Daimajin Kanon (大魔神カノン) is a Japanese tokusatsutelevision drama produced by Kadokawa Pictures and broadcast on TV Tokyo.[1] The series premiered on April 2, 2010. The series retells the story of the original Daimajin film in a modern Japanese setting. Consisting of 26 episodes, the series was prefaced by a manga by Seijuro Mizu (jp) in Young Ace magazine. Writing for the series is shared by Shinji Ōishi and Naruhisa Arakawa.
Episodes
Each episode of the series has its own unique kanji, but they are all read as "Kanon".
Ikki (イッキ): Keisuke Watanabe (夛留見 啓助, Tarumi Keisuke) (jp)
Shinya (シンヤ, Shin'ya): Dai Yoshimi (好美 大, Yoshimi Dai)
Production
At the acquirement of Daiei Film properties from Tokuma Shoten, Kadokawa president Kazuo Kuroi (jp) originally announced to produce a Daimajin project along with Godzilla vs. Gamera,[2] which followed Yasuyoshi Tokuma's attempt to produce a crossover with Gamera and Godzilla before his death in 2000,[3][4] however the proposals were eventually turned down by Toho. Gamera the Brave was instead produced in 2006, however its box office returns resulted in cancellation of subsequent Gamera productions and a Daimajin project by Takashi Miike.[5][6] The scrapped Daimajin film by Miike was eventually redeveloped into Daimajin Kanon,[5] while Miike made Daimajin to appear in his 2021 film The Great Yokai War: Guardians, along with Gamera appeared in its spinoff novel.[7]
In the early stage of production of Daimajin Kanon, Noriaki Yuasa, known for his involvements in various tokusatsu productions especially the Gamera franchise, was appointed for the director of Daimajin Kanon. Other previously appointed staffs include Mamoru Sasaki as the writer, and multiple crews who have participated in Toei's Kamen Rider franchise.[8] Yuasa and Sasaki, along with Yoji Hashimoto, once attempted to produce a television series of Daimajin in 1960s, however it was cancelled due to budgetary problem and predictable storyline of the franchise,[9] and financial situation of Daiei Film which was further cornered by producing three Daimajin films in 1966.[10]
