Metal Kaiser (series)

is a Chinese tokusatsu television series co-produced by Tsuburaya Dream Factory and Shanghai Media Group (SMG).
This series is not a work of Tsuburaya Productions and was originally scheduled to begin filming in 2006.https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0ZrkZkmXRfkwLmSe4XsSSXimmwNHQfk4XVsT3BEgMB1Zevwp98f7RfnpwX2qGFvebl&id=219719471459194&locale=ja_JP However, due to funding issues, the production was later halted.
==Production==
In 2005, Tsuburaya Productions' then-president, Hideaki Tsuburaya, was removed from his position following an internal coup triggered by the commercial failure of the Ultra N Project. He decided to go to China to produce a tokusatsu series and established a film production company called "Tsuburaya Dream Factory". This company was restructured through "Tsuburaya Communications" and separated from Tsuburaya Productions.
At that time in China, Ultraman Tiga was being officially broadcast and had gained immense popularity. As a result, SMG collaborated with Tsuburaya Dream Factory, touting it as China's first original tokusatsu work, and launched the Metal Kaiser project. They began producing a 5-minute TV pilot for Metal Kaiser in early 2006.https://www.facebook.com/219719471459194/photos/pb.100031873286878.-2207520000/230804583684016/?type=3&locale=ja_JP Since the Chinese team was relatively inexperienced in special effects production, they hired several Japanese staff members who had worked on many Heisei Ultraman series to assist and teach the Chinese production team about filming and visual effects composition. After completing the television pilot, Metal Kaiser submitted a production application to the National Radio and Television Administration, initially planning for the series to have around 50 episodes.
In February 2007, Metal Kaiser received production approval, but the Chinese government stipulated that the project must be completed within six months, otherwise, a new production approval would be required. Consequently, the production company hired over 30 staff members from Japan to assist with the filming. However, due to low production efficiency and the mid-production death of lead director Masaki Harada, the series ceased production after the ninth episode due to a lack of funds. Hideaki Tsuburaya was unable to secure funding from his Chinese partners and decided to return to Japan to raise capital.
In 2008, Metal Kaiser was condensed to 13 episodes, and a new production approval was sought from the Chinese authorities. However, Japanese investors hesitated to invest in the series due to concerns over rampant piracy in China, and Hideaki Tsuburaya, lacking social trust, was unable to raise sufficient production funds.
In 2009, Hideaki Tsuburaya resumed negotiations after selling off personal assets and securing a 30 million yen investment from Fuji TV. The Chinese company responsible for editing the series, after being unpaid for a year, stated that they had seized the completed footage and claimed, "Unless the full payment for all 52 episodes is made as per the original contract, we will not allow the use of this material, and we can freely alter and broadcast the content." Despite pleas to reduce the series to 13 episodes, during the negotiations, all the funds and financing were exhausted. Ultimately, in 2010, the production of the series was forced to halt.
==Synopsis==
In the year 2056, in China, an evil aura pervades the land, giving rise to monsters and attracting aliens intent on invading Earth.
Amidst this crisis, Meimei, the fairy assistant to Master Shen Wang, entrusts a bracelet with magical powers to Yuan Dong, a member of SAM (Science Analyze Mission). Yuan Dong will use the power of the bracelet to transform into the giant "Metal Kaiser" and confront the monsters and aliens.
==Episodes==
No.	Title	Airdate
1 	 	October 2, 2014 (DVD)
2 	 	October 2, 2014 (DVD)
3 	 	October 2, 2014 (DVD)
==Appearances==
===Protagonist===
*Yuan Dong
===SAM===
*Lei Ting
*Milan Mi
*Xun Shan
*Cheng Shen
*You Qi
*Bai Li
*Wang Yuanbo
===Heroes===
*Azure Dragon Kaiser
===Kaiju===
*Enestan
*Demon Beast
*Invaing Alien Kaela
==Cast==
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*: https://www.cinemart.co.jp/article/news/20200930003250.html
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===Suit Actors===
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==Staff==
*Directors: Masaki Harada, Iwao Takahashi, Shinichi Kamisawahttps://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=658787207552416&set=a.219725844791890
*Photography: Yoshinari Hosho
*Lighting: Fumihiko Tamura
*Recording: Seiichiro
*Art: Akihiko Iguchi, Osamu Sasaki
*Action Director: Kenji Tanigaki
*Line Producer: Hank Tseng
*Assistant Directors: Junpei Shiokawa, Mayumi Shiraishi, Yasushi *Ochi, Keita Kado, Kaori Harimoto
*Assistant Director Support/Art Assistant: Ayu Hachimaki
*VE: Hisanori Takahashi
*Photography Assistant: Maki Sugiura
*Lighting Assistant: Rikiya Ueda
*Recording Assistant: Kaori Miyahara
*Art Assistant: Mitsayasu Hanaya
*Technical Cooperation: Shigeki Murayama (Ginza Sakuraya)
*Operator: Turtle Ship (Yoshinori Muraishi, Kenji Kawaguchi)
*CG Coordinator: Shun Mizutani
*Image Board/Costume Design: Kiyoshi Okuyama
*Background Art: Nisenroku Shimakura
*Assistant Action Director/Stunt Double: Junya Iwamoto
*Character Maintenance: Hiroyuki Fujise, Kazuaki Fukuda
==Home Media==
In October 2014, the partially completed episodes were compiled into a DVD with Japanese subtitles. This DVD was released in Japan under the title "Directed by Masaki Harada," and it only included the first three episodes.
Metal Kaiser dvd.jpg
==Gallery==
===Images===
Metal Kaiser 1.jpg
Metal Kaiser 2.jpg
Metal Kaiser 3.jpg
File:Metal Kaiser bannner.png
===Stills===
Metal Kaiser Stills 14.jpg
Metal Kaiser Stills 2.jpg|SAM
Metal Kaiser Stills 13.jpg
Metal Kaiser Stills 3.jpg
Metal Kaiser Stills 1.jpg|Enestan
Metal Kaiser Stills 11.jpg|Devil Beast
Alien Kaela.jpg|Alien Kaela
Metal Kaiser Stills 4.jpg|Earth Dragon
Metal Kaiser Stills 5.jpg
Metal Kaiser Stills 6.jpg
Metal Kaiser Stills 7.jpg
Metal Kaiser Stills 8.jpg
Metal Kaiser Stills 9.jpg
Metal Kaiser Stills 10.jpg
Metal Kaiser Stills 12.jpg
===Behind-the-scenes===
Metal Kaiser Behind scenes 1.jpg
Metal Kaiser Behind scenes 2.jpg
Metal Kaiser Behind scenes 3.jpg
Metal Kaiser Behind scenes 4.jpg
Metal Kaiser Behind scenes 5.jpg
Metal Kaiser Behind scenes 6.jpg
Metal Kaiser Behind scenes 7.jpg
Metal Kaiser Behind scenes 8.jpg|Speeder Fox
File:Metal kaiser kaiju.png|Metal Kaiser Kaiju Concept Art 
==Trivia==
*Hideaki Tsuburaya later described the process from the planning to the failure of the series in his 2013 book, "Ultraman is crying Tsuburaya Pro's failure."
*Junpei Shiokawa, who was involved in the production, later opened an unofficial fan page for the series on Facebook, showcasing the list of production staff, photos, and some articles. According to information he revealed on that page, many staff members not only did not receive payment but also had their personal belongings and property seized in the studio.https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100031873286878
*Some of the monster costumes seized by the Chinese side were later used in the Chinese romantic drama iPartment II and the special effects hero program Armor Hero and Golden Hero.
*Kaera's laugh would later be reused for the Ultraman X kaiju Greeza.
==References==
Category:Productions
Category:Series
Category:Heisei Series
Category:Non-Ultraman Series
Category:Unaired Episodes