Kikaider REBOOT (キカイダー REBOOT, Kikaidā Ribūto) is a 2014 Japanese tokusatsu film which acts as a reboot/relaunch of the Kikaider franchise created by Shotaro Ishinomori, released on May 24, 2014 by Toei.
The catch phrase is "Good or bad? Even if this "machine (heart)" breaks, I will protect you.".
Synopsis[]
Set in the near future, Dr. Nobuhiko Komyoji was the head of the robot engineering project "ARK Project" to use robots peacefully to solve problems beyond human control. Dr. Komyoji however died during an experiment and a year later the project was headed by his rival Gilbert Kanzaki and the Minister of Defense Tsubakiya who had begun to use the project for their own personal benefits rather than its original objective. To revive the original project, Jiro aka Kikaider, an android with a Conscience Circuit created by Dr. Komyoji has appeared to protect his creator's children Mitsuko and Masaru who have the key to complete the project.
Plot[]
In the near future, the Japanese government develops the ARK Project, led by Dr. Nobuhiko Kohmyoji, to create androids to help public citizens. Two prototypes are constructed: one by Dr. Kohmyoji, Jiro/Kikaider, an android built with an experimental Conscience Circuit, and another by Professor Gilbert Kanzaki, Mari, a combat-based android.
Dr. Kohmyoji mysteriously dies and his children, Mitsuko and Masaru are suddenly targeted by Japan's Defense Minister. Jiro comes to their aide and vows to protected them, a final request from Dr. Kohmyoji. Masaru becomes fond of Jiro but Mitsuko becomes wary of him. Mari eventually finds Jiro and nearly destroys him but spares him after Mitsuko and Masaru agree to go with her without resistance. A data chip is then retrieved from within Masaru's body, containing all of Dr. Kohmyoji's research. The Defense Minister then turns the ARK Project into the DARK Project (Developing Advanced Research by Kohmyoji) and forces Professor Gil to complete his work.
Jiro is then attacked by another android named "Hakaider", who is revealed to be Professor Gil, having surgically placed his brain within an android body. Hakaider proceeds to destroy the ARK Project facility where he is counter-attacked by Jiro. Mitsuko tries to stop him from fighting but Jiro finally realizes his own free-will and chooses to protect by fighting. Jiro manages to defeat Hakaider but at the cost of his life. Mitsuko vows to one day rebuild him.
In a post-credit scene, the Defense Minister, having escaped the demise of the facility with Mari, confirms the official start of the true android project.
Cast[]
Film Poster
- Jiro/Kikaider (Voice): Jingi Irie (入江 甚儀, Irie Jingi)
- Mitsuko Komyoji: Aimi Satsukawa (佐津川 愛美, Satsukawa Aimi)
- Masaru Komyoji: Yuto Ikeda (池田 優斗, Ikeda Yūto)
- Mari: Maryjun Takahashi (高橋 メアリージュン, Takahashi Mearījun)[1]
- Gilbert Kanzaki/Hakaider (Voice): Shingo Tsurumi
(鶴見 辰吾, Tsurumi Shingo) - Nobuhiko Komyoji: Kazushige Nagashima (長嶋 一茂, Nagashima Kazushige)
- Sogoro Honda: Hirotaro Honda (本田 博太郎, Honda Hirotarō)
- Hanpei Hattori: Ryuji Harada (原田 龍二, Harada Ryūji)
- Tsubakiya: Ikuji Nakamura (中村 育二, Nakamura Ikuji)
- Shinnosuke Tanabe: Renji Ishibashi (石橋 蓮司, Ishibashi Renji)
- Kyujiro Maeno: Daisuke Ban (伴 大介, Ban Daisuke)
Voice Appearance[]
- Announcer: Kenichi Suzumura (鈴村 健一, Suzumura Ken'ichi)
Suit Actors[]
- Kikaider: Makoto Arakawa (荒川 真, Arakawa Makoto)
- Hakaider: Hirokazu Iwakami (岩上弘数, Iwakami Hirokazu)
Theme Song[]
- "Go-Go Kikaider REBOOT 2014" (ゴーゴー・キカイダー REBOOT2014, Gō Gō Kikaidā Ribūto 2014)
- Lyrics: Shotaro Ishimori
- Composition/Arrangement: Chumei Watanabe
- Song/Arrangement: The Collectors
Trailer Gallery[]
Kikaider REBOOT: 5 second Teaser Trailer
Kikaider REBOOT: Trailer
Production[]
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The Kikaider teaser which was shown at the end of Super Hero Taisen Z, featuring the original Kikaider.
At the end of Template:TK, as seen in both the theatrical and DVD release, a post-credits scene features the sound of a heartbeat and Kikaider is shown with the narrator stating that all the heroes that were featured in the movie "aren't the only superheroes of Earth". This hinted at a Kikaider revival project. Despite the original suit being used for the announcement, redesigned suits for the main character and Hakaider were utilized for the film much like in Kamen Rider The First and Kamen Rider The Next.
In December 2013, around the time the next Super Hero Taisen film was announced. Publisher Kadokawa revealed on their official website that the upcoming Kikaider movie will air sometime in 2014. The site also featured the new Kikaider novel, which listed that the movie would be released in fall 2014. This later proved to be speculation as the film was announced for a summer release on May 24, 2014 [2] [3]
Release[]
Kikaider Reboot premiered in Japan on May 24, 2014
In the US, a special one week run of the film was done at the Consolidated Theatres Ward Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii from October 10 to October 16, 2014, featuring English subtitles by JN Productions. This showing was done by native fans of the original series as a commemoration of the franchise's 40th anniversary. On Halloween 2014, JN Productions announced a future DVD release for the film around the holiday season. [4]
External Links[]
References[]
Trivia[]
- Despite the promise of a sequel with a post-credits tease, this movie never got a follow up.
- The Conscience Circuit that appeared in this movie seemed to merely be a limiter for REBOOT Jiro that dampened his fighting abilities.
- Although the part where REBOOT Hakaider stated to REBOOT Jiro that beings born from DARK will return to DARK was presumably a reference to the original series, it should be noted that REBOOT Jiro wasn't a part of DARK at any point in the movie.
- Several unused designs of DARK robots was revealed in the official book years later.