Living Between the Good and Evil - Android Kikaider
The 1970s in Japan was right in the middle of the giant "Tokusatsu'' boom, live-action shows that heavily utilized special effects.
One title that stood out, especially during the 70s was Kamen Rider, which is also scheduled to get a live-action film in 2023 directed by Hideaki Anno. The original writer of the Kamen Rider series, Shotaro Ishinomori, wanted to create something non-Kamen Rider-related. He wanted something that differentiates from the series. The result: Android Kikaider.
Android Kikaider was a Japanese Tokusatsu TV series, with 43 episodes running from 1972/7/8-1973/5/5. Although not very well known in the western world, the show was a success in Japan and struck the hearts of many of the "cool kids" of the day.
One of the first things that is different from other Henshin Tokusatsu [Transforming Tokusatsu] is the physical appearance of Kikaider. Kikaider's human form, Jiro, is named after his creator, Dr. Komyoji's late son Taro. Jiro appears as a young boy who is always carrying a guitar.
Kikaider's battle form is what strikes as unique; a blue right-side and red left-side with a see-through head & exposed mechanism. Ishinomori states the asymmetric design is a visual representation of Kikaider's incomplete conscience. Kikaider was programmed to fight evil, the "DARK" organization that aims to take over the world. Dr. Komyoji created him with a Conscience Circuit inside, but due to DARK's ambush, it was left incomplete, hence the half-blue, half red-design.
This obscure design got backlash from both the team and the viewers, but Ishinomori stood firm saying that Kikaider is his top 1 or 2 designs ever. A manga was written at the same time, based on Pinocchio, with the incomplete Kikaider becoming closer and closer to a human.
Overall, Android Kikaider saw great success, and Kikaider evolved its way into a franchise. To this day, the character design remains iconic and ahead of its time. Also a fun fact, Kikaider was so popular in Hawaii that the governor officially announced that April 12th is Generation Kikaider Day in 2002.
