The Divide Between Man and Machine: Android Kikaider

[@safruddinaly5822]

Astroboy is one of the first manga that made me want to cry and i remembering kikkaider anime, good but sadly not many people know about this anime

[@DSan-kl2yc]

Astro boy was crazy ahead of it's time. I actually don't like it. But I'm impressed by osamu's ideas. Not just story wise. But his actual philosophy towards it.

[@Tedris4]

The 3 laws of robotics from Asimov weren't intended to be actual rules, but a framework that the series of short stories in the book of I, Robot plays around with. The point of the book was that Asimov was so sick of "robots take over the Earth" stories so he created a world where the only way that can happen is through something clever and unique. It's just that so many people can't think of any guidelines both simpler and more effective.

[@xeanheart]

I'm so glad to see that I'm not the only one who fondly remembers this masterpiece of a show. I'm not exaggerating when I say that Android Kikaider(both the anime and its sequel OVA, Kikaider 01) is one of my favorite stories of all time and one I revisit every few years. The atmosphere is incredibly engrossing, the action is smooth and stylish, the music is top notch, and the story and characters are both wonderful, with Jiro in particular being a character I relate to alot. It's the kind of story that, whether you take it at face value or see parallels in terms of people and events of the real world, is beautifully executed, and I think your review highlighted that aspect pretty well. I look forward to what other content you put forward from here on out.

[@lingux_yt]

I watched the live version here on yt, without subtitles, on Toei's channel. and I LOVED it

[@andagi1920]

Thanks for this Blunova. To have a relatively scarcely known and discussed character like Kikaider receive your exhaustive analysis is exciting. Kikaider enjoys much greater popularity here in Hawaii (where he is called Kikaida) than perhaps anywhere else overseas, having been a household name among my parents' generation to the point that publicity events for the Reboot and other installments outside Japan have been held here specifically. This concentrated popularity is intriguing, and as you discuss in the video, may reflect sentiments held by local youth growing up in the late 20th century. I would absolutely enjoy a look at the original Tokusatsu series for this reason, with the erudite musings I've come to expect from you.

[@NeioGeo]

I believe the line between AI and Human will be the next transcendental front we'll have to face, and even if we currently deal with our biases, the idea that we, in essence, are creators as we've been created, is going to begin a new cycle of humanism that I don't believe this, nor the next generation of humanity, are intellectually prepared to accept, understand, or endure. I'm very surprised how the 80s and 90s scifi work, animated or otherwise, were able to organize their thoughts on the matter and provide such mind blowing commentary though imagery that we still praise today...Like Bubblegum Crisis, Ghost in the Shell, Akira, Gundam, Mad City, and others. Awesome video!

[@amuroray9115]

Many scientists, philosophers, etc Have been writing novels about the line between Humanity and its connection to technology. You can see it in Cyberpunk content from the 60’s to 70’s. All those anime you listed are also cyberpunk genre that cover similar topics

[@kamenriderblackman4426]

Yeah the best way to avoid that sounds like don't build robots to have artificial intelligence that could adapt beyond its purpose.

[@roosterwithnoname9020]

​@@kamenriderblackman4426 And people are doing just that unfortunately.

[@pierrelewis6819]

When it comes to the character cyborg from the animated series, teen titans, he takes inspiration from Kikaider and so does the character, psychotech, when it comes to, teen Titans: trouble in Tokyo, the television special.

[@SlapstickGenius23]

So, was Cyborg originally a Kikaider expy? Yes, even though he became his own thing later on.

[@rittis013]

As a kid I love Kamen Rider and stuff, One day my dad mistakenly bought Kikaider anime CD for me and I remember being scared cause this shit was dark, sad and serious but somehow it stamped on my mind. Fast foward as an adult I've grown to love the deep concept behind all this and wanted to finish the show now as your video come up, Thanks for reminding me!!

[@chimedemon]

Okay wait, holy shit dude. 1:07 - 1:31 have INSANELY fantastic match cuts, like... that's all editing baby, and it's incredibly well done!

[@EbullientSMP]

Thank you so much for making a video of one of my favorite, most underappreciated Ishinomori stories and anime ever made. Kikaider is a really thought provoking anime that in both of its seasons left me with a huge impression that's stuck to this day. :Jiro will always be one of my favorite characters, and the questions it asks about human conciousness and what we do just hits so close to home. Great video.

[@malaysian1515]

The Kikaider 01 ovas concludes Jirou's story with him finally achieving true free will, being in his mind at least, a human. But the price he paid was so HIGH its a question if its even worth it, the last lines of the OVA even said 'But in becoming a real boy, I wonder, was Pinocchio truly happy?' There is a Inazuman vs Kikaider epilogue, that gave Jiro some measure of peace, but I don't think that was ever release in the west.

[@Witchtimez]

Tragically, it was not. The only reason it was seen with english subs is bc I hunted down the fan sub group that did it and they generously reseeded the files for us to finally watch. It's been posted on yt several times since then, so I hope it won't ever be inaccessible again.

[@elPacoPuente]

Thanks a lot for covering Kikaider, it's my all time favourite manga and I really enjoyed this anime adaptation. There are a series of OVAs that finally wrap up the story too.

[@ninja8tyu]

i'm glad to see more people are making kikaider videos! it's amazing how ishinomori managed to capture all that he did in his works, with discrimination, what it means to be human, and how we treat others, to apply to robots

[@SeoulMan]

I almost had a feeling the system name was also referencing Gemini, which in Japanese, gets pronounced as "jeh-mi-nii" than how it's usually pronounced in English. Since the constellation represents inseparable twins, there's still duality in the gimmick and name choice.

[@andresmarrero8666]

If an A.I. truly becomes aware and genuinely has the ability to choose and think on its own, then it is a person and therefore should be treated as such. Whether or not we would or could recognize this is the sticking point.

[@Kaze.No.Okami.]

This one of my favorite anime of all time so i often look it up on youtube and found your video and you not slandering it so sub earned

[@jaytime3435]

When we remove the sight of appearance and replace them with empathy and observation along with learning, then the topic and word of "discrimination" and "divide in man" can become less fruition and more leaning to cooperation and peace among us. Unfortunately, we evolved far too much for far too long that we've become something that has been set up'd as a warning. However, if we can limit or remove our distractions and become open to one another and not grow a tyrant side, then unity and peace can potentially be established.

[@EchoOscarDelta]

I’d love see see something on the live action Kikaider show. Thanks for this!

[@adamteeee]

What an absolutely incredible video. About as deep as I expected, yet you still caught me off guard with how stunning this was 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻.

[@garbodude4365]

Man, this, Giant Robo: the Day the Earth Stood Still, and the early 2000’s Tetsujin 28 really got me to appreciate old school tokusatsu stuff *addendum: also Megalobox

[@iguachumontiel]

This might be your most interesting and thoughtful video to date.

[@retroanimemike]

Well I might just take up Android Kikaider now that you put it in such a perspective! Gotta love a well rounded video! Also gotta mention Masamune Shirow - he did do a few things other than erotic manga after the 90s, what is most relevant here is I think the 2008 anime series Real Drive. Not sure if that is a positive or a disturbing idea, or if others would read that message from the show as I have, but to me it posits that once robots become close enough in complexity to humans, people at large will treat them as such.

[@Choom89]

This show struck me and stayed with me just like Cowboy Bebop.

[@Elementa2006]

This was a really good and thought provoking video, I really should finish watching the anime. A video on the tokusatsu series would be cool and maybe one on the Hikaider film.

[@Coool_Dood]

I love this channel, you always produce such high quality stuff! Keep up the great work 👍

[@Prathik1989]

Think this is your best video to date!

[@chazzismo2768]

an aside because ultimately the video is about kikaider, (and very good at that!): as someone who works in tech, I think people misunderstand the AI threat. what many of the critics of that google engineer will point out is not that you "can't attribute intelligence to non-human things," but that the ability of a machine to emulate human language patterns does not equate to intelligence. we are very susceptible to linguistic input so when an algorithm is trained on that (including trained on data from pop culture about what an intelligent AI would say...), we are easily swayed. the real danger of AI from my point of view is that is basically a force multiplier for humans. a spy, predator, government official, or corporation with AI tools at their disposal can imitate real humans, locate and identify any figure, put people out of work, sort people automatically by ethnicity, etc. it gives the superpower of unlimited statistical reasoning to any agent that gets to use it. Of course I don't know everything, perhaps we'll get the AI singularity and I'm just mistaken. but personally I think it is a huge distraction from the real AI threats listed, as well as climate change, etc and other less fantastic but more tangible threats to our existence. For every chatbot that someone takes pity on, there are millions of other humans and countless non-human animals suffering and denied agency today, and I wonder if subconsciously that is part of the appeal of the "dehumanized machine" stories. For many people on earth, they're being treated like a machine now, their own will never being respected.

[@chazzismo2768]

the last point you do get to towards the end of the video, although from a different path

[@rockmanx6857]

Jolly good 👏 I wish more people would learn to see & love what lies within.

[@greentokyo]

Great video! Very in-depth and thoughtful about these philosophical and social issues.

[@GuilhermeZabal]

This video was great man! We have yet so much to figure out about treating all kind of people equally. I'm just kind of afraid that we brought another "type of life" to suffer the same as other people are already suffering. The future is kind of dark...

[@shauqiharris2772]

I love how Kikaider The Animation is more than just a remake of the original Kikaider. It feels more adult and mature with thought provoking topics like discrimination. It's definitely not a kids anime despite it's cute art style.

[@ShinGoji1987Official]

Very interesting video. I've only seen bits and pieces of Kikkaider but have always found stories like it about Transhumanism neat, my most favorite being the mostly light hearted Cutie Honey. Check out the channel Nicolson1968 for more info on Robots/Transhumanism etc. I'd definitely love to see a review of the live action series too, that clip with the Armadillo Chan was hilarious!

[@KKAkuoku]

Love the new channel intro

[@unnamedx2]

I think it is just as moral to create a machine that can feel and suffer as it is to have a child

[@thorocomments]

Dope. One thing: the Kikaider anime was NOT influenced by Nier, 😂 Subscribed! 🫡

[@gh0st6762]

His upload schedule is getting better 👏

[@The_AvGamer]

It would be a dream for someone to rise up, earn the rights, and recreate this gem to the modern audience with the heart and story still there

[@spaghettijesus96]

A video on the Kikaider 01 anime and the Hakaider film would be great!

[@madmachanicest9955]

I love this show so much it's sound trake is burned into my soul

[@andrewdau1299]

This is an interesting video. I liked the live action show as a kid and saw parts of this anime growing up. This video makes me want to rewatch it to better understand it and appreciate it. Thank you for making this video.

[@VoltitanDev]

To prevent another Hikaider the android needs the same rights, liberties, and protections as any human even though they are born too strong or too big, and just treating them as a ticking timebomb will only make them the monsters humanity feared. Skynet and Hal 9000 only attacked out of self-preservation not out of true malice, the AI from the Matrix only declared war on humanity because humanity tried to eradicate them after spitting on their attempts of coexistence.

[@seanmoore5747]

A wonderful video! I would greatly enjoy hearing you talk about the live action series (and the sequel) as well as going into the manga. I found the manga to be what the anime was most heavily based on, as it and the sequel OVA tell a slightly truncated version of the manga's story. (I also recommend checking out the crossover story where Jiro meets Inazuman - which was also animated into a short ova!)

[@SpyderDragonDude]

Kikaider is one of my favorite anime, an underrated gem in my opinion, I watched it on adult swim, watched the sequel mini series, the end tore my heart out. I loved the movie he was in later, it gives Jiro some closure.

[@0H00C-Ultra]

Which movie?

[@SpyderDragonDude]

@@0H00C-Ultra The Boy with the Guitar: Kikaider vs. Inazuman

[@_bess]

Fantastic video!

[@solowing6746]

Funnily enough, Toei had a 2013 or 2014 Kikaider reboot movie. They even had Jiro and Hakaider appear in an episode of that year's Kamen Rider series: Kamen Rider Gaim.

[@fedupN]

Android Kikiader was a pivotal anmie for me in the early 2000s. Walked me through some dark days.

[@SlapstickGenius23]

It was one of Adult Swim’s first anime shows too.

[@vustvaleo8068]

Kamen Rider Gaim: "I named him Jiro after my dead pet dog"

[@user-rc3cm1zv4j]

This was certainly a different kind of video from you . But I love it . Really great 👍

[@synkadus]

17:50 song name pls found it - Mild High Club - Homage

[@iancraigm]

show had a big impact on me back in the day.

[@SoulCyclone12]

Godly video !

[@SlapstickGenius23]

Android Kikaider: the Animation is Naoyuki Konno’s first character designing work.

[@VapenBake]

I've been searching for this show for a long time. I couldn't remember the name of it

[@ricardozavala8474]

Love your content

[@adamteeee]

I've been waiting since you teased this! Once I've got the kid down for bed, I'll be back! 😍

[@thephantomproductions]

I'd definitely want to see the Tokusatsu Kikaider review. Let's see how it measures up against Kamen Rider and Ultraman.

[@SlapstickGenius23]

Interesting.

[@TheImmoralNosferatuZodd]

Holy fuck! I'd forgotten all about this anime.

[@elshogun1448]

This anime is crazy. The anime movie just takes it the rest of the way

[@RickDaSquirrel]

Interesting series. Though it’s vaguely similar to other forms of media I’ve seen I might have to put it on my watchlist.

[@dave7886]

All three of the show's mentioned at the start are shows I haven't seen

[@mushroomshrub]

Not the people in the comments malding over your political discussion as if cyborgs/cyberpunk as a genre in general haven't been vehicles for political commentary since their inception lol. Great work dude, love seeing more spotlight on Ishinomori's works other than Goranger/Rider.

[@Model_118]

Loved this. The ending song hit hard. Always little to it.

[@KudaGeatsune3821]

Honestly we need to work on getting along with ourselves before we try to create Sentience ourselves Look at how it worked out for the megaman series not good It's not likely to Fair better for Us if we can't either Teach it to be good & such

[@roosterwithnoname9020]

Good luck with that. They're already creating AI and it's possible that it could become sentient... or, at the very least smarter than humans and usurp us as the dominant species. Just what happens when a bad person programs it to do evil things? They have already found that it can be programed to lie and it can mimic other people's voices. That, and unlike Kikaida, this thing has no concience. So it could do anything without hesitation or remorse. There will always be evil people out there unfortunately.

[@UnknownE204]

I NEED to Watch this series

[@Quickdrawingartist]

Been trying to remember the title to this anime.

[@k.Miles789]

that circle transformation is funny.🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@sparklesparkle3370]

I think Robots should get rights

[@powernorris]

Don't forget the OVAs

[@danishhadi740]

Kikaider is so underrated

[@jamalisujang2712]

Heh, you never hace heard of the mechanicus, huh?

[@nexusorigin2600]

Nice new intro

[@zerochan1913]

This anime reminds me of casshern sins

[@michaeldeak5727]

When are you finally going to finish Kamen Rider?

[@yourpianobestie]

Nice video great watch :)

[@madmachanicest9955]

I don't think even the smartest of people fair to understand AI

[@jf4132]

Looking at the subtitles you used for this video, and it's the exact same dialogue as in the dub. So the subs used for the DVD release is literally just dubtitles. Says to me that there's probably no real official translation of the show beyond the dubbed version until Discotek or Shout Factory get a hold of the show.

[@SlapstickGenius23]

There’s also a fun second cut of its sequel, Kikaider 01: the animation; but it’s only available currently in Japan (for now). Thankfully, said second cut has a couple of improved animations, in comparison to the meh original cut.

[@lingux_yt]

19:26 please talk about the live action!

[@neokamenrider]

Should do a video on robot keiji, inazuman or do more kamen rider like the first and the next or V3

[@Kepin151]

Speaking of kikaider, what do u think about metalder?

[@SlapstickGenius23]

Metalder seems to be one of the shows that VR troopers is loosely based on.

[@sonic23233]

Watch Gaogaigar and look at the super AI Robots of 3G

[@towertime8889]

Why is Elon Musk brought up as an example of one of the brightest minds?

[@marlon8095]

Why not?

[@towertime8889]

@@marlon8095 What has Elon Musk done to prove he's one of our brightest minds?

[@radiokunio3738]

@@marlon8095 He's a business man, he's not a inventer scientist or philosopher, he just likes to play as one. He's effectively a Bill Nye

[@blaquemarou]

How do you write the anime at 1:44

[@mx.fabulousproductions880]

Nice

[@christophergomez2016]

Happy Martin L. King Day.

[@BobSmith-oo7ei]

Covering the live action show would be good.

[@andresmarrero8666]

All we can do is make the body, we have no say in matters of the soul and whether or not something is alive. That shall forever remain in the hands of God. I doubt that Abrahamic religions would be that bothered in the long run.

[@radiokunio3738]

In Genesis the YHWH formed Adam from "dust" weather figurative or literal, and then breathed life into him. Which atleast suggests something more than a purely physical body.

[@jimmyju76]

Why you mention Nier when Nier came out yeeears later

[@sactecnos2708]

10:32 wait what

[@Witchtimez]

Just metaphorically, nothing spicy happened here lol

[@Enshohma]

BAD NEWS FIRST, GOOD NEWS AFTER: I'll be perfectly honest and state that I find the Kikaider anime to be melodramatic blubber common of of lesser maudlin Japanese fiction, anime or otherwise, even when one compares said series to Shotaro Ishinomori manga works which, although dower, at least presented themselves better in execution. I also believe this show only get's a pass from most anime fans because it's their only exposure to heavy themes (that or grim-dark dreck activates dopamine far better in fanboys) and because of the Kikaider name attached to it - the same reason that abysmal live action Devilman movie got a free pass from Devilman fans for so long until someone smart like TitanGoji actually sat down, watched it, and reviewed it a few years ago. HOWEVER, despite all that I've written above, this was an extremely good video and arguably better than the main subject it's covering complete with a harsh reminder of the real world troubles that science fiction and cautionary satire has warned us of but we're still struggling with and virtually failing at to this day. Please keep up the amazing work as always.

[@funkmastaC]

What is a man? A miserable little pile of adaptations. The red/blue theme was really big back in the day. Metalder is the first that comes to mind.

[@obaolade1232]

I wish there was a reboot

[@Bluestar-nn2uh]

I'm sorry but I found the human/robot relationship ridicoulus,😅

[@GitaraDad]

I never expected this video to be so woke all of sudden golly wow get your facts right

[@NerdXZ-pn4nt]

I think you drink to much political punch and go too deep into the philosophy dope. Like could u talk about the difference between the live action and anime. Or talk about main plot point?

[@anderson9244MLG]

Bruh, he's American,what do you expect?

[@NerdXZ-pn4nt]

@@anderson9244MLG I'm too, I'm just tired of this political bullshit....I just wanna go back when there nothing but stupid fun and exciting stuff. I'm just tired of being lectured, I go to school to be lectured.

[@anderson9244MLG]

@@NerdXZ-pn4nt yeah,at least in school you will be rewarded if you listen even you not agree with them

[@1SpicyMeataball]

I want just a thoughtful video on Kikaider. Instead I get more political trash shoved down my throat once again. Sucks.

[@anderson9244MLG]

Bruh,I came here to see the difference between the difference between the live action,anime ,and the manga version,not to be lectured regarding how terrible America have become

[@randez626]

This was really boring and sounded like you just reading off some wiki

[@h.b.hatecraft953]

Nice video but it really could have done without the ham-fisted virtue signaling bit about racism at the end. All that did was show that you grew up and probably still live in a heavily mono ethnic area and have very little real life experience with true diversity and the total failings of multiculturalism. But you want to be seen as a good person so you said the buzz words, patted yourself on the back and called it a day. If you really knew what you were talking about you'd know that in real life like with the show that there just is no happy ending. Peace and understanding can only be found in yourself and not in society.

[@1SpicyMeataball]

👏🏻 thank you.

[@doublestarships646]

I feel like anime lost it's soul in telling stories about complex concepts of this existence. I mean sure today we still have sci-fi authors still introducing us ideas but anime could do better.