Kikaida (TV series)
Encyclopedia
is a tokusatsu
superhero
TV series, and the first to feature the superhero Kikaider. Created by Japanese manga artist
Shotaro Ishinomori
, the show was produced by Toei Company Ltd.
, and was broadcast on NET (now TV Asahi)
from July 8, 1972 to May 5, 1973, with a total of 43 episodes.
This series was also one of the first tokusatsu to air in the United States. Known initially as Kikaider, Android of Justice, it has since been referred to there simply by its Japanese title, Jinzo Ningen Kikaida or Kikaida for short.
The series mainly deals with the constant battle between Kikaider and the destructroids. DARK pursues Dr. Komyoji and his children, Mitsuko and Masuru. Hatori Hanpei, a detective who provides comedy relief, helps them. During some battles, Professor Gill uses his evil flute to stop Jiro from becoming Kikaider. Jiro manages to find a way to drown out or block the sound of the flute. Dr. Komyoji (wandering with amnesia) is usually a figure in the background. Mitsuko and Masuru often talk to people who have encountered him, but never manage to catch up with him. On occasion, when Kikaider is damaged, Dr. Komyoji manages to fix him, without quite knowing what he is doing.
Later in the Series, Jiro is nearly overcome by Professor Gill's flute, and he attacks Dr. Komyoji. DARK captures Dr. Komyoji and makes it seem that Jiro killed him. Jiro is damaged and unable to speak, and unable to defend himself. He is pursued by the police. A new character appears, Hakaider. DARK forced Dr. Komyoji to build him and place his own brain in the machine, under control of an evil circuit, the opposite of Kikaider's conscience circuit. Kikaider fights the robot and is almost destroyed, when Hakaider leaves suddenly. When Jiro finds out that Dr. Komyoji's brain is in Hakaider's body, he realizes that he will not be able to fight Hakaider.
Mitsuko and Masaru see a leather-clad man walking down the side of the building. This man is actually an android, Saburo. He says that he is the creation of Dr. Komyoji, and that his job is to destroy Jiro, who he believes is now evil. Masaru allies himself with Saburo. Out of sight of Mitsuko and Masaru, Saburo reveals that he is actually Hakaider. He and Masaru pursue Jiro but realize he's still good when he surrenders.
The DARK androids capture Dr. Komyoji's children. Red Mine Toad destroys Kikaider, using a mine that is built into his body. Hatori collects the pieces of Kikaider's body. Hakaider goes crazy, because without Kikaider to fight, he has no reason to live. He destroys Red Mine Toad and attacks DARK. Hatori has found Mitsuko and Masaru and gives them the pieces of Kikaider. Mitsuko reassembles Kikaider. Gill convinces Hakaider to kill Dr. Komyoji, instead of attacking DARK. Hakaider locates Dr. Komyoji's body, and finds the partially reassembled Kikaider. Hakaider refuses to fight a helpless enemy, and allows Mitsuko to finish reassembling him. A rebuilt Jiro is unable to change to Kikaider, but he decides to lure Hakaider away to protect Dr. Komyoji and Komyoji's children.
Professor Gill sends White Bone Flying Squirrel against Hakaider, and Hakaider loses the battle. Jiro gives the body of Hakaider to Mitsuko, who puts Dr. Komyoji's brain back into his body. Dr. Komyoji recovers, and is able to fix Jiro's change circuit. The Komyojis are again captured by DARK, but are rescued by Kikaider. Kikader destroys White Bone Flying Squirrel, and Prof. Gill, rather than be captured, destroys himself and the DARK base.
Dr. Komyoji leaves Japan, and takes his family with him. Jiro decides to stay in Japan to work on improving himself.
episode, was released on March 17, 1973. It was titled The Kikaida 3D Movie in Hawaii. Professor Gill has created a machine that lets him restore destroyed robots. This machine is used to recreate all of the destructroids that had been destroyed by Kikaider. Kikaider is forced to destroy them all once again.
was a 77-minute Film produced by Bandai and toei featuring the deadly rival of Kikaider and anti-hero, Hakaider.
, Inazuman
, and Zvatt will make an appearance in in commemoration of the Toei Company
's 60th Anniversary.
series of the same name by Shotaro Ishinomori
was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Sunday from August 1972 and ended in June 1973.
A remake of the original manga called Kikaider Code 02 showing more detailed illustrations compared to the simple design of the original manga was released with a total of 7 volumes. It was stpry and illustrations by Meimu
. The manga was licensed by CMX Manga for the English version.
Another remake illustrated by Meimu is Inazuman vs Kikaider: The End of Kikaider 02. The manga serves as a sequel to Kikaider Code 02. The manga was based on Inazuman chapter "The Boy with the Guitar" and follows mainly Inazuman's story.
was released on May 12, 1973 and ended March 30, 1974. It introduced the new titular character Kikaider 01 along with the return of Hakaider under the control of Professor Gill.
Tokusatsu
is a Japanese term that applies to any live-action film or television drama that usually features superheroes and makes considerable use of special effects ....
superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
TV series, and the first to feature the superhero Kikaider. Created by Japanese manga artist
Mangaka
is the Japanese word for a comic artist or cartoonist. Outside of Japan, manga usually refers to a Japanese comic book and mangaka refers to the author of the manga, who is usually Japanese...
Shotaro Ishinomori
Shotaro Ishinomori
was a Japanese manga artist who became an influential figure in manga, anime, and tokusatsu, creating several immensely popular long-running series such as Cyborg 009 and Himitsu Sentai Goranger, what would go on to become part of the Super Sentai series, and the Kamen Rider Series...
, the show was produced by Toei Company Ltd.
Toei Company
is a Japanese film, television production, and distribution corporation. Based in Tokyo, Toei owns and operates thirty-four movie theaters across Japan, a modest vertically-integrated studio system by the standards of the 1930s United States; operates studios at Tokyo and Kyoto; and is a...
, and was broadcast on NET (now TV Asahi)
TV Asahi
, also known as EX and , is a Japanese television network headquartered in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The company writes its name in lower-case letters, tv asahi, in its logo and public-image materials. The company also owns All-Nippon News Network....
from July 8, 1972 to May 5, 1973, with a total of 43 episodes.
This series was also one of the first tokusatsu to air in the United States. Known initially as Kikaider, Android of Justice, it has since been referred to there simply by its Japanese title, Jinzo Ningen Kikaida or Kikaida for short.
Story
Dr. Komyoji is a scientist and an expert in robotics, who is being kept prisoner by the evil organization, DARK. Dr. Komyoji creates Kikaider in order to protect his children from Professor Gill. When Gill, the head of DARK, learns about this, he sends his androids to deal with Dr. Komyoji. Jiro (Kikaider) is able to rescue Dr. Komyoji's daughter, Mitsuko, but a fire separates him from Dr. Komyoji. Jiro is able to destroy Gray Rhino King, but is unable to locate Dr. Komyoji, who is wandering away with amnesia.The series mainly deals with the constant battle between Kikaider and the destructroids. DARK pursues Dr. Komyoji and his children, Mitsuko and Masuru. Hatori Hanpei, a detective who provides comedy relief, helps them. During some battles, Professor Gill uses his evil flute to stop Jiro from becoming Kikaider. Jiro manages to find a way to drown out or block the sound of the flute. Dr. Komyoji (wandering with amnesia) is usually a figure in the background. Mitsuko and Masuru often talk to people who have encountered him, but never manage to catch up with him. On occasion, when Kikaider is damaged, Dr. Komyoji manages to fix him, without quite knowing what he is doing.
Later in the Series, Jiro is nearly overcome by Professor Gill's flute, and he attacks Dr. Komyoji. DARK captures Dr. Komyoji and makes it seem that Jiro killed him. Jiro is damaged and unable to speak, and unable to defend himself. He is pursued by the police. A new character appears, Hakaider. DARK forced Dr. Komyoji to build him and place his own brain in the machine, under control of an evil circuit, the opposite of Kikaider's conscience circuit. Kikaider fights the robot and is almost destroyed, when Hakaider leaves suddenly. When Jiro finds out that Dr. Komyoji's brain is in Hakaider's body, he realizes that he will not be able to fight Hakaider.
Mitsuko and Masaru see a leather-clad man walking down the side of the building. This man is actually an android, Saburo. He says that he is the creation of Dr. Komyoji, and that his job is to destroy Jiro, who he believes is now evil. Masaru allies himself with Saburo. Out of sight of Mitsuko and Masaru, Saburo reveals that he is actually Hakaider. He and Masaru pursue Jiro but realize he's still good when he surrenders.
The DARK androids capture Dr. Komyoji's children. Red Mine Toad destroys Kikaider, using a mine that is built into his body. Hatori collects the pieces of Kikaider's body. Hakaider goes crazy, because without Kikaider to fight, he has no reason to live. He destroys Red Mine Toad and attacks DARK. Hatori has found Mitsuko and Masaru and gives them the pieces of Kikaider. Mitsuko reassembles Kikaider. Gill convinces Hakaider to kill Dr. Komyoji, instead of attacking DARK. Hakaider locates Dr. Komyoji's body, and finds the partially reassembled Kikaider. Hakaider refuses to fight a helpless enemy, and allows Mitsuko to finish reassembling him. A rebuilt Jiro is unable to change to Kikaider, but he decides to lure Hakaider away to protect Dr. Komyoji and Komyoji's children.
Professor Gill sends White Bone Flying Squirrel against Hakaider, and Hakaider loses the battle. Jiro gives the body of Hakaider to Mitsuko, who puts Dr. Komyoji's brain back into his body. Dr. Komyoji recovers, and is able to fix Jiro's change circuit. The Komyojis are again captured by DARK, but are rescued by Kikaider. Kikader destroys White Bone Flying Squirrel, and Prof. Gill, rather than be captured, destroys himself and the DARK base.
Dr. Komyoji leaves Japan, and takes his family with him. Jiro decides to stay in Japan to work on improving himself.
Androids
- Jiro/KikaiderJiro/KikaiderKikaider is the protagonist and eponymous character in the Android Kikaider series of tokusatsu, manga, and animation.-Jiro:Jiro was created by Dr. Den Komyoji, and his daughter Mitsuko Komyoji, for the purpose of defending the outside world from the evils of Professor Gill and the DARK...
: An android created by Dr. Komyoji to stop DARK. He acts to protect Dr. Komyoji's children Mitsuko and Masaru. Since his conscience circuit is incomplete, Professor Gill's hypnotic flute causes him pain, and is ultimately able to control him. He defends himself by overpowering its influence (for example, using a louder sound to drown it out). Jiro has a guitar, which he uses to announce his presence and motorcycle, which is called Sidemachine. He often defeats Destructoids by using his special attack called Denji Endo (Electro End). Jiro is played by Daisuke BanDaisuke Ban, born , is a Japanese actor. He was born on May 5, 1947 in Saitama prefecture, north of Tokyo. He is best known for his role as Jiro in Android Kikaider....
in his human form while Toshiaki Kikuchi plays his robot form.
- Saburo/Hakaider: Another android, considered as Jiro's "younger brother" as he was also made by Professor Komyoji. While Jiro was made by Dr. Komyoji voluntarily, Saburo was one of the androids Komyoji was forced to make under the dominance of DARK to "correct" his mistake by destroying Kikaider. Unlike the other DARK androids, Saburo is a cyborg. Gill had Dr. Komyoji's brain transplanted into the very android he created as his trump card against Jiro. Hakaider almost succeeded in killing Kikaider, but he was forced to stop fighting because he needs periodic blood transfusions from Dr. Komyoji's body. When White Bone Flying Squirrel defeated Hakaider, Mitsuko was able to return Komyoji's brain to his body. In the sequel show, Kikaider 01, Professor Gill's brain somehow wound up in Hakaider. Saburo often announces his presence by whistling. Saburo is played by Jouji Mayama for his human form but is voiced by Shōzō IizukaShozo Iizukais a male Japanese voice actor from Fukushima Prefecture who is affiliated with Sigma Seven. He graduated from the fine arts department of Nihon University....
in his robot form.
Humans
- Dr. Komyoji: The creator of Kikaider. A top robotics expert, he was captured by DARK to help them build an army of murderous robot monsters. Secretly built Kikaider to not only protect his two children Mitsuko and Masaru, but to save the world. Dr. Komyoji is played by Hajime Izu.
- Mitsuko Komyoji: The daughter of Dr. Komyoji, the scientist who created Jiro. She develops feelings for Jiro and helps to repair him when he is damaged. Jiro tries to keep away from her to protect her feelings. Mitsuko Komyoji is played by Jun Mizunoe.
- Masaru Komyoji: The spunky younger brother of Mitsuko. Masaru Komyoki is played by Masahiro Kamiya.
- Hanpei "Hanpen" Hattori: A hysterically comical private investigator who befriends and helps Kikaider and his companions. He is a descendant of the famous real-life ninja Hanzō HattoriHattori Hanzo, also known as , was a famous samurai and ninja master of the Sengoku era, credited with saving the life of Tokugawa Ieyasu and then helping him to become the ruler of united Japan. Today, he is often a subject of modern popular culture.-Biography:...
. Hanpei is derisively nicknamed "Hanpen" by his companions (hanpen is Japanese for "pounded fish cake"). Even the usually very polite Jiro will sometimes use the name Hanpen. Hanpei "Hanpen" Hattori is played by Shun Ueda.
- Professor Gill: The leader of a terrorist organization called DARK. He kept Dr. Komyoji prisoner, and forced him to make destructive robots. Gill hates Kikaider, seeing him as a threat to his ambition, and wants to destroy him as a result. Gill used a flute that can control his Dark Androids (and partially affecting Kikaider as well). Professor Gill is played by Mitsuo Ando.
Episode list
Films
was a 33-minute theatrical 3-D3-D film
A 3-D film or S3D film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception...
episode, was released on March 17, 1973. It was titled The Kikaida 3D Movie in Hawaii. Professor Gill has created a machine that lets him restore destroyed robots. This machine is used to recreate all of the destructroids that had been destroyed by Kikaider. Kikaider is forced to destroy them all once again.
was a 77-minute Film produced by Bandai and toei featuring the deadly rival of Kikaider and anti-hero, Hakaider.
Kamen Rider 40th Anniversary film
Kikaider, Kikaider 01Kikaider 01
, is a tokusatsu superhero TV series, and a sequel series to Android Kikaider. Produced by Toei Company Ltd., it was broadcast on NET from May 12, 1973 to March 30, 1974, with a total of 46 episodes. Its title in Hawaii is Kikaida 01 .-Plot synopsis:The noted robotics expert Dr...
, Inazuman
Inazuman
is a fictional character created by Shotaro Ishinomori. First appearing in the tokusatsu series of the same name, the mutant superhero has gone on to appear in manga and anime.-Inazuman Specs:Inazuman is, in reality, young college student , a mutant...
, and Zvatt will make an appearance in in commemoration of the Toei Company
Toei Company
is a Japanese film, television production, and distribution corporation. Based in Tokyo, Toei owns and operates thirty-four movie theaters across Japan, a modest vertically-integrated studio system by the standards of the 1930s United States; operates studios at Tokyo and Kyoto; and is a...
's 60th Anniversary.
Manga
A mangaManga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series of the same name by Shotaro Ishinomori
Shotaro Ishinomori
was a Japanese manga artist who became an influential figure in manga, anime, and tokusatsu, creating several immensely popular long-running series such as Cyborg 009 and Himitsu Sentai Goranger, what would go on to become part of the Super Sentai series, and the Kamen Rider Series...
was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Sunday from August 1972 and ended in June 1973.
A remake of the original manga called Kikaider Code 02 showing more detailed illustrations compared to the simple design of the original manga was released with a total of 7 volumes. It was stpry and illustrations by Meimu
Meimu
Meimu , real name , is a Japanese manga illustrator. While attending classes at Osaka University of Arts, he made his debut as a manga artist. Meimu's talents have been featured in various genres of storytelling, from science fiction to horror...
. The manga was licensed by CMX Manga for the English version.
Another remake illustrated by Meimu is Inazuman vs Kikaider: The End of Kikaider 02. The manga serves as a sequel to Kikaider Code 02. The manga was based on Inazuman chapter "The Boy with the Guitar" and follows mainly Inazuman's story.
Anime
An anime adaptation called was released on October 16, 2000 and ended on January 8, 2001. The anime has various differences from the original version and it is more faithful to the original manga by Shotaro Ishinomori.Sequel
A direct sequel to the first tokusatsu series called Kikaider 01Kikaider 01
, is a tokusatsu superhero TV series, and a sequel series to Android Kikaider. Produced by Toei Company Ltd., it was broadcast on NET from May 12, 1973 to March 30, 1974, with a total of 46 episodes. Its title in Hawaii is Kikaida 01 .-Plot synopsis:The noted robotics expert Dr...
was released on May 12, 1973 and ended March 30, 1974. It introduced the new titular character Kikaider 01 along with the return of Hakaider under the control of Professor Gill.