Redman is a Japanese Tokusatsu television series produced by Tsuburaya Productions. It features the man-sized titular hero fighting similarly sized monsters. The show was originally broadcast in 1972 as 138 five-minute segments as part of the children's variety program, Ohayo! Kodomo Show on Nippon TV, from April 3 to September 8, from 7.30 to 7.35 am.
It is similar in many ways to the most famous of Kyodai Hero series', the Ultra Series; indeed, most enemy monsters featured were re-used from programs produced as part of that franchise.
Its resurgent popularity in modern times, owing to Tsuburaya Productions uploading each episode on their Youtube channel, has led it to spawn a spin-off comic.
Overview
Similarly to Ultra Fight, Redman consisted purely of segments of fights between Redman and the kaiju. It aired on "Ohayo! Kodomo Show” when it underwent a renewal to take advantage of the Second Monster Boom. The difference from Ultra Fight is that Redman had no narration in the program and that Tetsuya Asato, nicknamed the "monster uncle" appeared before and after each episode to explain the appearing monster.
Since the show was filmed with 16 mm film instead of the 35mm film commonly used for special effects, the optical synthesis technique could not be used to create beam effects. Hence the production team had to resort to escalating the finishing scenes to not bore the viewers. However, the cameraman of this work of which was his debut, Shinichi Ooka, managed to create a beam effect in episode 137 by synthesising light for superimposition, resulting in Redman using the Red Thunder technique.
Heroes
Redman
- Main article: Redman (character)
After invaders destroy his home planet, an incorporeal intergalactic refugee arrives on Earth and melds with Officer Sakomizu of the SIA. Together, they protect mankind as Redman. The crimson hero fights his own planet's invaders and spirits who revive old heroes' defeated foes.
Enemies
- Darkron: Appears in episode 1. Only foe in the series from Mirrorman. The suit was last used for Mirror Fight, a show with a similar low budget and 2-minute battles.
- Black King: Appears in episodes 2 and 5.
- Arstron: Appears in episodes 3-4, 52, and 55-56.
- Garamon: Appears in episodes 6, 10, 67, 69, 73, and 76-77. He has longer arms than usual in this series and has the ability to teleport.
- Alien Icarus: Appears in episodes 7, 9, 65, 71, 75, 114, 118-119, 121, and 124-125.
- Dorako: Appears in episode 8, 11, 63, 66, 73, 77-78, 128, 132, and 134-135.
- Peguila: Appears in episodes 12, 14, 57, 80-81, 85, 89, 91-93, 101, 104, and 106-107. Peguila is more slender, with smaller wings and eyes which are closer together.
- Jirass: Appears in episodes 13, 15-16, 61, 70, 75, 100, 103, 107, and 109-110.
- Alien Baltan: Appears in episodes 13 and 16.
- Alien Goron: Appears in episodes 14 and 17.
- Gomora: Appears in episodes 18, 20-21, 23, 95, 96, and 98-99.
- Kanegon: Appears in episode 19.
- Woo: Appears in episodes 19-22, 24, 64, 72, and 76. This version can turn invisible.
- Alien Mefilas: Appears in episodes 22-23, and 25.
- Sadola: Appears in episodes 26, 28, 112, 116-120, 122, 125-127, 131, & 133-134
- Dangar: Appears in episodes 26, 29, & 54.
- Ghostron: Appears in episodes 27-28, 57, 80, 84, 88, 90, and 92-93. This version fires an explosive projectile instead of a breath weapon.
- Gokinezula: Appears in episodes 29-30, 102, and 105. This version can teleport and emit sparks from his mouth.
- Eleking: Appears in episodes 31-33, 60, 68, 70, 74, and 138. This version has finger missiles and can teleport.
- Telesdon: Appears in episodes 31, 34, 59, 67, 74, and 78. This version can teleport.
- Nokogilin: Appears in episodes 32, 35, and 38.
- King Maimai: Appears in episode 33. This version can fire missiles from his mouth.
- Sartan: Appears in episodes 35-37, 40-42, 53, and 56.
- Bemstar: Appears in episodes 35 and 39. This version can teleport.
- Beacon: Appears in episodes 36, 38-41, 122, 124, 126, 127, and 136. This version can teleport.
- Gronken: Appears in episodes 43, 46-47, 49, & 82-83.
- Zaurs: Appears in episodes 44-45 & 47. He is the only Fight! Mighty Jack kaiju to appear in this series.
- Kingstron: Appears in episode 45 & 50
- Stegon: Appears in episodes 47 & 49-50.
- Alien Mysteler: Appears in episodes 51 & 54-56. It is unknown if this is the good or bad one, as the suit's head deteriorated.
- Zagoras: Appears in episodes 58,68,108, 113, and 117-119.
- Kodaigon: Appears in episodes 62, 69, 96-97,130, and 133-135.
- Granadas: Appears in episode 66
- Plooma: Appears in episode 82
- Sasahiller: Appears in episodes 86, 90-91, and 93
- Alien Centaurus: Appears in episode 87. Appears much darker than her usual suit.
- Red Killer: Appears in episode 94, 98-100, 102, 104, 107
- Gudon: Appears in episodes 94-95, 97-98, 101, 103, 105-108, 110-113, 115, 117-119, & 136-137.
- Draculas: Appears in episodes 97-98, 120, 123, and 125.
- Shugaron: Appears in episodes 109, 111-112, 116, 119, and 137.
- Alien Bat: Appears in episodes 121, 123, and 126-127.
- Zetton: Appears in episodes 129, 132, and 134.
Scrapped Enemies
In early planning stages of Redman, three original monsters were meant to fight the red hero, but due to the very low budget of the already cheap show, none were used.
- Big Liger: A massive insect resembling a moth. Only concept art of the beast exists.
- Graygas: No suit was produced, but several production notes mention that the suits of Red King and Arstron were meant to be used.
- Sufinga: Sufinga's design is based off of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh.
Availability
Last released on home video in the form of a 1996 LaserDisc Memorial Box by Bandai / Emotion[1], Redman experienced a surge of popularity in 2016, when Tsuburaya Productions began uploading episodes of the series to its YouTube channel[2]. A new episode is added was weekday but most of the videos have since been taken down.
References
External links
Template:Shows and Films