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Android Kikaider

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Android Kikaider (人造人間キカイダー - Jinzô Ningen Kikaidâ) 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.

File:Henshin a go go.jpg
Kikaider stands ready to fight in the original 1972 series, Android Kikaider.

This series is considered to be among the best of the Toei Superhero shows, as well as being one of Ishinomori's best creations since Cyborg 009 and Kamen Rider (which started the Henshin Hero genre).

This series has also been a phenomenal success in Hawaii, where the show has broadcast since 1974. Known initially as Kikaider, Android of Justice, it has since been referred to there simply by its Japanese title, Jinzo Ningen Kikaida.

Story

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

The first episode: Gray Rhino King: Harbinger of Evil

A DARK destroyer, Gray Rhino King tries to take control of a dam. A young man, Jiro, appears to fight the DARK destroyer. 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 DARK destroyers. The DARK pursue Dr. Komyoji's children, Mitsuko and Masuro. Hatori Hanpei, a detective who provides comedy relief, helps them. There is very storyline development during this part of the series, but we do get to see pieces of the Komyojis' happier past.

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.
  • Silver Tortoise: Destructoids Reborn: Professor Gill recreates all of the DARK destroyers that Kikaider had destroyed. Kikaider is forced into a fight, when he must destroy the recreated DARK destroyers.
  • 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 Masuro defend Taro and claim that Jiro is jealous. Taro turns out to be an imposter, Golden Bat. Kikaider destroys Golden Bat.
  • 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 capter 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 curcuit, 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 Kikaider.

Mitsuko and Matsuro 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. Matsuro allies himself with Saburo. Out of sight of Mitsuko and Masuro, Saburo reveals that he is actually Hakaider.

Masuro helps Saburo, using a device that Saburo gave him. Ultimately, he realizes that Jiro is still good.

The end of DARK

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 Matsuro 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 Skeleton 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 curcuit. The Komyojis are again captured by the DARK, but are rescued by Kikaider. Kikader destroys Skeleton Flying Squirel and destroys 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
    • Kikaider's name is a cross between kikai (Japanese for "machine") and the English word "rider" (for he rides a motorcycle). Hakaider shares the same name game.
    • "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 skeleton flying squirrel defeated Hakaider, Mitsuko was able to return Komyoji's brain to his body.
    • In the sequel show, Kikader 01, Professor Gill's own brain somehow wound up in Hakaider, thus known to fans as Gill-Hakaider.
    • "Saburo" - Japanese given name meaning "third son".

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 Hanzo Hattori. Reminiscent of Shaggy from the Scooby-Doo TV shows (but dressed up in Sherlock Holmes-styled attire and other humorous clothing). Drives a volkswagen 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

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.

Cast

See Also

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