Android Kikaider Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Android Kikaider Blu-ray Movie Review

Android Kikaider is a popular Tokusatsu action classic. The beloved action classic was produced during the period of the Henshin Boom. Adapted from the Kikaider manga by Shotaro Ishinomori, the series was developed by Masaru Igami. Created by Shōtarō Ishinomori and Tohru Hirayama, Android Kikaider remains a popular action favorite.

Narrated by Masaaki Okabe, Android Kikaider was developed for Japanese television by Masaru Igami. Android Kikaider features the opening theme "Go, Go, Kikaider!" by Yuki Hide. The ending theme is "Tatakae, Jinzō Ningen" by Yuki Hide. Produced by Shinichi Miyazaki, Android Kikaider is well done classic Tokusatsu that continues to find new and appreciative fans.

Android Kikaider was originally broadcast on TV Asahi from 8 July 1972 – 5 May 1973. The series features production by Ishimori Production, Toei Company, Ltd., Toei Productions, and TV Asahi.  Featuring a lead performance by Daisuke Ban.

Jiro (Daisuke Ban) finds new adventures as the heroic Android warrior Kikaider. Jiro enjoys drifting alongside the beautiful countryside with his guitar in hand. There is always a moment to play some music. The beloved guitar in hand, Kikaider loves nothing more than to make some beautiful music. Meanwhile, Jiro loves fighting villains as the Android Kikaider.

Jiro was determined to fight Professor Gill and the ominous threat of cybernet DARK forces. Jiro has a lot of epic battles to experience and plenty of villains to defeat as well. Jiro aims to take out the villains working to take over the world. Some of the biggest threats are the androids of DARK’s Destruction Corps.

The supporting cast of characters includes Dr. Kōmyōji (Hajime Izu), Mitsuko Kōmyōji (Jun Mizunoe), Masaru Kōmyōji (Masahiro Kamiya), Professor Gill (Mitsuo Andō), and Hanpei Hattori (Shun Ueda). Wonderful characters add a lot of charm to the production. Android Kikaider highlights the great warmth of the cast of characters and their role on the series.

Android Kikaider features a compelling score composed by Michiaki Watanabe. The music plays a wonderful role in the production. The score by Watanabe is excellent throughout. The fun and adventurous score engaging.

Written by Masaru Igami and Shūkei Nagasaka, Android Kikaider is well-done from a scripting perspective. The writing is top-notch for a genre production. The Tokusatsu action beats are outstanding, providing a sense of charm to the action elements.

Directed by Hidetoshi Kitamura, Toyohiko Hatakeyama, and Yasutada Nagano, Android Kikaider is well worthwhile for a classic Tokusatsu genre series. Android Kikaider is special and has a lot of wonderful elements for fans to appreciate. The genre aspects play a big role in the series fun and what it offers. The over-the-top spectacle is fantastic and is one of the most important elements of the series. The robust genre elements make the genre series that much more engaging for fans. A classic with good reason.

Without a doubt, the action element is one of the forefront qualities that keeps the series so hugely entertaining for fans. The action aspect is something that works wonders – the silly and over-the-top genre roots are superb and bring me back to the days of my youth growing up watching Power Rangers and other similar action series designed as North America cultural responses to the incredible trend of Tokusatsu action classics from Japan. For anyone wanting a action extravaganza, there is a lot worth appreciating about the series.

Android Kikaider Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Discotek Media, Android Kikaider is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original television broadcast aspect ratio of 1.33:1 full frame. The release has impressive high-definition video. The transfer looks quite lovely on the release. Details pop and a wonderful sense of crisp clarity is provided to the release.

The release provides top-notch video quality and there is certainly something to be said about the level of care given to the release by distributor Discotek Media. The presentation provides robust detail and clarity. One of the strengths of physical media is the encoding quality. Streaming video services tend to provide lower video bit-rates.

Home theater enthusiasts wanting the best possible presentation quality often appreciate the subtle gains that can sometimes be had with the physical format. There are also a number of other variables that one can consider with physical media – the consistency of having a physical product to rely on and without having to count on internet connection speeds, number of connected users, service plans, plan tiers, weather issues, and other variables.

Android Kikaider Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in Japanese uncompressed PCM 2.0 (with English subtitles). The lossless audio encoding is one of the nicest qualities of the release. The audio encoding provides a robustly engaging soundstage. The audio dynamics make a solid impression throughout. The score is well reproduced. Dialogue is clear and easy to understand. The English subtitles are well done and are free from egregious spelling or grammatical errors.

One of the hallmarks of physical media is the lossless audio encoding. For home theater enthusiasts and audiophiles alike, the lossless audio provides a more robust and pleasing audio experience. The lossless encoding allows for more spaciousness to the sound presentation. The dynamics are more robust and meaningful. These aspects help to create an even more engaging sound presentation.

Android Kikaider Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release comes with a beautifully designed o-card slipcover. The slipcover is fantastic and makes a wonderful impression with the release. The slipcover artwork is certainly compelling and provides a beautiful visual. The cover art underneath the slipcover provides additional key artwork.

The dual element of "double cover art" creates an even nicer effect for collectors. The packaging design is wonderful across the board. The release is a nice showcase for the efforts undertaken by distributor Discotek Media for highlighting the series on its physical media release.

One of the great things about physical media is simply the ability to hold something special in your hands. It harkens back to the video store era. Owning a physical media release is like a time capsule back to your childhood and looking at the local video store for a great movie to watch.

There is a joy felt by holding a physical copy of a movie that is quite tangible and one cannot get the same identical experience while browsing films on a streaming service app. Fans of VHS, DVD, and Blu-ray, recalling the beloved wonders of the video store era, will find a lot worth celebrating with the continued support of physical media by distributors like Discotek Media.

On disc supplements include:

Kiku-TV Promotional Spot (SD, 1:06)

Daisuke Ban Interviews (SD, 45:33)                   

Vintage Hawaiian Stage Event (HD, 13:09)

"Making of Kikaider" Retrospective (HD, 1:02:14)

Discotek has knocked it out of the park with a fantastic supplemental package. The bonus features on the release are top-notch. There was a lot of effort made into assembling a fantastic package for fans. The level of care and attention given to the release by distributor Discotek Media is fantastic and it is something that makes a wonderful impression.

Android Kikaider Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Android Kikaider is an incredible Tokusatsu action classic and a series well worth discovery. The action gem is one of the forefront classics of the period. Jiro (Daisuke Ban) makes a fantastic lead as the robot warrior Android Kikaider. The fun production values add a lot to the series and its sense of charm. There is something remarkably special about the classic action series. Android Kikaider will easily appeal to fans of superhero stories and epic adventures.

The Blu-ray release from distributor Discotek Media is top-notch and is a testament to Discotek as one of the forefront leaders in physical media - the top label in Japanese anime and niche titles from Japan. The release includes a wonderful high-definition transfer, lossless audio encoding, and a nice selection of bonus features, too. The set comes jam-packed with a plethora of extras including a feature-length making of retrospective, premiere event, interviews, and promotional footage. The box-set also provides a nicely designed o-card slipcover. Fans of the classic Tokusatsu action genre will appreciate the gem and what it brings to the table. Highly recommended.