8 Man
エイトマン (8 Man)
Genre	Science fiction
TV anime
Directed by	Haruyuki Kawajima
Studio	Nippon Animation
Network	TBS
Original run	7 November 1963 – 31 December 1964
No. of episodes	56

8 Man (8マン) or Eightman (エイトマン) is a fictional manga and anime superhero created in 1963 by writer Kazumasa Hirai and artist Jiro Kuwata. He is considered Japan's earliest cyborg superhero, predating even Kamen Rider (the same year, Shotaro Ishinomori created Cyborg 009), and was supposedly the inspiration for RoboCop. Image File history File links 8man-oldanime. ... Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... See TV (disambiguation) for other uses and Television (band) for the rock band European networks National In much of Europe television broadcasting has historically been state dominated, rather than commercially organised, although commercial stations have grown in number recently. ... // A scene from Cowboy Bebop (1998) Anime ), which is short for the English word animation, in the western world most popularly refers (but not limited) to the medium of animation originating in Japan, with distinctive character and background aesthetics that visually set it apart from other forms of animation (e. ... Tokyo Broadcasting System, Incorporated ) (TYO: 9401 ) or TBS, is a television network in Tokyo, Japan. ... November 7 is the 311th day of the year (312th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 54 days remaining. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... For other uses, see Manga (disambiguation). ... // A scene from Cowboy Bebop (1998) Anime ), which is short for the English word animation, in the western world most popularly refers (but not limited) to the medium of animation originating in Japan, with distinctive character and background aesthetics that visually set it apart from other forms of animation (e. ... Superman and Batman, two of the most recognizable and iconic superheroes. ... Jiro Kuwata (桑田二郎, alternatively 桑田次郎), born on April 17, 1935, is a mangaka (manga artist). ... Seven of Nine, a Borg in Star Trek: Voyager The term cyborg, a portmanteau of cybernetic organism, is used to designate an organism which is a mixture of organic and mechanical (synthetic) parts. ... Kamen Riders One (right) and Two (left), the heroes of the original Kamen Rider series Kamen Raidaa ) was a popular and successful Japanese tokusatsu television series created by Shotaro Ishinomori. ... Shotaro Ishinomori (石ノ森章太郎 Ishinomori Shôtarô), (January 25, 1938- January 28, 1998) was an influential figure in manga, anime and tokusatsu who created several long-running series such as Cyborg 009 and Kamen Rider (Japans answer to Spider-Man). ... Cyborg 009 (サイボーグ００９) is a manga created by Shotaro Ishinomori and serialized in the manga magazine Shonen Magazine and Shōjo Comic in Japan. ... RoboCop is a 1987 science fiction action movie, directed by Paul Verhoeven. ...

The manga was published in Shonen weekly magazine and ran from 1963 to 1966. The anime series, produced by Eiken/TCJ Animation, was broadcast on Tokyo Broadcasting System, and ran from November 17, 1963 to December 31, 1964, with a total of 56 episodes (plus the "farewell" special episode, "Goodbye, Eightman"). Shōnen. ... A collection of magazines A magazine is a periodical publication containing a variety of articles, generally financed by advertising and/or purchase by readers. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... Tokyo Broadcasting System, Incorporated ) (TYO: 9401 ) or TBS, is a television network in Tokyo, Japan. ... 17 November is also the name of a Marxist group in Greece, coinciding with the anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic uprising. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ...

The story

Murdered by criminals, Detective Yokoda's body is retrieved by Professor Tani and taken to his laboratory. There, Tani performs an experiment that has failed seven times in the past; Yokoda is the latest subject to have his life force transferred into an android body. For the first time, the experiment is successful. Yokoda is reborn as the armor-skinned android 8 Man, able to dash at impossible speeds, as well as shape-shift into other people. He shifts himself into Yokoda, this time christening himself as "Hachiro Azuma". He keeps this identity a secret, known only to Tani, and his police boss Chief Otsuka. Even his girlfriend Sachiko and friend Ichiro don't know he's an android. As 8-Man, Hachiro fights assorted crime (even bringing his murderers to justice) to uphold justice and save the innocent. The android Data, portrayed by Brent Spiner, from the TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation An android is a robot made to resemble a human, usually both in appearance and behaviour. ... Alternative meanings: vehicle armour, Armor (novel) A hoplite wearing a helmet, a breastplate and greaves (and nothing else). ... Shapeshifting, transformation or transmogrification is a change in the form or shape of a person, especially: a change from human form to animal form and vice versa a change in appearance from one person to another Shapeshifting is not considered scientifically or medically possible, but it is a common theme... Infant baptism (also called paedobaptism and pedobaptism), the baptism of the infant children of believers, is an ancient custom of much of Christianity, including the Roman Catholic church, the Orthodox churches, Anglicans, Lutherans, Presbyterians, and Methodists, to name a few. ...

The US version

In 1965, 8 Man was brought to the U.S. as 8th Man. Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized...

The characters were renamed as follows:

• Yokoda/Azuma/8 Man - Peter Brady/Tobor ("robot" spelled backwards)/8th Man
• Tani - Professor Genius
• Tanaka - Chief Thumblethumbs

Trivia

• Ralph Bakshi did the US Version's opening sequence.

Ralph Bakshi (October 29, 1938) is an American director of animated and occasionally live-action films. ...

1990s Revival

1991 video game

The 8 Man franchise was revived in the early 1990s by a live action film, video game and new animated series. Image File history File links 8man-vg. ... Image File history File links 8man-vg. ...

Video game

In 1991, small Japanese video game developer Pallas released a video game edition of Eight Man" for the Neo-Geo arcade and home video game system (both versions are identical) where the player took the role of 8 Man and his robo-comrade 9 Man in a fight against an invading evil robot army. The game was released internationally. While the game stayed true to the concept of a crime-fighting super-robot, it was widely panned for being tedious and relying too much on the gimmick of its speed-running effect. 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A computer game is a game composed of a computer-controlled virtual universe that players interact with in order to achieve a defined goal or set of goals. ... The original Neo-Geo console was greatly advanced for its time. ...

Live action movie

Kai Shishido as 8 Man in the 1992 film

In 1992, a live-action film version of 8 Man was produced in Japan. Titled Eitoman - Subete no sabishii yoru no tame, it was directed by Yasuhiro Horiuchi and starred Kai Shishido as the title character. Distributed in the United States by Fox Lorber video, the movie was widely panned for its choppy editing, mediocre direction and low-budget feel. Many modern American viewers, unfamiliar with the older animated series, felt the movie was an inferior version of RoboCop, despite the fact that the latter was a much more recent franchise. Image File history File links 8man-1992film. ... Image File history File links 8man-1992film. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... RoboCop is a 1987 science fiction action movie, directed by Paul Verhoeven. ...

8 Man After animated series

1993 cartoon

In the mid 1993, the mantle of 8 Man was taken up by Hazama Itsuru in the OVA series '8 Man After'. Existing in a world far more corrupt than his predecessor, the new 8 Man had no qualms about being extremely violent towards cybernetic criminals, who had murdered him previously. Image File history File links 8man-newanime. ... Image File history File links 8man-newanime. ... Original Video Animation (OVA) is an acronym used in Japan for anime titles that are released directly to retail sale, without prior showings on TV or in theaters. ...

External links

• 8 Man at the Internet Movie Database (1963)
• 8th Man at the Internet Movie Database (1965)
• 8 Man - Subete no sabishii yoru no tame ni at the Internet Movie Database (1992)
• 8 Man After at the Internet Movie Database (1993)
• Review of the video game version of 8 Man for Neo Geo, drawing comparisons with the greater canon