1. Giant Robo
![Image](http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/4425/20080512post.jpg)
Year: 1992-1998
Span: seven one-hour episodes
Rating: E, but T when you figure in the occasional harsh violence.
Summary: In the future, the Shizuma Drive has become the world's leading source of energy, cheap and completely pollution-free. However, when drives all over the world begin exploding when within range of a tremendous floating robot eye piloted by a new member of the dark BF Group, the International Police Organization must try to get to the bottom of the situation. But at the same time, the history of the Drive and its late researcher Franken von Vogler begin to emerge...
Review: This show sounds relatively simple, and sounds like it's mostly about giant robots, but you may be impressed (or disappointed) when you learn the robots are just a minor piece of the plot. I can't even describe episode three without worrying about spoiling something. It's an intriguing, tightly-woven show where each twist throws something new at you, changing everything you thought about the characters or plot an episode ago. Be prepared for moderate violence every now and then, a complicated plot to follow (for some people I pitch this to, it's a problem) and the soulcrushing feeling of watching characters you love be suddenly killed off.
Speaking of the characters, there's somebody for everyone, from the enigmatic and beautiful teenage agent Ginrei (pictured above), the bizarre and impressive Youshi the Blue Beast, to the stoic yet deeply powerful Chief Chujo the Silent. There's seriously nearly a hundred characters, common or otherwise, in the show.
Availability: The whole series is currently available on Youtube in English, but this is GR's strange old dub from the nineties that may take a bit of getting used to. The show is currently licensed from Media Blasters, but there's rumours they're nearing bankruptcy, so if you want the Japanese or the new English versions, look for the set whenever you can, as it's fairly affordable at some places.
(Next time: Android girls and scary old men, or Franco-Japanese master thieves!)