Space Ironmen Kyodyne was a Japanese tokusatsu science fiction superhero television series. The show, like numerous others of its type and era, were produced as a joint effort between manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori and Toei Company producer Hirayama Tôru. It premiered in 1976 and ran for 48 episodes. The show is well known for its strange plot and costume design, rapid-fire and purposefully disorienting editing, and unique, sometimes surreal, atmosphere. The late Yūsuke Natsu and Takeshi Sasaki starred as Skyzel and Grounzel respectively.
The plot of the program involves an alien empire from the planet "Dada" called the "Robot Army Corps". When they kidnap a human scientist, Dr. Hayami, and two of his three sons and force him to improve their technology, he has no choice but to go along with them, despite his deep anger, resentment, and guilt.
One year later, their empire sufficiently advanced, the Robot Army Corps return to Earth, ready to put their plans into action—however, two unknown robots charge in and stop their invasion cold. It is then revealed that Dr. Hayama programmed the personalities of his two kidnapped sons, Joji and Ryuji, into the two Cyberroids to combat the Robot Army and care for his youngest son, Kenji. Using their Cyber Graphy to assume the forms of Joji and Ryuji, the older brother Skyzel and his younger brother Grounzel carry out Dr. Hayami's wish as the Kyodain.