List of Mazinger characters
This is a list of characters from the anime and manga series Mazinger Z, Great Mazinger, Grendizer, and Mazinkaiser, as well as the Shin Mazinger reboot. It lists the main players of the plots as well as minor characters or others that did not appear in more than one chapter.
From Mazinger Z
Koji Kabuto
Koji Kabuto, also written Kouji Kabuto, is the main character and pilot of super robot Mazinger Z. Koji was born as the first child of Kenzo Kabuto, a scientist and Tsubasa Nishikiori, a bioquimic. Koji Kabuto is also the grandson of Juzo Kabuto. He makes a comeback in the sequel series Great Mazinger where he helps defeating the Mycenaean Empire. He also features in Grendizer as Duke Fleed's friend and sidekick. His voice actor is Hiroya Ishimaru in the Japanese version of Mazinger Z and Mazinkaiser, and in Toei's 1970s English dub, he was voiced by Dando Kluever. His voice actor in Tranzor Z, in which he was renamed Tommy Davis, was Gregg Berger. In the English version of Mazinkaiser, his voice actor is Robert Newell while in Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z Hen, his voice is played by Kenji Akabane. In Mazinger Z: Infinity, Koji is voiced by Showtaro Morikubo while in the English dub, he is voiced by Wayne Grayson. He is a staple character of Super Robot Wars and appears in nearly every incarnation, the exceptions being Super Robot Wars UX and the OG series. Kabuto's date of birth is November 12.Aphrodite A
Aphrodite A is a robot created by Dr. Yumi, Dr. Kabuto's apprentice. Since it was originally built for peaceful uses, at first it didn't feature any weapons. Eventually, it acquires the ability to fire missiles from its chest with what was called the Oppai Missile System. Aphrodite was the first female mecha to have this kind of weapon.Despite the fact that it was made of the same alloy as Mazinger, it usually suffers substantially greater damage from attacks. Regardless of these shortcomings, in several opportunities she provides help in battle, and even destroys three Mechanical Beasts in the anime: Gumbina M5, Yubrin T9, and Giant F3. Her missiles also cause the unintentional destruction of Minerva X.
Diana A
Minerva X
Sayaka Yumi
Sayaka Yumi is one of the heroine of Go Nagai's manga and anime Mazinger Z. She was a bit hot-tempered and tomboyish, and had a habit of clashing with the story's hero, Koji Kabuto even though she had a romantic interest in him. In the English Tranzor Z dub, she is renamed Jessica Davis.She was voiced by three people in the original series: Tomoko Matsushima, Minori Matsushima, and Kotoe Taichi. She was voiced by Ai Uchikawa in Mazinkaiser. In the Italian dub of the original series, Sayaka is voiced by Liliana Sorrentino, and her Spanish voice actress is Gloria Gonzalez. Her Tranzor Z voice actress is Mona Marshall, but in Toei's 1970s dub, Sayaka was played by Priscilla Piano.
Sayaka has since made cameos in other Go Nagai series such as New Cutie Honey and the Devilman TV series, and has been featured or mentioned in such diverse places as the Super Robot Wars games and the lyrics of reggaeton songs.
Shiro Kabuto
Shiro Kabuto is Koji's younger brother. Most of the time, Shiro's role is to add some comic relief to the plot. He remains in Japan when Koji departs at the beginning of Great Mazinger. His character acquires a bit more depth in Great Mazinger, as he becomes acquainted with his father Kenzo, who was previously thought to be dead. Toward the end of the series, Shiro finally bonds with Kenzo, who died shortly thereafter. He even gets to pilot his own robot in Great Mazinger, the Robot Junior.Shiro was renamed Toad in Tranzor Z. He is voiced by Kazuko Sawada in the original version, by Dana Ikeda in Toei's English dub, and by Mona Marshall in Tranzor Z.
Boss
Boss was a main protagonist in both Mazinger Z and Great Mazinger starting in episode 3 of the original series. Boss and his gang, Nuke and Mucha, were the comic relief characters. Boss began as a bully and Kabuto Koji's rival at school, but quickly became an ally, often scouting for Mazinger Z on his motorcycle, or getting into some sort of slapstick mischief. In Great Mazinger, Kabuto Shiro and Bakarasu also join the gang with the latter always annoying Boss. He is also Sayaka Yumi's long-time school friend and has a huge crush on her. In the Great Mazinger, since the firsts episodes, he fall in loves with Jun Hono as well, stricken by her beauty; but she doesn't feel the same for him, and worse, Tetsuya, while not officially her boyfriend, doesn't like Boss's attempts and often fights with Boss.In episode 48 of Mazinger Z, Boss and his gang found an abandoned warehouse full of junk, and inspired by events from the previous episode kidnapped the scientists at the Photonic Research Institute to build Boss his own giant robot, the Boss Borot, out of the junk in the warehouse. Although it was of poor performance due to being made out of junk, Boss Borot would often fight mechanical beasts, enemy infantry, and later warrior beasts. Although Boss Borot was equipped with a variety of weapons and accessories, it normally went into battle with nothing and was noted for its head changing shape to fit Boss's emotional reactions.
Boss is voiced by Hiroshi Ōtake in the original Japanese version. In Tranzor Z, the American translation of Mazinger Z, Boss was named Bobo, and his robot was named "Bobo-bot". Bobo's English voice actor was Patrick Pinney, though it is likely he had more than one voice actor as he sounded quite different in later episodes. Boss also made occasional appearances in Grendizer, was one of the main characters in the Mazinkaiser mini-series, and was a minor character in the remake Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z Hen.
Mucha & Nuke
Mucha and Nuke are Boss's sidekicks who follow him around, help in his schemes and ride with him in Boss Borot.In Shin Mazinger they are shown to be formidable fighters in their own right, Nuke showing surprising skill in drunken fist kung-fu and Mucha specializing in flicking spiked metal balls with great accuracy.
In Tranzor Z, the American adaptation of Mazinger Z, Mucha was renamed Jim and Nuke was renamed Chris.
Misato
Misato is Boss' cousin, who comes to the Photon Power Laboratory to work as a maid of sorts somewhat after episode 64. She is somewhat resented by Sayaka for the attention Koji gives her. Misato proves herself in combat on multiple occasions, but most of the time she stays at the laboratory.In Tranzor Z, the American adaptation of Mazinger Z, Misato was renamed Sally. Her Japanese voice actress is Nana Yamaguchi; her English voice actress is unknown.
Gennosuke Yumi
Gennosuke Yumi was a colleague of Juzo Kabuto and ran the laboratory where Mazinger Z was headquartered. He is the father of Sayaka Yumi, Koji's best friend and love interest. Measured and wise, he is the stabilizing force behind Koji's foolhardiness in battle. Many times he anticipates to Hell's plans and under his guidance many battles are won. Yumi is not particularly demonstrative neither with his daughter nor his fellow scientists, but he seems to care a lot for them. In a couple of occasions, when defeat seems inevitable, he is ready to commit suicide before leaving his Institute, like a captain ready to sink with his ship.Because of his years working with Dr. Kabuto, he is aware of many of his secrets, such as the plans for Minerva X and the existence of the Mikene Empire. He built Aphrodite A, based on Dr. Kabuto's work, and hence both she and Mazinger share a similar internal structure. His background before his work for Dr. Kabuto and the Institute and the identity of Sayaka's mother are unknown.
In Tranzor Z, the American adaptation of Mazinger Z, Dr. Yumi was renamed Dr. Davis.
Juzo Kabuto
Juzo Kabuto was a previous colleague of Dr. Hell and created Mazinger Z in order to oppose Hell's plans for world domination. Hell sent Baron Ashura to kill Juzo before he could present a threat, and he was fatally injured in the attack, but survived long enough to tell Koji about Mazinger Z and how it must be used to defeat Dr. Hell.In Mazinkaiser OVA, Juzo Kabuto was retconned into surviving without Koji or anyone's knowledge, and worked in another secret underground laboratory where he finished the final and more powerful version of Great Mazinger and then his ultimate creation, Mazinkaiser. He later appeared to Koji via hologram, telling him about Mazinkaiser. Whether he was still alive, and if so, where he currently was, is unknown.
Note that, in the original manga and the Mazinkaiser OVA, Juzo Kabuto presents several physical scars and is more hot-tempered and even slightly megalomaniac. His TV series rendition is lots more calmer and stable, and also has a rather normal outlook. His Shin Mazinger incarnation however seems to be every bit as megalomaniacal as the manga version.
Professors Sewashi, Nossori & Mori Mori
Three scientists who work around the laboratory and help Professor Yumi, and sometimes provide comic relief. Within the storyline, Mori Mori seems doomed to die; in episode 79 of Mazinger Z series he dies in an explosion caused by a landmine placed by Dr. Hell's minions that blows up his jeep while trying to rescue Koji; in Mazinkaiser he sacrifices himself manually launching nuclear missiles aimed at General Rigarn and his Warrior Beasts so that Koji and Sayaka can get to Japan in a jet.In Tranzor Z, the American adaptation of Mazinger Z, Sewashi was renamed Professor Manning. Professors Mori Mori and Nossori went unnamed in Tranzor Z, though they were all collectively referred to as "The Three Professors" on several occasions. In some incarnations of the show they are known as Iz, Biz and Diz.