SFX Giant Legend: Line (SFX巨人伝説ライン, SFX Kyojin Densetsu Rain), titled Line the Barbarian in English, is an independent OVT and Kyodai Hero series produced between 1990 and 2002 by veteran director/producer Yutaka Arai, with a total of 13 episodes, some of them being repeatedly altered over time. The series is about Line, a giant alien superhero similar in appearance to Ultraman, the only difference is that Line is silver and blue (as opposed to silver and red), and has a streamlined costume with musculature and a sharper alien-like face. Like Ultraman and his kin, Line fights assorted rampaging giant monsters. The series features guest appearances by Hurricane Ryu,[1] Yukijirō Hotaru[2] and Eiichi Kikuchi.[3]

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the series in 2010, a digitally remastered edition was released on 3 DVDs, which is presented in widescreen, color corrected and provides additional scenes.

The series was also dubbed and released on VCD in Thailand. In Japan, the series was reissued on DVD on March 25, 2019. The reissues are presented in a single-length movie format rather than a show with individual episodes.

Episode list

Original episodes:

  1. "Burning Heart" (1987)[4]
  2. "Survivor" (1989)[5]
  3. "Self Control" (1990)[6]
  4. "Stranger" (1991)[7]
  5. "Soldier" (1992)[8]
  6. "Savior" (1996)[9]

Specials:

  1. "Line vs. Aqua" (1991)

2003 VHS/DVD release:

  1. "Self Control"[10]
  2. "The Monster Searchline"[11]
  3. "The SAM Attack Cease Command" [12]
  4. "Decisive Battle MM21" [13]
  5. "The Seaside Capital Defense Directive"
  6. "Stand By Me"
  7. "The Great Monster Fierce Battle!!!"
  8. "The Woman That Came from the Cold Country"
  9. "The Star-Mark Shell"
  10. "The Illusionary All-Out War" (Part 1)
  11. "The Illusionary All-Out War" (Part 2)
  12. "Martial Law in Tokyo!"
  13. "Conflict of the Giant Gods!"

On the 2010 renewal edition, the "Illusionary All-Out War" two-part episodes were cut together.

DVD release dates

Original sale/rental release:

2010 remastered edition:

2019 reprint:

References

  1. ^ Appears in the original 2 episodes, "Burning Heart" & "Survivor".
  2. ^ Appears in episode 13, "Conflict of the Giant Gods!"
  3. ^ Appears in episode 13, "Conflict of the Giant Gods!"
  4. ^ Produced by DREAM MAKE, released on VHS as "SFX Legend Line Vol.1" by ARSA in 1989.
  5. ^ Produced by DREAM MAKE, released on VHS as "SFX Legend Line Vol.1" by ARSA in 1989.
  6. ^ Released on VHS as "SFX Legend Line Vol.2" by Rapid Progress in 1990.
  7. ^ Released on VHS as "SFX Legend Line Vol.3" by Rapid Progress in 1991.
  8. ^ Produced in 1992, released on VHS as "SFX Legend Line Vol.4" by Rapid Progress in 1993.
  9. ^ Broadcast as part of the "Amateur Visual Shock G" program on Yokohama Cable TV.
  10. ^ Originally released as episode 3.
  11. ^ Re-edited version of "Stranger".
  12. ^ Re-edited version of "Soldier".
  13. ^ Re-edited version of "Savior".

External links

Category