Produced by Toei Company and Ishimori Productions, it was broadcast on NET (now TV Asahi) from May 12, 1973 to March 30, 1974, with a total of 46 episodes.

The noted robotics expert Dr. Kohmyoji created a powerful android to protect Japan from evil forces.

Professor Gill had designed a powerful robot and had tattooed the plans onto his two sons: Akira and his brother Hiroshi.

While normally in Hakaider form, they can transform into Ghostbots or combine into Gattaider with numerous powers include flight, body missiles called the Death Missile, teleportation, the weapons of the Hakaiders, and a mentally controlled boomerang on the left shoulder.

Released on DVD in Hawaii by JN Productions/Generation Kikaida in 2008 Kikaider 01, along with Kikaider, Inazuman, and Zubat made an appearance in OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders (オーズ・電王・オールライダー：レッツゴー仮面ライダー, Ōzu Den'ō Ōru Raidā: Rettsu Gō Kamen Raidā) in commemoration of the Toei Company's 60th Anniversary in 2011.