KIKAIDA 01 DVD Box Set Review Author: Bob Johnson Official Website: www.generationkikaida.com Special Thanks to JN Productions and Generation Kikaida When Toei’s KAMEN RIDER TV series hit the airwaves in 1971, it changed the face of Japanese superheroes. Before Kamen Rider, Japanese superheroes fell into two basic camps; the giant alien or robot (aka; Ultraman, Giant Robo, Magma Taishi) or US inspired heroes with capes and/or masks (aka; Moonlight Mask, Starman). Kamen Rider was the first of the henshin cyborgs. Part human, part machine. Suddenly Japanese superheroes had another identity. One that still persists today. Hot on the heels of KAMEN RIDER were a number of sequels and imitators. Literally dozens of cyborg and transforming heroes began facing off with the forces of evil on weekly Japanese TV in the 1970s. One of the more popular also came from Toei and, like Kamen

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Author: Robert Saint John Source: Hobby Search The Japanese collectible website Hobby Search has announced that it is accepting pre-orders for a March release of a 6 3/4″ Spectreman pre-painted vinyl figure, based on the superhero of the tokusatsu TV series produced by P Productions and aired on Fuji TV in 1971-72. The figure is being manufactured by Inspire, and list price is 3,850 yen (approximately $32.00 US). Click on the image caption to visit the page.

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Toei’s latest Rider appears January 28th Author: James Ballard Official Site: TV Asahi Following the climax of MASKED RIDER KABUTO (Kamen Raidaa Kabuto, 2006) this Sunday, the latest entry in the Masked Rider series, MASKED RIDER DEN-O (Kamen Raidaa Denou), premieres on January 28th. MASKED RIDER DEN-O is the seventeenth entry in the long running television franchise produced by Toei Company and Ishimori Productions, a collaboration which began with the hugely popular MASKED RIDER (Kamen Raidaa) in 1971. Masked Rider Den-O (the Japanese “Den” meaning “electric” and “Ou” meaning “king”) is an all-new hero, crossing through different times and dimensions. Den-O’s transformation is accomplished through various Rider Tickets which are to be used with the Rider Pass on his belt. As well as Den-O’s basic red “Sword Form”, he will initially be able to adopt three other forms; a blue “Rod Form”, a yellow “Axe Form” and

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Author: Robert Saint John Source: Press Release Official Japanese Site: Imagi Animation Studios Imagi Animation Studios announced this week that it will co-produce with Tatsunoko Production a feature-length CG animated film version of Tatsunoko`s popular TV anime series, SCIENCE NINJA TEAM GATCHAMAN. Originally produced in 1972, KAGAKU NINJA TAI GATCHAMAN was in many ways the forefather of the live action Super Sentai genre (known in the US as POWER RANGERS), and GATCHAMAN and its sequels were later made popular worldwide through English adaptations such as BATTLE OF THE PLANETS, G-FORCE and EAGLE RIDERS (originally Gatchaman`s sequel series, GATCHAMAN II). Gatchaman made its first big screen debut in 1978 with a feature comprised of key episodes from the series and a new orchestral soundtrack, similar to Office Academy`s 1977 release, SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO (Uchu Senkan Yamato). More recently, Gatchaman has been undergoing a revival in popularity due

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Director to helm a new DAIMAJIN for Kadokawa/ Media Blasters brings ZEBRAMAN to US Takashi Miike has developed a reputation as one of the most prolific, talented, and controversial filmmakers in the world with credits such as AUDITION, ICHI THE KILLER, GOZU, ONE MISSED CALL, IZO, ULTRAMAN MAX, THREE EXTREMES, and the “banned” episode of Showtime’s MASTERS OF HORROR. This past week saw two big announcements concerning the director; one from Japan, the other from America. Following 2005`s THE GREAT YOKAI WAR, Kadokawa Pictures has hired Takashi Miike to helm a remake of the classic film DAIMAJIN. At Anime Boston, Media Blasters revealed that they would be bringing Miike’s hilariously entertaining 2004 favorite ZEBRAMAN to America for the first time. Robert Saint John and Clay Holden provide some early news plus a look back and forward to these projects... DAIMAJIN REMAKE ON

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