Guyferd

Produced by: Toho, Capcom

Air Date: 1996

Lenght: 26 Episodes, 24-25 minutes each.

A year after the end of Godzilla's Heisei Era, and the same year Rebirth of Mothra was released, TV Tokyo began airing a then new Henshin Hero series. One that borrowed a lot from it's predecessors.

Guyferd is a very archetypical show, to the point that it's escentially Kamen Rider BLACK with a new coat of paint. A young man and his brother are kidnapped by an evil organization, the former of which is implanted with cybernetics and an alien parasite, turning him into a powerful organic cyborg, who's design is a cross between an Ultraman and Guyver. With the support of a scientist, a young girl and her kid brother, he battles against the villains, monsters and henchmen that make up the organization that stripped him of his humanity.

Despite it's multitude of tropes, I don't find that this impides enjoyment, because Guyferd is extremely endearing. It's short lenght and storylines ensure that it won't overstay it's welcome for someone planning to watch the entirety of it. It may not be as complex or experimental as some of the Tokusatsu series that would begin airing only four years later, but it's well choreographed martial arts and grounded fight scenes could be a good palate cleanser for those who are tired of the overly flashy digital effects in late Heisei and Reiwa Era series.

That being said, the computer effects of Guyferd's transformation sequence have aged rather poorly, but his costume design, as well as those of the monsters he fights greatly compensates for it. Definetly worth watching if you're in a mood for a TV Show like this, but don't want to commit to watching 45 or more episodes. It is short and sweet.