I just saw the first episode, and I can't really say anything else other than that the series looks promising. The animation is...unique, but who wants to see the same style over and over anyway. It really is enjoyable in its own right. Plus I'm big on story, and the retelling of Pinocchio sounds great. If you have insomnia such as myself, it's definitely worth checking out.
4 Reviews
Exceptional and underrated --potential spoilers
inuyatta8 September 2008
Warning: Spoilers
A well-told story that manages to get the message across today as it did when it originally was conceived in the 1970's by Shoutaro Ishinomori. Jinzoningen Kikaider is a tale centered around an android named Jiro, and the family of the man who created him, namely Professor Komyouji's daughter, Mitsuko.
In the midst of searching for the missing professor and the constant attacks by the mysterious organization only known as DARK, Jiro struggles to learn what it is to have a human heart with the naiveté and curiosity of a child, all the while fighting the battles befitting of aged heroes.
Mitsuko--whom, at first, is rather jaded about robots due to her father's neglect of her and her younger brother in favor of his research of them--comes to realize that a soul is not exclusive to those with flesh and blood, nor is it guaranteed to be in the possession of those who do.
The pair, along with friends and allies, search for clues hidden within the murky past of the Komyouji family, leading to situations that force the characters to face themselves and the past, ultimately resulting in a mounting tension in the storyline that goes out with a bang (no pun intended).
The following series, Kikaider 01, follows Jiro's journey as he comes across more victims of DARK, as well as discovering his own siblings. The length of this follow-up series is considerably shorter, with only four episodes, so the action is almost non-stop, while still delivering the level of pathos in the original series.
There is a third, and final OVA following this series which crosses over with another hero from Ishinomori's 'verse. The final OVA, running at about half an hour, is titled "Kikaider x Inazuman ~Guitar Wo Motta Shounen~"--this OVA is the official wrap-up to Jiro's story, though it has not been released in the US as of yet.
In the midst of searching for the missing professor and the constant attacks by the mysterious organization only known as DARK, Jiro struggles to learn what it is to have a human heart with the naiveté and curiosity of a child, all the while fighting the battles befitting of aged heroes.
Mitsuko--whom, at first, is rather jaded about robots due to her father's neglect of her and her younger brother in favor of his research of them--comes to realize that a soul is not exclusive to those with flesh and blood, nor is it guaranteed to be in the possession of those who do.
The pair, along with friends and allies, search for clues hidden within the murky past of the Komyouji family, leading to situations that force the characters to face themselves and the past, ultimately resulting in a mounting tension in the storyline that goes out with a bang (no pun intended).
The following series, Kikaider 01, follows Jiro's journey as he comes across more victims of DARK, as well as discovering his own siblings. The length of this follow-up series is considerably shorter, with only four episodes, so the action is almost non-stop, while still delivering the level of pathos in the original series.
There is a third, and final OVA following this series which crosses over with another hero from Ishinomori's 'verse. The final OVA, running at about half an hour, is titled "Kikaider x Inazuman ~Guitar Wo Motta Shounen~"--this OVA is the official wrap-up to Jiro's story, though it has not been released in the US as of yet.
One Promising Aspect...
Zeorymer1 July 2003
As a whole, this series would not make a list of top ten animes. It might make a list of top fifty....might. The animation is unique, but looks like Mickey Mouse stuff, the storyline is unoriginal, the battle scenes typical. The only interesting thing about this anime is Jiro's inner struggle. He is a robot, but since he is endowed with the Gemini System (artificial conscience), he is able to tell right from wrong. However, this system is badly damaged early on in the series and Jiro is constantly asking "Is this right? Is this what I'm supposed to do?" etc. etc...Also, Jiro has to deal with being a robot when he is surrounded by humans. Where he is hard and cold, the people around him, like Mitsko, are soft and warm. It's no mistake that the little boy told Jiro the story of Pinocchio, for they are much alike. Jiro has to deal with peoples fear of him, since he's different from them.
Aside from Jiro's inner conflicts, this series is unremarkable.
Aside from Jiro's inner conflicts, this series is unremarkable.
The Second Series....- SPOILERS
Zeorymer2 August 2003
Warning: Spoilers
The second series, with Ichiro and the others, is by far better than the original. Especially the end. This is a huge improvement over the first series. They scrapped all the characters except Jiro and the evil doctor (I can't remember the name), sent Jiro on a new adventure, gave him two brothers to fight with and ended it all in a big bloodbath. It's known that the evil doctor died, so did Ichiro and the other brother, but it's an open question as to whether Jiro survived....and that is just fine with me.
It's still not the best, but I think that if we judge this series alone, it would make a top twenty anime list.
It's still not the best, but I think that if we judge this series alone, it would make a top twenty anime list.
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