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"You’re not alone. Whenever, forever."

―Series tagline

SSSS.GRIDMANグリッドマン (Guriddoman) is a 2018 anime series produced by Studio Trigger in collaboration with Tsuburaya Productions, based on the titular character of the series, Gridman the Hyper Agent and its American adaptation, Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad. Released in Fall 2018, the series was licensed by Funimation and can be watched as an English dub via their streaming service, FunimationNow, as well as on Crunchyroll with English subtitles. It can also be watched on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Google TV.

After SSSS.DYNAZENON was revealed, this series was designated as the first installment in the GRIDMAN UNIVERSE project.[4]

To promote GRIDMAN UNIVERSE, the series' episodes were compiled into a film, which was screened in theaters for two weeks from January 20, 2023.[5][6]

Synopsis[]

You're not alone. Whenever, forever.

Yuta Hibiki is a first-year student in high school living in Tsutsujidai. One day, he woke up without his memories.

Yuta later meets "Hyper Agent Gridman" who was inside an old computer.

Gridman told him to fulfill his purpose. Yuta's quest to understand the meaning behind those words and to find his memories began.

While all of this was sudden, Yuta had helpful assistance from his classmates, Sho Utsumi, Rikka Takarada, and Akane Shinjo, but...

Those peaceful days were destroyed mercilessly by a monster that suddenly appeared.[7]

Episodes[]

  1. Awakening DEATH
  2. Restoration
  3. Defeat
  4. Suspicion DEATH
  5. Provocation SUGGESTIVE CONTENT
  6. Contact
  7. Scheme VIOLENCE BLOOD SUGGESTIVE CONTENT
  8. Confrontation
  9. Dream
  10. Collapse VIOLENCE BLOOD
  11. Decisive Battle BLOOD
  12. Awakening VIOLENCE BLOOD

Voice Drama[]

As a follow up to each episode, an original voice drama is uploaded to Tsuburaya Productions' YouTube channel, for a duration of one week though from the eight episode and onward, they are uploaded to Pony Canyon's channel instead. They normally contain dialogue that foreshadows certain things in the next episode and the overall plot.

Characters[]

Heroes[]

Gridman Alliance[]

Neon Genesis Junior High Students[]

Antagonists[]

Others[]

Kaiju[]

Cast[]

Character Japanese English
Yuta Hibiki Yuya Hirose Brandon McInnis
Gridman Hikaru Midorikawa Robert McCollum
Sho Utsumi Soma Saito Greg Ayres
Rikka Takarada Yume Miyamoto Jill Harris
Akane Shinjo Reina Ueda Lindsay Seidel
Samurai・Calibur Ryosuke Takahashi Ian Sinclair
Max Katsuyuki Konishi Cris George
Vit Masaya Matsukaze Chris Burnett
Borr Aoi Yuki Apphia Yu
Anti/Gridknight Kenichi Suzumura Stephen Fu
Alexis・Kerib Tetsu Inada Barry Yandell
Rikka's Mother Mayumi Shintani Anastasia Munoz
Namiko Suzuko Mimori Sarah Wiedenheft
Hass Akari Kito Amber Lee Connors
Sakiru Tonkawa Kaede Yuasa Dani Chambers
Anosillus the 2nd Karin Takahashi Monica Rial

Staff[]

  • Director: Akira Amemiya
  • Screenplay: Keiichi Hasegawa
  • Character Design: Masaru Sakamoto
  • Gridman Design: Masayuki Goto
  • Alexis Design: Koyama Shigeto
  • Kaiju Design: Shinji Nishikawa, Hiroshi Maruyama, Ichiro Itano, Osamu Yamaguchi, Masahiro Maeda
  • Assist Weapon Design: Takeshi Nonaka
  • Junk Design: Shinta Sanniya
  • Heroic Drawing Chief: Muta Ouchi
  • Assistant Director: Yoshiko Kaneko
  • Sub Character Design: Mayumi Nakamura
  • 3DCG Director: Shinichi Miyanei
  • 3DCG Production: Graphinica
  • Art Director: Yukihiro Watanabe
  • Color Design: Nishida Takeda
  • Director of Photography: Yamamoto Yayoi
  • Editing: Yoshitake Masato
  • Music: Shiro Sagisu
  • Music Production: Pony Canyon
  • Acoustic Supervision: Toshiki Kameyama
  • Sound Effects: Yuko Morikawa
  • Line Producer: Masato Takeuchi
  • Animation Producer: Kazuya Masumoto
  • Animation Production: TRIGGER

Music[]

Opening Theme[]

  • UNION[8]
    • Artist: OxT (オクト, Okuto) (Masayoshi Ooishi (オーイシマサヨシ, Ōishi Masayoshi) x Tom-H@ck)
    • Lyrics/Composition: Masayoshi Oishi
    • Arrangement: Tom-H@ck

Ending Theme[]

Insert Themes[]

Character Songs[10][]

  • Only I Can
    • Artist: Yuya Hirose (Yuta Hibiki)
    • Lyrics: Yohei Matsui
    • Composition/Arrangement: Yuki Honda
  • Ultra Theory (ウルトラセオリー, Urutora Seorī)
    • Artist: Soma Saito (Sho Utsumi)
    • Lyrics: Yohei Matsui
    • Composition/Arrangement: Masaki Honda
  • Glass Tama (ガラス玉, lit. Glass Beads)
    • Artist: Yume Miyamoto (Rikka Takarada)
    • Lyrics: Ririko
    • Composition/Arrangement: Takenori Shibayama
  • Motto Kimi wo Shiritai (もっと君を知りたい, lit. I Want to Know You More)
    • Artist: Reina Ueda (Akane Shinjo)
    • Lyrics: Akira Amemiya
    • Composition/Arrangement: Shuho Mitani
  • CODE "GRIDMAN"
    • Artist: Hikaru Midorikawa (Gridman)
    • Lyrics: Yohei Matsui
    • Composition: Daisuke Tsuchikawa
    • Arrangement: Ryo Takahashi
  • My Way
    • Artist: Kenichi Suzumura (Anti)
    • Lyrics: Ririko
    • Composition: Yuto Minami
    • Arrangement: Ryo Takahashi
  • INTERSECTION!
    • Artist: Masaya Matsukaze (Vit)
    • Lyrics: Erika Masaki
    • Composition: Atsushi Harada
    • Arrangement: Masatomi Waki
  • Dig Dig Boooom!
    • Artist: Aoi Yuki (Borr)
    • Lyrics: Ririko
    • Composition/Arrangement: Hajime Mitsumasu
  • Tooi Hi no Mirai (遠い日の未来, lit. The Future Distant Day)
    • Artist: Katsuyuki Konishi (Max)
    • Lyrics/Composition/Arrangement: Kentaro Fuji
  • Kokoro no Arika (心ノ在処, lit. Where the Heart is)
    • Artist: Ryosuke Takahashi (Samurai・Calibur)
    • Lyrics: Yohei Matsui
    • Composition/Arrangement: Takenori Shibayama
  • Xenon's Justice
    • Artist: Ryosuke Takahashi, Katsuyuki Konishi, Aoi Yuki & Masaya Matsukaze (Neon Genesis Junior High Students)
    • Lyrics: Yohei Matsui
    • Composition/Arrangement: Yoshinobu Takeichi
  • Oh! My Hero!
    • Artist: Suzuko Mimori (Namiko) & Akari Kito (Hass)
    • Lyrics/Composition: Ririko
    • Arrangement: Shun Takahashi, Ririko
  • Darken Red Sky
    • Artist: Tetsu Inada (Alexis・Kerib)
    • Lyrics: Erika Masaki
    • Composition/Arrangement: Atsuki Okuma

Home Media[]

The series was released on DVD and Blu-ray as 4 volumes from December 2018 to March 2019, as well as a Blu-ray set containing all 12 episodes on February 17, 2021.[11] The compilation film version was also released on Blu-ray on September 27, 2023.[12][13] The cover art for all six releases was illustrated by Masayuki Gotoh.[13][14]

Spin-Offs[]

The popularity of the series has led to the development of a number of spin-offs. Among them are[15]:

  • Confirmed/Released:
    • Neon Genesis Junior High Students Diary (新世紀中学生日記, Shinseki Chūgakusei Nikki)[16]: A comedy comic about the Neon Genesis Junior High Students. Written by Ahrico (あり子).
    • Hime and Samurai[16]: A prequel story about Samurai・Calibur when he first went to Tsutsujidai. Written by Kei Toru (戸流ケイ, Toru Kei).
    • Comicalize SSSS.GRIDMAN (コミカライズ SSSS.GRIDMAN)[16]: A manga rendition of the series. Written by Yuki Konno (今野ユウキ, Kon'no Yūki).
    • SSSS.GRIDMAN NOVELIZATIONS[17][18]: A novel series written by Yume Mizusawa (水沢夢, Mizusawa Yume), taking place after episode 8.
    • SSSS.GRIDMAN ANOTHER LOAD[19]: Borr and Vitt travel to another world, taking on different roles. Written by Aya Satsuki (皐月彩).
    • Sengoku Gridman (戦国グリッドマン, Sengoku Guriddoman): Gridman somehow arrives in the Sengoku period.[17][20] Written by Yuki Tamura (田村ゆうき, Tamura Yūki).
    • SSSS.GRIDMAN: Neon Genesis Junior High Students Butler Cafe (SSSS.GRIDMAN新世紀中学生の執事カフェ, SSSS.GRIDMAN Shinseki Chūgakusei no Shitsuji Kafe): One day, Rikka wakes up to find out that Junk Shop Aya had been remade into a cafe, being run by the Neon Genesis junior High Students, who have become butlers.[17][20] Written by Misaki Sako (迫ミサキ, Sako Misaki).
    • Diaclone VS. Gridman: A short collaboration with Takara Tomy's Diaclone toyline.
    • Gridman Dogma (グリッドマン・ドグマ, Guriddoman Doguma): A story about a Hyper Agent named Vise who was left behind. He goes off on an adventure with a mysterious girl who can transform into a Gridman-like entity.[21] Written by Danjun Satsuka (佐塚弾純, Satsuka Danjun).
  • Cancelled:
    • A stage play[22] that has since been cancelled indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
    • A manga about Akane[17] that was cancelled after being stuck in development hell for over a year.[23]

Gallery[]

Images[]

Videos[]

Trivia[]

  • The release of this series coincides with the 25th anniversary of Gridman the Hyper Agent, which premiered in 1993.
  • To promote the premiere of the series, for a limited time starting 6 October, Gridman appeared on every screen in Akihabara Electric Town. A suit actor wearing a suit of the new Gridman also walked around town.[24][25]
  • Several elements of the series were reused and modified from a scrapped Gridman series, Gridman the Hyper Agent F. These include:
    • Yuta Hibiki appearing, as a classmate to Ippei Baba and bonds with Gridman (who may be another of his kind).
    • The main antagonist being Alexis・Kerib, who came from the Demon World as opposed to the Hyper World.
    • Akane working with Alexis.
  • The Ultraman Series is an in-universe entertainment program and is referenced many times in several ways.
  • This is not the first time in the Gridman franchise where the fight is taken to the "real world". That honor goes to Gridman the Hyper Agent: boys invent great hero, where Gridman Sigma appeared in a city at the end of the anime short, which was also produced by Studio Trigger and directed by Akira Amemiya.
  • Most of the characters in the series have their designs based on characters in the Transformers franchise, mostly from Shattered Glass. Expanding on this, every main protagonist has blue eyes and the antagonists have red eyes, similar to how Transformers' eyes are color coded according to their allegiance.
    • Yuta Hibiki is based on the Classics version of the character Cliffjumper, since his Shattered Glass equivalent did not play much of a role in the story and was killed early in the story. Classics Cliffjumper, on the other hand, was the main focus character due to being displaced into the alternate setting.
  • Several characters in the show have their names inspired by the names of toy manufacturers; Hass (Hasbro), Kena (Kenner), Sakiru Tonkawa (Tonka), Namiko (Bandai Namco), Toiko (ToyCo), Takarada (TakaraTomy) and Doi Hako (Toy Box).
  • The series' Opening and Ending songs were awarded First and Third places respectively in AniUta's top 100 anime songs for October 2018.[26] UNION also won First place again in November 2018.[27]
  • The SSSS in the name was included as a reference to the American adaptation of the original series, "Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad".
    • According to the twelfth and final episode, the SSSS actually stands for "Special Signature to Save a Soul" within the show itself.
  • SSSS.GRIDMAN managed to win the 50th Seiun Award. The physical award itself was given to the show's director, Akira Amemiya.[28][29]

External Links[]

References[]

  1. https://gridman.net/character/
  2. 2.0 2.1 https://gridman.net/onair/
  3. https://twitter.com/FUNimation/status/1047909703035052037
  4. https://en.tsuburaya-prod.co.jp/news/2442
  5. https://m-78.jp/news/post-6575
  6. https://m-78.jp/news/post-6597
  7. https://en.tsuburaya-prod.co.jp/news/738
  8. http://www.oxt-music.com/event/201806291200.php
  9. http://uchidamaaya.jp/news/archives/2228
  10. https://gridman.net/product/cd/bestalbum.php
  11. https://gridman.net/product/
  12. https://twitter.com/SSSS_PROJECT/status/1696127279347409269
  13. 13.0 13.1 https://ssss-movie.net/product/bd/gridman/
  14. https://twitter.com/SSSS_PROJECT/status/1689592440557080576
  15. https://www.crunchyroll.com/en-gb/anime-news/2019/05/29-1/ssssgridman-to-return-as-stage-play-in-spring-2020
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 https://twitter.com/SSSS_PROJECT/status/1132614305457721345
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 https://twitter.com/SSSS_PROJECT/status/1132614486366478341
  18. https://twitter.com/gagaga_bunko/status/1171687541767958528?s=09
  19. https://twitter.com/sonoko_uchusen/status/1210717159896170496
  20. 20.0 20.1 https://twitter.com/MonthlyChampion/status/1244533344999591939
  21. https://twitter.com/kurage_news/status/1381817196964286468
  22. https://twitter.com/SSSS_PROJECT/status/1132615372949954561
  23. https://twitter.com/kazakamishun/status/1280830941854744578
  24. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2018-10-03/ssss.gridman-anime-takes-over-akihabara-to-mark-premiere/.137553
  25. https://natalie.mu/comic/news/301940
  26. https://twitter.com/aniuta_PR/status/1057922331086008320
  27. https://twitter.com/aniuta_PR/status/1069517829471260673
  28. https://twitter.com/SSSS_PROJECT/status/1155034352981463040
  29. https://twitter.com/trigger_inc/status/1155779980959211520

Productions
Showa Series Ultra Q | Ultraman | Ultraseven | Return of Ultraman | Ultraman Ace | Ultraman Taro | Ultraman Leo | Ultraman 80
Heisei Series Ultraman Tiga | Ultraman Dyna | Ultraman Gaia | Ultraman Cosmos | Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy | Ultraman Nexus | Ultraman Max | Ultraman Mebius | Ultraseven X | Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle | Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle: Never Ending Odyssey | Neo Ultra Q | Ultraman Ginga | Ultraman Ginga S | Ultraman X | Ultraman Orb | Ultraman Geed | Ultraman R/B
Reiwa Series Ultraman Taiga | Ultraman Z | Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga | Ultraman Decker | Ultraman Blazar
Outside of Japan Ultraman: The Adventure Begins | Ultraman: Towards the Future | Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero | Ultraman: Rising
Original Video and TV Special Ultra Fight | Ultraman vs. Kamen Rider | Ultra Super Fight | Ultraman Nice | Heisei Ultraseven | Ultraman Neos | Ultraman: Super Fighter Legend | Ultra Idemitsujin | Ultra Zone
Showa Movies Ultraman: Monster Movie Feature | Ultraman, Ultraseven: Great Violent Monster Fight | The 6 Ultra Brothers vs. The Monster Army | Ultraman (1979) | Ultraman: Great Monster Decisive Battle | Ultraman ZOFFY: Ultra Warriors vs. the Giant Monster Army | Ultraman Story
Heisei Movies Ultra Q The Movie | Revive! Ultraman | Ultraman Zearth | Ultraman Zearth 2 | Ultraman Tiga & Ultraman Dyna | Ultraman Tiga, Ultraman Dyna, & Ultraman Gaia | Ultraman Tiga: The Final Odyssey | Ultraman Cosmos: The First Contact | Ultraman Cosmos 2 | New Century Ultraman Legend | Ultraman Cosmos vs. Ultraman Justice | New Century 2003 Ultraman Legend | ULTRAMAN (2004) | Ultraman Mebius & the Ultra Brothers | Super 8 Ultra Brothers | Ultra Galaxy Legends The Movie | Ultraman Zero The Movie | Ultraman Saga | Ultraman Ginga Theater Special | Ultraman Ginga Theater Special: Battle Royale | Ultraman Ginga S The Movie | Ultraman X The Movie | Ultraman Orb The Movie | Ultraman Geed The Movie | Ultraman R/B The Movie
Reiwa Movies Ultraman Taiga The Movie | Ultraman Trigger: Episode Z | Shin Ultraman | Ultraman Decker Finale | Ultraman Blazar The Movie
Spin-Offs Andro Melos | Ultraman Zearth: Parody Chapter | Revival of the Ancient Giant | The Return of Hanejiro | Gaia Again | Ultra Q Kaiju Legend | Ultraman Kaiju Legend | Hikari Saga | Armored Darkness | Ghost Rebirth | Ultraman Zero vs. Darklops Zero | Q - Door to Another Dimension | Killer the Beatstar | Ultra Zero Fight | Ultra Fight Victory | Ultraman Orb THE ORIGIN SAGA | Ultra Fight Orb | New Generation Heroes | The Absolute Conspiracy | Sevenger Fight | The Struggle of Special Section 3 | The Destined Crossroad | Continued Ultra Fight | Shin Ultra Fight | Return of Special Section 3 | Ultraman Regulos | Ultraman Regulos: First Mission | Ultraseven IF Story | SKaRD Break Room
Rebroadcast Shows Ultraman Retsuden | New Ultraman Retsuden | Ultraman Zero: The Chronicle | Ultraman Orb: The Chronicle | Ultraman New Generation Chronicle | Ultraman Chronicle: ZERO & GEED | Ultraman Chronicle Z: Heroes' Odyssey | Ultraman Chronicle D | Ultraman New Generation Stars
Informational Ultraman The Prime | ULTRAMAN ARCHIVES | Ultra Science Fantasy Hour | Ultra Fight Club | UlSummer Information Station | Ultra Information Center | Professor Teruaki's "Blazar Kaiju Academy" | Super Power! Ultra Encyclopedia! | Ultra Construction Tour | THE ORIGIN OF ULTRAMAN | Ultraman 4K Discovery
Docudramas Fly in the Sea Breeze! Ultraman | The Men Who Made Ultraman | My Beloved Ultraseven | The Man Who Wanted to be Ultraman | The Kaiju Club | The Two Ultramen
Other Series Kaiju Booska | Captain Ultra | Mighty Jack | Fight! Mighty Jack | Operation: Mystery | Chibira-kun | Mirrorman | Redman | Triple Fighter | Emergency Directive 10-4·10-10 | Iron King | Horror Theater Unbalance | Fireman | Jumborg Ace | Mirror Fight | Army of the Apes | Pro-Wres no Hoshi Azteckaiser | Dinosaur Expedition Born Free | Dinosaur Great War Izenborg | Star Wolf | Dinosaur Squadron Koseidon | Anime-chan | Gridman the Hyper Agent | Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad | Moon Spiral | Cyber Girl Telomere | Booska! Booska!! | Otasuke Girl | Mirrorman REFLEX | Bio Planet WoO | Mirror Fight 2012 | Gridknight Fight
Anime The☆Ultraman | Ultraman Kids | Ultraman Graffiti: Wild! Ultra Country | Ultraman: Super Fighter Legend | Ultra Nyan | Ultra Nyan 2: The Great Happy Operation | Ultraman M78 Theater Love & Peace | Gridman the Hyper Agent: boys invent great hero | The・Ultraman: Jackal vs. Ultraman | Kaiju Sakaba Kanpai! | Kaiju Girls | SSSS.GRIDMAN | ULTRAMAN (2019) | Kaiju Step Wandabada | SSSS.DYNAZENON | KAIJU DECODE | GRIDMAN UNIVERSE
Outlaw Content Space Warriors 2000 | Project Ultraman | Ultraman The Animation | Ultraman: A Little Journey on Earth | Fun... English with Ultraman | Young Ultraman | Ultraman Big Transformation | Sinic Q | Red Jade | Dragon Force: So Long Ultraman | Dragon Force: Rise of Ultraman
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