History Series / Kikaider

''Android Kikaider'' (人造人間キカイダー, ''Jinzō Ningen Kikaider'') was originally a 1972 Japanese live-action series that aired alongside a tie-in manga version, both created by ShotaroIshinomori. An animated version was produced in 2001 in a rather retro art style quite similar to that of the manga. The overall plot of the animation was also much closer to that of the manga than the plot of the live-action series was. The live-action show was typical {{tokusatsu}} fare, with a [[MonsterOfTheWeek monster-of-the-week]], {{transformation sequence}}s, and lots of [[PeopleInRubberSuits people in rubber costumes]].

* FootFocus: three times in the anime Mitsuko spends nearly the entire episode barefoot.

* SpiritualSuccessor: ''ChoujinkiMetalder'' is pretty much the 80's version of ''Kikaider''.

* OneSceneWonder: Considering the OVA only has four episodes, and Rei/00 is introduced in the third episode, we don't really get a lot of time to actually know much about him at all. Another example would be the golden bat vampire robot, who is [[LargeHam amazing.]]

** Also in the 1970's series there are victims of the week.

* OnlySixFaces: Bijinder seems to be Mitsuko in a different outfit, and Rieko looks and dresses exactly like Mitsuko only with long hair.

* CreditsMontage: AdultSwim cut out the opening credits when they aired the show, but instead of showing the normal closing credits, they instead played a series of video clips from throughout the series to the tune of the opening credits theme, probably because they really wanted to use that song.

The TV anime series and the OVA aired on AdultSwim in 2003.

''Android Kikaider'' (人造人間キカイダー, ''Jinzō Ningen Kikaider'') was originally a 1972 Japanese live-action series that aired alongside a tie-in manga version, both created by ShotaroIshinomori. An animated version was produced in 2001 in a rather retro art style quite similar to that of the manga. The overall plot of the animation was also much closer to that of the manga than the plot of the live-action series was. The live-action show was typical {{tokusatsu}} fare, with a monster-of-the-week, transformation sequences, and lots of people in rubber costumes.

The basic story follows Jiro, a robot who was built by Doctor Komyoji in order to stop DARK and Professor Gill from achieving world domination. What will enable Jiro to do so is GEMINI, a special conscience circuit designed to help Jiro distinguish between good and bad and thus ignore the evil orders of Professor Gill. However, GEMINI was left incomplete due to Professor Gill catching wind of Doctor Komyoji's intentions and taking him prisoner. Jiro meets the doctor's daughter, and the two of them, along with a private detective, his assistant, and Mitsuko's little brother, set out to find the Doc and attempt to fix Jiro's broken conscience circuit. Professor Gill sends out his robot minions to try and thwart them, but Jiro is able to change into his high-powered alter-ego Kikaider and stop them.

* BookEnds: The first episode opens with the story of Pinocchio, and the last scene of the OVA episodes reads the ending to it.

* CulturalCrossReference: The fact that the conscience circuit has a name resembling that of [[{{Pinocchio}} a certain cricket]] is not a coincidence.

* FairytaleMotifs: The story of Pinocchio is referenced throughout the series numerous times. The plot parallels are fairly obvious.

* FridgeLogic: [[spoiler: When Rieko dies, what is stopping them from simply repairing her, instead of just burying her parts?]]

** The closing narration in the OVA sums it up well: [[spoiler: "And then Pinocchio became a real boy. But he thought to himself... was it worth it?"]]

* HannibalLecture: Mitsuko gets one during the anime, with the MonsterOfTheWeek asking her if she's thought out her feelings for Jiro and how she'd react if Jiro fell in love with her. Jiro gets the "you'll never be human" one throughout the anime. In the OVA he turns this on [[spoiler:Gill, explaining that with the newly implanted submission circuit, Jiro now has the evil heart that Gill wanted him to have. Jiro utilizes this new ability to kill him, saying that Gill gave him the means to finally become human.]]

* XanatosGambit: Professor Gil [[spoiler:arranged the death of Dr. Komyoji's older son, and later second marriage to convince him to make his robots]].

* InstantExpert: Jiro knows how to operate The Sidemachine (his motorcycle) immediately after finding it, and can play his guitar at a virtuosso level after watching a guy play scales a single time.

** Thats because Ishinomori was greatly inspired by Tezuka's stories.

* DarkerandEdgier:The anime is this compared to the tokusatsu version from the 1970's.

* Fairytale Motifs: The story of Pinocchio is referenced throughout the series numerous times. The plot parallels are fairly obvious.
* FakeMemories: Rieko, in the 4-part OVA.

* MissFanService: Ofcourse ''every'' girl wears a mini skirt in the show, but Bijinder seems to be the only character explicitly meant to be sexy.

* {{Narm}}: "Is that a good order... or a ''bad'' order?... Either way, I'm not taking any orders, because I'm just a ''[[IronicEcho mad machine]].''" -- Jiro, after Mitsuko tries to order him to come with her after the second MonsterOfTheWeek's attack.
** YourMileageMayVary on that particular line though

* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForKids: Don't let the colorful robots and silly characters fool you, there is a lot of murder, blood, and suicide in this tv series.
* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic: The ''Hakaider'' movie has this in spades.

* Fairytale Motifs: The story of Pinocchio is referenced throughout the series numerous times.

* PeopleInRubberSuits