Kinnikuman: A story of justice and friendship ■Overview of the work "Kinnikuman" is a TV anime series based on the popular manga by Yudetamago, which aired on Nippon Television from April 3, 1983 to October 1, 1986. The series, which consists of 137 episodes, tells the story of Kinnikuman, who comes to Earth from Planet Kinnikuman, and grows through various battles and learns about justice and friendship. The original series was serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump," and its popularity not only led to an anime adaptation, but also influenced many areas, such as sparking a boom in erasers (Kinkeshi) and pioneering character songs. ■ Story Planet Kinniku is located in the Great Kinniku Nebula, 50 billion light years away from Earth. Kinnikuman, the first prince of the Kinniku Kingdom on Planet Kinniku, is sent to Japan by his parents' clumsiness. As he grows up, Kinnikuman is called a failure, but he continues to fight with his own courage. He meets many allies in the course of various battles, awakens to justice and friendship, and grows into a first-class superhuman. ■Explanation "Kinnikuman" is an anime adaptation of a popular superhero manga that was serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump." It was so popular that erasers shaped like characters from the series (commonly known as Kinkeshi) became a craze, and seven animated films were made. In addition, a theme song was written for each of the superheroes that appeared, and it became a pioneer of "character songs" in anime. Kinnikuman is full of a sense of justice, but he lacks the skills to back it up, so he was called a useless superhero, but as he fights many times, he grows into a hero that everyone recognizes. ■Cast- Kinnikuman: Akira Kamiya
- Meat-kun: Minori Matsushima
- Terryman: Hideyuki Tanaka
- Robin Mask: Daisuke Gori
- Ramenman: Eiji Kanie
- The King: Kazuhiko Kishino
- Queen: Nana Yamaguchi
- Mari: Chisato Nakajima
- Natsuko: Hiromi Tsuru
■ Main staff- Producers: Takeshi Tamiya, Hidehiko Takei, Kyotaro Kimura
- Original author: Yudetamago
- Serialised in: Weekly Shonen Jump
- Music: Kazato Shinsuke
- Character design: Toshio Mori
- Art design: Tomoko Eritate
- Series Directors: Yasuo Yamayoshi, Takenori Kawada, Tetsuo Imazawa
- Assistant directors: Yuji Asada, Yoshitomo Yonetani, Junji Shimizu
- Production Assistants: Harume Kosaka, Junji Shimizu
- Produced by Toei Animation, Yomiuri Advertising Agency
■Theme song Opening Theme- OP1 "Kinnikuman GO FIGHT!"
Lyrics: Yukinojo Mori Composition: Hiroaki Serizawa Arrangement: Ryo Kawakami Singer: Akira Kushida - OP2 "Kinnikuman of Flame"
Lyrics: Yukinojo Mori Music: Hiroaki Serizawa Sung by: Akira Kushida, Koorogi '73 - OP3 "Kinnikuman Whirlwind"
Lyrics: Yukinojo Mori Composition: Hiroaki Serizawa Arrangement: Seiichi Kyoda Singer: Akira Kushida
Ending Theme- ED1 “Meat・2×9・Rok’n Roll”
Lyrics: Yukinojo Mori Composition: Hiroaki Serizawa Arrangement: Ryo Kawakami Singer: Akira Kushida - ED2 "Kinniku Mambo"
Lyrics: Yukinojo Mori Composition: Yukinojo Mori Sung by: Akira Kamiya, Koorogi '73 - ED3 "Kinnikuman Ondo"
Lyrics: Yukinojo Mori Composition: Yukinojo Mori Arrangement: Kohei Tanaka Sung by: Akira Kamiya, Minori Matsushima, Korogi '73 - ED4 "Kinnikuman Club"
Lyrics: Yukinojo Mori Composition: Hiroaki Serizawa Arrangement: Seiichi Kyoda Singer: Akira Kushida
■ Main Characters- Kinnikuman The first heir to the throne of the Kinniku Kingdom. He is filled with a sense of justice, but lacks the ability to back it up, and is called a useless superhuman. However, after many battles, he grows into a hero that everyone recognizes.
- Meat-kun A young superhero who came from Planet Kinniku to pick up Kinnikuman. He is in charge of watching over and caring for Kinnikuman.
- Terryman is a superhero of justice from America. At first, he looked down on Kinnikuman, but when he realized that he and Kinnikuman shared a passionate spirit of justice, they gradually became best friends.
■Subtitle- Episode 1: "The Messenger from Planet Kinnikuman" and "The Man from America"
- Episode 2: "The Target is Nessie" "Save Planet Kinniku!"
- Episode 3: "Space Monster Invasion" and "Kinnikuman's Big Hustle"
- Episode 4: "Natsuko's Flying Story" and "Working a Part-Time Job is Hard"
- Episode 5: "Kinnikuman and the Battle of Family" and "Kinnikuman's Heartbreak"
- Episode 6: "Popular!? Kinnikuman's Story" "I want to be the Japanese representative"
- Episode 7: "Hero Olympics" "Kinkotsuman's Trap"
- Episode 8: "Space Marathon" "Battle Royale"
- Episode 9: "Natsuko Becomes a Titan" and "Hidden Secrets"
- Episode 10: "Gong! The Final Tournament" "In Danger! Terryman"
- Episode 11: "The Great Reversal!" "The Ice Death Match"
- Episode 12: "The Deadly Camel Clutch" and "Behold! The Spirit of the West"
- Episode 13: "Terryman Transforms into a Devil" "The Deadly Boston Crab"
- Episode 14: "Zangyak Alien Appears!" "Kinnikuman Advances to the Finals"
- Episode 15: "Secret Training in the Snowy Mountains" and "Ramenman's Rampage"
- Episode 16: "Let's go! Battle Style" "Here it is! The Human Rocket"
- Episode 17: "Terrifying! Robin's Special Move" and "The Course of Death"
- Episode 18: "The Terrifying Spine-Breaking Story" "Will Kinnikuman Make a Turnaround?"
- Episode 19: "Kinnikuman Soars to the World" and "Hawaii! The Mystery of Kamehameha"
- Episode 20: "7 Second Fall!" "No Rope Death Match"
- Episode 21: "Kinnikuman's Fight" "The Deadly Move: Furinkazan"
- Episode 22: "Defeat the Superhuman Alliance!" "Suguru in Danger"
- Episode 23: "The Appearance of the Fearsome Magician" and "The Fourth Murderous Technique"
- Episode 24: "Tendoon vs. Kinnikuman" and "The Secret of Skullboz"
- Episode 25: "Robin Mask Reappears", "Duel! Amazon Valley"
- Episode 26: "The Hellish Aerial Death Match" "The Final Chapter of Robin Mask"
- Episode 27: "The Superhuman Olympics Again" "The Appearance of the Superhuman Rikishiman"
- Episode 28: "Superhuman Elimination" and "Challenge to the Gasoline Pool"
- Episode 29: "Kinnikuman: Love and Youth" and "Let's Run the Shinkansen"
- Episode 30: "Final Qualifiers: The Valley of Superhuman Drops" and "The Deadly Roller Game"
- Episode 31: "The Deadly Battle in Front of the Goal" and "The Superman is a Pachinko Ball"
- Episode 32: "Warsman: Iron Claws" "Did you see that? The Wax Solidification Killing Technique"
- Episode 33: "Brocken Jr.'s Challenge" "Here it is! Kinnikuman's Special Move"
- Episode 34: "Concrete Death Match" and "Brocken Jr.'s Fierce Attack"
- Episode 35: "The Great Wall of China" "The Clash of the American and Soviet Superhumans!"
- Episode 36: "Benkiman's Trap" "Ramenman is a True Superhuman"
- Episode 37: "The Sumo Superman Rikishiman" "Get to the Edge of the Ring!"
- Episode 38: "Coffin Death Match" and "Fighting Machine Superman"
- Episode 39: "The Deadly Bear Claw" and "The Scramble Soft Return"
- Episode 40: "Mask Removal Death Match!" "The Promise with Ramenman"
- Episode 41: "Breaking the Paro Special" "Here it is! Kinniku Buster"
- Episode 42: "The day of the final battle is coming!" "What is the true identity of Barracuda!?"
- Episode 43: "Terrifying! The Computer Superman" and "The Torn Mask"
- Episode 44: "The Secret of Kinniku Guard" "The Greatest Crisis!"
- Episode 45: "Robin Mask's Revenge" "The Shitty Strength of an Emergency!"
- Episode 46: "90 Minutes of Deadly Combat! The Final Showdown" "Give Up!? Kinnikuman's Story"
- Episode 47: "The Miracle-Casting Spirit of Fire!!" "The First in History! V2"
- Episode 48: "Appearance!! The Seven Devil Supermen" and "Meat Dismembered"
- Episode 49: "The Devil Superman Series Begins" "The Hellish Stealth King"
- Episode 50: "Devil's Symphony" "Secret Technique! Three Minute Kill"
- Episode 51: "The Devil Superman Black Hole" and "The Terrifying Fourth-Dimensional Wrestling"
- Episode 52: "Shadow Killer! The Story of the Clone Technique" and "Life or Death!? The Story of the Dark Pit"
- Episode 53: "I Did It!! The Yellow Hole" "I'm Immortal!!"
- Episode 54: "Idol Superhuman vs. Devil Superhuman" "All-out Attack!! Devil Superhuman"
- Episode 55: "The Terrifying Devil Tomboy" and "The Underwater Showdown"
- Episode 56: "Special Move!! Fang Hell" and "Horror!! Mummy Package"
- Episode 57: "What is the Mysterious Superhuman's True Identity!?" "The Family Heirloom, the Bear Claw"
- Episode 58: "The Revived Human Heart" and "The Double Bear Claw"
- Episode 59: "Terryman Falls to the Bottom of the Valley" and "The Mysterious Red Spot!"
- Episode 60: "The Demon Superman's Blood-Bound Chapter" and "The Powerful St. Helens Eruption Chapter"
- Episode 61: "Save Meat: Kinnikuman's Story" and "The Mysterious Superhuman Mongolman's Story"
- Episode 62: "Hell's Shower" "Full Throttle! 10 Million Power"
- Episode 63: "The Secret of the Long Horn" and "The Emergency Reverse Propulsion"
- Episode 64: "The Torn Ring" "Here it is! The New Kinniku Buster"
- Episode 65: "One Second Left Before the Time Limit!!" "The Ring is a Story of Men's Friendship"
- Episode 66: "The Legendary Golden Mask" and "The Demon Knight's Challenge"
- Episode 67: "Mystery! Crocodile Hell" and "Shedding Superman Snigerter"
- Episode 68: "Brutal!! The Frilled Lizard" and "The True Identity of the Snigerter"
- Episode 69: "The Miracle Silver Mask" and "The Life-Giving Sumo Ring Entry"
- Episode 70: "Space Hell Planetman" "Are all the righteous supermen wiped out?!"
- Episode 71: "The Scream of Geronimo" and "Follow Him to the Depths of Hell"
- Episode 72: "The Five Rings of Death" and "Counterattack! Junkman"
- Episode 73: "Did you see that? Robin's strategy" and "The Ninja's spider web binding"
- Episode 74: "Here it is! The Red Rain of Berlin" and "The Hellish Technique, Ashura Buster"
- Episode 75: "The Stolen Arms" and "The Warsman in Danger!"
- Episode 76: "Terryman Prepares to Die" and "Geronimo's Fierce Attack"
- Episode 77: "The Hellish Pyramid" and "The Immortal Superhuman Spirit"
- Episode 78: "The Mystery of the Golden Mask" "The Demon General Appears"
- Episode 79: "Explosion! Hell's Guillotine" and "Resurrection! Buffalo Man"
- Episode 80: "The Storm-bringing Spider Web of Hell" and "Broken! Kinniku Buster"
- Episode 81: "Breaking the Ashura Buster" and "Buffalo Man's Rebellion!"
- Episode 82: "Intense Training! New Special Move!!" "Direct Hit! Skull Crush"
- Episode 83: "The Devil General is a Soft-bodied Superman" and "The Neokiniku Buster Explodes"
- Episode 84: "Explosive Diamond Power" and "Megaton Punch in an Emergency"
- Episode 85: "The Deathmatch of Survival" and "The Chairman's Friendship"
- Episode 86: "Kinnikuman vs. the Devil General" "The Victory of Justice and Friendship"
- Episode 87: "The Dream Tag Tournament" "Challenge! The Three Gates"
- Episode 88: "The Appearance of Kinnikuman Great" "Rampage! The Hellish Duo"
- Episode 89: "The Terrifying Fourth-Dimensional Trap" and "Danger! Kinnikuman Great"
- Episode 90: "The Amazing Muscle Docking Chapter" "The Shocking! The Perfect Superman Chapter"
- Episode 91: "The Blood-Spewt Hell of Screwdrivers" and "The Boss Appears!"
- Episode 92: "Big the Martial Artist's True Identity" and "Rough Technique! Robin Special"
- Episode 93: "The Mask is Removed" and "Counterattack! Robin Mask"
- Episode 94: "The Birth of New Terryman" and "Take That! Tornado Hell"
- Episode 95: "The Cursed Roller Operation" and "The Sand Balls of Hell"
- Episode 96: "Terryman Resurrects" and "The Bloodthirsty Devil Duo"
- Episode 97: "The Explosion of the Crossline of Hell" and "The True Identity of Kinnikuman Great"
- Episode 98: "The Semi-Finals Begin!" "The Lumberjack Death Match"
- Episode 99: "Terryman's Anguish" and "Kinnikuman Great's Resurrection"
- Episode 100: "Sunshine Magnum" "The Secret! The Tanuki's Asleep Killing Technique"
- Episode 101: "The Prince of the Demon World" and "The Terrifying Ashura Fireball Bullet"
- Episode 102: "The Broken Cursed Roller" and "The Devil General Resurrects!?"
- Episode 103: "Burning Demonic Spiritual Art" and "Asuraman Cries!"
- Episode 104: "The Combination of Friendship" "The Last Volume of Sunshine"
- Episode 105: "Cruel! The Barbed Wire Match" and "Danger! The Mongolian Man"
- Episode 106: "The Long Horn Returns" and "The Mountain Ring Collapses!"
- Episode 107: "The Pyramid Ring Appears!" "Hokkaido Takes Off into the Sky!"
- Episode 108: "The Mystery of the Pyramid Ring" "The Deadly Thunder Saber"
- Episode 109: "Buffaloman's Friendship" and "Magnetic Storm Cross Bomber"
- Episode 110: "Ramenman Will Not Die!" "Kinnikuman's Stolen Arm"
- Episode 111: "Longhorn of Friendship" and "Finals! Sword Deathmatch"
- Episode 112: "The Unlimited Three-Round Match" and "The Crisis Brain Play"
- Episode 113: "Mask Hunt: 30 Seconds Left" and "Explosion! Magnetic Crash"
- Episode 114: "The First Defeat!" "Asuraman's Friendship"
- Episode 115: "Revival! The Machine Guns" and "Mask the End"
- Episode 116: "I saw it! Kinnikuman's true face" and "The appearance of Neptune King"
- Episode 117: "Stabbed! Terryman's Story" and "The Miracle Power of Friendship"
- Episode 118: "The Uneven Bars in an Emergency" and "The Mystery of the Apollo Window"
- Episode 119: "Lock the Keyhole-shaped Tomb" and "The Shining Trophy!"
- Episode 120: "Prince Kinnikumaru's Overthrow" and "The Appearance of the Ultimate Superhuman Army"
- Episode 121: "The Appearance of the Military Tactician Yamakan" and "The Transforming Superman Kaleyas"
- Episode 122: "Melted Kinnikuman" and "Great Battle! Where's Mari?"
- Episode 123: "Here it is! The Saikou Joes" and "The One-on-One Battle with Yamakan"
- Episode 124: "Strongest! The Ultimate Warp" and "Leave the Righteous Superman Forever!"
- Episode 125: "Two Kinnikumen: Huh!?" "Protect! The Sword of Justice"
- Episode 126: "The Coffin Delivery Man, the Dirty Baron" and "The Sparkling Hell Ring"
- Episode 127: "A Huge Explosion of a Dormant Volcano!?" "Wild Bact in the Night Fog"
- Episode 128: "Very Evil!! The Story of Bactromp" and "The Dirty Baron is Alive"
- Episode 129: "The Terrifying 3D Playing Cards" and "Tattered! Terryman"
- Episode 130: "Shocking! The New Longhorn" and "Buffaloman Becomes a Demon"
- Episode 131: "Ramenman's Decision" and "Special Move: Guangzhou Waterwheel"
- Episode 132: "Skewered! Ramenman's Chapter" and "Sichuan's Great Rising Dragon!"
- Episode 133: "We're at a Disadvantage! The Irregular Tag Team Match" and "The Sky Devil's Giant Monster"
- Episode 134: "Robin Mask in a desperate situation! The story of Bulldoggie who bit and killed a thousand people"
- Episode 135: "Anger! Brocken Jr." "Threat! The Seven Tools of Death"
- Episode 136: "Behold! The Battle of the Century" and "The Power of Desperation"
- Episode 137: "Longhorn's Random Attack!" "Who's Sword of Justice in His Hands?"
■ Related works- Sequel
- "Kinnikuman: Battle for the Kinnikuman Throne"
- "Kinnikuman II"
- Theatrical Works
- "Kinnikuman: The Stolen Champion Belt"
- "Kinnikuman Rampage! Super Heroes of Justice"
- "Kinnikuman: Justice Superhumans vs Ancient Superhumans"
- "Kinnikuman Counterattack! Hidden Space Superman"
- "Kinnikuman: Fine Appearance! Super Hero of Justice"
- "Kinnikuman New York in Danger!"
- "Kinnikuman: Justice Superhumans vs Warrior Superhumans"
■ Evaluation and recommendation "Kinnikuman" is one of the works that symbolizes Japanese anime culture in the 1980s, and its influence has not faded to this day. The story depicts Kinnikuman's growth from when he arrived on Earth, and has themes of justice and friendship. In particular, the scenes in which Kinnikuman fights alongside his friends are moving and leave a deep impression on viewers. In addition, each character has a strong personality, and character songs and merchandise have also become popular. The appeal of this series lies above all in its storytelling and character development. Although Kinnikuman was initially called a useless superhuman, his growth through the bonds he forms with his teammates and through battles gives viewers courage and hope. The battle scenes in each episode are also very exciting, making it enjoyable for both children and adults. Furthermore, the character designs and music are not to be missed. The character designs are visually very appealing, with Yudetamago's unique touch being reproduced in the anime. The theme songs and character songs also had a major impact on the music scene at the time. In particular, the opening theme sung by Akira Kushida is still loved by many fans today. Kinnikuman is not just a battle anime, but also an excellent human drama and story of friendship. This work gives courage and hope to the viewer, so it is definitely worth watching at least once. It is especially recommended for those who want to know about Japanese anime from the 1980s and those who like works with themes of justice and friendship. There are also sequels and movies, so you can enjoy the entire series. This work continues to be loved by a wide range of people, from children to adults, and its universal themes and exciting story will give you new discoveries no matter how many times you watch it. Through "Kinnikuman," you can reaffirm the power of justice and friendship and feel your own growth. |
