Crossover Senshi Godaiger
11-26-2009, 05:20 PM
With 2010 almost upon us, I decide to update on old thread I did at a wrestling forum to celebrate Kinnikuman's 30 years as one of Japan's most iconic anime/manga franchises.
http://media.onemanga.com/mangas/00002552/logo.jpg
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The manga created by the comic creative duo Yoshinori Nakai and Takashi Shimada, under the pen name Yudetamago (which literally means "boiled egg" in Japanese) and was published by Shueisha's Shonen Jump in 1979.
http://insendai.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/kinnikuman_cover_2.jpg
http://bp3.blogger.com/_PQqXTFCSfqc/SBMxDH2qSMI/AAAAAAAAAYo/lRHCkzoRtac/s1600-h/yudetamago-2008.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PQqXTFCSfqc/SBMvnX2qSLI/AAAAAAAAAYg/9ctXTV6yiaA/s400/yudetamago-2007.jpg
Starting as a parody on the superhero genre, its main character was Suguru Kinniku aka Kinnikuman, originaly created as a parody on Japan's beloved superhero Ultraman started as a clumsy cowardly goof of a superhero who always got his butt kicked and was only called upon to battle monsters if no other superheroes were around, he was nicknamed the "Loser Superman". He later found out he is the missing prince of the planet Kinniku, known for turning out the greatest superheroes in the universe. Being a clumsy fool, however, he must prove himself worthy of the throne. From there, his character began to mature into a competent and couragous hero who would risk his life for his loved ones. (He still remained a bit of goof though)
As the story developed, it began focusing exclusively on professional wrestling in which Kinnikuman would wrestle parodies of popular superheroes and wrestlers, some range from a Toilet Paper Mummy," a giant hand, and monsters based on things like pachinko machines and telephones. The majority of the characters were made by fans who sent in character designs or ideas and were then incorporated into the story in various major and minor roles. Notable examples of main characters created in this manner include Warsman and Brocken Jr. The story also began to shift towards to an action adventure storyline with some serious dramatic moments while still retaining its humor. Another play on the pro wrestling keyfabe was that many of the bad guys ended up joining the good guy side and vice versa.
The title was so popular that an anime came about and lots of merchandising was produced including a series of action figures, video games and six theatrical animated movies.
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The title also created a technique that would later become a real life signiture move, The Kinniku Buster aka Muscle Buster:
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It also features some of the most epic and craziest looking combat moves that only Mike Quackenbush could half pull off. And has fun playing around with the kayfabeness of Pro Wrestling, what's not to like?
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bMRYpKqefDo
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This particular move was paid homage in King's Tekken 5 ending:
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The anime was never released in English, however the Kinnikuman collectible erasers were released as pink action figure toyline M.U.S.C.L.E., which was popular in the US during the 1980's.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_31mfnnpMi6E/SMt8FbraZBI/AAAAAAAAAG4/M77XuYwNlJ0/s1600-h/poster.gif
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ea/Muscles.jpg
And there was a NES game, Kinnikuman Muscle Tag Match was released in English under the M.U.S.C.L.E. title to capitalize on the toyline's popularity in the West.
http://wpcontent.answers.com/wikipedia/en/8/8a/MUSCLE_game.jpg
Then in 1998, a sequel was created, Kinnikuman Nisei (Muscleman: Second Generation) that began publication in Weekly Playboy. This story featured Suguru's son, Montaro Kinniku (Kid Muscle to English speaking fans) who like his father is a clumsy cowardly goof who must prove himself worthy of the Kinniku title. The manga was a major success therefore an anime adaptation was made but was a disappointing flop compared to the manga. However in 2002 the anime was given a US release under the title Ultimate Muscle, where it was more well received, to the point that an extra season was made for specifically American audience due to its popularity overseas while it still managed to air in Japan. The dub remains to be 4Kids' only decent English dub since they actually get creative with the material they were given. The manga is still on-going (and available in the Western market) while still not as successful as predecessor among the Japanese public.
http://www.mangafox.com/store/manga/738/cover.jpg
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Kinnikuman's popularity remains strong to this very day, in 2000 in a poll conducted by Japanese TV channel Animax, men's magazine Brutus, and video rental chain Tsutaya, Kinnikuman was ranked 37 among the 100 most popular anime titles of all time above titles such as AKIRA, Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, Ranma 1/2 and Sailor Moon.
It's such an iconic show that a live event called Kinnikumania takes place with real wrestlers dressing as the characters:
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The Japanese Anniversary Society has decided that every Friday 29th (Kin Niku in Japanese) shall be Kinnikuman Day. February 29, 2008 was the first Kinnikuman day.
Almost every major character have their own theme songs and Kinnikuman matures from a big dumb coward to a brave hero and was played by Akira Kamiya, the most profilic voice actor in Japan who also voiced Kenshiro of Fist Of The North Star, Ryo Saeba of City Hunter and Ryoma of Getter Robo, the guy can change his voice from a goofy sounding character to a serious character and last but least the Gyudon (Beef Bowl) song:
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Now some info on some of the major characters of the anime:
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Suguru is a very childish character. He complains when he does not get his way, pouts when someone gets more attention then him, and is often downright lazy. Early in the series, he would often refuse to fight certain monsters unless he got something in return. However, underneath this childish behaviour lies a very noble heart, and when times are at their worst, Suguru's courage surpasses that of the greatest of Seigi Choujins. He has been known to fight better upon realizing how shameful or dishonorable his opponent is being. His honor and friendship has warmed the hearts of several an Evil Chojin.
In the beginning of the series, Suguru fights Kaijū by eating garlic and growing 30 meters tall. Despite his great strength and skill, Suguru is quite clumsy by nature. This side of him causes most people to fear him more than the monsters he fights (due mostly to the possibility of him crashing into buildings while in his giant form). He is so clumsy that, at times, regular people are capable of besting him in fights. He has even said on one occasion that although Chojin's wounds heal much faster than human wounds, when he gets hurt it takes longer to heal than a human, probably as a result of how he takes his training and fitness much less seriously than most choujin. He is also very arrogant and believes himself to be more popular than he actually is. He gets daily reminders of the truth, however, when people run from his ugly face or his garlic breath.
Suguru's favorite food is gyūdon, and he will do almost anything if he is offered just one bowl. Though he mostly eats gyūdon, he also pigs out on a wide variety of other foods, and when he is not eating he is usually watching TV. He "trained" for the 21st Chōjin Olympics by eating chips and watching TV.
Suguru is also a bit lecherous and has been known to take part in matches he previously refused to simply because a pretty girl asked him to change his mind. Suguru flirts with every girl he sees, and has on numerous times tried to peep on his friends Mari Nikadō and Natsuko Shōno. Unfortunately for him, no girls find him in the least bit appealing except for Bibinba in the manga and Mari in the anime.
One of the small but important points of the story was the code of the Kinniku mask, if for whatever reason a warrior of Planet Kinniku loses his mask, he will forced to take his own life.
In Kinnikuman Nisei, Suguru has lost his muscles and become skinny and flabby, but is still quite powerful. He has taken on a lot of the same characteristics his father had and is usually bickering with his son, Montaro. Unlike with his father though, Suguru has a great deal of respect for Mantaro, and although Mantaro finds him lame they maintain a rather healthy father/son relationship.
In the original pilot manga, Kinnikuman was the bastard son of Ultra Father, the leader of the iconic Ultraman heroes. Thus, he was the (illegitimate) eighth Ultra Brother. Of course, this background was scrapped when the manga was serialized.
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Terryman is an American Seigi Chojin from Texas and Kinnikuman's best friend. On his forehead is the character 米 (kome?) and on his shoulders are the Star Emblems which give him his Fighting Spirit. When he first appears he is very businesslike and looks down on Kinnikuman. But when he realizes that Kinnikuman has the same Burning Spirit as himself they become best friends.
At the 20th Choujin Olympics his left leg is shot and wounded by Kinkotsuman, causing him to have to wear an prosthetic leg in order to continue fighting (however, the leg can be removed very easily). After a while, the leg is no longer mentioned and it is largely assumed that he was healed by the Perfect Mask.
Whenever the laces on his ring shoes snap it signifies that one of his friends is in trouble. He is quite knowledgeable and is known for saying "Come to think of it, I've heard of this..." whenever he sees an enemy's technique and then going into an explanation.
He later had a son, Terry The Kid who is a major character in Nisei.
He was modeled after real life American wrestler Terry Funk and uses many of his trademark moves (The Spinning Toe Hold, Texas Clover Hold, etc.).
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Warsman is a Robo Choujin (Robot Superman) and possessed retractable iron claws called Bear Claws. He also possesses excellent artificial intelligence and calmly judges his opponents so as to defeat them within 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, his inner computer begins to shut down and smoke emits from his body. Originally he was Zangyaku Choujin (Brutal Superman), and he even put Ramenman (known as "The Most Brutal Choujin") in a vegetative state. After the Choujin Olympics, he becomes a Seigi Choujin (Justice Superman).
In Kinnikuman Nisei, Warsman has assumed the identity of Chloe (Lord Flash in the English dub) and serves as Kevin Mask’s trainer and second, first appearing as his three-legged race companion. At the end of the Choujin Olympics, his mask broke and revealed his true identity. He later stows away on the "Kevin" time ship in order to compete in the Ultimate Choujin Tag Tournament.
He typically has no facial expression, but when he faces a formidable opponent a creepy smile known as the Warsman Smile appears on his face.
As a Robo Choujin his body is constantly meeting with problems. Because of this poor treatment despite his popularity, Warsman has gained sympathy from readers and become even more popular well into Kinnikuman Nisei.
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Starting out as a recurring villain, Robin Mask soon became one of the most essential members of the Seigi Choujin (Justice Supermen) team. Robin wore knight-type armor made out of sapphire (later remade out of steel), and wearing the armor reduced his strength, giving his opponent a fair chance at beating him. Although Robin is only a few years older than most of the cast he is considered the veteran of the group and often comes up with the teams’ overall battle plan. He later gains a son, Kevin Mask, who is a major character in Nisei.
In the anime he is depicted as wearing a blue undershirt underneath his armor, making it seem at times that he has blue skin.
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Wolfman is a Japanese Sumo Choujin who once held the title of Choujin Sumo Yokozuna, but later switched to Choujin Wrestling. He trains his muscles vigorously and boasts of his Beautiful Muscles of Steel (Hagane no Nikutai-bi?), muscles that exceed Kinnikuman's. At first he despises Kinnikuman and calls him Zeinikuman (Flabbyman), but after losing to him in a Sumo match he begins to respect his abilities. From then on he appears as an Idol Choujin and fights against the Akuma Choujin.
As with the 21st Choujin Olympics final preliminary and his fight with Springman, Wolfman often ends up facing rather plain opponents in one-sided fights. He becomes the cannon fodder Seigi Choujin (quickly and easily defeated in order to show off how powerful the bad guys are), dying and returning to life 3 times throughout the series.
Despite this poor treatment, Wolfman's specialty in Japan's national sport of Sumo has garnerd him plenty of fans.
Wolfman was modeled after popular sumo wrestler and holder of the prestigious title Rikishi Chiyonofuji Mitsugu, "Wolf" being Chiyonofuji's nickname. In the anime he is renamed Rikishiman and uses phrases like Dosuko~i! and Gottan desu!, becoming a more typical Sumo character.
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Geronimo is a young Native American of the Cherokee tribe who was born a regular human. His eyes are partially hidden behind his forelock and he has brown skin. As a boy his life was saved by a Choujin (later revealed to be the God of the Superman Road) and from then on he yearned to become a Choujin. Because of this he hides that fact that he is human and takes part in the battle against the Devil Knights. During the Five Story Ring battles, he shows that his Choujin Tamashii (Superman Spirit?) exceeds that of a Choujin by defeating Sunshine in a tremendous victory.
Afterwards he passes the trial of the Superman Road and becomes a true Choujin, later participating in the Universal Choujin Tag Tournament and the Survivor Match for the Kinniku Throne.
He is usually seen carrying a tomahawk and a hunting knife with him, but he hardly ever uses them. Nisei character Chaos appears to look up to him, as they are both humans fighting alongside Choujin.
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Ramenman was a Chinese Choujin (superhuman) who specialized in Kung Fu and technical wrestling. He claims to know over 1,000 different techniques. He has an oval-shaped face with a Fu Manchu moustache and wears a queue hairstyle. On his forehead is the kanji (Chū?), which is the first character in (Chūgoku), the Japanese word for China. Unlike most Choujins he lacks a muscular body and instead possesses an athletic build, particularly in the earlier chapters when he had a bony and slender build and his cheekbones stuck out. In his early appearances he spoke in a kyōwago dialect.
During the time of his first appearance (20th Choujin Olympics Arc), he is known as the Most Brutal Superman and kills many of his opponents, but as the series progresses he fights as a Seigi Choujin . During his Zangyaku Choujin days, he was a gentleman after leaving the ring and even disliked using weapons.
At one point in the series, he is in a vegetative state due to a severe head injury. So he assumes the identity of Mongolman for a while, wearing a special mask made of a healing tree bark, so that he can fight once again. He was also one of the few characters in Kinnikuman to never die.
He became very popular with readers (more than Kinnikuman himself), ranking 3rd in both the Good and Evil categories of the first Character Poll and then ranking First in the 2nd Poll. Yudetamgo have stated that they originally intended for him to be merely a one time villain for the Choujin Olympics, but he became so popular after his Third Place Determination Match against Terryman that they decided to keep him around. In response to this popularity, Ramenman got his own manga and anime spin-off series called Tatakae!! Ramenman. In Tatakae!! Ramenman, he walks the land of ancient China with his young friend Shao-Mai in search of every last bandit who killed his family when he was a boy. The Ramenman in the spinoff is possibly an ancestor of the Ramenman from the Kinnikuman timeline.
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Brocken Jr. is the son of German Nazi Zangyaku Choujin Brockenman. He looks very similar to his father and wears the same uniform. However, he never portrays any Nazi beliefs.
Because his father is murdered by Ramenman he initially hates Ramenman as his father's enemy, but after being touched by his greatness they enter into a sensei and pupil type relationship.
He later joins Kinnikuman and the Idol Choujins and defeats many an Evil Choujin with his young German Spirit. Unlike his father, Brocken was raised as a Seigi Choujin and is less Nazi like, although he'll sometimes fight in his father's brutal style.
The Brocken Family of which he belongs is human, and when a young man reaches adulthood he is given a Totenkopf to wear on his uniform, which turns him into a Choujin. The proof of his Choujin body is the Swastika tattoos that appear on his arms.
After Kinnikuman took the throne, he returned to Germany with no goals and became a drunk. He sobered up after becoming the Lehrer (teacher) of Orphan Choujin Jade in Nisei.
Kinnikuman was banned in France because of Brocken Jr.'s presence, as he was supposed to be a "good Nazi", which is seen by many to be an oxymoron. Likely for similar reasons, when the M.U.S.C.L.E. toy line was brought to America, Brocken was absent from the selection of figures, and was eliminated from the tie-in NES game and replaced with Geronimo. Although strangely, a character who looks like Brocken can be seen in the last panel of the story comic that came with large figure packs
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Buffaloman is a charging bull-themed Choujin and one of the Seven Akuma Choujin who were said to be too strong and brutal and banished to the ends of the universe. He is very large and has two curved horns called Long Horns on both sides of his head. His techniques and fighting style usually rely on his immense strength and power, but in tight situations he can lower his power in order to become faster. Additionally, he specializes in brutal fighting and has a spike on each knee. On the other side though, he is quite clever and will often lure his opponents into wasting stamina.
Depicted as a formidable opponent far more powerful than any other Choujin to appear before him, the concept of Choujin Kyoudo was introduced specifically to illustrate this. Buffaloman's Choujin Kyoudo is 10,000,000 Power, which is 10 times that of Warsman, Kinnikuman's greatest opponent before him. By the end of the series many Choujin who surpass 10,000,000 Power have appeared, but Buffaloman still boasts of his power and it is the only one treated as an advantage.
Though an Akuma Choujin, he normally fights very honorably and shows his opponents respect. During his fight with Kinnikuman his good heart is awakened, and he is revived as a Seigi Choujin after his first death.
Yudetamago have stated that Buffaloman is modeled after professional wrestler Bruiser Brody. In tribute to the larger Brody's tag team collaboration with the smaller Jimmy Snuka, Buffaloman is paired in tag matches with smaller characters like Springman and Mongolman.
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Meat is of Planet Kinniku's Churrasco Tribe whom was entrusted by his father Mince to Mayumi Kinniku of the Kinniku tribe for the greater good of the planet. Meat then is sent to Earth to retrieve the long lost prince Suguru Kinniku (Kinnikuman, known as Suguru Muscle in Ultimate Muscle).
He wears glasses and has the hiragana characters Niku (Meat) on his forehead. Also, although a member of the Churrasco Tribe, he has the Kinniku Clan's KIN Mark on his chest.
He serves as Kinnikuman's eyes and personal assistant. In the early days he and Kinnikuman frequently quarrel with one another, usually because of Kinnikuman cowardice and/or laziness. They would also often fight over Mari Nikaidou's affection.
Meat has two older sisters, the beautiful Medium Rare and the fat and ugly Kalbi Liver.
His glasses are his weakness, whenever they are broken he ceases to function. Also, when he presses his temple a bright light shines from the Niku characters on his forehead.
In Kinnikuman Nisei, he has cryogenically frozen himself, leaving him with an unchanged appearance, so as to serve Kinnikuman's son Mantaro Muscle (Mantaro Kinniku).
http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/kinnikuman/images/a/a3/Bibimba.gif
Bibinba was the daughter of Horumon Yāki, the leader of the tribe who has intense hatred to their arch-enemy, the Kinniku clan. Hormone Yāki dispatches his daughter Bibinba to kill the heir to the Kinniku throne, Kinnikuman (who was visiting his parents on Planet Kinniku). Despite being very good in her attempts to kill Kinnikuman, Kinnikuman was just too silly and ignorant of his impending death to actually die. Most of Bibinba's attempts to kill him ended with Kinnikuman helping her which eventually led her to fall in love with him. She travelled back to Earth with Kinnikuman and Meat and was the cause for Mari leaving Japan.
While on Earth, Bibinba tries her best to be a good wife for Kinnikuman. She cleans for him, walks around wearing nothing but an apron, and cooks him okayu, her specialty. But Kinnikuman already depends on Meat for everything and only eats gyuudon, so she becomes upset and runs away. She finds find solace by joining the Earth Defense Force, which makes Kinnikuman jealous.
When Bibinba first shows up it is a one-sided love on her part and he finds her more annoying than cute. But by the time of the Seven Devil Chōjin Arc he seems to acknowledge her as his betrothed. During the Survivor Match for the Kinniku Throne, he showed great concern for her when she threw herself from the stands and later admits that he believes they are bound by the red string of fate. Bibinba is for the most part left out of the anime, and Mari, whom had always shown more interest in Meat, becomes his main love interest.
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Mari Nikaidō, a teacher at Suminoe Kindergarten who Meat had a crush on but who inexplicably falls for Kinnikuman. When Bibinba arrives, she feels overshadowed by her and gives up on Kinnikuman, going overseas to study. However in the anime, she ends up becoming Suguru's love interest.
In Kinnikuman II Mari has returned to Japan and has an adopted daughter named Rinko who is the love interest of Kinniku Mantaro.
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Mayumi & Sayuri Kinniku are Suguru's parents. Mayumi is the 57th King of Planet Kinniku and is a former Choujin Olympic V2 Champion as well as a Universal Grappling Champion. He has a fierce and long-standing rivalry with Harabote Muscle (the future chairman of the Choujin Legeau), and the two of them frequently appear in Exhibition Matches which are unpopular with the younger fans.
Although Sayuri is embarrassed by how he sometimes behaves, the two are very much in love with one another. Much to her annoyance, the only food he knows how to cook is curry.
http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/kinnikuman/images/5/50/Harabote.gif
Harabote Muscle is the rival and close friend of Mayumi Kinniku, whom he refers to as Mayumi-chan (as if they were children). He serves as the chairman of the Chōjin Committee, which oversees all Chōjin activity in the universe. However, he is not very well respected by the Chōjin community. He was at one time a Chōjin Wrestler and had obstructed Mayumi's quest for Chōjin Olympic V3 by winning the 11th Olympics. Also in those days, he had long hair.
As chairman, he oversees all the matches and tournaments that take place within the series and will sometimes serve as referee. He was also the moderator of Kinnikuman's coronation and later the Survivor Match for the Kinniku Throne. He spends most of his times talking and watching the matches with Mayumi, particularly in the earlier chapters, where they provide much of the series' comic relief.
Though initially impressed with Kinnikuman's abilities, he soon becomes annoyed with his moronic personality and becomes disappointed whenever he advances in tournaments.
In Kinnikuman Nisei, his Chōjin Committee status has fallen, apparently because his management skills have deterioated with age. He also seems to have a personal vendetta against Kinnikuman's son, Mantarō Kinniku. Afterwards, he hands his chairman position over to his son, Ikemen Muscle.
In the English adaptation of Ultimate Muscle, Harabote is renamed Vance McMadd as a parody of WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) owner Vince McMahon, and the federation is renamed the Intergalactic Wrestling Federation (IWF). His children Ikeman and Jacqueline are based loosely on Shane and Stephanie McMahon.
Even though the family name Kinniku was changed to "Muscle" in the English versions, Harabote is not related to Muscle/Kinniku wrestling family.
http://media.onemanga.com/mangas/00002552/logo.jpg
jKHvIOk8fVo
The manga created by the comic creative duo Yoshinori Nakai and Takashi Shimada, under the pen name Yudetamago (which literally means "boiled egg" in Japanese) and was published by Shueisha's Shonen Jump in 1979.
http://insendai.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/kinnikuman_cover_2.jpg
http://bp3.blogger.com/_PQqXTFCSfqc/SBMxDH2qSMI/AAAAAAAAAYo/lRHCkzoRtac/s1600-h/yudetamago-2008.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PQqXTFCSfqc/SBMvnX2qSLI/AAAAAAAAAYg/9ctXTV6yiaA/s400/yudetamago-2007.jpg
Starting as a parody on the superhero genre, its main character was Suguru Kinniku aka Kinnikuman, originaly created as a parody on Japan's beloved superhero Ultraman started as a clumsy cowardly goof of a superhero who always got his butt kicked and was only called upon to battle monsters if no other superheroes were around, he was nicknamed the "Loser Superman". He later found out he is the missing prince of the planet Kinniku, known for turning out the greatest superheroes in the universe. Being a clumsy fool, however, he must prove himself worthy of the throne. From there, his character began to mature into a competent and couragous hero who would risk his life for his loved ones. (He still remained a bit of goof though)
As the story developed, it began focusing exclusively on professional wrestling in which Kinnikuman would wrestle parodies of popular superheroes and wrestlers, some range from a Toilet Paper Mummy," a giant hand, and monsters based on things like pachinko machines and telephones. The majority of the characters were made by fans who sent in character designs or ideas and were then incorporated into the story in various major and minor roles. Notable examples of main characters created in this manner include Warsman and Brocken Jr. The story also began to shift towards to an action adventure storyline with some serious dramatic moments while still retaining its humor. Another play on the pro wrestling keyfabe was that many of the bad guys ended up joining the good guy side and vice versa.
The title was so popular that an anime came about and lots of merchandising was produced including a series of action figures, video games and six theatrical animated movies.
d_hoTsMNV2g
nGAK2hnNgLs
GU8Jiv687mE
The title also created a technique that would later become a real life signiture move, The Kinniku Buster aka Muscle Buster:
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It also features some of the most epic and craziest looking combat moves that only Mike Quackenbush could half pull off. And has fun playing around with the kayfabeness of Pro Wrestling, what's not to like?
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bMRYpKqefDo
gduuk2XT7_0
q-GN_uSRAy8
_chEFgpVPjI
91HCNNaSs3I
This particular move was paid homage in King's Tekken 5 ending:
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SVqxiZOUX6g
The anime was never released in English, however the Kinnikuman collectible erasers were released as pink action figure toyline M.U.S.C.L.E., which was popular in the US during the 1980's.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_31mfnnpMi6E/SMt8FbraZBI/AAAAAAAAAG4/M77XuYwNlJ0/s1600-h/poster.gif
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ea/Muscles.jpg
And there was a NES game, Kinnikuman Muscle Tag Match was released in English under the M.U.S.C.L.E. title to capitalize on the toyline's popularity in the West.
http://wpcontent.answers.com/wikipedia/en/8/8a/MUSCLE_game.jpg
Then in 1998, a sequel was created, Kinnikuman Nisei (Muscleman: Second Generation) that began publication in Weekly Playboy. This story featured Suguru's son, Montaro Kinniku (Kid Muscle to English speaking fans) who like his father is a clumsy cowardly goof who must prove himself worthy of the Kinniku title. The manga was a major success therefore an anime adaptation was made but was a disappointing flop compared to the manga. However in 2002 the anime was given a US release under the title Ultimate Muscle, where it was more well received, to the point that an extra season was made for specifically American audience due to its popularity overseas while it still managed to air in Japan. The dub remains to be 4Kids' only decent English dub since they actually get creative with the material they were given. The manga is still on-going (and available in the Western market) while still not as successful as predecessor among the Japanese public.
http://www.mangafox.com/store/manga/738/cover.jpg
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Kinnikuman's popularity remains strong to this very day, in 2000 in a poll conducted by Japanese TV channel Animax, men's magazine Brutus, and video rental chain Tsutaya, Kinnikuman was ranked 37 among the 100 most popular anime titles of all time above titles such as AKIRA, Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, Ranma 1/2 and Sailor Moon.
It's such an iconic show that a live event called Kinnikumania takes place with real wrestlers dressing as the characters:
jeqT2dPQK0U
mfObb1tQ_7g
The Japanese Anniversary Society has decided that every Friday 29th (Kin Niku in Japanese) shall be Kinnikuman Day. February 29, 2008 was the first Kinnikuman day.
Almost every major character have their own theme songs and Kinnikuman matures from a big dumb coward to a brave hero and was played by Akira Kamiya, the most profilic voice actor in Japan who also voiced Kenshiro of Fist Of The North Star, Ryo Saeba of City Hunter and Ryoma of Getter Robo, the guy can change his voice from a goofy sounding character to a serious character and last but least the Gyudon (Beef Bowl) song:
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Now some info on some of the major characters of the anime:
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Suguru is a very childish character. He complains when he does not get his way, pouts when someone gets more attention then him, and is often downright lazy. Early in the series, he would often refuse to fight certain monsters unless he got something in return. However, underneath this childish behaviour lies a very noble heart, and when times are at their worst, Suguru's courage surpasses that of the greatest of Seigi Choujins. He has been known to fight better upon realizing how shameful or dishonorable his opponent is being. His honor and friendship has warmed the hearts of several an Evil Chojin.
In the beginning of the series, Suguru fights Kaijū by eating garlic and growing 30 meters tall. Despite his great strength and skill, Suguru is quite clumsy by nature. This side of him causes most people to fear him more than the monsters he fights (due mostly to the possibility of him crashing into buildings while in his giant form). He is so clumsy that, at times, regular people are capable of besting him in fights. He has even said on one occasion that although Chojin's wounds heal much faster than human wounds, when he gets hurt it takes longer to heal than a human, probably as a result of how he takes his training and fitness much less seriously than most choujin. He is also very arrogant and believes himself to be more popular than he actually is. He gets daily reminders of the truth, however, when people run from his ugly face or his garlic breath.
Suguru's favorite food is gyūdon, and he will do almost anything if he is offered just one bowl. Though he mostly eats gyūdon, he also pigs out on a wide variety of other foods, and when he is not eating he is usually watching TV. He "trained" for the 21st Chōjin Olympics by eating chips and watching TV.
Suguru is also a bit lecherous and has been known to take part in matches he previously refused to simply because a pretty girl asked him to change his mind. Suguru flirts with every girl he sees, and has on numerous times tried to peep on his friends Mari Nikadō and Natsuko Shōno. Unfortunately for him, no girls find him in the least bit appealing except for Bibinba in the manga and Mari in the anime.
One of the small but important points of the story was the code of the Kinniku mask, if for whatever reason a warrior of Planet Kinniku loses his mask, he will forced to take his own life.
In Kinnikuman Nisei, Suguru has lost his muscles and become skinny and flabby, but is still quite powerful. He has taken on a lot of the same characteristics his father had and is usually bickering with his son, Montaro. Unlike with his father though, Suguru has a great deal of respect for Mantaro, and although Mantaro finds him lame they maintain a rather healthy father/son relationship.
In the original pilot manga, Kinnikuman was the bastard son of Ultra Father, the leader of the iconic Ultraman heroes. Thus, he was the (illegitimate) eighth Ultra Brother. Of course, this background was scrapped when the manga was serialized.
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Terryman is an American Seigi Chojin from Texas and Kinnikuman's best friend. On his forehead is the character 米 (kome?) and on his shoulders are the Star Emblems which give him his Fighting Spirit. When he first appears he is very businesslike and looks down on Kinnikuman. But when he realizes that Kinnikuman has the same Burning Spirit as himself they become best friends.
At the 20th Choujin Olympics his left leg is shot and wounded by Kinkotsuman, causing him to have to wear an prosthetic leg in order to continue fighting (however, the leg can be removed very easily). After a while, the leg is no longer mentioned and it is largely assumed that he was healed by the Perfect Mask.
Whenever the laces on his ring shoes snap it signifies that one of his friends is in trouble. He is quite knowledgeable and is known for saying "Come to think of it, I've heard of this..." whenever he sees an enemy's technique and then going into an explanation.
He later had a son, Terry The Kid who is a major character in Nisei.
He was modeled after real life American wrestler Terry Funk and uses many of his trademark moves (The Spinning Toe Hold, Texas Clover Hold, etc.).
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Warsman is a Robo Choujin (Robot Superman) and possessed retractable iron claws called Bear Claws. He also possesses excellent artificial intelligence and calmly judges his opponents so as to defeat them within 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, his inner computer begins to shut down and smoke emits from his body. Originally he was Zangyaku Choujin (Brutal Superman), and he even put Ramenman (known as "The Most Brutal Choujin") in a vegetative state. After the Choujin Olympics, he becomes a Seigi Choujin (Justice Superman).
In Kinnikuman Nisei, Warsman has assumed the identity of Chloe (Lord Flash in the English dub) and serves as Kevin Mask’s trainer and second, first appearing as his three-legged race companion. At the end of the Choujin Olympics, his mask broke and revealed his true identity. He later stows away on the "Kevin" time ship in order to compete in the Ultimate Choujin Tag Tournament.
He typically has no facial expression, but when he faces a formidable opponent a creepy smile known as the Warsman Smile appears on his face.
As a Robo Choujin his body is constantly meeting with problems. Because of this poor treatment despite his popularity, Warsman has gained sympathy from readers and become even more popular well into Kinnikuman Nisei.
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Starting out as a recurring villain, Robin Mask soon became one of the most essential members of the Seigi Choujin (Justice Supermen) team. Robin wore knight-type armor made out of sapphire (later remade out of steel), and wearing the armor reduced his strength, giving his opponent a fair chance at beating him. Although Robin is only a few years older than most of the cast he is considered the veteran of the group and often comes up with the teams’ overall battle plan. He later gains a son, Kevin Mask, who is a major character in Nisei.
In the anime he is depicted as wearing a blue undershirt underneath his armor, making it seem at times that he has blue skin.
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Wolfman is a Japanese Sumo Choujin who once held the title of Choujin Sumo Yokozuna, but later switched to Choujin Wrestling. He trains his muscles vigorously and boasts of his Beautiful Muscles of Steel (Hagane no Nikutai-bi?), muscles that exceed Kinnikuman's. At first he despises Kinnikuman and calls him Zeinikuman (Flabbyman), but after losing to him in a Sumo match he begins to respect his abilities. From then on he appears as an Idol Choujin and fights against the Akuma Choujin.
As with the 21st Choujin Olympics final preliminary and his fight with Springman, Wolfman often ends up facing rather plain opponents in one-sided fights. He becomes the cannon fodder Seigi Choujin (quickly and easily defeated in order to show off how powerful the bad guys are), dying and returning to life 3 times throughout the series.
Despite this poor treatment, Wolfman's specialty in Japan's national sport of Sumo has garnerd him plenty of fans.
Wolfman was modeled after popular sumo wrestler and holder of the prestigious title Rikishi Chiyonofuji Mitsugu, "Wolf" being Chiyonofuji's nickname. In the anime he is renamed Rikishiman and uses phrases like Dosuko~i! and Gottan desu!, becoming a more typical Sumo character.
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Geronimo is a young Native American of the Cherokee tribe who was born a regular human. His eyes are partially hidden behind his forelock and he has brown skin. As a boy his life was saved by a Choujin (later revealed to be the God of the Superman Road) and from then on he yearned to become a Choujin. Because of this he hides that fact that he is human and takes part in the battle against the Devil Knights. During the Five Story Ring battles, he shows that his Choujin Tamashii (Superman Spirit?) exceeds that of a Choujin by defeating Sunshine in a tremendous victory.
Afterwards he passes the trial of the Superman Road and becomes a true Choujin, later participating in the Universal Choujin Tag Tournament and the Survivor Match for the Kinniku Throne.
He is usually seen carrying a tomahawk and a hunting knife with him, but he hardly ever uses them. Nisei character Chaos appears to look up to him, as they are both humans fighting alongside Choujin.
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Ramenman was a Chinese Choujin (superhuman) who specialized in Kung Fu and technical wrestling. He claims to know over 1,000 different techniques. He has an oval-shaped face with a Fu Manchu moustache and wears a queue hairstyle. On his forehead is the kanji (Chū?), which is the first character in (Chūgoku), the Japanese word for China. Unlike most Choujins he lacks a muscular body and instead possesses an athletic build, particularly in the earlier chapters when he had a bony and slender build and his cheekbones stuck out. In his early appearances he spoke in a kyōwago dialect.
During the time of his first appearance (20th Choujin Olympics Arc), he is known as the Most Brutal Superman and kills many of his opponents, but as the series progresses he fights as a Seigi Choujin . During his Zangyaku Choujin days, he was a gentleman after leaving the ring and even disliked using weapons.
At one point in the series, he is in a vegetative state due to a severe head injury. So he assumes the identity of Mongolman for a while, wearing a special mask made of a healing tree bark, so that he can fight once again. He was also one of the few characters in Kinnikuman to never die.
He became very popular with readers (more than Kinnikuman himself), ranking 3rd in both the Good and Evil categories of the first Character Poll and then ranking First in the 2nd Poll. Yudetamgo have stated that they originally intended for him to be merely a one time villain for the Choujin Olympics, but he became so popular after his Third Place Determination Match against Terryman that they decided to keep him around. In response to this popularity, Ramenman got his own manga and anime spin-off series called Tatakae!! Ramenman. In Tatakae!! Ramenman, he walks the land of ancient China with his young friend Shao-Mai in search of every last bandit who killed his family when he was a boy. The Ramenman in the spinoff is possibly an ancestor of the Ramenman from the Kinnikuman timeline.
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Brocken Jr. is the son of German Nazi Zangyaku Choujin Brockenman. He looks very similar to his father and wears the same uniform. However, he never portrays any Nazi beliefs.
Because his father is murdered by Ramenman he initially hates Ramenman as his father's enemy, but after being touched by his greatness they enter into a sensei and pupil type relationship.
He later joins Kinnikuman and the Idol Choujins and defeats many an Evil Choujin with his young German Spirit. Unlike his father, Brocken was raised as a Seigi Choujin and is less Nazi like, although he'll sometimes fight in his father's brutal style.
The Brocken Family of which he belongs is human, and when a young man reaches adulthood he is given a Totenkopf to wear on his uniform, which turns him into a Choujin. The proof of his Choujin body is the Swastika tattoos that appear on his arms.
After Kinnikuman took the throne, he returned to Germany with no goals and became a drunk. He sobered up after becoming the Lehrer (teacher) of Orphan Choujin Jade in Nisei.
Kinnikuman was banned in France because of Brocken Jr.'s presence, as he was supposed to be a "good Nazi", which is seen by many to be an oxymoron. Likely for similar reasons, when the M.U.S.C.L.E. toy line was brought to America, Brocken was absent from the selection of figures, and was eliminated from the tie-in NES game and replaced with Geronimo. Although strangely, a character who looks like Brocken can be seen in the last panel of the story comic that came with large figure packs
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Buffaloman is a charging bull-themed Choujin and one of the Seven Akuma Choujin who were said to be too strong and brutal and banished to the ends of the universe. He is very large and has two curved horns called Long Horns on both sides of his head. His techniques and fighting style usually rely on his immense strength and power, but in tight situations he can lower his power in order to become faster. Additionally, he specializes in brutal fighting and has a spike on each knee. On the other side though, he is quite clever and will often lure his opponents into wasting stamina.
Depicted as a formidable opponent far more powerful than any other Choujin to appear before him, the concept of Choujin Kyoudo was introduced specifically to illustrate this. Buffaloman's Choujin Kyoudo is 10,000,000 Power, which is 10 times that of Warsman, Kinnikuman's greatest opponent before him. By the end of the series many Choujin who surpass 10,000,000 Power have appeared, but Buffaloman still boasts of his power and it is the only one treated as an advantage.
Though an Akuma Choujin, he normally fights very honorably and shows his opponents respect. During his fight with Kinnikuman his good heart is awakened, and he is revived as a Seigi Choujin after his first death.
Yudetamago have stated that Buffaloman is modeled after professional wrestler Bruiser Brody. In tribute to the larger Brody's tag team collaboration with the smaller Jimmy Snuka, Buffaloman is paired in tag matches with smaller characters like Springman and Mongolman.
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Meat is of Planet Kinniku's Churrasco Tribe whom was entrusted by his father Mince to Mayumi Kinniku of the Kinniku tribe for the greater good of the planet. Meat then is sent to Earth to retrieve the long lost prince Suguru Kinniku (Kinnikuman, known as Suguru Muscle in Ultimate Muscle).
He wears glasses and has the hiragana characters Niku (Meat) on his forehead. Also, although a member of the Churrasco Tribe, he has the Kinniku Clan's KIN Mark on his chest.
He serves as Kinnikuman's eyes and personal assistant. In the early days he and Kinnikuman frequently quarrel with one another, usually because of Kinnikuman cowardice and/or laziness. They would also often fight over Mari Nikaidou's affection.
Meat has two older sisters, the beautiful Medium Rare and the fat and ugly Kalbi Liver.
His glasses are his weakness, whenever they are broken he ceases to function. Also, when he presses his temple a bright light shines from the Niku characters on his forehead.
In Kinnikuman Nisei, he has cryogenically frozen himself, leaving him with an unchanged appearance, so as to serve Kinnikuman's son Mantaro Muscle (Mantaro Kinniku).
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Bibinba was the daughter of Horumon Yāki, the leader of the tribe who has intense hatred to their arch-enemy, the Kinniku clan. Hormone Yāki dispatches his daughter Bibinba to kill the heir to the Kinniku throne, Kinnikuman (who was visiting his parents on Planet Kinniku). Despite being very good in her attempts to kill Kinnikuman, Kinnikuman was just too silly and ignorant of his impending death to actually die. Most of Bibinba's attempts to kill him ended with Kinnikuman helping her which eventually led her to fall in love with him. She travelled back to Earth with Kinnikuman and Meat and was the cause for Mari leaving Japan.
While on Earth, Bibinba tries her best to be a good wife for Kinnikuman. She cleans for him, walks around wearing nothing but an apron, and cooks him okayu, her specialty. But Kinnikuman already depends on Meat for everything and only eats gyuudon, so she becomes upset and runs away. She finds find solace by joining the Earth Defense Force, which makes Kinnikuman jealous.
When Bibinba first shows up it is a one-sided love on her part and he finds her more annoying than cute. But by the time of the Seven Devil Chōjin Arc he seems to acknowledge her as his betrothed. During the Survivor Match for the Kinniku Throne, he showed great concern for her when she threw herself from the stands and later admits that he believes they are bound by the red string of fate. Bibinba is for the most part left out of the anime, and Mari, whom had always shown more interest in Meat, becomes his main love interest.
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Mari Nikaidō, a teacher at Suminoe Kindergarten who Meat had a crush on but who inexplicably falls for Kinnikuman. When Bibinba arrives, she feels overshadowed by her and gives up on Kinnikuman, going overseas to study. However in the anime, she ends up becoming Suguru's love interest.
In Kinnikuman II Mari has returned to Japan and has an adopted daughter named Rinko who is the love interest of Kinniku Mantaro.
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Mayumi & Sayuri Kinniku are Suguru's parents. Mayumi is the 57th King of Planet Kinniku and is a former Choujin Olympic V2 Champion as well as a Universal Grappling Champion. He has a fierce and long-standing rivalry with Harabote Muscle (the future chairman of the Choujin Legeau), and the two of them frequently appear in Exhibition Matches which are unpopular with the younger fans.
Although Sayuri is embarrassed by how he sometimes behaves, the two are very much in love with one another. Much to her annoyance, the only food he knows how to cook is curry.
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Harabote Muscle is the rival and close friend of Mayumi Kinniku, whom he refers to as Mayumi-chan (as if they were children). He serves as the chairman of the Chōjin Committee, which oversees all Chōjin activity in the universe. However, he is not very well respected by the Chōjin community. He was at one time a Chōjin Wrestler and had obstructed Mayumi's quest for Chōjin Olympic V3 by winning the 11th Olympics. Also in those days, he had long hair.
As chairman, he oversees all the matches and tournaments that take place within the series and will sometimes serve as referee. He was also the moderator of Kinnikuman's coronation and later the Survivor Match for the Kinniku Throne. He spends most of his times talking and watching the matches with Mayumi, particularly in the earlier chapters, where they provide much of the series' comic relief.
Though initially impressed with Kinnikuman's abilities, he soon becomes annoyed with his moronic personality and becomes disappointed whenever he advances in tournaments.
In Kinnikuman Nisei, his Chōjin Committee status has fallen, apparently because his management skills have deterioated with age. He also seems to have a personal vendetta against Kinnikuman's son, Mantarō Kinniku. Afterwards, he hands his chairman position over to his son, Ikemen Muscle.
In the English adaptation of Ultimate Muscle, Harabote is renamed Vance McMadd as a parody of WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) owner Vince McMahon, and the federation is renamed the Intergalactic Wrestling Federation (IWF). His children Ikeman and Jacqueline are based loosely on Shane and Stephanie McMahon.
Even though the family name Kinniku was changed to "Muscle" in the English versions, Harabote is not related to Muscle/Kinniku wrestling family.