Android Kikaider

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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 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.

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.

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. He often defeats Destructoids by using his special attack called Denji Endo (Electro End). Jiro is played by Daisuke Ban 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 Iizuka 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 Hattori. 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 cause pain to Jiro which prevents him from changing to Kikaider). Professor Gill is played by Mitsuo Ando.

Episode list

1. The Terrifying Grey Rhino King is a Messenger of Hell (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^?)
2. The Mysterious Green Mantis is a Homicidal Fiend (怪奇グリーンマンティスは殺人鬼, Kaiki Gurīn Mantisu wa Satsujinki^?)
3. The Accursed Orange Ant's Deadly Challenge (呪いオレンジアントの死の挑戦, Noroi Orenji Anto no Shino Chōsen^?)
4. The Evil Blue Buffalo Sets 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^?)
5. Yellow Jaguar's Demonic Hands Draw Near (イエロージャガーの魔の手が迫る, Ierō Jagā no Ma no Te ga Semaru^?)
6. Black Horse Waits in the Execution Zone (ブラックホースが死刑場でまつ, Burakku Hōsu ga Shikeijō de Matsu^?)
7. Monster Blues Kong's Great Rage (怪物ブルスコングが大暴れ, Kaibutsu Burusu Kongu ga Ōabare^?)
8. Carmine Spider Laughs Eerily (カーマインスパイダーが不気味に笑う, Kāmain Supaidā ga Fukimi ni Warau^?)
9. Agonizing Death! Calamity Bird Red Condor (断末魔! 妖鳥レッドコンドル, Danmatsuma! Yōchō Reddo Kondoru^?)
10. Scorpion Brown's Maddened by the Human Bombs (サソリブラウン人間爆発に狂う, Sasori Buraun Ningen Bakuhatsu ni Kurū^?)
11. Gold Wolf Howls in Hell (ゴールドウルフが地獄に吠える, Gōrudo Urufu ga Jigoku ni Hoeru^?)
12. The Cruel Witch Silver Cat (残酷魔女シルバーキャット, Zankoku Majo Shirubā Kyatto^?)
13. Pink Tiger Attacks the Amusement Park (ピンクタイガーの遊園地襲撃, Pinku Taigā no Yūenchi Shūgeki^?)
14. Great Devil Silver Turtle Summons 3 Monsters (大魔神ギンガメが三怪物を呼ぶ, Daimajin Gin Game ga San Kaibutsu o Yobu^?)
15. The Shadow of the Golden Bat's Curse (キンイロコウモリ呪いの陰, Kin'iro Kōmori Noroi no Kage^?)
16. The Woman Crimson Jellyfish Calls 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^?)
17. 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^?)
18. Black Chameleon's Phantom Heist Strategy (クロカメレオン幻の大強奪作戦, Kuro Kamereon Maboroshi no Dai Gōdatsu Sakusen^?)
19. The 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!^?)
20. The Ruthless Green Waterbug's Poison Plan!! (冷酷アオタガメのドクロ計画!!, Reikoku Aota Game no Dokuro Keikaku!!^?)
21. Brutality! Purple Rat's Poison Fangs (残虐! ムラサキネズミの毒牙, Zangyaku! Murasaki Kinezumi no Dokuga^?)
22. White Sawshark's 12-Hour Nightmare (シロノコギリザメ悪夢の12時間, Shiro Nokogirizame Akumu no Jū-Ni Jukan^?)
23. The Three Yellow Antlion Brothers Meeting! (キイロアリジゴク三兄弟見参!, Kiiro Arijigoku San Kyōdai Kenzan!^?)
24. Devilish Woman?? Pink Armadillo (魔性の女?? モモイロアルマジロ, Majō no Onna?? Momoiro Arumajiro^?)
25. Bitter-Orange Snail's Murderous Whistle (ダイダイカタツムリ殺しの口笛, Daidai Katatsumuri Koroshi no Kuchibue^?)
26. Green Mammoth's Earth-Freezing Strategy!! (ミドリマンモス地球冷凍作戦!!, Midori Manmosu Chikyuu Reitō Sakusen!!^?)
27. Violet Turban Shell's Evil Love (バイオレットサザエの悪魔の恋, Baioretto Sazae no Akuma no Koi^?)
28. Red Devil Stingfish Makes Babies Cry! (赤子を泣かすアカオニオコゼ!, Akago o Nakasu Aka Oni Okoze!^?)
29. Sponge Green Lives Thrice (カイメングリーンは三度蘇える, Kaimen Gurīn wa Sando Yomigaeru^?)
30. Red Squid Targets the Beautiful College Student (アカネイカ美人女子大生を狙う, Aka Neika Bijin Joshidaisei o Nerau^?)
31. Octopus Gold Calls for Jiro's Death (ジローの死を呼ぶタコヤマブキ, Jirō no Shi o Yobu Tako Yamabuki^?)
32. Blue Electric Eel's Evil Arms Glow (アオデンキウナギ魔の腕が光る, Ao Denki Unagi Ma no Ude ga Hikaru^?)
33. The Fiendish Demonface Crab Red's Cursed Law (兇悪キメンガニレッド呪いの掟, Kyōaku Kimen Gani Reddo Noroi no Okite^?)
34. The Child-Taking Monster Black Echidna (子連れ怪物ブラックハリモグラ, Kotsure Kaibutsu Burakku Harimogura^?)
35. The End of Jiro's Electromagnetic End! (ジローデンジエンドの最期!, Jirō Denji Endo no Saigo!^?)
36. Crazed Jiro Attacks Koumyouji (狂ったジローが光明寺をおそう, Kurutta Jirō ga Kōmyōji o Osou^?)
37. Jiro's Younger Brother: The Formidable Enemy Hakaider! (ジローの弟 強敵ハカイダー!, Jirō no Otōto Kyōteki Hakaidā!^?)
38. Hakaider Kills Jiro! (ハカイダーがジローを殺す!, Hakaidā ga Jirō o Korosu!^?)
39. National Dragnet for Our Father's Enemy Jiro (父の仇ジロー全国指名手配, Chichi no Kyū Jirō Zenkuni Shimeitehai^?)
40. Look Out, Jiro! Complete Functional Shutdown!! (危しジロー! 機能完全停止!!, Ayashi Jirō! Kinō Kanzen Teishi!!^?)
41. Heroic Jiro Disintegrates in Midair! (壮絶ジロー空中分解!, Souzetsu Jirō Kūchū Bunkai!^?)
42. Transformation Impossible!? Hakaider's Great Treachery! (変身不能!? ハカイダー大反逆!, Henshin Funō!? Hakaidā Dai Hangyaku!^?)
43. The End of Jiro, or the Annihilation of Dark!? (ジローの最後かダーク全滅か!?, Jirō no Saigo ka Dāku Zenmetsu ka!?^?)

Media

Films

Flying At 'Ya, Android Kikaider (飛び出す人造人間キカイダー, Tobidasu Jinzô Ningen Kikaidâ^?) was a 33-minute theatrical 3-D 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.

Mechanical Violator Hakaider (人造人間ハカイダー, Jinzō Ningen Hakaidā^?) 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, along with Kikaider 01, Inazuman, and Zubat made an appearance in OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders (オーズ・電王・オールライダー レッツゴー仮面ライダー, Ōzu Den'ō Ōru Raidā: Rettsu Gō Kamen Raidā^?) in commemoration of the Toei Company's 60th Anniversary in 2011. This brief appearance saw the four heroes destroy the Kamen Rider Stronger villain, General Shadow.

Manga

A manga 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 (pronounced as Kikaider Code Zero Two) 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.

Anime

An anime adaptation called Android Kikaider: The Animation (人造人間キカイダー THE ANIMATION, Jinzō Ningen Kikaidā Ji Animēshon^?) 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 01 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.

References

External links

• http://www.generationkikaida.com/