— IDENTITY —
Full Name
Tetsujin 28-gō (鉄人28号)
Western Name
Gigantor
Type
Super Robot
Creator
Mitsuteru Yokoyama
Country of Origin
Japan
First Appearance
July 1956
Original Publication
Shōnen (Kobunsha)
Publication Period
1956–1966
— DEVELOPMENT HISTORY —
Project Designation
Tetsujin No. 28
Original Purpose
Experimental military weapon developed during the final years of World War II
Developer
Dr. Kaneda
Post-War Status
Recovered and inherited by Shotaro Kaneda
Historical Significance
Widely regarded as the first giant remotely-controlled humanoid robot in Japanese popular culture
— CONTROL SYSTEM —
Primary Operator
Shotaro Kaneda
Control Method
Wireless remote control transmitter
Pilot Location
External operator
Cockpit
None
Autonomy
No independent intelligence
Operational Principle
Responds exclusively to commands transmitted by the controller
This is one of the most defining traits of Tetsujin 28 — it immediately sets it apart from Mazinger Z, Gundam, and practically every mecha that followed, all of which feature an internal pilot.
— PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS —
Height
18.0 m
Weight
18.0 t
Body Structure
Humanoid
Armor Style
Riveted steel construction
Visual Design Features
- Pointed helmet head
- Large cylindrical limbs
- Circular eye lenses
- Belt-mounted "28" insignia
- Heavy industrial appearance
— COMBAT CHARACTERISTICS —
Primary Combat Style
Close-quarters combat
Primary Weapons
- Punches
- Kicks
- Grabs
- Throwing attacks
Integrated Weapon Systems
None officially specified
Energy Weapons
None
Melee Weapons
None
Combat Role
Heavy assault / multi-purpose giant robot
Tetsujin 28-go — Remote Combat Unit · Tokyo, 1963
— NARRATIVE CLASSIFICATION —
Alignment
Heroic
Affiliation
Kaneda Detective Agency
Primary Mission Profile
- Crime fighting
- Disaster response
- Anti-robot operations
- National security incidents
— ANIME INFORMATION (1963 SERIES) —
Broadcast Network
Fuji TV
Broadcast Period
1963–1966
Episodes
97
Animation Studio
TCJ (Tokyo Eiga Shinsha)
Anime Debut
October 20, 1963
— LEGACY —
Genre Classification
Foundational Super Robot
Known As
- The grandfather of giant robots
- The prototype of the Super Robot genre
Influenced
- Mazinger Z
- Giant Robo
- Gundam
- Patlabor
- Evangelion
— COLLECTIBLES —
Good Smile Company
Tetsujin 28-go
Messenger of Steel — Action Figure
Shop on Amazon →
