Kikaider vs Kikaida

Was channel surfing today and I ran across a show on the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim called "Kikaider".

It had no opening theme song but after watching today's episode I can only assume it is the animated version of the "Kikaida" TV series, most of the characters are there, like Jiro/Kikaider (of course), Professor Gill (who goes mostly by the title of Lord Gill), the daughter and son of the doctor who made Jiro (who's name escapes me) and that detective who helps them out.

Even Hikaida was in this episode who admits he has the brain of the doctor who created Jiro. Didn't see any hint of the usual flunkies or the color themed animal robots that does battle with Kikaider but I can only assume that they were in eariler episodes.

Also all of the dialogue is in English and according to the copyright notice at the end of the episode it said "2000".

In any event it airs at 9pm HST on the Cartoon Network, Monday thru Thursday. For those on the mainland, it is scheduled for 12 midnight but it would be best to consult your local listing.

Comments

I saw this one a while back and was also a bit confused...

What confused me was that they are using the animation style of the 70's (moving background with a still foreground image), but they've got neat computer effects that could have only been done using today's software.

My friend think's it's a spin-off that was recently created and it's just paying homage to the 70's style of the original Kikaida.

They should at least add the Kikaida-theme song to kick things up a notch. It's an okay cartoon, though.

I stumbled across this show last week. It is indeed an updated, anime version of the old Kikaida live-action show. The episodes I caught featured Yellow Jaguar and Gold Bat, looking much sleeker in animation than their papier-mache-headed live-action counterparts. I heard that this anime is based on a recent (1990s?) manga. Yeah, the use of dated styles does throw you for a loop. The drawing style reminds me of the old Osamu Tezuka stuff; I imagine that it's an intentional reference. The plot is much darker and angst-ier than the old show, too. Now, if they'd just use the old theme song - or at least let Jiro play his guitar every now and then!

Damn, my cable box is on the fritz and I don't have any channels except the four networks. I wanna see this...I was more of a fan of Ultra-7 though. Any of you guys remember that show?

On the Cartoon Network eh?....My kids will be on this like flies.....I have a Japanese DVD I got off of ebay and have seen this latest incarnation....same characters, but lacking the charm of the live-action show.

I am not too well versed in the original show but it seems that Thursday's night episode was the last one in the series. I'm guessing Monday's epsiode will be the first one in the series.

I believe the animation is based on the original manga and that's why it's a bit different than the live-action version.

btw - cool link for fans of the original Kikaida:
http://www.generationkikaida.com/

I have seen this Kikaider show. When I first saw the show it made me mad a little. They call it a japanese anime but themain characters are the only ones that are anime, all of the rest of the people pull on this comic strip-Foxtrot-Garfield look. So I don't call it a full fledged "anime". But after seeing it a few times it has started to grow on me.

Tonight's episode and I guess the rest for the time being is on the Kikaider 01 story line.

What the heck? Thursday, Gill died, and then Monday?..Its all so confusing...what happened to Mitsuko and Masato and everyone...I kinda figured that Gill would take Saburo's body and crap...but what happened to all the others? And where did that other girl come from that looks like Mitsuko with long hair?

Ok listen here the deal. Im a kid and know nothng about the old show but my dad dose. They say Kikaider is the same thig as the old show except that it is animated. I have seen the old one but I like this one better. Better music and such. Thats all I know ill get bac to you.

According to the Generation Hawaii web site, the Kikiada (the original run of the series) version was at 43 episodes, at 5 episodes per DVD that comes out to 9 DVD and Volume 4 was released a few weeks ago.

According to the Adult Swim web site the Kikiader version is at 13 episodes (plus 4 more episodes that ran this week, which just ended by the way). So on Monday July 7th, the first episode should air, this time at 9:30 pm HST.

Since it seems that everyone here is not a true kikaida fan I'll explain a few things. The animation is based closely to the manga. The live action followed the manga so this is really the story Ishinomori wanted to tell. The manga consisted of six books which I still have from the 70s. Books 1 through 3 cover the animation episodes 1-13. Books 4 through 6 covers the Kikaida 01 animation series. A lot of the story has been cut out to stuff 3 books into 4 episodes. The animation was quite good but the manga is still the best storywise.

Who thinks the way the characters look in the anime would be awesome if they looked that way in the 70's live action show(kikaider and the enemies that is)

I like the way that, in the anime when he changes, Jiro's facial features shred away to reveal the Kikaider face underneath. Very cool effect, I would have loved to see Ban Daisuke do that.

I'm a big Kikaider collector and i've found that even the figures of the anime series look much nicer than the old "classic" kinds

It was a few weeks ago that my nephew told me that there was a "Kikaider" series on Cartoon Network. Being that I work at night, I wasn't able to see it until last week Wednesday. It does throw you off at first (I was a '70's child so the series is the definitive for me) seeing your favorite characters in anime and speaking English. I don't like the way they made Kikaida, he has a funny looking ass whether he's Jiro or Kikaida. But the storyline is interesting and it is darker. Bijinda in her human form was pretty sassy and hot and Mitsuko was also looking sweet. The only things I didn't care for were that Dr. Komyoji looks like a Caucasian dwarf and Ichiro (Kikaida 0-1) was a bit cocky and immature. It would be great if they could bring back an updated live-action series or even computer generated but ofcourse it would never be able to replace the originals.

What happens to Mitsuko after Jiro destroys Gill's lab and stuff..the episode before he finds Ichiro.????? Someone help me

I'm obsessed with the show Kikaider. I don't really like the old version, it reminds me of power rangers.

Finally! another obsseser! ^_^ Up until today I thought I was the only one who gave a rat's behind about it! Most people really hate it, and I don't know why... It's a wonderful show, moody robots rock my ill-fitting black socks! my only complaint is the... um... DEATH! They killed Jiro off, and I never quite got over it! T_T I hate every robot on that show exept Jiro and that yellow girl who's name I don't know! Bijinder is arrogant and drives me up a wall, Hakaider is a phsyco with an exposed brain, Ichiro, ugh, don't even get me STARTED on Ichiro! The one thing I wonder is if I'm the ONLY person who thinks the animation is stellar? Well, Mitsuko (I think that's how one spells it..), keep up the good work, we've found a deep, mature, genius show, and we can't let it go down without a fight!

-You're partner in fandom, Katie m. Havoc

personally I think this show is cool but I have never seen the old show but it looks kinda like an old astroboy episode with new effects but its kikaider instead of astroboy

I pirsonaly like the show on adult swim and the old one they all seem the same to me but I would like the old theme song back. Email me at mslima@mindspring.com if you find the old or new DVDs.

HEY UMMM DID MITSUKO AND KIKAIDE MAKE WOOPIE? IF SO CAN ROBOTS DO THAT? Please say they can.

THEY DID NOT DO ANY THING LIKE THAT! You sicko! She was only fixing his arm. That's all. sure, it was a strange scene, but all she was doing was REPARING HIM! That's all! Oh, yeah, props for spelling Mitsuko right, it's very refreshing to see some one who can spell her name!

It doesn't lack charm.He does play his guitar,you just didn't see him do it.The old show is retarded.All you except the kikaider fans are retarded.The new ending theme song is better than the old one.Get a life,crapheads.

I think I like the way you think... ^_^

You still here?

Well. This went south fast. This thread is pau.

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