Review: I wish I were a part of “Generation Kikaida”. The people of Hawaii were once graced with this classic television series a couple of years after its initial craze had hit Japan. The ratings were amazing as a phenomenal 25% of Hawaii’s population was tuning in every week to see what would happen next. Flash forward to 2002. Long time Hawaiian fans got together and began to start a project to bring Kikaida back on the KIKU television network. They dubbed themselves “Generation Kikaida” and got right to work. The same people that watched the show as kids were now reliving their childhood at 30-something years old, and even some of their own kids got hooked on the show as well.

Thanks to all of their hard efforts, JNProductions began to release the 43 episode long series on a string of fantastic DVDs last year. Originally created by legendary manga artist Ishinomori Shotaro (Kamen Rider, Cyborg 009, Skullman), Kikaida tells a simple story that was at the time bold for it’s humanistic portrayal of the titular android Jiro/Kikaida. The real meat of the story is the aspect of Jiro’s flaws rather than the combined power of his abilities. Created in the DARK labs by Dr. Konmyoji (who worked there against his will for the evil Professor Gill), Jiro was imperfect and unfinished. Konmyoji had yet to install the final piece, a conscience circuit that would make Kikaida 100% complete, and better able to combat evil forces. Without this chip, Jiro is unable to change into Kikaida when Professor Gill plays his electronic flute. Instead, the flute drives Jiro into a berserk rage, and he must find a way to drown out the horrible sound.

The story is interesting enough to keep you watching episodes back to back, and the ongoing plots that connect each chapter counteract the general formulaic nature of the series. As Jiro finally flees DARK, Dr. Komyoji is left in the flaming lab and presumed dead. After this, he wanders the towns struck with amnesia. Every episode, he has a near run in with Jiro, who stays with Dr. K’s son and daughter and is constantly hoping he’ll find his creator once more. It’s also impossible to talk about Kikaida without mentioning Hattori Hanpei, the detective who claims to be a direct descendant of the legendary ninja Hattori Hanzo, and provides the comic relief of the series. His jokes may be hokey, but he always provides a great aside to the action.

Action, huh? The whole show is centered on action! It’s a total monster of the week show, and the villains on this disc (and the others as well) read like a rogues gallery of Mega Man X baddies. In the first five episodes that are provided on this disc, we witness Jiro face the horrifying hilarity of Gray Rhino King, Green Mantis, Orange Ant, Blue Buffalo and Yellow Jaguar. One after another these DARK Destructoids are sent out to mess with the citizens and attempt to kill Kikaida. The nefarious Professor Gill, played by Ando Mitsuo, controls them all. What a great job Mitsuo does portraying this classic villain! He oozes evil and is as butt ugly as any self-respecting leader of an evil organization should be.

Though the special effects are lacking by today’s standards (which is no surprise and no one should come into it expecting to be dazzled), there is an undeniable charm in every reversed shot, superimposed image and awkward flip. The fights are a blast to watch as Jiro zooms around all of the minions on his trusty Sidecar Motorcycle, eventually changing into Kikaida by shouting out “Change, Switch on! 1…2…3!!” to kick the poor Destructoids butt. You’ll cheer everytime he sends an android careening to his doom off of a cliff, and shout as they disassemble into an unrecognizable pile of gears, fuses and light switch covers.