Paper Only JEEG DOSSIER - Babil Junior - Spectreman - Orange Road If there's one series that competes with Grendizer for the title of robotics fame in Italy, it's the one dedicated to Jeeg Robot. I know that for many, it's even the anime "par excellence," sitting firmly in the king's seat of classic anime. As a fan from the very beginning, being a member of the Grendizer Generation, Jeeg holds a place of honor in my personal anime ranking. A place that's full of memories. In 1979, when I saw the first episode (I'm Neapolitan and I admired it on Telecapri, announced by the late Teresa Iaccarino), I was not yet 13 years old. Jeeg was broadcast three times a day, at 7 a.m. on the "Sveglia Ragazzi" segment, at 5 p.m. on the children's program "Cinque Punto Zero," and, imagine that, at midnight. Some might ask: but who watched a Japanese cartoon, considered something for kids at the time, at midnight? Answer: me, and I think many others too. The midnight episode was actually the original one, and it was re-broadcast the next morning at 5 p.m. You won't believe it, but my love for Jeeg is tinged with what was then a genuine rebellion. Obviously, as a young teenager in the '70s, I was far removed from the lifestyle of today's already savvy teenagers. My parents would categorically send us to bed at 10 p.m. because the next day was "school." That's where my "reactionary" attitude was born; sleeping at 10 p.m. when the new episode of Jeeg was on at midnight? It was out of the question. So, even though we falsely accepted the rule, my brother and I would lock ourselves in the dark of the room, pretending to be asleep. We'd spend two hours joking around or talking quietly so our parents wouldn't hear (they were in the kitchen with their TV on), trying to avoid falling asleep and staying awake until midnight. At the fateful moment, at 11:58 PM, we turned on a tiny 5-inch portable black-and-white TV, an Orion exactly like the one in the photo (for which I will be eternally grateful), placed next to the bed, and, trembling with excitement, we watched Hiroshi transform into that invincible giant battling the Yamatai kingdom. Can you imagine how the fascination, felt by a boy already in love with those "cartoons," could be magnified by a series whose premise was the magic of a queen awakened from hibernation in a forgotten underground kingdom among caves and lit torches, and a superman capable of transforming into a combat robot against forces dressed as ancient Japanese warriors? All observed in black and white through the eyes of someone who has always loved mystery (it is now part of my work as an investigative journalist) inside a dark room, with the volume low during a disobedience that would have cost us our weekly allowance? How can I not keep such a strong and emotional memory in the deepest treasure chest of my heart? That's where Jeeg lives for me. That's why this issue's In-Depth Dossier features some serious, important writers, capable of doing justice to such a penetrating character. And it's the same reason I asked Roberto Ferrari, the Italian sensei and character designer working in Japan, formerly of Tatsunoko, a great admirer of sensei Kazuo Nakamura's Jeeg, to create for you, the friends of Nippon Shock Magazine, a tutorial on how to draw Jeeg's head in the style of the great Japanese character designer (thanks to TokyoTiger). Also, thanks to Domenico Alfieri “Handesigner” who provided us with some of the images you will find in the Dossier. I hope you appreciate the work we are doing, I assure you that behind it there is all the Love (with a capital L) we have for these characters because we truly believe in our motto: “Dreams never die”. Obviously do not disdain the other contributions because in addition to welcome confirmations such as Massimo Nicora, Fausto Avaro, Fabio Cassella, Andrea Dentuto, Emanuele Massetti, Carlo Ojisan, TokyoTiger (Franca Zoli) and others you have already read in previous issues, other important
JEEG DOSSIER - Babil Junior - Spectreman - Orange Road and much more