Exhibition - UFO Robot Grendizer XPERIENZ: the must-see exhibition of the moment in Paris

By Mulder, 23 october 2021

When UFO Robot Grendizer arrived in France on July 3, 1978, it upset the youth programs on television. Its programming was supposed to be done on the sly, during the summer vacations, but the public decided otherwise. The success is then dazzling! Created a few years earlier by Go Nagai and Toei Animation, UFO Robot Grendizer (UFO Robot Grendizer, in its original version) brought a new wind to television. The French public discovered a whole new side of Japanese pop culture. 

Without knowing it, UFO Robot Grendizer became the starting point of a trend qualified, much later, as a manga phenomenon. It was widely broadcast until the mid-1990s, and was enjoyed by several generations before making a comeback on video and television in 2013, accompanied by new products bearing its image. As part of the 45th anniversary of the creation of UFO Robot Grendizer, in agreement with Dynamic Planning and Toei Animation, PRIME PROD has decided, throughout the year 2021, to offer multiple events that will invite to rediscover one of the greatest icons of Pop Culture, while celebrating the strong cultural link between France and Japan. An exceptional opportunity to organize new events, creating links to be shared between generations in a period of post-covid uncertainties.

To celebrate the 45th anniversary of the hero, a unique exhibition will be held at the House of Culture of Japan from September 15, 2021 to October 30, 2021. Throughout the exhibition, the visitor is immersed in the universe of the Pop Culture icon via an immersive journey through the mythical places of the series. The site is divided into four zones: The White Birch Ranch, the Black Moon Camp, the Research Center and Planet Euphor.

Throughout these areas, visitors will discover how the series was created in Japan thanks to original production documents and presentations of the main artisans, starting with the famous mangaka Go Nagai. This will be an opportunity to discuss the themes and references found throughout the episodes. The giant robot having marked a whole era, we will also discover emblematic objects of the 1970s and 1980s: derivative products, toys, records...

Over the years, UFO Robot Grendizer has finally become the starting point of a trend that would later be called the "manga phenomenon". Today, this aspect of Japanese pop culture has become an important part of the many cultural exchanges between France and Japan.

This exhibition proves to be a success as it succeeds in bringing back to life one of the most important series of our past alongside Cobra and Ulysses 31. The many official drawings, the numerous toys but also the derived products allow us a real nostalgic experience and we remember with pleasure the many hours spent in front of the television watching UFO Robot Grendizer and recreating its adventures with its numerous toys of which we keep as treasures its memorable toys (for my part the Mattel Shogun line).

We also advise you not to miss the retronight event. On the occasion of the exhibition, an event will take place on October 28th at the Grand Rex in Paris with a concert of the music and the credits with the original performers, karaoke, projection of episodes and cosplay around UFO Robot Grendizer...

You can discover a selection of our pictures on our official Flickr page here

Practical information : 
Dates : From September 15, 2021 to October 30, 202
Place : Maison de la Culture du Japon 101B Quai Branly 75015 Paris 15
Rates: reduced rate (5€), full rate (7€)
Official website: https://www.UFO Robot Grendizer-xperienz.com/

Photos : Boris Colletier / Mulderville

(Source : press release)