History Manga / EightMan1963

Along with ''Anime/AstroBoy'', ''Anime/{{Gigantor}}'' and ''Anime/SpeedRacer'', ''8 Man'' is historically significant as one of the first anime series to be distributed in the United States. The American version's [[ImportationExpansion newly animated opening sequence]] was the first professional animation work done by Creator/RalphBakshi.

In 1993, a DarkerAndEdgier sequel, ''Anime/EightManAfter'', was released as an {{OVA}}; it has its own page. From 2005 to 2007, the manga had a sequel published as ''Manga/EightManInfinity''.

Any similarities to another story about [[Franchise/RoboCop a dying cop revived by Science]] are purely coincidental.

Along with ''Anime/AstroBoy'', ''Anime/{{Gigantor}}'' and ''Anime/SpeedRacer'', ''8 Man'' is historically significant as one of the first anime series to be distributed in the United States. The American version's [[ImportationExpansion newly animated]] [[ExpositoryThemeTune opening sequence]] was the first professional animation work done by Creator/RalphBakshi.

The manga has an anime adaptation which aired from November 7, 1963 to December 12, 1964. Although the anime was average for a TV series of its time, by modern standards it is laughable and crude (like most shows of its era). In addition to being in black and white, its production crew had almost no experience with cel animation and took several episodes to gain any skill with the form. Even then it was of low quality, with a minimal frame rate, low detail, and wooden movement.

8 Man is a manga series by Jiro Kuwata and Kazumasa Hirai. It tells the story of a police officer named Hachiro Azuma (Brady in the US), ambushed by criminals while on a case.[[note]]The anime mentioned that he's been run over.[[/note]] As he lies dying, a mysterious scientist rescues him and gives him a [[WeCanRebuildHim new cyborg body]], courtesy of Captain Tanaka.

Now empowered beyond ordinary men, Azuma becomes (all by himself) the secret 8th division of the Tokyo Metropoltian Police. His only superior is Chief Tanaka (called Chief Fumblethumbs, of all things, in English). Now called 8 Man ("Eighth Man", in English, because according to the dub he was the eighth cyborg attempt -- and the first one to work!), he has the usual array of powers: SuperStrength, SuperSpeed, plus VoluntaryShapeshifting and the unusual ability to [[HelpingHands detach and remotely control his limbs]]. In a detail that would never get past kid-vid censors today, 8-Man recharged his power supply using "special cigarettes". He spent much of his time fighting an array of goofy enemies ranging from communist spies and robot bats to gangsters with bizarre names right out of ''ComicStrip/DickTracy.''

Although the TV adaptation was average for a TV series of its time (it ran from November 7, 1963 to December 12, 1964 in Japan), by modern standards it is laughable and crude (like most shows of its era). In addition to being in black and white, its production crew had almost no experience with cel animation and took several episodes to gain any skill with the form. Even then it was of low quality, with a minimal frame rate, low detail, and wooden movement.

The manga's never released overseas, but there are groups trying to translate the manga (unofficially) in various languages.

Despite this, it is still viewed with a certain amount of nostalgia in both Japan and the United States.

8 Man is a manga series by Jiro Kuwata and Kazumasa Hirai. It tells the story of a police officer named Hachiro Azuma (Brady in the US), ambushed by criminals and run over by a car. As he lies dying, a mysterious scientist rescues him and gives him a [[WeCanRebuildHim new cyborg body]].

Now empowered beyond ordinary men, Azuma becomes (all by himself) the secret 8th division of the Tokyo Police. His only superior is bureau chief Tanaka (called Chief Fumblethumbs, of all things, in English). Now called 8 Man ("Eighth Man", in English, because according to the dub he was the eighth cyborg attempt -- and the first one to work!), he has the usual array of powers: SuperStrength, SuperSpeed, plus VoluntaryShapeshifting and the unusual ability to [[HelpingHands detach and remotely control his limbs]]. In a detail that would never get past kid-vid censors today, 8-Man recharged his power supply using "special cigarettes". He spent much of his time fighting an array of goofy enemies ranging from communist spies and robot bats to gangsters with bizarre names right out of ''ComicStrip/DickTracy.''

The manga's never released overseas, but there are groups that are trying to translate the manga (unofficially) in various languages.

* ArtShift: the American theme song, mentioned below, is considerably more western-looking than the series itself.

* ISurrenderSuckers: How the whole thing started. The leader of the gang that Azuma was going after pretended to surrender so that his other henchmen can run him over with their car while he was distracted, killing him. This lead to the scientist retrieving his body and rebuilding him as 8 Man.

* SdrawkcabAlias: His secret identity is named Tobor.
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: Eight Man was also built with the ability to use his artifical skin to change his appearance -- usually to his secret identity of Tobor, but frequently for undercover missions. He has the RequiredSecondaryPower of [[VoiceChangeling changing his voice to help impersonate other people]], too.
* WeaksauceWeakness: Eight Man has to smoke (or eat) what appear to be cigarettes to keep his powers running. Great when he's facing a firing squad, but ''what if kids see him smoking and he sets a bad example?''

Based on the manga series ''8 Man'' by Jiro Kuwata and Kazumasa Hirai, this 1963 anime tells the story of a private investigator named Hachiro Azuma (Brady in the US), ambushed by criminals and run over by a car. As he lies dying, a mysterious scientist rescues him and gives him a [[WeCanRebuildHim new cyborg body]].

Now empowered beyond ordinary men, Azuma becomes (all by himself) the secret 8th division of the Tokyo Police. His only superior is bureau chief Tanaka (called Chief Fumblethumbs, of all things, in English). Now called 8-Man ("Eighth Man", in English, because according to the dub he was the eighth cyborg attempt -- and the first one to work!), he has the usual array of powers: SuperStrength, SuperSpeed, plus VoluntaryShapeshifting and the unusual ability to [[HelpingHands detach and remotely control his limbs]]. In a detail that would never get past kid-vid censors today, 8-Man recharged his power supply using "special cigarettes". He spent much of his time fighting an array of goofy enemies ranging from communist spies and robot bats to gangsters with bizarre names right out of ''ComicStrip/DickTracy.''

Although the animation was average for a TV series of its time (it ran from November 7, 1963 to December 12, 1964 in Japan), by modern standards it is laughable and crude (like most shows of its era). In addition to being in black and white, its production crew had almost no experience with cel animation and took several episodes to gain any skill with the form. Even then it was of low quality, with a minimal frame rate, low detail, and wooden movement.

Along with ''Anime/AstroBoy'', ''Anime/{{Gigantor}}'' and ''Anime/SpeedRacer'', ''8th Man'' is historically significant as one of the first anime series to be distributed in the United States. The American version's [[ImportationExpansion newly animated]] [[ExpositoryThemeTune opening sequence]] was the first professional animation work done by Creator/RalphBakshi.

* ISurrenderSuckers: How the whole thing started. The leader of the gang that Azuma was going after pretended to surrender so that his other henchmen can run him over with their car while he was distracted, killing him. This lead to the scientist retrieving his body and rebuilding him as 8th Man.

* {{Ruritania}}: The professor who created 8th Man is said to have defected from a fictional country called Armico, to explain why all his blueprints and written communications are in a weird foreign language (Japanese, of course).

In 1993 a DarkerAndEdgier sequel, ''Anime/EightManAfter'', was released as an {{OVA}}; it has its own page.