude behavior and her way of speaking is quite rough, arrogant, and cheeky, but contrary to her small appearance, she also exudes a kind and bold personality that makes her seem like a big shot. She uses the first person pronoun "ore". Her real age is unknown, but she seems to be at least older than Yuta and the others, and she calls Shou a "kid". In the voice drama episode 6, 6, she said "I've never had a job"...
Buster Bomber
A tank on tracks equipped with a pair of giant drills, which corresponds to the "Twin Driller" in the original work. At first glance, it looks like an assault aircraft with drills as its main weapon, but its main purpose is to have high firepower with missiles with various warheads, which can be said to be a powder magazine all over its body. In addition to bombing, it can also put out large-scale fires by spraying fire extinguishing agents and hold back enemies with sticky bullets, making it more capable of multi-round combat than it appears.
Buster Gridman
Source: SSSS.GRIDMAN ⒸTsuburaya Productions/TRIGGER, Amemiya Satoshi/"GRIDMAN" Production Committee
An armed combined superhuman formed when Gridman combines with Buster Borer. The main body of the Buster Bolar serves as additional armor for the torso, and a head part is attached to the head. The caterpillar part functions as a heavy weapon that fires a Gatling gun and missiles. The twin drills on both shoulders can be deployed into a parabolic antenna to transform into Buster Mode.
Strength
The twin drills in Buster Mode can fire a huge beam. The original Thunder Gridman has a special move called "Drill Break" that fires a drill, and this move can be considered an enhanced version of that.
Vitto
A man in black with the appearance of a host. Among the many oddballs in the New Century Junior High School, he has the most decent appearance. He is usually listless and has an attitude of not caring about anything. He is not the type to take action proactively, but perhaps because of his true identity, which will be described later, he always takes a step back to look down on the situation and acts only after reading the mood of the situation. Therefore, if others around him are taking the initiative or if he judges that it is not a situation in which he should take action, he often decides to remain silent.
Sky Vitter
This fighter corresponds to the "Thunderjet" in the original work, but is larger and has a blue coloring. Its main weapons are machine guns on both sides of the front and lasers with homing capabilities. He is the only one among the New Century Junior High School students who has the ability to fly, but due to his personality, he only deploys when the enemy is in the sky and Bolar's missiles are ineffective.
Sky Gridman
Source: SSSS.GRIDMAN ⒸTsuburaya Productions/TRIGGER, Amemiya Satoshi/"GRIDMAN" Production Committee
A sky combined superman that is completed when Gridman combines with Sky Vitter. The wings and engines are attached to the legs, the front wings to the thrusters on the back, and the nose part to the head as the head part, giving it high flying ability.
Side note
Smoke screens are sprayed from the thrusters on the back. The reading of Ozora is "Daikuu" and not "Oozora". So far, it has not used the enhanced version of the grid beam used by the other two forms.
Summary
SSSS.GRIDMAN has been airing since Saturday, October 6th on TOKYO MX and other stations. To commemorate this, the special effects drama "Denkou Choujin Gridman" is now available on various services! If you want to prepare for the anime version, enjoy Midorikawa's beautiful voice, or want to watch it again, please take this opportunity to enjoy it!