You can only experience this in "Mazinger Z"! Feel the fierce battle against the attacking mechanical beasts with your whole body! Mazinger Z: INFINITY the Movie" MX4D version theater report

Mazinger Z/INFINITY the Movie" is currently showing to favorable reviews. Many reviews on Akiba Research Institute (Anipota) have given it high marks, and it seems to have captivated the hearts of many anime fans, especially the traditional Mazinger fans.

Did you know that "Mazinger Z/INFINITY the Movie" is available in 4D screenings such as "4DX" and "MX4D" in addition to the general 2D screenings? The term "4D" here refers to a new way to enjoy "experiencing" in addition to the enjoyment of "seeing" and "hearing" in conventional movies. For example, the movable seats move in accordance with the scene, and wind, mist, and scents are added. There is not much difference between "4DX" and "MX4D," so please visit a theater near you that is compatible with both types of movies.

Akiba Research Institute staff K actually experienced the MX4D version of "Mazinger Z: Infinity the Movie!　We would like to report on how it differs from a regular 2D screening.

(Please note that there are some spoilers below.)

The seats start to move and move!　The seats are suddenly in battle mode!

This time, Staff K visited TOHO CINEMAS Kawasaki, located near Kawasaki Station in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture. This theater has a "Theater 9" where you can enjoy MX4D, and a variety of movies can be enjoyed with MX4D's unique effects. The "MX4D" theater features "air blast," "wind," "water blast," "strobe," "seat popper," "scent," "rumbler," "neck tickler," "leg tickler," "neck tickler," "leg tickler," "neck tickler," and "leg tickler. (a thrill in the neck)," "leg tickler (a churning sensation in the feet)," "fog," and "back poker (a shock from behind). This is very exciting even before the show starts, isn't it?

Upon entering the theater, we were greeted by a row of MX4D seats. The three or four adjacent seats move together, allowing you to share the realistic feeling of the movie with the people sitting next to you. Since the seats move around quite a bit, you will need to leave your luggage in a coin locker outside the theater. It is possible to buy drinks and food at the concession stand and bring them in, but be careful not to spill them. However, like theme park attractions, the seats are not equipped with seat belts, so there is no shock that will throw your body over the edge.

Once seated in the seat, the seat is quite large and comfortable. There are drink holders on the left and right armrests, and there is some kind of eerie hole in front of them. I imagine that wind and mist, which are unique to MX4D, will be blown out from these holes. While I was imagining such things, the screening started.

Just before the main film starts, the entire seat lifts up slightly and goes into standby mode. This probably means that it is safe to move at any time. Finally, the main film begins!　The film starts with a battle scene involving the "Great Mazinger" and other characters, and the seat moves with a whirring motion right from the beginning of the film!　The seats are not so much thrown out, but the sensation of being jolted back and forth is certainly like a theme park attraction. Naturally, the seat moves in conjunction with the scene being shown, so when you are hit by an enemy's attack, the impact is greater, and you also get the sensation of being rocked gwang-gwang from side to side in time with the behavior and actions of the Great. For example, when the Great Mazinger turns around and punches or kicks, the sideways G-force when turning around and the overall vibration caused by the punch or kick are both felt in succession. It is as if you are feeling the same shock that Tetsuya Sword feels when he is on board the Great Mazinger.

In addition to the movement of the seats, what was particularly interesting about the battle scene was the use of strobes mounted on the left and right walls of the theater to represent the flashes of light from the explosions. The strobes throughout the theater flashed as the enemies and mechanical beasts exploded one after another in response to Great's attacks. In general, movie theaters are usually darkened, but when the strobe lights up, the theater is momentarily illuminated as if it were daytime. In addition to the novelty of this sensation, the strobe also allows the viewer to see other spectators, creating a sense of sharing in the enjoyment of the film together. This is a completely different kind of attraction from watching a movie by yourself. By the end of the movie, you will feel as if you are all fighting together against the mechanical beasts.

In the raging final battle, the entire theater is in motion for several dozen minutes!

After the battle scene in the beginning of the film, the audience is already completely taken in by the greatness and fun of 4DMX, but then the peaceful everyday scenes continue for a while. The main story takes place 10 years after the battle that destroyed the evil scientist Dr. Hell and his underground empire. Kouji Kabuto, the hero who once saved the world with "Mazinger Z," now leads a life as a researcher, and Mazinger Z itself has become nothing more than a relic of the past.

In a scene that takes place in such a peaceful world, one would have thought that 4DMX would have no part to play, but that is not the case. The seats rattle with even the slightest happening or collision that occurs in everyday scenes, and when the wind blows in the scene, the wind blows in your face from the armrests. The most impressive scene was the appearance of the Mazingirls, the new female idol team of the Joint Forces, and for some reason, they had a sweet scent ...... (laugh). The scent was so faint that at first I thought it might be the scent of someone's perfume nearby, but on second thought, I realized that 95% of the people in this theater were men (laugh). In other words, this is the effect of "cents (scent)," one of the production functions of MX4D. I couldn't help but laugh at this. After all, Mazinger Z is not only a robot action movie, but also one of the important elements that the original author, Mr. Go Nagai, must not forget the "sexy scenes". The sweet fragrance of the scene is one of the few that are sexy. It is quite a feat, isn't it?

The story finally comes to an end. Kouji Kabuto is finally going into a decisive battle with Mazinger Z against a large number of mechanical beasts that are attacking him. The sight of the colorful mechanical beasts, depicted in full CG, attacking all at once is the biggest highlight of the film, and while the excitement level of a normal 2D screening is at its maximum, in MX4D, this excitement level jumps to more than twice as high!　After all, Mazinger Z is engaged in a fierce battle against such a large number of mechanical beasts. Naturally, the seats never rest, rattling forward, backward, right and left in time with Mazinger's movements. The power of the ride was like an attraction at a theme park. When a missile whizzes by, the wind blows in your face, and when your back is slammed against a wall, a "back poker" (a shock from behind) sends a jolt of excitement through your back. Sometimes, a "neck tickler" or a "leg tickler" will make your neck and feet creep, and strobe lights on either side of the theater will flicker in time with the explosion. The strobe lights on the left and right sides of the theater flash in time with the explosions! During the several tens of minutes of the parade of various effects by MX4D, I found myself experiencing the dazzling battle on the big screen in front of my eyes as if it were my own life. This is a new way to enjoy a movie. Or rather, it is a new attraction that transcends the framework of a movie.

Of course, there are only a limited number of films in which this MX4D is effective, but in the case of "Mazinger Z: Infinity the Movie," a robot action animation, the compatibility is quite good. There are many battle scenes. Moreover, rather than a serious story, it is a heart-warming storyline that makes everyone want to cheer together, so just watching your friends in the theater swaying around together is a fun way to feel a sense of unity. I can't go into too many details, but anyway, if you are going to see this film, you might want to consider the option of viewing it in MX4D. The regular price for MX4D viewing is 1,200 yen, which in the case of the general adult ticket costs 3,000 yen (1,800 yen + 1,200 yen = 3,000 yen), but you will definitely enjoy the film for the price.