Uchuu Keiji Gavan

, or Uchyu Keiji Gabanhttps://www.toei.co.jp/en/tv/spacecopgabin.html, translated in English as Space Sheriff Gavan, is the first of the Metal Hero Series. It aired on TV Asahi from Friday March 5th, 1982 through February 25th,1983 at 7:30 pm.
For distribution purposes, Toei refers to this television series as Space Cop Gabin.
== Production History ==
By September of 1981, the end of Tsuburaya Production's latest installment to the Ultra Series (Ultraman 80) and Kamen Rider Super-1 were finished. Toei Company were in the works of the next Super Sentai project (Dai Sentai Goggle-V), but they also wanted to have a solo superhero show for 1982, but not another Kamen Rider season. They wanted to have a brand new show that children could instantly jump into without having to know anything about the concept.
Producer Susumu Yoshikawa was in charge of the new series, and Katsushi Murakami was the head designer, which he came up with a drawing of a warrior who was wielding a sword with the universe behind him.
The 1st initial title for the project was "Space Detective Z", which would be scrapped. Other titles pitched around were Gingjiro and Ginbird. But the decision was finally settled on "Space Sheriff Gavan" based on the famous french actor Jean Gabin who was immensely popular in Japan. It was also easy to trademark the name since of its non-Japanese background.
As for actors, it was decided to cast Keiji Oba from already acclaimed shows Battle Fever J (1979) & Denzi Sentai Denziman (1980) to play the main role of Retsu Ichijouji/Space Sheriff Gavan. Producer Susumu Yoshikawa informed Keiji Oba that "If the show drops to single digits in ratings, its getting the cut." So Oba made sure his portrayal was likeable for audience members so they could come back to watch more. The average ratings for Space Sheriff Gavan was 18.6%, making it a very successful show. 
==Plot==
Earth is invaded by the Makuu Empire (literally "demon space"), led by Don Horror, who had first destroyed a space colony near Earth. Don Horror wants to dominate the whole universe, and the Earth represents an obstacle that he has to overcome, but not necessarily destroying it. To do this, Don Horror sends spaceships to create panic on Earth. While the Makuu is trying to impose its domination, Space Sheriff Gavan from the Galactic Union Patrol, arrives in his spaceship, the Dolgiran. He comes from the Bird Planet, the planet where Space Sheriffs are trained and where they are stationed while on call. Gavan is asked to defend the Earth, which is his mother's planet of origin.
Gavan is helped by Mimi, the daughter of Commander Qom, and is given information by Qom, assisted by Marin on his home planet. Gavan goes to Earth to defend it against Don Horror and his devilish schemes. He settles on Earth incognito, using his actual human name, Retsu Ichijouji; he takes a job at the Avalon Youth Club in Japan.
==Characters==
===Dolgiran Crew===
Space Sheriff Gavan 	Retsu Ichijouji
Space Sheriff Gavan Type‑G	Geki Jumonji
* Mimi ►◄ Marin ► Shelly
===Allies===
====Planet Bird====
*Sophie
*Eleena
*Commander Qom
*Space Sheriffs
**Space Sheriff Voicer
**Space Sheriff Alan
*Tsukiko Hoshino
====Earth====
*Kojiro Oyama
*Gosuke Fuji
*Wakaba Fuji
*Yoichi Fuji
*Shigeru Touyama
*Itsuki Kawai
*Space Sheriffs
Space Sheriff Sharivan	Den Iga
Space Sheriff Shaider 	Dai Sawamura
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Cheetah	Cheeda Nick
Gorilla	Gorisaki Banana
Rabbit 	Usada Lettuce
Beetle 	Beet J. Stag
====Super Sentai====
*Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger
DekaRed 	
DekaBlue 	
DekaGreen 	
DekaYellow	
DekaPink 	
DekaBreak 	
DekaMaster	
*Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger
Gokai Red 	Captain Marvelous
Gokai Blue 	Joe Gibken
Gokai Yellow	Luka Millfy
Gokai Green 	Don Dogoier
Gokai Pink 	Ahim de Famille
Gokai Silver	Gai Ikari
*Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters
Red Buster 	Hiromu Sakurada
Blue Buster 	Ryuji Iwasaki
Yellow Buster	Yoko Usami
Beet Buster 	Masato Jin
Stag Buster 	Beet J. Stag
*Battle Fever J
Battle Kenya	Shirou Akebono
*Denshi Sentai Denziman
DenziBlue	Daigoro Oume
*Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger
Kyoryu Red 	Daigo Kiryu
Kyoryu Black	Ian Yorkland
Kyoryu Blue 	Nobuharu Udo
Kyoryu Green	Souji Rippukan
Kyoryu Pink 	Amy Yuuzuki
Kyoryu Gold 	Utsusemimaru
*Samurai Sentai Shinkenger
Shinken Yellow	Kotoha Hanaori
*Uchu Sentai Kyuranger
Shishi Red 	
Hebitsukai Silver	
====Kamen Riders====
Kamen Rider Wizard	Haruto Soma
Kamen Rider Beast 	Kosuke Nitoh
===Villains===
====The Space Crime Organization Makuu====
*Don Horror
*Hunter Killer
*San Dorva
**Zan Vardo
*Kiba
**Witch Kill
*Beast-Alien Doubleman
*Crushers
*Horror Girl
Bootleg 	Gavan Bootleg
Brighton	Toya Okuma
====BEM Monsters====
*Shako Monster (1)
*Gamara Monster (2)
*Condor Monster (3)
*Sasori Monster (4)
*Dokuja Monster (5)
*Oomadako Monster (6)
*Samurai Ari Monster (7)
*Kaenzaru Monster (8)
*Nijichou Monster (10)
*Armadillo Monster (11)
*Goat Monster (12)
*Sai Monster (13)
====Double Monsters / Doublers====
*Sai Doubler (13 and 14)
*Shamo Doubler (15)
*Kama Doubler (16)
*Hyou Doubler (17)
*Aokame Doubler (18)
*Kyouryuu Doubler (19)
*Kera Doubler (20)
*Mitsubachi Doubler (21)
*Kurage Doubler (22)
*Kumo Doubler (23)
*Sabre Doubler (24)
*Goshiki Doubler (25)
*Gas Doubler (26)
*Jaaku Doubler (27)
*Hakkotsu Doubler (28)
*Magic Doubler (29)
*Keibi Doubler (30)
*Saimin Doubler (31)
*Totsugeki Doubler (32)
*Kaibutsu Doubler (33)
*Doctor Doubler (34)
*Guts Doubler (35)
*Urami Doubler (36)
*Anahori Doubler (37)
*Gang Doubler (38)
*Nottori Doubler (39)
*Youkai Doubler (40)
*Jigoku Doubler (41)
*Buffalo Doubler (42)
*Lizard Doubler (Movie)
* (Go-Busters 31 & 32)
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Beet Buster	
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==Episodes==
==Cast==
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**Horror Girl (Voice): 
*Narrator: Issei Masamune
===Guest stars===
* Double Man: Satoshi Kurihara (episode 2)
* Double Man: Masashi Ishibashi (episode 3)
* Double Man: Shun Ueda (episode 6)
* Samurai Ari Monster (human form): Susumu Kurobe (ep 7)
*: 
* Doctor Hoshino: Eiji Kawamura (ep 11)
* Goh Daijoji/Hyou Doubler: Shinji Todo (ep 17)
* Honey: Machiko Soga (episode 21)
* Monica (younger): Hitomi Yoshioka (episode 28)
* Paul: Hirohisa Nakata (episode 29)
* Alan: Hiroshi Miyauchi (episode 30 & 31)
* Anahori Doubler: Hideyo Amamoto (episode 37)
* Policeman: Touta Tarumi (episode 38)
* Den Iga: Hiroshi Watari (episode 42 and 44)
===Directed by===
*Takafumi Hattori
*Hideo Tanaka
*Takeshi Ogasawara
*Yoshiaki Kobayashi
===Story and Screenplay by===
*Kazue Abe
*Mikio Matsushita
*Nagai Tatsuro
*Shozo Uehara
*Susumu Takahisa
*Tomomi Tsutsui
*Tsuyoo Hayashi
===Produced by===
*Itaru Hotta
*Susumu Yoshikawa
==Songs==
;Opening theme
*
**Lyrics: 
**Composition: 
**Arrangement: 
**Artist: Akira Kushida
;Ending theme
*
**Lyrics: Keisuke Yamakawa
**Composition: Michiaki Watanabe
**Arrangement: Kōji Makaino
**Artist: Akira Kushida
==Insert Themes==
*
**Lyrics: Keisuke Yamakawa
**Composition: Michiaki Watanabe
**Arrangement: Kōji Makaino
**Artist: Akira Kushida, Koorogi '73
*
**Lyrics: Keisuke Yamakawa
**Composition: Michiaki Watanabe
**Arrangement: Kōji Makaino
**Artist: Akira Kushida
==In other countries==
*Uchuu Keiji Gavan was released in the Philippines as Sky Ranger (although the eyecatch and the theme song still says Uchuu Keiji Gavan) in the early 1990s - years after its sequel Uchuu Keiji Shaider aired in that country. Oddly enough, the series was not as popular as Shaider.
*The series was aired in France under the title X-OR. Its popularity led to airings of subsequent Metal Hero shows such as Uchuu Keiji Sharivan and Jikuu Senshi Spielban
*Malaysia's screening of Gavan (translated as Space Cop Gaban) on local TV has gained itself a cult following, and the word 'Gaban' itself has become a meme. It's used after adjectives to give an image of bravery e.g "besar gaban" (epically big) or "gaban betul" (really brave).
==Notes==
*The eyecatch for Uchuu Keiji Gavan features an illustration of Gavan with a Shotari Ishinimori-inspired look.
*Although the show was called Space Sheriff Gavan, Gavan's design still had some leftover initial plans for the original title Space Detective Z. You can clearly see the reminiscence of a Z shape design on his chest. 
==External links==
* at 
*Uchuu Keiji Gavan at Japanese Wikipedia
*Uchuu Keiji Gavan at IMDB
Category:Series
Category:Uchuu Keiji Gavan
Category:Over-Technology