Film

Mazinger Z: Infinity

Name: Mazinger Z: Infinity
Genre: Action, Science Fiction, Animation
Released: 2017
Cast: Showtaro Morikubo, Ai Kayano, Sumire Uesaka, Toshihiko Seki, Ami Koshimizu

A 2017 anime film that resurrects the 1970s super-robot classic for a new generation. Mazinger Z: Infinity blends spectacular mecha action with genuine emotional weight, exploring what it means when heroes age and threats evolve beyond the simple good-versus-evil battles they once fought. For anyone who loves giant robots, anime spectacle, or stories about legacy and sacrifice.

TMDb rating

3.5

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you grew up on giant robots, or love old-school mecha where the machine's arrival is the whole thrill and the pilot's bond with it matters more than the plot logic.

Skip it if you want a fresh story or slow build; this is brisk, uncomplicated spectacle leaning on cartoon energy and familiar archetypes, and may feel thin if you need deep characters.

What it asks of you: Expect a short, sharp run where the set pieces arrive quickly and the mood stays upbeat, so give it an evening of easy attention rather than close study.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Neon Genesis Evangelion1995

Revolutionized mecha anime by turning giant robot piloting into psychological warfare. Combines stunning action with philosophical depth about identity, purpose, and the cost of heroism that resonates with Mazinger Z's mature themes.

But Deeply bleak and frequently confusing, with an ending that abandons narrative entirely. Some find it pretentious rather than profound.

Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann2007

Pure mecha joy that escalates from scrappy rebels to cosmic absurdity. The same energy as Mazinger—earnest heroes in impossible machines—but with relentless momentum and a willingness to be absolutely ridiculous in service of genuine emotion.

But Twenty-seven episodes of increasingly unhinged spectacle. If you want restraint or subtlety, this gleefully refuses to give it.

Mobile Suit Gundam1979

The anime that proved giant robots could carry serious war drama. Grounded, tactical, and tragic in ways Mazinger Z influenced but never quite achieved. Essential context for understanding what came after.

But Dated animation and pacing that demands patience. The first few episodes feel routine before the series finds its stride.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Mazinger Z: Infinity

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Devilman Crybaby2018

Direct lineage from the same creator and era, but inverted: where Mazinger Z asked 'can humanity survive?', Crybaby asks 'should it?' Both treat giant battles as backdrop for questions about sacrifice and what we owe each other.

An adult reimagining of Go Nagai's mythology (Mazinger Z's creator) that's visceral, tragic, and genuinely moving. Spends 10 episodes building toward apocalypse, animated with stunning fluidity and committed entirely to emotional devastation.

But Graphically violent and sexually explicit throughout. Not 'edgy for edge's sake'—it earns the intensity—but undeniably punishing to watch.

Promare2019

A dazzling blast of color and kinetic energy about fighting an existential threat with impossible machines. Studio Trigger's animation is breathtaking, and the emotional core—about sacrifice and understanding your enemy—echoes Mazinger Z's better instincts.

But Plot is deliberately thin and sometimes incoherent. If you need narrative logic, this prioritizes spectacle over sense.

Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch2006

Mecha action wrapped around a compelling protagonist whose powers and ambitions spiral into genuine tragedy. Smarter than it initially appears, with the kind of character complexity that makes Mazinger Z's aging hero angle feel fresh.

But Gets increasingly melodramatic and occasionally contradicts itself. Some find the protagonist's choices infuriating rather than tragic.

Getter Robo1974

A direct contemporary of the original Mazinger Z that shares its DNA—combining robots, mythology, and earnest heroes—but with wilder, weirder aesthetics. Pure 70s robot joy that Infinity genuinely honors.

But Primitive animation and pacing that requires tolerance for vintage TV rhythms. The plotting is functional rather than sophisticated.

Kill la Kill2013

Studio Trigger's attack on power, rebellion, and the cost of fighting. While not mecha-focused, it shares Mazinger Z's commitment to visual spectacle in service of genuine stakes, plus the same willingness to be absurd without losing emotional sincerity.

But Deliberately provocative imagery that some find gratuitous. The style overwhelms substance for stretches.

Sidonia no Kishi2014

3D-animated mecha in a human-versus-alien setting with genuine suspense and gorgeous design. Proves you can do epic robot battles in CG without losing impact, and manages real character moments in a show fundamentally about survival.

But 3D animation still feels stiff to some. Story resolves hastily in later seasons, feeling rushed.

The Wind Rises2013

Both grapple with the same historical moment—post-WWII Japan rebuilding—and ask similar questions about technology, heroism, and what we build and why. Mazinger Z channels that era into spectacle; Wind Rises transforms it into melancholy and regret.

Miyazaki's final film about an engineer obsessed with building beautiful flying machines, set in wartime Japan. No giant robots, but the same ache about creation and destruction, ambition and complicity. Quiet, gorgeous, unexpectedly moving.

But Deliberately paced and introspective. If you watch Mazinger Z for spectacle, this will feel slow and deliberately low-key.