Space Ironmen Kyodain (宇宙鉄人キョーダイン, Uchū Tetsujin Kyōdain) was a Japanese tokusatsu science fiction superhero television series. The show, like numerous others of its type and era, were produced as a joint effort between manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori and Toei Company producer Tôru Hirayama. It premiered in April 2, 1976 and ran for 48 episodes. The show is well known for its strange plot and costume design, rapid-fire and purposefully disorienting editing, and unique, sometimes surreal, atmosphere. The late Yūsuke Natsu and Takeshi Sasaki (who previously portrayed Hayato Ichimonji in Kamen Rider) starred as Skyzel and Grounzel respectively.
On April 2020, Space Ironmen Kyodain became one of the 70 shows to stream on the Toei Tokusatsu World Youtube channel.
Plot[]
The plot of the program involves an alien empire from the planet "Dada" called the "Robot Army Corps". When they kidnap a human scientist, Dr. Hayami, and two of his three sons and force him to improve their technology, he has no choice but to go along with them by turning his own kidnapped sons into cyborgs, despite his deep anger, resentment, and guilt.
One year later, their empire sufficiently advanced, the Robot Army Corps return to Earth, ready to put their plans into action—however, two heretofore unknown robots charge in and stop their invasion cold. It is then revealed that Dr. Hayami reprogrammed the personalities of his two kidnapped sons, Jouji and Ryuji, into these super-powered robots to both stop the Robot Army he was forced to work for, and care for his youngest son, Kenji. Jouji and Ryuji, now "Skyzel" (as in "sky) and "Grounzel" (as in "ground"), are armed with awesome strength and powerful shape-shifting abilities, able to transform into a jet and a car respectively. With these abilities, they carry on their father's legacy and fulfill his wishes.
Characters[]
Kyodain[]
Skyzel | Jouji Hayama |
Grounzel | Ryuji Hayama |
Allies[]
- Gonbesu GA-49
- Kenji Hayama
- Dr. Hayama
- Etsuko Shirakawa
- Captain Marui
- Sergeant Hosoda
- Dr. Kaido
Dada Robot Army Corps[]
Black Knight | Black Knight |
- Death Five-Member Squad: Gaburin's followers, whom he later dismantled to use their cells for his use.
- Death Giran
- Death Flash
- Death Baikin
- Death Gat
- Death Gutter
- Robot Soldiers
- Dadaroids
- Bazookard
- Tankuda
- Dykirai
- Gatlingar
- Radar Batton
- Nokogirin
- Bogan
- Kabuton
- Taihon
- Cycle Man
- Robbon Head 1
- Robbon Head 2
- Wolfman
- Dada Flower
- Wanninger
- Mummy Satan
- Jellyfish
- Tokelinger
- Dadajemi
- Space Seminar (?)
- Gas Murder
- Cat Combatants
- Motorcycle Corps
- Chameleon
- Kotaro
- Beauty Corps
Cast[]
- Jouji Hayama - Yusuke Natsu (夏夕介, Natsu Yūsuke)
- Ryuji Hayama - Takeshi Sasaki (佐々木剛, Sasaki Takeshi)
- Kenji Hayama - Satoshi Furukawa (古川さとし, Furukawa Satoshi)
- Etsuko Shirakawa - Mitsuko Horie (堀江美都子, Horie Mitsuko)
- Captain Marui - Shozaburo Date (伊達正三郎, Date Shōzaburō)
- Dr. Hayama - Jun Usami (宇佐美淳, Usami Jun)
- Gonbesu GA-49 - Setsuo Wakui (和久井節, Wakui Setsuo, Voice)
Legacy[]
- Skyzel's head was used to inspire Kamen Rider Fourze's suit design from the series of the same name.
- Four characters from this series, Grounzel, Skyzel, Black Knight and Gaburin Queen are used to inspire four characters Groundain, Skydain, Black Knight and Inga Blink from Kamen Rider Fourze the Movie: Everyone, Space is Here!. The only difference is that all of their characteristics have been reversed and The Kyodains in the movie are androids instead of cyborgs like their original counterparts were.
Notes[]
- The recent spelling of this show and heroes' name are Kyodyne, Skysel and Grounsel.[1]
- In the first episode of the anime Lucky Star, Konata sings the opening theme song to the series (Albeit in an over-the-top comical fashion), but as the episode's ending theme as it was followed by Akumaizer 3's opening theme, "It's a Victory! Akumaizer 3".
Links[]
- http://oldigadevil.blogspot.com/2012/07/ishinomori-week-uchu-tetsujin-kyodain.html
- For the similarly named villains of the Kamen Rider Fourze movie see: