Few things compare to the sheer might in which Goldorak (the French version of UFO Robo Grendizer) took French-speaking Canada by storm when it first debuted in 1978. While not particularly well-loved in Japan, Goldorak has proven to be one of Go Nagai's most impactful creations worldwide, and has influenced youth programming in ways you may not expect - even in the Anglosphere!. But does Goldorak still matter to Quebec and other francophones around the country? Dave Merrill and Chris (aka Kurotsuki) join me to explore the issue, and also help paint one of the best pictures of French-Canadian anime fandom you're likely to find.
NOTE: In this episode, I incorrectly state that Goldorak aired on Radio-Canada. It actually aired on TVA!
Jesse's Recommended Grendizer/Goldorak Episodes:
1, 2, 12, 14, 23, 26, 27, 29, 31, 44, 46, 49, 50, 61, 62, 67, 70-73
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Chris's Twitter: @kurotsuki
Dave Merrill's Twitter: @terebifunhouse
Dave Merrill's Site: mister kitty dot org
Twitter: @jbetteridge
Podcast Twitter: @zannencanada
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zannencanada/
E-mail: zannencanada@gmail.com
Theme song by Karl Olson. Check out Packet Flood, the album all of this show's music is taken from, on his Bandcamp.
I got some episodes in trade from fans in Quebec as that was one not on channels I got. I still have the Goldorak soundtrack on an LP around here someplace...
ReplyDeleteI believe that Goldorak did show up on Radio-Canada in reruns at some point, but yeah, it wasn't nationwide for the most part. Some of that Goldorak merchandise is pretty precious!
DeleteFound the album. It's a couple feet away from where I am writing this. Also dug out the Albator and Candy Candy 45 rpm records and a Goldorak colouring book. Also found a bunch of Goldorak and Albator comics from some newspapers I was reading at the time. I guess those must have been collected into albums but I never saw them on a trip to Montreal last year. Probably long out of print...
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