Hurricane Polymar

Hurricane Polymar
Cover art from the DVD release of Hurricane Polymar.
破裏拳ポリマー
(Hariken Porimā)
GenreSuperhero
Anime television series
Directed byHisayuki Toriumi
Written byJinzō Toriumi
Music byShunsuke Kikuchi
StudioTatsunoko Production
Original networkANN (NET)
Original run October 4, 1974[1] – March 28, 1975
Episodes26
Original video animation
New Hurricane Polymar
Directed byAkiyuki Shinbo
Produced byIppei Kuri
Hirotoshi Ogura
Kazuo Kogura
Written byHideki Kakinuma
Music byTatsumi Yano
StudioTatsunoko Production
Licensed by
Released September 21, 1996 – February 21, 1997[2]
Runtime30 minutes (each)
Episodes2

Hurricane Polymar (破裏拳ポリマー, Hariken Porimā) is a Japanese anime and OVA series produced by Tatsunoko Productions. The show was created by Tatsuo Yoshida, who had produced many of Tatsunoko's series. Other romanizations of the name include Hurricane Polymer and Hariken Polymar (since the latter is spelled using Japanese kanji). Hurricane Polymar is the secret identity of Takeshi Yoroi (鎧武士, Yoroi Takeshi). He wears a special suit which enables him to fight crime. The suit is made of memory plastic which enables him to assume any shape, including morphing its wearer into 5 different vehicles.[1]

A OVA remake was released in Japan on September 21, 1996, followed by episode 2 on February 21, 1997. It was later dubbed by New Generation Pictures, and was released in the United States by Urban Vision on VHS on October 1, 1998. It was re-released by Discotek Media on DVD on March 19, 2013.[3]

Anime Sols attempted to crowd-fund the release of the show on North American DVD, but was not successful.[4][5]

Overview

Plot

Onigawara, the director of the International Secret Police Agency, looked forward to making Takeshi a top-notch criminal investigator. Takeshi was given training, which turned him into an all-around sportsman as well as martial arts expert. However, Takeshi's attitude toward crime-fighting was so incompatible with Onigawara's, that he disowned him. For a while Takeshi investigated crime alone; then he became private detective Joe Kuruma's assistant and general handyman under the alias Takeshi Yoroi. Secretly, however, Takeshi obtained from a scientist a new artificial polymer, polymet, that was far stronger than steel. With this polymet Takeshi transformed himself into Hurricane Polymar, a costumed hero that fights for justice and to defeat various gangs.[6][7][8]

Characters

Abilities

Hurricane Polymar's main ability, aside from augmented strength and high-speed rotation, is transforming into one of five different vehicles. Polymar's suit can also last up to forty-six minutes and one second before having to transform back; if Takeshi does not reverse the transformation, he is in danger of dying from hyperthermia. Since the suit is powered by magnetism, it is vulnerable to high voltage and will also lose power in temperatures lower than −50 degrees Celsius. When inactive, the suit is disguised as Takeshi's motorcycle helmet.

Polymar's vehicles are:

  • Polymar Hawk (supersonic jet)
  • Polymar Grampus (submarine)
  • Polymar Drill (tank with twin drills)
  • Polymar Machine (formula-one race car)
  • Polymar Roller (steam roller)

Media

Anime

Episode list

# Episode name Original air date
01"Phantom Thieves: The Flying Squirrels"
Transliteration: "Kaitō musasabi tō" (Japanese: 怪盗むささび党[9])		October 4, 1974 (1974-10-04)
02"Deadly Assassin: The Red Scorpion"
Transliteration: "Ansatsuki benisasori" (Japanese: 暗殺鬼紅サソリ)		October 11, 1974 (1974-10-11)
03"Machine Gang: The Centipede Plan"
Transliteration: "Mekagyangu mukade sakusen" (Japanese: メカギャングむかで作戦)		October 18, 1974 (1974-10-18)
04"The Skull King: Rattlesnake"
Transliteration: "Toguro maō garagara hebi" (Japanese: とぐろ魔王ガラガラ蛇)		October 25, 1974 (1974-10-25)
05"Web-Spinning Devils: The Demon Spiders"
Transliteration: "Itoguru majin tsuchigumo" (Japanese: 糸ぐる魔人土ぐも)		November 1, 1974 (1974-11-01)
06"Machine Transformation: The Mole Thieves"
Transliteration: "Meka henka mogura tōzokudan" (Japanese: メカ変化もぐら盗賊団)		November 8, 1974 (1974-11-08)
07"The Bite-Bark Killers"
Transliteration: "Wanwan kamukira" (Japanese: わんわんカムキラー)		November 15, 1974 (1974-11-15)
08"Acid Machine: The Pitcher Plant"
Transliteration: "Yōkai mashin utsubōra" (Japanese: 溶解マシンウツボーラ)		November 22, 1974 (1974-11-22)
09"The Cat Demon Gang: Dancing in Darkness"
Transliteration: "Nekomadan yami ni odoru" (Japanese: 猫魔団闇に踊る)		November 29, 1974 (1974-11-29)
10"Electric Gang: The Jellyfish"
Transliteration: "Denmadan kuragera" (Japanese: 電魔団クラゲラー)		December 6, 1974 (1974-12-06)
11"Robo-Beast Gang: White Wolf"
Transliteration: "Meka kemono dan Howaitōurufu" (Japanese: メカ獣団ホワイトウルフ)		December 13, 1974 (1974-12-13)
12"Winged Humans: The Robo-Birdmen"
Transliteration: "Chōjin torimekaman" (Japanese: 鳥人トリメカマン)		December 20, 1974 (1974-12-20)
13"The Phantom Image: Misty Butterfly"
Transliteration: "Gen'ei oboro chō" (Japanese: 幻影おぼろ蝶)		December 27, 1974 (1974-12-27)
14"The Great Squeak Plan"
Transliteration: "Chūchū daisakusen" (Japanese: ちゅうちゅう大作戦)		January 3, 1975 (1975-01-03)
15"Lightning Phantom: Sparker Dale"
Transliteration: "Inazuma kaijin pikaderu" (Japanese: 稲妻怪人ピカデール)		January 10, 1975 (1975-01-10)
16"Monster Fish Pirate: Piracanth"
Transliteration: "jugyo kaizoku pirakansu" (Japanese: 獣魚海賊ピーラカンス)		January 17, 1975 (1975-01-17)
17"The Secret of Polymar's Birth"
Transliteration: "Porima tanjō no himitsu" (Japanese: ポリマー誕生の秘密)		January 24, 1975 (1975-01-24)
18"Peril at -50°C"
Transliteration: "Mainasu 50do no kiki" (Japanese: マイナス５０度の危機)		January 31, 1975 (1975-01-31)
19"Yama Devil: Stikatung"
Transliteration: "Enma kaijin berodasse" (Japanese: えん魔怪人ベロダッセ)		February 7, 1975 (1975-02-07)
20"Phantom Thieves: The Archer Fishmen"
Transliteration: "Kaitō teppōuojin" (Japanese: 怪盗てっぽう魚人)		February 14, 1975 (1975-02-14)
21"Bark Bark: A Disguise Battle"
Transliteration: "Konkon shichihenge" (Japanese: コンコン七変化)		February 21, 1975 (1975-02-21)
22"Demons of Vengeance: The Helmed Crickets"
Transliteration: "Fukushūki kerakabuto" (Japanese: 復讐鬼ケラカブト)		February 28, 1975 (1975-02-28)
23"Undersea Devils: The Water Kites"
Transliteration: "Kaitei majin uotonbi" (Japanese: 海底魔人ウオトンビ)		March 7, 1975 (1975-03-07)
24"The Magnificent Octomask"
Transliteration: "Kaiketsu tako kamen" (Japanese: 怪傑タコ仮面)		March 14, 1975 (1975-03-14)
25"Sea Turtle General: Tortishell"
Transliteration: "Umigame shōgun bekkōda" (Japanese: 海亀将軍ベッコーダー)		March 21, 1975 (1975-03-21)
26"Polymar's Final Battle"
Transliteration: "Porima saigo no kessen" (Japanese: ポリマー最後の決戦)		March 28, 1975 (1975-03-28)

Other media

In the second episode of the Time Bokan: Royal Revival OVA, Polymar appears alongside other the Tatsunoko heroes. A two-part anime OVA was created in the mid-1990s entitled Hurricane Polymar: Holy Blood featuring extremists that mutate into amphibious shark-like creatures. The OVA was intended to have three episodes, but was cancelled after the second, thus ending without a proper conclusion. Urban Vision initially released it on VHS in the late 1990s, but since then the U.S. DVD rights have gone to Discotek Media. Hurricane Polymar was featured in the PlayStation game Tatsunoko Fight with him and Teru (in a costume she wore in episode 15) as playable characters along with an original character named Astral Chameleon who is composed of the souls of the criminals that died in the series. Hurricane Polymar later appeared as a playable character in the Wii video game Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars.

Japanese cast (OVA)

English OVA cast

Episode list (OVA)

Both episodes written by Hideki Kakinuma [ja].

No.TitleDirected by [a]Storyboarded by [a]Animation director [a]Original air date
01"Holy Blood Vol.1"Akiyuki Shinbo[b]Akiyuki Shinbo[b]Tetsuo Sakurai[c]September 21, 1996 (1996-09-21)
02"Holy Blood Vol.2"Akiyuki Shinbo[b]Akiyuki Shinbo[b]Yasuomi Umetsu[d]
Masashi Ishihama [ja][e]		February 21, 1997 (1997-02-21)

Live-action film

A live-action film adaptation of anime was released on May 13, 2017. Koichi Sakamoto directed the film, while Shinsuke Onishi wrote the script.[11] Junpei Mizobata, Yuki Yamada, Yurina Yanagi, Mikie Hara, Hatsunori Hasegawa and Satoshi Jinbo starred in the film.[12][13][14] The theme song for this film is "Kanashimi Naki Sekai e" by Good Morning America.[15]

Crossover series

Main article: Infini-T Force

Infini-T Force is an anime series featuring a crossover between characters from Science Ninja Team Gatchaman, Casshan, Hurricane Polymar and Tekkaman: The Space Knight. The series is a co-production between Tatsunoko and Digital Frontier and aired from October 3 to December 26, 2017.

Notes

General notes

  1. ^ a b c Information is taken from the ending credits of each episode.
  2. ^ a b c d Uncredited.[10]
  3. ^ A pseudonym.
  4. ^ Character.
  5. ^ Mecha.

Works cited

  • Shinbo, Akiyuki (2012). 新房語 [Shinbogatari] (in Japanese). Ichijinsha. ISBN 978-4758012591.

References

  1. ^ a b c 破裏拳ポリマー. Tatsunoko Production (in Japanese). Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  2. ^ a b 新 破裏拳ポリマー. Tatsunoko Productions (in Japanese). Retrieved 2008-07-20.
  3. ^ "Discotek Adds Hurricane Polymar Original Video Anime". Anime News Network. 2012-08-12. Retrieved 2012-11-10.
  4. ^ "Anime Sols Hurricane Polymar - Episode 1". Animesols.com. Archived from the original on 2013-10-15. Retrieved 2013-10-12.
  5. ^ "Anime Sols Streams Hurricane Polymar Superhero TV Anime". Anime News Network. 2013-09-06. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  6. ^ "Tatsunoko Pro". Tatsunoko Productions. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  7. ^ "破裏拳ポリマー キャラクター". 2008-12-15. Archived from the original on December 15, 2008. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  8. ^ "破裏拳ポリマー ダイジェスト". 2008-04-24. Archived from the original on April 24, 2008. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  9. ^ "破裏拳ポリマー サブタイトルリスト". 2008-12-18. Archived from the original on December 18, 2008. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  10. ^ Shinbo 2012, p. 225.
  11. ^ "Hurricane Polymar Live-Action Film's Teaser Video Shows Junpei Mizobata in Costume". Anime News Network. December 1, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  12. ^ "Hurricane Polymar Live-Action Film's Video Reveals New Cast, May 13 Opening". Anime News Network. February 1, 2017. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  13. ^ "Tatsunoko Productions' Hurricane Polymar Anime Gets Live-Action Film". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
  14. ^ "「破裏拳ポリマー」実写映画化 主演は溝端淳平 タツノコプロ原作のSFアクションヒーロー | アニメ！アニメ！". アニメ！アニメ！. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
  15. ^ "Live-Action Hurricane Polymar Film's Trailer Reveals Nagareda Project Insert Song". Anime News Network. March 2, 2017. Retrieved March 7, 2021.