, the

anime is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...

adaptation of the Japanese

superhero A superhero or superheroine is a fictional character who typically possesses ''superpowers'' or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of the hero, typically using their ...

Kikaider is a manga series written and illustrated by Shotaro Ishinomori. A two-season tokusatsu series titled ''Android Kikaider'' (''Kikaider 01'' in season 2) was produced by Toei Company and Ishimori Productions in early 1970s. A 18-episode an ...

'', was produced by Sony Pictures Entertainment Visual Works (now

Aniplex Aniplex, Inc. (株式会社アニプレックス, ''Kabushiki-gaisha Anipurekkusu'') is a Japanese entertainment company and a subsidiary of Sony, Sony Group Corporation, founded in September 1995 by Sony Music Entertainment Japan. The company fo ...

) and Ishimori Entertainment, and animated by

Radix In a positional numeral system, the radix (radices) or base is the number of unique digits, including the digit zero, used to represent numbers. For example, for the decimal system (the most common system in use today) the radix is ten, becaus ...

(later Radix Ace) and Studio OX. The series was broadcast on Kids Station from October 16, 2000, to January 8, 2001, with a total of 13 episodes. The anime followed more of the manga, with a darker nature of Jiro's reason to exist. It was followed by the

OVA , abbreviated as OVA and sometimes as OAV (original animation video), are Japanese animated films and special episodes of a series made specially for release in home video formats without prior showings on television or in theaters, though the ...

4-episode sequel called. . An OVA special came with the ''Kikaider 01 DVD'' called which teamed Kikaider with

Inazuman is a television series starring a mutant fictional character of the same name created by Shotaro Ishinomori. The first television series ran from October 2, 1973 to March 26, 1974 with a total of 25 episodes. A second season named aired in 197 ...

, another superhero created by

Shotaro Ishinomori , né , was a Japanese manga artist, cartoonist, writer and director. Known as the "King of Manga" (漫画の帝王 (''Manga no Teiou)'' or 漫画の王様 (''Manga no Ousama)''), he is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential mang ...

. It was based on the manga chapter of ''Inazuman'' called . An English dubbed version of the anime and OVA aired on

Cartoon Network Cartoon Network (CN) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the Cartoon Network, Inc., a sub-division of the Warner Bros. Discovery Networks division of Warner Bros. Discovery. It launched on ...

Adult Swim Adult Swim (stylized as

dult swim Dult is a village in Batala in Gurdaspur district of Punjab State, India. It is located from sub district headquarter, from district headquarter and from Sri Hargobindpur. The village is administrated by Sarpanch an elected representativ ...

and s is an American adult-oriented television programming block that airs on Cartoon Network which broadcasts during the evening, prime time, and Late-night television, late-night Dayparting, dayparts. T ...

programming block in the United States, with the exception of episode 8, which was a recap episode. The final OVA special (''Kikaider vs. Inazuman'') was never dubbed or released outside of Japan.

Plot

''Android Kikaider''

Dr. Kohmyoji creates Jiro (Kikaider) but an explosion occurs. When Dr Kohmyoji's kids, Mitsuko and Masaru, their father was nowhere to be found, Jiro wandering aimlessly in a remote area eventually meets Mitsuko. Mitsuko teaches Jiro to go into his robot form and about the GEMINI system inside him. The two grow closer together but the relationship development halts when a mysterious flute playing causes Jiro to attack Mitsuko, which causes her to believe he is a mad machine. Jiro inevitably leaves Mitsuko and Masaru in fear of being destroyed. Mitsuko then hires Hanpei Hattori and his apprentice Etsuko Sarutobi to find Jiro and bring him home. Throughout the story, Jiro encounters robots and learns more about Professor Gill and the evil organization DARK. A reoccurring android named Hakaider causes Jiro out of control by whistling (similar to Gill's flute). The more Mitsuko encounters Jiro the more she falls in love with him. When Mitsuko and Jiro reunite, they search for Mistuko's mother who is revealed to be in love with Professor Gill but could not bare the pain of being away from her children and gives them the location to Professor Gill's headquarters right before she killed herself. After they discover the location, Jiro attempts to fight Hakaider alone and also discovers the brain inside Hakaider's head is that of Dr. Kohmyoji's. Dr. Kohmyoji overtakes Hakaider's body before Hakaider could destroy it and infiltrates the headquarters. Once Professor Gill discovers Dr. Kohmyoji is in control he sends his robots to attack them. Jiro was able to give the brain to Hanpei in order to put it back into Dr. Kohmyoji's body. Professor Gill attempts to control Jiro with his flute, but Jiro to is able to overcome it. Hakaider then attempts to kill Professor Gill for betraying him and destroys the place along with Gill. Hanpei, Mitsuko and Etsuko able to escape, but didn't see Jiro escape with them. In the end, Mitsuko has hope that Jiro will return to them.

''Kikaider 01''

These four OVAs directly follow the conclusion of the 13 episode TV series. Jiro is now battling to save Akira, the son of Professor Gill who survived and transplanted his brain into Hakaider. Gill-Hakaider, supported by the Hakaider Squad and later SHADOW, targets Akira to power his giant-robot Armageddon Lord. Jiro meets his two "older" brothers Ichiro (Kikaider 01) and Rei (Kikaider 00), who lack Jiro's GEMINI system, and are joined by a SHADOW gynoid Bjinder. In the end, Gill successfully captures Akira, and uses the Armageddon Lord to devastate the city from the previous series. Gill plants a submission chip inside Jiro and his android allies. But it unexpectedly subdues Jiro's GEMINI circuit rather than enslave him, making Jiro more human as he ends up destroying his brothers and kills Gill as the Armageddon Lord's generator explodes. Jiro leaves Akira in the hands of a monk scientist that raised Ichiro and reactivated Rei. Afterwards, Jiro then proclaims that having now committed such horrible acts that he is now human and that his heart will forever be in "eternal conflict" as he walks alone into the sunset.

''The Boy Who Carried a Guitar: Kikaider vs. Inazuman''

Set sometime after ''Kikaider 01'', the cast of the ''

'' manga have a run-in with Jiro after one of their psychic adversaries possesses him in an attempt to murder Saburo, the protagonist of the ''Inazuman'' story. As the fight spirals out of control, Jiro's fight for inner peace comes to a head via Saburo's telepathy. The climax of the battle results in Jiro's definitive answers to the questions posed by his autonomy.

Voice Cast

Japanese Cast

* Jiro/Kikaider:

Tomokazu Seki is a Japanese voice actor and singer. He has previously worked with Haikyō. He is honorary president of and affiliated with Atomic Monkey and the chairman of theater company HeroHero Q. He is a special lecturer at Japan Newart College. Caree ...

* Ichiro/Kikaider-01:

Shotaro Morikubo is a Japanese voice actor and singer who has voiced characters in anime, drama CDs, and video games. He was formerly affiliated with I'm Enterprise, Sigma Seven and VIMS. His most notable roles were Shikamaru Nara from ''Naruto'', Souji Okit ...

* Rei/Kikaider-00:

Kazuhiko Inoue is a Japanese actor, voice actor, narrator and singer. His notable works include Anthony Brown in '' Candy Candy'', Joe Shimamura in the 1979 iteration of '' Cyborg 009'', Jerid Messa in '' Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam'', Kakashi Hatake in ''Naruto ...

* Mieko/Bijinder:

Mitsuko Horie is a Japanese actress, Voice acting in Japan, voice actress and singer from Yamato, Kanagawa. She is known as the . Horie has voiced several characters throughout her career, such as Shadow Galactica#Sailor Galaxia, Sailor Galaxia in ''Sailor ...

* Mitsuko Kohmyoji:

Yui Horie is a Japanese voice actress and singer affiliated with VIMS and Starchild. She has been affectionately nicknamed by her Japanese fans. She debuted as a voice actress in 1997, releasing her debut single "''My best friend''" on . Since then, s ...

* Masaru Kohmyoji:

Yumiko Kobayashi is a freelance Japanese voice actress from Chiba Prefecture. She was formerly affiliated with Arts Vision until August 2007. She made her voice acting debut as Mita in '' Kirara'' while still in college in 1998, and her first lead role was as K ...

* Dr. Den Kohmyoji:

Shōzō Iizuka was a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator from Fukushima Prefecture. He graduated from the fine arts department of Nihon University. He is most known for the roles of Hakaider (''Android Kikaider''), Doctor Neo Cortex ( ''Crash Bandicoot ...

* Etsuko Sarutobi:

Etsuko Kozakura , better known by her stage name , is a Japanese voice actress from Mizuho. She was formerly with Ohsawa Jimusho, but now heads her own agency called Little Portal with husband Jin Domon. Some of her major roles are Daizu Noyama in Azuki-chan, ...

* Rieko:

Sayaka Ohara is a Japanese voice actress affiliated with Haikyō. Her major roles include Alicia Florence in ''Aria'', Milly Ashford in ''Code Geass'', Erza Scarlet in '' Fairy Tail'', Irisviel in the '' Fate/Zero'' and '' Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya ...

* Futen:

Ichirō Nagai was a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator from Ikeda, Osaka. He was previously affiliated with Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society, and was affiliated with Aoni Production at the time of his death. Career Nagai played ''GeGeGe no ...

* Akira: Madoka Akita * Saburo/Hakaider: Juurouta Kosugi * Chigusa Sakamoto:

Minami Takayama is a Japanese voice actress, narrator and singer who is currently affiliated with 81 Produce. She is also the main vocalist of Two-Mix and ES CONNEXION when it was active. Her uncle is a former New Japan Pro-Wrestling managing director Hisash ...

* Prof. Gill/Gill Hakaider:

Shinji Ogawa was a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator from Setagaya, Tokyo. He was affiliated with the Herringbone agency. He was best known as the dubover artist for Michael Douglas and Timothy Dalton, and for voicing Hyō in ''Fist of the North Star' ...

* Green Mantis: Masahiro Ogata * Carmine Spider:

Masashi Hirose is a Japanese voice actor from Osaka Prefecture, Japan. He works at Production Baobab. He is known for the roles of Ramba Ral (''Mobile Suit Gundam''), Rikishiman (''Kinnikuman''), Gosterro ('' Blue Comet SPT Layzner'') and Nakano-sensei ('' ...

* Orange Ant:

Jin Yamanoi is a Japanese voice actor from Tokyo, Japan. He has voiced a number of roles originally played by David Harbour and Eric Bana. He also voiced Ghostface in the ''Scream'' series. Biography Born Hitoshi Yamanoi on November 16, 1962 in Tokyo. ...

: * Yellow Jaguar

Nobuyuki Hiyama is a Japanese voice actor, narrator, and radio personality currently affiliated with Arts Vision. His vocal register is described as a metallic lyric tenor suitable to voice a mature variation of coming of age young men. Combined with an ...

* Golden Bat:

Norio Wakamoto is a Japanese voice actor affiliated with the Sigma Seven talent agency. He was born in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and was raised in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture. He graduated from Waseda University. On adult works, like OVAs or dating ...

* Kuya & Kaito:

Hisayoshi Suganuma is a Japanese voice actor and member of Aoni Production. Suganuma wanted to be a voice actor when he watched ''Mobile Suit Victory Gundam''. He was also part of the voice actor unit G.I.Zoku with Kisho Taniyama and Hideki Tasaka. Filmography ...

* Red Hakaider:

Hidenari Ugaki is a Japanese actor and voice actor. He is currently affiliated with 81 Produce. He is best known for his roles as Argo Gulskii in ''Mobile Fighter G Gundam'', Donatello in the TV Tokyo edition of ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'', Kaminari-san ...

* Silver Hakaider: Kouichi Toochika * Blue Hakaider:

Takuma Suzuki is a Japanese voice actor who is affiliated with 81 Produce. Selected voice roles *Major Leads are in Bold. Anime television series *'' Daa! Daa! Daa!'' – Yuu Kouzuki *'' Cromartie High School'' – Shinjiro Hayashida *'' Digimon Adventure' ...

* Shadow Knight:

Takeshi Watabe was a Japanese actor and voice actor. He was born in Kōchi Prefecture. He usually played villains and performed the voices for many ''anime'' characters and ''tokusatsu'' villains. He is most famous for voicing Kaminari in ''Doraemon''. He took ...

* Saburo Kazeda/Inazuman:

Kappei Yamaguchi , better known by his stage name , is a Japanese actor, voice actor, and '' rakugoka'' affiliated with Gokū and 21st Century Fox.Doi, Hitoshi"Yamaguchi Kappei" ''Seiyuu Database''. January 11, 2011. Retrieved January 10, 2011. After making his ...

* Myoppe: Sayuri Yoshida

English Cast

* Jiro/Kikaider:

Dave Wittenberg Dave Wittenberg is a South African-born American voice actor and scriptwriter. Early life Wittenberg was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was raised in the Boston area. Career Wittenberg voices Kakashi Hatake, the 6th Hokage in ''Naruto ...

* Ichiro/Kikaider-01:

Derek Stephen Prince Steve Prince (credited as Derek Stephen Prince until 2024) is an American voice actor who provided the voice of Elgar in the live-action ''Power Rangers Turbo and'' '' Power Rangers in Space'' series, along with various characters in the ''Digi ...

* Rei/Kikaider 00:

Crispin Freeman Crispin Freeman is an American voice actor, voice director, and screenwriter who is best known for voicing characters in English-language dubs of Japanese anime, animation, and video games. Some of his prominent anime roles include Zelgadis Grayw ...

* Mieko/Bijinder:

Wendee Lee Wendee Lee (born February 20) is an American voice actress, writer, and director. Early life Lee studied dance and theater and later became a full-time dancer in her teens. According to her interview on the '' Magic Knight Rayearth'' DVDs, she ...

* Mitsuko Kohmyoji:

Lia Sargent Lia Sargent is an American voice actress. She is known for extensive anime and video game voice work and has also done ADR directing and script writing for Animaze.. iNC. She is the daughter of movie and TV director Joseph Sargent and actr ...

* Masaru Kohmyoji:

Barbara Goodson Barbara Goodson is an American voice actress who has done voice-over work in cartoons and shows. Her best-known role was providing the English dub voice of the main villain Empress Rita Repulsa in the ''Power Rangers'' television series, starti ...

* Dr. Den Kohmyoji: Christopher Carrol * Hattori Hanpei:

Kirk Thornton Kirk Thornton is an American voice actor, director and script writer working mainly with English-language versions of Japanese animated series. Career His major roles include Brandon Heat in '' Gungrave'', Hotohori in '' Fushigi Yūgi'', Klei ...

* Etsuko Sarutobi:

Melissa Fahn Melissa Fahn is an American actress and singer, best known as the voice of Gaz Membrane in the Nickelodeon animated series ''Invader Zim'', Dendy in the Cartoon Network animated series '' OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes'', Hello Kitty in '' Hello Kit ...

* Rieko: Peggy O'Neal * Futen:

Simon Prescott Simon Prescott is an American voice actor who is best known for his work in the anime and film industries. Notable roles include Dr. Laughton in ''Metropolis'' and Aritomo Yamagata in ''Rurouni Kenshin''. Filmography Anime *'' Akira'' – Dr. O ...

* Akira:

Brianne Siddall Brianne Siddall (born August 25, 1963 in Encino, California), also known under her stage names of Jetta E. Bumpy, Ian Hawk, Murray Blue, Jetta Bird, and Brianne Brozey, is an American voice actress. She is known for voicing Tommy Himi, Koromon ...

* Saburo/Hakaider:

Steven Blum Steven Jay Blum (; born April 29, 1960) is an American voice actor. Known for his distinctively deep voice, his roles include Spike Spiegel from the anime series ''Cowboy Bebop''; Amon from ''The Legend of Korra''; Heatblast, Ghostfreak, and ...

* Chigusa Sakamoto:

Carolyn Hennesy Carolyn Hennesy (born June 10, 1962) is an American actress, writer, and animal advocate. Hennesy's early work consisted of guest appearances and roles in shows and television movies, including ''Dark Justice'' and in '' Deadly Invasion: The Ki ...

* Prof. Gill/Gill Hakaider: Michael Gregory * Carmine Spider:

Lex Lang Lex Lang is an American voice actor and voice director, who has provided voices and served as a director for a number of animations and video games. He is best known for voicing Doctor Neo Cortex in the '' Crash Bandicoot'' franchise, Suguru ...

* Orange Ant:

Peter Lurie Peter Lurie is an American voice actor, sports anchor and television personality who has worked in television shows, movies, and dubbed anime, since the mid-1990s. He is most well known for his role as the voice of Vulcan Raven in the ''Metal ...

* Yellow Jaguar, Shadow Knight: Bob Papenbrook * Golden Bat:

Michael McConnohie Michael McConnohie is an American voice actor, writer and director who has provided many voice roles in movies, anime, and video games. He and fellow actress Melodee Spevack run a production company called VoxWorks. For twenty-plus years he has ...

* Kuya & Kaito: Anthony Pulcini * Red Hakaider:

Skip Stellrecht Henry M. Stellrecht (born May 9, 1958), known professionally as Skip Stellrecht, is an American voice and television actor, who was born and raised in Orange County, California. Growing up with more of an interest in surfing, sports, and music, h ...

* Silver Hakaider:

Eddie Frierson Eddie Frierson is an American voice actor and writer. He has provided voices for such films as ''Wreck-It Ralph'', ''Hotel Transylvania (film), Hotel Transylvania'', ''The Princess and the Frog'', ''ParaNorman'', ''Curious George (film), Curious ...

* Blue Hakaider: Steve McGowan * Zaddam: Peter Spellos

Episodes

''Android Kikaider: The Animation''

English airdates are from its first English dub broadcast on Adult Swim in the United States.

''Kikaider 01: The Animation''

Media

Soundtrack

A soundtrack for the first animated series of Kikaider called was released on December 6, 2000. It was composed by

Akira Mitake Akira Mitake (見岳章; born November 11, 1956) is a Japanese composer from Tokyo. Mitake composed , ''Like the Flow of the River'', a song recorded by Japanese ''enka'' singer Hibari Misora was a Japanese singer, actress and cultural ico ...

and distributed by

SME Visual Works Aniplex, Inc. (株式会社アニプレックス, ''Kabushiki-gaisha Anipurekkusu'') is a Japanese entertainment company and a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation, founded in September 1995 by Sony Music Entertainment Japan. The company focuses ...

. Another Soundtrack called was released on March 6, 2003. Music was composed by Kaworu Wada and distributed by

Reception

Anime News Network Anime News Network (ANN) is a news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, video games, Japanese popular music and other related cultures within North America, Australia, Southeast Asia and Japan. The website offers reviews and ot ...

, Zac Bertschy gave the first DVD an overall grade of B.

References

External links

* *
TVTome show details
*http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Animation/Kikaider/ {{Radix Ace Entertainment 2000 anime television series debuts 2003 anime OVAs Aniplex Shotaro Ishinomori