Not too long ago (as discussions go by on the BBS), a chance pic of him on my crowded shelves prompted the curious to enquire about this strangely enigmatic giant. Well, Giant Gorg has a special place in my heart for its classic lines and elegant design which straddles both the worlds of Super Robots and Real Robots. I particularly like the idea of having the little boy perched on top of Gorg's head - so easy to imagine yourself there, feeling the breeze on your face as the world rushes by below...

Information on the anime is pretty scarce on the net (in English, that is), and what little I've gleaned is from the books SUPER ROBOT GENERATION, SUPER ROBOTS VIEW BROADLY Ver. 98, and some input from Matt (thank you, thank you!). Gorg was designed by Saito Gen (Baldios), and interestingly, Mamoru Nagano (of L-Gaim and Five-Star Stories fame), is also listed as one of the mecha designers on the show. This is purely conjecture, but Nagano's involvement may explain Gorg's noble, knightly appearance and the great attention to details like the gilded line-markings on his armor.

Toy-wise, Takara is to be credited for the terrific quality of their offerings. The most popular versions of Gorg are in the 1/100 scale and of course, the 1/48 scale DX version (Jumbo, r/c, Choro-Q and more versions exist!). Both feature excellent proportions, crisp details and a fair amount of diecast content. The DX measures some 28cm in height. What it lacks in articulation, it more than makes up for in stature. The fault with both toys, if you can call it that, is with the enclosed-design of the skirt armor, which severely hampers the poseability of the legs. Thankfully, the diecast in the feet helps to maintain balance for some basic poses. Gorg can't do any kungfu gymnastics, but he is one of the few robots I know of that exudes coolness by just standing there.

One common gimmick on both toys is the opening "hatch" on the chest. I called it a "hatch" at first because when I only had the smaller toy, I couldn't understand the significance of the kitschy "hologram" sticker that was revealed when I opened the halves.

My initial thought was that it was a "chest weapon" that was fairly typical for a Super Robot... but then REVELATION dawned on me when I laid my hands on the DX version. "Hatch" gave way to "Super detailed cockpit with pilot figures"!!! This pleasant surprise brought back visions of the technical wizardry that Takara showed on their previous Dougram Dual-Model toys. If only I had a 1/48 DX Dougram to compare it with... WOW!

And that's not the end of my sense of wonderment either. Taking a closer look at the "simple" shoulder cannon, what did I discover but even more amazing details! Like, how about an actual removable ammo magazine with individual rounds for the working cannon?

No, the magazine doesn't directly feed the rounds to the cannon... but the breech does slide open to reveal the firing chamber, into which you can place one of the plastic missiles. When you close the spring-loaded breech, the cannon is "armed". Press down on the firing button on the top and "Pwiiip!"... the round is propelled halfway across the room :)

Super Robot? Super Real Robot? Giant Gorg is BOTH. Here is a robot that evokes the classic sense of SR strength and heroism, while embodying the coolest technical details from the realms of Real Robots. Every kid should have one as a friend and protector...