Obscure Kaiju: Gunbot the Armored Robot

For our very own who loves live-action giant robots.

Sometimes, an Obscure Kaiju is just a brand new character who simply needs some love and attention.





Although in his 70’s when he passed away earlier this month, special effects director Koichi Kawakita was still very active, through both tokusatsu filming, published books on the Godzilla series, and through his company Dream Planet Japan.

Kawakita was also an active teacher of tokusatsu film-making at Osaka University, which resulted in the students and local actors to come together to create the independent television series "Gunbot: The Armored Robot” (original air date: 11/7/2014)

I don’t not much at this point, but this low-budget, yet equally well executed series involves an alien invasion of crab-like robots sent by aliens from The Valent Star System. And the Japanese defense force responds with their mechanical combat giant, Gunbot to fend off the 'Valent Invaders'.



It’s no secret that Koichi Kawakita LOVED giant robots and similar mecha. And would fill his films to the brim with as many science fiction machines as possible.

In fact, one of Kawakita’s never realized dreams was to remake ”The Mysterians” (1957) during the 1990’s, but Toho seemed unresponsive to the idea. Though they did ultimately allow him to include an updated version of Moguera in ”Godzilla vs SpaceGodzilla” (1994).