Akumaizer 3 (1975)
Production: Toei Productions
Episodes: 38
By Jeffrey Couto

Introduction

I saw the opening theme to this program a while back and was really intrigued by it as it looked like an action packed show with some very colorful characters, however it would not be till recently that I would have a chance to sit down and really check out the series.

The Story

The underground empire known as the Akuma clan has decided to start its invasion of the surface world and is now beginning to make preparations for its attack. Thankfully Zabitan, who is half human and half Akuma disagrees with their plans and decides to stand up to the clan and protect the surface world from the invaders. The Akuma clan is not pleased with this development and decides to send out Gobbler and Evil to hunt down Zabitan and put a stop to his actions.

As both Gobbler and Evil fight Zabitan they come to realize that they may be on the wrong side of the fight and decide to join Zabitan in his fight to protect humanity from the rest of the evil empire. These three heroes would go on to be known as the Akumaizer 3.

Review

Akumaizer 3 is very different from many of the other tokusatsu programs that I've seen in the past couple of years in that it features "henshin-like" characters that don't have an alter-ego. This aspect of the series allowed the writers to add some very dramatic touches to what could have just been another forgetable hero show. Even though the Akumaizer 3 fight to protect humans, they are not easily accepted by them, after all they used to be part of the Akuma clan, a fact that they cannot hide through a secret human guise.

The other intereting twist to the story is that our heroes are also fugitives from their own world and must now fight against those who used to be their friends and family. Needless to say that will make for some very tense moments as the series progresses all the way to its dramatic conclusion.

Aside from the great storyline what we have here is a very fun to watch TV program from the one and only Ishinomori Shoutarou. Each episode is full of colorful heroics and great fighting choreography between our heroes and whoever they fight in that week's particular episode. Like the 3 musketeers (which is part of this show's theme) Zabitan, Gobbler and Evil fight "all for one, one for all".

The special effects in Akumaizer 3 might be laughable to some, but I thought they were great for a show that aired between 1975 and 1976. Most of the notable sequences involve some interesting miniature/model work, like the scene where you see their old-style galeon ship transforms into a modern (?) battle ship, which they use to get one from one place to another. Other notable effects can be found in some of the fight scenes, including the use of small hidden trampolines that create the illusion of our heroes jumping around the battlefield very effectively (why don't they do this more nowdays?)

Conclusion

Akumaizer 3 is a great TV show that should be represented in every tokusatsu fan's video collection. Everything that we've come to love as fans of this TV genre is very well represented in this production, which is why is so much fun to watch. If you don't like old-school shows, stay away from this one, everyone else go ahead and get yourself a couple of episodes and check it out.

Jeffrey Couto