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 also known as: Superman, Spaceman, Starman, Supergiant, Supah Jaianto |
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The Super Giant films
were a compilation science-fiction product of the Japanese Shin Toho film and television studio series 'Supah Jaianto' which ran from 1956 to 1959. Nine wide screen format episodes ( chapters ) were definitely made which were subsequently combined to produce four definitive films that were issued in the U.S.A. in 1964 with the hero known as 'Starman' but, as always, there is confusion as to the exact number of original episodic films produced.Super Giant was a costumed superhero ( played by Ken Utsui ) - a kind of Japanese equivalent to Superman. He successfully battled all manner of threats to the safety of the world from both Earth and Outer Space, usually with the assistance of children. The scripts and story-lines were intended for the Japanese market and so, as is unfortunately the case with so many overdubbed Japanese productions, the English version can be quite ( unintentionally ) hilarious in places. n.b. The film 'Prince of Space' aka 'Yusei Oji' aka 'The Star Prince' which was released in 1959 (Japan) and 1964 (US) also under the title 'Invaders From Space' is not a Super Giant film although it is somewhat similar in content. First, the episodes, then the films: |
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Episode
1
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Episode
2
Supah Jaianto aka Rescue From Outer Space 1956 - 52 mins Director: Teruo Ishii Producer: Mitsugi Okura Ken Utsui, Junko Ikeuchi, Minoru Takada, Ryo Iwashita, Minako Yamada, Utako Mitsuya |
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Episode
3
Kotetsu No Kyojin - Kaiseijin No Mayo aka Devils From The Planet aka Invaders From The Planets 1957 - 49 mins Directors: Koreyoshi Akasaka, Teruo Ishii and Akira Mitsuwa Producer: Mitsugi Okura Ken Utsui, Minako Yamada, Junko Ikeuchi, Minoru Takada, Ken Hayashi, Reiko Seto, Chisako Tahara, Akira Tamura |
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Episode
4
Kotetsu No Kyojin - Chikyu Metzubo Sunzen aka The Earth In Danger 1957 - 40 mins Directors: Koreyoshi Akasaka, Teruo Ishii and Akira Mitsuwa Producer: Mitsugi Okura Ken Utsui, Minako Yamada, Junko Ikeuchi, Minoru Takada, Ken Hayashi, Reiko Seto, Chisako Tahara, Akira Tamura |
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Episode
5 |
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Episode
6
Uchutei To Jinko Eisen No Gekitotsu aka The Destruction Of The Space Fleet 1958 - 39 mins Director: Teruo Ishii Producer: Mitsugi Okura Ken Utsui, Utako Mitsuya, Ken Hayashi, Teruhisha Ikeda, Hiroshi Asami, Junko Ikeuchi, Minoru Takada |
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Episode
7
Uchu Kaijin Shutsugen aka Spacemen Appear 1958 - 44 mins Director: Akira Miwa Producer: Mitsugi Okura Ken Utsui, Chisako Tawara |
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Episode
8
Akuma No Keshiin aka The Devil Incarnate 1959 - ? mins Director: Chogi Akasaka Producer: ? Ken Utsui, Reiko Seto |
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Episode
9
Dokuga Okoku aka Kingdom Of The Poison Moth 1959 - ? mins Director: Chogi Akasaka Producer: ? Ken Utsui, Terumi Hoshi |
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Note:
It is possible that another three episodes were made during 1959 but
it cannot be confirmed whether or not these films were part of the Super
Giant series:
Araumi No Oja Director: Tetsu Taguchi Ken Utsui, Naoko Kubo Gonin No Hanzaisha Director: Teruo Ishii Ken Utsui, Yoko Mihara Jotai Sambashi aka Red Piers Director: Teruo Ishii Ken Utsui, Akemi Tsukushi   The Films |
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Super
Giant I
aka The Appearance Of Super Giant 1964 - 85 mins Black and White, dubbed in English Director: Teruo Ishii Producer: Mitsugi Okura Ken Utsui, Junko Ikeuchi, Minoru Takada, Ryo Iwashita, Minako Yamada, Utako Mitsuya The evil leaders of the planet Sapphire send agents to spy on Earth prior to attack. Alien forces friendly towards Earth send Super Giant to save us. This feature was an edited combination of episodes 1 and 2 |
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Supergiant
II
aka The Atomic Rulers Of The World aka Attack Of The Flying Saucers 1964 - 83 mins Black and White, dubbed in English Directors: Koreyoshi Akasaka, Teruo Ishii and Akira Mitsuwa Producer: Mitsugi Okura Ken Utsui, Minako Yamada, Junko Ikeuchi, Minoru Takada, Ken Hayashi, Reiko Seto, Chisako Tahara, Akira Tamura  American gangsters plan to hold Japan to ransom with an A-bomb but are foiled by the superhero. This feature was an edited combination of episodes 3 and 4 |
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Super
Giant Against The Satellites
aka Attack From Space aka Invaders From Space 1964 - 79 mins Black and White, dubbed in English Director: Teruo Ishii Producer: Mitsugi Okura Ken Utsui, Utako Mitsuya, Ken Hayashi, Teruhisha Ikeda, Hiroshi Asami, Junko Ikeuchi, Minoru Takada
This feature was an edited combination of episodes 5 and 6 |
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The
Brain From Outer Space
aka The Evil Brain From Outer Space 1964 - 146 mins Black and White, dubbed in English Directors: Chogi Akasaka and Akira Miwa Producer: Mitsugi Okura and ? Ken Utsui, Terumi Hoshi, Chisako Tawara, Reiko Seto The living brain of an evil dictator is brought to Earth by a bunch of criminals and mutants with the intention of setting up a base from which to conquer and rule the galaxy. This feature was apparently an edited combination of episodes 7, 8 and 9 |