A clumsy robot student tries not to fail at humanity. Pure 70s chaos ensues.
Season 1 • Episode 118
LatestGanbare!! Robocon (がんばれ!!ロボコン, Ganbare!! Robokon, Do Your Best!! Robocon) is a Japanese tokusatsu comedy family robot television series created by Shotaro Ishinomori and produced by Toei. It ran from October 4, 1974, to March 25, 1977, on NET TV. Moero!! Robocon (燃えろ!!ロボコン, Moero!! Robokon, Burn!! Robocon) ran from January 31, 1999 (a week after the finale of Tetsuwan Tantei Robotack) to January 23, 2000 (a week before the premiere of Kamen Rider Kuuga). The story follows Robocon, a student of Gantz' Robot Academy who lives amongst humans and aids them as part of his studies. Though Robocon is a screw up, he makes efforts to establish a good image for robots in the eyes of humans they cross paths with. On December 10, 1999, Toei released the direct to video movie Moero!! Robocon vs. Ganbare!! Robocon (燃えろ!!ロボコンVSがんばれ!!ロボコン, Moero!! Robokon tai Ganbare!! Robokon) where the Robocon of the 90s meets the original Robocon from the 70s.
Practical Effects
Suit actors doing full-body comedy in bulky robot costumes. Respect.
Costume
Robocon's design is peak cute-mech. Ishinomori knew what he was doing.
Acting
Keiko Yamamoto's voice work makes a bucket of bolts genuinely endearing.
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Ishinomori's direct follow-up to Kamen Rider, proving he could do pure comedy after creating brooding cyborg trauma.
The 1999 revival aired between two Kamen Rider eras, making Robocon the accidental peacekeeper of tokusatsu history.
JP
