Android Kikaider

nihongo|"Android Kikaider"|人造人間キカイダー|Jinzō Ningen Kikaidā is a tokusatsu superhero TV series, and the first to feature the superhero Kikaider. Created by mangaka 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".

tory

Most of the episodes of Kikaider have the same basic plot. A new DARK destructroid appears with a new plan for world conquest. Kikaider discovers the plan and fights the robot, but the battle is unresolved. The destructroid continues to execute his plan and Kikaider again fights it, this time with Kikaider winning by using his special ability, "Denji Endo" ("Electro End").

The first episode: Gray Rhino King: Harbinger of Evil

A DARK destructroid, "Gray Rhino King" tries to take control of a dam. A young man, Jiro, appears to fight the DARK destructroid. Jiro transforms into Kikaider, fights "Gray Rhino King", and departs.

Dr. Komyoji is now introduced. He is a brilliant scientist, an expert in robotics, who is being kept prisoner by the DARK. He is the creator of Kikaider. When Professor Gill, the head of the DARK learns about this, he sends his androids to deal with Dr. Komyoji. Jiro 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 body of the series

Most of the next episodes deal with the constant battle between Kikaider and the destructroids, generally one destructroid per episode. The DARK pursue Dr. Komyoji and his children, Mitsuko and Masuru. Hatori Hanpei, a detective who provides comedy relief, helps them. There is very little storyline development during this part of the series, but we do get to see pieces of the Komyojis' happier past.

Some common themes:
*During one or both battles, Professor Gill uses his evil flute to stop Jiro from becoming Kikaider. Jiro manages to find a way to drown out or to block the sound of the flute.
*Many episodes are set at well-known locations in Japan.
*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.

Some notable episodes:
*Gold Wolf: Tormented Howls from Hell: Gold Wolf is an android who has a conscience circuit, which was given to him by Dr. Komyoji. Unfortunately, the conscience circuit is even more incomplete than Jiro's. Jiro tries to save him, but is forced to destroy him. This is one of a few episodes in which Jiro feels remorse for destroying an enemy.
*Pink Tiger: Terror at the Amusement Park: "Jinbei" is an android clown who was built by Dr. Komyoji. He has information that DARK wants. Eventually, a destructroid, "Pink Tiger" tortures and destroys him for the information. This episode is unusual because it focuses on the close bond between androids who were created by Dr. Komyoji.
*Silver Tortoise: Destructoids Reborn: Professor Gill recreates all of the destructroids that Kikaider had destroyed. Kikaider is forced into a fight, when he must destroy the recreated destructroids.
*Golden Bat: Cursed Shadow From the Past. Taro, Dr. Komyoji's oldest son appears. It was believed that he had been killed a long time ago. Jiro believes that there is something suspicious about Taro. Mitsuko and Masuru defend Taro and claim that Jiro is jealous. Taro turns out to be an impostor, "Golden Bat". This episode is significant, because it reveals some of the background of the Komyoji family.
** In the "" series, Gold Wolf never appears, and Golden Bat is the one with the incomplete conscience circuit.
*Black Spiny Anteater: Destructoid with Child. "Black Spiny Anteater" is a destructroid with a small assistant, who he thinks of as his little girl. This episode is unusual because it shows Kikaider from the destructroid perspective. They view him as a fearsome killer.
*Black Crow: The End of "The End": Jiro fights "Black Crow". Professor Gill reveals his plans for a new, more powerful android: Hakaider.

Hakaider

The final episodes consist of a long story arc. Jiro is nearly overcome by Professor Gill's flute, and he attacks Dr. Komyoji. The DARK capture Dr. Komyoji and make it seem that Jiro killed him. Jiro is damaged and unable to speak, and is unuable to defend himself. He is pursued by the police for the remainder of the show. At first, only Mitsuko believes in his innocence.

A new character appears, Hakaider. The DARK forced Dr. Komyoji to build him, and placed his 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. Hakaider's weakness is that he needs periodic transfusions from Dr. Komyoji's body, or he will die. When Jiro finds out the Dr. Komyoji's brain is in Hakaider's body, he realized 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 claims is now evil. Masaru allies himself with Saburo. Out of sight of Mitsuko and Masaru, Saburo reveals that he is actually Hakaider.

Masaru helps Saburo, using a device that Saburo gave him. Ultimately, he realizes that Jiro is still good, when Jiro surrenders to him.

The end of the series

The series ends with a three-episode arc: "Jiro Blows Apart!", "Hakaider Rebels", and "Jiro's End or Dark's Demise?!".

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 the 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 the 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 the 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.

Characters

Androids

*Jiro/Kikaider: 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
**"Jiro" - Japanese given name meaning "second son"
*Saburo/Hakaider: Another android, considered as Jiro's "younger brother" as he was also made by Professor Komyoji . . . and, ironically, "is" 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, it was 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. Komoji'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, so that people who discuss the show sometimes refer to "Gill Hakaider", as distinguished from "Komyoji Hakaider". Regardless, on screen the character is simply called "Hakaider".
**"Saburo" - Japanese given name meaning "third son".
**Saburo announces his presence by whistling.
**Hakaider uses a gun, Hakaider Shot, as a weapon, but he feels that hand-to-hand combat is more honorable, unless his foe is either cowardly or defeated.
**Saburo uses a knife, Destruction Blade, as a weapon and henshin (transformation) device. When Saburo transforms into Hakaider, Destruction Blade transforms into Hakaider Shot.

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.
*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.
*Masaru Komyoji: The spunky younger brother of Mitsuko.
*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 Hattori. Reminiscent of Shaggy from the Scooby-Doo TV shows (but dressed up in Sherlock Holmes-styled attire and other humorous clothing). Drives a subaru 360 that constantly breaks down, and he has to use ninja "magic" and techniques to keep it holding together!
**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.
*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).

Episode list

# The Messenger of Underworld is the Terrifying Grey Rhino King (恐怖のグレイサイキングは地獄の使者 "Kyōfu no Gurei Sai Kingu wa Jigoku no Shisha")
# The Cutthroat is the Mysterious Green Mantis (怪奇グリーンマンティスは殺人鬼 "Kaiki Gurīn Mantisu wa Satsujinki")
# Death Challenge of Accursed Orange Ant (呪いオレンジアントの死の挑戦 "Noroi Orenji Anto no Shino Chōsen")
# The Bad Blue Buffalo Sprung a Trap (悪魔のブルーバッファローが罠をはる "Akuma no Burū Baffarō ga Wana o Haru")
# Yellow Jaguar's Demon Hands Approach (イエロージャガーの魔の手が迫る "Ierō Jagā no Ma no Te ga Semaru")
# Black Horse Waits for the Place of Execution (ブラックホースが死刑場でまつ "Burakku Hōsu ga Shikeijō de Matsu")
# Monster Blues Kong has a Great Struggle (怪物ブルスコングが大暴れ "Kaibutsu Burusu Kongu ga Dai Abare")
# Carmine Spider Laughs to Ghastly (カーマインスパイダーが不気味に笑う "Kāmain Supaidā ga Fukimi ni Warau")
# Death Agony! Bewitching Bird Red Condor (断末魔! 妖鳥レッドコンドル "Danmatsuma! Yō Tori Reddo Kondoru")
# Scorpion Brown's Human Explosion to Gone Mad (サソリブラウン人間爆発に狂う "Sasori Buraun Ningen Bakuhatsu ni Kurū")
# Gold Wolf Howls to Underworld (ゴールドウルフが地獄に吠える "Gōrudo Urufu ga Jigoku ni Hoeru")
# Harshness Witch Silver Cat (残酷魔女シルバーキャット "Zankoku Majo Shirubā Kyatto")
# Raid of the Amusement Park: Pink Tiger (ピンクタイガーの遊園地襲撃 "Pinku Taigā no Yūenchi Shūgeki")
# Great Genie Silver Turtle Calls Out 3 Monsters (大魔神ギンガメが三怪物を呼ぶ "Dai Mashin Gin Game ga San Kaibutsu o Yobu")
# Golden Bat: Curse of the Shade (キンイロコウモリ呪いの陰 "Kin'iro Kōmori Noroi no Kage")
# Woman Crimson Jellyfish Invites to the River Styx (女ベニクラゲが三途の川へ招く "Onna Beni Kurage ga Sanzunokawa e Maneku")
# Red Hornet's Terrifying Prisoner Plan (アカクマバチ恐怖の人質計画 "Aka Kumabachi Kyōfu no Hitojichi Keikaku")
# Great Violent Strategy Vision of Black Chameleon (クロカメレオン幻の大強奪作戦 "Kuro Kamereon Maboroshi no Dai Gōdatsu Sakusen")
# Grim Reaper Beast Horseshoe Crab Rouge Appears! (死神獣カブトガニエンジ参上! "Shinigami Jū Kabutogani Enji Sanjou!")
# Ruthless Green Paddy Turtle's Skull Plan!! (冷酷アオタガメのドクロ計画!! "Reikoku Aota Game no Dokuro Keikaku!!")
# Brutality! Purple Squirrel's Poison Fangs (残虐! ムラサキネズミの毒牙 "Zangyaku! Murasaki Kinezumi no Dokuga")
# White Sawshark's 12 Times Nightmares (シロノコギリザメ悪夢の12時間 "Shiro Nokogirizame Akumu no Jū-Ni Jukan")
# Yellow Doodlebug: 3 Sibling Meeting! (キイロアリジゴク三兄弟見参! "Kiiro Arijigoku Mi Kyōdai Kenzan!")
# Woman of Devilishness?? Pink Armadillo (魔性の女?? モモイロアルマジロ "Majō no Onna?? Momoiro Arumajiro")
# Brittle Orange Snail: Whistle of Murder (ダイダイカタツムリ殺しの口笛 "Daidai Katatsumuri Koroshi no Kuchibue")
# Green Mammoth: Earth Freezing Strategies!! (ミドリマンモス地球冷凍作戦!! "Midori Manmosu Chikyuu Reitō Sakusen!!")
# Violet Turban Shell's Bad Love (バイオレットサザエの悪魔の恋 "Baioretto Sazae no Akuma no Koi")
# Red Devil Stingfish Cries for a Baby! (赤子を泣かすアカオニオコゼ! "Akago o Nakasu Aka Oni Okoze!")
# Sponge Green has Revived 3 Times (カイメングリーンは三度蘇える "Kaimen Gurīn wa Sando Yomigaeru")
# Red Treacherous: Aiming Beautiful Female College Students (アカネイカ美人女子大生を狙う "Aka Neika Bijin Joshidaisei o Nerau")
# Calling for Jiro's Death: Octupus Bright Golden Yellow (ジローの死を呼ぶタコヤマブキ "Jirō no Shi o Yobu Tako Yamabuki")
# Blue Electric Eel Lights Up His Bad Arms (アオデンキウナギ魔の腕が光る "Ao Denki Unagi Ma no Ude ga Hikaru")
# Atrocious Devilface Crab Red: Curse of Law (兇悪キメンガニレッド呪いの掟 "Kyōaku Kimen Gani Reddo Noroi no Okite")
# Child-Taking Monster: Black Echidna (子連れ怪物ブラックハリモグラ "Kotsure Kaibutsu Burakku Harimogura")
# The End of Jiro's Electromagnetic End! (ジローデンジエンドの最期! "Jirō Denji Endo no Saigo!")
# Crazy Jiro Attacks Koumyouji (狂ったジローが光明寺をおそう "Kurutta Jirō ga Kōmyōji o Osou")
# Jiro's Baby Brother: Formidable Enemy Hakaider! (ジローの弟 強敵ハカイダー! "Jirō no Otōto Kyōteki Hakaidā!")
# Hakaider Killing Jiro! (ハカイダーがジローを殺す! "Hakaidā ga Jirō o Korosu!")
# Father of Enemy Jiro: Countrywide Name Search (父の仇ジロー全国指名手配 "Chichi no Kyū Jirō Zenkuni Shimei Tebai")
# Watch Out, Jiro! Function Perfection Interruption!! (危しジロー! 機能完全停止!! "Ayashi Jirō! Kinō Kanzen Teishi!!")
# Heroic Jiro: Analyzing the Air! (壮絶ジロー空中分解! "Souzetsu Jirō Kūchū Bunkai!")
# Transformation Impossible!? Hakaider: Great Treachery! (変身不能!? ハカイダー大反逆! "Henshin Funō!? Hakaidā Dai Hangyaku!")
# The End of Jiro or Dark Annihilation!? (ジローの最後かダーク全滅か!? "Jirō no Saigo ka Dāku Zenmetsu ka!?")

Flying At 'Ya, Android Kikaider (The 3D Movie)

"Flying At 'Ya, Android Kikaider" (飛び出す人造人間キカイダー - "Tobidasu Jinzô Ningen Kikaidâ"), the 33-minute theatrical 3D episode, was released on March 17, 1973. It was titled "The Kikaida 3D Movie" in Hawaii.

Plot synopsis

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.

Cast

*Jiro/Kikaider: Daisuke Ban
*Mitsuko Komyoji: Jun Mizunoe
*Masaru Komyoji: Masahiro Kamiya
*Hanpei "Hanpen" Hattori: Shun Ueda
*Doctor Komyoji: Hajime Izu
*Professor Gill: Mitsuo Ando
*Saburo/Hakaider: Kenji Mayama
*Kikaider (Principal Suit Actor): Toshiaki Kikuchi
*Hakaider: Shozo Iizuka (Voice)

ee also

*Shotaro Ishinomori
*Kikaider
*Kikaider 01 (1973)

External links

* [http://www.generationkikaida.com/ Generation Kikaida] - Official JN Productions (Hawaii) website for the classic tokusatsu (live-action) series.