Television series See below First episode date 5 March 1982 | ||
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Similar Space Sheriff Gavan, Space Sheriff Shaider, Space Sheriff Sharivan, Kyojuu Tokusou Juspion, Choujinki Metalder | ||
The Metal Hero Series (メタルヒーローシリーズ, Metaru Hīrō Shirīzu) is a franchise of tokusatsu superhero TV series produced by Toei for Japanese television. The protagonists of the franchise are androids, cyborgs or humans who wear metallic suits and are known as "Henshin (transforming) Heroes." The genre usually revolves around the theme that technology, in the right hands, can be used for the greater good.
Contents
- List of Metal Hero Series
- Theatrical releases
- V Cinema releases
- Current status
- United States
- Philippines
- Brazil
- References
The shows were produced by Toei from 1982 through 1999 in conjunction with their other Tokusatsu superhero shows, Kamen Rider and Super Sentai. In addition to Japan, they are also popular in France, Brazil, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. During the 1990s, Saban Entertainment used some of the shows to produce programs similar to their Power Rangers series. Some of the Metal Hero Series spawned sequels, with the genre developing sub-categories based on space- and police-related characters.
List of Metal Hero Series
Theatrical releases
V-Cinema releases
Current status
Similar series, such as Seiun Kamen Machineman, Kyodai Ken Byclosser, Choukou Senshi Changéríon and Seven Star Fighting God Guyferd appeared concurrently with the Metal Hero Series but were not included. Machineman and Byclosser were created by Shotaro Ishinomori as standalone henshin heroes, and Changéríon aired on TV Tokyo. Guyferd was produced by Toho. In 1987 an OVA, Campus Special Investigator Hikaruon, was released as an homage to the Space Sheriff series.
In 2004 a Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger stage show had an appearance by Gavan, who assisted Hurricane Red from Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger and AbaRed from Bakuryū Sentai Abaranger in fighting Alienizer monsters from Dekaranger.
In 2005, Toei released Space Sheriff trilogy merchandise. Later that year Bandai released a "Souchaku Henshin" figure of Gavan, followed by "Souchaku Henshin" figures of Sharivan and Shaider in early 2006. In May 2006 a PlayStation 2 video game, The Space Sheriff Spirits, was released. It featured Gavan, Sharivan and Shaider teaming up to battle past enemies from their series.
In January 2012, Toei released Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger vs. Space Sheriff Gavan: The Movie, the first crossover between the Super Sentai and Metal Hero series, commemorates the 30th anniversary of Space Sheriff Gavan. In the October 2012 film Space Sheriff Gavan: The Movie, Retsu Ichijouji (Kenji Ohba) passed the torch to a new generation of Space Sheriffs led by Geki Jumonji (Yuma Ishigaki). The following year, the cast of Space Sheriff Gavan: The Movie appeared in Kamen Rider × Super Sentai × Space Sheriff: Super Hero Taisen Z.
United States
During the 1990s, Saban adapted Metal Hero Series shows for American audiences; stock footage from Metalder, Spielvan and Shaider was used in VR Troopers (1994–1996), and footage from both B-Fighter series was later used in Big Bad Beetleborgs. Both shows ran for two seasons.
Philippines
In the Philippines (where several series aired and were dubbed into local languages) Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan was greenlighted by Toei as a sequel to Shaider, with characters who are descendents of those in the original series. Toei later halted production, instead authorizing a spin-off series set 20 years after the end of Shaider.
Brazil
The Metal Hero series were successful in Brazil. In 1988, Juspion (as Jaspion) was broadcast by TV Manchete. Manchete followed with Jiraiya in 1989, Jiban in 1990, Spielvan (renamed Jaspion 2) in 1991, Winspector in 1994 and Solbrain in 1995. Other networks also bought shows, with TV Bandeirantes broadcasting Metalder and Sharivan in 1990 and two networks (Rede Globo and TV Gazeta) airing Sheider and Gavan (renamed Gyaban) in 1991. Jaspion, Jiraiya and Jiban were later released on DVD in the country.
Until 2016, most of the series that were released in Brazilian television in 80's and 90's are going to Netflix in Brazil. The distribution company Sato Company acquired many of those series and negotiated with Netflix. Also, some new products like Garo series are in these negotiations too.