Metal Hero Series

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 File:Metal Hero Series logo.png
The Template:Nihongo is a genre 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 androids, cyborgs, or humans that don "metallic" suits. Henceforth, most of the Metal Heroes are also referenced as "Henshin (transforming) Heroes." 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, such as Template:KR and Template:SSS.

Some of the Metal Hero Series even spawned 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.

On April 6, 2020, Several Metal Hero Series (from Uchuu Keiji Gavan) become available to stream on the Toei Tokusatsu World Youtube channel. However, some of Metal Hero Series that were on the Toei Tokusatsu World Youtube channel are blocked in several countries due to the license.

### Shōwa

* Template:Nihongo: This series aired in 1982. This series is also known as *X-Or* in France, *Sky Ranger Gavin* in the Philippines, and *Space Cop Gaban* in Brazil, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. This series began the Template:Nihongo and featured a police hero sent to Earth to battle a rampaging force of aliens. This series is visually influenced by Star Wars. Gavan proved popular enough to spawn two direct sequels and introduce a new genre in Japanese television. Gavan was played by Kenji Ohba.
* Template:Nihongo: This series aired in 1983. This direct sequel to *Gavan* features Gavan's protege taking over the role of Earth's protector when Gavan gets promoted in rank (from sergeant to captain) in the Space Sheriff organization. Sharivan was played by Hiroshi Watari.
* Template:Nihongo: This series aired in 1984. The third and last of the Space Sheriff trilogy, this series featured an Earth-born, galactic police force-trained officer taking over Sharivan's job alongside a female deputy. Footage from *Shaider* was used for Ryan Steele's action scenes in the second season of Saban Entertainment's *VR Troopers*. Shaider was played by the late Hiroshi Tsuburaya. The series received a "sequel" in the Philippines in the show *Zaido*.
* Template:Nihongo: This series aired in 1985. Similar in filming, tone, and style of the *Space Sheriff* shows, this series features a warrior sent to stop Satan Gorth and his diabolical son Mad Gallant from destroying the Earth with giant monsters. Juspion had his own giant robot, Daileon, to combat the evil creatures.
* Template:Nihongo: This series aired in 1986. Along with his sidekick, Diana, this program dealt with a hero who crosses through dimensions to combat an alien force that took his father's life and corrupted his sister into the evil Hellvira, who later joined her brother as Lady Helen. Footage from *Spielban* was used for JB and Kaitlin's action scenes in *VR Troopers*.
* Template:Nihongo: This series aired in 1987. Inspired by the classic tokusatsu hero Template:TK, this show dealt with an android given human memories, yet programmed to fight an insidious group that his creator once belonged to. Footage from *Metalder* was used for Ryan Steele's action scenes in the first season of *VR Troopers*.
* Template:Nihongo: This series aired in 1988. This program features an actual ninja master from a historically known ninja clan preparing his son, daughter, and youngest child, along with a family relative and a police officer with ninja roots to combat the re-emergence of a centuries-old demon samurai, his evil offspring, and a host of international ninja warriors from around the world hoping to tip the scales of justice. Jiraiya, the son of the ninja master, is destined to wield an enormous power that Dokusai, the demon samurai, hopes to seize. *Jiraiya* is unusual amongst the Metal Heroes in that the main characters are not cyborgs, androids, or use advanced armor.

### Heisei

* Template:Nihongo: This series aired in 1989. Having a similar premise to the 1980s American film *RoboCop* and the 1970s tokusatsu *Template:TK*, Jiban is a rookie cop gunned down and reborn as a fighting machine against the Criminal Syndicate Bioron, a group of bio-genetic freaks. Jiban is the first Metal Hero to actually bear the emblem of the Japanese National Police, although his "badge" shows a regular American-style sheriff star.
* Template:Nihongo: This series aired in 1990. The first of the Template:Nihongo, this team of two robots and their human armored field commander dealt with real-life crime, mad scientists, rogue cyborgs, and dangerous rescue situations. The mix of fantasy and realistic action proved to be immensely popular with viewers, spawning two sequels.
* Template:Nihongo: This series aired in 1991. A direct sequel to *Tokkei Winspector*, the former base captain of Winspector opens an additional police branch, this time with two humans (a male and a female) and a construction-vehicle styled transforming robot to continue the fight against everyday villains, gangsters with high-tech weapons of destruction, and the occasional robot gone mad. A video game version of *Solbrain* was released for the Family Computer video game platform in Japan. An altered version of the same game was released overseas for the Nintendo Entertainment System titled *Shatterhand*.
* Template:Nihongo: This series aired in 1992. The last of the Rescue Police Series, this program featured a trio of male human armored police officers doing what the previous two teams were doing without the help of any super-powered robots. By this time, the series had stepped away from realistic villains and swerved back towards more sci-fi oriented opponents.
* Template:Nihongo: This series aired in 1993. Another series similar to *Robotto Keiji*. An abandoned police experiment robot is revived by its creator to combat three different organizations of crime in Japan. With a gruff, rougish, gun-totting robot partner named Gungibson, Janperson patrols the streets of Tokyo alongside his creator in shutting down the hidden crime lords that use super science to subjugate the masses. Janperson and Gungibson made a cameo in *Big Bad Beetleborgs*.
* Template:Nihongo: This series aired in 1994. Hidden to the general public, a police organization has been combating alien menaces for years until a sneak attack destroys all but three officers, who alongside some civilian helpers who are aware of the alien infestation, must continue the fight. The show was one of the more "realistic" Metal Hero shows despite the alien theme.
* Template:Nihongo: This series aired in 1995. An alien attack is repelled by a combination of true heroism, super technology, and insect magic housed within three suits of armor. Action footage from *B-Fighter* was used in Saban Entertainment *Big Bad Beetleborgs*.
* Template:Nihongo: This series aired in 1996. A direct sequel to *Juukou B-Fighter*, this program features seven new heroes who utilize technology of the previous Beetle Fighters and insect magic to fend off a horde of monsters from under the Earth. Action footage from *B-Fighter Kabuto* was used in the second season of *Big Bad Beetleborgs: Beetleborgs Metallix*.
* Template:Nihongo: This series aired in 1997. It is the first of the Metal Heroes shows to be geared towards younger children. The characters in *Kabutack* met several characters from *Juukou B-Fighter* and *B-Fighter Kabuto*.
* Template:Nihongo: This series aired in 1998. It was similar to *Kabutack*, but featured a dog robot who was also a detective. It is the last Metal Heroes series.

## Theatrical releases

* 1984: *Uchu Keiji Shaider*
* 1984: *Uchu Keiji Shaider: Chase! The Wondered Kidnapping Group!*
* 1987: *Chojinki Metalder*
* 1989: *Kidou Keiji Jiban*
* 1993: *Tokusou Robo Janperson*
* 1994: *Blue Swat*
* 1994: *Template:TK*
* 1995: *Jyuko B-Fighter*

### V-Cinema releases

* 1998: *B-Robo Kabutack: The Epic Christmas Battle*
* 1999: *Tetsuwan Tantei Robotack and Kabutack: The Great Strange Country Adventure*

## Franchise naming

 File:Wrong Metal Hero Category.jpg
Unlike Super Sentai and Kamen Rider, the term "Metal Hero" was actually first coined by fans and later accepted by Toei. When *Jikuu Senshi Spielban* was on air, the franchise was referred to by various names:

* Space Heroes - Magazine for children
* High Tech Hero Series - Tokusatsu encyclopedias
* Metal Combat-Suit Hero Series - Toei producers

It is still unclear when this series began to be officially credited as "Metal Heroes", though several materials seem to indicate that it could have been during or after the airing of *Kidou Keiji Jiban*.

## Current status

Other similar heroes, such as *Seiun Kamen Machineman*, *Kyodai Ken Byclosser*, *Choukou Senshi Changéríon*, *Template:TK*, and *Seven Star Fighting God Guyferd* also appeared 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. *Machineman* and *Byclosser* were created by the late Shotaro Ishinomori, *Changéríon* aired on TV Tokyo, the status of Lady Battle Cop in the Toei Tokusatsu shared universe timeline is unknown, and *Guyferd* was produced by Toho.

In 1987, a one-shot OVA called *Campus Special Investigator Hikaruon*, was released as an homage of the Space Sheriff Series.

Currently, the Metal Hero Series are a defunct genre in place of Super Sentai and Kamen Rider Series of shows. The Kamen Rider Series itself has adopted many of the Metal Hero Series' traits. Today, the present versions of these types of heroes are merged in with the Henshin Heroes description.

Some Metal Hero Series characters have made cameo appearances. For example, in 2004, a special *Template:PR* stage show had a special appearance by Gavan, who assisted Template:PR from *Template:PR* and Template:PR from *Template:PR* in battling various Template:PR monsters from *Dekaranger*.

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. 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.

### Revival

In January 2012, Toei released the film *Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger vs. Space Sheriff Gavan: The Movie*, this annual Template:PR was allowed to be a special case as the crossover with the previous Sentai was already fulfilled in the anniversary movie which was released in mid-2011. It marked the first crossover between the *Super Sentai* and Metal Hero series and commemorated the 30th anniversary of Gavan.

On October 20, 2012, a new Metal Hero film entitled *Uchuu Keiji Gavan: The Movie* was released. Kenji Ohba returned as Gavan for the last time, with a younger actor Yuma Ishigaki taking over the role as the new Gavan, Geki Jumonji. Geki previously appeared with his assistant Shelly (portrayed by Suzuka Morita) a month prior in a special crossover two-parter with *Template:PR*.

The cast of *Gavan: The Movie* soon joined with the *Template:KR* and *Super Sentai* in *Kamen Rider × Super Sentai × Space Sheriff: Super Hero Taisen Z*, released on April 27th 2013 following the first *Super Hero Taisen* a year prior. Also featuring Kenji Ohba reprising his role as the retired Retsu Ichijouji now in a command poistion as well as the return of the Madou from *Uchuu Keiji Sharivan*, the protagonists of other Metal Hero Series *Sekai Ninja Sen Jiraiya*, *Kidou Keiji Jiban*, *Tokusou Robo Janperson*, *Tokusou Exceedraft*, *Juukou B-Fighter* and *B-Fighter Kabuto* appeared via the Template:PR of *Gokaiger*.

However, with *Gavan: The Movie's* performance in the box office not meeting expectations, doubt has been cast on the *Space Sheriff*/*Metal Heroes* revival and it is unclear whether further productions will follow in the near-future.

Nevertheless, in late 2014, a pair of interconnected V-Cinema features, written by Naruhisa Arakawa and directed by Koichi Sakamoto, based on the new incarnations of *Uchuu Keiji Sharivan* and *Uchuu Keiji Shaider* respectively were released. *Uchuu Keiji Sharivan NEXT GENERATION* was released on October 10th, followed by *Uchuu Keiji Shaider NEXT GENERATION* on November 7th. In addition, these features featured guest appearances from their respective original series, with Hiroshi Watari returning as Den Iga/Sharivan in *Sharivan* and Naomi Morinaga returning as Annie in *Shaider*.

The following year, Takumi Tsutsui (Toha Yamaji) would reprise his role as the eponymous hero of *Sekai Ninja Sen Jiraiya* in a special guest appearance in the Template:PR of the third ninja-themed *Super Sentai*, *Template:PR*, broadcast on October 18th, 2015.

Since 2017, the *Template:TK* film series serves to bring back most of the Metal Hero protagonists, crossing over with various Super Sentai such as *Template:PR* and *Template:PR*.

## Related works

### TV specials

* *Uchuu Keiji Special: The Three Space Sheriffs - Gavan, Sharivan, Shaider Great Gathering!*
* *Juukou B-Fighter* episodes 52 & 53 - Featuring *Blue SWAT* & *Tokusou Robo Janperson*
* *Template:PR Template:PR* - Featuring Jiraiya

### Films

#### Toei Manga Festival

* *Uchuu Keiji Shaider: The Movie* (Released on July 14th, 1984)
* *Uchuu Keiji Shaider: Pursuit! The Strange Kidnappers!* (Released on December 22nd, 1984)
* *Choujinki Metalder: The Movie* (Released on July 18th, 1987)
* *Kidou Keiji Jiban: Great Explosion at the Monster Factory of Fear* (Released on July 15th, 1989)

#### 3D Event

* *Toei Hero Daishugō* (Released in 1994) - Featuring *Blue SWAT*, *Tokusou Robo Janperson*, and *Template:SSS*.

#### Toei Superhero Fair

* *Tokusou Robo Janperson: The Movie* (Released on April 17th, 1993)
* *Blue SWAT: The Movie* (Released on April 16th, 1994) - Edit of TV series first two episodes
* *Juukou B-Fighter: The Movie* (Released on April 15th, 1995)

### Video works

* *B-Robo Kabutack: The Epic Christmas Battle* (Released on March 21st, 1998) - Features Blue Beet and B-Fighter Kabuto
* *Tetsuwan Tantei Robotack and Kabutack: The Great Strange Country Adventure* (Released on March 21st, 1999)
* *Uchuu Keiji Sharivan NEXT GENERATION* (V-Cinema; Released on October 10th, 2014)
* *Uchuu Keiji Shaider NEXT GENERATION* (V-Cinema; Released on November 7th, 2014)
* *Space Squad Uchuu Keiji Gavan vs. Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger* (Screened in June 2017 & limited single item version Blu-ray release; general V-Cinema release on July 19th)
* *Girls in Trouble: Space Squad Episode Zero* (Screened in June 2017 & limited single item version Blu-ray release; general V-Cinema release on August 9th)

### International works

These remakes were produced beyond Japan.

* *VR Troopers* series- Featuring *Choujinki Metalder*, *Uchuu Keiji Shaider*, and *Jikuu Senshi Spielban*
* *Beetleborg* series - Derived from the *B-Fighter* series
* *Template:PR* - Among others, Black Beet's (Shadowborg) suit was reused for a Template:PR in the episode Template:PR.
* *Template:PR* - Jiraiya's suit was used as a Template:PR in the episode of the Template:PR.
* Template:PR- Gavan Type G's suit (and Gavan's newer suit, due to stock footage inconsistencies) were also used as a Template:PR the episodes Template:PR and Template:PR.
* Jaspion *-* An upcoming Brazilian remake of *Kyojuu Tokusou Juspion*intending to be released as a commemoration to 110 years of Japanese immigration to Brazil.

### Games

#### LSI electronic games

* *Pocket Club P-1 Mini Winspector Dispatch! Three Warriors*
* *Pocket Club P-1 Mini Tokkyuu Shirei Solbrain Hurry! Solbrain*
* *Pocket Club P-1 Mini Tokusou Exceedraft Fight! Draft Redder*
* *Pocket Club P-1 Mini Tokusou Robo Janperson Explode! Jan Digic*
* *Pocket Club P-1 Mini Blue SWAT's Rageful Dictator*

#### Video games

* *SD Defeat the Evil forces! Total Hero Battle* (Family Computer, released on July 7th, 1990) - Featuring Shaider, Metalder and Jiban.
* *Tokkyuu Shirei Solbrain* (Family Computer, released on October 26th, 1991, Angel)
* *Chogokin Selection* (Playdia, released on October 20th, 1995 for Bandai)
* *Azito2* (PlayStation, released on October 15th, 1998)
* *Don Oke Character Quiz! Tokusatsu Hero Part 1* (PlayStation, released on July 15th, 1999)
* *Don Oke Character Quiz! Tokusatsu Hero Part 2* (PlayStation, released on October 21st, 1999)
* *Super Hero Operations* (PlayStation, released on January 28th, 1999) - Featuring Gavan, Sharivan, Shaider, and Metalder
* *Azito3* (PlayStation, released on February 17th, 2000)
* *Super Hero Operations: Diedal's Ambition* (PlayStation, released on November 22nd, 2000)
* *Super Tokusatsu Taisen 2001* (PlayStation, released on September 6th, 2001)
* *Uchuu Keiji Tamashii* (PlayStation 2, released on May 25th, 2006)

#### Trading Card Games

* *Uchuu Keiji Retsuden* (Carddass Masters)
* *Template:TK*
* *Template:PR*

### Manga

* *Uchuu Keiji Gavan*
* *Uchuu Keiji Sharivan*
* *Uchuu Keiji Shaider*
* *Kyojuu Tokusou Juspion*
* *Blue SWAT*
* *Juukou B-Fighter*
* *B-Fighter Kabuto*
* *Uchuu Keiji Gavan: A Black Hero*

### Novels

* *Uchuu Keiji Shaider: Beyond the Challenger Space*
* *Uchuu Keiji Gavan: The Novel*

### Other

* *Uchuu Keiji Gavan Legend* (TV Magazine November 2012)

## International adaptations

### United States

In the 1990s, Saban adapted some of the Metal Hero Series shows for American audiences in the United States. Stock footage from *Metalder*, *Spielvan* and *Shaider* was used in *VR Troopers* (1994–1996). Later, footage from both *B-Fighter* series was used in *Big Bad Beetleborgs*. Both shows ran for two seasons and ended when all the stock footage from those series were used up.

Jiryia was adapted into *Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel* as Sheriff Skyfire, with Gavan as Captian Chaku in the second season of *Beast Morphers*.

### Philippines

In the Philippines, where several series have aired and dubbed into local languages, *Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan* has been given the go ahead from Toei to be allowed to be a "sequel" to *Shaider*, featuring characters intended to be the descendents of those of the original series. Later on, Toei had refused the production to be aired. Instead, a spin-off series set 20 years after the end of Shaider was given the go ahead.

### Brazil

The Metal Hero series were arguably the most successful tokusatsu in Brazil. In 1988, *Juspion*, under the title *Jaspion*, was broadcast by TV Manchete and became an instant hit. Manchete followed by broadcasting *Jiraiya* in 1989, *Jiban* in 1990, *Spielvan* (renamed *Jaspion 2*) in 1991, *Winspector* in 1994 and *Solbrain* in 1995. Manchete also aired *Jiraiya* when it was renamed TV! (later RedeTV!) in 1999. Other networks also brought shows, with TV Bandeirantes broadcasting*Metalder* and *Sharivan* in 1990, and two networks, Rede Globo and TV Gazeta, showing *Sheider* and *Gavan* (renamed *Gyaban*) simultaneously in 1991. *Jaspion*, *Jiraiya* and *Jiban* were later released on DVD in Brazil.

In February 2018, it was announced that Jaspion would get a remake movie produced by Brazilian company Sato Company, with Toei's endorsement and approval. The movie's cast is expected to be announced in 2019, with the film set to be released sometime later. However, the production of this film is not moving forward since 2020.

## Homages

GIGA Tokusatsu created a homage to the Metal Hero Series known as Juuko Tokusou Dinnovator.

## References

Template:Reflist

1. ↑ http://risingsuntokusatsu.com/?p=4280
2. ↑ "GMA-7 acquires exclusive rights to "Shaider"".pep.ph. Retrieved 2007-09-20.
3. ↑ "Rights for Shaider Remake Revoked to GMA-7"Gameops.net, n.d. http://www.gameops.net/2007/07/rights-for-shaider-remake-revoked-from.html. Retrieved 2007-10-27.