Aphrodite A

Infobox Mazinger Mecha
name = Aphrodite A
katakana = アフロダイ　A


creator = Go Nagai
weapons = Missiles
construction = Chogokin (Super-Alloy Z)
energy_source = Photo-atomic Energy

nihongo|Aphrodite A|アフロダイA|Afurodai Ēsu is a female mecha from the Mazinger Z anime and manga series, created by Go Nagai. It was the first giant robot in the genre to resemble the female anatomy.

She was named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty.

History

The robot was created by Dr. Yumi (Dr. Kabuto's apprentice) and since it was originally built for peaceful uses at first it didn't feature any weapons; eventually it acquires the ability to fire missiles from its chest, this was called the "Oppai Missile System"("Oppai" is a Japanese slang term for "breasts"). Aphrodite was the first female mecha to have this kind of weapon.

Despite the fact it was made of the same alloy as Mazinger (Chogokin or Super-Alloy Z) it usually suffers substantially greater damage from attacks. Regardless of these shortcomings, in several opportunities she provides help in battle, and even destroys two Mechanical Beasts in the anime, Gumbina M5 (Chapter 49), and Yubrin T9 (Chapter 56). Her missiles also cause the unintentional destruction of Minerva X.

In one of the most memorable chapters, her infamous breast missiles win Mazinger a battle, when Mazinger (not yet able to fly, as its Jet Scrander upgrade had not yet been built) was unable to destroy the aerial monster Gelbros J3. Sayaka was infuriated when she discovered her robot had, without her consent, been equipped with supersized breast missiles that totally ruined the elegant lines of Aphrodite. Kouji used these modified missiles to give Mazinger Z enough thrust to fly, and forced the enemy to land. (See External Links for footage). In one of Nagai's later works, Kotetsu Jeeg, a similar technique was reused and actually the titular robot's sole means of flight.

Sayaka usually finds support in Boss and his Boss Borot, since Kouji always diminishes their mechas for their lack of weapons and attacks and refers to them as nuisances rather than effective help. In fact, Aphrodite and Borot can be seen in many chapters being trashed together by the mechanical monsters. However, many times he has to acknowledge their importance; when Dr. Hell almost takes over the Photonic Research Institute (chapter 57), it's Aphrodite and Borot who stop his infantry from actually entering the building.

Aphrodite was once piloted by Kouji. In chapter 52, Kouji and Sayaka have a fight, and during battle she refuses to help him. As a result, he is severely hurt and comes close to death. Full of regret, Sayaka is willing to risk her own life to defeat Varison M1, but Aphrodite is no match to the powerful monster, so she decides to pilot Mazinger. When Kouji realizes this, he takes control of Aphrodite to aid Sayaka, who was losing the fight against the evil mecha. In his way to the place where they were fighting, he complains on how slow the lady robot is. With no time to switch robots the usual way, they make an acrobatic jump to each other's robot and finally the monster is destroyed.

Towards the last part of the anime series (Chapter 74), Aphrodite A is destroyed by one of Archduke Gorgon's monsters, Harpia Π7, to save Mazinger from its deadly electrified feathers.

This causes Sayaka a lot of grief since she misses her robot and even has visions of her in one chapter, and she also feels the need to help in battle again. Afterwards, a somewhat improved female robot called Diana A is built to replace her in her role as Mazinger's companion.

Pilot

Aphrodite is piloted by Sayaka Yumi, Dr. Yumi's daughter, and many times the robot's attitudes reflect those of the pilot. Unlike Koji Kabuto (Mazinger's pilot) she does not control the mecha from a detachable vehicle, but from a built-in cockpit in the robot's head. This cockpit has the shape of a large glass dome. Within it, Sayaka is surrounded by a large amount of controls to pilot the mecha.

Sayaka is most commonly shown entering from a gate at the back of the robot's head, but in one chapter the glass dome opens to allow Kouji, who was driving Aphrodite, to jump from her head to Mazinger's.

Weapons

In order to be more useful against the enemy, Aphrodite is armed with missiles on her chest, posing as breasts. At first she could only fire two of them, but then is modified to fire successive sets. Sayaka asks many times to have her robot improved even more, but her requests are always dismissed.

She obtains this to some degree when Diana is built, since this second mecha sports Scarlet beams.

The Mazinger Angels version is remarkably more powerful and in addition to her breast missiles she has weapons such as Iron Cutter Missiles, Megaton Hammer, and a Mazinger Sword.

Versions

Besides the manga and anime versions, Aphrodite was featured in the first Mazinkaiser OVAs, with a design that closely resembled her looks in the classic manga version, specially the shape and size of her large head and the colouring scheme, based on darker colours.

In this version, she is captured by Dr. Hell's mechanical beasts and dismembered, putting Sayaka's life in danger as a way to force Koji to abandon Mazinger Z. After this the robot is so heavily damaged that she is replaced by a modified version of Venus A.

She is also included in the Mazinger Angels manga, which focuses on the four classic Mazinger ladies as protagonists, showing an updated design and way more powerful weapons and more resistance to attacks. This version is closely related to the Soul of Chogokin model line.

Machine Specifications

* Height: 16 meters
* Weight: 18 tons
* Chest Circumference: 9 meters
* Running Speed: 200 kilometers/hour
* Jump Height: 10 meters
* Maximum Lift: 90 tons
* Energy Source: Photonic Energy (Japanese: 光子力エネルギー Koushiryoku Energy)
* Construction: Super Alloy Z (Japanese: 超合金Ｚ cho-gokin Z)

See also

* Mazinger Angels

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIQxQBkWsbI Excerpt from chapter 32 at YouTube] es icon - Aphrodite helps Mazinger defeat Gelbros J3