So she bangs what is essentially a look alike robot of her dead half brother she previously didn't know anything about? Nice. Anime, please, never change.
I liked this as a teenager and, after collecting all four of those fancy holo-covered dvds, I still love this series a lot over ten years later. I know it can come of as melodramatic shlock to some, but it's MY melodramatic shlock.
i could honestly watch the shows fight scenes alone and feel satisfied as a watcher, sometimes in tokusatsu you just wanna see dudes in super suits fighting monsters
There's nothing wrong with liking something. Some of my favorite films are Flash Gordon and Ice Pirates. I loved them as kid, and yeah they are kinda bad, but I got a small soft spot.
WHY YOU HURT ME SAAAAGE dammit lol I had a feeling this would be the case. Even as a 14 year old watching Kikaider in that summer of 2003 late at night I knew it was overwrought and melodramatic. The thing is though I was moody teenager so I loved that shit and thought it was DEEP AND COMPELLING. Oh well, Kikaider might be trashy melodrama, but like someone else said its MY trashy melodrama. The themes are on the nose, the allusions barely that they're so obvious and transparent, but.... its charming to me. It's delightful in its innocently naive, uninspired dullness. It's trying to activate your almonds and is just really bad at it, and this is why it appealed to 14 year old me, because 14 year old me couldn't critically think about the finer details and implications of this kind of writing and took it all at face value as DARK DEPRESSING DRAMATICS. That all said, I think the OVA's ending is great. Or rather that small bit where Kikaider crushes Gil's head and how Gil's submission circuit, which was meant to corrupt Kikaider and turn him evil, ends up synergizing with his conscience circuit, and he realizes that being human isn't just being good but also actively resisting the desire to do harm onto others.... and having the wisdom to know when yes, you HAVE to do "bad" things sometimes for the good of others. It still speaks to me today. EITHER WAY looking forward to Wolf's Rain boiiiiii
I grew up in Hawaii, and they had an exclusive live action show that had over 50 episodes and a part 2 with the main protagonist as Kikaider 01. Except Kikaider was pronounced Kikaida because Japanese accents cannot pronounce Rs. The original show in the 70s was my favorite out of all of this because it was a better version of power rangers. It shows the true colors of what professor Gil's flute can do. BE WARNED, IT IS INTENTIONAL FOR KIDS OR TEENAGERS
I was in the same boat and also emotionally tortured myself with DOT Hack Sign at midnight on Saturdays before Adult Swim took over all late night slots.
"he realizes that being human isn't just being good but also actively resisting the desire to do harm onto others.... and having the wisdom to know when yes, you HAVE to do "bad" things sometimes for the good of others. It still speaks to me today." A lesson a lot of manga and comics still have not learned to this day. Not saying I want Superman, Batman, Naruto, etc. to run around murdering people, just stop rubbing my face in their altruism and plot convenience.
I spent about half this video confused as to how I didn't remember Kikaider when I was glued to my TV every time Toonami was on when I was a kid. Then I saw the snot-nosed brat blaming Kikaider for his own stupidity and it all came flooding back at once. This show's melodrama pissed off nine-year-old me so much that I repressed my memories about it until today! IIRC kid me thought that this was directly connected to Cyborg 009 anime from around the same time because of the art style (I didn't quite understand the concept of different creative teams adapting work from the same creator) and I was so baffled at how Kikaider could be so dull and frustrating compared to 009, which I adored.
Involving the Citizen Kane thing, that IS explained. Late in the film, one of Kane's butlers explained he was the one who heard and was in the room with him. We couldn't see the the butler because of the angle of the shot.
I love the art style and robot character designs for the show. Something about that stuck with me all these years. Plus the OVA Kikaider 01 had enough action to keep me entertained. I still have fond memories of this and the 2001 run of Cyborg 009, but this is definitely tough to go back and rewatch. I typically stick with the OVA when I want to revisit.
Why do I feel like this anime is just badly written angsty fan fiction seeing how Kikaider is an emo robot who wants to be like the humans and his half sister is this useless whiny idiot who falls in love with him despite the fact that he tried to kill her a few times, has an annoying younger brother who hates him for killing his friends and let’s not forget that Kikaider is modeled after her half brother she never knew about. I can’t tell that’s the cliched “kind hearted damsel” sleeping with an angst fueled robot or artificial being or the incest seeing how they’re brother and sister and yet the anime never points it out.
Nah, you’ve missed the point, the entire point is the exploration of humanity through jiro. Also the dude who wrote this was the assistant to the creator of Astro boy, highly doubt he was trying to make it angsty.
Hey Sage, I happened to notice you have DVD release of Ringing Bell on your shelf. You know, the 'first shock movie aimed at children'? That movie written by a real child soldier of WWII as a way to communicate how it felt to side with evil and commit war crimes too horrific for a kid to comprehend? And after writing it he did almost nothing but cutesy harmless banana cartoons until he died a few years back? Any chance we'll be seeing a discussion on that one in the future?
It isn't considered as kid show in most parts of the world being straight up banned in many countries. It is really good story though, if you can go over unusual art-style. Definitely a samurai movie disguised as animal cartoon. Glad that more people know about it now.
@@kostajovanovic3711 Yes. In many countries its release was prohibited, at least as family movie. I generally see why is that, as it basically turn in samurai drama quit fast. If someone would make LA version with humans, no one would guess the original.
I honestly kinda love the art style of this show. It leans towards being very cartoony and exaggerated, but also just being really cute and innocent at it's core, while still retaining a level of practicality, detail, and grace. And I think there's something about that, contrasting with darker and more philosophical themes that just make it so captivating to me.
*Me seeing this:* *>Procides to go cross eyed at the amount of angst.* God this is so melodramatic it's painful. *Also me a person who likes Casshern Sins and Nier: Automata:* Can I request a form to hug Casshern and 9S?....please?
I loved this as I kid, alot like Pilot Candidate, but unlike Pilot (which I still think had a awesome premise but terrible execution) I still can look back and watch this and see why I liked it. Also, that Kikaider theme still gives me chills
@@TheRezro Honestly Part of the reason I like AoT is the lack of fanservice. After so many years of Anime and Japanese games going "YO, CHECK OUT THOSE BOOBS! THAT INCREDIBLY SHORT SKIRT WE MADE FOR OBVIOUS REASONS! LOOK!" You get tired of it to the point it becomes infuriating. Also I love action, even if mindless. SAO can go die in a trash fire.
SAO has a good premise. It failed spectacularly in execution. AoT for me at least just ended up being better than the other titles at the time. I still turned it off after the first episode only to watch it later.
It's like the worst part of a franchise. It's better to just move on and not mention it. Like the last Fallout game made by Interplay Studios, Fallout Brotherhood of Steel.
Speaking of nostalgia, I saw Astro Boy when I was a kid, a decade later when I was in high school this show popped on TV. I was moving away from shounen anime at the time, hell, I think I had already given up on Naruto and One piece at the time but this show and it's similarity with Astro Boy hit me like a ton of bricks. It took me the better part of the first episode to realize what this show reminded me of and an internet search after it had ended to realize why. Shotaro Ishinomori, the man who created this franchise was Tezuka's assistant when he was making Astro Boy, he in fact worked on Astro Boy. This anime was meant to commemorate the older anime Shotaro Ishinomori had made with this character, but for me, a novice that had never heard of him, this anime was a commemoration for Osamu Tezuka. I'm sure Metropolis or more likely the new Pluto manga would have served the same purpose a few years later, but at that time this anime was something I watched religiously. It didn't matter that it wasn't at the same level as Cowboy Bebop, or Paradise Kiss, or The Big O, or even The daughter of Twenty Faces, it was in the style of Tezuka, it was dealing with robots and had character designs and fashion like I hadn't seen since Astor Boy in my earliest memories. It was something I HAD to watch, and yet something I only vaguely remember, actually I think I remember my sister making fun of me for watching this as religiously as I did more then I do anything story wise... God dammit Sage, why'd you go and bring this anime up, now I'm gonna end up rewatching it and the magic is going to go away forever.
I'm really happy with how you covered plot holes in this episode. It isn't that plot holes exist, because you can find them anywhere, it's the abundance of them or the size/severity of them that distracts from the story and ruins the sum of the product overall. If you have so many plot holes or plot holes that are so immense that the sum of the film/show cannot distract from them, then you've messed up!
Plus such what destroy point of the story. As much as I'm glad for explanation, Sage could be also more clear that it isn't one sided issue. Only when reasoning behind nitpicks is full of holes itself and/or pretentious. Worst offenders are nitpicks what are explained, but someone didn't pay attention or get it. Or such what can be easily explained by a kid. For example simple solution for Rosebud issue could be that some maid did her him.
+@@TheRezro Well, in all fairness, we shouldn't HAVE to make those excuses up. The rule typically is, that if we didn't see it, it didn't happen (unless someone tells us that it happened when we didn't see it ourselves, but that's also pretty lazy). The fact of the matter is, while that's noticeable plot hole to those paying attention, the entirety of Citizen Kane is brilliant enough to bring itself over that rather serious issue. Other movies/shows simply can't and the plot holes are far too damaging to keep us invested. There's been a lot of discussion about these sorts of things in the new Star Wars movies, as an example. The sum of those movies isn't enough to keep the plot holes from making them worse.
@@Gakusangi According to who? If creators would waste time to explain any minor bullshit then movies would turn in unwatchable slug-feast for autistic people. In fact the opposite is true. If plot don't contradict it, then simplest solution is probably true. As such it isn't really a plot-hole, proper term is plot-contrivance what is far lesser issue. Proper plot-holes are only things what break consistency of the plot, not when someone didn't properly explain details no one really care. Edit: Someone did menton that script straight confirm that butler did heard the word. But as usual some people don't pay attention and pretend to be smart, like with crazy theories about its meaning when it is quite obvious that what was written on his sleds. So in short he though about his childhood. And Star Wars movies.. ugh.. those are painful memories! In case of OT no one really care, as those were meant to be space fantasy with sound in space. Prequels were criticized primarily because poor execution, bad designs, wooden dialogues and attempts of Lucas to retcon good parts of classic, alongside being over-talked and inconstant. And in fact most people hate only first two movies, not the whole thing. As for recent series it is transparent revenge of prequel fanboys, with most being bots what can only repeat word "shit" and if someone do bring arguments, those usually were initially bring by people who give it good score, as most are barely relevant. Some people make them a huge deal as result of obvious salt poisoning and because protagonist is a woman (teenagers 0_0). In this case OT fanboys don't care as Lucas isn't involved trying retcon they stuff, and most EU fans in fact like that lot of they stuff become officially canon.
Plot is one factor of storytelling, and often not the strongest point depending on the narrative. Otherwise, how is Toy Story and most Pixar movies getting away with praises? Even as a kid I thought living toys made no sense
+Alfred Gomez ...I'm not really sure what you're trying to say here. The plot IS the story. It's the thing that you follow as the story unfolds, the goals at the end and the motivations to pursue them as well as how you get there. You can tell a story really well, but if that story is bad, if it's constructed poorly and meanders aimlessly, it doesn't matter how well you tell it. Plot isn't just a point of storytelling, there's no story without a coherent plot. That's why plot holes can be a big deal. Toy Story is simple, but its plot is solid as a result with very little to mess up. The idea of toys being alive is a suspension of disbelief. If you showed up to a movie like Toy Story, I would hope that you understood that toys were going to be behaving as though they were living things and accepted that. Otherwise, why bother watching it? It's like going to a superhero movie and criticizing it for having having characters that are superhuman and capable of doing extraordinary things that would be impossible for a normal person. See what I mean?
Here's the Thing about Kikaider's Guitar that was left out from the Live-action series. Music Affects Kikaider! Both for Positive and Negative as he is able to Transform with and without it. And he uses to damage Gil's robots by messing with their Circuitry. Hakaider, since he was built by Gil was meant to Counter Kikaider by using the Flute that Gil uses! Man, this is just sad, I liked the final episode of this series, but goddamn...had this fucking series gotten the full 25 or 50 episodes, this could've been better.
@@autobotstarscream765 The Kikaider manga is definitely better than both the anime and the Hakaider spinoffs, and just as good as much of the Toku franchise that it spawned, but it’s also crazier than most other versions, because it’s related to the Inazuman manga. Both must’ve been cult classics in their day.
@alexandra galici they didn't have sex. It was suppose to symbolize the intimacy and love that's shared between man and woman. They just did it in a way that tasteful and subtle by having misiko repair jiro in a moment of intimacy.
It's unfortunate, because I actually really, really like the concept of a robot programmed to do good only achieving humanity by having evil implanted within him. It could have been an interesting concept to focus on, how no man is pure and that "evil" emotions like hate or selfishness are an important part of what makes us human. What a waste of a good idea.
OH THATS what that anime was. I just remember the design of the robot and the guitar playing. And something about killing their brothers and sisters but that might have been a different show on Adult Swim.
@altiar the daggle slayer I just remember seeing it on adult swim and it was legit bugging me for quite a long time whenever I tried to remember it. I thought it was that Cyborg anime that eventually did a crossover with Devilman.
@@TheEnigmaticBM39 Android Kikaider was based off the tokusatsu one shown primarily in Hawaii, called Jinzo Ningen Kikaida, and that show became a hit! Everyone in the 70's in Hawaii was talking about it, but now, since you can tell the quality difference, it's more for kids, that's why the good shit usually happens to kids lol. I live in Hawaii, and this show touched my heart, looking at the anime, it sucks compared to the OG. Jiro is less of a badass, the OG version, he was more of a super hero, when ever there was trouble about, the antagonists will hear the sound of his guitar, announcing his presence, making the enemies aware that they are going to be in one helluva fight! Plus the music was a lot better. It actually had sing-a-long lyrics! And it had a way better story, SPOILERS: The first season was based on finding the creator, Dr. Komyoji, and Hiro found him, but he heard the flute which caused him to nearly kill him. But DARK the evil corporation took Komyoji's brain and made him into Mechanical Violator, Hakaider. The Live-Action or Tokusatsu version had many plot holes, mostly involving Jiro's self understanding and feeling for his enemies, his role as a hero, and his determination to be the hero the world needs him to be. (Mechanical Violator Hakaider is a solo movie that was actually pretty successful, almost like a knock off of Terminator)
Despite how vague my memories are of this show, I can recall wanting to tune in to see where it went. But based on what I am seeing of it, here, I have to wonder if this is a case of the source material not updated properly to (then) modern sensibilities, much in a similar fashion to the more recent Devilman: Crybaby.
Dear, God... As much as I love the works of Shotaro Ishinomori's works, this Kikaider anime only served to constantly confound me at every turn. I was fairly young at the time and could barely make out what was going on for most of the show... But one of the things that stuck with me after seeing this series. Is realizing that my introduction to(implied) intercourse was seeing an anime girl bang a robot... O_O; I really hope the original manga and toku series wasn't as convuluted...
When the Japanese does melodrama, they not only swim in it but they sink into the abyss and slowly at that! It's reasons like this is why I could never get into Kikaider or even its live action predecessor. Watch METALDER: a 1980's live action series heavily inspired by Kikaider but is way more entertaining and with a fantastically large cast of fun villains.
Metalder was in fact good Enshoma.......... at least the first bunch of episodes were and I immediately got bored of watching it half way through. The thing is with Metalder, I think it can only be enjoyed through short bursts. Like maybe 13 or 20 episodes. The series is just too long for my taste. Not as long as the original 1971 Kamen Rider series but long non the less
@@jf4132 39 episodes is long, when the average Toku goes for 50? Agreed on your reception, otherwise. Metalder, and Kikaider, are dull, oblivious characters supplemented by more interesting antagonists. The action in Metalder is worthwhile, at least
@@alfredgomez3128 here's the thing with Metalder. Up until the 20th epsiode, it pretty much starts to feel the same. Metalder is in the lab, cut to the villains, slice of life with Metalder, big bad shows up, and Metalder goes to stop him. After a while it starts to get boring and I honestly couldn't be fucked to finish the whole series.
I remember having vague memories of this show's trailers. It almost felt like a fever dream until I saw the main villain then I knew this was an actual thing and not some fake memory.
I remember only catching episodes here and there and finding it insanely hard to follow for how blatantly simple the story was. Like, maybe this was due to the attempts to make it seem deeper than it was making it worse than it could've been, or maybe it was the animation, but to say the least I struggled to figure out what was going on during the last episode. I mean there's no motion when some attacks are done to some of the characters, they just kinda explode or get a limb chopped off or something. It made me feel dumb not being able to follow it, but now I can see it was mostly just due to the show being very poorly made.
I could never really get into Wolf's Rain. The only draw for me were the voices that I recognized from other shows. Mostly Hige's voice being Tai from Digimon.
I'd never even heard of this series but I can certainly understand that feeling of originally loving a show only to end up kicking myself for ever feeling that way with the series Tokyo Underground (the only series I can think of where the opening lies to you).
You know that whole magic flute plan is VERY flawed... He'll get tired of playing it eventually, and once that happens there's nothing stopping him from getting FLCL'd in the face.
@@TactlessC Accualy it's the only series I could not bear to watch. I dropped this pice of shit only few episodes in... and I watched whole Victory Gundam series!
I wouldn't be so hard on the anime telling the story of Pinocchio in setting up its themes. It is important to remember that this was never made with a Western audience in mind. It was made in Japan for a Japanese audience that does not have extensive experience with old European folk tales.
@@TheSufferingDarkness I think Pinocchio is a disturbingly bloody book by Carlo Collodi released in 1883, not the early 20th century but still close. I think the Pinocchio book referenced in Kikaider must’ve been the fictionalisation of a few more comical manga retellings.
not a masterpiece but this series and it's OVA arent trash in the least, sure it's melodramatic as all hell and can be a lttle rushed in places but it's still good for what it is, a entertaining sci fi action drama with themes about what it means to be human, free will vs programming/subjugation, love and hate and lots of other neat stuff, this series is a winner in my book, although i still love the original tokusatsu series as well, along with it's reboots and spin-offs (Mechanical Violator Hakaider...need i say more?), i am a huge toku-geek at heart, so yeah this my take
A comment below got me curious about the manga, so I looked it up and found a total of 2 chapters online. :/ But even with just 2 chapters, the way it tells its story feels very different. Jiro acts more frustrated than mopey about his situation IE after this realization 11:02 he actually DOES go straight to Mitsuko in the hopes she can make him normal. Also, Mitsuko doesn't initiate needless multi-episode drama by insisting Jiro's just a machine, which causes him to wander off in the first place. Again, just two chapters, but it feels so much more different than the anime, and really lends credibility to the idea that this series was needlessly padding itself out with forced drama and the mopey-mopes. Oh, and Gemini WAS a play on Jiminy.
I really don't remember this show but I do remember watching cyborg 009 (2001). I really loved it, but they never released a box set, and I wish they would. Side note: yaaas. Wolf's rain. Are you ever going to review S-Cry-Ed?
Kikaider is designed for a very specific audience, and that audience is people who like Shotaro Ishinomori. Especially because, if I recall, it's supposed to be closer in theme to the original manga than the Tokusatsu show was. And if you think the manga wasn't as poorly paced and melodramatic then you haven't read Ishinomori's works...or any manga from before the 80s if I'm being honest. The faults are sort of charming. Not to mention it set up a precedence and audience for the Cyborg 009 anime that'd happen a year later.
I'm not sure about it. Even people who like Frank Miller admit that his work tend to be ridiculous. Otherwise you are blind tasteless fanboy. Still when we adopt something we should try improve and not be honest toward lowest denominator, as we can end with parody that way. For example Shimamoto improved his version of Skull Man to point that Ishinomori later canonized it.
It certainly have flaw and this is totally my Toku side talking here but I still love this series. I find the struggle of Kikaider life as a cyborg interesting, that’s it. Nice review though.
The one thing about the 4 episode OVA I questioned is why did Jiro and others act like it was a big deal to protect Akira? Akira had no personality and was constantly being held by Reiko like a lifeless doll. Instead why wasn't it Reiko they needed to protect? Again Akira was kind of there
I just turned 28 years old, and Ive just finished watching this anime for the very first time in one sitting. I really enjoyed it.. Did I watch it wrong or something? It had its moments of being like "Thats stupid!" but I didnt experience anything I would consider terrible or unbearable to watch. Maybe I just have bad tastes? Idk.
I wish you'd tell more about the backstory of the stuff you review. Like how Kikaider was mostly known to be a Sentai show like Kamen Rider? I know the manga came first but the live action is the most well known adaptation. Also, I wonder how the hell these humanoid robots turn into metallic ones.. that oddly have glass parts, it seems?
I mostly just remember thinking how dope that guitar jingle he would play was. I remember liking the show and then when I realized what looked like the show ended after maybe 13 episodes I just didn't care. And then I think I saw later that that brother villain guy was still the main bad guy and the show doesn't really go anywhere. I could be making up some of this lol
Question; what the hell was the villain paying his secretary that could convince her to marry and bear children with this one guy who MIGHT develop world-changing technology?
Kikaider was a strong start that kept me interested and wanting to know where the story went through to the end of the first part with its sort of cliff hanger ending... then it got to the second part (OVA where he teams up with the beta version of himself and the successor version and the two other girls androids) and fights Professor Gill/Hackider Cyborg and it becomes like a free fall off a cliff that finally ended with me hitting the bottom. I wish I had just stopped when I assumed the series ended.
6:40 a year and a half late, but there in fact was a character that heard him say rosebud, the butler. he isn't shown on screen but he does say in testimony that he was there when kane died and heard him say rosebud. your point still stands but your example does not
I just dig your reviews. I didnt' have cable in early 2000s so admittedly I only saw anime I bought at the time. So this was a good view to what you guys had.
Wooo! Wolf's Rain!! I don't know how many times I played "Stray" while waiting for them rerun it in Adult Swim (as you do when you don't have money). Man that show is stupidly complicated for what amounts to a weird 'paradise lost' story.
It's okay, the live action didn't really suffer a much better fate. They tried to reboot the series with a new movie (that no one watched or wanted) and pushing it by having him cameo and steal two episodes from Kamen Rider Gaim... during the build up to the finale and completely undermining the tension. Basically it went: "What's that? Your city is on lockdown and there's nukes on the way? Eldritch abominations are taking over and infecting and/or killing innocent civilians? And one of your heroes has just turned into the final boss and is attempting to end the world entirely by turning it into an alien forest of evil monsters and mutagenic plant life? ....well, here have two episodes where you help this robot no one's heard of learn to love and an audience favorite puts his brain in a jar for no reason."
Yep Ryoma basically pulls a Dr Gero and somehow managed to put his own brain into a robot body, and then put his brain back into his human body like nothing ever happened, except you know he put his brain into a robot and back to his normal body.
I feel like the Casshern Sins suffered from some of the same problems this show did, though I think the execution was a little better in Sins. The last classic anime remake I saw that I thought really worked was Yatterman Night. The flip of the heroes and villains was a nice take. Even though I never watched the original show, I still cared about the characters and actively rooted for their success. It made the the pyrrhic victory of the ending mean that much more. Also, you need to watch Tekkaman Blade 2. If there's one anime that signaled my descent into Oldtaku territory, it was that.
I just finished this Anime, the only thing I liked was Jiro/Kikaider himself 😂 I don't think is bad, but it definitly isn't good either. It was like super Neutral to me. Except for Jiro and the topic itself of a machine with human emotion (which is far from being something new, but I still like that concept)
I remember watching this solely for the visuals. Like it or not, they nailed quite a few of the dramatic shots and the moodier bits work quite nicely with the somber albiet idiotic plotpoints. Heck, if the writer had actually bothered with creating an actual plot and characters, the team working on this could have made this a very decent show. Sage, If you want to feel guilty about your past choices, then perhaps this will help: I used to look forward to seeing new episodes of Gundam Wing and was actually a huge fan of the characters. Also, Blue Gender is still a huge "guilty pleasure" of mine that I can still find enjoyment from even as an adult.
Excellent ‘stache, Sage! I’m never confident enough to rock a mustache. I opt for keeping a full beard. Movember is a great cause. My grandfather and father-in-law are both cancer survivors. Android Kikaider: I had pretty much forgotten about this anime until watching this review! Honestly I couldn’t even remember it’s title. As I watched this episode all the memories came back. Like you, I too remember “liking” the show when it aired. I liked the (supposed) pathos and the broody characters. Also, I’ve always liked acoustic guitar playing melancholic tunes. I did and still do like the art style. I’m pretty sure I also liked Android 009, though I don’t really have much memory of that one either. It’s an interesting experience going back and watching an anime again that you remember liking but only watched the once - especially when it’s been many years. The cracks are certainly more visible. Even seeing the clips here, I can tell where the show really doesn’t hold up. I’m still going to feel nostalgic about the show and that era of Adult Swim, but I’m also well aware of my rose tinted glasses. I’m having a similar experience with a show I’m re-watching, but not as extreme. It’s been a few years since I’ve watched it, but the advancements in viewing technology haven’t been kind to it. Get Backers (if you’re interested in which show) doesn’t look great on my HDTV. You can really see where they used cheap animation and low frame rates. You could tell before, but it’s even more apparent on a larger HD screen. It’s still one of my favorites; though, I prefer the manga. The show was definitely toned down for a younger audience like a Fox Saturday morning cartoon. But the characters and situations are still interesting enough to keep you watching. I recently discovered the whole thing is on Amazon video and have been rewatching it even though I have all of the DVDs. Anyway, great episode as always, Sage! I’m interested in the next episode. I never really got into Wolf’s Rain when it aired, but I had friends that did. I’m not sure I ever finished watching the show.
Speaking of the ever classic Genma Wars, have you ever seen the 2004 series? It's like... OMFG, it's amazing! Words cannot describe the incompetency involved in every moment of that show, it has to be seen to be believed! I tried showing it to someone and they bailed after 3 minutes, they just could not take any more.
No doubt. And as the magical genre evolved BOY thank god it did. I watched cardcapter sakura and the quality in overall really is in CS's favor. And I was expecting the same level of quality. Damn
@@baloowailey6278 I must ask for a little clarification. If you're calling Sailor Moon and Card Captor Sakura devolutions, I respectfully disagree. If you're calling what came _after_ them devolutions...
OMG Wolfsrain!!! I LOVE IT. It was the first Anime I ever managed to buy, back when I was 12. Haaah memories T.T Its so beautifully gothic. It gas a 2 part Manga adaption(I think, don't shoot me) that was very well drawn but with a different story arc. Sure it had its issues(a bit slow in the pacing sometimes) but I still like watching it today 15 years later.
After watching your review for this and some of the episodes for this, I like Cyborg 009: The Cyborg Solider more than this cause it was more fun, was a better good tribute to it's original creator and had an ending theme song that won't get out of your head.
@alexandra galici I think it is a little worse because the character designs against the background and the lack of consistency makes them feel like they just couldn't exist within there own universe
This was my first exposure to Robot Gore. I loved it and still love it today. I’ve rewatched it a few times over the years. The plot was a little confusing but damnit I loved it anyway. I will definitely be willing to buy all the whole series. Love the mention of Cyborg 009. Love that show too.
But that ending theme though... I remember this show being the point that I would get some food or sometimes play games during adult swim. The only reason I would tune in was the closing credits and because Trigun was coming on next.
I am a huge fan of Shotaro's work. I even had the opportunity to read the original manga the anime is based off of. I was hyped when this series aired. Looking back........I can see why Sage feels the way he feels. I did look back at the Kikaider OVA that introduced 01 and.........yea I was scratching my head a few times even back then.
Watched your intro and such and since you announced this review last week, I've been racking my brain trying to remember the details of this anime and, if I'm being fair? Yeah, I don't think this would hold up like it did when I saw it. Even when the series first came on, I found certain aspects annoying and stupid (like the guitar). The angsty "what is human?" plotline also got annoying. I mean I think it's overused in this kind of story as it is, but Kikaider kicked it way up. I also got thrown off by the follow-up. This was before I fully grasped the concept of OVAs, spinoffs, etc. but I was completely lost during the second Kikaider series.
ya i remember trying to remember this show i when searching for it and finding all kinds of shows looking for it like guyver thinking it was the show i was looking for but when i did actually find i remember liking it never thought it was the best but it was ok
Personally, I think the problem is that it's made for people who like tragic endings in shows or movies. The only disappointment I see in this is that it isn't a long series, they skipped through story and just went straight to the point in which I seen in most animes that they have "filler episodes" and I wish they focused more on the story like the manga and live action version, but this was just a rushed anime. I think it would've been better if it was rebooted and made with better quality and tell all the untold stories that weren't in this video with the connections to all the other animes
So she bangs what is essentially a look alike robot of her dead half brother she previously didn't know anything about? Nice. Anime, please, never change.
W...wh..whaa....?
I'll admit, that one threw me off, and knowing it now as an adult, I'd had to ask, was that the right move for that kind of anime they produced?
How come her dad didn’t tell her about the fact that she had an older brother who died years ago?
I liked this as a teenager and, after collecting all four of those fancy holo-covered dvds, I still love this series a lot over ten years later. I know it can come of as melodramatic shlock to some, but it's MY melodramatic shlock.
I like the old school artstyle.
Hey, that's cool. I love the Fifth Element and Mortal Kombat. Oh and Lexx. Nothing gets more schlocky than Lexx. We all have our guilty pleasures.
i could honestly watch the shows fight scenes alone and feel satisfied as a watcher, sometimes in tokusatsu you just wanna see dudes in super suits fighting monsters
There's nothing wrong with liking something.
Some of my favorite films are Flash Gordon and Ice Pirates. I loved them as kid, and yeah they are kinda bad, but I got a small soft spot.
it's the same for me but Doomed Megalopolis
WHY YOU HURT ME SAAAAGE dammit lol I had a feeling this would be the case. Even as a 14 year old watching Kikaider in that summer of 2003 late at night I knew it was overwrought and melodramatic. The thing is though I was moody teenager so I loved that shit and thought it was DEEP AND COMPELLING.
Oh well, Kikaider might be trashy melodrama, but like someone else said its MY trashy melodrama. The themes are on the nose, the allusions barely that they're so obvious and transparent, but.... its charming to me. It's delightful in its innocently naive, uninspired dullness. It's trying to activate your almonds and is just really bad at it, and this is why it appealed to 14 year old me, because 14 year old me couldn't critically think about the finer details and implications of this kind of writing and took it all at face value as DARK DEPRESSING DRAMATICS.
That all said, I think the OVA's ending is great. Or rather that small bit where Kikaider crushes Gil's head and how Gil's submission circuit, which was meant to corrupt Kikaider and turn him evil, ends up synergizing with his conscience circuit, and he realizes that being human isn't just being good but also actively resisting the desire to do harm onto others.... and having the wisdom to know when yes, you HAVE to do "bad" things sometimes for the good of others. It still speaks to me today.
EITHER WAY looking forward to Wolf's Rain boiiiiii
I grew up in Hawaii, and they had an exclusive live action show that had over 50 episodes and a part 2 with the main protagonist as Kikaider 01. Except Kikaider was pronounced Kikaida because Japanese accents cannot pronounce Rs. The original show in the 70s was my favorite out of all of this because it was a better version of power rangers. It shows the true colors of what professor Gil's flute can do. BE WARNED, IT IS INTENTIONAL FOR KIDS OR TEENAGERS
I was in the same boat and also emotionally tortured myself with DOT Hack Sign at midnight on Saturdays before Adult Swim took over all late night slots.
"he realizes that being human isn't just being good but also actively resisting the desire to do harm onto others.... and having the wisdom to know when yes, you HAVE to do "bad" things sometimes for the good of others. It still speaks to me today."
A lesson a lot of manga and comics still have not learned to this day. Not saying I want Superman, Batman, Naruto, etc. to run around murdering people, just stop rubbing my face in their altruism and plot convenience.
I like kikaider too. I watched it as a kid
I do miss this kinda character design.
You just don't see it anymore.
Nowadays it is hard to find out anything what isn't shitty moe 0_0
Ikr? I miss it too...
Same, I miss good ol potato faces too, big noses have also gone the way of the dinosaur...
Cyborg 009 was kinda like that, and super underrated
Yyyep
I spent about half this video confused as to how I didn't remember Kikaider when I was glued to my TV every time Toonami was on when I was a kid. Then I saw the snot-nosed brat blaming Kikaider for his own stupidity and it all came flooding back at once. This show's melodrama pissed off nine-year-old me so much that I repressed my memories about it until today! IIRC kid me thought that this was directly connected to Cyborg 009 anime from around the same time because of the art style (I didn't quite understand the concept of different creative teams adapting work from the same creator) and I was so baffled at how Kikaider could be so dull and frustrating compared to 009, which I adored.
A well timed Robot Chicken clip always puts a big dumb smile in my face.
*Sage:* What is a man?
*Dracula:* A miserable pile of secrets. But enough talk, have at you!
Belmont: Die Monster!!
Involving the Citizen Kane thing, that IS explained. Late in the film, one of Kane's butlers explained he was the one who heard and was in the room with him. We couldn't see the the butler because of the angle of the shot.
I love the art style and robot character designs for the show. Something about that stuck with me all these years. Plus the OVA Kikaider 01 had enough action to keep me entertained. I still have fond memories of this and the 2001 run of Cyborg 009, but this is definitely tough to go back and rewatch. I typically stick with the OVA when I want to revisit.
Kikaider is the reason robots should never cry, cause once they do they never stop
And to quote another Simpsons joke: "Why? Why was I programmed to feel pain?!" - one of Prof. Frink's robot's, after an angry mob set fire to his lab
Why do I feel like this anime is just badly written angsty fan fiction seeing how Kikaider is an emo robot who wants to be like the humans and his half sister is this useless whiny idiot who falls in love with him despite the fact that he tried to kill her a few times, has an annoying younger brother who hates him for killing his friends and let’s not forget that Kikaider is modeled after her half brother she never knew about. I can’t tell that’s the cliched “kind hearted damsel” sleeping with an angst fueled robot or artificial being or the incest seeing how they’re brother and sister and yet the anime never points it out.
Nah, you’ve missed the point, the entire point is the exploration of humanity through jiro. Also the dude who wrote this was the assistant to the creator of Astro boy, highly doubt he was trying to make it angsty.
Hey Sage, I happened to notice you have DVD release of Ringing Bell on your shelf. You know, the 'first shock movie aimed at children'? That movie written by a real child soldier of WWII as a way to communicate how it felt to side with evil and commit war crimes too horrific for a kid to comprehend? And after writing it he did almost nothing but cutesy harmless banana cartoons until he died a few years back? Any chance we'll be seeing a discussion on that one in the future?
It isn't considered as kid show in most parts of the world being straight up banned in many countries. It is really good story though, if you can go over unusual art-style. Definitely a samurai movie disguised as animal cartoon. Glad that more people know about it now.
+TheRezro banned?
@@kostajovanovic3711 Yes. In many countries its release was prohibited, at least as family movie. I generally see why is that, as it basically turn in samurai drama quit fast. If someone would make LA version with humans, no one would guess the original.
I honestly kinda love the art style of this show. It leans towards being very cartoony and exaggerated, but also just being really cute and innocent at it's core, while still retaining a level of practicality, detail, and grace. And I think there's something about that, contrasting with darker and more philosophical themes that just make it so captivating to me.
It's mimicking Ishinomori's artsyle, they did the same with the 2001 Cyborg 009 remake
"Is this my voice?"
You missed a perfect spot for the "is this a bird?" meme.
*Me seeing this:*
*>Procides to go cross eyed at the amount of angst.*
God this is so melodramatic it's painful.
*Also me a person who likes Casshern Sins and Nier: Automata:*
Can I request a form to hug Casshern and 9S?....please?
I loved this as I kid, alot like Pilot Candidate, but unlike Pilot (which I still think had a awesome premise but terrible execution) I still can look back and watch this and see why I liked it. Also, that Kikaider theme still gives me chills
Wasn't Pilot candidate unfinished? Seemed like it was getting interesting and just stopped...I remember it and thinking it reminded me of Evangelion.
@@AzazelZaphorOmega Pilot Candidate was based on a far better manga of the same name and that’s why the manga’s allowed to be completed later.
We've all had that stage where we thought anime was so great that we'd watch literally anything anime.
It is why people like SAO and AoT.. ugh!
I kinda see sao as one of my guilty pleasures but I just cannot get into aot
@@TheRezro Honestly Part of the reason I like AoT is the lack of fanservice.
After so many years of Anime and Japanese games going "YO, CHECK OUT THOSE BOOBS! THAT INCREDIBLY SHORT SKIRT WE MADE FOR OBVIOUS REASONS! LOOK!" You get tired of it to the point it becomes infuriating.
Also I love action, even if mindless.
SAO can go die in a trash fire.
SAO has a good premise. It failed spectacularly in execution. AoT for me at least just ended up being better than the other titles at the time. I still turned it off after the first episode only to watch it later.
@@TheRezro I don't like sao or attack on titan.
"I have yet to throw down my notes, and just rage quit an anime"
Uh... Remember Jungle de Ikou?
Yeah.... Maybe you shouldn't.
It's like the worst part of a franchise. It's better to just move on and not mention it. Like the last Fallout game made by Interplay Studios, Fallout Brotherhood of Steel.
@@nathanclark2424 Does that mean the Jungle De Ikou episode is non-canon?
@@Green-Raccoon777 it thats the case, then every episode after it is non canon. Since that is the episode Gabe lost his eye
DeadEyeJ that was less of a rage-quit and more of a fear-quit
@@DeadBoneJones It was more like he had to quit or the FBI would come knocking at his door.
Speaking of nostalgia, I saw Astro Boy when I was a kid, a decade later when I was in high school this show popped on TV. I was moving away from shounen anime at the time, hell, I think I had already given up on Naruto and One piece at the time but this show and it's similarity with Astro Boy hit me like a ton of bricks. It took me the better part of the first episode to realize what this show reminded me of and an internet search after it had ended to realize why. Shotaro Ishinomori, the man who created this franchise was Tezuka's assistant when he was making Astro Boy, he in fact worked on Astro Boy. This anime was meant to commemorate the older anime Shotaro Ishinomori had made with this character, but for me, a novice that had never heard of him, this anime was a commemoration for Osamu Tezuka. I'm sure Metropolis or more likely the new Pluto manga would have served the same purpose a few years later, but at that time this anime was something I watched religiously. It didn't matter that it wasn't at the same level as Cowboy Bebop, or Paradise Kiss, or The Big O, or even The daughter of Twenty Faces, it was in the style of Tezuka, it was dealing with robots and had character designs and fashion like I hadn't seen since Astor Boy in my earliest memories. It was something I HAD to watch, and yet something I only vaguely remember, actually I think I remember my sister making fun of me for watching this as religiously as I did more then I do anything story wise... God dammit Sage, why'd you go and bring this anime up, now I'm gonna end up rewatching it and the magic is going to go away forever.
I'm really happy with how you covered plot holes in this episode. It isn't that plot holes exist, because you can find them anywhere, it's the abundance of them or the size/severity of them that distracts from the story and ruins the sum of the product overall. If you have so many plot holes or plot holes that are so immense that the sum of the film/show cannot distract from them, then you've messed up!
Plus such what destroy point of the story. As much as I'm glad for explanation, Sage could be also more clear that it isn't one sided issue. Only when reasoning behind nitpicks is full of holes itself and/or pretentious. Worst offenders are nitpicks what are explained, but someone didn't pay attention or get it. Or such what can be easily explained by a kid. For example simple solution for Rosebud issue could be that some maid did her him.
+@@TheRezro Well, in all fairness, we shouldn't HAVE to make those excuses up. The rule typically is, that if we didn't see it, it didn't happen (unless someone tells us that it happened when we didn't see it ourselves, but that's also pretty lazy). The fact of the matter is, while that's noticeable plot hole to those paying attention, the entirety of Citizen Kane is brilliant enough to bring itself over that rather serious issue. Other movies/shows simply can't and the plot holes are far too damaging to keep us invested. There's been a lot of discussion about these sorts of things in the new Star Wars movies, as an example. The sum of those movies isn't enough to keep the plot holes from making them worse.
@@Gakusangi According to who? If creators would waste time to explain any minor bullshit then movies would turn in unwatchable slug-feast for autistic people. In fact the opposite is true. If plot don't contradict it, then simplest solution is probably true. As such it isn't really a plot-hole, proper term is plot-contrivance what is far lesser issue. Proper plot-holes are only things what break consistency of the plot, not when someone didn't properly explain details no one really care.
Edit: Someone did menton that script straight confirm that butler did heard the word. But as usual some people don't pay attention and pretend to be smart, like with crazy theories about its meaning when it is quite obvious that what was written on his sleds. So in short he though about his childhood.
And Star Wars movies.. ugh.. those are painful memories! In case of OT no one really care, as those were meant to be space fantasy with sound in space. Prequels were criticized primarily because poor execution, bad designs, wooden dialogues and attempts of Lucas to retcon good parts of classic, alongside being over-talked and inconstant. And in fact most people hate only first two movies, not the whole thing. As for recent series it is transparent revenge of prequel fanboys, with most being bots what can only repeat word "shit" and if someone do bring arguments, those usually were initially bring by people who give it good score, as most are barely relevant. Some people make them a huge deal as result of obvious salt poisoning and because protagonist is a woman (teenagers 0_0). In this case OT fanboys don't care as Lucas isn't involved trying retcon they stuff, and most EU fans in fact like that lot of they stuff become officially canon.
Plot is one factor of storytelling, and often not the strongest point depending on the narrative.
Otherwise, how is Toy Story and most Pixar movies getting away with praises? Even as a kid I thought living toys made no sense
+Alfred Gomez ...I'm not really sure what you're trying to say here. The plot IS the story. It's the thing that you follow as the story unfolds, the goals at the end and the motivations to pursue them as well as how you get there. You can tell a story really well, but if that story is bad, if it's constructed poorly and meanders aimlessly, it doesn't matter how well you tell it. Plot isn't just a point of storytelling, there's no story without a coherent plot. That's why plot holes can be a big deal.
Toy Story is simple, but its plot is solid as a result with very little to mess up. The idea of toys being alive is a suspension of disbelief. If you showed up to a movie like Toy Story, I would hope that you understood that toys were going to be behaving as though they were living things and accepted that. Otherwise, why bother watching it? It's like going to a superhero movie and criticizing it for having having characters that are superhuman and capable of doing extraordinary things that would be impossible for a normal person. See what I mean?
It's like the cartoon/Sentai troupes and serious/edgy troupes are constantly fighting with each other.
Sooo The new Kamen Rider Amazon then?
Pretty much anything if you don't find a balance to it or else its going to blow over
@@viraltang THANK YOU
Kikaider was made by Shotaro Ishinomori Who also created Kamen Rider and Super Sentai.
@@viraltang lmao
Here's the Thing about Kikaider's Guitar that was left out from the Live-action series. Music Affects Kikaider! Both for Positive and Negative as he is able to Transform with and without it. And he uses to damage Gil's robots by messing with their Circuitry.
Hakaider, since he was built by Gil was meant to Counter Kikaider by using the Flute that Gil uses!
Man, this is just sad, I liked the final episode of this series, but goddamn...had this fucking series gotten the full 25 or 50 episodes, this could've been better.
So basically, the anime is a botched adaptation that basically ignores the central gimmick of the story and turns it into pointless gibberish?
@@autobotstarscream765 The Kikaider manga is definitely better than both the anime and the Hakaider spinoffs, and just as good as much of the Toku franchise that it spawned, but it’s also crazier than most other versions, because it’s related to the Inazuman manga. Both must’ve been cult classics in their day.
13:03 What sci-fi anime can't be complete without some good old robot sex.
I'd rather watch Futurama for Robot Sex...
All Hail the Robo-sexuals!
With his sister???
@alexandra galici they didn't have sex. It was suppose to symbolize the intimacy and love that's shared between man and woman. They just did it in a way that tasteful and subtle by having misiko repair jiro in a moment of intimacy.
21:06 Oh...Oh, poor Steve Blum. You deserve so much better than...this.
Guy needs the money.
gagejoseph91 that sad part is that this isn’t the worst thing he was in
Even he has to eat.
Shotaro Ishinomori created an entire genre that's impressive
It's unfortunate, because I actually really, really like the concept of a robot programmed to do good only achieving humanity by having evil implanted within him. It could have been an interesting concept to focus on, how no man is pure and that "evil" emotions like hate or selfishness are an important part of what makes us human. What a waste of a good idea.
Watch The ova
A lot of sci-fi fiction does this kinda stuff, unfortunately - but at least it’s not Detroit: Become Human.
Read the manga of this.
Skyler Gulley I’m sure the manga is much better, for sure.
OH THATS what that anime was. I just remember the design of the robot and the guitar playing. And something about killing their brothers and sisters but that might have been a different show on Adult Swim.
That was the ova
@altiar the daggle slayer I just remember seeing it on adult swim and it was legit bugging me for quite a long time whenever I tried to remember it. I thought it was that Cyborg anime that eventually did a crossover with Devilman.
@@TheEnigmaticBM39 Android Kikaider was based off the tokusatsu one shown primarily in Hawaii, called Jinzo Ningen Kikaida, and that show became a hit! Everyone in the 70's in Hawaii was talking about it, but now, since you can tell the quality difference, it's more for kids, that's why the good shit usually happens to kids lol. I live in Hawaii, and this show touched my heart, looking at the anime, it sucks compared to the OG. Jiro is less of a badass, the OG version, he was more of a super hero, when ever there was trouble about, the antagonists will hear the sound of his guitar, announcing his presence, making the enemies aware that they are going to be in one helluva fight! Plus the music was a lot better. It actually had sing-a-long lyrics! And it had a way better story, SPOILERS: The first season was based on finding the creator, Dr. Komyoji, and Hiro found him, but he heard the flute which caused him to nearly kill him. But DARK the evil corporation took Komyoji's brain and made him into Mechanical Violator, Hakaider. The Live-Action or Tokusatsu version had many plot holes, mostly involving Jiro's self understanding and feeling for his enemies, his role as a hero, and his determination to be the hero the world needs him to be.
(Mechanical Violator Hakaider is a solo movie that was actually pretty successful, almost like a knock off of Terminator)
Despite how vague my memories are of this show, I can recall wanting to tune in to see where it went. But based on what I am seeing of it, here, I have to wonder if this is a case of the source material not updated properly to (then) modern sensibilities, much in a similar fashion to the more recent Devilman: Crybaby.
You're a superpowered robot with emotions... WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO BE HUMAN?!
Dear, God... As much as I love the works of Shotaro Ishinomori's works, this Kikaider anime only served to constantly confound me at every turn. I was fairly young at the time and could barely make out what was going on for most of the show... But one of the things that stuck with me after seeing this series. Is realizing that my introduction to(implied) intercourse was seeing an anime girl bang a robot... O_O;
I really hope the original manga and toku series wasn't as convuluted...
From what I know is not..
When the Japanese does melodrama, they not only swim in it but they sink into the abyss and slowly at that! It's reasons like this is why I could never get into Kikaider or even its live action predecessor. Watch METALDER: a 1980's live action series heavily inspired by Kikaider but is way more entertaining and with a fantastically large cast of fun villains.
Metalder was in fact good Enshoma.......... at least the first bunch of episodes were and I immediately got bored of watching it half way through. The thing is with Metalder, I think it can only be enjoyed through short bursts. Like maybe 13 or 20 episodes. The series is just too long for my taste. Not as long as the original 1971 Kamen Rider series but long non the less
Metalder? The one that is bastardized into part of VR Troopers?
@@jf4132 39 episodes is long, when the average Toku goes for 50?
Agreed on your reception, otherwise. Metalder, and Kikaider, are dull, oblivious characters supplemented by more interesting antagonists. The action in Metalder is worthwhile, at least
@@alfredgomez3128 here's the thing with Metalder. Up until the 20th epsiode, it pretty much starts to feel the same. Metalder is in the lab, cut to the villains, slice of life with Metalder, big bad shows up, and Metalder goes to stop him. After a while it starts to get boring and I honestly couldn't be fucked to finish the whole series.
No this was made to honor Ishinomori. Why? Cause the anime is pretty accurate to the original Manga.
Kamen Rider Gaim: "i gave Kikaider the name Jiro because he reminds me of my dead pet dog"
Kamen Rider Duke: "i am also now Hakaider!"
Kinda looks like the emo version of Cyborg 009.
Because it is..
Nah, that be Skullman and the KR Black manga.
Is this in the same universe as Cyborg 009
@@isaiahkayode6526 same creator.
I remember having vague memories of this show's trailers. It almost felt like a fever dream until I saw the main villain then I knew this was an actual thing and not some fake memory.
I remember only catching episodes here and there and finding it insanely hard to follow for how blatantly simple the story was. Like, maybe this was due to the attempts to make it seem deeper than it was making it worse than it could've been, or maybe it was the animation, but to say the least I struggled to figure out what was going on during the last episode. I mean there's no motion when some attacks are done to some of the characters, they just kinda explode or get a limb chopped off or something.
It made me feel dumb not being able to follow it, but now I can see it was mostly just due to the show being very poorly made.
I could never really get into Wolf's Rain. The only draw for me were the voices that I recognized from other shows. Mostly Hige's voice being Tai from Digimon.
I remember watching this Anime when I was a Kid, I had no idea what was going on but I've still enjoyed it.
I'd never even heard of this series but I can certainly understand that feeling of originally loving a show only to end up kicking myself for ever feeling that way with the series Tokyo Underground (the only series I can think of where the opening lies to you).
If Kikaider was going for a fairy tale parallel then it really should have taken a page from Jin-Roh.
Yea because Kikaider knew about Jin Roh years before it came out amirite? No.
@@cruzgonzalez7061 Considering the fact that this came out 2 years *after* Jin-Roh then they would have something to take notes on.
@@9Godslayer I was talking about the series as whole, when it started back in the early 70s.
@@cruzgonzalez7061 But we're talking about the anime. I mean, that is what he is reviewing.
You know that whole magic flute plan is VERY flawed... He'll get tired of playing it eventually, and once that happens there's nothing stopping him from getting FLCL'd in the face.
"Is not suited for college film students"
Ha! Joke's on you: I'm graduated.
*cries in unemployment*
9:34 ...A miserable pile of secrets?
Damn it I was going to make that comment but you beat me to the punch😂😂😂
A happy cluster of answers
I was thinking the same comment. How many times does Dracula has to keep saying it?
Do Turn A Gundam - it's called "mustache gundam" - would fit the month ;)
never got a dub. he doesn't do subbed anime
@@Spekor It's by far the best Gundam series.... I can dub it for him and burn onto DVD if I must :D
It is NOT the best Gundam. It's average at best, and that's being nice. Stupid ass blind fanboy.
You're probably one of those people who likes SEED aren't you?
@@TactlessC Accualy it's the only series I could not bear to watch. I dropped this pice of shit only few episodes in... and I watched whole Victory Gundam series!
Sealab 2021 > Rick & Morty. Fight me.
Agree
Why would I fight you? You speak the truth.
I wouldn't be so hard on the anime telling the story of Pinocchio in setting up its themes. It is important to remember that this was never made with a Western audience in mind. It was made in Japan for a Japanese audience that does not have extensive experience with old European folk tales.
But Pinocchio isn’t a folk tale, it’s a disturbing book from the early twentieth century
@@TheSufferingDarkness I think Pinocchio is a disturbingly bloody book by Carlo Collodi released in 1883, not the early 20th century but still close.
I think the Pinocchio book referenced in Kikaider must’ve been the fictionalisation of a few more comical manga retellings.
not a masterpiece but this series and it's OVA arent trash in the least, sure it's melodramatic as all hell and can be a lttle rushed in places but it's still good for what it is, a entertaining sci fi action drama with themes about what it means to be human, free will vs programming/subjugation, love and hate and lots of other neat stuff, this series is a winner in my book, although i still love the original tokusatsu series as well, along with it's reboots and spin-offs (Mechanical Violator Hakaider...need i say more?), i am a huge toku-geek at heart, so yeah this my take
A comment below got me curious about the manga, so I looked it up and found a total of 2 chapters online. :/
But even with just 2 chapters, the way it tells its story feels very different. Jiro acts more frustrated than mopey about his situation IE after this realization 11:02 he actually DOES go straight to Mitsuko in the hopes she can make him normal. Also, Mitsuko doesn't initiate needless multi-episode drama by insisting Jiro's just a machine, which causes him to wander off in the first place.
Again, just two chapters, but it feels so much more different than the anime, and really lends credibility to the idea that this series was needlessly padding itself out with forced drama and the mopey-mopes.
Oh, and Gemini WAS a play on Jiminy.
I really don't remember this show but I do remember watching cyborg 009 (2001). I really loved it, but they never released a box set, and I wish they would. Side note: yaaas. Wolf's rain. Are you ever going to review S-Cry-Ed?
The only thing I remembered from this series was Saburo/Hakaider's whistle. Not Gil's version, just Saburo's.
Kikaider is designed for a very specific audience, and that audience is people who like Shotaro Ishinomori. Especially because, if I recall, it's supposed to be closer in theme to the original manga than the Tokusatsu show was. And if you think the manga wasn't as poorly paced and melodramatic then you haven't read Ishinomori's works...or any manga from before the 80s if I'm being honest. The faults are sort of charming. Not to mention it set up a precedence and audience for the Cyborg 009 anime that'd happen a year later.
I'm not sure about it. Even people who like Frank Miller admit that his work tend to be ridiculous. Otherwise you are blind tasteless fanboy. Still when we adopt something we should try improve and not be honest toward lowest denominator, as we can end with parody that way. For example Shimamoto improved his version of Skull Man to point that Ishinomori later canonized it.
I think this is the perfect comment for this video thank you.
the one thing I remember about this series is getting BORED towards the end. really bored
I got super bored and gave up on this show without finishing it.
To the people of Hawaii, the 70's live action series was like Marvel at the time, but it was made for kids and teenagers.
Oooh, NOW, I remember this anime!
Yeah, I never watched it. 😏
Yeah, I never watched this either. But I don't remember it at all. This is a whole new world for me.
It certainly have flaw and this is totally my Toku side talking here but I still love this series. I find the struggle of Kikaider life as a cyborg interesting, that’s it. Nice review though.
The one thing about the 4 episode OVA I questioned is why did Jiro and others act like it was a big deal to protect Akira? Akira had no personality and was constantly being held by Reiko like a lifeless doll. Instead why wasn't it Reiko they needed to protect? Again Akira was kind of there
God this anime. I have tried to find this anime on several occasions and I was convinced it was a fever dream.
I just turned 28 years old, and Ive just finished watching this anime for the very first time in one sitting. I really enjoyed it.. Did I watch it wrong or something? It had its moments of being like "Thats stupid!" but I didnt experience anything I would consider terrible or unbearable to watch. Maybe I just have bad tastes? Idk.
Nah your taste is goated bennet just doesn’t understand the anime.
Different people have different tastes. What you like isn't always gonna be what other people like and vice versa.
I wish you'd tell more about the backstory of the stuff you review. Like how Kikaider was mostly known to be a Sentai show like Kamen Rider? I know the manga came first but the live action is the most well known adaptation. Also, I wonder how the hell these humanoid robots turn into metallic ones.. that oddly have glass parts, it seems?
I mostly just remember thinking how dope that guitar jingle he would play was. I remember liking the show and then when I realized what looked like the show ended after maybe 13 episodes I just didn't care. And then I think I saw later that that brother villain guy was still the main bad guy and the show doesn't really go anywhere. I could be making up some of this lol
I wonder if you'll review Banana Fish when the series comes to an end.
Wow you really tore this apart.
A chip off the old motherboard? I believe those are called "daughterboards."
Question; what the hell was the villain paying his secretary that could convince her to marry and bear children with this one guy who MIGHT develop world-changing technology?
Kikaider was a strong start that kept me interested and wanting to know where the story went through to the end of the first part with its sort of cliff hanger ending... then it got to the second part (OVA where he teams up with the beta version of himself and the successor version and the two other girls androids) and fights Professor Gill/Hackider Cyborg and it becomes like a free fall off a cliff that finally ended with me hitting the bottom. I wish I had just stopped when I assumed the series ended.
Would ever consider reviewing cyborg 009 aswell?
Think I identified with this so well when I was younger was just because of the tone it felt really melancholy. Teenage angst man.
Definitely a reminder of how awkward and flat early digital animation was.
PROFESSOR GILL: I always DREZZZZZZZZ for the occasion!
6:40 a year and a half late, but there in fact was a character that heard him say rosebud, the butler. he isn't shown on screen but he does say in testimony that he was there when kane died and heard him say rosebud. your point still stands but your example does not
I totally forgot Kikaider was on Adult Swim. I think that says a lot.
Anyone else hate the: "you saved our lives with an awesome super-power, MONSTER!!!"
No. It is only you 0_0
I just dig your reviews. I didnt' have cable in early 2000s so admittedly I only saw anime I bought at the time. So this was a good view to what you guys had.
Wooo! Wolf's Rain!! I don't know how many times I played "Stray" while waiting for them rerun it in Adult Swim (as you do when you don't have money). Man that show is stupidly complicated for what amounts to a weird 'paradise lost' story.
It's okay, the live action didn't really suffer a much better fate. They tried to reboot the series with a new movie (that no one watched or wanted) and pushing it by having him cameo and steal two episodes from Kamen Rider Gaim... during the build up to the finale and completely undermining the tension.
Basically it went:
"What's that? Your city is on lockdown and there's nukes on the way? Eldritch abominations are taking over and infecting and/or killing innocent civilians? And one of your heroes has just turned into the final boss and is attempting to end the world entirely by turning it into an alien forest of evil monsters and mutagenic plant life? ....well, here have two episodes where you help this robot no one's heard of learn to love and an audience favorite puts his brain in a jar for no reason."
Yep Ryoma basically pulls a Dr Gero and somehow managed to put his own brain into a robot body, and then put his brain back into his human body like nothing ever happened, except you know he put his brain into a robot and back to his normal body.
I feel like the Casshern Sins suffered from some of the same problems this show did, though I think the execution was a little better in Sins. The last classic anime remake I saw that I thought really worked was Yatterman Night. The flip of the heroes and villains was a nice take. Even though I never watched the original show, I still cared about the characters and actively rooted for their success. It made the the pyrrhic victory of the ending mean that much more.
Also, you need to watch Tekkaman Blade 2. If there's one anime that signaled my descent into Oldtaku territory, it was that.
Blade 2? In a positive or negative sense, as it is quite bad show (when original Blade is amazing).
I just finished this Anime, the only thing I liked was Jiro/Kikaider himself 😂
I don't think is bad, but it definitly isn't good either. It was like super Neutral to me. Except for Jiro and the topic itself of a machine with human emotion (which is far from being something new, but I still like that concept)
Hey, just wanted to say, I love your videos! Also, would you maybe be interested in doing Record of Lodoss War?
I think he already did it
The guitar and opening hooked me lol
I never saw this, but I watched Cyborg 009. I remember liking it but I can't remember why. Maybe that's my rose-tinted show.
I remember watching this solely for the visuals. Like it or not, they nailed quite a few of the dramatic shots and the moodier bits work quite nicely with the somber albiet idiotic plotpoints. Heck, if the writer had actually bothered with creating an actual plot and characters, the team working on this could have made this a very decent show.
Sage, If you want to feel guilty about your past choices, then perhaps this will help: I used to look forward to seeing new episodes of Gundam Wing and was actually a huge fan of the characters.
Also, Blue Gender is still a huge "guilty pleasure" of mine that I can still find enjoyment from even as an adult.
Just noticed the Noein dvd's in the background. Any plans reviewing that? I love that show! Rewatched it several times over the years.
Excellent ‘stache, Sage! I’m never confident enough to rock a mustache. I opt for keeping a full beard. Movember is a great cause. My grandfather and father-in-law are both cancer survivors.
Android Kikaider: I had pretty much forgotten about this anime until watching this review! Honestly I couldn’t even remember it’s title. As I watched this episode all the memories came back. Like you, I too remember “liking” the show when it aired. I liked the (supposed) pathos and the broody characters. Also, I’ve always liked acoustic guitar playing melancholic tunes. I did and still do like the art style. I’m pretty sure I also liked Android 009, though I don’t really have much memory of that one either. It’s an interesting experience going back and watching an anime again that you remember liking but only watched the once - especially when it’s been many years. The cracks are certainly more visible. Even seeing the clips here, I can tell where the show really doesn’t hold up. I’m still going to feel nostalgic about the show and that era of Adult Swim, but I’m also well aware of my rose tinted glasses.
I’m having a similar experience with a show I’m re-watching, but not as extreme. It’s been a few years since I’ve watched it, but the advancements in viewing technology haven’t been kind to it. Get Backers (if you’re interested in which show) doesn’t look great on my HDTV. You can really see where they used cheap animation and low frame rates. You could tell before, but it’s even more apparent on a larger HD screen. It’s still one of my favorites; though, I prefer the manga. The show was definitely toned down for a younger audience like a Fox Saturday morning cartoon. But the characters and situations are still interesting enough to keep you watching. I recently discovered the whole thing is on Amazon video and have been rewatching it even though I have all of the DVDs.
Anyway, great episode as always, Sage!
I’m interested in the next episode. I never really got into Wolf’s Rain when it aired, but I had friends that did. I’m not sure I ever finished watching the show.
Only thing I didn't like about this show was how WTF the final moments were and that they legit happened.
The special that Sage didn't watch? A crossover with another work of Shotaro Ishinomori...Inazuman.
I actually watched that. I knew little about either character but it was surprisingly good, makes me wish there was an Inazuman anime.
Speaking of the ever classic Genma Wars, have you ever seen the 2004 series? It's like... OMFG, it's amazing! Words cannot describe the incompetency involved in every moment of that show, it has to be seen to be believed! I tried showing it to someone and they bailed after 3 minutes, they just could not take any more.
Mercury Falcon the UA-camr Reviewed it out of spite months back. Awesome.
You can also learn that from sailor Moon.
No doubt. And as the magical genre evolved BOY thank god it did. I watched cardcapter sakura and the quality in overall really is in CS's favor. And I was expecting the same level of quality. Damn
@@baloowailey6278 I must ask for a little clarification.
If you're calling Sailor Moon and Card Captor Sakura devolutions, I respectfully disagree.
If you're calling what came _after_ them devolutions...
OMG Wolfsrain!!! I LOVE IT. It was the first Anime I ever managed to buy, back when I was 12. Haaah memories T.T
Its so beautifully gothic.
It gas a 2 part Manga adaption(I think, don't shoot me) that was very well drawn but with a different story arc.
Sure it had its issues(a bit slow in the pacing sometimes) but I still like watching it today 15 years later.
Omg Wolf Rain! Really hitting me straight to the nostalgia Sage! I can't wait for the next episode.
So hype for the Wolf's Rain review!!!
After watching your review for this and some of the episodes for this, I like Cyborg 009: The Cyborg Solider more than this cause it was more fun, was a better good tribute to it's original creator and had an ending theme song that won't get out of your head.
the character design of this anime don't match with the backgrounds at all. Nothing seem to have any consistency in the art design
Design was reference to manga, but otherwise you are correct.
@alexandra galici I definitely agree on that part.
@alexandra galici I think it is a little worse because the character designs against the background and the lack of consistency makes them feel like they just couldn't exist within there own universe
I am dead at 21:10. That execution was just perfect!!! Never change Sage, never change!!
This was my first exposure to Robot Gore. I loved it and still love it today. I’ve rewatched it a few times over the years. The plot was a little confusing but damnit I loved it anyway. I will definitely be willing to buy all the whole series.
Love the mention of Cyborg 009. Love that show too.
Yeah Wolf Rain! I've been always wondering if Sage would ever do an review of it and now finally its going to happen. Can't wait for it. :)
But that ending theme though...
I remember this show being the point that I would get some food or sometimes play games during adult swim. The only reason I would tune in was the closing credits and because Trigun was coming on next.
I am a huge fan of Shotaro's work. I even had the opportunity to read the original manga the anime is based off of. I was hyped when this series aired. Looking back........I can see why Sage feels the way he feels. I did look back at the Kikaider OVA that introduced 01 and.........yea I was scratching my head a few times even back then.
Watched your intro and such and since you announced this review last week, I've been racking my brain trying to remember the details of this anime and, if I'm being fair? Yeah, I don't think this would hold up like it did when I saw it. Even when the series first came on, I found certain aspects annoying and stupid (like the guitar). The angsty "what is human?" plotline also got annoying. I mean I think it's overused in this kind of story as it is, but Kikaider kicked it way up.
I also got thrown off by the follow-up. This was before I fully grasped the concept of OVAs, spinoffs, etc. but I was completely lost during the second Kikaider series.
ya i remember trying to remember this show i when searching for it and finding all kinds of shows looking for it like guyver thinking it was the show i was looking for but when i did actually find i remember liking it never thought it was the best but it was ok
Personally, I think the problem is that it's made for people who like tragic endings in shows or movies. The only disappointment I see in this is that it isn't a long series, they skipped through story and just went straight to the point in which I seen in most animes that they have "filler episodes" and I wish they focused more on the story like the manga and live action version, but this was just a rushed anime. I think it would've been better if it was rebooted and made with better quality and tell all the untold stories that weren't in this video with the connections to all the other animes