Gosei Sentai Dairanger
Gosei Sentai Dairanger (五星戦隊ダイレンジャー, Gosei Sentai Dairenjā)[Note 1][Note 2] is a Japanese tokusatsu television series. It was the seventeenth production in the long-running Super Sentai metaseries of television tokusatsu dramas produced by Toei Company, following Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger. It was originally broadcast from February 19, 1993 to February 11, 1994. Toei gave this series the name Star Rangers for international distribution.[1]
| Gosei Sentai Dairanger | |
|---|---|
 The title card for Gosei Sentai Dairanger | |
| Genre | Tokusatsu Superhero fiction Fantasy action-adventure Drama |
| Created by | Toei |
| Developed by | Noboru Sugimura |
| Directed by | Yoshiaki Kobayashi |
| Starring |
|
| Narrated by | Hironori Miyata |
| Opening theme | "Gosei Sentai Dairanger" by New JACK Takurō |
| Ending theme | "Ore-tachi Muteki Sa! Dairanger" by New JACK Takurō |
| Composer(s) | Eiji Kawamura |
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Original language(s) | Japanese |
| No. of episodes | 50 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) |
|
| Running time | approx. 25 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Toei |
| Distributor | Shout! Factory |
| Release | |
| Original network | TV Asahi |
| Original release | February 19, 1993 – February 11, 1994 |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger |
| Followed by | Ninja Sentai Kakuranger |
Elements from Dairanger were adapted into the second season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, specifically the action sequences between the giant robots (which became the Power Rangers' Thunderzords) and some of the monsters. None of the Dairanger costumes were used in Power Rangers, except Kiba Ranger's, which was adapted into the White Ranger's costume for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers for the remainder of Season 2 and throughout Season 3: the suits from the previous season, Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger were instead used for the other Rangers in that show (The end credits listed the show as titled Dai Rangers). The core Dairanger costumes in the footage were not used in Power Rangers until Power Rangers Super Megaforce.
In July 2015, Shout! Factory announced that they would release "Gosei Sentai Dairanger: The Complete Series" on DVD in North America.[2] On November 10, 2015, Dairanger was released on DVD in North America. This is the second Super Sentai series to be released in North America. In addition on May 23, 2016, Shout! streamed the series on their website.[3]
Story
Eight thousand years ago, the Daos civilization flourished in Southern China. The civilization consisted of three separate tribes: the Dai, the Shura (the ancestors of today's humanity) and the Gorma (the military tribe); which lived in harmony. However, one day, the Gorma Tribe decided to take over the Daos civilization and the world, beginning the war between the Gorma and Dai tribes. The war between the Gorma, led by the Gorma Triumvarate, and the Dai continued for 5,000 years until the Mythical Qi Beasts appeared to oppose the Gorma, whose Qi[Note 3] powers had increased to the point that they could turn themselves into monsters. Five Dai warriors' Qi powers had increased to the point where they could control the Mythical Qi Beasts. The war ended with the disappearance of both the Dai and Gorma tribes and the Shura scattered around the world. In the present day, the Gorma Tribe, one of the Daos' two missing branches, arose to take over the world. To counter them, Master Kaku assembled a team of five youths with high levels of Qi, who became the Dairangers.
Characters
Dairangers
The descendants of the Dai Tribe who battle the Gorma.
- Ryo of the Heavenly Fire Star/Ryu Ranger (天火星・亮/リュウレンジャー, Tenkasei Ryō/Ryū Renjā)
- The son of Zhang Liao who became a Dairanger against his will.
- Daigo of the Heavenly Illusion Star/Shishi Ranger (天幻星・大五/シシレンジャー, Tengensei Daigo/Shishi Renjā)
- The gentle member of the team and the most skilled fighter after Ryo. He was scouted to be a Dairanger after Kaku's discovery of his Qi connection with Kujaku, whom he has feelings for.
- Shoji of the Heavenly Gravity Star/Tenma Ranger (天重星・将児/テンマレンジャー, Tenjūsei Shōji/Tenma Renjā)
- A man who dreams of becoming a world boxing champion. Specializes in Long Fist with the power to adjust gravity around and within, thus increasing either strength or speed.
- Kazu of the Heavenly Time Star/Kirin Ranger (天時星・知/キリンレンジャー, Tenjisei Kazu/Kirin Renjā)
- A stylish beautician who escaped his home at age 15 and came to Tokyo. Has a tendency to go rushing into battle without thinking.
- Rin of the Heavenly Wind Star/Houou Ranger (天風星・リン/ホウオウレンジャー, Tenpūsei Rin/Hōō Renjā)
- Master Kaku's niece from China, she is the only member capable of Qi control when not transformed.
- Kou of the Howling New Star/Kiba Ranger (吼新星・コウ/キバレンジャー, Koshinsei Kō/Kiba Renjā)
- A 9-year old who pulled out Yufang's Byakkoshinken. A somewhat perverted boy, he often grabs Rin's breasts and looks up her skirt at times, and wishes to marry her. New to fighting, he is not particularly strong. While Kou is of Dai blood, he is also part Gorma on his father's side.
The Gorma Tribe
Daijinryuu
Daijinryuu (大神龍, Daijinryū, Great God Dragon, 37, 38, 42-44, 49 & 50) is a colossal god-like entity who preserves the natural balance of the world, referred to as the "Great King of Fear that will destroy the Earth" by Kameo/Daimugen. He appears whenever battles have gone too far, like the ones between the Dairangers and the Gorma. Daijinryuu is a neutral being, but has no tolerance for whoever threatens to disrupt the natural order of things. Daijinryuu arrived on the planet in Rising Dragon Mode (昇竜モード, Shōryū Mōdo), only to transform into the bipedal Dragon God Mode (竜神モード, Ryūjin Mōdo), his feet as big as Daimugen's shell.
He is also capable of firing lightning bolts with immense destructive power. During his first appearance, he attacks the Great Famous Pachinko Player and Ryuuseioh. The universe's will that he obeyed told him that the two warring factions had to agree a cease-fire, so Daijinryuu would spare the lives of everyone on Earth and the planet itself, but he gave a warning to both the Dairangers and the Gorma not to incur his wrath by destroying most of Tokyo.
The annoyed dragon crushed the monster to death under his massive foot, then turned and disassembled Dairen'oh with a lightning bolt. He then attempted to crush Ryuuseioh (the only Mythical Chi Beast left standing). Ryuuseioh was saved by Daimugen, who hid Ryuuseioh inside of his shell, but was nearly crushed by Daijinryuu. Daijinryuu let them live because of the universe's will and the truce between the Dairangers and the Gorma.
When the Dairangers dealt with Ikazuchi, Daijinryuu seemingly put many civilians in Tokyo under his control, lining them up on top of buildings to fall to their deaths, before Jiaxu counter-acted the spell. Daijinryuu made his final appearance to destroy the Gorma Palace, seeing that Shadam and the Gorma were the cause of all the trouble. To calm him down, the Lailai Balls and the Great Earth Shaking Jewel scattered to the four winds on their own will.
Episodes
| No. | Title | Director | Writer | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Lets Transform" Transcription: "Tenshin Daaā!!!" (Japanese: 転身だァァッ！！！) | Yoshiaki Kobayashi | Noboru Sugimura | February 19, 1993 |
| 2 | "It's Ch'i Power!!" Transcription: "Kiryoku Daaā!!!" (Japanese: 気力だァァッ！！！) | Yoshiaki Kobayashi | Noboru Sugimura | February 26, 1993 |
| 3 | "Your Souls, Please!" Transcription: "Tamashii Chōdai!" (Japanese: 魂ちょうだい！) | Taro Sakamoto | Noboru Sugimura | March 5, 1993 |
| 4 | "We're Naive!!" Transcription: "Oretachi Amai ze!!" (Japanese: 俺たち甘いぜ！！) | Taro Sakamoto | Noboru Sugimura | March 12, 1993 |
| 5 | "The Jewels Have Come" Transcription: "Attama Kita!" (Japanese: あっタマきたッ！) | Takeshi Ogasawara | Naruhisa Arakawa | March 26, 1993 |
| 6 | "Wind Cut Through" Transcription: "Kaze yo Butchigire!" (Japanese: 風よブッちぎれ！) | Takeshi Ogasawara | Naruhisa Arakawa | April 2, 1993 |
| 7 | "Traitor!" Transcription: "Uragirimonō!" (Japanese: 裏切り者ォッ！) | Katsuya Watanabe | Noboru Sugimura | April 9, 1993 |
| 8 | "Father!!" Transcription: "Oyajiī!!" (Japanese: おやじぃぃッ！！) | Katsuya Watanabe | Noboru Sugimura | April 16, 1993 |
| 9 | "Don't be Vain" Transcription: "Unuboreru na" (Japanese: うぬぼれるなッ) | Taro Sakamoto | Kunio Fujii | April 23, 1993 |
| 10 | "Ah, The Vengeful Goddess" Transcription: "Aa Fukushū no Megami" (Japanese: あァ復讐の女神) | Taro Sakamoto | Kunio Fujii | April 30, 1993 |
| 11 | "Gauss with a Magnet!" Transcription: "Jishaku de Gausu!" (Japanese: 磁石でガウス！) | Takeshi Ogasawara | Naruhisa Arakawa | May 7, 1993 |
| 12 | "Drunk on Tofu" Transcription: "Tōfu de Yottaa" (Japanese: 豆腐で酔ったァ) | Takeshi Ogasawara | Susumu Takaku | May 14, 1993 |
| 13 | "The Ka-Kabuki Novice" Transcription: "Kakkabuki Kozō" (Japanese: カッカブキ小僧) | Shohei Tojo | Noboru Sugimura | May 21, 1993 |
| 14 | "Well, a Wedding" Transcription: "Iyokkekkon ja" (Japanese: イヨッ結婚ぢゃ) | Shohei Tojo | Noboru Sugimura | May 28, 1993 |
| 15 | "The 3 Stooges' Soccer" Transcription: "San Baka Sakkā" (Japanese: 3バカサッカー) | Taro Sakamoto | Naruhisa Arakawa | June 4, 1993 |
| 16 | "Rumbling Child Stones" Transcription: "Gorogoro Kodomo Ishi" (Japanese: ゴロゴロ子供石) | Taro Sakamoto | Kunio Fujii | June 11, 1993 |
| 17 | "He's Here, a New Hero" Transcription: "Demashita Nyū Hīrō" (Japanese: 出ました | Katsuya Watanabe | Noboru Sugimura | June 18, 1993 |
| 18 | "The Secret Byakko-chan" Transcription: "Himitsu no Byakko-chan" (Japanese: ㊙の白虎ちゃん) | Katsuya Watanabe | Noboru Sugimura | June 25, 1993 |
| 19 | "The Heart-Throbbing Pretty Girl" Transcription: "Dokidoki Bishōjo" (Japanese: ドキドキ美少女) | Takeshi Ogasawara | Naruhisa Arakawa | July 2, 1993 |
| 20 | "First Opening Of The Gorma Palace" Transcription: "Hatsu Kōkai Gōma-kyū" (Japanese: 初公開ゴーマ宮) | Takeshi Ogasawara | Naruhisa Arakawa | July 9, 1993 |
| 21 | "The Birth of a Mythical Ch'i Beast" Transcription: "Kidenjū-sama Go-tanjō" (Japanese: 気伝獣様ご誕生) | Shohei Tojo | Noboru Sugimura | July 16, 1993 |
| 22 | "The Great Secret Art of the Tiger Cub!!" Transcription: "Tora no Ko Dai Hijutsu!!" (Japanese: 虎の子大秘術！！) | Shohei Tojo | Noboru Sugimura | July 23, 1993 |
| 23 | "True Love at Full Speed" Transcription: "Jun'ai Masshigura" (Japanese: 純愛まっしぐら) | Taro Sakamoto | Kunio Fujii | July 30, 1993 |
| 24 | "The 3 Stooges' Super Baseball!" Transcription: "San Baka Chō Yakyū!" (Japanese: 3バカ超野球！) | Taro Sakamoto | Naruhisa Arakawa | August 6, 1993 |
| 25 | "The Grouped Opposite Squadron" Transcription: "Zorozoro Ura Sentai" (Japanese: ぞろぞろ裏戦隊) | Takeshi Ogasawara | Susumu Takaku | August 13, 1993 |
| 26 | "A Bad, Bad, Bad Guy" Transcription: "Iya na Iya na Iya na Yatsu" (Japanese: 嫌な嫌な嫌な奴) | Katsuya Watanabe | Toshiki Inoue | August 20, 1993 |
| 27 | "It It It's the Final Punch" Transcription: "Saishū Ken Da Da Da" (Japanese: 最終拳だだだッ) | Katsuya Watanabe | Toshiki Inoue | August 27, 1993 |
| 28 | "Everyone Appears!!" Transcription: "Sō Tōjō Dagya!!" (Japanese: 総登場だぎゃ！！) | Takeshi Ogasawara | Noboru Sugimura | September 3, 1993 |
| 29 | "The Secret Inside Story of a Mother and Child's Tears" Transcription: "Haha Ko Namida no Maruhi Urabanashi" (Japanese: 母子涙の㊙裏話) | Shohei Tojo | Noboru Sugimura | September 10, 1993 |
| 30 | "The Deadly, Fast-Talking Workaholic" Transcription: "Hissatsu Hayakuchi Shigotonin" (Japanese: 必殺早口仕事人) | Shohei Tojo | Noboru Sugimura | September 17, 1993 |
| 31 | "Again, a New Hero Came Forth" Transcription: "Mata Deta Nyū Hīrō" (Japanese: また出た | Shohei Tojo | Noboru Sugimura | September 24, 1993 |
| 32 | "The Ogre's Golden Kick" Transcription: "Ōgon Kikku no Oni" (Japanese: 黄金キックの鬼) | Yoshiaki Kobayashi | Noboru Sugimura | October 1, 1993 |
| 33 | "An Idol's First Experience" Transcription: "Aidoru Hatsu Taiken" (Japanese: アイドル初体験) | Katsuya Watanabe | Naruhisa Arakawa | October 8, 1993 |
| 34 | "A Prickly Maiden Hunt" Transcription: "Togetoge Shōjogari" (Japanese: トゲトゲ少女狩) | Yoshiaki Kobayashi | Susumu Takaku | October 15, 1993 |
| 35 | "New Secret Art, the Dance of Spiders" Transcription: "Shin Ōgi Kumo no Mai" (Japanese: 新奥義クモの舞) | Katsuya Watanabe | Toshiki Inoue | October 22, 1993 |
| 36 | "A 6000-Year Grudge..." Transcription: "Urami-bushi Rokusennen..." (Japanese: 恨み節6千年...) | Taro Sakamoto | Kunio Fujii | October 29, 1993 |
| 37 | "You Have to See It!! A Huge Guy" Transcription: "Hikken!! Dekee Yatsu" (Japanese: 必見！！ でけェ奴) | Shohei Tojo | Noboru Sugimura | November 5, 1993 |
| 38 | "Huh!! A Ceasefire!?" Transcription: "Ēe!! Teisen!?" (Japanese: えーッ！！停戦！？) | Shohei Tojo | Noboru Sugimura | November 12, 1993 |
| 39 | "The Demon Fist Falls in the Setting Sun" Transcription: "Maken Rakujitsu ni Chiru" (Japanese: 魔拳 落日に散る) | Takeshi Ogasawara | Toshiki Inoue | November 19, 1993 |
| 40 | "Farewell! 3 Stooges" Transcription: "Saraba! San Baka" (Japanese: さらば！3バカ) | Shohei Tojo | Naruhisa Arakawa | November 26, 1993 |
| 41 | "Kujaku's Great Ascension" Transcription: "Kujaku Daishōten" (Japanese: クジャク大昇天) | Taro Sakamoto | Kunio Fujii | December 3, 1993 |
| 42 | "A Straight Line To Mommy" Transcription: "Kāchan Itchokusen" (Japanese: 母ちゃん一直線) | Takeshi Ogasawara | Noboru Sugimura | December 10, 1993 |
| 43 | "The Ultra-White Prohibited Past" Transcription: "Geki Shiro Kindan no Kako" (Japanese: 激白禁断の過去) | Katsuya Watanabe | Noboru Sugimura | December 17, 1993 |
| 44 | "Impression!! You Cry Too" Transcription: "Kandō!! Kimi mo Nake" (Japanese: 感動！！ 君も泣け) | Katsuya Watanabe | Noboru Sugimura | December 24, 1993 |
| 45 | "Disbanding for Real!!" Transcription: "Maji de Kaisan" (Japanese: | Taro Sakamoto | Noboru Sugimura | January 7, 1994 |
| 46 | "The Heroes Are Stark Naked" Transcription: "Hīrō Maruhadaka" (Japanese: | Taro Sakamoto | Noboru Sugimura | January 14, 1994 |
| 47 | "The Amazing Truth" Transcription: "Suggē Shinjitsu" (Japanese: すっげェ～真実) | Takeshi Ogasawara | Naruhisa Arakawa | January 21, 1994 |
| 48 | "Death Of The Heroic Master!!" Transcription: "Sōzetsu!! Dōshi Shisu" (Japanese: 壮絶！！ 道士死す) | Takeshi Ogasawara | Noboru Sugimura | January 28, 1994 |
| 49 | "It's the Final Decisive Battle" Transcription: "Saishū Kessen Dā" (Japanese: 最終決戦だァッ) | Shohei Tojo | Noboru Sugimura | February 4, 1994 |
| Final | "Let's Go!" Transcription: "Iku zoō!" (Japanese: 行くぞォォッ！) | Shohei Tojo | Noboru Sugimura | February 11, 1994 |
Movie
The film version of Gosei Sentai Dairanger premiered in Japan on April 17, 1993, at Toei Super Hero Fair '93. Directed by Shōhei Tōjō and written by Noboru Sugimura, the movie was originally shown as a triple feature alongside Kamen Rider ZO and the film version of Tokusou Robo Janperson. The main villain of the film is an original monster, named the Duke of Trump (トランプ公爵, Toranpu Kōshaku), who gathers four of the Dairangers' previous adversaries to defeat them. While the movie was filmed between episodes 5–8, its story actually takes place between episodes 8 and 9 due to the appearance of Dairen-ō. Shohei Shibata, the young actor who played Hiroshi in Kamen Rider ZO later joined the cast of Dairanger as Akomaru, son of the main villain Shadam.
Cast
- Ryo of the Heavenly Fire Star (天火星・亮, Tenkasei Ryō): Keiichi Wada (和田 圭市, Wada Keiichi)
- Daigo of the Heavenly Illusion Star (天幻星・大五, Tengensei Daigo): Tatsuya Nōmi (能見 達也, Nōmi Tatsuya)
- Shoji of the Heavenly Gravity Star (天重星・将児, Tenjūsei Shōji): Ei Hamura (羽村 英, Hamura Ei)
- Kazu of the Heavenly Time Star (天時星・知, Tenjisei Kazu): Keisuke Tsuchiya (土屋 圭輔, Tsuchiya Keisuke)
- Rin of the Heavenly Wind Star (天風星・リン, Tenpūsei Rin): Natsuki Takahashi (高橋 夏樹, Takahashi Natsuki)
- Kou of the Howling New Star (吼新星・コウ, Koshinsei Kō): Hisashi Sakai (酒井 寿, Sakai Hisashi)
- Master Kaku (道士嘉挧, Dōshi Kaku): Koji Naka (中康治, Naka Koji)
- Grandmaster Yufang (老道士虞翻, Rōdōshi Guhon): Takeshi Kuwabara (桑原 毅, Kuwabara Takeshi)
- Kujaku (クジャク, Kujaku): Masako Morishita (森下 雅子, Morishita Masako)
- Kou's Mother (コウの母, Kō no Haha): Mikiko Miki (三輝 みきこ, Miki Mikiko)
- Kameo: Sugisaku Imagawa (今川 杉作, Imagawa Sugisaku)
- Gorma XV (ゴーマ十五世, Gōma Jūgōsei): Munemaru Kōda (幸田 宗丸, Kōda Munemaru)
- Commander Gara (ガラ中佐, Gara Chūsa): Akiko Amamatsuri (天祭 揚子, Amamatsuri Akiko)
- Lieutenant Commander Zydos (ザイドス少佐, Zaidosu Shōsa): Maroshi Tamura (田村 円, Tamura Maroshi)
- Commander Shadam (シャダム中佐, Shadamu Chūsa): Rintarō Nishi (西 凜太朗, Nishi Rintarō)
- General Tenpou (田豊将軍, Tenpō Shōgun): Chūkō Ueda (上田 忠好, Ueda Chūkō)
- Akomaru (阿古丸, Akomaru): Shohei Shibata (柴田 翔平, Shibata Shohei)
- Jin Matoba: Yutaka Hirose (広瀬 裕, Hirose Yutaka, credited as Takumi Hirose)
Voice actors
- Narrator: Hironori Miyata (宮田 浩徳, Miyata Hironori)
- Byakkoshinken (白虎真剣, Byakkoshinken): Wataru Abe
- Daimugen: Ikko Tadano (ただの いっこ, Tadano Ikko) credited as Tomihisa Naruse (成瀬 富久, Naruse Tomihisa)
- General Kamikaze (神風大将, Kamikaze Taishō): Nobuyuki Hiyama (檜山 修之, Hiyama Nobuyuki)
- Master Phone (電話先生, Denwa Sensei): Akiko Muta (むた あきこ)
- Chief Tombstone (墓石社長, Hakaishi Shachō): Takuzou Kamiyama (神山 卓三)
- Kabuki Novice (歌舞伎小僧, Kabuki Kozō): Shigeru Chiba (千葉 繁, Chiba Shigeru, 13 & 14)
Guest actors
- Kazu's clone: Daisuke Tsuchiya (土屋 大輔, Tsuchiya Daisuke, 25)
- Shōichirō Takamura (human form of Media Magician): Ryosuke Kaizu (海津 亮介, Kaizu Ryōsuke, 33)
Songs
- Opening theme
- "Gosei Sentai Dairanger" (五星戦隊ダイレンジャー, Gosei Sentai Dairenjā)
- Lyrics: Saburo Yatsude
- Composition: Katsuo Ohno
- Arrangement: Kenji Yamamoto
- Artist: New JACK Takurō
- Ending theme
- "Oretachi Muteki Sa!! Dairanger" (俺たち無敵さ!! ダイレンジャー, Oretachi Muteki Sa!! Dairenjā, "We're Invincible!! Dairanger")
- Lyrics: Saburo Yatsude
- Composition: Katsuo Ohno
- Arrangement: Kenji Yamamoto
- Artist: New JACK Takurō
Notes
- Literally translated as Five Star Squad Dairanger.
- ダイレンジャー (Dairenjā) translates as "Great Rangers".
- "Qi" (simplified Chinese: 气; traditional Chinese: 氣; Korean: 기; Japanese: 気; Mongolian: хийг; traditional Mongolian:ᠬᠡᠢ ᠶᠢ; Thai: ลมปราณ; Lao: ຊີວິດ; Khmer: ឈី; Burmese: အသက်) is a concept in many East Asian and Southeast Asian cultures that relates to one's life force. It is pronounced as "ch'i" in Chinese, "khí" in Vietnamese, "gi" in Korean, "ki" in Japanese, "khiig" in Mongolian, "lmprāṇ" in Thai, "sivid" in Lao, "chhi" in Khmer, "aasaat" in Burmese, "qi" in Tagalog, "chi" in Malay, "chi" in Indonesian and "qi" in Tetum.
References
- "Library -- English Titles -- TOEI TV Website". Archived from the original on 2009-01-19. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
- Amand, Ginji (July 10, 2015). "SDCC 2015: Shout Factory Announces Gosei Sentai Dairanger DVD Release". Herotaku.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
- "Watch full episodes of Super Sentai Dairanger". ShoutFactoryTV. Retrieved 2016-05-25.
External links
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