The references in Big O...

[The Ghost Of Ember]

Hey, talking about refrences to Big O, who liked Giant Robo?

I picked up the OVA set for cheap (fifteen bucks), but I haven't gotten a chance to sit down and watch it yet.

[Galatea]

Yeah, i've watched it but i haven't seen the ending yet cus i can;t buy it anywhere in oz. I'm trying to get it from the library but they haven't ordered it in yet.

[Big Duo Enthusiest]

I haven't seen anything Giant Robo yet, but what about the other two original Gods of the Japanese robot genere, Astro Boy and get the fruns ready....bum bum bumbum bum bum bumbum GIGANTOR (Tesutjin 28). I saw Testujin 28 black and white cartoon from the 50's(?) on Adult Swim and saw accouple of episodes, and it was verry cheesy BUT IT HAS LOTS OF POTENTIAL. And I heard they made a movie and a second season wich was not connected to the original black and white show. Gigantor and Big-O team up...In the words of Cartman.."SWEET."

[DOMON KASSHU!]

Wait, Gigantor and Big O team up? What are you rambling on about now, Duo Enthusiast?
War.

[Big Duo Enthusiest]

One, sorry for the absence, but due to me being back in school, I can't update every day, due to my need for sleep. But someone redesign Gigantor and have him be along side of Big-O. Realy. Think about it. Heck, what if the plot said something like this...

Gigantor, the oldest form of Giant Robot before the invention of megadeuses come sback online by a ghost and helps big-o defeat an enemy.

If anyone wants to use that plot, go ahead. I think that would be good. But everyone has their own opinion.

[Mike]

Wasn't Gigantor...a lot smaller than Big O?
And controlled by some guy with a remote control far away?

[DOMON KASSHU!]

Wasn't Gigantor...a lot smaller than Big O?
And controlled by some guy with a remote control far away?

Right on both counts, there, Mike. Really... don't waste your time on the show. Age does not make all things better.
War.

[Big Duo Enthusiest]

Well, I liked it. And what of Giant Robo??

[EyeOfPain]

Incidentally, "Its the day God's son was born" seems to be one of the bits we get in season 1 about Alex's God Complex. . .

I can see that, easily. Also, Alex just kinda came off as a spoiled child in those last couple episodes. Maybe I started to feel sorry for him...


Nah!

By the way, Giant Robo kicks ass.

Oh, forgot about the topic: The references are definitely a strength, from the obvious tribute to one of the incredible band of the '80s, to all the subtle nuances in story, character and setting, and even the animation reminiscent of "Batman: The Animated Series" and Film Noir.

[The Final Negotiator]

Well, I could say the black/hero (Roger) vs. white/villian (Alex) is a juxtaposed reference to vintage action/adventure movies. In those movies, the hero wore white and the villian wore black. So, since the hero in Big O wears black (with style), the villian must wear white. Each has a color-coordinated megadeus.
However, I'm not sure what Big Duo's color symbolizes... What's interesting is that Alan Gabriel's suit is black and white, which could reflect his double agent persona.

Also, while researching the "Who did Roger buy the bouquet for?" question for another thread, I think I found another reference. It was from the scene where Roger is dining with Alex and Alan. One of Alan's lines to Roger...I don't remember it exactly. Basically, it started with "If you've lost the will to live..." and ended in a propositiion to kill Roger "...and your little android, too".

Now I've heard somewhere before that Dorothy's namesake was Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. One of the most famous/infamous lines the Wizard of Oz is the threat from the Wicked Witch of the West to Dorothy: "I'll get you, My Pretty...and you're little dog too!" <evil laughing, thunder, fire, and smoke>. Even to this day, that scene still gives me the creeps. Is Alan's line another reference to this film? Maybe...

It also was creepy, but not as much as the WofO scene - most likely because Roger's reaction was anger, not fear, as he contemplated "putting Alan in his place" again...

.The Final Negotiator.

[Sharpshooter005]

The overall art direction was very Batman: The Animated Series-like, which is a good thing, because that show rocked socks for like 10 years.

This is...pretty much what got me to watch it when it first came on, so yeah

[Bllue]

Another essay i could write. I don't believe that anything is truley origional, as we all have to find inspiration from somewhere, so the references are inevitable. Oh, and the way you worded the poll lacks respect for inuyasha fans. we're not all morons who have closed our eyes to all but a silver haired red-clad half demon. Love you, bai!

[S.D.]

Some philosophical, historical, and pop cultural influences on the Big O:

- Plato's Theory of Recollection.

- Plato's Theory of Forms.

- Plato's Allegory of the Cave.

- Descartes' Cartesian Theater.

- Nietzsche's Eternal Reoccurrence

- Kierkegaard's "crowd" and Nietzsche's "herd"

- Ancient Greek City States.

- 1920-30's culture in the United States . . . and possibly Germany?

- Metropolis (classic Science Fiction movie)

- Isaac Asimov's stories concerning robots

- The Batman.

- Giant Robo and other retro-mecha anime.

- Pretty much the entire genre of film noir.

- Maybe Neon Genesis Evangelion, but I think that is just a coincidence due to the fact they both make use of existential themes, are mecha, etc. Chiaki J. Konaka has had to live in the shadow of Evangelion ever since he made Serial Experiments Lain after Neon Genesis Evangelion. I think he just likes existentialsm, and isn't trying to emulate Evangelion per se.

I'm not sure if the Big O embodies 1920-30's German/United States culture or if that is just a result of the fact it is based on film noir and Metropolis (German movie), but I think the scenery is representational enough of those time periods to warrant mention . . . likewise, I'm not sure if Ancient Greek City States were an influence on the hierarchical structure of Paradigm City, or if that is just an appearance brought on by the fact it was influenced by Plato, who wrote about the nature of a city-state in "Republic". At any rate, Paradigm City is a city-state, Ancient Greece is the most prominent demonstrator of these, and Chiaki J. Konaka certainly knew about them . . . everything after that is conjecture.

[EyeOfPain]

So few people seem to mention the movie Blade Runner as an influence. The first season of The Big O not long after Bubblegum Crisis: Tokyo 2040 was finished (BR references were everywhere in the original BGC). It may not be huge, but I think some of the thoughts on human/android relations, particularly those involving what makes one human, as well as the entire concept of "Memories," now that I think about it.

[S.D.]

So few people seem to mention the movie Blade Runner as an influence. The first season of The Big O not long after Bubblegum Crisis: Tokyo 2040 was finished (BR references were everywhere in the original BGC). It may not be huge, but I think some of the thoughts on human/android relations, particularly those involving what makes one human, as well as the entire concept of "Memories," now that I think about it.

I've never heard of Blade Runner, so that probably explains why I've never counted it as an influence.

Well, I have heard and watched some of the vampire movies in the Blade Runner series, but that seems distinct from what your talking about.