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Sunglasses Sort of Transform You Into Mazinger & Devilman Heroes

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Gō Nagai's Mazinger Z and Devilman manga, glasses retailer Coolens Opticals is making two pairs of sunglasses. Created by designer Tomohide Ota, the sunglasses transform the wearer into either the Mazinger Z protagonist Kōji Kabuto or the Devilman protagonist Akira Fudō.

"The Kōji Kabuto model will inspire wearers to open their mouths and scream 'Breast Fire!'" said Ota. "While the Akira Fudō model will cause a wearer's facial expression to naturally fill with grief." The Kōji Kabuto model gives customers the Mazinger Z pilot's signature sideburns. The Akira Fudō model with yellow-tinted lenses recreates Devilman's eye markings, while its stems' design invokes the character's wings.

Gō Nagai launched both manga series in 1972. The giant robot Mazinger Z appeared in a series of animated films, several television series, and various manga titles. Yūki Yogo and Yoshiaki Tabata will launch their Shin Mazinger Zero vs. Ankoku Daishōgun manga in Akita Shoten's Monthly Champion RED magazine next month.

Devilman inspired several spinoff manga series by various artists, two television series, a number of video anime projects, and a live-action film. Rui Takatō's Devilman G manga currently runs in Monthly Champion RED.The two Nagai creations shared the stage in the 1973 crossover film, Mazinger Z Vs. Devilman.

The Mazinger Z model will retail for 18,000 yen (about US$218), while the Devilman sunglasses will retail for 24,000 yen (US$291).

Coolens will start taking pre-orders on Monday with shipments scheduled for late January. The company previously produced prescription versions of Homura Akemi's glasses for Puella Magi Madoka Magica and the cyborg cast of 009 RE:CYBORG film.

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Source: ITmedia Gadget via Hachima Kikō

Images © Gō Nagai/Dynamic Planning Coolens Opticals Tomohide Ota