Anime Synopsis

The story of Big O takes place 40 years after an incident called "The Event" occured which destroyed the city of Paradign and erased the memories of the citizens. Even though the lives of the citizens eventually return back to normal and the citizens remember the use of technology like electricity and automobiles, they are still plagued with the problem of not knowing what had exactly happened to them over 40 years.

The main characters name is Roger Smith who is known as the Negotiator. It is his job to protect the people while he deals his own mysterious past. His allies are Dorothy an andriod, his butler Norman, and a giant Robot called the Big O.

Big O is a combines ideas from shows like Batman, Giant Robo, Outlaw Star, and Gundam Wing. The Big O was written by Chiaki Konaka, who also wrote scripts for Bubble Gum Crisis, Magic Users Club, and Serial Experiments Lain.

[taken from animenfo.com]

Production details
Title: The Big O
Type: TV series 26 episodes
Category: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci Fi
Producers: Bandai, Sunrise, CN

AnimeKiva review
At first glance one may feel the need to groan, “oh no not another bloody mecca anime” due to the shows appearance within the first two episode. However soon such a reaction faids as one is thrown into a world filled with deep back-story, plot on a philosophical scale that even Plato would have found compelling, action and plot twists around every corner. However what really makes the show truly enjoyable is the depth each character possesses.
The animation style is often praises and criticized. Some feel the whole venture gives it the life which it so solely deserves, and the animation style allows realistic progression in a world which if done ever so differently, would just feel too fanciful. It has at times been labeled the “batman” of anime due to its Americanized style but in all honesty it does keep its Japanese charm and the animation suits the show all the way.
The Big O consists of 26 episodes; some are single stories whilst some are two or even three episode arks. However, it must be said that almost all episodes add to the overall ark some of which one wouldn’t have expected to which makes the show more enjoyable and less predictable than a fair few anime’s of the same category.
The voice acting, both Japanese and English is done remarkably well. The Japanese listeners get a hard yet strong Roger Smith to suit the traditional Japanese views of a crusader of justice, whilst English listeners are rewarded with a cool, swave, sophisticated gentleman with a bit of a strong temperament at time, much like James Bond. Whilst the style of voices has been changed during the translation stage, unlike on other occasions, has not spoilt the overall charm and panash that this anime holds. Indeed many feel the changes to suet a more western audience have helped in the relation to the characters. By changes in translation I do not mean the script has been altered and filled with “Americanisms”, I purely mean the voice acting so puritans have nothing to worry about. Let it be said the first time anyone hears the dialogue of Swartzwald one will agree that the English style truly suits the show.
The music to this series was so different and unique I found myself buying the two soundtracks. It is a mixture of classical music along the lines of Mozart and Beethoven, whilst other areas have a more jazz style to them, thrown in with the strangely compelling Queen sounding intro. The music truly adds to the atmosphere with action , horror, romantic and epic scenes all using there own mix at varying tempos to suite the occasion.
I guess the only problem I found with the Big O is, if one is to take the final episode as what it now sadly appears to be, the show seems to give a questionable ending. This of course was due to Cartoon Network pulling out of funding for a final series three which the creators has always intended (Big O was a joint venture between Bandai, sunrise and Cartoon Network). However many fans seem to find the ending acceptable, nay quite satisfactory to the show so im enclinded to conclude my criticism could surely boil down to a matter of taste.
What you get when you buy the Big O is something that is new, daring whilst holding to traditional anime values that make the anime type so enjoyable. A fast pace plot with plot twists at every turn, dynamic character development, amazing back-story and of course, a few big fights with robots to boot.

DVD