Akumaizer 3

Akumaizer 3 (アクマイザー3, Akumaizā Surī) is a Japanese science fiction tokusatsu television series, created by Shotaro Ishinomori and produced by Toei Company. The series premiered on Tuesday October 7, 1975 at 7:30, and ran for 38 episodes in that timeslot on NET, now known as TV Asahi. The series remains obscure outside of Japan, but was popular and renowned in its home country. The series was followed by a sequel called Chojin Bibyun which used rejected designs from the Kamen Rider series as its hero designs.

Production

The program frequently alludes to the famous Alexandre Dumas, père novel The Three Musketeers.

Due to the inhuman nature of the main characters, the primary protagonists and antagonists were portrayed exclusively by stuntmen, with only their voices being portrayed by professional actors. Because of this, an unusual number of well-known voice actors star in the series, as the voices of the main characters. Makio Inoue portrays Xavitan., Kōji Yada plays Evil, and Jōji Yanami provides Gabra's gravelly intonation.

Plot summary

The program follows the adventures of three mutant superhero-refugees from the "Akuma Clan" ("Devil Clan", in English), a vast empire that exists below the surface of the Earth, and their efforts to stop the Akumas from attacking the surface world. The three warriors are Xavitan, a half-demon swordsman, Evil, a somewhat vain and foppish sharpshooter, and Gabra, a slow- and dim-witted strongman. Together, they make up the superheroic team of the show's title. At the end of the series, the heroes' bodies are destroyed, but their souls survive to be reincarnated in the direct sequel to the show, Choujin Bibyun

Characters

Akumaizer 3

Based on the Zaiderbeck.

• Xavitan (ザãƒ"タン, Zabitan): A fencer who actually the son of an Akuma male and a human female. As a result, Xavitan leaves the Akuma Clan to defend the humans from them. Other using his Xarado blade, Xavitan can use his Xavitan Nova shoulder cannons. Though posing as Ippei, he later assumes the form of Takeshi Nagumo and works under him.

• Evil (イãƒ"ル, Ibiru): Member of the Discipline group sent after Xavitan. Though he captures him, Xavitan saves his life as he never killed anyone. As a result, Evil joins Xavitan. Other than his Elado blade, Evil also uses the Jo Gun and can execute the Evil Finish attack.

• Gabra (ガブラ, Gabura): A water demon who was a member of the Discipline group sent after Xavitan. Though he loses against his target, Xavitan spares him and later saves his live. This prompts Gabra to join Xavitan. Armed with the Garado sword and Denball and chain, Gabra can remove his muscle restraints to fight at full power. He can also transform into the ostrich like Gabracho bird.

Totou Times

• Jun
• Ippei Shima
• Mitsuhiko

Allies

• Darunia
• Demon Peace Party (Heiwatô Yonin Jyu)
  • Basugaru
  • NaameNaameda
  • Nobera
  • Nobera Jr

Akuma Clan

The Akuma Clan are a race of magical cyborgs who live deep within the earth, plot to invade the surface world.

• Mezalord (メザロード): The Akuma Clan's leader

Episodes

1. Why? Xavitan's Rebellion (なぜだ?! ザãƒ"タンの反逆!)
2. Why Did she Die?! Xavitan's Mother (なぜ死ã‚"だ?! ザãƒ"タンの母)
3. Why?! Gabra's Disappearance (なぜだ?! ガブラが消えた)
4. Why?! Evil's Treachery (なぜだ?! イãƒ"ルの裏切り)
5. Why?! Xavitan's Refusal To Fight (なぜだ?! 闘わぬザãƒ"タン)
6. Why?! Gabra's Big Comeback (なぜだ?! ガブラの大逆転)
7. Why?! The Hundred Degrees Below Zero Revenge (なぜだ?! 逆襲の零下百度)
8. Why?! Xavitan Is Captured By Children (なぜだ?! 子供につかまったザãƒ"タン)
9. Why?! Gabra The Enemy (なぜだ?! ガブラが敵に)
10. Why?! Darunia's Crisis (なぜだ?! ダルニアの危機)
11. Why?! Evil and the Child (なぜだ?! 子連れイãƒ"ル)
12. Why?! Blinded Xavitan (なぜだ?! ザãƒ"タン失明)
13. Why?! Xavitan Impersonated (なぜだ?! ザãƒ"タンが化ã'た?)
14. Why?! Ippei's Double (なぜだ?! 一平がふたり?)
15. Why?! Ippei The Tengu (なぜだ?! 一平がテングになった)
16. Why?! Secret of the Red Umbrella (なぜだ?! 赤い傘の秘密)
17. Why?! The Other Xavitan (なぜだ?! もう一人のザãƒ"タン)
18. Why?! Target: Evil (なぜだ?! 狙われたイãƒ"ル)
19. Why?! Xavitan's Five Secrets (なぜだ?! ザãƒ"タンäº"つの謎)
20. Why?! Xavitan's Secret Power (なぜだ?! ザãƒ"タンの秘密能力)
21. Why?! Tokyo Encased In Ice! (なぜだ!? 東京がカチンカチン)
22. Why?! The Fake Genius Project (なぜだ?! インチキ天才計ç"»)
23. Why?! Magic Powers Have No Effect (なぜだ?! é­"法力がきかない)
24. Why?! The Overprotective Nobera Family (なぜだ?! 親馬鹿ノッペラー)
25. Why?! Gabra's Transformation Into A Bird (なぜだ?! ガブラが鳥になった)
26. Why?! The Dancing Gabra Cho (なぜだ?! 踊るガブラッチョ)
27. Why?! Xavitan Has Been Blown Away (なぜだ?! ザãƒ"タンが吹っ飛ã‚"だ)
28. Why?! The Deadly Tengu Manipulation (なぜだ?! 恐怖のテングあやつり)
29. Why?! Xavitan's Judgement (なぜだ?! 裁かれるザãƒ"タン)
30. Why?! The Mystery of the Sleeping Beauty (なぜだ?! 眠るå°'女の謎)
31. Why?! The Challenge From Hell (なぜだ?! 地獄からのæŒ'戦状)
32. Why?! The Akuma Fugitive (なぜだ?! アクマの逃亡者)
33. Why?! Xavitan In Hot Water (なぜだ?! ザãƒ"タン釜ゆで)
34. Why?! 2 + 3 Is The Magic Number (なぜだ?! 2+3はへのへのもへじ)
35. Why?! The Human Robots (なぜだ?! 人é–"がロボットに)
36. Why?! Gabra Cho Is Swallowed Up (なぜだ?! のみã"まれたガブラッチョ)
37. Why?! The Akuma Clan's All Out Attack (なぜだ?! アクマ族総æ"»æ'ƒ!)
38. Why?! The Time Capsule (なぜだ?! 明日へのカプセル)

Merchandise

The series was released on Region 2 DVD in October 2005. In December of the same year, a boxed set of action figures of slightly redesigned versions of the three characters was released as part of Bandai's Super Imaginative Chogokin series. Many toys and action figures have been released in connection with the series.

Cultural influence

Although Akumaizer has not achieved the fame or international recognition of its tokusatsu contemporaries like Kamen Rider (also created by Ishinomori) or Ultraman, it is not without cultural resonance: In the 2007 anime, Lucky Star, in which the characters sing popular songs, karaoke-style, over the end credits, the character Konata sang the series theme song in the second episode. The main antagonists of the movie Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Wizard & Fourze: Movie War Ultimatum are a villainous Akumaizer trio directly inspired by the heroes of the original series.

See also

Both Go Nagai's Devilman and Ryōsuke Takahashi's Blue Comet SPT Layzner share many themes with Akumaizer 3, such as the rebellion against an evil empire that the protagonist is also a part of, and being forced into combat against former friends, allies, and family members. Devilman also has the particular similarity of featuring a protagonist who fits the more traditional image of a monster or a demon than a hero.

References

• Akumaizâ surî at the Internet Movie Database

Footnotes

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1. ^ "According to S.I.C. Saga Vol. 2, the official name is "Xavitan", not Zabitan.". Archived from the original on 28 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-25. 
2. ^ "According to S.I.C. Saga Vol. 2, the official name of the two is "Evil" and "Gabra".". Archived from the original on 28 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-25. 
3. ^ Akumaizer 3 at "Asian DVD Guide"
4. ^ SIC Akumaizer 3 at Hobby Links Japan.
5. ^ A gallery of the Akumaizer 3 figures
6. ^ http://zincpanic.com/view_series.phtml?toys=374
7. ^ "Lucky Star Ending Theme Collection" (in Japanese). Lantis. Retrieved September 11, 2008.