Giant Robo the Animation. Not a movie, not a television series -- a work by the fans, for the fans, ten years in the making. An OVA series like no other. And it all ends in GR 7, Last Episode.

Any number of things could be said about the show; its intricate world model, its numerous and colorful cast, about the technology and magic that make the world tick. Or about the tapestry of greater and lesser themes woven together to make a rich, vibrant whole. But how much could be added to what the show itself offers? In the final analysis, Giant Robo is its own best advocate.

"Can happiness be obtained without sacrifice?" Is the answer to this question a foregone one? GR 7 is a test of that hypothesis by fire, a clash not so much between right and wrong but between human and human. A conflict between boys struggling to fulfill their fathers' last requests, struggling to free themselves from the sorrow of their pasts and reach a brighter future. Who among the cast of Giant Robo are "true" adults, and what does that mean? The last two episodes of GR in particular prompt the question.

More than anything else, my personal hope is that people appreciate what Giant Robo represents. Whether or not you like the character designs, whether or not you agree with the "message" being sent by the show, I'd like you to realize just how much work went into it. How painstaking the effort that brought the visuals and sound to life. In an age where craftsmanship has been replaced by commercialism and profit motive rules supreme, this is one show whose quality is one of its greatest treasures. Just try to count how many other shows you can say that about.

As previously mentioned, those interested in learning more about the minutiae of this series are welcome to visit my translations of the liner notes ( http://psy-s.cjas.org/~mneideng/trans/giantrobo/) or seek other resources on the Net. As a final thought, I'll leave you with a few words from Director Imagawa, taken from the GR 7 liner notes.

"Everyone, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Especially for those who have followed the series from the start, I can't find adequate words of gratitude. There's no way I could have brought this all the way to completion without hearing the voices of the fans along the way. I intend to go on giving everyone my best shot, so I hope to be able to receive the same kind of sentiment in the future, too. Thanks to everyone for coming this far with me!"

"To decide the fate of the world by our own hands."