Genre: Action, Drama, Sci-fi

Original Run: 03/03/2007 - 09/01/2007

Series Length: 26 episodes

Current Status: Completed, Fan-subbed, Not yet available in the U.S.

Location: Veoh.com, YouTube.com, various download sites

Synopsis: This is a remake of the original 1975 series Brave Raideen, which follows the adventures of high school student Junki Saiga. He is the son of a famous archeologist who mysteriously disappeared several years ago. Unfortunately, his father’s remains are found and Junki’s family is called in to identify them. At the site of the ancient ruins his father had been exploring, Junki comes into contact with an ancient artifact, just as a huge meteor comes crashing down and releases a huge alien monster. At the same time, the artifact activates an ancient robot of unimaginable power that was buried within the ruins. Junki now finds himself controlling the most powerful weapon ever conceived. Its name is Reideen.

Artwork: The characters are well drawn and have very fluid motions. The computer-generated graphics are reminiscent of Vandread and are well synchronized with the backgrounds. Score: 8.5

Plot: Like all giant robot series, Reideen is composed mostly of fighting one big bad guy every episode, though there is some very good character development. There are some smaller story arcs and the conclusion was solid. Score: 7

Sound: Good sound effects and battle noises. The rest is clear, though at times, can get annoying when the flow slows down. Score: 6

Special Effects/Features: The computer graphics play heavily and are quite extensive. There’s a bit of a change in how the giants battle, in slower, more deliberate movements. For those of us who are used to seeing fast-moving giant machines like Gundams and EVA Units, this is a bit of a shock, but it does add to the realism. I mean, machines that big can’t move that fast as compared to smaller forms. Score: 7

My review: After watching nearly all the Gundam series, Robotech, Evangelian, and Full Metal Panic, it takes a bit getting used to seeing giant robots move more slowly in battle. Then again, that’s what I liked about Dai-Guard which didn’t move all that fast either and added more to the realism. Although there were some things that were totally off the beaten track, (such as Reideen having a sword the size of the moon!), but hey, we’re talking about alien technology. The main character is also a bit of change from the normal hero type. He’s not at all sure he even wants to pilot something as powerful but as unknown as Reideen, though he’s not as wishy-washy as other characters I can think of. The tone and pace of the series doesn’t drag on and in the end, it comes to a climax quite nicely.

Overall Score: 8.5

Recommendation: Reideen is an interesting change of pace from most other giant robot series and is good for all sci-fi fans. The storyline follows the basic rule that the hero must battle a monster every episode, then the main villains comes in to up the ante, which then causes more friction between the hero and his allies, which eventually culminates into a final battle and epilogue. In the end, Reideen is a good anime to watch and even if you know nothing about the original series, it can still be enjoyed.