The Magic Serpent

Did You Know?

• The film was released directly to television in the United States by American International Television in 1968.
• Shout! Studios released the film on Blu-ray as Dragon Showdown on February 27, 2024, as part of their Classic Tokusatsu Collection set.
• The film was never released theatrically in the United States.

Plot

In Ōmi Province, Lord Ogata Samanosuke's castle is besieged by ninjas. His subordinate Yuki Daijo leads the coup and murders him, while Daijo's partner Orochimaru kills Lady Ogata. Loyal servants help Lord Ogata's son Ikazuchimaru escape, but they are attacked by a serpent-like dragon. An eagle injures the dragon, saving Ikazuchimaru, and takes him to the sorcerer Gama Dojin in Gamagatake, Hida Province. Dojin raises and trains Ikazuchimaru for fourteen years. Ninjas arrive to assassinate them; Ikazuchimaru defeats them and chases the last, discovering it is a young woman named Tsunade. They become smitten. She seeks her long-lost father, last seen in the area. Ikazuchimaru takes her to Dojin, who is visited by Orochimaru, a former student who stole the Rising Dragon scroll. Dojin sees through Orochimaru's deceit, noting a scar on his forehead matching one on the dragon from the eagle attack. Orochimaru kills Dojin. Ikazuchimaru and Tsunade find Dojin dying; he reveals Ikazuchimaru's royal heritage and his parents' murder, bequeathing a scroll for transformation into a giant toad. Dojin recognizes Tsunade before death. They bury Dojin, and Ikazuchimaru vows vengeance. Tsunade's grandmother, the Spider Witch, pays respects and tries to dissuade Tsunade from searching for her father. Tsunade refuses and receives a hair-pin that summons a giant spider.