Tekkaman: The Space Knight

Tekkaman: The Space Knight
Italian DVD cover of Tekkaman The Space Knight.
宇宙の騎士テッカマン (Uchū no Kishi Tekkaman)
Genre	Action Science fiction
TV anime
Directed by	Hiroshi Sasagawa Hisayuki Toriumi
Studio	Tatsunoko Productions
Network	NET
Original run	July 2, 1975 – December 24, 1975
Episodes	26

Tekkaman: The Space Knight (宇宙の騎士テッカマン, Uchū no Kishi Tekkaman) is an anime produced by Tatsunoko Productions in 1975. A short-lived English adaptation aired in the US in 1984.

Two decades later, it was followed by the much more popular Tekkaman Blade, which was dubbed in the U.S. by Saban as Teknoman.

Plot synopsis

The Earth has entered the 21st century and it is in peril. The “Green Earth” project has been abandoned and scientists look to the stars to find a “Second Earth.”

The Space Angel, on its mission to find this “Second Earth,” is attacked by a group of aliens named the “Waldarians.” The Space Angel is destroyed and with it the hope of mankind.

Dr. Amachi manages to create “Pegas” and the “Tekset” system, designed to combat the aliens by augmenting a human with a certain wavelength into a Tekkaman, giving them enhanced strength abilities. Test pilots Joji Minami and Hiromi Amachi, along with Andro Uemeda and Mutan, two alien beings from the planet Sanno, rid the dying Earth from the threat of the “Waldaster” and continue to research the “Leap Flight Engine” to reach a new home for humanity.

In the Arabian version of the popular series, Tekkaman is known as “Rajul Al-Tikka” [رجل التكة] an awkward translation which ironically fits with the original.

Weapons

In addition to Pegas's nigh-indestructible armor and super sonic flight, Tekkaman is equipped with a variety of weapons. By himself Tekkaman is incredibly strong to the point of tearing through alien spaceships with his bare hands, has thick armor that allows him to survive in any environment and even corrosive substances and atomic blasts, and possesses superhuman agility. His primary weapon is the Tek Lancer, a double bladed lance that is often used as a projectile. His secondary weapon is the Tek Win, a very long whip stored in either hip that is used to retrieve his Tek Lancer although it is a powerful weapon in its own right. Tekkaman also possesses a saw blade on each ankle that can slice through thick metals with little effort and makes his kicks more lethal. Finally, Tekkaman's most powerful weapon is the Vol Tekka, a very powerful energy beam fired from the insignia on his forehead upon it being released, however, Tekkaman will become extremely tired after using this and will need time to recover upon doing so. Tekkaman once used this attack in a rapid succession of three times at once called the Triple Vol Tekka, an attack so powerful it easily decimated a gigantic asteroid, but caused the Tekkaman armor to shatter to pieces and left Johji in a coma for some time with the Tekset system inoperable until it was repaired.

Production

The opening theme, “Tekkaman no Uta,” is sung by Ichirou Mizuki, written by Tatsunoko’s Planning Department (lyrics) and Asei Kobayashi (music) and arranged by Bob Sakuma, who composed all the music for the series.

An English language version was created by a small independent company called William Winckler Productions. However, the dub was cancelled in mid-story with only 13 of the show’s 26 episodes produced.

Over forty-thousand original Tekkaman the Space Knight VHS video cassettes were successfully sold throughout the U.S. to major retail stores by Congress Video Group (the largest video distributor at the time), and later by L.D. Video. Congress Video sold half-hour episodes, whereas L.D. Video sold two 96-minute movie compilations.

William Winckler attempted to stay as true to the original Japanese series as possible, with little editing of violence as possible, and retaining all the original Japanese music and sound effects. This was in stark contrast to Science Ninja Team Gatchaman, another Tatsunoko series which was dubbed by Sandy Frank as Battle of the Planets.

English Cast

• Bill Hedderly Jr. as Barry Gallagher / Tekkaman
• Kathy Pruitt as Patricia Richardson
• Reginald Bennett as Andro
• Clancy Syrko as Pegas / Randrox / Narrator
• Jean Veloz as Mutan / Computer
• Robert Winckler as Dr. Richardson / Emperor Devoral

Japanese Cast

• Katsuji Mori as Johji Minami/Tekkaman
• Kan Tokumaru as Pegas
• Junpei Takiguchi as Rambos
• Kazue Komiya as Mutan
• Kenji Utsumi as Chief Tenchi
• Miyuki Ueda as Hiromi
• Shinji Nakae as Narrator
• Takeshi Kuwabara as Doburai
• Yasuo Yamada as Andro Umeda
• Yuzuru Fujimoto as Jupiter

External links

• Uchuu no Kishi Tekkaman (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• Uchû no kishi Tekkaman at the Internet Movie Database
• Tekno-mania
• CDJAPAN DVD RELEASE
• Tekkaman Profile
• (Italian) Tekkaman (Anime Mundi), detailed production information