Jinzo Ningen Kikaida 26-30
By Jmaruyama

Episodes/Villains

#26 “Midori Mammoth Chikyuu Reitou Sakusen” (Green Mammoth - Earth Freezing          Plan/Green Mammoth: The Next Ice Age Project) – Green Mammoth

#27 “Violet Sazae No Akuma No Koi” (Violet Conch – Evil Love/Violet Turbo: Sinister           Love) – Violet Turbo/Conch; Red Devil Stinger, Green Sponge

#28 “Akanbo O Nakasu Aka Oni Okose” (Make The Baby Cry Red Devil Stinger/Red          Devil Stinger: Making Little Boys Cry) – Red Devil Stinger, Green Sponge

#29 “Kaimen Green San Dou Yomigaeru ” (Green Sponge’s Third Resurrection/Green          Sponge: Third Self-Resurrection) – Green Sponge

#30 “Akaneika Bijin Jyoshidaisei O Nerau” (Crimson Squid – Attack The Beautiful          College Coeds/Crimson Squid: Stalker of Pretty Coeds) – Crimson Squid

Summary (From Box Cover)

"A solitary, denim clad road warrior known as Jiro battles the sinister Professor Gill and his squadron of fearsome DARK Destructoid monsters. Vulnerable to Gill’s shrill flute wooing him to the DARK side. Jiro transforms into the mighty red-and-blue android – Kikaida"

The Review

Volume 6. of “Kikaida” does not go beyond what has already been previously established. The episodes featured on the DVD are fairly typical of the series and are neither impressive nor noteworthy. While those “Dark Robots” featured in the episodes of this DVD are a bit more unique in design, they still lumber about like so much heavy baggage and their particular “monster attacks” are more comical than threatening.

“Kikaida” is a series that is totally at home in the 70’s. The outlandish fashions of both Jiro and the other supporting characters can looked upon as either nostalgic or embarrassing depending on the viewer. Frankly, I love seeing all those girls in their go-go boots and mini-skirts again. Of course some of those fashions are just downright hideous in any decade. Case in point, Hattori Hanpei’s plaid pants and loud shirts are an eyesore to be sure. Jiro’s denim outfit is surprisingly timeless and I can imagine someone wearing something like it even today with no problem.

Back on topic, Volume 6 is more for those who have committed themselves to buying the whole series. New or curious viewers should wait until Volume 7 or Volume 8 when Hakaider finally makes his appearance.

Menus

The changeable menus system is an interesting highlight of this disc set (you can either display DVD menu text in English or if you want Japanese).

The Menus are supported by scenes from the Kikaida TV series (you can also hear the haunting refrain of Jiro’s guitar solo in the background).

Languages

The original Japanese soundtrack is available with or without subtitles. The subtitles are fairly easy to read and aren’t overly distracting.

Video

Given that the series originally aired in 1973, the picture quality of the TV episodes here is quite good. While there are some instances where the age of the film print shows some wear (especially in the opening credits) colors are generally very sharp and bright. Images are clear for the most part and special effect animation shots are very clean. For this DVD release, the episodes are presented in a 1.33:1 full-frame aspect ratio, just as they were originally broadcast on television. This is probably the best print one could hope for.

Audio

The DVD features a Dolby Digital audio track. The audio is clear and audible, rendering the dialogue and action sound effects perfectly clear. The BGM, OP and ED songs all sound great and definitely benefit from the improved sound. Other than that, the audio here is nothing special but quite sufficient.

Extras

The Kikaida DVD - Vol. 6 offers a few extras.

DARK Destructoid Monsters with Sound – A visual encyclopedia of all the “Dark Robots” whom Kikaida battled in the series. The encyclopedia features a brief bit on each enemy, punctuated by sound bites of the monsters. This is a continual carry over from the previous DVD installments.

KIKU-TV Promotional Spot – A brief commercial plug for the Kikaida Show Revival (the promotional spot which ran on Nov. 4, 2001). This is a continual carry over from the previous DVD installments.

There are only two new DVD feature included in this installment:

Ban Daisuke Interview – Part 3 – Conducted by KIKU TV President Joanne Ninomiya, this nine (9) minute interview (which was originally part of an hour long KIKU TV Special called “Kikaider In Hawaii”) is a continuation from the previous DVD volume. It touches upon a few interesting trivia regarding the series but is mainly a retrospective session with Ban Daisuke.

Several interesting items were touched upon including the reason for Ban Daisuke’s name change to Ban Naoya. All-in-all the interview had some interesting insights into the show.

Fun Activity Page – This is something new that I haven’t encountered on a DVD before. Using your DVD Controller, kids can interactively complete and color various Kikaida drawings and images onscreen. While most of the hard part has already been programmed in, it is none-the-less interesting to see the images unfold on the TV. This feature will certainly entertain the kids. Adults will probably find it amusing at first but then quickly grow bored after completing the set.

Easter Eggs

None reported thus far.

Jmaruyama

Information

For more information on the Kikaida series, please visit August Ragone’s informative series overview at Henshin Online. The Kikaida Collector’s Editions can be purchased via independent sellers on E-Bay and through select specialty stores like Amazon and Tower Records.

Inquiries can also be made to JN Production’s Kikaida DVD website at www.generationkikaida.com

DVD Specs

Episodes 26-30
Color
Running Time: 2 hrs. 5 min.
NTSC/Region 1
4:3 - Full Screen
Dual-Layer Format
Dolby Digital Sound
Digitally Remastered Picture and Sound
Original Japanese Track with English Subtitles (White)

Cast

Ban Daisuke – Jiro
Kikuchi Toshiaki – Kikaida/Kikaider
Izu Hajime – Dr. Komyoji
Mizuno Jun- Komyoji Mitsuko
Kamiya Masahiro – Komyoji Masaru
Ueda Shun – Hattori Hanpei (Hanpen)
Ando Mitsuo – Professor Gill

DVD Credits

Executive Producer: Joanne Ninomiya
Kikaida Series Translation: Roy Mashime
DVD Cover Design: Erwin Baracao, Brian Onaga
Acknowledgements: Ban Daisuke, Ikeda Shunsuke, Hiroshi Miura, Greg Chang, Marc Miyake, August Ragone
DVD Production Team:
Robby Gaskall
Robert Furukawa
Sereny Suzuki
Karen Corpuz
Ruby Nagao
Chance Gusukuma
Yuko Manatad
Steven Chung
Kristine Yoza
Devin Sakai
Lillian Masamitsu Kam