History Series / TakeshisCastle

* ShoutOut: In the Spanish version, the character Junior (Higashi) often mistook the show's animations with ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', which was being broadcast in the same TV channel in Spain at the time ''Humor Amarillo'' was released. Hilariously enough, the Spanish dub of ''Naruto'' returned the ShoutOut when they put Kankuro to utter some of the show's most famous insults.

** When Takeshi was banned from Japanese TV for eight months after he and several proteges stormed the office of the gossip magazine ''Friday'' and injured several of the magazine's staff, he was replaced by someone wearing a paper-mâché head of him. Later (which is about a few weeks after Higashi took the position as Chief Retainer after Saburo left) he returned, and three weeks later the substitute was [[AntiClimacticUnmasking anticlimactically unmasked]].

** When Takeshi was banned from Japanese TV due to assault charges, he was replaced by someone wearing a Paper-mâché head of him. Later (which is about a few weeks after Higashi took the position as Chief Retainer after Saburo left) he returned, and three weeks later the substitute was [[AntiClimacticUnmasking anticlimactically unmasked]].

100-140 (or maybe possibly more) Japanese contestants (Or international, depending on what episode it is) take part in a series of madcap challenges, hosted by Japanese actor/comedian Creator/TakeshiKitano. He envisioned it as a live action ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' game, and this became increasingly evident as the budget grew.

In late 2008, Tokyo Broadcasting System sued the American network Creator/{{ABC}}, claiming the latter's summer 2008 series ''Series/{{Wipeout|2008}}'' was an infringing copy of ''Takeshi's Castle''.

* AwesomeButImpractical: A special edition of the Uphill Garden had the contestants facing a big contingent of Emerald Guards in their usual attire, but now joined by what was called their "secret weapon", a guy in a gigantic, [[Film/EbirahHorrorOfTheDeep Ebirah]]-like lobster costume. The monster seemed to be a truly dangerous asset for his side, as although he wasn't equipped with guns, he had no target either and thus couldn't be technically eliminated by shooting. However, their entire plan failed when the contestants managed to wipe out all the other guards and surround the lobster, because beatable or not, the latter's suit was so cumbersome that he could not maneuver around easily. He tripped in his own effort to move and ended up spectacularly falling down the hill, which incapacitated him and made his team lost the battle.

* CelebrityResemblance: In the Spanish version, Saburo Ishikura was called "Primo Mario" ("Cousin Mario", 'cousin' due to be in storyline Takeshi's cousin) given his resemblance to ''Videogame/MarioBros'''s title character.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Most of the episodes in Series 1 of the UK version had the background music for some or all of the challenges (Save for the tracks in Karaoke, and the drums in Sumo Rings) edited out for some reason.

* NoOSHACompliance: Nobody's ever actually ''died'' or suffered permanent injury, but the show is noticeably less risk-averse than Western series like ''Series/{{Wipeout}}'' or ''Series/ItsAKnockout''. This might well be part of its appeal.

* PyrrhicVictory: The aftermath of the Final Showdown in Japan Episode 9 (Ironically this was the first time a winner was declared (however it's against the rules to stab one's ring)).

* SphereFactor

-->'''Tani:''' ''(after the first challenge)'' The eliminated countries so far are... only Spain.

* StockSoundEffects: The UK Dub.

* StyrofoamRocks: Any challenge that feature these.

In 2014, the show was given a Thai adaptation (''Takeshi's Castle Thailand''). In late 2017, it was announced that Creator/ComedyCentral ([[NoExportForYou with the exception of the American, Canadian and Japanese versions of the channel]]) had obtained the rights to air the Thai version, with Creator/JonathanRoss acting as the UK version's commentator this time round.t

A revival, with the help of Amazon, was launched in 2023, and streams on Creator/AmazonPrimeVideo.

There were two straight attempts to Americanize the format. The first was called "King of the Mountain"; 10 contestants would play games taken from the original, and the last one standing would win a vacation. Two pilots were filmed in 1988; while it failed to sell, one of the pilots aired on Creator/{{Fox}} as a special presentation in 1990. The second aired on Creator/{{CBS}} in 1993 as a one-shot hour-long special, ''[[http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0901515/ Storm the Castle.]]'' 30 families competed for the right to win $15,000, and used a mixture of games taken from the original and ones completely unique to this special. It finally (kinda-sorta) made it to American airwaves as ''Series/MostExtremeEliminationChallenge'', stylized as "MXC". Airing on TNN/Creator/SpikeTV, this version effectively [[GagDub completely alters the show]], using the footage to create entirely new characters and storylines. It also changed the premise from attempting to storm a castle to two offbeat teams competing in the games to earn points for their side. This third time was the charm, and MXC was a huge hit, running from 2003 to 2007.

It was adapted for Creator/{{CBS}} in 1993 as a one-shot special, ''[[http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0901515/ Storm the Castle.]]'' The U.S. version, ''MXC'' (formerly ''Series/MostExtremeEliminationChallenge''), effectively [[GagDub completely alters the show]].

* MookFaceTurn: [[spoiler: Toshiaki Kasuga served as one of the guards in the 2023 revival, only to suddenly serve under General Tani in the fourth charge to Takeshi’s Castle from Episode 7.]]