Nebula Mask Machine Man
Nebula Mask Machine Man | |
---|---|
Seiun Kamen Machine Man titlecard | |
Genre | Tokusatsu |
Created by |
Shotaro Ishinomori Toei |
Starring | Osamu Sakuta |
Narrated by | Osamu Kobayashi |
Composer(s) | Yuji Ohno |
Country of origin |
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No. of episodes | 36 (35 episodes + 1 roundup) |
Production | |
Running time | 24 minutes |
Release | |
Original network | Nippon TV (NTV) |
Original release | January 13, 1984 – September 28, 1984 |
Nebula Mask Machine Man (星雲仮é¢ãƒžã‚·ãƒ³ãƒžãƒ³ Seiun Kamen Mashin Man) is a Japanese tokusatsu television series created by Shotaro Ishinomori and produced by Toei Company. It aired from January 13 until September 28, 1984. It revolves around the adventures of Nick (Nikku), a college student from the Ivy planet (located at the Pleiades) and his arrival on Earth to study the earthlings' behavior. Upon arrival, he is called in for the activities of the evil organization called "Tentacle", whose don, Professor K, wishes to eliminate all children in the world.
The series is rumored to have been inspired by American DC Comics superhero Superman, although this was never confirmed by either Ishinomori or Toei.
Plot
Travelling in the spaceship "Space Colony", Nick, with the help of his ball-shaped robot "Ball Boy", arrive on Earth to study the behaviour and manners of human beings for his doctoral degree thesis. Under the human identity of a young man named Ken Takase, he meets Maki Hayama, a photographer at Shukan Hit newspaper, and later saves her from a building fall. Maki was taking pictures for a scoop about a building which had been mysteriously demolished. Later, she and Ken find that the evil organization "Tentacle" is behind the demolitions and other evil deeds around the world. Nick then decides to extend his stay on Earth and uses his advanced technology and superior powers to protect his Maki and the children of Earth under the alter-ego Machine Man, a red and yellow suited superhero. Armed with an advanced technology weapons, he begins fighting Tentacle's cyborgs and protect humankind.
A few episodes later, Machine Man succeeds in dismantling Tentacle; however, Professor K flees to Spain and his niece, Lady M, appears. With her aide Tonchinkan, they establish a new organization called "Octopus". Like her uncle, she is allergic to children (whenever she is near one, her nose turns red). In the beginning, she calls up various thieves and legendary criminals from around the world, but later robotic drones are assembled to combat Machine Man. By the end of the series, the missing Professor K returns, bringing with him the biggest threat the hero had ever faced: Golden Monsu, a fortified version of Tetsujin Monsu.
Main characters
- Ken Takase (Nick)/Machine Man (高瀬 å¥(ニック)ï¼ãƒžã‚·ãƒ³ãƒžãƒ³ Takase Ken (Nikku)/Mashinman): the series' protagonist and main hero, Ken was born at the Ivy Planet and eventually graduated with a degree in Sociology. Upon arriving on Earth, his primary objective is studying human behavior and mannerisms in order to obtain his doctoral degree. However, upon meeting Maki and learn about Tentacle, he decides to stay longer in order to protect her and the children from Professor K's plans.
- Ball Boy (ボールボーイ BÅru BÅi): a baseball-shaped robot who is Nick's companion. Smart and clever, it usually serves as his friend, advisor and sidekick, to certain point. It is also used as a throwing projectile by Machine Man in battles, under the name "Fighting Ball". Ironically, Ball Boy says it does not have any information about baseball.
- Maki Hayama (葉山 真紀 Hayama Maki): a photographer and journalist at Shukan Hit newspaper. She is involved in a traffic accident with Ken and they eventually become friends. She instantly falls for Machine Man (exactly like Lois Lane and Superman) after being saved by him, but begins to fall in love with Ken a few episodes later.
- Masaru Hayama (葉山 å‹ Hayama Masaru): Maki's 10-year-old brother. Usually serves as victim of Tentacle's invests and is saved by Ken/Machine Man.
- Editor-in-chief Henshu (編集長 HenshÅ« ChÅ): The editor-in-chief of Shukan Hit, and Maki's boss.
- Rumiko (ルミå): A member of Shukan Hit's junior editorial staff.
- Kameta (亀太): The greengrocer for the Hayama family.
- Hiroshi (浩), Saburo (三郎 SaburÅ), Yutaka (豊) & Misa (美ä½): Masaru's classmates, that were involved with the incidents of Tentacle and Octopus.
Criminal Groups
Tentacle
Tentacle (テンタクル Tentakuru) is the organisation led by Professor K.
- Professor K (プãƒãƒ•ã‚§ãƒƒã‚µãƒ¼K PurofessÄ Kei): The leader of the Tentacle criminal organisation.
- Ironman Monsu (鉄人モンス Tetsujin Monsu): A humanoid robot that serves as Tentacle's chief executive. In episode 19, Monsu was defeated by Machine Man.
- Mechanical Parrot (メカオウムMeka Ōmu): A robotic parrot created by Professor K, and can speak fluently.
Octopus
Octopus (オクトパス Okutopasu) is the succeeding organisation led by Lady M, after taking over Tentacle.
- Lady M (レディーM Redī Emu): The niece of Professor K, who made her appearance in Episode 20 after her trip from Spain. She renovated Tentacle's headquarters to form Octopus.
- TonChinKan (トンãƒãƒ³ã‚«ãƒ³ Tonchinkan)
Episodes
- The White Textbook Case (教科書真ã£ç™½äº‹ä»¶ KyÅkasho Masshiro Jiken)
- Rainbow-Coloured Diamond Tears (涙ã¯è™¹è‰²ã®ãƒ€ã‚¤ãƒ¤ Namida wa Nijiiro no Daiya)
- Crush The Idol (アイドルをã¤ã¶ã› Aidoru o Tsubuse)
- Magical Stone Baked Potato (é”法ã®çŸ³ç„¼ãイモ MahÅ no Ishi Yakiimo)
- The Stamp Thief of Three-Hundred Million Yen (三億円ã®åˆ‡æ‰‹æ³¥æ£’ San'oku En no Kitte DorobÅ)
- Me... Mama's Children? (ç§ã€ãƒžãƒžã®åä¾›? Watashi, Mama no Kodomo?)
- Hong Kong Karate Dangerous Ken (香港空手å±ã†ã—å¥ Honkon Karate Ayaushi Ken)
- Secret Of The Baseball Boy (野çƒå°‘å¹´ã®ç§˜å¯† YakyÅ« ShÅnen no Himitsu)
- The Moustache-Growing Girl (é«ã®ã¯ãˆãŸå¥³ã®å Hige no Haeta On'nanoko)
- Telepathy Battle (テレパシー大作戦 Terepashī Daisakusen)
- Unimaginable Part-Time Job (ã¨ã‚“ã アルãƒã‚¤ãƒˆ Donda Arubaito)
- Children Are Disappearing (åä¾›ãŒæ¶ˆãˆã¦ã„ã Kodomo ga Kieteiku)
- K's Look-alike (Kã®ãã£ãã‚Šã•ã‚“ Kei no Sokkurisan)
- Ball Boy's Leaving Home (ボールボーイ家出 BÅrubÅi Iede)
- The Demon's Present (悪é”ã®ãƒ—レゼント Akuma no Puresento)
- Maki Hates Mice (真紀ã¯ãƒã‚ºãƒŸå«Œã„ Maki wa Nezumi Kirai)
- Ironman Monsu's End (鉄人モンスã®æœ€å¾Œ Tetsujin Monsu no Saigo)
- It's Nopperabo! (ã®ã£ãºã‚‰ã¼ã†ã ! NopperabÅ da!)
- Stray Dog Koro's Adventure (野良犬コãƒã®å†’険 Norainu Koro no Bouken)
- Octopus Queen (オクトパスã®å¥³çŽ‹ Okutopasu no JoÅ)
- Rain Rain Fall Fall! (雨雨é™ã‚Œé™ã‚Œ! Ame Ame Fure Fure!)
- The Clown's Secret Commands (ピエãƒã®ç§˜å¯†æŒ‡ä»¤ Piero no Himitsu Shirei)
- Interesting Funny Gun (ãŠã‚‚ã—ã‚ãŠã‹ã—銃 Omoshiro Okashi JÅ«)
- Showdown! The Ninja Thief (対決! å¿è€…泥棒 Taiketsu! Ninja DorobÅ)
- Challenge Of The Mummy-Man (ミイラ男ã®æŒ‘戦 MÄ«ra-Otoko no ChÅsen)
- Scary! The Laughing Doll (ã“ã‚ã„! 笑ã†äººå½¢ Kowai! Warau NingyÅ)
- Monster's Hands Swimming At Sea (æµ·ã‚’æ³³ã怪物ã®æ‰‹ Umi o Oyogu Kaibutsu no Te)
- I Like I Like! Maki (好ã好ã! 真紀 Suki Suki! Maki)
- Find The Pirate's Treasure! (海賊ã®å®ã‚’探ã›! Kaizoku no Takara o Sagase!)
- The Village Inhabited By The Red Demon (赤ã„鬼ã®ã™ã‚€æ‘ Akai Oni no Sumu Mura)
- The Dangerous Gourd (å±é™ºãªã²ã‚‡ã†ãŸã‚“ Kiken'na HyÅtan)
- Voice Of A Bird Called Conflict (争ã„を呼ã¶é³¥ã®å£° Arasoi o Yobu Tori no Koe)
- The Dogs Have A Time Bomb (時é™çˆ†å¼¾ã‚’抱ã犬 Jigenbakudan o Daku Inu)
- K and M's Winning Strategy (Kã¨Mã®å¿…å‹ä½œæˆ¦ K to M no hisshÅ sakusen)
- Today Is Goodbye (ã•ã‚ˆã†ãªã‚‰ä»Šæ—¥ã¯ SayÅnara KyÅ wa)
- Collection Of The Fight Scenes (戦ã„ã®åå ´é¢é›† Tatakai no Meibamen Shuu) (Round-up episode)
Cast
- Ken Takase (Nick)/Machine Man (close-ups): Osamu Sakuta (ä½ä¹…ç”°è„© Sakuta Osamu)
- Professor K: Hideyo Amamoto
- Maki Hayama: Kiyomi Tsukada
- Lady M/Meiko: Chiaki Kojo
- Ball Boy (voice): Machiko Soga
- Tetsujin Monsu (voice): Toku Nishio
- Golden Monsu (voice): ShÅzÅ Iizuka
- Machineman (suit-actor): Jun Murakami (æ‘上淳 Murakami Jun)
- Narrator: Osamu Kobayashi
Songs
- Opening theme
- "Seiun Kamen Machine Man" (星雲仮é¢ãƒžã‚·ãƒ³ãƒžãƒ³ Seiun Kamen Mashin Man)
- Lyrics: Shotaro Ishimori (石森 ç« å¤ªéƒŽ Ishimori Shotaro)
- Composition: Yuji Ohno (大野 雄二 Ohno Yuji)
- Arrangement: Yuji Ohno (大野 雄二 Ohno Yuji)
- Artist: MoJo
- Ending theme
- "Ore no Na wa Machine Man" (俺ã®åã¯ãƒžã‚·ãƒ³ãƒžãƒ³ Ore no Na wa Mashinman, "My Name is Machine Man")
- Lyrics: Saburo Yatsude
- Composition: Yuji Ohno
- Arrangement: Yuji Ohno
- Artist: MoJo