The year is 2087. An alien biomechanical force called the Radam has invaded Earth, and their warriors — the Tekkamen, humans fused with alien symbiotes into near-invincible armored fighters — are tearing through every defense humanity can mount. The Space Knights, Earth's orbital defense unit, are losing. Then a wounded stranger calling himself Blade crashes into their operations, and reveals he can transform into a Teknoman — one of the very creatures they've been fighting. He has no memory of who he is, but he knows he wants to protect Earth, and he knows his opponents. What Blade is hiding — and why the other Tekkamen react to him with recognition rather than simple hostility — is a personal history far darker than the Space Knights anticipate, and one that will force Blade to fight not just an alien invasion but his own family. Space Knight Tekkaman Blade is a 49-episode mecha action series produced by Tatsunoko Production, directed by Hiroshi Negishi — who would go on to direct Tenchi Universe. The score was composed by Kaoru Wada, who also scored the City Hunter films, the Inuyasha movies, and Puppet Princess. The series aired on TV Tokyo in Japan from February 1992 to February 1993. Saban Entertainment licensed the series for North American broadcast, producing a re-edited 43-episode English adaptation renamed Teknoman that aired on UPN Kids in 1995 with significant content edits including combined episodes, removed violence, and altered storylines. Media Blasters released the Saban dub on DVD across three collections. Note: the uncut original Japanese version was never dubbed into English and is not included on these releases — all 3 Media Blasters DVD collections present the 43-episode Saban English dub only. We have a listing for the sequel OVA, Tekkaman Blade II with the original Japanese audio with subtitles!Notable Staff & Voice Talent Director: Hiroshi Negishi (Tenchi Universe, Burn Up W, Moldiver, Tenchi in Love, Tenchi Forever)Screenplay: Mayori Sekijima & Satoru Akahori (Knights of Ramune, Sorcerer Hunters, Magic Knight Rayearth)Original Franchise Creator: Tatsunoko Production Planning OfficeStudio: Tatsunoko Production (Gatchaman, Speed Racer, Casshern, SoulTaker)Music: Kaoru Wada (City Hunter films, Inuyasha films, Puppet Princess) Japanese Cast (original Space Knight Tekkaman Blade — not dubbed):- Toshiyuki Morikawa as D-Boy / Tekkaman Blade (Descendants of Darkness, Tekkaman Blade II, Noir additional cast)- Megumi Hayashibara as Aki Kisaragi (Slayers, Evangelion, Gestalt, Tenchi in Love, Love Hina, Paprika, Tekkaman Blade II)- Barbara Goodson as Star / Noal (English dub — Tenchi Movie 2: Daughter of Darkness, Love Hina Christmas Special, RG Veda, Akira both dubs) English Dub Cast (Saban / Teknoman version):- Ardwight Chamberlain as Blade / D-Boy- Barbara Goodson as Star Summers (Tenchi Movie 2: Daughter of Darkness, Love Hina Christmas Special, RG Veda, Akira)- Mona Marshall as Ringo Richards (Steel Angel Kurumi, Mahoromatic, Ninja Cadets, Kurogane Communication, Tenchi in Tokyo)- Steve Kramer as Commander Jamison (Shinesman, Akira both dubs, Ghost Talker's Daydream, Demon Fighter Kocho, Desert Punk) DVD Features (Media Blasters Collection 1) - Episodes 1–14 — English Dub Only (Saban/Teknoman version)- Media Blasters / Anime Works Previews- Note: English dub only — uncut original Japanese version not included. Collection 2 (eps 15–29) and Collection 3 (eps 30–43) also available. Complete Collection (3-disc litebox, all 43 eps) released May 13, 2008. Spoken Languages: English Only (Saban/Teknoman English Dub) Edition Details Japanese Title: 宇宙の騎士テッカマンブレード (Uchū no Kishi Tekkaman Burēdo / Space Knight Tekkaman Blade)North American Title: Teknoman (Saban Entertainment adaptation)Runtime: ~350 Minutes (Episodes 1–14, Saban 43-episode version)Director: Hiroshi NegishiDVD Release Year: 2006 (U.S. Release, May 30 — Media Blasters / Anime Works, Collection 1 of 3); Complete Collection May 13, 2008Original Broadcast Date (Japan): February 18, 1992 – February 2, 1993 (TV Tokyo)Publisher: Media Blasters (Anime Works)Rating: 7+Region: Region 1 (U.S. / Canada)Genre: Action, Mecha, Science Fiction, SuperheroThemes: Alien Invasion, Human-Alien Fusion Warriors, Amnesiac Hero, Family Among Enemies, Saban Adaptation Media assumed VG+ unless otherwise noted.
