RIYADH: Shahid, the world’s leading Arabic streaming platform owned by MBC, announced on Tuesday that a remake of the original anime series “Grendizer” is set to premiere globally in July 2024.
The new series, which premiered in partnership with Manga Productions, a subsidiary of the Mohammed Bin Salman Foundation, Misk, brings back beloved characters Duke Fleed and Kouji Kabuto.
Manga Productions has unveiled the third promotional video for “Grendizer U” and a new video promoting the new anime series.
Dr. Essam Bukhary, CEO of Manga Productions, commented: “We are pleased to announce the continuation of our partnership with Shahid, confirming that this collaboration is an extension of our previous successful collaboration.
“It is worth mentioning that Manga Productions and Shahid have previously formed several partnerships, presenting such outstanding works as the film “The Journey” and the series “Future’s Folktales” and “Captain Tsubasa”. It is worth noting that “The Journey” was among the top five anime films on the Shahid platform.”
Tareq Al-Ibrahim, Chief Content Officer at Shahid and Head of MBC1 and MBC Drama, said: “Our strategic partnership with Manga Productions brings significant value to our audiences as it appeals to a wide range of viewer categories and age groups.
“What sets Manga Productions apart in the industry is its commitment to high-quality production and artistic standards, combined with creative content that conveys valuable social messages and stories.”
He added: “This type of content and its messages are in line with the cultural values of the region and resonate with audiences across the region, providing Arab families with a sophisticated, enjoyable and entertaining viewing experience.”
In 2022, a strategic partnership was announced between Dynamic Planning and Manga Productions to license “UFO Robo Grendizer” — commonly known as “Grendizer” — for use in products and characters for cities and entertainment events worldwide, excluding Japan.
The new series is based on Go Nagai’s “UFO Robo Grendizer”. “Grendizer U” is directed by Mitsuo Fukuda, with composition and screenplay by Ichiro Okouchi, and the screenplay was also written by Tatsuhito Higuchi.
The character design is handled by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, with Mari Araki handling the supporting character design. The mechanical design is handled by Wataru Inata, AF_KURO, and Junichi Akutsu (Astrays), and the design work is handled by Pinakes, Tomoyuki Aoki, Zenseava, and Masato Yoshinaga.
The main animators are Hiroyuki Taiga, Takashi Hashimoto, Masahiro Yamane, and Toru Yoshida. The art direction is by Hiroshi Kato and Hirofumi Sakagami (Totonyan), while Tomoe Yoshimura is handling the color design and Atsushi Usuta (Nexus) is directing the cinematography.
Yukio Nagasaki is serving as sound director, with sound effects by Toshiya Wada and Maki Takuma (Swara Pro). The music is composed by Kohei Tanaka, with music production by Pony Canyon. Animation production is by Gaina.