Barcelona’s metro network is full of surprises. Hidden spaces, ghost stations, and countless curiosities make it a city within a city. Sometimes, however, surprises appear right before commuters’ eyes.
That’s what happened at Universitat station on L1. Passengers discovered remnants of old advertising posters, probably uncovered when removing modern display boards. Among them, a very familiar face from the late 1970s emerged – Mazinger Z.
For those unfamiliar, Mazinger Z is a giant piloted robot from the Japanese anime series of the same name. The show was hugely successful during its 1978 Spanish television debut. Moreover, it was later broadcast in Catalan on Canal 33 in 1999.
The partially visible poster likely advertised the trading card collection released in the late 1970s. This extended the series’ success beyond the small screen.
Nostalgic discovery thrills fans
The find surprised passengers, especially those who enjoyed the series as children. They suddenly encountered an unexpected childhood memory of the metallic hero and his famous battle cry – “Puños fuera!” (Fists out!).
Interestingly, 2018 marked the 40th anniversary of the series’ Spanish premiere. To celebrate, cinemas screened Mazinger Z Infinity, a film featuring new animation technology and updated scenarios including Barcelona and the Sagrada Família.
The 1970s passion for the series lives on. In Mas del Plata urbanisation, Cabra del Camp (Alt Camp), a 14-metre tall Mazinger Z statue still stands. It remains a meeting point for nostalgic fans, proving the giant robot endures in popular memory.
This isn’t the first time forgotten posters have surfaced during metro renovations. Similar discoveries occurred at Jaume I (Olympic-era posters), Lesseps (when removing false ceilings), and Verdaguer (1980s mural by fashion students).
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