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Kaiketsu Zorro
快傑ゾロ (Extraordinary Zorro)
Genre	Historical, Adventure
TV anime
Director	Katsumi Minoguchi
Writer	Sukehiro Tomita
Studio	Ashi Productions
Network	NHK
Original run	May 4, 1996 – March 28, 1997
Episodes	52
Anime and Manga Portal

Kaiketsu Zorro (快傑ゾロ ^?, Lightning Speed Zorro) is a Japanese anime, based on the western character Zorro. 52 episodes were produced, however, only 46 were broadcast in Japan. The series became very popular in European countries, including Spain, the colonial power of the area in the story. The Japanese counterpart of zorro is kitsune.

Plot

Don Diego de la Vega returns from his study trip to discover his homeland is under the army's dictatorship. Diego, refusing to watch idly, disguises himself as Zorro to protect the weak and oppressed. Diego is not a coward but he is unable to win the affections of his sweetheart, Lolita Prideaux, who is attracted to other more noble men. Diego serenades Lolita as Zorro and fights the evils of his homeland, hoping to capture her heart.

Diego is accompanied by the silent Bernardo, a boy wearing a similar costume, dubbed "Little Zorro", and a small brown dog.

Main Characters

Don Diego de la Vega/Zorro

The main character of the series. When he is simply Diego he acts lazy and clumsy, usually showing cowardly, foolish and silly characteristics to hide his secret identity but as Zorro he is the best swordsman in the world. Diego (like his father) is always very calm and reasonable, unlike Lolita and Bernardo, that they are very hot-headed, stubborn and unreasonable.

Lolita Prideaux

The female protagonist of the series. Diego's spunky blond childhood friend and later became love interest. She's bossy over Diego but she loves Zorro.

Bernardo/Little Zorro

The co-protagonist of the series, an abandoned orphan found by Diego when he's still a baby. Diego adopted and took care of him as if he's his younger brother and even his son. As years passed, he helps Zorro by eavesdropping in other people's conversations and later develops an alter ego "Little Zorro". This role was popularized by pantomime comedian Gene Sheldon.

Commandant Raymond

The main antagonist of the series. The corrupt head officer of the Spanish Army in California. He is later killed by Zorro in a swordfight.

Lieutenant Gabriel

The second main antagonist of the series. An officer of the Spanish army who has an affection to Lolita. He is the right hand conspirator of Commandant Raymond on each of their evil plots in California. He is later killed by Sergeant Gonzales in a swordfight.

Don Alejandro de la Vega

Don Diego's Father.

Sergeant Pedro Gonzales

Stout sergeant who often serves as the comic relief, or the anti-villain. comparable to Johnston McCulley's character from 1920's The Mark of Zorro.

Episodes

1. The symbol of justice is “Z” !
2. Here comes Little Zorro!
3. Gabriel, the plotter!
4. Wake up my friend!
5. Father's Secret
6. A trap with a red jewel
7. An heiress to property
8. A guitar to kill
9. Let's find the pirate treasure!
10. Diego has become a ghost!
11. The adventure of little Zorro
12. Figaro, the stray dog
13. Little Zorro at full blast
14. The stagecouch is in danger!
15. Lolita's kiss
16. The sword for Japan
17. Zorro is cornered!
18. Diego, the clever detective
19. A house of tricky devices
20. The boy who seeks vengeance on Zorro
21. Fly, the wings of dreams!
22. Gonzales, the thief
23. The bride is a Spanish girl
24. Raymond, the enemy of the people
25. The clown in tears
26. Pepita, the liar
27. Romping madam and the little Zorro
28. Haunted ruins
29. Mona Lisa is crying
30. Gonzales in love
31. Wicked design of the South India trading company
32. The doctor is a drunkard
33. A terrible wooer
34. The order to kill Zorro
35. Gonzales in love again
36. Zorro was unmasked at last!
37. Diego has become a rascal
38. Lady inventor at full blast
39. The battle in the storm
40. My fair lady Zorro
41. Lolita, get your gun!
42. Trap by Ninja magic
43. Beauty and monster
44. Gabriel's rebellion
45. The legend of the divine wood
46. Zorro's head is cut off
47. Governor-general kidnapped
48. A righteous military officer
49. Farewell to the army
50. Blast off the demonic cannons!
51. Raymond: a prelude to the collapse
52. The sword of justice forever

Music

The series use two pieces of theme music. The japanese Opening theme is "ZORRO", and the japanese ending theme is "Chikai (誓い Oath)". Both songs are sung by the japanese vocalist Masaaki Endoh, and are used for the 46 episodes which aired in japan.

Trivia

• Despite the same name, Bernardo is very little, a side kick and not mute unlike his western counterpart.
• Diego/Zorro is blond and has no mustache unlike his western counterpart.
• Viento (Zorro's horse) is white unlike his western counterpart Tornado (who is a black horse).
• Lolita is blond unlike the black long hair of her western counterpart.

External links

• Office site

• Kaiketsu Zorro (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• Kaiketsu Zorro at the Internet Movie Database