Lightspeed Esper
Lightspeed Esper is a Japanese Live Action superhero TV series from the 1970's. It is about a boy named Ikaru who is chosen to wear a supersuit so he can battle alien invaders.
Originally created to be Toshiba's mascot, it also had a Manga by Leiji Matsumoto.
Although fairly obscure, the series was broadcast in many countries in the 70s, including in Latin America.
Needs More Love, especially character names and production details.
Tropes used in Lightspeed Esper include:
- Clothes Make the Superman: a special spacesuit.
- The Faceless: Ikaru's parents (in their real forms.)
- Get Up Go to School Save The World
- Jet Pack: How Esper flies.
- Kid Hero
- Mascot: For the Toshiba Electronics company.
- Mission Control: The scientists who created the suit monitor it while in action and give advice when needed.
- Monster of the Week
- Ray Gun: Esper has two.
- Robot Buddy: Esper has a talking robot parrot named Shikar.
- Secret Keeper: Ikaru's parents know he's a hero, but he doesn't know they know. He also doesn't know that they're actually aliens in disguise! (They accidentally killed the real ones, and took their place to atone for it.)
- Super Wrist Gadget: Esper wears a communication wrist watch.
- Transformation Sequence: Sort of; tIkaru only needs to say "Space suit, come to me!" and it flies to him and wraps around him.
- Word Salad Title: Esper doesn't have ESP, nor can he fly at the speed of light.