Choujuu Sentai Liveman

**Choujuu Sentai Liveman** (超獣戦隊ライブマン, *Chōjū Sentai Raibuman*?, translated as **Super Beast Squadron Liveman**) is the twelfth entry of the *Super Sentai* series.

The last Super Sentai title of the Showa era, it aired on TV Asahi from February 27, 1988 to February 18, 1989. Its international English title as listed by Toei is simply *Liveman*.

The series was broadcast in France as *Bioman 3*, being marketed as the direct sequels to *Choudenshi Bioman* and *Bioman 2* (*Hikari Sentai Maskman*). It was the first Super Sentai series that introduced animal-based mecha.

It was also the first Super Sentai series that introduced a super-combined robot (that is two robots put together) as well the last Super Sentai series that had its mechas transported to the battle through a flying fortress.

## Plot

"Friends, why have you sold your soul to the devil!?"
―Narrator**[src]**

Academia Island is an elite school that various genius students from across the globe attend. Among them are Yusuke Amamiya, Joh Ohara, Megumi Misaki, who with Takuji Yano, and Mari Aikawa sought to create a suit strong enough for space exploration. However, three of their classmates and dear friends, Kenji Tsukigata, Rui Senda, and Goh Omura, felt their talents are being wasted and leave to join an evil organization called Volt where offers them to raise their full scientific potential.

As a result, when Yusuke and company saw them leaving, Kenji draws a gun on the three with Takuji and Mari taking the fatal blow. Soon after, one of the professors at the school, Professor Hoshi, pitches in to help Yusuke and his friends complete the suits so they can serve to prepare against Volt. And then in 1988, the present day, with that Kenji, Rui, and Goh now known as Doctors Kemp, Mazenda, and Oblar, Volt begins its attack by devastating Academia Island.

As a result, Yusuke, Joh, and Megumi take up the suits they created and become the Livemen to battle against their former classmates and Volt. Though they managed to get Goh to leave Volt, the organization recruits new members in Doctor Ashura and the aliens Guildos and Butchy. Soon after, the Livemen are joined by Tetsuya and Jun'ichi, the respective younger brothers of Takuji and Mari, while learning that there is a darker agenda behind Volt that only its leader Bias knows.

## Characters

### Allies

* Doctor Hoshi
* Colon
* Takuji Yano
* Mari Aikawa
* Takeshi Yano (5)
* Toshiko Omura (21-22)
* Yoichiro Misaki (27)
* Dr. Dorothee (30)
* Mai Funachi (32)

### Armed Brain Army Volt

* Great Professor Bias
* Doctor Kemp
* Doctor Mazenda
* Doctor Obular
* Doctor Ashura
* Guardnoid Gash
* Guildian Guildos
* Chibuchian Butchy
* Jimmers
* Brain Beasts
	+ Bias Brain Beasts
		- Gal Brain (34)
		- Bomber Brain (42)
		- Electron Brain (49)
	+ Kemp Brain Beasts
		- Engine Brain (5)
		- Anger Brain (8)
		- Maze Brain (10)
		- Pierrot Brain (17)
		- Obular Brain (21)
		- Sword Brain (23)
		- Gore Brain (32)
		- Guild Brain (35)
		- Shark Brain (37)
		- Invisible Brain (41)
		- Battle Brain (46)
		- Terror Beast Brain (48)
	+ Mazenda Brain Beasts
		- Transmission Brain (4)
		- Tank Brain (9)
		- Poison Gas Brain (13)
		- Twin Brain (18)
		- Pig Brain (24)
		- Light Brain (26)
		- Robo Brain (33)
		- Armor Brain (36)
		- Wolf Brain (38)
		- Space Brain (40)
		- Nightmare Brain (47)
	+ Obular Brain Beasts
		- Virus Brain (3)
		- Time Brain (6)
		- Baboon Brain (11)
		- Plasma Brain (16)
		- Study Brain (19)
	+ Ashura Brain Beasts
		- Test Brain (12)
		- Elec Brain (14)
		- Spirit Brain (25)
		- Hacker Brain (45)
	+ Guildos & Butchy Brain Beasts
		- Regeneration Brain (20)
		- Guitar Brain (22)
		- Earthquake Brain (27)
		- Vega Brain (31)
			* Vega Baby
		- Meteor Brain (39)
		- Guildo Brain (43)
		- Reckless Brain (44)
	+ Gash Brain Beasts
		- Disconnect Brain (2)
		- Fire Brain (15)

## Arsenal

### Team Blaster and Individual Weapons

* Biomotion Buster
* Triple Bazooka ◆◆◆
	+ Falcon Saber ◆
	+ Lion Bazooka ◆
	+ Dolphin Arrow ◆
* Falcon Sword ◆
* Lion Punch ◆
* Bison Rod ◆
* Sai Cutters ◆

### Vehicles

* Moto Machines
* Live Cougar

## Mecha

*Legend*:◆ piloted mecha, ➲ carrier mecha
* Gran Tortoise ➲
	+ Machine Buffalo ➲
		- Super Liverobo ◆◆◆◆◆
			* Liverobo ◆◆◆
				+ Jet Falcon ◆
				+ Land Lion ◆
				+ Aqua Dolphin ◆
			* Live Boxer ◆◆
				+ Bison Liner ◆
				+ Sai Fire ◆

## Episodes

*Main article: Choujuu Sentai Liveman Episodes*
1. Ep. 1: Friends! Why Did You Do This!? (友よ君達はなぜ!?, *Tomo yo Kimitachi wa Naze!?*?)
2. Ep. 2: Three Powers Sworn to Life (命に誓う三つの力, *Inochi ni Chikau Mittsu no Chikara*?)
3. Ep. 3: Oblar Demonic Transformation (オブラー悪魔変身, *Oburā Akuma Henshin*?)
4. Ep. 4: Expose! The Dummy Man (暴け! ダミーマン, *Abake! Damī Man*?)
5. Ep. 5: The Reckless Driving Engine Monster (暴走エンジン怪獣, *Bōsō Enjin Kaijū*?)
6. Ep. 6: Attack! The Dinosaur That Lived (襲来! 生きた恐竜, *Shūrai! Ikita Kyōryū*?)
7. Ep. 7: Dinosaur VS Live Robo (恐竜VSライブロボ, *Kyōryū tai Raibu Robo*?)
8. Ep. 8: The Duel of Love and Anger! (愛と怒りの決闘!, *Ai to Ikari no Kettō!*?)
9. Ep. 9: Rose! Smell Feverish (バラよ熱く香れ!, *Bara yo Atsuku Kaore!*?)
10. Ep. 10: The Skateboard to Escape the Maze (スケボー迷路破り, *Sukebō Meiro Yaburi*?)
11. Ep. 11: The Man Who Bit a Brain Beast (頭脳獣を噛んだ男, *Zunōjū o Kanda Otoko*?)
12. Ep. 12: Super-Genius Ashura! (超天才アシュラ!, *Chō Tensai Ashura!*?)
13. Ep. 13: Burn! Steel Colon (燃えよ鋼鉄コロン, *Moe yo Kōtetsu Koron*?)
14. Ep. 14: The Scream of Kettle-Man Yusuke (ナベ男勇介の叫び, *Nabe Otoko Yūsuke no Sakebu*?)
15. Ep. 15: Deadly! Grim Reaper Gash (必殺! 死神ガッシュ, *Hissatsu! Shinigami Gasshu*?)
16. Ep. 16: The Letter of the Jiang Shi (キョンシーの手紙, *Kyonshī no Tegami*?)
17. Ep. 17: The Crying Doll! The Attacking Doll! (泣く人形! 襲う人形!, *Naku Ningyō! Osō Ningyō!*?)
18. Ep. 18: A Trap! Joh's Beloved Brain Beast (罠! 丈の愛した頭脳獣, *Wana! Jō no Ai Shita Zunōjū*?)
19. Ep. 19: Geek-Boy Oblar (ガリ勉坊やオブラー, *Gariben Bōya Oburā*?)
20. Ep. 20: Failing Oblar's Counterattack! (落第オブラーの逆襲!, *Rakudai Oburā no Gyakushū*?)
21. Ep. 21: Listen, Goh!! Mother's Voice… (豪よ聞け! 母の声を…, *Gō yo Kike! Haha no Koe o...*?)
22. Ep. 22: Enter the Space Karaoke Master (宇宙カラオケ名人登場, *Uchū Karaoke Meijin Tōjō*?)
23. Ep. 23: The Life Risked at 0.1 Second (コンマ1秒に賭けた命, *Konma Ichibyō ni Kaketa Inochi*?)
24. Ep. 24: Can You Get a 100 for Playing!? (遊んで百点が取れる!?, *Asonde Hyakuten ga Toreru!?*?)
25. Ep. 25: The 8 Brain Beasts of Tsuruga Castle! (鶴ケ城の8大頭脳獣!, *Tsugurajō no Hachidai Zunōjū!*?)
26. Ep. 26: Aizu's Huge Rhinocerous Beetles! (会津の巨大カブト虫!, *Aizu no Kyodai Kabutomushi!*?)
27. Ep. 27: Daughter!! Destroy the Giga Project (娘よ! ギガ計画を射て, *Musume yo! Giga Keikaku o Ite*?)
28. Ep. 28: The Challenge of the Huge Giga Volt (巨大ギガボルトの挑戦, *Kyodai Gigaboruto no Chōsen*?)
29. Ep. 29: The Vengeful Live Boxer (復讐のライブボクサー, *Fukushū no Raibu Bokusā*?)
30. Ep. 30: Five Warriors, Here and Now (今ここに5人の戦士が, *Ima Koko ni Gonin no Senshi ga*?)
31. Ep. 31: Mama! The Parasitic Monster's Cries (ママ! 寄生怪物の叫び, *Mama! Kisei Kaibutsu no Sakebi*?)
32. Ep. 32: Kemp, The Riddle of Blood and Roses (ケンプ、血とバラの謎, *Kenpu, Chi to Bara no Nazo*?)
33. Ep. 33: Do Your Best, Tetsu-chan Robot (がんばれ鉄ちゃんロボ, *Ganbare Tetsu-chan Robo*?)
34. Ep. 34: Love That Runs through the Future and Present! (未来と今を駆ける恋!, *Mirai to Ima o Kakeru Koi!*?)
35. Ep. 35: Yusuke and Kemp's Promise!! (勇介とケンプの約束!!, *Yūsuke to Kenpu no Yakusoku!!*?)
36. Ep. 36: Crash! The Tackle of Friendship (激突! 友情のタックル, *Gekitotsu! Yūjō no Takkuru*?)
37. Ep. 37: 16-Year-Old Kemp's Fear Beast Transformation! (16才ケンプ恐獣変身!, *Jūrokusai Kenpu Kyōjū Henshin!*?)
38. Ep. 38: Mobile Weapon of Destruction Mazenda (動く破壊兵器マゼンダ, *Ugoku Hakai Heiki Mazenda*?)
39. Ep. 39: Protect it! A Lifeform of Space (守れ! 宇宙の一粒の命, *Mamore! Uchū no Hitotsubu no Inochi*?)
40. Ep. 40: Love!? Megumi and the Jewel Thief (恋!? めぐみと宝石泥棒, *Koi!? Megumi to Hōseki Dorobō*?)
41. Ep. 41: The Confession of Goh, The Invisible Man!! (透明人間、豪の告白!!, *Tōmei Ningen, Gō no Kokuhaku!!*?)
42. Ep. 42: Bias' Challenge From Space (ビアス宇宙からの挑戦, *Biasu Uchū Kara no Chōsen*?)
43. Ep. 43: A Mystery!? Guildos' Final Form (怪!? ギルドス最後の姿, *Kai!? Girudosu Saigo no Sugata*?)
44. Ep. 44: Butchy's Great Reckless Driving of Tears!! (ブッチー涙の大暴走!!, *Butchī Namida no Dai Bōsō!!*?)
45. Ep. 45: Ashura Reversal One Chance Game (アシュラ逆転一発勝負, *Ashura Gyakuten Ippotsujōbu*?)
46. Ep. 46: Honorable Man, Arashi! The Final Battle (オトコ嵐! 最後の戦い, *Otoko Arashi! Saigo no Tatakai*?)
47. Ep. 47: A 1000-Point Brain! Mazenda!! (千点頭脳! マゼンダ!!, *Senten Zunō! Mazenda!!*?)
48. Ep. 48: Birth!! Boy King Bias! (誕生!! 少年王ビアス!, *Tanjō!! Shōnen Ō Biasu!*?)
49. Final Ep.: The Fall of Great Professor Bias (大教授ビアスの崩壊, *Dai Kyōju Biasu no Hōkai*?)

## Cast

* Yusuke Amamiya (天宮 勇介, *Amamiya Yūsuke*?): Daisuke Shima (嶋 大輔, *Shima Daisuke*?)
* Joh Ohara (大原 丈, *Ōhara Jō*?): Kazuhiko Nishimura (西村 和彦, *Nishimura Kazuhiko*?)
* Megumi Misaki (岬 めぐみ, *Misaki Megumi*?): Megumi Mori (森 恵, *Mori Megumi*?)
* Tetsuya Yano (矢野 鉄也, *Yano Tetsuya*?): Seirou Yamaguchi (山口 正朗, *Yamaguchi Seirō*?)
* Jun'ichi Aikawa (相川 純一, *Aikawa Jun'ichi*?): Jin Kawamoto (河本 忍, *Kawamoto Jin*?)
* Doctor Hoshi (星博士, *Hoshi-hakase*?): Daisuke Ban (伴 大介, *Ban Daisuke*?) (credited as Naoya Ban (伴 直弥, *Ban Naoya*?))
* Great Professor Bias (大教授ビアス, *Daikyōju Biasu*?): Joji Nakata (中田 譲治, *Nakata Jōji*?)
* Kenji Tsukikata/Doctor Kemp (月形 剣史/ドクター・ケンプ, *Tsukigata Kenji/Dokutā Kenpu*?): Yutaka Hirose (広瀬 裕, *Hirose Yutaka*?) (credited as Takumi Hirose (広瀬 匠, *Hirose Takumi*?))
* Rui Senda/Doctor Mazenda (仙田 ルイ/ドクター・マゼンダ, *Senda Rui/Dokutā Mazenda*?): Akiko Amamatsuri (天祭 揚子, *Amamatsuri Akiko*?) (credited as Akiko Kurusu (来栖 明子, *Kurusu Akiko*?))
* Goh Omura/Doctor Oblar (尾村 豪/ドクター・オブラー, *Omura Gō/Dokutā Oburā*?): Toru Sakai (坂井 徹, *Sakai Tōru*?)
* Arashi Busujima/Doctor Ashura (毒島 嵐/ドクター・アシュラ, *Busujima Arashi/Dokutā Ashura*?): Yoshinori Okamoto (岡本 美登, *Okamoto Yoshinori*?)
* Narrator: Takeshi Kuwabara (桑原 たけし, *Kuwabara Takeshi*?)

### Voice actors

* Colon: Makoto Kousaka (高坂 真琴, *Kōsaka Makoto*?)
* Beast Man Oblar: Atsuo Mori (森 篤夫, *Mori Atsuo*?)
* Guildos: Moichi Saito (斉藤 茂一, *Saitō Moichi*?)
* Butchy: Takuzo Kamiyama (神山 卓三, *Kamiyama Takuzō*?)
* Gash: Hideaki Kusaka (日下 秀昭, *Kusaka Hideaki*?)

### Suit actors

* Red Falcon: Kazuo Niibori
* Yellow Lion: Masato Akada
* Blue Dolphin: Yuichi Hachisuka
* Black Bison, Live Boxer: Hirofumi Ishigaki
* Green Sai: Shoji Hachisuka
* Live Robo, Super Live Robo: Hideaki Kusaka
* Colon: Haruko Watanabe
* Gash: Naoki Ofuji

## Songs

Opening theme
* "Choujuu Sentai Liveman" (超獣戦隊ライブマン, *Chōjū Sentai Raibuman*?)
	+ Lyrics: Akira Ohtsu (大津 あきら, *Ōtsu Akira*?)
	+ Composition: Yasuo Kosugi (小杉 保夫, *Kosugi Yasuo*?)
	+ Arrangement: Ohzuchi Fujita (藤田 大土, *Fujita Ōzuchi*?)
	+ Artist: Daisuke Shima

Ending theme
* "Ashita ni Ikiru ze!" (あしたに生きるぜ!, *"Ashita ni Ikiru ze!"*? Live to Tomorrow!)
	+ Lyrics: Akira Ohtsu
	+ Composition: Yasuo Kosugi
	+ Arrangement: Ohzuchi Fujita
	+ Artist: Daisuke Shima

Insert theme
* Dash! Live Robo
* Live Boxer no Uta
* Susume! Live March
* Knock! Nekkyou no Live
* Utsukushiki Dreamer
* Seigi wa Fumetsu sa, Liveman
* Spark! Umi e
* Live Century ~Ore-tachi no Shinseiki~
* Hop Step Love Jump!
* Maken Kimanten! Liveman

## International broadcasts

### France

The series was aired and dubbed in French on TF1 as *Bioman 3* in 1989. A french opening song for the show was sung by Bernard Minet.

### Spain

The series aired on La 1 and dubbed in Spanish between 1989 and 1991 as *Bioman* (dropping the 3 from the French title, as *Bioman* and *Maskman* didn't air in the country) and the dub was translated from the French one. The opening song was a spanish version of the opening song used for the French dub of *Bioman*.

### Latin America

In Peru, the series was dubbed in Spanish on Panamericana Televisión and on Frecuencia Latina as *Super Fuerza Liveman*(Super Force Liveman) between 1992 and 1995 and it made a huge success. In Bolivia, the show was aired once on ATB Red Nacional and wasn't aired anymore. In Ecuador, was aired on Ecuavisa in the 90's and it enjoyed the same success as in Peru.

## Notes

* Along with its successor, *Turboranger*, Liveman celebrates the anniversary of the Sentai franschise, an anniversary logo was created and Daisuke Shima and Megumi Mori (who both were extremely popular singers at the time) were cast as a little something special for the anniversary. Although Liveman is the twelfth series, at the time of the series' debut, it was the tenth series, as *Gorenger* and *J.A.K.Q.* weren't counted as Super Sentai until later. Both series celebrated the tenth anniversary of Super Sentai as Liveman was the tenth series and Turboranger aired ten years after the then first series, *Battle Fever J*.
* This series introduces the following firsts in Super Sentai:
	+ The first to feature a female Blue Ranger (Blue Dolphin) followed by *Jetman*, *Hurricaneger* and *Magiranger*.
	+ The first to feature both a Black Ranger and a Green Ranger in the core team instead of interchanging them wherein one will be featured but not the other (or in the case of *Zyuranger*, *Ohranger*, and *Gingaman*, wherein one is in the core team and the other will join later as the sixth member) followed by *Go-Onger* and *Kyoryuger*.
	+ The first to have a Super Fusion Robo, Super Live Robo (combination of Live Robo and Live Boxer).
	+ The first to have less than 50 episodes in Super Sentai.
* This season and *Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger* are notable for sharing similar concepts: both teams start off as a team of three with later members joining and both are themed and have mecha tied after the same three animals: a heraldic bird, a dolphin and a lion.
	+ Liveman also shares similarity with *Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan* in being only the second series that starts with a three member team. Likewise, both season have similarities between their connected powers: the red teammate is a bird (Eagle/Falcon), the blue teammate an aquatic creature (Shark/Dolphin) and the yellow teammate a large cat. (Panther/Lion)
* The Land Lion is the first true animal-based mech, as opposed to a mech that has animal motifs such as the others the Liveman use. Mechs actually based on animals would not become more standard until *Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger*.
* Liveman is the very last Sentai to be credited as part of the "Showa period", both in Japanese and Sentai history. In actual terms, it is the last series to air during the reign of Japanese emperor Hirohito (also known as "Showa"), who died on January 7, 1989 (with six episodes left to air). In Sentai terms, Liveman is considered a cut-off point due to many of the changes and adjustments to the franchise to come after this series.
* Joji Nakata (Great Professor Bias), Yutaka Hirose (Doctor Kemp/Kenji Tsukigata) and Yoshinori Okamoto (Doctor Ashura/Arashi Busujima) are castmates in *Choushinsei Flashman*.
* The scene of a puppy on a skateboard that appears in the opening sequence appeared in episode 34 During a montage of Hikaru and Momoko/Pink Mask's date in the previous series *Hikari Sentai Maskman*.

## References

1. ↑ "Library -- English Titles -- TOEI TV Website". http://tvarc.toei.co.jp/tv/library/series-title.html. Retrieved 2011-03-26.

## External links

* *Choujuu Sentai Liveman* at super-sentai.net
* *Choujuu Sentai Liveman* at Wikipedia
* *Choujuu Sentai Liveman* at Japanese Wikipedia