I am a computer expert who loves a challenge. When I am not managing servers and fixing flaws, I write about it and other interesting things on various blogs.
Engine Sentai Go-onger(炎神戦隊ゴーオンジャー,Enjin Sentai Gōonjā, ) is the title of Toei Company's thirty-second Super Sentai series of Japanesetokusatsu television series. It premiered on February 17, 2008, a week following the finale of Juken Sentai Gekiranger, and ended on February 8, 2009. It aired as part of TV Asahi's 2008 Super Hero Time block alongside Kamen Rider Kiva. Its footage was used for the American series, Power Rangers RPM and was dubbed into Korean as Power Rangers Engine Force. The catchphrase for the series is "Rushing by at full-throttle mach speed, our slogan is 'go on!'" (マッハ全開で突っ走る俺たちの合言葉は"ゴーオン！",Mahha zenkai de tsuppashiru oretachi no aikotoba wa "Gō On!").
Machine World (マシンワールド,Mashin Wārudo) is one of the 11 Braneworlds(ブレーンワールド,Burēnwārudo) other than our own, which is referred as the Human World (ヒューマンワールド,Hyūman Wārudo), and it is home to giant vehicular beings called Engines who wage a war against the Gaiark who desire to pollute their world. Losing, Gaiark's three Pollution Ministers' escape leaves them on Earth, seeing the Human World as an easier location to create their ideal paradise. The six Engines manage to pursue them, selecting five humans to become their partners, the Go-ongers. The team are joined by Go-on Wings and their Wing Engines, as well as the Ancient Engines, as they all together battle the Gaiark as well as other evil villains from other Braneworlds.
Go-ongers
Based in their RV, the Ginjiro-go (ギンジロー号,Ginjirō-gō), the Go-onger team is composed of the core three and two back-up members who support the main team. Advertisements for the series show that the first kana in the Go-ongers' surnames spell "ecology" (「え・こ・ろ・じ・い」（エコロジー）,"E-Ko-Ro-Ji-I" (ekorojī)) in Japanese. They come from the Human World and the Engines come from the Machine World. One kanji in each of the five Go-ongers' given names contains a variation of the radical for "cart" (車,kurumahen). The Go-on Wings (ゴーオンウイングス,Gōon Uingusu) are a two-person team who were the originally the Go-ongers' rivals but eventually join the team. The names of both members contain the radical for "feather" (羽,hanezukuri). Together, the groups' surnames spell "ecologist" (「え・こ・ろ・じ・い・すとう」（エコロジスト）,"E-Ko-Ro-Ji-I-Sutō" (ekorojisuto)).
Sōsuke Esumi/Go-on Red (江角 走輔／ゴーオンレッド,Esumi Sōsuke/Gōon Reddo)
Nicknamed the "Speed King," Sōsuke is a former racer with a sunny disposition. Unyielding and always full of confidence, he confronts anything without hesitation to fight right away. He is often seen flipping a Go-onger coin. As Go-on Red, his attacks are performed at high speed and his partner is Speedor.
Renn Kōsaka/Go-on Blue (香坂 連／ゴーオンブルー,Kōsaka Ren/Gōon Burū)
Nicknamed the "Cyclopedia" for his attention to the smallest detail, Renn is a former bus driver who can be talkative and good at cooking. As Go-on Blue, Renn's physical strength is magnified and his partner is Bus-on.
Nicknamed the "Sweet Angel," she used to work at a racing store. Cheerful and anxious, she keeps smiling with an upbeat attitude even in a crisis. As Go-on Yellow, she can fight in any hard terrain and her partner is Bearrv.
Hanto Jō/Go-on Green (城 範人／ゴーオングリーン,Jō Hanto/Gōon Gurīn)
Nicknamed, the "Vagabond," Hanto is a silly freeter working part-time at the Doki Doki Pizzeria until Gunpei's actions cost him his job. Hanto becomes a Go-onger while assisting Gunpei. His Engine partner is Birca.
Gunpei Ishihara/Go-on Black (石原 軍平／ゴーオンブラック,Ishihara Gunpei/Gōon Burakku)
Nicknamed the "Chaser," Gunpei is a former police officer with excellent marksmanship and a passion for justice. He witnessed the Go-ongers in their first battles against the Gaiark, with his investigation of them allowing him to become a Go-onger himself. It took Gunpei a while to accept the primary Go-ongers, as he felt that their childish antics didn't give them the right to become heroes. His Engine partner is Gunpherd.
Nicknamed, the "Philosopher," leader of the Go-on Wings, who believes his team outranks the Go-ongers and is amazing in combat. His Engine partner is Toripter.
Nicknamed the "Lovely Sensation," Hiroto's younger sister, with a "princess" attitude and an interest in the Go-ongers, particularly Sōsuke. Her Engine partner is Jetras.
Gaiark
The Go-ongers fight the Barbaric Machine Clan Gaiark (蛮機族ガイアーク,Bankizoku Gaiāku), composed of the three Pollution Ministers who are the last of their kind, escaping from being destroyed on the Machine World and desiring to pollute the Earth into their ideal paradise. The Gaiark base themselves in the Hellgailles Palace (ヘルガイユ宮殿,Herugaiyu Kyūden) on an isolated island, sending their Barbaric Machine Beasts (蛮機獣,Bankijū) to pollute the Earth. Gaiark comes from the Japanese word for "harm" (害悪,gaiaku).
Other Braneworld inhabitants
Occasionally, the Go-ongers will meet people and creatures from the other 9 Braneworlds that existence entails.
Osen (オーセン,Ōsen, 27)
Osen is a tech-sorceress from the Junk World (ジャンクワールド,Janku Wārudo), a Braneworld that resembles a junkyard due to Osen's invention that can multiply garbage and alters any organic being to possess the same attributes as scrap metal. She assumes a human form named Osen (お仙,Osen) when she is deceived by Kitaneidas into thinking that her own Braneworld was in danger by an invasion from the Human World and decides to use her machine to give Gaiark the advantage. But after meeting Hant and seeing his kindness, Osen reverses her machine's polarity to turn the tables for the Go-ongers before returning to her own dimension. Her name is from the Japanese word for "pollution" (汚染,Osen). Portrayed by Hana Kino (木野 花,Kino Hana).
Lumbiaco (ロムビアコ,Romubiako, 31)
Lumbiaco is a monster from the Sound World (サウンドワールド,Saundo Wārudo), which was destroyed by Kireizky, who comes to the Human World with the intent to feed on its noises. By doing so, it grows in size and takes a nap before it feeds again, with the cycle repeating until it's too big for the world to hold. The only means to shrink it is with beautiful sound, which Lumbaico hates and goes on a rampage upon hearing. In the end, the monster is stopped by the specially assembled G3 Princess group who shrink him and destroy him with their attack. Its name is an anagram of "Columbia" (コロムビア,Koromubia), the record company that distributes the music for the Super Sentai Series.
Wameikle (ワメイクル,Wameikuru, 41)
Wameikle is a member of a species of amphibian from the Stormy World (ストーミーワールド,Sutōmī Wārudo), a Braneworld that is in a constant cycle of endless wind storms. Ending up in the Human World due to the Gaiark's influence, a Wameikle egg is found by Hiroto, with the hatched creature seeing him as a parent. However, the Ugats are sent after Wameikle to force grow it into a berserker adult and utilize its kind's high-pitch sonic crying to tear down the dimensional barrier that separates the Human World from the Stormy World. Its name is from the Japanese word for "to cry" (喚く,wameku). Voiced by Chika Sakamoto (坂本 千夏,Sakamoto Chika).
Mage's Wand (魔法の杖,Mahō no Tsue, 42)
The Mage's Wand (and spellbook) comes from the Magic World (マジックワールド,Majikku Wārudo), a Braneworld that is home to many sorcerers and magic is everyday until Kireizky wiped it out. The spellbook was deciphered by Manabu Yushima (湯島 学,Yushima Manabu), an intelligent high school student who found these by chance. Yushima fell in love with Miu and attempt to win her by helping Kegaleshia magically infuse Bin Banki with magical powers. Though he eventually redeemed himself, Yushima accidentally destroyed his laptop and the translations in it.
Santa Claus (サンタクロース,Santa Kurōsu, 43-44)
Santa Claus is a being from the Christmas World (クリスマスワールド,Kurisumasu Wārudo), a Braneworld where the holiday season is endless with everyone dressed as Santa Claus and able to travel to other Braneworlds by train. Using the Different Dimension Present Bag (異次元プレゼント袋,Ijigen Purezento Bukuro) he carries with him, Santa can take out presents from Christmas World and bring them into other Braneworlds. Portrayed by Kinzo Sakura (桜 金造,Sakura Kinzō).
Other Braneworlds mentioned in the series are the destroyed Prism World (プリズムワールド,Purizumu Wārudo) and serene Grass World (グラスワールド,Gurasu Wārudo) as well as the western-style Gunman World (ガンマンワールド,Ganman Wārudo) which is currently being attacked by Batcheed and the remaining Gaiark forces as the series ends. The only other Braneworld that is extensively covered is the Samurai World.
Samurai World
The Samurai World (サムライワールド,Samurai Wārudo) is a Braneworld that resembles Feudal Japan and was under the dictatorship of Empress Maki and her Yōma until the Go-ongers ended up in the Braneworld by accident and help in overthrowing Maki. In Human World and Samurai World, there are rare people with the same looks and the same soul.
Bakki (伐鬼（ばっき）,Bakki, 24)
Bakki is a deforestation Yōma recruited by the spectral Urameshimedes. He comes to the Human World to kill the Go-ongers for Urameshimedes with Earth's forests as his price. But once defeated by Go-on Yellow, Urameshimedes possesses Bakki's body to personally finish the job only for Bakki to be destroyed by Engine-Oh G9.
Rairaiken (雷々剱,Rairaiken, 39-40)
Rairaiken is the crimson-colored lion-like Yōma servant of Maki. He is similar to Raiken from the movie, but he is not created from an Engine Cast and he lacks a vehicle form. He can wield a kusarigama/kusarifundo. After Maki's death, he later arrives in the Human World to take the Engine Sword and use Engine Dai-Shogun for evil. However, the Go-ongers ruin his and Gokugokumaru's plan, so the two ingest Bikkurium to execute their Fukoku Kyohei (富国強兵,Fukoku Kyōhei) enlargement before being destroyed by Engine Dai-Shogun. Voiced by Naoya Uchida(内田 直哉,Uchida Naoya), who previously portrayed Tatsuya Midorikawa/Denzi Green in Denshi Sentai Denziman.
Gokugokumaru (獄々丸,Gokugokumaru, 39-40)
Gokugokumaru is a crimson-colored bear-like Yōma servant of Maki. He is similar to Gokumaru, but he was not created from an Engine Cast and he lacks a vehicle form. He fights with his claws and a large shuriken. After Maki's death, he later arrives in the Human World to take the small Engine Sword and use Engine Dai-Shogun for evil. However, the Go-ongers ruin his and Rairaiken's plan, so the two ingest Bikkurium before being destroyed by Engine Dai-Shogun. Voiced by Masaya Matsukaze(松風 雅也,Matsukaze Masaya), who previously portrayed Shun Namiki/MegaBlue in Denji Sentai Megaranger.
Harunosuke (晴之助,Harunosuke, 39-40)
Harunosuke is a boy who comes from the Samurai World with his younger brother, Akinosuke, in order to protect the small Engine Sword (炎神剣,Enjinken) with a part of Retsu-Taka's soul. Portrayed by Shohei Yamauchi (山内 翔平,Yamauchi Shōhei).
Akinosuke (昭之助,Akinosuke, 39-40)
Akinosuke is a boy who comes from the Samurai World with his older brother, Harunosuke, carrying the small Engine Sword on him. Portrayed by Hiroto Araki (荒木 博斗,Araki Hiroto).
Episodes
The episodes are titled as Grand Prix(グランプリ,Guran Puri), or "GP" for short, each ending with a Go-on Seminar, a Gaiark Seminar, or the one-time Samurai Seminar, to explain a trivial fact relating to a character or element in the show. The eyecatch has the five main Engines racing, with a different one winning each week (or all in the last episode).
Boom Boom! Bang Bang! GekijōBang!!
Engine Sentai Go-onger: Boom Boom! Bang Bang! GekijōBang!!(炎神戦隊ゴーオンジャー ＢＵＮＢＵＮ！ＢＡＮＢＡＮ！劇場ＢＡＮＧ！！,Enjin Sentai Gōonjā Bunbun! Banban! Gekijōban!!) was released in theaters on August 9, 2008, as a double bill with the Kamen Rider Kiva movie, King of the Castle in the Demon World. The film features guest stars Sonim, Jyunichi Haruta (previously in Kagaku Sentai Dynaman and Dai Sentai Goggle V), Kento Handa (previously in Kamen Rider 555), Mika Kikuchi (previously in Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger), Naoya Uchida (previously in Denshi Sentai Denziman), and Masaya Matsukaze (previously in Denji Sentai Megaranger).
Go-onger vs. Gekiranger
Initially scheduled for DVD release on March 21, 2009, Engine Sentai Go-onger vs. Gekiranger(炎神戦隊ゴーオンジャーVSゲキレンジャー,Enjin Sentai Gōonjā tai Gekirenjā) will feature the return of Hiroki Suzuki, Mina Fukui, Manpei Takagi, Riki Miura, Sotaro, Hirofumi Araki, Yuka Hirata, Naoki Kawano, and Kazue Itoh reprising their roles as Jyan Kandou, Ran Uzaki, Retu Fukami, Gou Fukami, Ken Hisatsu, Rio, Mere, Long, and Miki Masaki from Juken Sentai Gekiranger. The story features the Three Gaiark Ministers and their Nunchaku Banki (ヌンチャクバンキ) teaming up with the last remaining member of the Confrontation Beast Hall (臨獣殿,Rinjūden), Meka (メカ), practicer of the Confrontation Beast Tortoise Fist (臨獣トータス拳,Rinjū Tōtasuken) who is after the golden orb that Long was sealed in. To defeat their common foes, the Go-ongers, the Go-on Wings, and the Gekirangers team up with the revived Rio and Mere to fight the new evil team and stop them from releasing Long.
On December 6, 2008, several of the cast members of Go-onger announced on their blogs that there is going to be a second Go-onger movie. The next day, Toei announced on its Go-onger website that the film was going to be Go-onger vs. Gekiranger, and that it was to commemorate the 15th of the Super Sentai V-Cinema VS Series, having started initially with J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai vs. Gorenger in 1978 and revived annually with Chouriki Sentai Ohranger vs. Kakuranger in 1996. The film was released to theaters on January 24, 2009.
Shinkenger vs. Go-onger
Samurai Sentai Shinkenger vs. Go-onger: GinmakuBang!!(侍戦隊シンケンジャーVSゴーオンジャー銀幕BANG!!,Samurai Sentai Shinkenjā Bui Esu Gōonjā Ginmakuban) was released in theaters on January 30, 2010, featuring a crossover between the Samurai Sentai Shinkenger and Go-onger casts and characters. The heroes of Tensou Sentai Goseiger also make a cameo appearance in the film.
Special DVD
It's a Seminar! Everyone GO-ON!!(セミナールだよ！全員GO-ON!!,Semināru da yo! Zen'in Gō On!!) is a special DVD in which Bomper lets each of the Go-ongers do their own special seminar on ecology and also tie into the three Gaiark Pollution Ministers. Sōsuke and Gunpei start by helping Renn show how water and oil can't be mixed as Speedor covers Kegalesia and her Water Savage Machine Beasts. Then Hanto shows how clean air is essential for people in an exercise experiment that nearly suffocates Gunpei from breathing in too much polluted air and being saved by inhaling helium by mistake as Speedor explains about Kitaneidas and his Savage Air Machine Beasts along with the Go-on Wings. After Gunpei's voice returns to normal, Saki begins her lesson though unaware she was supposed to teach a lesson though she grew strawberries from polluted soil and made a cake from strawberries that she grew in clean soil. As Sōsuke and Gunpei get the tea for her, Speedor talks about Yogostien and his Savage Machine Beasts, as well Hiramechimedes and all the events leading to Yogostein's death. The last seminar is cut short when Hiramechimedes' cross-dressing older brother Kokorootomedes goes after Sōsuke out of revenge, but is destroyed by Go-on Red's Kankan Kong Express Speedor Version after a tough fight. Just as Gunpei decides to give a seminar on how to be cool like himself, Bomper says that they are out of time and the seminars are over.
Artist: Project.R (Takayoshi Tanimoto(谷本 貴義,Tanimoto Takayoshi), Sister MAYO, Kenichiro Ōishi (大石 憲一郎,Ōishi Ken'ichirō)) with the Engine Kids (炎神キッズ,Enjin Kizzu)
Starting with episode 9 to 13, and 15 to 17, the second verse from "Engine First Lap -Type Normal-" was used as the ending theme, switching from the verse about Speedor to the verse about Bus-on. Bearrv's verse was used as the ending theme in episode 18.
"Engine Second Lap -TURBO CUSTOM-" (炎神セカンドラップ-TURBO CUSTOM-,Enjin Sekando Rappu -Tābo Kasutamu-, 22, 27-30, 32-35, 46)
Lyrics: Mike Sugiyama & Saburo Yatsude (八手 三郎,Yatsude Saburō)
Artist: Project. R (Hideaki Takatori(高取 ヒデアキ,Takatori Hideaki), Mayumi Gojo(五條 真由美,Gojō Mayumi), Takayoshi Tanimoto, Sister MAYO, Kenichiro Ōishi) with the Engine Kids
Starting with episode 22, the third verse from "Engine Second Lap -TURBO CUSTOM-", Carrigator's verse, was used as the ending theme as a way to promote the movie. It was played again, from episodes 27 to 30, with Birca's verse. It then was resumed, in episode 32, with Gunpherd's verse.
"Engine Eco Lap -Recycle Custom-" (炎神エコラップ-Recycle Custom-,Enjin Eko Rappu -Risaikuru Kasutamu-, 23-24, It's a Seminar! Everyone GO-ON)
Lyrics: Mike Sugiyama
Composition & Arrangement: Kenichiro Ōishi
Artist: Engine Kids with Project. R (Takayoshi Tanimoto, Sister MAYO, Kenichiro Ōishi)
This version of the ending theme, first used at the end of episode 23 and later used as the ending theme to the It's a Seminar! Everyone GO-ON DVD features the Engine Kids singing and members of Project. R singing back up. As the title suggests, the song discusses ecology and recycling.
This version of the ending theme is used in episode 31 as both an insert song and an ending theme, featuring the G3 Princess idol group (Saki, Miu, and Kegalesia) singing. Included in G3 Princess CD Box set, there will be an arrangement of "G3 Princess Lap ~PRETTY LOVE☆Limited~" for each of the members of G3 Princess as well as their character songs. The G3 Princess Lap ~PRETTY LOVE☆Limited~ mini-album also includes the title song, the character songs, as well as "Engine Sentai Go-onger," "Engine First Lap -Type Normal," and "Engine Eco Lap -RECYCLE CUSTOM-."
"Engine Third Lap -AERO-Dynamic CUSTOM-" (炎神サードラップ-AERO-Dynamic CUSTOM-,Enjin Sādo Rappu -Earo-Dainamikku Kasutamu-, 36-41)
Lyrics: Mike Sugiyama & Saburo Yatsude (八手 三郎,Yatsude Saburō)
Starting with episode 36 to 37, the first verse, Toripter's verse, was used. Then as of episodes 38 and 39, the second verse, Jetras' verse, was used as the ending theme. In episode 40, the third verse, Jum-bowhale's verse, was used. Psychic Lover(サイキックラバー,Saikikku Rabā) is also noted as the artist of the song on the complete song collection.
"Engine Final Lap -Type Evolution-" (炎神ファイナルラップ-Type Evolution-,Enjin Fainaru Rappu-Taipu Eboryūshon-, 42-44)
Lyrics: Mike Sugiyama & Saburo Yatsude (八手 三郎,Yatsude Saburō)
Artist: Project.R (Hideyuki Takahashi, Takayoshi Tanimoto, Sister MAYO, Kenichiro Ōishi) with the Engine Kids
Starting with episode 42, the first verse, Kishamoth's verse, was used. In episode 43, it was switched to T-line's verse, the second verse. Then K-line's verse, the third verse, was used in episode 44. It was included on the complete song collection, released on January 14, 2009, which came with a toy Engine Soul that plays the ending theme melody.
"G5 Prince Lap ~Bombaye★Limited~" (G5プリンスラップ～BONバイエ★Limited～,Jī Faibu Purinsu Rappu ~Bonbaie★Rimiteddo, 45)
Lyrics: Mike Sugiyama & Saburo Yatsude (八手 三郎,Yatsude Saburō)
The single of the opening and ending themes comes in two versions, one of which is the limited edition "Engine Soul Set" (炎神ソウルセット,Enjin Sōru Setto) version that includes a limited edition toy Engine Soul that plays the opening theme melody. It is the first Super Sentai theme song single to ever make it onto the Oricon charts' top ten list, reaching #4 on the weekly singles chart by selling 22,000 records in its first week. It had started out at #3 on the daily singles chart on its first day of sale, March 19, 2008, peaking at #2 on March 20, 2008. It had remained in the top 20 of the weekly charts for four weeks, and became the #113 top selling single on the Oricon's yearly rankings. As part of a Kodomo no Hi report, the Oricon listed "Engine Sentai Go-onger" as the #1 tokusatsu hero karaoke request, ahead of songs such as AAA DEN-O form's "Climax Jump" for Kamen Rider Den-O and V6's "TAKE ME HIGHER" for Ultraman Tiga.
A final album was released for Go-onger on March 18, 2009, which included all of the character songs in the series, including versions of "G3 Princess Lap" performed as a group and by each individual member, "Smile×Smile" performed by Rina Aizawa, "Yume no Tsubasa" (夢の翼, "Dream Wings") performed by Yumi Sugimoto, "Utopia" (桃源郷（ユートピア）,Yūtopia) performed by Nao Oikawa, "G5 Prince Rap", versions of "Kimi to Gyutto♪" (君とギュッと♪, "Holding You Tight♪") performed by G5 Prince and each of the individual members, "miss you" performed by Hidenori Tokuyama for episode 31, and "Engine Special Lap" (炎神スペシャルラップ,Enjin Supesharu Rappu) by Project.R, featuring "Engine First Lap", "Engine Second Lap", "Engine Third Lap", "Engine Final Lap", and "Engine Winning Run" as a single song.
