As the world and fashions change, Japanese anime and manga are charting a steady path towards the mainstream. Due in all likelihood to Studio Ghibli offering a gateway from the west to Asian styles of storytelling and animation. I must profess myself to have watched some widely acclaimed anime such as Neon Genesis Evangelion from the 90s. However, Tissot’s latest PRX launch is themed after a show from what some consider the golden era of anime, the 1970s. Specifically the new watch is the Tissot PRX 40mm UFO Robot Grendizer Special Edition.
If you’re unfamiliar with UFO Robot Grendizer, the brief synopsis is that an alien prince whose homeworld has been destroyed by Vegans (the people of Planet Vega, not the plant eaters) arrives on Earth in a robot warsuit called Grendizer and proceeds to protect the planet when the Vegans come knocking here. It falls squarely into the space opera and mecha style stories that were popular in the 70s; think Mobile Suit Gundam, which came out slightly after. Coincidentally, the 70s was also the decade that the Tissot PRX made its debut, hence the collaboration here.
Getting into the specifics of the Tissot PRX 40mm UFO Robot Grendizer Special Edition, it has a very normal case by PRX standards. It measures 40mm in diameter in steel with a broadly tonneau shape, a round dial and a smooth, polished bezel. The large, flat surfaces lead into an integrated bracelet with single link construction.
Where the anime connection comes to the fore is the dial, which features a prominent image of the robot Grendizer picked out in yellow lume against a blue backdrop. Above the robot’s head, on the watch’s flange, is the inscription “UFO ロボ グレンダイザー”, the original Japanese name for the show. It makes for a pretty spectacular display in low light conditions when it looks like the character could be part of the Tron universe. Whereas in the daylight the image of Grendizer fades to the extent that you might mistake him for a random geometric pattern akin to those we’ve seen on the PRX before.
Turning the watch to the exhibition caseback shows a custom Tissot x Grendizer rotor on the Powermatic 80 calibre. You can also see an inscription celebrating the watch’s status as a special edition and the official collaboration with Go Nagai, the manga artist and author who created the original stories.
Regarding the collaboration Go Nagai stated, “It’s fascinating that UFO Robot Grendizer and the Tissot PRX both started in 70s. They come from different worlds, but the collaboration brought out a special meaning.” He elaborated on the collaboration’s significance, adding, “By merging UFO Robot Grendizer’s fight for a better future with the PRX’s journey of marking life’s milestones, we’ve crafted a watch that is a true tribute to their legacy and heritage.”
The watch is presented in a custom watch box shaped like Spazer, Grendizer’s UFO, the device he uses to fly across the Earth and in space. It’s a fun addition that helps the watch feel like a proper collector’s edition. It’s priced at £785 and is available from the Tissot online store and at their Covent Garden boutique in London.
Price and Specs:
More details at Tissot.
