Go Nagai
Encyclopedia
, better known by the penname , is a Japanese manga artist and a prolific author of science fiction, fantasy, horror and erotica. He made his professional debut in 1967 with Meakashi Polikichi, but is best known for creating Cutie Honey
, Devilman
, and Mazinger Z
in the 1970s. In 2005, he became a Character Design professor at the Osaka University of Arts
. Since 2009, he is a member of Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize's nominating committee.
city of Wajima
. He is the son of Yoshio and Fujiko Nagai (永井芳雄・冨士子), and the fourth of five brothers. His family had just returned from Shangai. While he was still in his early childhood, he along with his mother and his four brothers moved to Tokyo
after the premature passing of his father. As a child, he was influenced by the work of Gustave Doré
(specifically, a Japanese edition of the Divine Comedy) and Osamu Tezuka (his brother Yasutaka gave him a copy of Lost World).
After he graduated from the Metropolitan Itabashi
High School
of Tokyo, he entered the world of manga. While passing his ronin year
in a prep school in order to aim at the Waseda University
, he suffered a severe case of diarrhea
for 3 weeks. Aware of his own mortality, he wanted to leave some evidence that he had lived, by doing something that he liked as a child: working on manga. He was determined to create one work of manga in what he thought were his last months. As Nagai prepared for the task, he went to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with catarrh of the colon
, and soon healed. But this was the turning point in his life. Convinced that he would continue working on manga, he stopped attending school after three months and started living as a ronin
.
With the help of his brother Yasutaka, he created his first manga works. Aiming to be a manga artist, despite the fact that his mother opposed his manga career, he submitted his works for publication finding many rejected. It is said that when the young Nagai submitted his tables to publishers, his mother secretly convinced publishers to reject them. However, his work was noticed by Shōnen Sunday, which contacted Shotaro Ishinomori
. Thanks to some trial manga he created with the help of his brother Yasutaka, he was finally accepted in the studio of Ishinomori in 1965.
The trial manga was about a science fiction
ninja
, and was a prototype for a different story, Kuro no Shishi. Nagai was 19 years old when he made this work; it started at 15 or 16 pages and ended up being 88 pages long after a year, and was untitled at that time. Ishinomori saw this work and praised Nagai for it, but commented that the design was too chunky and should improve it a little. Two or three days later, Nagai was invited to become an assistant with Ishinomori and this work was forgotten until 2007, when it was published for the first time, in the magazine Comic Ran TWINS Sengoku Busho Retsuden (コミック乱 TWINS 戦国武将列伝) by LEED, under the name Satsujinsha (殺刃者(さつじんしゃ)). His professional career began in 1967, despite the opposition of his mother.
. Almost at the same time, this was followed by the manga adaptation of Tomio Sagisu's TV anime Chibikko Kaiju Yadamon
(ちびっこ怪獣ヤダモン, Little Monster Yadamon), also published in 1967 in the same magazine. A common misconception is that Kuro No Shishi (Black Lion) was his first manga work; while not entirely false, what Nagai really made two years earlier than Meakashi Polikichi, was only a draft for what would later be Kuro no Shishi, which would not be actually published until 1978.
His first works consisted entirely of short gag comedy manga. This would change with Harenchi Gakuen
.
In 1968, while Shueisha
was getting prepared to launch its first manga publication, Shōnen Jump
, in order to compete with other magazines from rival companies (like Shōnen Magazine from Kodansha
and Shōnen Sunday
from Shogakukan
), Nagai was invited to be one of the first manga artists publishing in the new magazine. He contemplated this, since he had to design a long running series instead of the autoconclusive short stories that he had been developing until that point. He accepted and the series became a big success, being the first for Nagai
and making Shōnen Jump sell more than one million copies.
With Harenchi Gakuen
, Nagai was the first to introduce eroticism in modern manga and became the creator of modern erotic manga,
opened the door to a new era in Manga
and also became the symbol of an entire generation.
This work has influenced Japanese society radically, completely changing the common perceptions of manga.
Until Harenchi Gakuen, Japanese manga had been relatively tame affairs, but things soon changed.
The manga became so popular that several live-action films and TV series based on the manga were developed. Harenchi Gakuen is considered as probably the work that has had the most influence in the world of manga at the end of the 1960s, leading the newly born Shōnen Jump magazine to sell millions of copies per week.
A scandalous manga in its time, it is a very innocent series by today's standards.
But at the time of his original publication, it met with severe criticism by some parts of the Japanese society. Harenchi Gakuen was criticized as vulgar because it introduced overt eroticism to children. Male students and teachers were depicted as being preoccupied with catching glimpses of girls' panties or naked bodies. Many parents, women's associations, and PTAs
protested.
In particular, the PTA protests over Harenchi Gakuen were notorious. Nagai was bombarded with interview requests from newspapers, magazines and TV. Whenever he flew outside of Tokyo, TV cameras were waiting for him. He was branded a "nuisance" and even an "enemy of society". He, however, had a clear sense of what things he could or could not do with the manga.
At first, Nagai didn't think that the opposition was against him, since he always knew when to draw the line and was aware of the standards that applied with movies and similar things for an audience below 18 years old. At that time, he never drew sex scenes, avoided pictures of genitals and made nudes cute rather than sexy.
His fans supported him throughout the PTA protests. They sent him letters where they expressed how they were aware that the adults cracking down on them were reading raunchier stuff than what Nagai was producing.
The protests were not only against the manga, but also against the TV series. The PTA even managed to prevent the distribution of the magazine in some parts of Japan.
As a result of the protests, when the series was about to be cancelled because of the PTA. Nagai changed the theme in Harenchi Gakuen into a more mature and serious matter. From nonsense gags with sexy touchs, to a full scale war where murder was depicted in the bloody way for which many know him. This led to the famous ending of Harenchi Gakuen, symbol of freedom and of rejection of the hypocrisy, where all students & teachers, while defending their freedom of expression, are killed by the PTA and other parental forces. This was the ironic answer that Nagai gave to the PTA. It wasn't the true ending of Harenchi Gakuen, as it would return to be published for several years.
It was also around this time that he created Gakuen Taikutsu Otoko (ガクエン退屈男), also known as Guerrilla High, another school-themed manga, but this time war between youths and adults was the main theme. A little before that, in 1969,Abashiri Ikka
(あばしり一家) was created. Both titles are a direct result of the PTA protests, being both a form of parody of what happened. Abashiri Ikka became a big success, and along with Harenchi Gakuen, the most popular series of Nagai's juvenile period.
Meant to be a group to help him with his works, as a consequence of what happened with Harenchi Gakuen, where he received almost no royalties derived from the TV series, films and gadgets related, Dynamic Productions became a company established to manage Nagai's relations and contractual rights of his work. Dynamic became one of the first companies to require publishers the edition of contracts (even today many manga are designed and published only on the basis of verbal agreements). It would start as a yugen kaisha
(limited company) and would change to a kabushiki kaisha
(stock company) in 1970.
The same year of the foundation of Dynamic Pro, Ken Ishikawa
joined the company. He would become Nagai's second assistant after Mitsuru Hiruta, who had been working with Nagai since the beginnings of Harenchi Gakuen. He would become one of Nagai's regular partners and his best friend. Ken Ishikawa participated as assistant in Harenchi Gakuen, Abashiri Ikka and Gakuen Taikutsu Otoko, particularly in the last one. In parallel with those activities as assistant, he co-produces with Go Nagai what would be in fact his professional debut in manga, Gakuen Bangaichi (1969-09-08 ~ 1970-09-22), and also his second manga, Sasurai Gakuto (1970-01 ~ 1970-05). He temporary quit Dynamic Productions in 1970. This prompted Nagai to end Gakuen Taikutsu Otoko and the story of this series would be left inconclusive.
story set in the year 2889 about a war between the race of Onis (who in this story are treated as a lower class) and the human beings. After this, in 1971 came the horror oneshot Susumu-chan Dai Shock about a violent collapse of the parent-child relationships. A series of horror oneshots would follow, in the series called Gensou Kyofu e Hanashi (幻想恐怖絵噺), which comprehends Africa no Chi (an original story of Yasutaka Tsutsui
), Schalken Gahaku (based in the famous story Strange Event in the Life of Schalken the Painter by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu) and Kuzureru. A little before that, Nagai would be given the chance to write a full serial
of an occult horror story called Mao Dante, which would in turn mark the beginning of his most famous horror work, Devilman.
(ハレンチ学園, Shameless School, 1968–1972, Weekly Shōnen Jump
magazine) Nagai used eroticism and extreme, graphic violence in kid's manga for the first time in Japan, thus breaking taboo
s and becoming quite controversial. His use of violence and gross humour was widely loathed in many corners of Japan's society and became a concern for many PTAs
at the time. The series temporary ended dramatically when all the characters died during a massacre. This type of content would be a trend in most of Nagai's later work and in those of other directors such as Yoshiyuki Tomino
. A Harenchi Gakuen live-action TV series followed in the early 1970s, as well as several other live-action movies and an OVA
version (Heisei Harenchi Gakuen, or "Modern-Day Shameless School") in the mid-1990s.
In 1970, Go Nagai started a company, Dynamic Productions, to fund his manga
and anime
ventures. Dynamic Productions' first titles were Getter Robo
and Abashiri Ikka (あばしり一家, Abashiri Family).
After Harenchi Gakuen Nagai created the Mazinger Z
(マジンガーZ) series, later expanded into Great Mazinger
, Grendizer
, and - many years later - Mazinkaiser
, where he developed the concept of giant mecha
. Mazinger was the first manga where a giant robot was piloted by the hero, thus creating one of the biggest staples of the industry. Mazinger is considered the first successful "Super Robot
" anime show, and has spanned numerous imitations.
Simultaneously to Mazinger, he created one of his most popular manga, Debiruman (デビルマン, Devilman
), about a demonic hero fighting against hordes of demons. Nagai also turned Devilman into a series which was less violent and gritty than the manga. Years later Nagai revamped this popular series by introducing the main character as a female and altering the storyline. This series is called Devilman Lady (デビルマンレディー, Devil Lady
in the US
). It was first released as a manga and then later as an anime. Go Nagai considers the Devilman series, as well as the Mazinger series, as being his life's work due to their massive popularity all over the world. In 1972, Nagai managed to have 5 weekly manga publications at the same time, drawing and writing. This hasn't been achieved by other manga artists with the exception of Shinji Mizushima
and George Akiyama
.
Another long-running series, Violence Jack
(ヴァイオレンス ジャック) spanned multiple volumes and dealt with a giant brute of a man fighting evil warlords in a post-apocalyptic
setting where Japan has been devastated by a massive earthquake and isolated from the rest of the world.
One of Nagai's most popular works outside of his fanbase has been Cutey Honey, considered to be one of the first "magical girl
" comics and a major influence on future series in the genre (in particular Sailor Moon
). Nagai had less success a few years later with Majokko Tickle
, a more traditional magical-girl series for younger children, although the accompanying anime was popular on TV in some Europe
an countries.
In 1980, he received the 4th Kodansha Manga Award
for shōnen
for Susano OH
.
Nagai has worked with Shotaro Ishinomori and Ken Ishikawa
. He is currently being more prolific in manga production than ever. Much of Nagai's work has been adapted into anime
and tokusatsu
. Nagai has made cameo appearances in some of his live-action adaptations of his work, including The Toxic Avenger Part II
, the Cutie Honey
2004 live action film, and in a special DVD-only episode of Cutie Honey: The Live as Dr. Koshiro Kisaragi.
was very popular when they aired. They are still fondly remembered to this day. In Spain, a Mazinger Z
statue has been erected in Tarragona. It still stands even today.
(Evangelion
)cited Devilman
as a source of inspiration for Evangelion during a conversation between him and Go Nagai published in Devilman Tabulae Anatomicae. Manga artist Kentarou Miura claims that he likes Go Nagai's dynamic style and that Nagai had a big influence on him in an interview which was included as an extra in the fourth volume of the North American DVD release by Media Blasters in 2002. Movie Director Yoshihiro Nishimura
(Tokyo Gore Police
) claimed that he's a fan of Go Nagai's works in an interview with Sancho Asia and said that he wants to adapt Devilman
into a live action movie since he didn't like the 2004 live action Devilman adaptation.
Additionally, Nagai appears as an actor in the following productions:
Cutie Honey
is a Japanese media franchise created by Go Nagai. Cutie Honey first appears on volume 41 of the 1973 edition of Shōnen Champion. According to Nagai, she is the first female to be the protagonist of a shōnen manga series....
, Devilman
Devilman
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Go Nagai which originally started as an anime adaptation of the concept of Nagai's previous manga series, Demon Lord Dante. A 39 episode anime series was developed by Toei in 1972 and Nagai began Devilman as a manga in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen...
, and Mazinger Z
Mazinger Z
, known briefly as Tranzor Z in United States, is a Super Robot manga and anime series created by Go Nagai. The first manga version was serialized in Shueisha Weekly Shōnen Jump from October 1972 to August 1973, and it later continued in Kodansha TV Magazine from October 1973 to September 1974. In...
in the 1970s. In 2005, he became a Character Design professor at the Osaka University of Arts
Osaka University of Arts
is a private arts university located in Kanan, Minamikawachi District, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. The university was founded in 1945 as , changing its name to in 1957, and then to in 1964...
. Since 2009, he is a member of Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize's nominating committee.
Early life
Go Nagai was born on September 6, 1945 —in the Ishikawa PrefectureIshikawa Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshū island. The capital is Kanazawa.- History :Ishikawa was formed from the merger of Kaga Province and the smaller Noto Province.- Geography :Ishikawa is on the Sea of Japan coast...
city of Wajima
Wajima, Ishikawa
is a city located in Ishikawa, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 31,532 and the density of 74 persons per km². The total area is 426.25 km².The city was founded on March 31, 1954....
. He is the son of Yoshio and Fujiko Nagai (永井芳雄・冨士子), and the fourth of five brothers. His family had just returned from Shangai. While he was still in his early childhood, he along with his mother and his four brothers moved to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
after the premature passing of his father. As a child, he was influenced by the work of Gustave Doré
Gustave Doré
Paul Gustave Doré was a French artist, engraver, illustrator and sculptor. Doré worked primarily with wood engraving and steel engraving.-Biography:...
(specifically, a Japanese edition of the Divine Comedy) and Osamu Tezuka (his brother Yasutaka gave him a copy of Lost World).
After he graduated from the Metropolitan Itabashi
Itabashi, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. In English, it calls itself Itabashi City. Itabashi has sister-city relations with Burlington, Ontario in Canada; Shijingshan District in Beijing, People's Republic of China; and Bologna in Italy....
High School
Secondary education in Japan
Secondary education in Japan is split into middle schools which cover the seventh through ninth grades, and high schools which mostly cover grades ten through twelve...
of Tokyo, he entered the world of manga. While passing his ronin year
Higher education in Japan
- University entrance :University entrance is based largely on the scores that students achieved in entrance examinations . Private institutions accounted for nearly 80% of all university enrollments in 1991, but with a few exceptions, the public national universities are the most highly regarded...
in a prep school in order to aim at the Waseda University
Waseda University
, abbreviated as , is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan and Asia. Its main campuses are located in the northern part of Shinjuku, Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as Tokyo Senmon Gakko, the institution was renamed "Waseda University" in 1902. It is known for its liberal climate...
, he suffered a severe case of diarrhea
Diarrhea
Diarrhea , also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having three or more loose or liquid bowel movements per day. It is a common cause of death in developing countries and the second most common cause of infant deaths worldwide. The loss of fluids through diarrhea can cause dehydration and...
for 3 weeks. Aware of his own mortality, he wanted to leave some evidence that he had lived, by doing something that he liked as a child: working on manga. He was determined to create one work of manga in what he thought were his last months. As Nagai prepared for the task, he went to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with catarrh of the colon
Colitis
In medicine, colitis refers to an inflammation of the colon and is often used to describe an inflammation of the large intestine .Colitides may be acute and self-limited or chronic, i.e...
, and soon healed. But this was the turning point in his life. Convinced that he would continue working on manga, he stopped attending school after three months and started living as a ronin
Ronin (student)
In Japan, a is a student who has graduated from middle school or high school but has failed to enter a school at the next level, and consequently is studying outside of the school system for entrance in a future year. Rōnin may study at a yobikō....
.
With the help of his brother Yasutaka, he created his first manga works. Aiming to be a manga artist, despite the fact that his mother opposed his manga career, he submitted his works for publication finding many rejected. It is said that when the young Nagai submitted his tables to publishers, his mother secretly convinced publishers to reject them. However, his work was noticed by Shōnen Sunday, which contacted Shotaro Ishinomori
Shotaro Ishinomori
was a Japanese manga artist who became an influential figure in manga, anime, and tokusatsu, creating several immensely popular long-running series such as Cyborg 009 and Himitsu Sentai Goranger, what would go on to become part of the Super Sentai series, and the Kamen Rider Series...
. Thanks to some trial manga he created with the help of his brother Yasutaka, he was finally accepted in the studio of Ishinomori in 1965.
The trial manga was about a science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
ninja
Ninja
A or was a covert agent or mercenary of feudal Japan specializing in unorthodox arts of war. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, as well as open combat in certain situations...
, and was a prototype for a different story, Kuro no Shishi. Nagai was 19 years old when he made this work; it started at 15 or 16 pages and ended up being 88 pages long after a year, and was untitled at that time. Ishinomori saw this work and praised Nagai for it, but commented that the design was too chunky and should improve it a little. Two or three days later, Nagai was invited to become an assistant with Ishinomori and this work was forgotten until 2007, when it was published for the first time, in the magazine Comic Ran TWINS Sengoku Busho Retsuden (コミック乱 TWINS 戦国武将列伝) by LEED, under the name Satsujinsha (殺刃者(さつじんしゃ)). His professional career began in 1967, despite the opposition of his mother.
First works
After working as assistant of Shotaro Ishinomori, his very first professional manga work was Meakashi Polikichi (目明しポリ吉 also 目明かしポリ吉), a very short gag comedy oneshot, published in November 1967 in the magazine Bokura by KodanshaKodansha
, the largest Japanese publisher, produces the manga magazines Nakayoshi, Afternoon, Evening, and Weekly Shonen Magazine, as well as more literary magazines such as Gunzō, Shūkan Gendai, and the Japanese dictionary Nihongo Daijiten. The company has its headquarters in Bunkyō, Tokyo...
. Almost at the same time, this was followed by the manga adaptation of Tomio Sagisu's TV anime Chibikko Kaiju Yadamon
Chibikko Kaiju Yadamon
is a Japanese black and white anime series created by Ushio Souji, an alias of Tomio Sagisu. Yadamon is also famous for its manga adaptation, which was the second professional work of Go Nagai....
(ちびっこ怪獣ヤダモン, Little Monster Yadamon), also published in 1967 in the same magazine. A common misconception is that Kuro No Shishi (Black Lion) was his first manga work; while not entirely false, what Nagai really made two years earlier than Meakashi Polikichi, was only a draft for what would later be Kuro no Shishi, which would not be actually published until 1978.
His first works consisted entirely of short gag comedy manga. This would change with Harenchi Gakuen
Harenchi Gakuen
is a Japanese media franchise created by Go Nagai. Harenchi Gakuen was one of the manga serialized in the very first issue of Shueisha's manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump. The series was the first big success for Go Nagai...
.
First success and controversies
In less than a year after debuting, he met with a big success. After being an unknown manga artist, he became a protagonist of televised debates and journalistic investigations.In 1968, while Shueisha
Shueisha
is a major publisher in Japan. The company was founded in 1925 as the entertainment-related publishing division of Japanese publisher Shogakukan. The following year, Shueisha became a separate, independent company. Magazines published by Shueisha include Weekly Shōnen Jump, Weekly Young Jump,...
was getting prepared to launch its first manga publication, Shōnen Jump
Weekly Shonen Jump
is a weekly shōnen manga anthology published in Japan by Shueisha under the Jump line of magazines. The first issue was released with a cover date of July 2, 1968, and it is still circulating. One of the longest-running manga magazines in Japan, it has a circulation of 2.8 million copies...
, in order to compete with other magazines from rival companies (like Shōnen Magazine from Kodansha
Kodansha
, the largest Japanese publisher, produces the manga magazines Nakayoshi, Afternoon, Evening, and Weekly Shonen Magazine, as well as more literary magazines such as Gunzō, Shūkan Gendai, and the Japanese dictionary Nihongo Daijiten. The company has its headquarters in Bunkyō, Tokyo...
and Shōnen Sunday
Shonen Sunday
, first published on March 17, 1959, is a weekly shōnen manga magazine published in Japan by Shogakukan. Contrary to its title, Weekly Shōnen Sunday issues are released on Wednesdays.- History :...
from Shogakukan
Shogakukan
is a Japanese publisher of dictionaries, literature, manga, non-fiction, DVDs, and other media in Japan.Shogakukan founded Shueisha which founded Hakusensha. These are three separate companies, but are together called the Hitotsubashi Group, one of the largest publishing groups in Japan...
), Nagai was invited to be one of the first manga artists publishing in the new magazine. He contemplated this, since he had to design a long running series instead of the autoconclusive short stories that he had been developing until that point. He accepted and the series became a big success, being the first for Nagai
and making Shōnen Jump sell more than one million copies.
With Harenchi Gakuen
Harenchi Gakuen
is a Japanese media franchise created by Go Nagai. Harenchi Gakuen was one of the manga serialized in the very first issue of Shueisha's manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump. The series was the first big success for Go Nagai...
, Nagai was the first to introduce eroticism in modern manga and became the creator of modern erotic manga,
opened the door to a new era in Manga
and also became the symbol of an entire generation.
This work has influenced Japanese society radically, completely changing the common perceptions of manga.
Until Harenchi Gakuen, Japanese manga had been relatively tame affairs, but things soon changed.
The manga became so popular that several live-action films and TV series based on the manga were developed. Harenchi Gakuen is considered as probably the work that has had the most influence in the world of manga at the end of the 1960s, leading the newly born Shōnen Jump magazine to sell millions of copies per week.
A scandalous manga in its time, it is a very innocent series by today's standards.
But at the time of his original publication, it met with severe criticism by some parts of the Japanese society. Harenchi Gakuen was criticized as vulgar because it introduced overt eroticism to children. Male students and teachers were depicted as being preoccupied with catching glimpses of girls' panties or naked bodies. Many parents, women's associations, and PTAs
Parent-Teacher Association
In the U.S. a parent-teacher association or Parent-Teacher-Student Association is a formal organization composed of parents, teachers and staff that is intended to facilitate parental participation in a public or private school. Most public and private K-8 schools in the U.S. have a PTA, a...
protested.
In particular, the PTA protests over Harenchi Gakuen were notorious. Nagai was bombarded with interview requests from newspapers, magazines and TV. Whenever he flew outside of Tokyo, TV cameras were waiting for him. He was branded a "nuisance" and even an "enemy of society". He, however, had a clear sense of what things he could or could not do with the manga.
At first, Nagai didn't think that the opposition was against him, since he always knew when to draw the line and was aware of the standards that applied with movies and similar things for an audience below 18 years old. At that time, he never drew sex scenes, avoided pictures of genitals and made nudes cute rather than sexy.
His fans supported him throughout the PTA protests. They sent him letters where they expressed how they were aware that the adults cracking down on them were reading raunchier stuff than what Nagai was producing.
The protests were not only against the manga, but also against the TV series. The PTA even managed to prevent the distribution of the magazine in some parts of Japan.
As a result of the protests, when the series was about to be cancelled because of the PTA. Nagai changed the theme in Harenchi Gakuen into a more mature and serious matter. From nonsense gags with sexy touchs, to a full scale war where murder was depicted in the bloody way for which many know him. This led to the famous ending of Harenchi Gakuen, symbol of freedom and of rejection of the hypocrisy, where all students & teachers, while defending their freedom of expression, are killed by the PTA and other parental forces. This was the ironic answer that Nagai gave to the PTA. It wasn't the true ending of Harenchi Gakuen, as it would return to be published for several years.
It was also around this time that he created Gakuen Taikutsu Otoko (ガクエン退屈男), also known as Guerrilla High, another school-themed manga, but this time war between youths and adults was the main theme. A little before that, in 1969,Abashiri Ikka
The Abashiri Family
is a manga series created by Go Nagai that originally ran in the magazine Weekly Shōnen Champion. Some of its characters returned with different names as part of other series, such as Cutie Honey, UFO Robot Grendizer and Mazinger Angels Z among others.Some of the first stories were adapted into an...
(あばしり一家) was created. Both titles are a direct result of the PTA protests, being both a form of parody of what happened. Abashiri Ikka became a big success, and along with Harenchi Gakuen, the most popular series of Nagai's juvenile period.
Dynamic Productions
Thanks to the success of Harenchi Gakuen, Dynamic Productions (ダイナミックプロダクション, also known as Dynamic Production or Dynamic Pro, ダイナミックプロ), was founded by Go Nagai with his brothers in April, 1969.Meant to be a group to help him with his works, as a consequence of what happened with Harenchi Gakuen, where he received almost no royalties derived from the TV series, films and gadgets related, Dynamic Productions became a company established to manage Nagai's relations and contractual rights of his work. Dynamic became one of the first companies to require publishers the edition of contracts (even today many manga are designed and published only on the basis of verbal agreements). It would start as a yugen kaisha
Yugen kaisha
A yūgen gaisha or yūgen kaisha is a form of business organization in Japan....
(limited company) and would change to a kabushiki kaisha
Kabushiki kaisha
is a type of business defined under Japanese law.-Usage in language:Both kabushiki kaisha and the rendaku form kabushiki gaisha are used. The "K" spelling is much more common in the names of companies and in English-language legal literature, whereas the "G" pronunciation is dominant in...
(stock company) in 1970.
The same year of the foundation of Dynamic Pro, Ken Ishikawa
Ken Ishikawa
was a Japanese manga artist. He is renowned as the co-creator with Go Nagai, of the Getter Robo anime series, as well as four of their subsequent manga continuations...
joined the company. He would become Nagai's second assistant after Mitsuru Hiruta, who had been working with Nagai since the beginnings of Harenchi Gakuen. He would become one of Nagai's regular partners and his best friend. Ken Ishikawa participated as assistant in Harenchi Gakuen, Abashiri Ikka and Gakuen Taikutsu Otoko, particularly in the last one. In parallel with those activities as assistant, he co-produces with Go Nagai what would be in fact his professional debut in manga, Gakuen Bangaichi (1969-09-08 ~ 1970-09-22), and also his second manga, Sasurai Gakuto (1970-01 ~ 1970-05). He temporary quit Dynamic Productions in 1970. This prompted Nagai to end Gakuen Taikutsu Otoko and the story of this series would be left inconclusive.
Change in genres
Even with the changes in Harenchi Gakuen and other series, Nagai remained writing mostly gag comedies, varying only in the thematic. With the success of Harenchi Gakuen and Abashiri Ikka, most editors expected this kind of story from Nagai. This would start to change in 1970, with the oneshot Oni -2889 Nen no Hanran-, which tells a science fictionScience fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
story set in the year 2889 about a war between the race of Onis (who in this story are treated as a lower class) and the human beings. After this, in 1971 came the horror oneshot Susumu-chan Dai Shock about a violent collapse of the parent-child relationships. A series of horror oneshots would follow, in the series called Gensou Kyofu e Hanashi (幻想恐怖絵噺), which comprehends Africa no Chi (an original story of Yasutaka Tsutsui
Yasutaka Tsutsui
is a Japanese novelist, science fiction author, and actor. Along with Shinichi Hoshi and Sakyo Komatsu, he is one of the most famous science fiction writers in Japan. His Yumenokizaka bunkiten won the Tanizaki Prize in 1987. He has also won the 1981 Izumi Kyoka award, the 1989 Kawabata Yasunari...
), Schalken Gahaku (based in the famous story Strange Event in the Life of Schalken the Painter by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu) and Kuzureru. A little before that, Nagai would be given the chance to write a full serial
Serial (literature)
In literature, a serial is a publishing format by which a single large work, most often a work of narrative fiction, is presented in contiguous installments—also known as numbers, parts, or fascicles—either issued as separate publications or appearing in sequential issues of a single periodical...
of an occult horror story called Mao Dante, which would in turn mark the beginning of his most famous horror work, Devilman.
Style and works
In his series Harenchi GakuenHarenchi Gakuen
is a Japanese media franchise created by Go Nagai. Harenchi Gakuen was one of the manga serialized in the very first issue of Shueisha's manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump. The series was the first big success for Go Nagai...
(ハレンチ学園, Shameless School, 1968–1972, Weekly Shōnen Jump
Weekly Shonen Jump
is a weekly shōnen manga anthology published in Japan by Shueisha under the Jump line of magazines. The first issue was released with a cover date of July 2, 1968, and it is still circulating. One of the longest-running manga magazines in Japan, it has a circulation of 2.8 million copies...
magazine) Nagai used eroticism and extreme, graphic violence in kid's manga for the first time in Japan, thus breaking taboo
Taboo
A taboo is a strong social prohibition relating to any area of human activity or social custom that is sacred and or forbidden based on moral judgment, religious beliefs and or scientific consensus. Breaking the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent by society...
s and becoming quite controversial. His use of violence and gross humour was widely loathed in many corners of Japan's society and became a concern for many PTAs
Parent-Teacher Association
In the U.S. a parent-teacher association or Parent-Teacher-Student Association is a formal organization composed of parents, teachers and staff that is intended to facilitate parental participation in a public or private school. Most public and private K-8 schools in the U.S. have a PTA, a...
at the time. The series temporary ended dramatically when all the characters died during a massacre. This type of content would be a trend in most of Nagai's later work and in those of other directors such as Yoshiyuki Tomino
Yoshiyuki Tomino
is a Japanese mecha anime creator, director, screenwriter and novelist. He was born in Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, and studied at Nihon University's College of Art...
. A Harenchi Gakuen live-action TV series followed in the early 1970s, as well as several other live-action movies and an OVA
Original video animation
, abbreviated as media , are animated films and series made specially for release in home-video formats. The term originated in relation to Japanese animation...
version (Heisei Harenchi Gakuen, or "Modern-Day Shameless School") in the mid-1990s.
In 1970, Go Nagai started a company, Dynamic Productions, to fund his manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
and anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
ventures. Dynamic Productions' first titles were Getter Robo
Getter Robo
is a Super Robot manga series created by Go Nagai and Ken Ishikawa, as well as an anime series produced by Toei Animation. The series was broadcast on Fuji TV from April 4, 1974 to May 8, 1975, with a total of 51 episodes.- Plot :...
and Abashiri Ikka (あばしり一家, Abashiri Family).
After Harenchi Gakuen Nagai created the Mazinger Z
Mazinger Z
, known briefly as Tranzor Z in United States, is a Super Robot manga and anime series created by Go Nagai. The first manga version was serialized in Shueisha Weekly Shōnen Jump from October 1972 to August 1973, and it later continued in Kodansha TV Magazine from October 1973 to September 1974. In...
(マジンガーZ) series, later expanded into Great Mazinger
Great Mazinger
is a manga comic book and anime television series by manga artist Go Nagai, made as a direct continuation of the successful Mazinger Z series...
, Grendizer
Grendizer
is a super robot TV anime and manga created by manga artist Go Nagai. It is the third entry in the Mazinger trilogy. It was broadcasted on Japanese television from October 5, 1975, to February 27, 1977, and lasted 74 episodes...
, and - many years later - Mazinkaiser
Mazinkaiser
is an anime OVA series, inspired by Go Nagai's Mazinger series. The OVA follows Kouji Kabuto, Tetsuya Tsurugi and the rest of the "Mazinger Team" as they fight against Dr. Hell's Mechanical Beasts....
, where he developed the concept of giant mecha
Mecha
A mech , is a science fiction term for a large walking bipedal tank or robot, including ones on treads and animal shapes.-Characteristics:...
. Mazinger was the first manga where a giant robot was piloted by the hero, thus creating one of the biggest staples of the industry. Mazinger is considered the first successful "Super Robot
Super Robot
is a term used in manga and anime to describe a giant robot or mecha, with an arsenal of fantastic super-powered weapons, extreme resistance to damage unless the plot calls for it, sometimes transformable or combined from two or more robots and/or vehicles usually piloted by young, daring heroes,...
" anime show, and has spanned numerous imitations.
Simultaneously to Mazinger, he created one of his most popular manga, Debiruman (デビルマン, Devilman
Devilman
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Go Nagai which originally started as an anime adaptation of the concept of Nagai's previous manga series, Demon Lord Dante. A 39 episode anime series was developed by Toei in 1972 and Nagai began Devilman as a manga in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen...
), about a demonic hero fighting against hordes of demons. Nagai also turned Devilman into a series which was less violent and gritty than the manga. Years later Nagai revamped this popular series by introducing the main character as a female and altering the storyline. This series is called Devilman Lady (デビルマンレディー, Devil Lady
Devil Lady
is a Japanese action horror manga series written and illustrated by Go Nagai. It was originally serialized between January 1997 and July 2000 in the manga magazine Weekly Morning. Seventeen bound volumes were published by Kodansha for release in Japan. The story focuses on Jun Fudo, a teacher who...
in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
). It was first released as a manga and then later as an anime. Go Nagai considers the Devilman series, as well as the Mazinger series, as being his life's work due to their massive popularity all over the world. In 1972, Nagai managed to have 5 weekly manga publications at the same time, drawing and writing. This hasn't been achieved by other manga artists with the exception of Shinji Mizushima
Shinji Mizushima
is a Japanese manga artist. He is best known as an author of baseball manga, such as Yakyū-kyō no Uta, Dokaben, and Abu-san. He is a two-time recipient of the Shogakukan Manga Award.-Biography:...
and George Akiyama
George Akiyama
is a Japanese manga artist known for dealing with controversial and incendiary topics in many of his works.-Biography:Akiyama quit high school and moved to Tokyo to become a manga artist. After working briefly as a book wholesaler, he became an assistant for manga artist Kenji Morita...
.
Another long-running series, Violence Jack
Violence Jack
is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Go Nagai in 1973. It has had several serializations and one-shot stories which have run in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s...
(ヴァイオレンス ジャック) spanned multiple volumes and dealt with a giant brute of a man fighting evil warlords in a post-apocalyptic
Apocalypse
An Apocalypse is a disclosure of something hidden from the majority of mankind in an era dominated by falsehood and misconception, i.e. the veil to be lifted. The Apocalypse of John is the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament...
setting where Japan has been devastated by a massive earthquake and isolated from the rest of the world.
One of Nagai's most popular works outside of his fanbase has been Cutey Honey, considered to be one of the first "magical girl
Magical girl
belong to a sub-genre of Japanese fantasy anime and manga. Magical girl stories feature young girls with superhuman abilities, forced to fight evil and to protect the Earth. They often possess a secret identity, although the name can just refer to young girls who follow a plotline involving magic...
" comics and a major influence on future series in the genre (in particular Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon, known as , is a media franchise created by manga artist Naoko Takeuchi. Fred Patten credits Takeuchi with popularizing the concept of a team of magical girls, and Paul Gravett credits the series with "revitalizing" the magical-girl genre itself...
). Nagai had less success a few years later with Majokko Tickle
Majokko Tickle
, also known as Magical Girl Tickle or Magical Girl Chickle, is a 1970s magical girl manga and anime by Go Nagai. Unlike Nagai's earlier Cutie Honey, Majokko Tickle is closer to the more traditional mold of magical girl anime such as Mahoutsukai Sally, and is probably more suitable for young...
, a more traditional magical-girl series for younger children, although the accompanying anime was popular on TV in some Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an countries.
In 1980, he received the 4th Kodansha Manga Award
Kodansha Manga Award
is an annual award for serialized manga published in the previous year, sponsored by the publisher Kodansha. It is currently awarded in four categories: children's, shōnen, shōjo, and general. The awards began in 1977, initially with categories for shōnen and shōjo. The first award for the...
for shōnen
Shonen
The term refers to manga marketed to a male audience aged roughly 10 and up. The Kanji characters literally mean "few" and "year", respectively, where the characters generally mean "comic"...
for Susano OH
Susano OH (manga)
also romanized as Susanoo, Suna no Ou, Susa-no-O and several other variations, is a Japanese manga created by Go Nagai. It is loosely based in the Shinto deity Susanoo....
.
Nagai has worked with Shotaro Ishinomori and Ken Ishikawa
Ken Ishikawa
was a Japanese manga artist. He is renowned as the co-creator with Go Nagai, of the Getter Robo anime series, as well as four of their subsequent manga continuations...
. He is currently being more prolific in manga production than ever. Much of Nagai's work has been adapted into anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
and tokusatsu
Tokusatsu
is a Japanese term that applies to any live-action film or television drama that usually features superheroes and makes considerable use of special effects ....
. Nagai has made cameo appearances in some of his live-action adaptations of his work, including The Toxic Avenger Part II
The Toxic Avenger Part II
The Toxic Avenger Part II is a 1989 comedy horror film released by Troma Entertainment. It was directed by Lloyd Kaufman and features The Toxic Avenger in an adventure to Japan to meet his father. The film has received cult status among a new audience almost a generation after it was first released...
, the Cutie Honey
Cutie Honey (film)
is a 2004 Japanese tokusatsu film adaptation, produced by Gainax, of the 1970s manga and anime series Cutie Honey.The film stars popular Japanese model Eriko Sato as the hyperactive Honey. Directed by Hideaki Anno, the film loosely retells the classic story of Cutie Honey's battle to defend...
2004 live action film, and in a special DVD-only episode of Cutie Honey: The Live as Dr. Koshiro Kisaragi.
Success abroad
In Italy, France, and the Middle East, GrendizerGrendizer
is a super robot TV anime and manga created by manga artist Go Nagai. It is the third entry in the Mazinger trilogy. It was broadcasted on Japanese television from October 5, 1975, to February 27, 1977, and lasted 74 episodes...
was very popular when they aired. They are still fondly remembered to this day. In Spain, a Mazinger Z
Mazinger Z
, known briefly as Tranzor Z in United States, is a Super Robot manga and anime series created by Go Nagai. The first manga version was serialized in Shueisha Weekly Shōnen Jump from October 1972 to August 1973, and it later continued in Kodansha TV Magazine from October 1973 to September 1974. In...
statue has been erected in Tarragona. It still stands even today.
Influences
Anime Director Hideaki AnnoHideaki Anno
is a Japanese animation and film director. Anno is best known for his work on the popular anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. His style has come to be defined by the touches of postmodernism that he injects into his work, as well as the thorough portrayal of characters' thoughts and emotions,...
(Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion
, commonly referred to as Evangelion, is a commercially and critically successful Japanese anime series that began airing in October 1995. The series was highly influential, and launched the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise. It garnered several major animation awards...
)cited Devilman
Devilman
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Go Nagai which originally started as an anime adaptation of the concept of Nagai's previous manga series, Demon Lord Dante. A 39 episode anime series was developed by Toei in 1972 and Nagai began Devilman as a manga in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen...
as a source of inspiration for Evangelion during a conversation between him and Go Nagai published in Devilman Tabulae Anatomicae. Manga artist Kentarou Miura claims that he likes Go Nagai's dynamic style and that Nagai had a big influence on him in an interview which was included as an extra in the fourth volume of the North American DVD release by Media Blasters in 2002. Movie Director Yoshihiro Nishimura
Yoshihiro Nishimura
is a Japanese film director, special effects and makeup effects artist, and a screenwriter who has worked predominantly in the horror genre. Nishimura has been described as "a legendary director and effects artist" and "the Tom Savini of Japan" with "talent to burn"...
(Tokyo Gore Police
Tokyo Gore Police
is a 2008 Japanese gore film co-written, edited, and directed by Yoshihiro Nishimura and stars Eihi Shiina as Ruka, a vengeful police officer.Tokyo Gore Police was released to several film festivals in North America...
) claimed that he's a fan of Go Nagai's works in an interview with Sancho Asia and said that he wants to adapt Devilman
Devilman
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Go Nagai which originally started as an anime adaptation of the concept of Nagai's previous manga series, Demon Lord Dante. A 39 episode anime series was developed by Toei in 1972 and Nagai began Devilman as a manga in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen...
into a live action movie since he didn't like the 2004 live action Devilman adaptation.
Anime titles created or based in the works of Go Nagai
- DevilmanDevilmanis a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Go Nagai which originally started as an anime adaptation of the concept of Nagai's previous manga series, Demon Lord Dante. A 39 episode anime series was developed by Toei in 1972 and Nagai began Devilman as a manga in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen...
(デビルマン)(TV series, 1972-07-08) - Mazinger ZMazinger Z, known briefly as Tranzor Z in United States, is a Super Robot manga and anime series created by Go Nagai. The first manga version was serialized in Shueisha Weekly Shōnen Jump from October 1972 to August 1973, and it later continued in Kodansha TV Magazine from October 1973 to September 1974. In...
(マジンガーZ)(TV series, 1972-12-03) - Mazinger Z tai Devilman (マジンガーZ対デビルマン)(Movie, 1973-07-18)
- Dororon Enma-kunDororon Enma-kun, also known as Satanikus!, is a Japanese horror-comedy anime and manga series created by Go Nagai. It's one of Nagai's most famous works in Japan, although not very well known in the rest of the world. In 2006, it would get a sequel/remake in Demon Prince Enma, which drops the comedy and becomes a...
(ドロロンえん魔くん)(TV series, 1973-10-04) - Cutie HoneyCutie Honeyis a Japanese media franchise created by Go Nagai. Cutie Honey first appears on volume 41 of the 1973 edition of Shōnen Champion. According to Nagai, she is the first female to be the protagonist of a shōnen manga series....
(キューティーハニー, Cutey Honey)(TV series, 1973-10-13) - Getter Robot (ゲッターロボ)(TV series, 1974-04-04)
- Mazinger Z tai Ankoku Daishougun (マジンガーZ対暗黒大将軍)(Movie, 1974-07-25)
- Great MazingerGreat Mazingeris a manga comic book and anime television series by manga artist Go Nagai, made as a direct continuation of the successful Mazinger Z series...
(グレートマジンガー)(TV series, 1974-09-08) - Great Mazinger tai Getter RobotGreat Mazinger tai Getter Robotis an animated film produced by Toei based in the works of Go Nagai and Ken Ishikawa. The film premiered originally in in Japan. It is a crossover super robot anime between Great Mazinger and Getter Robot, similar to the one previously done by Toei of Mazinger Z tai Devilman...
(グレートマジンガー対ゲッターロボ)(Movie, 1975-03-21) - Getter Robot G (ゲッターロボ G)(TV series, 1975-05-15)
- Great Mazinger tai Getter Robot G: Kuuchuu Daigekitotsu (グレートマジンガー対ゲッターロボG 空中大激突, Great Mazinger tai Getter Robo G: The Great Space Encounter)(Movie, 1975-07-26)
- Uchuu Enban Daisensou (宇宙円盤大戦争, The Great Battle of the Flying Saucers)(Movie, 1975-07-26)
- Koutetsu Jeeg (鋼鉄ジーグ)(TV series, 1975-10-05)
- UFO Robot Grendizer (UFOロボ グレンダイザー)(TV series, 1975-10-05)
- UFO Robot Grendizer tai Great MazingerUFO Robot Grendizer tai Great Mazingeris a 1976 animated short film that crosses over Go Nagai's super robots Grendizer and Great Mazinger. The movie features alternate versions of events from both series, and, as with the rest of the Vs. films, is not canonical to either one...
(UFOロボ グレンダイザー対グレートマジンガー)(Movie, 1976-03-20) - Daikyu Maryu GaikingGaikingwas a Japanese Super Robot mecha anime series produced by Toei Animation.It ran from April 1976 through January 1977 and consisted of 44 26-minute episodes. Gaiking was notable for being one of the few super robot series to take place in real places outside of Japan, and for being the first Super...
(大空魔竜ガイキング)(TV series, 1976-04) Nagai had some problems with Toei and was left out of the credits. Eventually Nagai sued Toei and stopped further collaborations for some time. Nagai himself confirmed that he was the creator of the robot in the Comicon 2007 of Naples, Italy. - Groizer X (グロイザーX, Gloizer X)(TV series, 1976-07-01)
- Grendizer, Getter Robot G, Great Mazinger: Kessen! DaikaijuuGrendizer, Getter Robot G, Great Mazinger: Kessen! Daikaijuuis an animated film produced by Toei which premiered originally in in Japan. It is a crossover of three super robot anime created by Go Nagai: Grendizer, Getter Robot G and Great Mazinger. Like the rest of the Vs. animated films of Toei, the movie features alternate versions of events from the...
(グレンダイザー・ゲッターロボG・グレートマジンガー 決戦!大海獣)(Movie, 1976-07-18) - Majokko TickleMajokko Tickle, also known as Magical Girl Tickle or Magical Girl Chickle, is a 1970s magical girl manga and anime by Go Nagai. Unlike Nagai's earlier Cutie Honey, Majokko Tickle is closer to the more traditional mold of magical girl anime such as Mahoutsukai Sally, and is probably more suitable for young...
(魔女っ子チックル)(TV series, 1978-03-06) - Psycho Armor GovarianPsycho Armor Govarianis a anime television series created by Go Nagai. It was produced by Knack and TV Tokyo. The series was originally broadcast from to in Japan. Besides Japan, it was also broadcast in South Korea in 1988 by MBC where it was known as 사이코아머 고바리안 or 싸이코 아머 고바리안. It is also known as 海王星战士 in Taiwan...
(サイコアーマーゴーバリアン)(TV series, 1983-07-06) - God MazingerGod Mazinger, also known as is an anime, manga and novel series created by manga artist Go Nagai. The anime aired on Japanese TV from to in the network Nippon Television with 23 episodes. The manga was originally published in tankōbon format by Shogakukan in 4 volumes published in , , and respectively....
(ゴッドマジンガー)(TV series, 1984-04-15) - Chounouryoku Shōjo Barabanba (超能力少女バラバンバ)(OVA, 1985-06-21)
- Mujigen Hunter FandoraMujigen Hunter Fandorais an original video animation created by manga artist Go Nagai. It was originally released on , and by Nippon Columbia Co., Ltd. ....
(夢次元ハンター ファンドラ, Dream Dimension Hunter Fandora)(OVA, 1985-09-21) - Violence Jack: Harem Bomber (バイオレンスジャック ハーレムボンバー, Violence Jack: Slumking)(OVA, 1986-06)
- Devilman: Tanjo Hen (デビルマン 誕生編, Devilman: The Birth)(OVA, 1987-11-01)
- Violence Jack: Evil Town (バイオレンスジャック 地獄街, Violence Jack: Jigokugai)(OVA, 1988-12-21)
- Juushin Liger (獣神ライガー, Beast-God Riger)(TV series, 1989-03-11)
- ShutendojiShutendoji (manga), also written Shutendouji or Shuten Doji and also known as Legend of Shutendoji, is a science fantasy Japanese manga series created by Go Nagai which combines elements from Japanese folklore with science fiction...
(手天童子, Shuten Douji)(OVA, 1989-12) - Devilman: Yocho Sirène Hen (デビルマン 妖鳥シレーヌ編, Devilman: The Demon Bird)(OVA, 1990-02-25)
- Violence Jack: Hell's Wind Hen (バイオレンスジャック ヘルスウインド編, Violence Jack: Hell's Wind)(OVA, 1990-11-09)
- Getter Robot Go (ゲッターロボ號)(TV series, 1991-02-11)
- CB Chara Nagai Go WorldCB Chara Nagai Go Worldis an original video animation based in the works of Go Nagai. It was originally released from to in three episodes. Following the same concept, a oneshot manga by Nagai was released in 1992....
(CBキャラ永井豪ワールド)(OVA, 1991-02-21) - Abashiri Family (あばしり一家, Abashiri Ikka)(OVA, 1991-05-21)
- Kekko KamenKekko Kamenis originally a shōnen manga series from Japanese creator Go Nagai, which spawned an OVA series and several live-action films. The manga series is about the misadventures of a student named Mayumi Takahashi who attends a boarding school called Toenail of Satan's Spartan Institute of Higher...
(けっこう仮面)(OVA, 1991-08-01) - Kyukioku no Sex Adventure Kamasutra (究極のSEXアドベンチャー カーマスートラ)(1992-04-24)
- Iron Virgin JunIron Virgin Junis a Japanese manga and OVA series created by Go Nagai. The OVA series was also released in the US. While the manga has many erotic situations and it's fairly close to a pornographic manga, the anime drops most of them to become more accessible for a broader audience.-External links: at The World...
(鉄の処女JUN, Tetsu no Shōjo JUN)(OVA, 1992-07) - Oira SukebanOira Sukeban, sometimes called Sukeban Boy, is a Japanese manga created by Go Nagai in 1974. It is a comedy with several erotic touches, where the protagonist Banji Suke has to disguise himself as a girl in order to be able to attend an all-female school...
(おいら女蛮(スケバン), Sukeban Boy, Delinquent in Drag)(OVA, 1992-08) - Hanappe BazookaHanappe Bazookais a Japanese manga series created by Kazuo Koike and Go Nagai. It was originally published in Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump from 1979-06-07 to the issue of 1982-01-07/14...
(花平バズーカ)(OVA, 1992-09) - Black Lion (黒の獅士, Kuro no Shishi)(OVA, 1992-11)
- New Cutey HoneyNew Cutie Honeyis a 1994 Japanese anime series in the Cutie Honey media franchise created by Go Nagai. Inspired by continued popularity of the original 1973 Cutie Honey television series, and first announced by Toei Video on October 1993, it remains the only Honey anime licensed for sale in the United States...
(新・キューティーハニー, Shin Cutey Honey)(OVA, 1994-04) - Heisei Harenchi Gakuen (平成ハレンチ学園)(OVA, 1996-03)
- Harenchi Koumon Manyuuki (ハレンチ紅門マン遊記)(OVA, 1996-05)
- Cutey Honey FCutie Honey Flashis a 1997 anime television series in the Cutie Honey franchise. In its native Japan, the series assumed the timeslot of Sailor Stars, the final story arc of the long-running Sailor Moon anime...
(キューティーハニーF(ﾌﾗｯｼｭ))(TV series, 1997-02) - Cutey Honey FCutie Honey Flashis a 1997 anime television series in the Cutie Honey franchise. In its native Japan, the series assumed the timeslot of Sailor Stars, the final story arc of the long-running Sailor Moon anime...
(キューティーハニーF(ﾌﾗｯｼｭ))(Movie, 1997-07) - Shin Getter Robo: Sekai Saigo no HiGetter Robo Armageddon, often simply referred to as Change!! Getter Robo in Japan, is an original video animation released in 1998 by Bandai Visual, based on the manga and anime series Getter Robo, created by Go Nagai and Ken Ishikawa...
(真ゲッターロボ｢世界最後の日｣, Getter Robo: Armageddon))(OVA, 1998-08) - Devilman LadyDevil Ladyis a Japanese action horror manga series written and illustrated by Go Nagai. It was originally serialized between January 1997 and July 2000 in the manga magazine Weekly Morning. Seventeen bound volumes were published by Kodansha for release in Japan. The story focuses on Jun Fudo, a teacher who...
(デビルマンレディー)(TV series, 1998-10) - Amon: The Apocalypse of Devilman (デビルマン黙示録)(OVA, 2000–05)
- Shin Getter Robot tai Neo Getter RobotShin Getter Robo vs Neo Getter Robois an anime OVA series based on the works of Go Nagai and Ken Ishikawa. It was released in four episodes on four DVDs from December 2000 to June 2001.Shin Getter Robo vs Neo Getter Robo draws heavily from Ken Ishikawa's manga Getter Robo Go...
(真ゲッターロボ対ネオゲッターロボ)(OVA, 2000–12) - MazinkaiserMazinkaiseris an anime OVA series, inspired by Go Nagai's Mazinger series. The OVA follows Kouji Kabuto, Tetsuya Tsurugi and the rest of the "Mazinger Team" as they fight against Dr. Hell's Mechanical Beasts....
(マジンカイザー)(OVA, 2001–09) - Demon Lord DanteDemon Lord Danteis the title of several horror-themed manga series written by Go Nagai as well as an anime series.During 1971, Go Nagai wrote the original Demon Lord Dante manga, which was published in Kodansha's Bokura Magazine. After its original run in 1971 from January to June, Go Nagai went on to author the...
(魔王ダンテ, Mao Dante)(TV series, 2002–08) - Mazinkaiser: Death! The Great General of DarknessMazinkaiseris an anime OVA series, inspired by Go Nagai's Mazinger series. The OVA follows Kouji Kabuto, Tetsuya Tsurugi and the rest of the "Mazinger Team" as they fight against Dr. Hell's Mechanical Beasts....
(マジンカイザー 死闘!暗黒大将軍, Mazinkaiser: Shitou! Ankoku Daishogun)(OVA, 2003–07) - New Getter RoboNew Getter Robois an anime original video animation co-produced by Dynamic Planning and Bandai Visual. The series is a re-imagining of the 1970s manga Getter Robo, created by Go Nagai and Ken Ishikawa, that incorporates aspects of Japanese mythology like the Oni and Abe no Seimei.- Plot :An alternate retelling of...
(新ゲッターロボ, Shin Getter Robo)(OVA, 2004-04) - Panda-Z - The Robonimation (パンダーゼット THE ROBONIMATION)(TV series, 2004-04)
- Re: Cutie HoneyRe: Cutie Honeyis a three-episode OVA series based on the 2004 tokusatsu film Cutie Honey, both being adaptations of the 1970s manga written and illustrated by Go Nagai. The series was co-produced with Gainax and Toei Animation, directed by Hideaki Anno, and shown on the Animax satellite television network in...
(Re:キューティーハニー)(OVA, 2004–07) - Gaiking Legend of Daiku-MaryuGaiking Legend of Daiku-Maryuis a Super Robot mecha anime series produced by Toei Animation. It was a reimagining of the original series created by Go Nagai , and was aired in TV Asahi from November 12, 2005 to September 24, 2006, lasting a total of 39 episodes...
(ガイキング)(TV series, 2005–11) - Demon Prince EnmaDemon Prince Enmais a Japanese horror anime and manga series created by Go Nagai. It's a sequel/remake of Dororon Enma-kun. The manga version of Kikoushi Enma would get a sequel called Satanikus ENMA Kerberos by Eiji Karasuyama in 2007....
(鬼公子炎魔, Kikoushi Enma)(OVA, 2006–08) - Koutetsushin Jeeg (鋼鉄神ジーグ, Steel God Jeeg)(TV series, 2007-04)
- Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z HenShin Mazinger Shougeki! Z Henis a new Mazinger anime series, directed by Yasuhiro Imagawa which premiered in Japan on April 4, 2009. According to the production staff, it has no relation to the 1970s show and should not be described as a Mazinger Z remake...
(真マジンガー 衝撃! Z編 )(TV series, 2009-04) - Mazinkaizer SKLMazinkaizer SKL, also called Mazinkaizer Skull and Mazinkaiser SKL, is a Japanese OVA series which is itself a spinoff of Go Nagai's Mazinkaiser which was itself a spinoff of Mazinger. The first episode was released on and was first screened on...
(マジンカイザーSKL)(OVA, 2010–11) - Dororon Enma-kun Meeramera (Dororonえん魔くん メ~ラめら)(TV series, 2011-04-07)
Tokusatsu/Live action created or based in the works of Go Nagai
- Harenchi GakuenHarenchi Gakuenis a Japanese media franchise created by Go Nagai. Harenchi Gakuen was one of the manga serialized in the very first issue of Shueisha's manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump. The series was the first big success for Go Nagai...
(ハレンチ学園)(Movie, 1970-05-02) - Harenchi Gakuen: Shintai Kensa no MakiHarenchi Gakuenis a Japanese media franchise created by Go Nagai. Harenchi Gakuen was one of the manga serialized in the very first issue of Shueisha's manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump. The series was the first big success for Go Nagai...
(ハレンチ学園 身体検査の巻)(Movie, 1970-08-01) - Harenchi Gakuen: Tackle Kiss no MakiHarenchi Gakuenis a Japanese media franchise created by Go Nagai. Harenchi Gakuen was one of the manga serialized in the very first issue of Shueisha's manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump. The series was the first big success for Go Nagai...
(ハレンチ学園 タックル・キッスの巻)(Movie, 1970-09-12) - Harenchi GakuenHarenchi Gakuenis a Japanese media franchise created by Go Nagai. Harenchi Gakuen was one of the manga serialized in the very first issue of Shueisha's manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump. The series was the first big success for Go Nagai...
(ハレンチ学園)(TV series, 1970-10-01) - Shin Harenchi GakuenHarenchi Gakuenis a Japanese media franchise created by Go Nagai. Harenchi Gakuen was one of the manga serialized in the very first issue of Shueisha's manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump. The series was the first big success for Go Nagai...
(新ハレンチ学園)(Movie, 1971-01-03) - Battle HawkBattle Hawkis a Japanese tokusatsu television series created by Go Nagai and Ken Ishikawa in 1976. It was originally aired on Mondays, from 19:30 to 20:00 in Tokyo Channel 12 between October 1976 to March 1977...
(バトルホーク)(TV series, 1976-10-04) - Pro-Wres no Hoshi AztecaserPro-Wres no Hoshi Aztecaseris a Japanese pro-wrestling-themed tokusatsu/anime superhero television series produced by Tsuburaya Productions, and created by Go Nagai and Ken Ishikawa. Nagai and Ishikawa created three manga series, simply named , published in different magazines by Shogakukan. None of them are related between...
(プロレスの星 アステカイザー)(TV series, 1976-10-07) - X BomberX Bomberis a marionette tokusatsu TV series. It was created by manga master Go Nagai, and produced by Cosmo Productions and Jin Productions. The show aired on Fuji TV from to , with a total of 26 episodes , and was billed in Japan as being filmed in "Sūpāmariorama" , a puppeteering process similar to...
(Xボンバー, 超宇宙マシーンエックスボンバー, Super Space Machine X Bomber, Star Fleet)[TV series, 1980-10-04) - Nagai Go no Kowai Zone: KaikiNagai Go no Kowai Zone: Kaikiis a Japanese direct-to-video horror film released in 1989 by the Bandai Media Division . It was the first film co-directed by Go Nagai along with Hikari Hayakawa. It features special appareances of other manga artists such as Chiaki Kawamata. The film has a sequel called Nagai Go no Kowai Zone 2:...
(永井豪のこわいゾーン 怪鬼)(Movie, 1989-08-25) - Nagai Go no Kowai Zone 2: SenkiNagai Go no Kowai Zone 2: Senkiis a Japanese direct-to-video horror film released in 1990 by the Bandai Media Division . It's the sequel of the film Nagai Go no Kowai Zone: Kaiki and just like the first film, it was also directed Go Nagai and Hikari Hayakawa...
(永井豪のこわいゾーン2 戦鬼)(Movie, 1990-08-24) - The Ninja DragonThe Ninja Dragon, better known for its international title as The Ninja Dragon , is a Japanese direct-to-video action film released in 1990 by the Tohokushinsha Film Corporation....
(空想科学任侠伝 極道忍者ドス竜, Kuso Kagaku Ninkyoden: Gokudo Ninja Dosuryu)(Movie, 1990-10-25) - Kekko KamenKekko Kamenis originally a shōnen manga series from Japanese creator Go Nagai, which spawned an OVA series and several live-action films. The manga series is about the misadventures of a student named Mayumi Takahashi who attends a boarding school called Toenail of Satan's Spartan Institute of Higher...
(けっこう仮面)(Movie, 1991-03-22) - Bishōjo Tantei Maboroshi PantyMaboroshi Pantyis a Japanese manga created by Hiroshi Koenji and Go Nagai. The manga was originally serialized in the magazine Monthly Shōnen Jump by Shueisha. It is a parody of Maboroshi Tantei, just like Kekko Kamen is a parody of Gekko Kamen. And as a Kekko Kamen, the main heroine is almost nude , using a...
(美少女探偵 まぼろしパンティ)(Movie, 1991-11-25) - Kekko Kamen 2: We'll be back...Kekko Kamenis originally a shōnen manga series from Japanese creator Go Nagai, which spawned an OVA series and several live-action films. The manga series is about the misadventures of a student named Mayumi Takahashi who attends a boarding school called Toenail of Satan's Spartan Institute of Higher...
(けっこう仮面2, けっこう仮面2 We’ll be back・・・)(Movie, 1992-03-27) - Nagai Go no Horror Gekijo: MannequinNagai Go no Horror Gekijo: Mannequinis a Japanese direct-to-video horror film released in 1992 by the Taki Corporation, based in an original story by Go Nagai. Nagai appears as part of the regular cast, alongside AV idols Sakurako Akino and Anna Takamisawa, nude model Ai Komori and Gravure idol Aki Kajiwara-External links:* at...
(永井豪のホラー劇場 マネキン)(Movie, 1992-04-24) - Oira Sukeban: Kessen! PansutoOira Sukeban, sometimes called Sukeban Boy, is a Japanese manga created by Go Nagai in 1974. It is a comedy with several erotic touches, where the protagonist Banji Suke has to disguise himself as a girl in order to be able to attend an all-female school...
(おいら女蛮 決戦!パンス党)(Movie, 1992-07-24) - Nagai Go no Horror Gekijo: KirikagamiNagai Go no Horror Gekijo: Kirikagamiis a Japanese direct-to-video horror film based in an original story by Go Nagai. It is the sequel to Nagai Go no Horror Gekijo: Mannequin, also produced by the Taki Corporation and released in 1992.-External links:* at allcinema...
(永井豪のホラー劇場 霧加神)(Movie, 1992-08-28) - Kekko Kamen 3Kekko Kamenis originally a shōnen manga series from Japanese creator Go Nagai, which spawned an OVA series and several live-action films. The manga series is about the misadventures of a student named Mayumi Takahashi who attends a boarding school called Toenail of Satan's Spartan Institute of Higher...
(けっこう仮面3)(Movie, 1993-04-23) - Jushin Thunder Liger: Fist of ThunderJushin Thunder Liger: Fist of Thunderis a 1995 direct-to-video tokusatsu wrestling/superhero/horror movie. Produced by Bandai Visual, this film is a showcase for the popular wrestler Jushin Liger, who was based upon the anime series Jushin Liger created by Go Nagai, who supervised this film's production...
(獣神サンダーライガー 怒りの雷鳴 FIST OF THUNDER)(Movie, 1995-02-21) - Heisei Harenchi GakuenHarenchi Gakuenis a Japanese media franchise created by Go Nagai. Harenchi Gakuen was one of the manga serialized in the very first issue of Shueisha's manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump. The series was the first big success for Go Nagai...
(平成ハレンチ学園)(Movie, 1996-02-02) - Kyuketsu Onsen e YokosoKyuketsu Onsen e Yokosoalternatively known as is a Japanese direct-to-video horror-erotic film released in 1997 by the Japanese studio known as Museum. It's based in an original story by Go Nagai...
(吸血温泉にようこそ)(Movie, 1997-04-21) - Lovely Angel: Homon Soap DegozaimasuLovely Angelis an erotic comedy manga series created by Go Nagai in 1996. The manga originally ran in the magazine Weekly Hoseki from January 4, 1996 to April 10, 1997, published by Kobunsha. It was later compiled in five tankōbon...
(ラブリー・エンジェル 訪問ソープでございます)(Movie, 1997-09-26) - Lovely Angel 2: Taiketsu! Homon Soap Jo vs Shuccho SM Jo!!Lovely Angelis an erotic comedy manga series created by Go Nagai in 1996. The manga originally ran in the magazine Weekly Hoseki from January 4, 1996 to April 10, 1997, published by Kobunsha. It was later compiled in five tankōbon...
(ラブリー・エンジェル2 対決!訪問ソープ嬢vs出張SM嬢!!)(Movie, 1997-11-28) - Kekko KamenKekko Kamenis originally a shōnen manga series from Japanese creator Go Nagai, which spawned an OVA series and several live-action films. The manga series is about the misadventures of a student named Mayumi Takahashi who attends a boarding school called Toenail of Satan's Spartan Institute of Higher...
(けっこう仮面, Mask of Kekkou)(Movie, 2004-02-06) - Nagai Go World: Maboroshi Panty VS Henchin PokoiderNagai Go World: Maboroshi Panty VS Henchin Pokoideris a Japanese tokusatsu erotic-comedy film based in some works of Go Nagai. Directed by Minoru Kawasaki, it was produced and distributed by Total Media Corporation , and released in 2004...
(永井豪ワールド まぼろしパンティVSへんちんポコイダー)(Movie, 2004-05-10) - Cutie HoneyCutie Honey (film)is a 2004 Japanese tokusatsu film adaptation, produced by Gainax, of the 1970s manga and anime series Cutie Honey.The film stars popular Japanese model Eriko Sato as the hyperactive Honey. Directed by Hideaki Anno, the film loosely retells the classic story of Cutie Honey's battle to defend...
(キューティーハニー)(Movie, 2004-05-29) - Kekko Kamen: Mangriffon no GyakushuKekko Kamenis originally a shōnen manga series from Japanese creator Go Nagai, which spawned an OVA series and several live-action films. The manga series is about the misadventures of a student named Mayumi Takahashi who attends a boarding school called Toenail of Satan's Spartan Institute of Higher...
(けっこう仮面 マングリフォンの逆襲, Kekko Kamen: The MGF Strikes Back!)(Movie, 2004–07-23) - DevilmanDevilmanis a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Go Nagai which originally started as an anime adaptation of the concept of Nagai's previous manga series, Demon Lord Dante. A 39 episode anime series was developed by Toei in 1972 and Nagai began Devilman as a manga in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen...
(デビルマン)(Movie, 2004-10-09) - Kekko Kamen ReturnsKekko Kamenis originally a shōnen manga series from Japanese creator Go Nagai, which spawned an OVA series and several live-action films. The manga series is about the misadventures of a student named Mayumi Takahashi who attends a boarding school called Toenail of Satan's Spartan Institute of Higher...
(けっこう仮面 RETURNS)(Movie, 2004-10-31) - Kekko Kamen Surprise!!Kekko Kamenis originally a shōnen manga series from Japanese creator Go Nagai, which spawned an OVA series and several live-action films. The manga series is about the misadventures of a student named Mayumi Takahashi who attends a boarding school called Toenail of Satan's Spartan Institute of Higher...
(けっこう仮面 SURPRISE)(Movie, 2004-10-31) - Kabuto-O BeetleKabuto-O Beetletranslated as Beetle, the Horn King is a 2005 Japanese film directed by Minoru Kawasaki. The film, from an original story by Go Nagai and a screenplay by Takao Nakano, is based on the character of the same name created by Nagai for Osaka Pro-Wrestling .-External links:* official website* at...
(兜王ビートル)(Movie, 2005-07-16) - Oira SukebanOira Sukeban, sometimes called Sukeban Boy, is a Japanese manga created by Go Nagai in 1974. It is a comedy with several erotic touches, where the protagonist Banji Suke has to disguise himself as a girl in order to be able to attend an all-female school...
(おいら女蛮)(Movie, 2006-02-04) - Kekko Kamen RoyaleKekko Kamenis originally a shōnen manga series from Japanese creator Go Nagai, which spawned an OVA series and several live-action films. The manga series is about the misadventures of a student named Mayumi Takahashi who attends a boarding school called Toenail of Satan's Spartan Institute of Higher...
(けっこう仮面 ロワイヤル)(Movie, 2007-05-25) - Kekko Kamen PremiumKekko Kamenis originally a shōnen manga series from Japanese creator Go Nagai, which spawned an OVA series and several live-action films. The manga series is about the misadventures of a student named Mayumi Takahashi who attends a boarding school called Toenail of Satan's Spartan Institute of Higher...
(けっこう仮面 プレミアム)(Movie, 2007-06-22) - Kekko Kamen ForeverKekko Kamenis originally a shōnen manga series from Japanese creator Go Nagai, which spawned an OVA series and several live-action films. The manga series is about the misadventures of a student named Mayumi Takahashi who attends a boarding school called Toenail of Satan's Spartan Institute of Higher...
(けっこう仮面 フォーエバー)(Movie, 2007-07-27) - Cutie Honey The LiveCutie Honey The Liveis a Japanese tokusatsu production of the popular Cutie Honey manga and anime series chief directed by Makoto Yokoyama and written primarily by Toshiki Inoue. It began airing on TV Tokyo on October 2, 2007...
(キューティーハニー THE LIVE)(TV series, 2007-10-02) - Abashiri Ikka: The movieThe Abashiri Familyis a manga series created by Go Nagai that originally ran in the magazine Weekly Shōnen Champion. Some of its characters returned with different names as part of other series, such as Cutie Honey, UFO Robot Grendizer and Mazinger Angels Z among others.Some of the first stories were adapted into an...
(あばしり一家 THE MOVIE)(Movie, 2009-11-21)
Additionally, Nagai appears as an actor in the following productions:
- The Toxic Avenger Part IIThe Toxic Avenger Part IIThe Toxic Avenger Part II is a 1989 comedy horror film released by Troma Entertainment. It was directed by Lloyd Kaufman and features The Toxic Avenger in an adventure to Japan to meet his father. The film has received cult status among a new audience almost a generation after it was first released...
(1989) - Nijisseiki Shōnen Dokuhon (1989)
- Kekko Kamen 2: We'll be back... (1992)
- Nagai Go no Horror Gekijo: Mannequin (1992)
- Oira Sukeban: Kessen! Pansuto (1992)
- Mirai no Omoide: Last Christmas (1992)
- Metropolis (anime)Metropolis (anime)Metropolis is a 2001 [anime] film and loosely based on the 1949 Metropolis manga created by the late Osamu Tezuka, itself inspired by the 1927 German silent film of the same name, though the two do not share plot elements. The anime, however, does draw aspects of its storyline directly from the...
(2001) Guest voice - Kekko Kamen (2004)
- Nagai Go World: Maboroshi Panty VS Henchin Pokoider (2004)
- Cutie Honey (2004)
- Devilman (2004)
- Cutie Honey The Live (2007) episode 26 (DVD-only episode)
External links
- Go Nagai (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan) 永井 豪（ながい ごう） (日本SF作家クラブ) — a Japanese version of the page.
- The World of Before the Apocalypse Fan Page: Go Nagai
- Revelation, An Essay on Devilman by Go Nagai The World of Go Nagai, with lists and pictures of various Nagai and Nagai-related works, and many notes on them. Enciclo'Robopedia - Sezione di Go Nagai, a website with a biography of Go Nagai and a list of almost all of his manga and anime work from 1967 to 2004, as well as other works based on his original ideas. L'AUTORE / CHI E' GO NAGAI - Dynamic Italie, the official biography of Go Nagai by D/visualD/visuald/visual incorporated d/visual incorporated d/visual incorporated (株式会社ディー・ビジュアル） is a Japanese publisher of manga books and anime home video.It was established in October 2002 by Federico Colpi and Kazuhiko Murata....
. Shuten Doji (Anime Mundi), detailed production information