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It is with a heavy heart that we report on the passing of composer Michiaki Watanabe (known professionally as Chūmei Watanabe) at the age of 96 due to heart failure at a Tokyo hospital on June 23. Having been trained in jazz composition his music often combined brass instruments with synthesizers to make his signature sound. Among Transformers fans he'd be best known for composing the score to both the Transformers Victory and Zone animated series. However, among fans of Japanese giant robots and superheroes in general he's considered the father of their respective soundtracks. To his anime credit are Getter Robo Go, Mazinger Z, Great Mazinger, Kōsoku Denjin Albegas, and Kotetsu Zieg. On the live action side he composed for Jinzo Ningen Kikaida, Mechanical Violator Hakaider, Toei's Spider-man, and perhaps most importantly the first six Super Sentai series. As a man that never formally retired he was still working in his advanced years including 2021's Muteking anime series and Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger.

Amazing career, he will be missed. All of those Super Robot series compositions are pretty awesome, the fact he contributed to Transformers was just the icing on the cake.

I think it's extremely telling the difference in culture. In North America tens of thousands will pack a stadium to see their favorite rock, pop, or county musician.

In Japan, tens of thousands will pack a stadium to hear an orchestra play their favorite themes to Anime and Tokusatsu shows and movies. If such an event ever came within a driving distance of me, I'd definitely be there.

Also just thinking about it, I believe the music score in the single Zone episode was all just reused music from Victory. Not trying to take away anything from the man, just an observation. A lot of Mazinger Z themes reappear in Great Mazinger as well, but GM has its own unique compositions as well.