Gridman

Gridman (グリッドマン) is a Hyper Agent from the Hyper World, a parallel world to the "Computer World", a world within all computers. He is the titular hero of Denkou Choujin Gridman and SSSS.GRIDMAN.

Subtitles:
 * Gridman: Lightning Superman (電光超人)
 * Thunder Gridman: Combined Super God (合体超神)
 * King Gridman: Combined Dragon Emperor (合体竜帝)
 * Max Gridman: Heracles Combine (剛力合体超人)
 * Buster Gridman: Full Armor Combine (武装合体超人)
 * Sky Gridman: Empyrean Combine (大空合体超人)
 * Full Powered Gridman: Hyperlink Combine (超合体超人)

Conception
According to Kazumitsu Akamatsu, Gridman's designer, he was employed by Takara to come up with a design for a Kyodai Hero called Cyberman, which was much like Toho Company's Dennou Keisatsu Cybercop. The hero was apparently human-sized and would be able to combine with support mechas to achieve a total height of 4m. After some internal review, the project was scrapped and he was moved to the production team of another Tsuburaya Hero, Bigman, because of his knowledge in Tokusatsu, and to be a liaison between Tsuburaya and Takara. He accepted the role, knowing that Tsuburaya were experts in the Kyodai Hero genre. This conceptual hero would eventually be reworked into Gridman. After that, he also worked on the designs of the monsters with the help of former Takara employee Osamu Yamaguchi. After designing Chidogerah, he stopped designing monsters and focus more on the background scenes. He also came up with the names of the Assist Weapons and the names of the characters, and thinks of the work as if it were his own child.



Denkou Choujin Gridman
While tracking down Khan Digifier, he encountered Naoto and, seeing that Naoto had a good heart, chose him to merge with whenever battle must be done within the Computer World. To fight the larger and more powerful monsters, Gridman receives the upgrade program P-L6806OX to grow gigantic and battle against his foes. However, this massive power-up last only for a few minutes as it could overload Junk's system. When the power up begins to fade, a blue light on Gridman's head begins to blink as a warning. Naoto Sho, Yuka Inoue and Ippei Baba chat with Gridman over their computer by typing messages to him.

Gridman fought many battles against the monster summoned by Khan Digifier through the socially misfit Takeshi Todo, in their attempts to cause trouble throughout the town of Sakuragaoka by infecting computers with their monsters. With the help of the Assist Weapons such as Gridman Sword and God Zenon, created and deployed by both Ippei and Yuka, Gridman was able to overcome the various challenges as he got closer to fighting Khan Digifier.

One of Gridman's greatest opponents was Venora, who almost defeated Gridman as Khan Digifier broadcasted the battle for the world to see. However, via the power of King Gridman, Venora was finally defeated. Dyna Dragon also joined Gridman in the later battles he faced.

At last, fighting against Khan Digifier, their battle was once again shown to the rest of the world via one of Khan's invasion tentacles. The Assist Weapon caches were destroyed in the battle, and Gridman almost lost, until Takeshi Todo had a change of heart and decided to help Gridman by granting him the Grid Hyper Beam, which he used to destroy Khan Digifier. With his mission complete, Gridman thanked the four children who helped him and said his farewell before departing back to the Hyper World.

Denkou Choujin Gridman: The Demon King's Counterattack
Gridman returns in this novel series and bonds again with Naoto to fight against Neo Khan Digifier, the younger brother of Khan Digifier. He was on the losing end until his own brother, Gridman Sigma joined the battle. The two Hyper Agents eventually manage to defeat the Demon King after battling all his minions. Their final challenge was Geist Digifier, Neo Khan Digifier's final form, gained by fusing with the souls of the fallen kaiju.

Encounter With Alexis
A Hyper Agent sent from the Hyper World, Gridman chased down Alexis・Kerib to the Computer World, specifically to a city that Alexis had manufactured for a lonely soul. They fought, but Gridman lost, having been impaled by Alexis. As a result, his consciousness was split into parts and one of which chose Yuta Hibiki to dwell in as his host, but that would seal both their memories in the process. Bits of Yuta's personality flowed into Gridman, including his feelings for his classmate Rikka Takarada. Another part of Gridman had connected to an old computer called Junk, which was sitting in a recycle shop and the rest became their own beings; the Neon Genesis Junior High Students. At this point, the only thing Gridman remembers is his mission, which was to protect the city from danger.

The Beginning
Gridman had been calling to his partner, Yuta Hibiki since the young man awoke with amnesia in Rikka's house. The two began interacting with each other using an old, jerry-built computer called Junk, with Yuta being the only person able to see and hear Gridman on-screen, while others saw a deactivated screen. When the rampaging kaiju Ghoulghilas emerges, Yuta unites with Gridman, enabling him to materialize in the real world and confront the beast. Though difficult, Gridman/Yuta managed to defeat the monster thanks to the advice from Yuta's friends Rikka and Sho and their computer. Afterwards, when Yuta had returned to the real world, Gridman made the point that what had transpired was just the beginning.

The next day, Yuta asked Gridman what his mission exactly was, only to be told that he will find out later. Rikka and Sho were also able to see him on the computer. Samurai・Calibur then came along and did some modifications to Junk, which optimized Gridman for the upcoming battles ahead, and also allowed him to talk directly to everyone else. Gridman gives Yuta the Primal Acceptor to Access Flash and become one to fight against the kaiju. Gridman used an Assist Weapon, the Gridman Calibur, for the first time to finish off Dévadadan.

A Rival Appears
Gridman's next challenger was Anti, a kaiju made specifically to deal with the Hyper Agent. Misled into believing that kaiju could be humans, Yuta could not bring himself to fight properly and was defeated as a result. Gridman, Yuta and Calibur disappeared until the next day, when Gridman was restored and repaired. The three of them were revealed to have been waiting inside Junk for Anti to return and then ambush it, but decided to come out after the Borr encouraged them to. In their second battle, Anti confirms that he is not human, allowing Yuta to fight without hesitation. He combined with Max and draws the battle to a stalemate with the power of Max Gridman, with Anti timing out just before him. Anti continued to challenge Gridman whenever he appeared, even when there were other kaiju around.

Going Against Akane
Yuta tried to explain what Anosillus the 2nd told him, but when asked, Gridman says he cannot remember anything about it. However, seeing a huge city in the sky during his next fight, he confirms his and Yuta's suspicions of Akane and Alexis being the source of the coming danger. While Rikka and Sho argued over what to do with Akane, Gridman and Yuta stood neutral ground and he saw validity in both their opinions, which were to try avoiding conflict, and to prepare for an incoming attack respectively. Unfortunately, the Gridman Alliance were unable to convince Akane to hold off on Mecha Ghoulghilas's attack. Yuta merged with Gridman at around half his normal size and then combined with the Assist Weapons, forming Full Powered Gridman, which easily defeated Mecha Ghoulghilas. Gridman used his Grid Kinesis ability to awaken the Gridman Alliance when they were put to sleep by Bujack, a monster created by Akane to put them in a never-ending dream.

While after fighting a new kaiju as Full Powered Gridman, Anti appeared and they had one more battle. Gridman once again won, but refused to finish him off as he had become a living being instead of just another kaiju born of Akane's malice. Another being emerged from the corpse of the kaiju he defetaed earlier, and Full Powered Gridman tried to fight it. Gridman found himself overpowered by his opponent, who proceeded to tear the Assist Weapons off of him. He was saved by Anti, who evolved into Gridknight and defeated the monster. After Yuta was stabbed by Akane, Junk glitched out and could not be switched on. During Yuta's hospitalization, he had a dream where he figured out that he was actually a part of Gridman and the real Yuta was lying dormant. Gridman took over Yuta's body after Junk had been repaired by the Neon Genesis Junior High Students, and went to help Gridknight fight against a horde of revived kaiju.

The Final Battle
Still using Yuta's body, Gridman went to find Rikka and Sho so that he could prepare for the final battle against Alexis, while Anti handled Akane, who had been turned into a kaiju. Standing in front of Junk, Yuta, the Neon Genesis Junior High Students, as well as Anti, who was almost dead and far away, gained Acceptors and performed the Access Flash together. Gridman then told Rikka and Sho to type in the Access Code, which was "GRIDMAN" and after which, he regained his true form. Gridman fought Alexis, but the evil being was incapable of dying and during the battle, Gridman saw Alexis' true colors. Gridman was later defeated but seeing little sparks fall off him that restored the surroundings, Gridman was reminded of his true power, which was to heal. He then fires his Grid Fixer Beam at Alexis, healing Akane's heart in the process, as well as repairing the entire world. Now that Alexis was weakened, Gridman finished him off by shattering him with a single punch to the face.

With his mission completed, Gridman said his parting words to Rikka and Sho (and admits Yuta's feelings for the former on his behalf) before returning to the Hyper World along with the Neon Genesis Junior High Students and the last shard of Alexis' being.

Stats

 * Height: Micro ~ 70 m
 * Thunder: 88 m
 * King: 93 m
 * Weight: 0 ~ 60,000 t
 * Thunder: 160,000 t
 * King: 200,400 t
 * Home World: Hyper World
 * Time Limit: 10 minutes
 * Flight: Gridman's top flight speed in the Computer World is faster than the Speed of Light.

Body Features

 * Energy Lamp (エネルギーランプ): The light on Gridman's forehead, when his giant size begins to put too much strain on Junk (the PC that powers his giant form) it begins to flash. It is similar to a Beam Lamp or a Color Timer.
 * Radar Ear (レーダーイヤー): Gridman's ears.
 * Tri-Juster (トライジャスター): The three blue parts on Gridman's chest. They are the organ that emits the Fixer Beam.
 * Techtarion Armor (Tekutarion Āmā): The armor that Gridman wears. It seems to be very durable, being able to withstand attacks without being scratched or falling apart.
 * Crystal Converter (クリスタルコンバーター): The yellow light on Gridman's chest, this is where his energy is stored.
 * Gravity Metal (グラビティメタル): Gridman is able to fly because his feet control gravity for him.
 * Gran Acceptor (Guran Akuseputā): A bracer on Gridman's left arm, it is connected to the Acceptor worn by Naoto/Yuta. During his time As Initial/Primal Fighter, it takes the appearance of the Primal Acceptor.

Transformation
}}

Weaknesses

 * Denkou Choujin Gridman


 * Gridman is subject to a time limit of around 10 minutes. If he exceeds this limit while fighting, he will die.
 * SSSS.GRIDMAN


 * Gridman's primary weakness is Junk's processing power, which affects his energy and thus time limit. This was best demonstrated during the fourth episode, when all four Assist Weapons attempted to help Gridman at the same time, Junk overheated and sparked, causing Gridman and the Assist Weapons to freeze in place in a pixelated-like state. After Junk was rebooted by Rikka, Max Gridman had much less energy to use, only enough to deal the finishing blow. In the eighth episode Yuta came up with the idea to come around this weakness from what Gridman told him about his size limitations. By using Gridman at half height, the four Assist Weapons were able to be summoned at once.
 * Gridman is bound to Junk, which means that unless Yuta is near Junk, Gridman cannot fight. Yuta has to either get himself to the computer, or have it brought to him, both of which are time-consuming and impractical.
 * Gridman's time limit is also affected by his size. The larger he is, the less time he has to fight. As a result, his size limit is 70 meters in height, any more and he would not have enough time.

Trivia

 * The way in which Gridman's enemies are destroyed by his finishers may have inspired the effects of Ultraman the Next/Ultraman Nexus's finishers on his enemies.
 * Gridman's facial appearance might have inspired the faces of Jean-Bot and Jean-Nine.
 * Gridman's last suit appearance between his original series and his cameo in a DVD extra was in the 1995 Tsuburaya commercial where he joined the Ultramen and many monsters and aliens during a fireworks show, seen dancing near Pigmon.
 * Gridman's new design in the anime was made by Masayuki Goto, the head designer for the New Generation Ultramen. His design reflects that of Ultraman Orb Lightning Attacker, a fact that was referenced in-universe by a commentor on YouTube.
 * The coloring of Gridman's Initial Fighter (sans purple) is a tribute to Naoto Sho's cyan bodysuit during his prior fusion with Gridman after activating the Acceptor.
 * Some of Gridman's techniques and actions are references to other moves in the mecha-genre of anime.
 * Gridman's Grid Calibur End is a frame by frame replica of Fighbird's Flame Sword charge up motion from The Brave Fighter of Sun Fighbird. Prior to that, he points the sword to the screen a la Masami Obari's mecha anime.
 * Buster Gridman's combination sequence has Buster Borr's chestplate flying to Gridman's chest, a reference to Great Fighbird.
 * Max Gridman's hand-clasping motion, prior to executing Max Grid Beam is a tribute to Hell & Heaven technique executed by the titular mecha of GaoGaiGar and Optimus Prime (ja:Convoy)'s scene in the Japanese first opening of Transformers Armada (ja:Transformers Micron Legend).
 * Full Powered Gridman's combination sequence is very similar to another super robot, Might Gaine.
 * His and Anti's attempt to deliver flying punches as a zooming scene similar to Masami Obari's iconic mecha anime.
 * The Super Lightning Kick is very similar to the Super Inazuma Kick from Aim for the Top! Gunbuster.
 * The positioning of Sky Vitter in Gridman's combination sequence is based on the 501st Joint Fighter Wing members from Strike Witches.
 * The Grid Full Power Finish is also based on one of Great Might Gaine's finishers and is executed similarly.
 * Gridman's Gridknight Saber is inspired by Ultraman Hikari's, a fact made obvious, because in the same episode a version of Hikari from Ultraman Super Fighter Legend manga made a cameo.
 * Imitating the live action suit in Denkou Choujin Gridman, Gridman's shoulderguards flop around when he fights in 3DCG scenes.
 * Full Powered Gridman's setup slightly differs from its template, Thunder Gridman, from Denkou Choujin Gridman. On Thunder Gridman, the drill Assist Weapon forms the arms and shoulders, the jet forms the chestplate and the tank forms the legs whereas on Full Powered Gridman, the drill forms the chestplate, the tank forms the arms and the jet forms the legs. Full Powered Gridman's name is also derived from another of Gridman's forms, also called Full Power Gridman, which was Thunder Gridman using the Dyna Dragon set of Assist Weapons; riding the King Jet while holding the Dragonic Cannon, whereas this version wields the Gridman Sword's equivalent instead.
 * Gridman's speech at the end of SSSS.GRIDMAN is very similar, if not identical to, his last speech at the end of Denkou Choujin Gridman.
 * Gridman's various combined forms in SSSS.GRIDMAN were designed based on the Type Change gimmick from the Ultra Series. Full Powered Gridman was the first of these forms to be designed, and then the others were made by working backwards from it.
 * Gridman has been frequently compared to Ultraman X online and the two indeed share some similarities:
 * They are extraterrestrial cybernetic warriors who somehow lost their original forms as result of a prior battle, having to rely on a human host to give them a physical body to fight monsters with.
 * The two of them are bound to a device of some sort.
 * Both are capable of using weapons and armors made out of what can be considered their friends and comrades, and one of their greatest powers comes from all their armors combined.

Also see

 * Servo