Space Ironmen Kyodain
Encyclopedia
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 Hirayama Tôru. It premiered in 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. Actors Yūsuke Natsu and Takeshi Sasaki starred as Skyzel and Granzel respectively.
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 programmed the personalities of his two kidnapped sons, Jouji and Ryouji, 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 Ryouji, now "Skyzel" (as in "sky) and "Granzel" (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.
Skyzel - Jouji Hayami
Granzel - Ryouji Hayami
Kenji Hayami
Gonbesu GA-49
Gonbesu (or Gombess) is the brother's robot helper. It separates into two parts - its head, like a flying saucer, and its body, which resembles a huge bowling ball - when fleeing or attacking an enemy.
, and rockets on his chest, and Granzel's outfit features exhaust pipes, headlights and superfluous tires. The props used to represent the transformed versions of the characters echo this aesthetic, with anthropomorphic features like fists featured on the vehicles. The most obvious example of this is that when the sculpted mouths that move like a puppet
's when the characters speak.
The editing is another aspect of the series that adds to its novelty. The fight scenes, which due to the nature of the series are very prominent, are edited in such a way that the action is seen from a variety of different angles very quickly and repeatedly, creating a disorienting and kinetic atmosphere.
action figures of the main characters and their alternate vehicle modes were produced as part of Popy
's Chogokin
during the series' run. The vehicles were later imported to the United States
as part of the Shogun Warriors line. Jumbo Machinder
versions of Granzel and Skyzel were also produced.
In later years, soft vinyl toys of two protagonists were produced as part of Bandai
's "Soul of Sofubi" toyline, and slightly stylized and reimagined versions were immortalized in statue form as part of the "Super Imaginative Chogokin
Artistic Soul" series, also by Bandai.
and Kamen Rider
, the occasional reference to Kyodain crops up in modern Japanese pop culture. For instance, the first episode of the anime Lucky Star used the series' opening theme song as its ending theme, under the pretense of one of the characters, an otaku
(voiced by Aya Hirano
) singing it at a karaoke
bar. The theme to another tokusatsu program, Akumaizer 3
, was used in the second episode.
Tokusatsu
is a Japanese term that applies to any live-action film or television drama that usually features superheroes and makes considerable use of special effects ....
science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
television series. The show, like numerous others of its type and era, were produced as a joint effort between manga artist
Mangaka
is the Japanese word for a comic artist or cartoonist. Outside of Japan, manga usually refers to a Japanese comic book and mangaka refers to the author of the manga, who is usually Japanese...
Shotaro Ishinomori
Shotaro Ishinomori
was a Japanese manga artist who became an influential figure in manga, anime, and tokusatsu, creating several immensely popular long-running series such as Cyborg 009 and Himitsu Sentai Goranger, what would go on to become part of the Super Sentai series, and the Kamen Rider Series...
and Toei Company
Toei Company
is a Japanese film, television production, and distribution corporation. Based in Tokyo, Toei owns and operates thirty-four movie theaters across Japan, a modest vertically-integrated studio system by the standards of the 1930s United States; operates studios at Tokyo and Kyoto; and is a...
producer Hirayama Tôru. It premiered in 1976 and ran for 48 episodes. The show is well known for its strange plot and costume design, rapid-fire and purposefully disorienting editing
Film editing
Film editing is part of the creative post-production process of filmmaking. It involves the selection and combining of shots into sequences, and ultimately creating a finished motion picture. It is an art of storytelling...
, and unique, sometimes surreal, atmosphere. Actors Yūsuke Natsu and Takeshi Sasaki starred as Skyzel and Granzel respectively.
Plot summary
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, 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 programmed the personalities of his two kidnapped sons, Jouji and Ryouji, 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 Ryouji, now "Skyzel" (as in "sky) and "Granzel" (as in "ground"), are armed with awesome strength and powerful shape-shifting abilities, able to transform into a jet
Jet aircraft
A jet aircraft is an aircraft propelled by jet engines. Jet aircraft generally fly much faster than propeller-powered aircraft and at higher altitudes – as high as . At these altitudes, jet engines achieve maximum efficiency over long distances. The engines in propeller-powered aircraft...
and a car
Čar
Čar is a village in the municipality of Bujanovac, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the town has a population of 296 people.-References:...
respectively. With these abilities, they carry on their father's legacy and fulfill his wishes.
Characters
Dr. HayamiSkyzel - Jouji Hayami
Granzel - Ryouji Hayami
Kenji Hayami
Gonbesu GA-49
Gonbesu (or Gombess) is the brother's robot helper. It separates into two parts - its head, like a flying saucer, and its body, which resembles a huge bowling ball - when fleeing or attacking an enemy.
Uniqueness
The oddity of the show is reflected in the costume designs—Skyzel has features of a jet, such as a nosecone on his head, not unlike the Transformers character DirgeDirge (Transformers)
Dirge is the name of several different fictional characters from the Transformers series. He was first introduced in 1985 as a villain in the Transformers series, appearing in the comic book by Marvel Comics and voiced by Bud Davis in the animated television series. Since then the name Dirge was...
, and rockets on his chest, and Granzel's outfit features exhaust pipes, headlights and superfluous tires. The props used to represent the transformed versions of the characters echo this aesthetic, with anthropomorphic features like fists featured on the vehicles. The most obvious example of this is that when the sculpted mouths that move like a puppet
Puppet
A puppet is an inanimate object or representational figure animated or manipulated by an entertainer, who is called a puppeteer. It is used in puppetry, a play or a presentation that is a very ancient form of theatre....
's when the characters speak.
The editing is another aspect of the series that adds to its novelty. The fight scenes, which due to the nature of the series are very prominent, are edited in such a way that the action is seen from a variety of different angles very quickly and repeatedly, creating a disorienting and kinetic atmosphere.
Merchandise
As with most other programs of this type, the series was heavily marketed. Die-castDie-cast toy
The term die-cast toy here refers to any toy or collectible model produced by using the die casting method. The toys are made of metal, with plastic, rubber or glass details. Wholly plastic toys are made by a similar process of injection moulding, but the two are rarely confused...
action figures of the main characters and their alternate vehicle modes were produced as part of Popy
Popy
Popy Popy Popy (ポピー）was a Japanese toy manufacturer of the 1970s and early 1980s. The company was owned by Bandai. It was founded in 1971, and merged back into the parent company in 1983...
's Chogokin
Chogokin
is Japanese for "Super Alloy" and is a fictitious material which first appeared in Go Nagai's Mazinger Z manga and anime. It was later adopted by Popy in 1972 as the name of a new line of die-cast metal robot and character toys sold in Japan...
during the series' run. The vehicles were later imported to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as part of the Shogun Warriors line. Jumbo Machinder
Jumbo Machinder
Jumbo Machinder is the name of a series of large-scale plastic robots sold by Bandai's character toy subsidiary, Popy in the 1970s. Although a trademarked brand name, in common usage Jumbo Machinder is often applied to any large-size robot toy roto molded out of polyethylene terephthalate , a...
versions of Granzel and Skyzel were also produced.
In later years, soft vinyl toys of two protagonists were produced as part of Bandai
Bandai
is a Japanese toy making and video game company, as well as the producer of a large number of plastic model kits. It is the world's third-largest producer of toys . Some ex-Bandai group companies produce anime and tokusatsu programs...
's "Soul of Sofubi" toyline, and slightly stylized and reimagined versions were immortalized in statue form as part of the "Super Imaginative Chogokin
Super Imaginative Chogokin
Super Imaginative Chogokin is one of Bandai's popular line-up based on the Kamen Rider franchise and other characters created by Shotaro Ishinomori and his production company. The figures are usually modified and differ from its counterpart as seen in the series...
Artistic Soul" series, also by Bandai.
Culture
Though it has not had a profound impact on culture like its brethren UltramanUltraman
is Japanese television series that first aired in 1966. Ultraman, the first and best-known of the "Ultra-Crusaders," made his debut in the tokusatsu SF/kaiju/superhero TV series, , a follow-up to the television series Ultra Q...
and Kamen Rider
Kamen Rider
, is a weekly science fiction story created by Japanese manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori. It debuted as a tokusatsu television series on April 3, 1971 and ran until February 10, 1973, airing on the Mainichi Broadcasting System and NET TV . A manga adaptation was also featured in Shōnen Magazine...
, the occasional reference to Kyodain crops up in modern Japanese pop culture. For instance, the first episode of the anime Lucky Star used the series' opening theme song as its ending theme, under the pretense of one of the characters, an otaku
Otaku
is a Japanese term used to refer to people with obsessive interests, particularly anime, manga or video games.- Etymology :Otaku is derived from a Japanese term for another's house or family , which is also used as an honorific second-person pronoun...
(voiced by Aya Hirano
Aya Hirano
from Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, is a Japanese voice actress and J-pop singer who has had roles in several anime, visual novels, and TV commercials in Japan. She was contracted to Space Craft Produce, a branch of the Space Craft Group, for her voice acting career, and for her singing career,...
) singing it at a karaoke
Karaoke
is a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
bar. The theme to another tokusatsu program, Akumaizer 3
Akumaizer 3
is a Japanese science fiction tokusatsu television series, created by Shotaro Ishinomori and produced by Toei Company. The series premiered on Tuesday October 7, 1975 at 7:30, and ran for 38 episodes in that timeslot on NET, now known as TV Asahi. The series remains obscure outside of Japan, but...
, was used in the second episode.