The Kagestar
Encyclopedia
is a 1976-77 Toei
live action
tokusatsu
television series in which young shadow puppeteer turned salaryman
Kageoh Sugata (Naoki Tachibana) gained, thanks to an electric shock
received while rescuing his wealthy boss's daughter from kidnappers, the ability to merge with his shadow and transform into Kagestar ("kage" is Japanese for "shadow
").
An Evel Knievel
-inspired red, white and blue-clad, manga-eyed helmet-masked superhero
with a swirling star-spangled striped cape he could use like a weapon, he rode a winged white motorcycle
called the KageroCar he kept housed in a big and quite bizarre-looking anthropomorphic aircraft
called the Kageboosee which he summoned with his flashlight
-gun. He could also, as in the later video game and anime Blue Dragon, bring his silhouette
-style shadow to life in giant form to battle the forces of evil.
Originally fighting American comics-style costumed crooks, in later episodes his foes became Kamen Rider
-style mutated monsters created by his archenemy Dr. Satan (Goro Naya
), a former Nazi scientist turned megalomaniacal mastermind also identified in some English language sources as Dr. Saturn.
Kagestar was assisted his similarly empowered white-skirted partner Bellestar
(Emi Hayakawa
) who rode a motorcycle of her own called the BelleCar and had a small bell
on her bracelet
that rang to warn her of danger.
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...
live action
Live action
In filmmaking, video production, and other media, the term live action refers to cinematography, videography not produced using animation...
tokusatsu
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 ....
television series in which young shadow puppeteer turned salaryman
Salaryman
refers to someone whose income is salary based; particularly those working for corporations. Its frequent use by Japanese corporations, and its prevalence in Japanese manga and anime has gradually led to its acceptance in English-speaking countries as a noun for a Japanese white-collar...
Kageoh Sugata (Naoki Tachibana) gained, thanks to an electric shock
Electric shock
Electric Shock of a body with any source of electricity that causes a sufficient current through the skin, muscles or hair. Typically, the expression is used to denote an unwanted exposure to electricity, hence the effects are considered undesirable....
received while rescuing his wealthy boss's daughter from kidnappers, the ability to merge with his shadow and transform into Kagestar ("kage" is Japanese for "shadow
Shadow
A shadow is an area where direct light from a light source cannot reach due to obstruction by an object. It occupies all of the space behind an opaque object with light in front of it. The cross section of a shadow is a two-dimensional silhouette, or reverse projection of the object blocking the...
").
An Evel Knievel
Evel Knievel
Evel Knievel , born Robert Craig Knievel, was an American daredevil and entertainer. In his career he attempted over 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps between 1965 and 1980, and in 1974, a failed jump across Snake River Canyon in the Skycycle X-2, a steam-powered rocket...
-inspired red, white and blue-clad, manga-eyed helmet-masked 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 —...
with a swirling star-spangled striped cape he could use like a weapon, he rode a winged white motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
called the KageroCar he kept housed in a big and quite bizarre-looking anthropomorphic aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
called the Kageboosee which he summoned with his flashlight
Flashlight
A flashlight is a hand-held electric-powered light source. Usually the light source is a small incandescent lightbulb or light-emitting diode...
-gun. He could also, as in the later video game and anime Blue Dragon, bring his silhouette
Silhouette
A silhouette is the image of a person, an object or scene consisting of the outline and a basically featureless interior, with the silhouetted object usually being black. Although the art form has been popular since the mid-18th century, the term “silhouette” was seldom used until the early decades...
-style shadow to life in giant form to battle the forces of evil.
Originally fighting American comics-style costumed crooks, in later episodes his foes became 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...
-style mutated monsters created by his archenemy Dr. Satan (Goro Naya
Goro Naya
is a Japanese actor, voice actor, narrator and theatre director from Hakodate, Hokkaidō. He is a drop-out of the legal education division of Ritsumeikan University. He is connected to Theatre Echo. He is the older brother of actor and seiyū Rokurō Naya. He is the husband of actress and seiyū...
), a former Nazi scientist turned megalomaniacal mastermind also identified in some English language sources as Dr. Saturn.
Kagestar was assisted his similarly empowered white-skirted partner Bellestar
Belle Starr
Myra Maybelle Shirley Reed Starr , better known as Belle Starr, was a notorious American outlaw.-Early life:...
(Emi Hayakawa
Sister Street Fighter
is a spin off of The Street Fighter . The plot revolves around Lǐ Hóng-Lóng , the female martial artist of the title. When her brother Lǐ Wàn-Qīng is kidnapped by drug lords, she seeks revenge. The drug lord's colorful collection of "killers" includes a toga-clad group of Thai Boxers called the...
) who rode a motorcycle of her own called the BelleCar and had a small bell
Bell (instrument)
A bell is a simple sound-making device. The bell is a percussion instrument and an idiophone. Its form is usually a hollow, cup-shaped object, which resonates upon being struck...
on her bracelet
Bracelet
A bracelet is an article of jewelry which is worn around the wrist. Bracelets can be manufactured from metal, leather, cloth, plastic or other materials and sometimes contain jewels, rocks, wood, and/or shells...
that rang to warn her of danger.
External links
- http://www.japanhero.com/profiles/kagestar_profileL.htm
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0182603/
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfsMQDQdj34