Big O (mecha)

nihongo|Big O|ビッグオー|Biggu Ō is the premier mecha of "The Big O" anime TV series, a black megadeus piloted by series protagonist Roger Smith. The robot was designed by series creator Keiichi Sato, who also designed the Mazinger mechas featured on the "Mazinkaiser" OVA and the mutant creatures of "The SoulTaker" TV series. [ann name|id=90|name=Keiichi Sato]

Creation

Big O's unusual design was the creators' way of creating something distinguishable from the "Gundam" franchise and the Real Robot series inspired by it. Instead of blocky body parts, Sato designed a mecha where the chest and hips were not separate from the rest of the body. That way, the giant's movement would seem sluggish, comparable to the giants of old "tokusatsu" shows. According to Sato, the name "Big O" comes from the opening theme of "Daitetsujin 17", "Oh! Giant Ironman"." [http://www.japanhero.com/big_o_interview.htm Birth of the Big O] ". "The Big O" DVD Volume 1. Bandai Entertainment.] [In the series, the word nihongo|"Big"|ビッグ|Biggu identifies a type of robot of similar make and model to Big O.]

Big O's summoning is an homage to Mitsuteru Yokoyama's "Giant Robo". By calling the megadeus' name into his wristwatch, Roger informs the giant it is "Showtime!" and it comes to its master's side.cite web | url = http://www.animejump.com/index.php?module=prodreviews&func=showcontent&id=1 | title = "The Big O" vols. 1-4 | accessdate = 2006-11-11 | last = Toole | first = Mike |date=2003-09-24 |publisher = Anime Jump] The boot sequence ("Cast in the name of God, Ye not guilty") is a design of series director Kazuyoshi Katayama. Katayama first learned of the phrase through a magazine article on John Milius and the "Conan the Barbarian" series. According to the article, the phrase comes from the swords of executioners in the 17th century. A variation of the phrase ("Suffer no guilt ye who wields this in the name of Crom") is engraved in Conan's sword. [Waterman, E. (April 1997). Jody Samson, Master Sword Maker. "The Barbarian Keep", 1.] Katayama liked the sound of it and decided to use it as the robot's call to arms.cite web|url= http://www.fansview.com/2003/animecentral/051703c.htm |title= Anime Central 2003 Panel |accessdate=2006-11-23 | publisher = A Fan's View]

Characteristics

The black megadeus makes its first appearance on the show by the end of "Roger the Negotiator", when it is summoned by Roger to foil a robbery. It is established early on this is not Big O's first appearance in Paradigm City; [Dan Dastun (as Big O makes its entrance): What? Not again!... That damn Megadeus just had to show up... (Act:01, Roger the Negotiator)] onlookers, including Chief of Police Dan Dastun, cheer him on, distinguishing the hero from the villain. Beyond Paradigm, it's a different story. When Big O shows up in "Electric City", the locals don't know what to make of it; and during "The Call from The Past" a local fisherman fears it, believing the metal behemoth to be a nihongo|"Sea God"|海の神|umi no kami. The first season finale suggests Big O played a part in the cataclysm that destroyed the world when Roger's nightmarish vision shows the megadeus as one of three giants burning down the city.

At times, Big O appears to have a mind of its own. When Roger is in danger of being killed during the last episode of the first season, the megadeus goes to its master and stops the assassin. Roger is in the habit of talking to it, even though Big O is never heard talking back. During the fight with Bonaparte in "The Third Big", Big O locks itself and lets Roger out because R. Dorothy is in danger. [Roger Smith (Big O has just let him leave): Big O, you really sure? Are you sure about this? You can hold out 'til I get back? (Act:21, "The Third Big")] In "Enemy Is Another Big!", Schwarzwald suggests that Big O may have chosen Roger, not the other way around;Dan Dastun (seeing Big Duo move on its own): But that's impossible! No one's piloting it! // Schwarzwald: You don't need a master, or do they choose their own master? Do we control them, or do they control us, Roger Smith? (Act:12, "Enemy Is Another Big!")] while the killer android R.D. implies those who pilot a Megadeus respond to a higher power and have a great mission to accomplish. [R.D.: Who commands you, Roger Smith? // Roger Smith: No one commands me! // R.D.: Then why do you pilot it? // Roger: Are you talking about the Megadeus? // R.D.: They are the sacred chariots of Mankind. Those who pilot them are intended to be commanded. If you admit that you are not... then you must perish! (Act:13, "R.D.")] In the middle of a hallucination during "Roger the Wanderer", The Negotiator remembers how Big O was waiting for him.

Features

The Big O possesses a varied array of weapons. Unlike other mecha series, where the robot's weapons come from specifically designed equipment or spiritual energy, the creators of "The Big O" took an old-school approach. The cockpit includes an assortment of pedals, levers and buttons that control the giant and the weapons are hidden within the giant itself, so only by displacing certain parts of the megadeus' armor can the pilot make use of them. ["The Big O Visual": Official Companion to "The Big-O" TV series (ISBN 4-57-529579-5), p. 23.] Shimura, Shinichi. (2004). Anime rebel with a cause: The Big O's Keiichi Sato. "AnimePlay, 5", 22-26.]

The Big O's main weapon is the nihongo|Sudden Impact|サドン・インパクト|Sadon Inpakuto. [cite web| url = http://www.paradigm-city.com/robots/bigo.php | title = "Big O" Profile | publisher = Paradigm City | accessdate = 2007-01-01] It works by retracting the pressurized pistons inside the arms and subsequently releasing them. In "Roger the Negotiator", the combined strength of Big O's punch and the Sudden Impact explodes a hole in Dorothy-1's chest. In "Beck Comes Back", the released gust beheads the Beck Victory Deluxe; while in "Enemy Is Another Big!", it goes through two skyscrapers.

The nihongo|Chromebuster|クロムバスター|Kuromubasutā is first used in Act:03. It is a concentrated energy beam fired from Big O's crown. The beam can be sustained for a long time ("Day of The Advent") or fired in short continuous bursts ("Hydra"). The material that makes up Big O's head ornament can deflect beams ("Beck Comes Back") but it can also crack under pressure ("Enemy is Another Big!"). Big O is also capable of shooting laser beams out of its eyes, first seen in Act:05.

Hidden in the megadeus' abdominal area are 18 missiles, first seen in "Underground Terror"; six machine gun barrels are hidden around the chest area, first used in the fight with the Mummy in Act:12. The Big's hips hide rocket-propelled anchors, attached to the megadeus by chains strong enough to support the robot's weight ("Enemy Is Another Big!"). During the second season opener, it is revealed the waist is actually made up by two rows of eight anchors each. The anchors may be guided from the cockpit, as seen in "Twisted Memories". Other features include arm shields, a radar, a communication device and a station to keep the Griffon ("Stripes").

Big O's original design included interchangeable weapons for the robot's arms. While this feature is not displayed in the TV series, it was implemented in the manga incarnation. ["The Big O Visual", p. 24.] Some of the weapons featured in the manga are an electric attack arm, drill arm, a rocket-propelled mace and an upgraded Sudden Impact. [cite web| url = http://web.archive.org/web/20041105004807/http://radd.vzz.net/big_o/chars/bigo_weaponry.htm | title = The Big O's weaponry (Archive) | publisher = Dominus Dei: A Big O Fansite | year = 2004 | accessdate = 2007-01-01]

New weapons were designed for the show's second season.

The first one is the nihongo|O Thunder|オーサンダー|Ō Sandā, a pair of gatling-style guns contained within Big O's forearms, first used during "Negotiations with The Dead". Once activated, the armor covering the forearm opens exposing four gun barrels. The rotating barrels fire energy volleys at high-speed, while generating a ring of energy that explodes on impact.

The nihongo|Plasma Gimmick|プラズマギミック|Purazuma Gimikku is used for the first time during the "Hydra" battle. [cite web| url = http://www.savebigo.com/modules.php?name=Encyclopedia&op=content&tid=103&eid=1 | title = "Plasma Gimmick" Entry | publisher = The Big O Encyclopedia | accessdate = 2007-01-01] In the middle of the fight, Roger gets a vision of himself fighting a similar monster during "The Event". In the vision, the other Roger activates the weapon by stepping on a button in the cockpit's floor. The armor on Big O's shoulders and forearms opens, revealing the static shield generators. Roger utilizes the generated energy to decimate the Hydra.

The nihongo|Final Stage|ファイナルステージ|Fainaru Sutēji is used during the final episode. [cite web| url = http://www.savebigo.com/modules.php?name=Encyclopedia&op=content&tid=53&eid=1 | title = "Final Stage" Entry | publisher = The Big O Encyclopedia | accessdate = 2007-01-01] Big O's inside and outside are transformed and a massive cannon emerges from the giant's chest. The hip anchors are deployed to withstand the gun's recoil and the Plasma Gimmick is activated to protect the momentarily incapacitated megadeus during the Final Stage. Final Stage is started by R. Dorothy. [Roger Smith (sees Dorothy plugged into Big O): Uhn! Dorothy?! How did you know? // R. Dorothy Wayneright (connected to Big O): I was informed by a buffoon with curly hair and gaudy clothing. // Roger: That son of a gun... Big O! Final Stage! (Act:26)] The cannon is discarded immediately after firing.

Appearances in other media

"The Big O" manga

"Super Robot Wars"

Big O is featured in "Super Robot Wars Destiny" for the Game Boy Advance. In true "Super Robot Wars" fashion, the megadeus is super deformed, while its pilot stays in his regular full detailed form. Only the first season is covered as well, and it replaces the myseterious cataclysm of 40 years ago with the release of Getter Energy from Shin Getter Dragon in Getter Robo Armageddon. Several attacks which were not named in the series are given names in this game, though the canonicity of said names is unknown.

Big O is also featured in Super Robot Wars Z, and covers both seasons. In one of the bad endings in Z, multiple Bigs appear; including Big O.

References