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*'''Shinko Yamashiro''' : [[Izumi Ōyama]]
*'''Shinko Yamashiro''' : [[Izumi Ōyama]]
*'''Hitomi Sakuma''' : [[Rika Miura]]
*'''Hitomi Sakuma''' : [[Rika Miura]]
*'''Amazone''' : [[Yukie Kagawa]]
*'''Amazoness''' : [[Yukie Kagawa]]
*'''Narrator''': [[Tōru Ōhira]]
*'''Narrator''': [[Tōru Ōhira]]


Revision as of 19:35, 9 March 2010

Spider-Man
File:Toei Spiderman TC.PNG
Created byToei Company
Marvel
StarringShinji Todō
Narrated byTōru Ōhira
Country of origin Japan
 United States
No. of episodes41
Production
Running time30 minutes
Original release
NetworkTokyo Channel 12 (Now TV Tokyo)
ReleaseMay 17, 1978 –
March 14, 1979

Spider-Man (スパイダーマン, Supaidāman) is a Japanese superhero television series produced by Toei Company in 1978, based on Marvel's popular Spider-Man character. This version of the famous web-slinging hero was part of a deal that Marvel made with Toei, whereby for a four-year period Toei could use Marvel's characters in any way they saw fit. While Toei's version of Spider-Man's costume was certainly based on the original, the overall storyline had nothing to do with the Marvel character. The series had a major impact on other Japanese live-action superhero ("tokusatsu") shows, and in particular the Super Sentai series, by popularizing the use of piloted giant robots to destroy giant monsters.[citation needed] This series also introduced the formula of featuring monster battles on two scales in the same episode.[citation needed]

The series is currently available in streaming video with English subtitles at Marvel's official website.[1]

Plot

File:Japanspiderman.jpg
Spider-Man fighting one of the more unusual foes in the series

Young motorcycle racer Takuya Yamashiro sees a UFO falling to earth, in fact a combat spacecraft named the "Marveller". Takuya's father Dr. Hiroshi Yamashiro, a space archaeologist, investigates the case. The incident also brings the attention of Professor Monster and his evil Iron Cross Army (鉄十字団, Tetsu Jūji Dan), an alien group that plans to rule the universe.

Cast

Episode list

  1. The Time of Revenge Has Come! Beat Down Iron Cross Group!! (復讐の時は来たれり! 撃て鉄十字団!!, Fukushū no Toki wa Kitareri! Ute Tetsu Jūji Dan!!)
  2. Mysterious World! The Man Lives to Fate (怪奇の世界! 宿命に生きる男, Kaiki no Sekai! Shukumei ni Ikiru Otoko)
  3. Mysterious Thief 001 VS. Spider-Man (怪盗001vsくも男, Kaitō Daburu-Ō Wan Tai Kumo Otoko)
  4. The Terrifying Half Merman! Calling the Miracle Silver Thread (恐怖の半魚人! 奇蹟を呼ぶ銀の糸, Kyōfu no Han Kyojin! Kiseki o Yobu Gin no Ito)
  5. Crash Machine GP-7! The Oath Siblings (激突マシンGP-7! 兄弟の誓い, Gekitotsu Mashin Jī-Pī-Sebun! Kyōdai no Chikai)
  6. Shuddering Laboratory! Devilish Professor Monster (戦慄の実験室! 悪魔のモンスター教授, Senritsu no Shikkenshitsu! Akuma no Monsutā Kyōshu)
  7. Fearful Hit Tune! Song Dancing Murder Rock (恐ろしきヒット曲! 歌って踊る殺人ロック, Osoroshiki Hitto Kyoku! Katte Odoru Satsujin Rokku)
  8. Once Upon a Time in the Mysteriousless World: The Cursed Cat Mound (世にも不思議な昔ばなし 呪いの猫塚, Yo ni mo Fushigi na Mukashi ba Nashi Noroi no Neko Zuka)
  9. Motion Accessory is a Loveful Beetle Insect Spy (動くアクセサリーは恋のカブト虫スパイ, Ugoku Akusesarī wa Koi no Kabuto Mushi Supai)
  10. To the Flaming Hell: See the Tears of the Snake Woman (炎地獄にへび女の涙を見た, Honō Jigoku ni Hebi Onna no Namida o Mita)
  11. Professor Monster's Ultra Poisoning (モンスター教授のウルトラ毒殺, Monsutā Kyōshu no Urutora Dokusatsu)
  12. Becoming Splendid: To the Murderous Machine of Transformation (華麗なる殺人マシーンへの変身, Karei Naru Satsujin Mashīn e no Henshin)
  13. The Skull Group VS. The Devilish Hearse (ドクロ団対悪魔の霊柩車, Dokuro Dan Tai Akuma no Reikyūsha)
  14. Giving Father! Fight to the Song of the Hero (父に捧げよ 戦えぬ勇者の歌を, Chichi ni Sasage yo Tatakae nu Yūsha no Uta o)
  15. The Life of Our Arrangement (ぼくたちの命の約束, Boku tachi no Inochi no Yakusoku)
  16. Fine Dog! Run to the Under of Father (名犬よ 父のもとへ走れ, Meiken yo Chichi no moto e Hashire)
  17. Pro Wrestler Samson's Tears (プロレスラー サムソンの涙, Puro Resurā Samuson no Namida)
  18. In the Mother's Chest: Resurrect the Young Boys (母の胸に甦る少年, Haha no Mune ni Yomigaeru Shōnen)
  19. The Boy Phantom: To the Villageless Map (まぼろしの少年 地図にない村, Maboroshi no Shōnen Chizu ni nai Mura)
  20. Riddle: Calling the Riddle of My Secret Birth (謎が謎を呼ぶ私の出生の秘密, Nazo ga Nazo o Yobu Watashi no Shuushō no Himitsu)
  21. Fall to the Great Skies: Father's Love (大空に散る父の愛, Ōzora ni Chiru Chichi no Ai)
  22. Shedding Tears to the Dark Fate: Father and Child (暗い運命に泣け 父と子, Kurai Unmei ni Nake Chichi to Ko)
  23. To the Love Academy of the Homeless Children (家なき子たちに愛の学園を, Ienakiko Tachi ni Ai no Gakuen o)
  24. Cockroach Boy: Great War (ゴキブリ少年大戦争, Gokiburi Shōnen Dai Sensō)
  25. Treasure, Dog, and Double Grow Human (秘宝と犬と複成人間, Hihō to Inu to Fuku Sei Ningen)
  26. To the Absolute Crisis: The Imitation Hero (絶対ピンチのにせものヒーロー, Zettai Pinchi no Nisemono Hīrō)
  27. Farewell War Buddy: Beloved German Shepard (さらば戦友 愛しのセパード, Saraba Sen'yū Itoshi no Sepādo)
  28. The Front of the Alley: Boys' Detective Group (駅前横町の少年探偵団, Ekimae Yokochō no Shōnen Tantei Dan)
  29. Hurry, GP-7: Time of Stop Sign (急げGP-7 時間よ止まれ, Isoge Jī-Pī-Sebun Jikan yo Tomare)
  30. Good Luck, Beautiful Police Officer (ガンバレ美人おまわりさん, Ganbare Bijin Omawarisan)
  31. There Is No Child-Taking Detective Tomorrow (明日なき子連れ刑事, Ashita naki Kotsure Keiji)
  32. Sweet Whispering Enchantress (甘くささやく妖女, Amaku Sasayaku Yōjo)
  33. The Boy Teases the Horrible Wild Girl (男の子をイビる野性の凄い少女, Otokonoko o Ibiru Yasei no Sugoi Shōjo)
  34. Surprising Camera: Murderous Event (びっくりカメラ殺人事件, Bikkuri Kamera Satsujin Jiken)
  35. From the Unexplored Amazon: Here Comes the Mummified Beautiful Woman (秘境アマゾンから来たミイラ美女, Hikyō Amazon Kara Kita Mīra Bijo)
  36. The Onion Silver Mask and the Boys' Detective Group (たまねぎ鉄仮面と少年探偵団, Tamanegi Gin Kamen to Shōnen Tantei Dan)
  37. From the Secret Messenger of Hell: Great King Enma (地獄からの密使 えん魔大王, Jigoku Kara no Missha Enma Daiō)
  38. The First Tin Plate Evening Star and the Boys' Detective Group (ブリキの一番星と少年探偵団, Buriki no Ichibanboshi to Shōnen Tantei Dan)
  39. Sports World: One Great Meeting (格闘技世界一大会, Kakutōki Sekai Ichidai Kai)
  40. Farewell Zero Battle Tricks (さらばゼロ戦の謎, Saraba Zero Sen no Nazo)
  41. The Hero's Shining Hot Blood (輝け熱血の勇者, Kagayake Nekketsu no Yūsha)

Theme songs

Opening theme
Ending theme
  • "Chikai no Ballade" (誓いのバラード, Chikai no Barādo, Declaration Ballade)
    • Lyrics: Saburo Yatsude
    • Composition & Arrangement: Chumei Watanabe
    • Artist: Yuki Hide

DVD release

On December 9, 2005, Toei released the entire series on a 7 disc DVD boxset in Japan.

File:Toei Spiderman DVD Box Set.PNG
7 Disc DVD Boxset

Cultural references

  • This was the second series to have a superhero (as opposed to a costumed pilot) ride a giant robot, the first being Ganbaron. The success of this series led to the revival of the Sentai series as the "Super Sentai Series." "Battle Fever J" (1979), the third Sentai Series, was the first "Super Sentai," as the five heroes therein rode a giant robot. The first two Sentai shows Goranger and JAKQ were not official 'Super Sentai' shows until Toei decided to include them in the franchise in 1994.
  • Spider-Man's transforming giant robot Leopardon (which transforms from the huge spacecraft Marveller, named in honor of the Marvel Comics Group) was featured in America in both Mattel's Shogun Warriors toy collection (only the 3" figure version, named "Leopardon") and Bandai America's Godaikin toy line (Bandai Japan's deluxe diecast toy with complete transforming features). However, only a few people in America knew that this robot was somehow tied with Spider-Man. A new Leopardon toy was produced in 2006 under Bandai's Soul of Chogokin line.
  • One of the monsters in the show has a resemblance to Marvel's Ben Grimm, aka The Thing.
  • Stan Lee, in an interview conducted by Toei, stated that he enjoyed the way Spider-Man was done, especially with Leopardon and the way that it was filmed. He also stated that he was invited by Toei to do a future sequel to Spider-Man with him doing the storyline.[3]
  • The series main villain, Professor Monster, resembles Dr. Doom.

English debut

Marvel has begun airing the series with English subtitles on its website, releasing an episode every Thursday, starting March 5, 2009 and ending December 17 of the same year.[1]

Differences from the US Spider-Man

  • In this version of the character, Spider-Man's costume was not worn under everyday street clothes. Instead, the super suit was released from a wrist device worn by the hero, Takuya. Upon activation, the costume would eject from the bracelet and spring through the air (much like the expanding costume for DC's The Flash when released by Barry Allen's ring), literally sweep down, and "cover" the young man from the top of his mask down to his feet. The scene would be quickly followed by a close shot of the hero zipping up the costume at the back at the neck, and then taking a heroic pose having transformed into the wall-crawler.
  • Producers Tōru Hirayama and Susumu Yoshikawa originally wanted to make the series faithful to the famous web-slinger's origins, but Bandai, one of the sponsors, told the studio to add a giant robot (as giant robots were all the rage in Japan). Hirayama and Yoshikawa met their demand with complete incredulity, and they reluctantly rewrote Spidey's origins completely for the show.[2]
  • Spider-Man has a hero-car like Batman

Behind the scenes

Toei's budget for special effects ran out by episode 5[citation needed], and after episode 10, no more footage of Leopardon could be created, as the suit was stolen[citation needed]. The Leopardon was limited to stock footage, with new footage of the monster-of-the-week (reacting to and being destroyed by the "Swordvicker" attack) spliced in.

References

  1. ^ a b Japanese Spider-Man Movie Hub at Marvel.com
  2. ^ a b Spider-Man Page, Japan Hero Encyclopedia. Retrieved on February 23, 2007.
  3. ^ Stan Lee interview, Volume 8, Spider-Man DVD Boxset.
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