Editing The Big O (section)

===Influences===
Before ''The Big O'', Sunrise was a subcontractor for [[Warner Bros. Animation]]'s ''[[Batman: The Animated Series]]'',<ref name = "encyclopedia">{{cite book|last = Clements|first = Jonathan|author2=Helen McCarthy  |title= The Anime Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese Animation Since 1917|publisher= Stone Bridge Press|location =  Berkeley, CA|year = 2001|isbn = 1-880656-64-7 }}</ref><ref>For detail on which episodes Sunrise worked on, see [http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/batman/btas/backstage/crewcredits/animation.php The World's Finest] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061118035826/http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/batman/btas/backstage/crewcredits/animation.php|date=2006-11-18 }}.</ref> one of the series' influences.<ref name = "birth"/>  Cartoon Network, under the [[Toonami]] flag advertised the series as "One part [[James Bond|Bond]].  One part  [[Bruce Wayne]].  One part [[Super Robot|City Smashing Robot]]."

Roger Smith is a [[pastiche]] of the [[Bruce Wayne]] [[persona]] and the Batman. The character design resembles Wayne, complete with slicked-back hair and double-breasted business suit.<ref name="theEX"/> Like Bruce, Roger prides himself in being a rich playboy to the extent that one of his household's rules is only women may be let into his mansion without his permission.<ref name="ANNpreview"/> Like Batman, Roger Smith carries a no-gun policy, albeit more flexible. Unlike the personal motives of the Batman, Roger enforces this rule for "it's all part of being a gentleman."<ref>{{cite episode|title = Missing Cat|series = The Big O|credits = [[Keiichi Hasegawa]] (writer)|network = [[WOWOW]]|airdate = 1999-12-01|number = 08 }}</ref> Among Roger's gadgetry is the Griffon, a large, black hi-tech [[sedan (car)|sedan]] comparable to the [[Batmobile]], a grappling cable that shoots out his wristwatch and the giant robot that Angel calls "Roger's [[alter ego]]."<ref name = "influences"/><ref>{{cite episode|title = Negotiations with the Dead|series = The Big O|credits = [[Chiaki J. Konaka]] (writer)|network = [[Sun Television (Japan)|Sun Television]]|airdate = 2003-01-09|number = 15 }}</ref>

''The Big O'''s cast of [[supporting character]]s includes Norman, Roger's faithful mechanically inclined butler who fills the role of [[Alfred Pennyworth]]; R. Dorothy Wayneright, who plays the role of the sidekick; and Dan Dastun, a good honest cop who, like [[Jim Gordon (character)|Jim Gordon]], is both a friend to the hero and greatly respected by his comrades.<ref name = "influences"/>

The other major influence is [[Mitsuteru Yokoyama]]'s ''[[Giant Robo]]''.<ref name="ANNpreview"/><ref name = "encyclopedia"/> Before working on ''The Big O'', Kazuyoshi Katayama and other animators worked with [[Yasuhiro Imagawa]] on ''[[Giant Robo: The Day the Earth Stood Still]]''. The feature, a "[[retro]] [[chic (style)|chic]]" homage to Yokoyama's career,<ref name="AWMAG">{{cite web|url = http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=pageone&article_no=164|title = New from Japan: ''The Big O'' Volumes 1 - 4|access-date = 2006-11-23|date = 2001-06-15|last = Patten|first = Fred|publisher = Animation World Magazine|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071012183951/http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=pageone&article_no=164|archive-date = 2007-10-12 }}</ref> took seven years to produce and suffered low sales and high running costs. Frustrated by the experience, Katayama and his staff put all their efforts into making "good" with ''The Big O''.<ref name="ACen03">{{cite web|last=Lillard|first=Kevin|url= http://www.fansview.com/2003/animecentral/051703c.htm|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20051128230501/http://www.fansview.com/2003/animecentral/051703c.htm|archive-date= 2005-11-28|title= Anime Central 2003 Panel|access-date = 2006-11-23|publisher = A Fan's View}}</ref>

Like Giant Robo, the megadeuses of ''Big O'' are metal behemoths. The designs are strange and "more macho than practical,"<ref name = "theEX"/> sporting big stovepipe arms and exposed rivets. Unlike the giants of other mecha series, the megadeuses do not exhibit ninja-like speed nor grace. Instead, the robots are armed with "old school" weaponry such as [[missile]]s, [[piston]] powered punches, [[machine gun]]s and [[laser]] [[cannon]]s.<ref name="herorev2">{{cite web|url = http://www.japanhero.com/super%20robot%20reviews/big_o-2.htm|title = Super Robot Review: ''The Big O''|access-date = 2006-11-23|last = Hayward|first = Keith|publisher = Japan Hero|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061114051218/http://www.japanhero.com/super%20robot%20reviews/big_o-2.htm|archive-date = 2006-11-14 }}</ref>

Katayama also cited ''[[Super Robot Red Baron]]'' and ''[[Super Robot Mach Baron]]'' among influences on the inspiration of ''The Big O''. Believing that because ''Red Baron'' had such a low budget and the big fights always happened outside of a city setting, he wanted ''Big O'' to be the show he felt ''Red Baron'' could be with a bigger budget. He also spoke of how he first came up with designs for the robots first as if they were making designs to appeal to toy companies, rather than how ''[[Gundam]]'' was created with a toy company wanting an anime to represent their new product. Big O's large pumping piston "Sudden Impact" arms, for example, he felt would be cool gimmicks in a toy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2013/08/30/scifi-japan-tv-13/|title=SciFi JAPAN TV #13: Anime x Tokusatsu: The Big O / 第１３話「アニメx特撮：THEビッグオー」 « SciFi Japan|publisher=Scifijapan.com|date=2013-08-30|access-date=2014-05-21|archive-date=2014-05-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521210201/http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2013/08/30/scifi-japan-tv-13/|url-status=live }}</ref>