Super Giant
Encyclopedia
is a fictional Japan
ese superhero
featured in a successful series of serial
-like tokusatsu
short feature films produced by Shintoho Company, Ltd.
(the non-union branch of Toho
). He is also known in Japan as , is known in America
as Starman, and known in France
as Spaceman.
The Golden Bat
(Ōgon Batto) was Japan's first modern superhero (and had many manga
, anime
and tokusatsu
adaptations), Shintoho's Super Giant was the first celluloid superhero, and the role model for many Japanese superheroes to come, especially Ultraman
and Kamen Rider
.
It was Moonlight Mask
who became Japan's first television superhero when his TV show debuted a year later.
He can also use it to disguise himself as an Earthling to walk among them. When sent to Earth to stop evil forces, he disguises himself as a Japanese man wearing a fancy suit and fedora hat (almost looking like a detective), but still uses his "Super Giant" name. His secret identity is not that secret, as he works with the Japanese authorities in helping them to stop the threats of evil. He is just as powerful in his civilian form. He also gets along with children, and saves them from danger, as children represent the Earth's future.
When accomplishing his task, Super Giant flies back to the Emerald Planet.
(which was being broadcast in Japan at the time) and the famous Japanese baseball
team, the Yomiuri Giants
(which was extremely popular at the time).
adaptations of the Super Giant adventures. Artists included Tatsuo Yoshida
and Jiro Kuwata
.
(or just Atomic Rulers), Invaders from Space
, and Attack from Space
. The final three films were severely cut and merged into Evil Brain from Outer Space
. Dubbing was handled by Titra Studios of New York, using many of the voices common in dubbed films of the time, including Peter Fernandez
. The original music soundtrack was largely replaced by library tracks.
.
Plot: Super Giant first appears on Earth to stop foreign terrorists who threaten to destroy Japan (and the rest of the world) with an atomic bomb. (Part 1 of 2).
This movie is part of US version named Atomic Rulers of the World
.
Actors in the film include:
.
Plot: Super Giant continues his battle against the foreign terrorists. In return, they frame him for murder. (Part 2 of 2)
This film is a part of US version Atomic Rulers of the World.
.
Plot: The reptile-like Kapia-Seijin prepare to conquer the Earth, and Super Giant must stop them. (Part 1 of 2).
This film ia a part of US version Invaders from Space
.
Trivia: The Kapia-Seijin are based on the Japanese mythical creatures kappa (water imps).
.
Plot: Super Giant continues his battle against the Kapia-Seijin, who not only send a mysterious witch after a group of children, but summon their almighty leader to alter Earth's rotation. (Part 2 of 2).
This film is a part of US version Invaders from Space.
.
Plot: Super Giant pursues a Nazi-like army that operates on a huge satellite in space. The satellite is armed with weapons that could destroy whole cities on Earth from afar. (Part 1 of 2)
This film is part of US version Attack from Space
.
.
Plot: Although he was believed to be destroyed by the Nazi-like army, Super Giant breaks into the satellite, and a long, riotous battle ensues. (Part 2 of 2)
This film is a part of US version Attack from Space.
Trivia: It was after this film when director Teruo Ishii
left the series, upon being horrified to hear about a child who imitated Super Giant (even wearing a cape he made) by jumping out of a window and landing on the street, seriously injuring himself. This became a very controversial liability issue with Japanese superhero
programs (not unlike those in America), until shows like Android Kikaider (1972) added a safety bumper at the end of each episode, telling children not to imitate the impossible feats performed by the title superhero.
This was the last Super Giant film with a 2-part story arc; The remaining films are standalone episodes.
Plot: Super Giant battles a marauding brainlike alien creature created by a mad scientist with the help of an alien army. (Standalone)
This film is a part of US version Evil Brain from Outer Space
.
Trivia: Last Super Giant film in fullscreen.
Plot: Super Giant copes with a mad scientist (who was disfigured in World War II
) who uses science and sorcery to turn his deceased daughter into an evil witch that murders women. (Standalone)
This film is a part of US version Evil Brain from Outer Space.
Trivia: The first Super Giant film in widescreen (2.35:1). All previous films were fullscreen.
Plot: Super Giant fights against an Arab
terrorist army (which dresses in costumes that look similar to the alien army in The Space Mutant Appears) which plots to assassinate its nation's peaceful crown prince for his treasure. (Standalone)
This film is a part of US version Evil Brain from Outer Space.
Trivia: The final Super Giant film.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
featured in a successful series of serial
Serial (film)
Serials, more specifically known as Movie serials, Film serials or Chapter plays, were short subjects originally shown in theaters in conjunction with a feature film. They were related to pulp magazine serialized fiction...
-like tokusatsu
Tokusatsu
is a Japanese term that applies to any live-action film or television drama that usually features superheroes and makes considerable use of special effects ....
short feature films produced by Shintoho Company, Ltd.
Shintoho
was a Japanese movie studio. It was one of the big-6 film studios during the Golden Age of Japanese cinema. It was founded by defectors from the original Tōhō Company...
(the non-union branch of Toho
Toho
is a Japanese film, theater production, and distribution company. It is headquartered in Yūrakuchō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group...
). He is also known in Japan as , is known in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as Starman, and known in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
as Spaceman.
Japan's first onscreen superhero
Whereas Takeo Nagamatsu's 1930 kamishibaiKamishibai
Kamishibai , literally "paper drama", is a form of storytelling that originated in Japanese Buddhist temples in the 12th century, where monks used emakimono to convey stories with moral lessons to a mostly illiterate audience....
The Golden Bat
Ogon Bat
, also known as Phantaman or Phantoma, is a seminal Japanese superhero created by writer Ichiro Suzuki and illustrator Takeo Nagamatsu in 1930. Ōgon Bat is considered to be the first Japanese superhero.-Character history:...
(Ōgon Batto) was Japan's first modern superhero (and had many manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
, anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
and tokusatsu
Tokusatsu
is a Japanese term that applies to any live-action film or television drama that usually features superheroes and makes considerable use of special effects ....
adaptations), Shintoho's Super Giant was the first celluloid superhero, and the role model for many Japanese superheroes to come, especially Ultraman
Ultraman
is Japanese television series that first aired in 1966. Ultraman, the first and best-known of the "Ultra-Crusaders," made his debut in the tokusatsu SF/kaiju/superhero TV series, , a follow-up to the television series Ultra Q...
and Kamen Rider
Kamen Rider
, is a weekly science fiction story created by Japanese manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori. It debuted as a tokusatsu television series on April 3, 1971 and ran until February 10, 1973, airing on the Mainichi Broadcasting System and NET TV . A manga adaptation was also featured in Shōnen Magazine...
.
It was Moonlight Mask
Moonlight Mask
is a fictional superhero that has appeared in Japanese tokusatsu and anime television shows and movies since his TV debut in 1958. Created by writer Kōhan Kawauchi, Moonlight Mask is best described as Japan's answer to The Lone Ranger and Batman....
who became Japan's first television superhero when his TV show debuted a year later.
Who or what is Super Giant?
Super Giant is a human-like creature created from the strongest steel by the Peace Council from the Emerald Planet. He is created to destroy evil to restore peace in the universe. Resembling a Japanese man with white tights/cowl (fitted with an antenna) and capes under his arms, he is virtually indestructible. He wears on his wrist a "Globe-Meter", which enables him to:- Fly through space
- Detect radiationRadiationIn physics, radiation is a process in which energetic particles or energetic waves travel through a medium or space. There are two distinct types of radiation; ionizing and non-ionizing...
- Speak and understand any language
He can also use it to disguise himself as an Earthling to walk among them. When sent to Earth to stop evil forces, he disguises himself as a Japanese man wearing a fancy suit and fedora hat (almost looking like a detective), but still uses his "Super Giant" name. His secret identity is not that secret, as he works with the Japanese authorities in helping them to stop the threats of evil. He is just as powerful in his civilian form. He also gets along with children, and saves them from danger, as children represent the Earth's future.
When accomplishing his task, Super Giant flies back to the Emerald Planet.
Super "Giants"?
Although he is obviously human-sized, it is said by some fans in Japan that the plurally-named singular superhero "Super Giants" is named for Adventures of SupermanAdventures of Superman (TV series)
Adventures of Superman is an American television series based on comic book characters and concepts created in 1938 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The show is the first television series to feature Superman and began filming in 1951 in California...
(which was being broadcast in Japan at the time) and the famous Japanese baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team, the Yomiuri Giants
Yomiuri Giants
The are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...
(which was extremely popular at the time).
The man in the "steel" tights
Super Giant was played in all films by respected film/TV actor Ken Utsui. However, Utsui hated playing Super Giant, and to this day refuses to talk about the role. This was partially on account of the somewhat embarrassing costume, especially the somewhat overstuffed crotch area (the producers thought that females were attracted to men with big anatomy, so they stuffed the crotch area with cotton). Nevertheless, this did not stop the audience's enjoyment of the movies.Manga adaptations
Towards the end of the film series' run, there were mangaManga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
adaptations of the Super Giant adventures. Artists included Tatsuo Yoshida
Tatsuo Yoshida
was a Japanese cartoonist, writer and anime pioneer who founded the anime studio Tatsunoko Productions.Born in 1932, Yoshida grew up in the hardship of war-torn Japan. A self-taught artist, his first job was as working for local newspapers in Kyoto...
and Jiro Kuwata
Jiro Kuwata
is a Japanese manga artist.-Biography:A gifted artist, Kuwata started out as a manga artist at the young age of 13, when he created in 1948. His turning point came in 1957, when he created . Since then, Kuwata devoted himself to creating science fiction/superhero adventures...
.
American adaptation
The American company Walter Manley Enterpriseshttp://www.us.imdb.com/company/co0049177/ purchased the international rights to Starman and with Medallion Filmshttp://www.us.imdb.com/company/co0075231/ repackaged the nine Starman films into 4 films for television in the mid-1960s. The first six installments were cut and merged into three films-- Atomic Rulers of the WorldAtomic Rulers of the World
Atomic Rulers of the World is a 1964 film edited together for American television from films #1 and #2 of the Japanese short film series Super Giant...
(or just Atomic Rulers), Invaders from Space
Invaders from Space
Invaders from Space is a 1964 film edited together for American television from films #3 and #4 of the Japanese short film series Super Giant.-Plot:...
, and Attack from Space
Attack from Space
Attack from Space is a 1964 film edited together for American television from films #5 and #6 of the Japanese short film series Super Giant.-Plot:...
. The final three films were severely cut and merged into Evil Brain from Outer Space
Evil Brain from Outer Space
Evil Brain from Outer Space is a 1964 film edited together for American television from films #7, #8 and #9 of the Japanese short film series Super Giant.-Synopsis:...
. Dubbing was handled by Titra Studios of New York, using many of the voices common in dubbed films of the time, including Peter Fernandez
Peter Fernandez
Peter Fernandez was an American actor, voice actor, and director. Despite a career extending from the 1930s, he is probably best known for his uncredited roles in the 1967 anime Speed Racer. Fernandez co-wrote the scripts, was the voice director, and translated the English language version of the...
. The original music soundtrack was largely replaced by library tracks.
Super Giant
Super Giant (スーパー・ジャイアンツ 鋼鉄の巨人, Sūpā Jaiantsu) is black and white Japanese film directed by Teruo IshiiTeruo Ishii
was a Japanese film director best known in the West for his early films in the Super Giant series, and for his films in the Ero guro subgenre of pinku eiga such as Shogun's Joys of Torture . He also directed the 1965 film, Abashiri Prison, which helped to make Ken Takakura a major star in Japan...
.
Plot: Super Giant first appears on Earth to stop foreign terrorists who threaten to destroy Japan (and the rest of the world) with an atomic bomb. (Part 1 of 2).
This movie is part of US version named Atomic Rulers of the World
Atomic Rulers of the World
Atomic Rulers of the World is a 1964 film edited together for American television from films #1 and #2 of the Japanese short film series Super Giant...
.
Actors in the film include:
- Ken Utsui as Super Giant
- Junko Ikeuchi
- Minoru Takada
- Ryo Iwashita
- Minako Yamada
- Utako Mitsuya as Kaoru
- Shōji NakayamaShōji Nakayama- Filmography :* Anatahan aka The Saga of Anatahan * * Super Giant *...
- Jōji Ōhara
Super Giant 2
Super Giant Continues (続スーパー・ジャイアンツ 続鋼鉄の巨人, Zoku Sūpā Jaiantsu) is black and white Japanese film directed by Teruo IshiiTeruo Ishii
was a Japanese film director best known in the West for his early films in the Super Giant series, and for his films in the Ero guro subgenre of pinku eiga such as Shogun's Joys of Torture . He also directed the 1965 film, Abashiri Prison, which helped to make Ken Takakura a major star in Japan...
.
Plot: Super Giant continues his battle against the foreign terrorists. In return, they frame him for murder. (Part 2 of 2)
This film is a part of US version Atomic Rulers of the World.
Super Giant 3
Super Giant - The Mysterious Spacemen's Demonic Castle (スーパー・ジャイアンツ 怪星人の魔城 - Sūpā Jaiantsu - Kaiseijin no Majō) is a black and white Japanese film directed by Teruo IshiiTeruo Ishii
was a Japanese film director best known in the West for his early films in the Super Giant series, and for his films in the Ero guro subgenre of pinku eiga such as Shogun's Joys of Torture . He also directed the 1965 film, Abashiri Prison, which helped to make Ken Takakura a major star in Japan...
.
Plot: The reptile-like Kapia-Seijin prepare to conquer the Earth, and Super Giant must stop them. (Part 1 of 2).
This film ia a part of US version Invaders from Space
Invaders from Space
Invaders from Space is a 1964 film edited together for American television from films #3 and #4 of the Japanese short film series Super Giant.-Plot:...
.
Trivia: The Kapia-Seijin are based on the Japanese mythical creatures kappa (water imps).
Super Giant 4
Super Giant - Earth on the Verge of Destruction (スーパー・ジャイアンツ 地球滅亡寸前 - Sūpā Jaiantsu - Chikyū Metsubō Sunzen) is a black and white Japanese movie directed by Teruo IshiiTeruo Ishii
was a Japanese film director best known in the West for his early films in the Super Giant series, and for his films in the Ero guro subgenre of pinku eiga such as Shogun's Joys of Torture . He also directed the 1965 film, Abashiri Prison, which helped to make Ken Takakura a major star in Japan...
.
Plot: Super Giant continues his battle against the Kapia-Seijin, who not only send a mysterious witch after a group of children, but summon their almighty leader to alter Earth's rotation. (Part 2 of 2).
This film is a part of US version Invaders from Space.
Super Giant 5
Super Giant - The Artificial Satellite and the Destruction of Humanity (スーパー・ジャイアンツ 人工衛星と人類の破滅 - Sūpā Jaiantsu - Jinkō Eisei to Jinrui no Hametsu) is 1957 Japanese film directed by Teruo IshiiTeruo Ishii
was a Japanese film director best known in the West for his early films in the Super Giant series, and for his films in the Ero guro subgenre of pinku eiga such as Shogun's Joys of Torture . He also directed the 1965 film, Abashiri Prison, which helped to make Ken Takakura a major star in Japan...
.
Plot: Super Giant pursues a Nazi-like army that operates on a huge satellite in space. The satellite is armed with weapons that could destroy whole cities on Earth from afar. (Part 1 of 2)
This film is part of US version Attack from Space
Attack from Space
Attack from Space is a 1964 film edited together for American television from films #5 and #6 of the Japanese short film series Super Giant.-Plot:...
.
Super Giant 6
Super Giant - The Spaceship and the Clash of the Artificial Satellite (スーパー・ジャイアンツ 宇宙艇と人工衛星の激突 - Sūpā Jaiantsu - Uchūtei to Jinkō Eisei no Gekitotsu) is a black and white Japanese movie directed by Teruo IshiiTeruo Ishii
was a Japanese film director best known in the West for his early films in the Super Giant series, and for his films in the Ero guro subgenre of pinku eiga such as Shogun's Joys of Torture . He also directed the 1965 film, Abashiri Prison, which helped to make Ken Takakura a major star in Japan...
.
Plot: Although he was believed to be destroyed by the Nazi-like army, Super Giant breaks into the satellite, and a long, riotous battle ensues. (Part 2 of 2)
This film is a part of US version Attack from Space.
Trivia: It was after this film when director Teruo Ishii
Teruo Ishii
was a Japanese film director best known in the West for his early films in the Super Giant series, and for his films in the Ero guro subgenre of pinku eiga such as Shogun's Joys of Torture . He also directed the 1965 film, Abashiri Prison, which helped to make Ken Takakura a major star in Japan...
left the series, upon being horrified to hear about a child who imitated Super Giant (even wearing a cape he made) by jumping out of a window and landing on the street, seriously injuring himself. This became a very controversial liability issue with Japanese superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
programs (not unlike those in America), until shows like Android Kikaider (1972) added a safety bumper at the end of each episode, telling children not to imitate the impossible feats performed by the title superhero.
This was the last Super Giant film with a 2-part story arc; The remaining films are standalone episodes.
Super Giant 7
Super Giant - The Space Mutant Appears (スーパー・ジャイアンツ 宇宙怪人出現 - Sūpā Jaiantsu - Uchū Kaijin Shutsugen) is a black and white Japanese movie directed by Akira Mitsuwa.Plot: Super Giant battles a marauding brainlike alien creature created by a mad scientist with the help of an alien army. (Standalone)
This film is a part of US version Evil Brain from Outer Space
Evil Brain from Outer Space
Evil Brain from Outer Space is a 1964 film edited together for American television from films #7, #8 and #9 of the Japanese short film series Super Giant.-Synopsis:...
.
Trivia: Last Super Giant film in fullscreen.
Super Giant 8
Super Giant Continues - The Devil's Incarnation (続スーパー・ジャイアンツ 悪魔の化身 - Zoku Sūpā Jaiantsu - Akuma no Keshin) is a black and white Japanese movie directed by Chogi Akasaka.Plot: Super Giant copes with a mad scientist (who was disfigured in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
) who uses science and sorcery to turn his deceased daughter into an evil witch that murders women. (Standalone)
This film is a part of US version Evil Brain from Outer Space.
Trivia: The first Super Giant film in widescreen (2.35:1). All previous films were fullscreen.
Super Giant 9
Super Giant Continues - The Poison Moth Kingdom (続スーパー・ジャイアンツ 毒蛾王国 - Zoku Sūpā Jaiantsu - Dokuga Ōkoku) is a black and white Japanese movie directed by Chogi Akasaka.Plot: Super Giant fights against an Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
terrorist army (which dresses in costumes that look similar to the alien army in The Space Mutant Appears) which plots to assassinate its nation's peaceful crown prince for his treasure. (Standalone)
This film is a part of US version Evil Brain from Outer Space.
Trivia: The final Super Giant film.