is a Japanese TV series produced by Toei Company in 1960. Broadcast on NET, it was sponsored by Panasonic, then known as Matsushita Electric, to promote the National brand. Although not very famous in Japan, the series has obtained cult status in Brazil, where it was very popular.
Plot
National Kid is a messenger from the Andromeda Galaxy thirty thousand light-years away, who is immortal and protects the Earth from invaders. His alter ego on Earth is —or Massao Hata in the Brazilian dub—the son and apprentice of the world-renowned scientist, Dr. Masachika Hata, who holds his practice in a suburb of Tokyo. His powers include superhuman strength and flight. National Kid also carries the which was similar to the flashlight sold by Matsushita. Hata raises five orphan children, which try to help investigating the strange phenomena in the series. When in danger, the kids call National Kid to rescue them via the , a National radio transmitter.
Story arcs
The National Kid series comprises four story arcs through 39 episodes.
The first arc lasted 13 episodes. The story has National Kid defending the Earth from the Incas, an alien race who arrive from the planet Venus.
Concerned that the effects of nuclear tests on Earth could spread through space, the Incas invade and unleash massive UFO attacks on Japan. They worship a God called "Abika," with altars also furnished in their ship. They also release a virus in which National Kid struggles to find a cure. The hero flies into the mountains and uses his Eroruya Ray Gun to blow apart some boulders in order to uncover some rare minerals that helped in creating a remedy for the virus' effects. The remainder of the episodes primarily had National Kid saving children and himself from Inca attacks.
(Inca Venusian captain) - played by Yoshiko Nogawa
Vemana and Kabia's boss. Act's cruelly, but speaks in very polite words. (Inca Venusian executive) - played by Akira Katayama (Inca Venusian executive) - played by Ichi Kubo
The second story arc ran 9 episodes. Already using new techniques including blue screen, the special effects are significantly improved over the first story's efforts. This time National Kid battles an army of oceanic creatures called the .
The Undersea People- ancient coelacanth fish that had evolved into human beings- declare war on the surface world. The Undersea People are uniformed in long black robes with triangular hoods. They have faces like a Komodo dragon, and their bodies are similar to the Creature from the Creature from the Black Lagoon movies. The Undersea People come to the surface world riding in an anglerfish-shaped submarine named Guilton, which was built in their undersea city 10,000 m below depth, causing seismic waves destroying naval ships.
- played by Akira Katayama
- played by Nobuyuki Ezawa
- played by Haruni Kubo
The third story arc ran 8 episodes. Ichirō Kojima leaves the series, and Hidetarō Tatsumi takes over the role of National Kid until the series' end. In this arc, National Kid takes on armed forces from beneath the Earth's surface. The Underground People are looking for the formula to a rare element that will give them supreme power. Once again UFOs attack Japan killing civilians.
(Underground People) - played by Koji Matsuyama
The last story arc ran 9 episodes. A space boy named Taro accidentally falls to Earth. Then Taro's father mistakenly threatens the destruction of Tokyo and unleashes the giant monster Gyabura for his boy's blunder. Taro befriends Hata's students, and tells his father Earth is a peaceful planet. After this final threat, Ryusaku Hata reveals he is the Earth's hero National Kid and returns to Andromeda.
Main cast
The cast members of National Kid were: Ichirō Kojima: Ryusaku Hata/ National Kid (episodes 1-22) Hidetarō Tatsumi: Ryusaku Hata/ National Kid (episodes 23-39) Taeko Shimura: Hisako (Chako) Obata Shiko Saito: Dr. Mizuno Isamu Yamaguchi: Dr. Yamada Chiyoko Honma: Tsuneko Yamada Taku Fukushima, Hideyo Kimura, Toru Shimizu, Kazuo Hara, Midori Okada: , Yukio, Tomohiro, Kurazo, Goro, and Kyoko
For the Brazilian version, voices were dubbed in Portuguese by: Emerson Camargo: National Kid Cristina Camargo: Thiako Maria Inês: Goro Magaly Sanches: Kurazo Rafael Marques: Tomohiro Sônia Regina: Yukio Osmano Cardoso: Dr. Mizuno