# Tiger Mask (1969)

> A villainous masked wrestler reforms and becomes a hero to protect the orphanage that raised him.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/23143

## Facts

- Seasons: 2
- Episodes: 138
- Episode runtime: 23 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: animation, drama, action, adventure
- Created by: Ikki Kajiwara
- Network: YTV
- Cast: Kei Tomiyama, Katsuji Mori, Chisato Nakajima, Keiichi Noda
- TMDB rating: 7.3/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0206516/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: moderate
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: mild
- Tone: earnest, sincere, tense, uplifting

## Synopsis

Tiger Mask (1969-1982) is a Japanese animated sports drama series created by Ikki Kajiwara and produced by Toei Animation for YTV. Naoto Date, a former villainous masked wrestler, reforms and takes on the identity of Tiger Mask to protect the orphanage in which he was raised. Voiced by Kei Tomiyama, with Katsuji Mori taking over the role for a stretch of episodes, Naoto faces rival wrestlers who fight dirty, and each bout becomes a serialized morality play where an outsider hero battles corruption inside the ring. The show runs across two seasons and 138 episodes, with a case of the week rhythm of matches building into a longer arc of redemption. Its tone mixes earnest sincerity with high-stakes wrestling spectacle, and the orphanage gives the drama a steady emotional anchor. Set in 1960s Japan, it carries the classic shounen spirit of perseverance and sacrifice. Fans of Ashita no Joe and Kinnikuman will find resonance in its underdog fights and masked hero mythology.

## Shows like Tiger Mask

- [Baki the Grappler (2001)](https://ember.film/tv/50570)
- [Ultimate Muscle: The Kinnikuman Legacy (2002)](https://ember.film/tv/8855)
- [Attack Number One (1969)](https://ember.film/tv/42017)
- [Fighting Spirit (2000)](https://ember.film/tv/38991)
- [Speed Racer (1967)](https://ember.film/tv/28567)
- [TIGER & BUNNY (2011)](https://ember.film/tv/36409)
- [Great Mazinger (1974)](https://ember.film/tv/8481)
- [Kaiju No. 8 (2024)](https://ember.film/tv/129701)
- [Heroman (2010)](https://ember.film/tv/38764)
- [Astro Boy (1980)](https://ember.film/tv/21225)

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