Metaseries of tokusatsu superhero TV series
The
Metal Hero Series
(
メタルヒ?ロ?シリ?ズ
,
Metaru H?r? Series
)
is a
metaseries
of
tokusatsu
superhero
TV series produced by
Toei
for Japanese television.
The protagonists of the
Metal Hero Series
are mainly
space
,
military
and
police
-based characters who are typically either androids, cyborgs, or human beings who don "metallic"
[
clarification needed
]
armored suits. Henceforth, most of the Metal Heroes are also referenced as another example of the "Henshin (transforming) Heroes" genre. Usually, the genre revolves around a technological theme where technology, in the right hands, can be used for the greater good.
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
even spawned such sequels which followed the continuity of the previous shows, resulting in the genre developing sub-categories based mainly on space, military and police-related characters.
List of
Metal Hero Series
[
edit
]
- 1982:
Space Sheriff Gavan
(
宇宙刑事ギャバン
,
Uch? Keiji Gyaban
)
- 1983:
Space Sheriff Sharivan
(
宇宙刑事シャリバン
,
Uch? Keiji Shariban
)
- 1984:
Space Sheriff Shaider
(
宇宙刑事シャイダ?
,
Uch? Keiji Shaid?
)
- 1985:
MegaBeast Investigator Juspion
(
巨?特?ジャスピオン
,
Kyoj? Tokus? Jasupion
,
Space Wolf Juspion
)
- 1986:
Jikuu Senshi Spielban
(
時空?士スピルバン
,
Jik? Senshi Supiruban
,
Spacetime Warrior Spielban
)
- 1987:
Choujinki Metalder
(
超人機メタルダ?
,
Ch?jinki Metarud?
,
Superhuman Machine Metalder
)
- 1988:
Sekai Ninja Sen Jiraiya
(
世界忍者?ジライヤ
,
Sekai Ninja Sen Jiraiya
,
World Ninja War Jiraiya
)
- 1989:
The Mobile Cop Jiban
(
機動刑事ジバン
,
Kid? Keiji Jiban
)
- 1990:
Special Rescue Police Winspector
(
特警ウインスペクタ?
,
Tokkei Uinsupekut?
)
- 1991:
Super Rescue Solbrain
(
特救指令ソルブレイン
,
Tokky? Shirei Soruburein
,
Special Rescue Command Solbrain
)
- 1992:
Special Rescue Exceedraft
(
特?エクシ?ドラフト
,
Tokus? Ekush?dorafuto
,
Special Rescue Exceedraft
)
- 1993:
Tokusou Robo Janperson
(
特?ロボ ジャンパ?ソン
,
Tokus? Robo Janp?son
,
Special Investigations Robo Janperson
)
- 1994:
Blue SWAT
(
ブル?スワット
,
Bur? Suwatto
)
- 1995:
Juukou B-Fighter
(
重甲ビ?ファイタ?
,
J?k? B? Fait?
,
Heavyshell Beetle Fighter
)
- 1996:
B-Fighter Kabuto
(
ビ?ファイタ?カブト
,
B? Fait? Kabuto
,
Beetle Fighter Kabuto
)
- 1997:
B-Robo Kabutack
(
ビ?ロボカブタック
,
B? Robo Kabutakku
,
Beetle Robo Kabutack
)
- 1998:
Tetsuwan Tantei Robotack
(
テツワン探偵ロボタック
,
Tetsuwan Tantei Robotakku
,
Iron Bark Detective Robotack
)
Theatrical releases
[
edit
]
V-Cinema releases
[
edit
]
- Televi Magazine Super Video/Special DVD
- Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters vs. Beet Buster vs. J
- Space Sheriff Gavan Special DVD
International adaptations
[
edit
]
United States
[
edit
]
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. As of 2018,
Discotek Media
has licensed
Juspion
for release marking the first release of the Metal Heroes in the US. Both
Jiraiya
and
Gavan
were used for the
Power Rangers
franchise with Jiraiya as Sheriff Skyfire in
Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel
and Gavan as Captain Chaku in
Power Rangers Beast Morphers
.
Philippines
[
edit
]
In 1987,
Space Sheriff Shaider
was the first Metal Hero series aired in the Philippines on
GMA Network
.
In 1997, GMA aired
Bettleborgs
, produced by the American
Saban Entertainment
and adopted from both
Juukou B-Fighter
and
B-Fighter Kabuto
, pitting up against the
Power Rangers
series on its rival network ABS-CBN in which Saban also produced from the
Super Sentai
with Toei as well.
Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan
was greenlighted by Toei as a sequel to
Shaider
, with characters who are descendants of those in the original series.
[1]
Toei later halted production, instead authorizing a spin-off series set 20 years after the end of
Shaider
.
[2]
Brazil
[
edit
]
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
,
Amazon Prime Video
and
Playplus
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.
[3]
Current status
[
edit
]
Other similar heroes, such as
Nebula Mask Machine Man
,
Kyodai Ken Byclosser
,
Lady Battle Cop
, and
Choukou Senshi Changerion
, were also produced during the time that the
Metal Hero Series
were on the air, but are not included as part of the
Metal Hero Series
for various reasons.
Machine Man
and
Bicrosser
were created by
Shotaro Ishinomori
, while Changerion's armor is not metallic and aired on
TV Tokyo
. It's unknown if Lady Battle Cop is part of Toei's shared universe.
Currently, the
Metal Hero Series
were one of Toei's defunct genres as the company rather favors more of the
Super Sentai
and
Kamen Rider Series
of shows and allegedly the passing of Shotaro Ishinomori. Although, many of the Metal Hero traits have been adopted into the new generation of Super Sentai and Kamen Rider shows. Today, the present versions of this type of heroes are also merged in with the
Henshin Heroes
description.
Some Metal Heroes have also made cameo appearances. In 2004, a special
Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger
stage show had a special appearance by Gavan, who assisted Hurricane Red from
Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger
and Aba Red from
Bakuryuu Sentai Abaranger
in battling various Alienizer monsters from
Deka Ranger
.
In 2005, Toei released some
Uchuu Keiji
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 titled
The Space Sheriff Spirits
was released. The game featured Gavan, Sharivan and Shaider all teaming up to battle past enemies from their series. The game was panned by critics, however, for bland graphics and dull gameplay.
[
original research?
]
In early 2008, the trading card company Cardass announced a new, Metal Heroes based expansion to their
Rangers Strike
card game, entitled
Special Metal Edition
, featuring characters and vehicles from the various
Metal Hero Series
for use within the game.
Despite no more television series having been made, the Space Sheriff Series re-emerged in the 2010s with feature films, including new actors portraying successors to Gavan, Sharivan, and Shaider. Some of them are stand alone entries, while others feature crossovers with other Super Sentai and Kamen Rider characters.
References
[
edit
]