Mikazuki is a six-part miniseries made for Japanese television. It tells the story of Kazeo, a young boy whose life is saved by the appearance of the giant robot Mikazuki during a monster attack. When it is discovered that the boy has the unique ability to pilot the robot in battle, he becomes a member of the AIT team. AIT is dedicated to protecting the Earth from Idea-Monsters (Idom). These creatures are the manifestations of people's thoughts, and often appear in unthreatening (even humorous) forms before transforming into vicious monsters. The show combines elements of Japanese giant robot shows (in which young boys and teenage girls wield weapons of mass destruction), daikaiju eiga (like Godzilla), and Sentai series (Power Rangers in the U.S.) into a visually exciting and emotionally resonant package. Following are brief plot synopses of the episodes:

“The Mysterious Giant, Mikazuki, Appears” (Ep. 1): While young Kazeo evades bullies in the streets of Tokyo, a giant slice of watermelon (!) appears in the sky. Severely damaged by the Moonlight Machine (a giant robot resembling a vintage toy), the fruity menace morphs into a menacing monster. This Biollante / Orga hybrid then battles Mikazuki, who has been summoned by the cries of the endangered Kazeo.

"The Door That Wouldn't Open" (Ep. 2): The evil Yuzo Hun, who brings the Idom to life, uses the anguish of a serial killer to manifest a dragon-like door monster. Kazeo learns a valuable lesson from Saori Izumi, the female AIT member who seems to become his mentor.

Year: 2000
Country: Japan
Credited Cast: Naomi Amamiya, Aki Hano, Yukijiro Hotaru, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Kenpachiro Satsuma, Wakana Yamazaki and Sayaka Yoshino
Directed by: Keita Amamiya, Yumiko Awaya, Yoshinori Kitase
Writing Credits: Kouze Ide and Hajime Matsumoto

Also Known As:

* TEKKOKI MIKAZUKI

NOTES ON THIS EDITION:

* Uncut Version

Media Format: DVD-R
Regional Code: 0 (All Regions/Countries).
Video Format: NTSC (North America/Japan)
Language: Japan.
Subtitles: English.
Audio: Stereo.
Picture Format: Full Screen.
Other: Interactive Menus, Chapter Selection.

Video Source Quality Rating: A+