Gosei Sentai Dairanger

Gosei Sentai Dairanger
The title card for Gosei Sentai Dairanger
Genre	Tokusatsu
Created by	Toei
Starring	Keiichi Wada Tatsuya Nōmi Ei Hamura Keisuke Tsuchiya Natsuki Takahashi Hisashi Sakai
Narrated by	Hironori Miyata (宮田 浩徳, Miyata Hironori?)
Opening theme	"Gosei Sentai Dairanger" by NewJACK Takurō
Ending theme	"Ore-tachi Muteki Sa! Dairanger" by NewJACK Takurō
Composer(s)	Eiji Kawamura
Country of origin	Japan
Language(s)	Japanese
No. of episodes	50
Production
Producer(s)	Atsushi Kaji Shinichiro Shirakura Takeyuki Suzuki
Running time	approx. 25 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	TV Asahi
Original run	February 19, 1993 – February 11, 1994
Chronology
Preceded by	Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger
Followed by	Ninja Sentai Kakuranger

Gosei Sentai Dairanger (五星戦隊ダイレンジャー, Gosei Sentai Dairenjā^?, ^{[Note 1]}) is a Japanese tokusatsu television series. It was the seventeenth production in the long-running Super Sentai franchise of television tokusatsu dramas produced by Toei Company, following Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger. It was originally broadcast from February 19, 1993 to February 11, 1994. Toei gave this series the name Star Rangers for international distribution.^[1]

Elements from Dairanger were adapted into the second season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, specifically the action sequences between the giant robots (which became the Power Rangers' Thunderzords) and the villains. None of the Dairanger costumes were used in Power Rangers, except Kiba Ranger's, which was adapted into the White Ranger's costume from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. (The end credits listed the show as titled Dai Rangers.)

Story

Eight thousand years ago, the Daos civilization flourished in Southern China. The Daos Empire consisted of three tribes: the Dai, the Shura (the ancestors of today's humanity), and the Gorma (the military tribe); they lived harmoniously. However, one day, the Gorma Tribe decided to take over the empire and the world. Thus began the war between the Gorma and Dai tribes. The battle continued for 5,000 years, led by the Gorma Triumvirate. The Mythical QI Beasts appeared to oppose the Gorma, whose magical powers had increased, enabling them to turn themselves into monsters. Five Dai warriors' Qi powers had increased to the point where they could control the Mythical Qi Beasts. The war ended with the disappearance of both the Dai and Gorma tribes. In the present day, the Gorma Tribe, one of the Daos' two missing branches, arose to take over the world. To counter them, Master Kaku assembled a team of five youths with high levels of Qi, who became the Dairangers of the present time.

Characters

Dairangers

Main article: Dairangers

The descendants of the Dai Tribe who battle the Gorma.

Ryo of the Heavenly Fire Star/Ryu Ranger (天火星・亮/リュウレンジャー, Tenkasei Ryō/Ryū Renjā^?)

The son of Zhang Liao who became a Dairanger against his will.

Daigo of the Heavenly Illusion Star/Shishi Ranger (天幻星・大五/シシレンジャー, Tengensei Daigo/Shishi Renjā^?)

The most remarkable, gentle member of the team and arguably the most skilled fighter after Ryo. Scouted to be a Dairanger after Kaku's discovery of his Qi connection with Kujaku, whom he has feelings for.

Shoji of the Heavenly Gravity Star/Tenma Ranger (天重星・将児/テンマレンジャー, Tenjūsei Shōji/Tenma Renjā^?)

A man who dreams of becoming a world boxing champion. Specializes in Long Fist with the power to adjust gravity around and within, thus increasing either strength or speed.

Kazu of the Heavenly Time Star/Qilin Ranger (天時星・知/キリンレンジャー, Tenjisei Kazu/Kirin Renjā^?)

A stylish beautician who escaped his home at age 15 and came to Tokyo. Has a tendency to go rushing into battle without thinking.

Lin of the Heavenly Wind Star/Houou Ranger (天風星・リン/ホウオウレンジャー, Tenpūsei Rin/Hōō Renjā^?)

Master Kaku's niece from China, she is the only member capable of Qi control when not transformed.

Kou of the Howling New Star/Kiba Ranger (吼新星・コウ/キバレンジャー, Koshinsei Kō/Kiba Renjā^?)

A 9-year old who pulled out Yufang's Byakkoshinken. A somewhat perverted boy, he often grabs Lin's breasts and looks up her skirt at times, and wishes to marry her. New to fighting, he is not particularly strong. While Kou is of Dai blood, he is also part Gorma on his father's side.

The Gorma Tribe

Main article: Gorma Tribe

Daizinryu

Daizinryu (大神龍, Daijinryū, Great God Dragon^?, 37-38, 42-44, 49-50) is a colossal god-like entity who preserves the natural balance of the world. He appears whenever battles have gone too far, like the ones between the Dairangers and the Gorma. Daizinryu has no contempt for either side, but has no tolerance for whoever threatens to disrupt the natural order of things. Daizinryu arrived in the world in Rising Dragon Mode (昇竜モード, Shōryū Mōdo^?), only to transform into the bipedal Dragon God Mode (竜神モード, Ryūjin Mōdo^?), his feet as big as Daimugen's shell.

He is also capable of firing lightning bolts with immense destructive power. During his first appearance, he attacks the Great Famous Pachinko Player and Ryuuseioh. The universes that he obeyed told him that the two warring factions had to agree a cease-fire, so Daizinryu let him live, but gave a warning to both Dairaingers and the Gorma not to incur his wrath by destroying most of Tokyo. Daizinryu later returned during the second fight with the Great Famous Pachinko Player.

The annoyed dragon crushed the monster to death under his massive foot, then turned and disassembled Dairen'oh with a lightning bolt. He then attempted to crush Ryuseioh (the only Mythical Qi Beast left standing). Ryuuseioh was saved by Daimugen, who hid Ryuuseioh inside his shell, but was nearly crushed by Daizinryu. Daizinryu let him live because of the universe's will.

When the Dairangers dealt with Ikazuchi, Daizinryu seemingly put many civilians in Tokyo under a spell, which made them bow to Daizinryu and then fall off buildings, before Jiaxu counter-acted the spell. Daizinryu made his final appearance to destroy the Gorma Palace, seeing that Shadam and the Gorma were the cause of all the trouble. To calm him down, the Lailai Jewels and the Great Earth Shaking Jewel scattered to the four winds on their own will.

Episodes

1. It's Tenshin Time!!! (転身だァァッ, Tenshin Daaā!!!^?)
2. It's Qi-Power!!! (気力だァァッ!!, Kiryoku Daaā!!!^?)
3. Your Souls, Please! (魂ちょうだい!, Tamashii Chōdai!^?)
4. We're Naive!! (俺たち甘いぜ!!, Oretachi Amai ze!!^?)
5. This Pisses Me Off! (あっタマきたッ, Attama Kitā^?)
6. Wind, Cut Through! (風よブッちぎれ, Kaze yo Butchigire^?)
7. Traitor! (裏切り者ォッ!, Uragirimonoō!^?)
8. Father!! (おやじぃぃッ!!, Oyajiiī!!^?)
9. Don't be Vain (うぬぼれるなッ, Unuboreru nā^?)
10. Ah, Vengeful Goddess (あァ復讐の女神, Aa Fukushū no Megami^?)
11. Gauss With a Magnet! (磁石でガウス!, Jishaku de Gausu!^?)
12. Drunk on Tofu (豆腐で酔ったァ, Tōfu de Yottaa^?)
13. The Ka-Kabuki Novice (カッカブキ小僧, Kakkabuki Kozō^?)
14. Well, a Wedding (イヨッ結婚ぢゃ, Iyokkekkon ja^?)
15. The 3 Stooges' Soccer (3バカサッカー, San Baka Sakkā^?)
16. Rumbling Child Stones (ゴロゴロ子供石, Gorogoro Kodomo Ishi^?)
17. There he is, a New Hero (出ました新戦士(ニューヒーロー), Demashita Nyū Hīrō^?)
18. The (Secret) Byakko-chan (㊙の白虎ちゃん, (Himitsu) no Byakko-chan^?)
19. The Heart-Throbbing Pretty Girl (ドキドキ美少女, Dokidoki Bijōjo^?)
20. First Public Opening Of The Gorma Palace (初公開ゴーマ宮, Hatsu Kōkai Gōma Miya^?)
21. The Birth of a Mythical Qi Beast (気伝獣様ご誕生, Kidenjū-sama Go-tanjō^?)
22. The Great Secret Art of the Tiger Cub!! (虎の子大秘術!!, Tora no Ko Dai Hijutsu!!^?)
23. True Love at Full Speed (純愛まっしぐら, Jun'ai Masshigura^?)
24. The 3 Stooges' Super Baseball! (3バカ超野球!, San Baka Chō Yakyū!^?)
25. The Grouped Opposite Squadron (ぞろぞろ裏戦隊, Zorozoro Ura Sentai^?)
26. A Bad, Bad, Bad Guy (嫌な嫌な嫌な奴, Iya na Iya na Iya na Yatsu^?)
27. It's the Final Fist (最終拳だだだッ, Saishū Ken Da Da Dā^?)
28. Full Entrance!! (総登場だぎゃ!!, Sō Tōjō Dagya!!^?)
29. The (Secret) Inside Story of a Mother and Child's Tears (母子涙の㊙裏話, Haha Ko Namida no Maruhi Urabanashi^?)
30. The Deadly, Fast-Talking Workaholic (必殺早口仕事人, Hissatsu Hayakuchi Shigotonin^?)
31. Again, a New Hero Came Forth (また出た新戦士(ニューヒーロー), Mata Deta Nyū Hīrō^?)
32. The Ogre's Golden Kick (黄金キックの鬼, Ōgon Kikku no Oni^?)
33. An Idol's First Experience (アイドル初体験, Aidoru Shotaiken^?)
34. A Prickly Maiden Hunt (トゲトゲ少女狩, Togetoge Shōjogari^?)
35. New Secret Art, the Dance of Spiders (新奥義クモの舞, Shin Ōgi Kumo no Mai^?)
36. A 6000-Year Grudge... (恨み節6千年…, Urami Setsu Rokusennen...^?)
37. You Have to See It!! A Huge Guy (必見!! でけェ奴, Hikken!! Dekee Yatsu^?)
38. Huh!! A Ceasefire!? (えーッ!! 停戦!?, Ēe!! Teisen!?^?)
39. The Demon Fist Falls in the Setting Sun (魔拳 落日に散る, Maken Rakujitsu ni Chiru^?)
40. Farewell! 3 Stooges (さらば! 3バカ, Saraba! San Baka^?)
41. Kujaku's Great Ascension (クジャク大昇天, Kujaku Daishōten^?)
42. A Straight Line To Mommy (母ちゃん一直線, Kāchan Itchokusen^?)
43. The Fierce White Forbidden Past (激白禁断の過去, Geki Shiro Kindan no Kako^?)
44. Moving!! You Cry Too (感動!! 君も泣け, Kandō!! Kimi mo Nake^?)
45. Disbanding for Real!! (本気（マジ）で解散!!, Maji de Kaisan^?)
46. The Heroes Stark Naked (英雄（ヒーロー）まるはだか, Hīrō Maruhadaka^?)
47. A really amazing Truth (すっげェ～真実, Suggee~ Shinjitsu^?)
48. Heroic!! Master Dies (壮絶!! 道士死す, Sōzetsu!! Dōshi Shisu^?)
49. It's the Final Decisive Battle (最終決戦だァッ, Saishū Kessen Daā^?)
50. Let's Go! (行くぞォォッ, Iku zooō^?)

Movie

The film version of Gosei Sentai Dairanger premiered in Japan on April 17, 1993, at the Toei Super Hero Fair '93. Directed by Shōhei Tōjō and written by Noboru Sugimura, the movie was originally shown as a triple feature alongside the film versions of Kamen Rider ZO and Tokusou Robo Janperson. The main villain of the film is an original monster, named the Duke of Trump (トランプ公爵, Toranpu Kōshaku^?), who gathers four of the Dairangers' previous adversaries to defeat them. While the movie was filmed between episodes 5–6 and 7–8, its story takes place after episode 8 due to the appearance of Dairen-ō. Speaking of Kamen Rider ZO, Shohei Shibata, the young actor who played Hiroshi in Kamen Rider ZO would also later starred in Gosei Sentai Dairanger as Akomaru, son to Shadam, the main villain of Dairanger.

Cast

• Ryo of the Heavenly Fire Star: Keiichi Wada (和田 圭市, Wada Keiichi^?)
• Daigo of the Heavenly Illusion Star: Tatsuya Nōmi (能見 達也, Nōmi Tatsuya^?)
• Shoji of the Heavenly Gravity Star: Ei Hamura (羽村 英, Hamura Ei^?)
• Kazu of the Heavenly Time Star: Keisuke Tsuchiya (土屋 圭輔, Tsuchiya Keisuke^?)
• Lin of the Heavenly Wind Star: Natsuki Takahashi (高橋 夏樹, Takahashi Natsuki^?)
• Kou of the Howling New Star: Hisashi Sakai (酒井 寿, Sakai Hisashi^?)
• Kaku: Koji Naka (中康治, Naka Koji^?)
• Yufang: Takeshi Kuwabara (桑原 毅, Kuwabara Takeshi^?)
• Kujaku: Masako Morishita (森下 雅子, Morishita Masako^?)
• Kou's Mother: Mikiko Miki (三輝 みきこ, Miki Mikiko^?)
• Kameo: Sugisaku Imagawa (今川 杉作, Imagawa Sugisaku^?)
• Gorma XV: Munemaru Kōda (幸田 宗丸, Kōda Munemaru^?)
• Gara: Akiko Amamatsuri (天祭 揚子, Amamatsuri Akiko^?)
• Zydos: Maroshi Tamura (田村 円, Tamura Maroshi^?)
• Shadam: Rintarō Nishi (西 凜太朗, Nishi Rintarō^?)
• General Tenpō: Chūkō Ueda (上田 忠好, Ueda Chūkō^?)
• Akomaru: Shohei Shibata (柴田 翔平, Shibata Shohei^?)
• Jin Matoba: Yutaka Hirose (広瀬 裕, Hirose Yutaka^?, credited as Takumi Hirose)

Voice actors

• Narrator: Hironori Miyata (宮田 浩徳, Miyata Hironori^?)
• Byakkoshinken: Wataru Abe
• Daimugen: Ikko Tadano (ただの いっこ, Tadano Ikko^?, credited as Tomihisa Naruse (成瀬 富久, Naruse Tomihisa^?))
• General Kamikaze: Nobuyuki Hiyama (檜山 修之, Hiyama Nobuyuki^?)
• Ms. Telephone: Akiko Muta
• Mr. Gravestone: Takuzou Kamiyama
• Kabuki Novice: Shigeru Chiba (千葉 繁, Chiba Shigeru^?, 13-14)

Guest actors

• Kazu's clone: Daisuke Tsuchiya (土屋 大輔, Tsuchiya Daisuke^?, 25)
• Shōichirō Takamura (human form of Media Magician): Ryosuke Kaizu (海津 亮介, Kaizu Ryōsuke^?)

Suit actors

• Ryu Ranger: Naoki Ōfuji
• Shishi Ranger: Tsutomu Kitagawa (喜多 川務, Kitagawa Tsutomu^?)
• Tenma Ranger: Shōji Hachisuka
• Qilin Ranger: Hirofumi Ishigaki (石垣 広文, Ishigaki Hirofumi^?)
• Hōō Ranger: Rie Murakami
• Kiba Ranger: Minoru Watanabe (渡辺 実, Watanabe Minoru^?)
• Ryūseiō (main)/Dairen'ō, Wang Tiger/Kibadaō, Daijinryū: Hideaki Kusaka
• Ryūseiō (sub): Hirofumi Fukuzawa (福沢 博文, Fukuzawa Hirofumi^?)

Crew

Akira Saito: Truck Driver

Yasuei Yakushigi: Director

Songs

Opening theme

• "Gosei Sentai Dairanger" (五星戦隊ダイレンジャー, Gosei Sentai Dairenjā^?)
  • Lyrics: Saburo Yatsude
  • Composition: Katsuo Ohno
  • Arrangement: Kenji Yamamoto
  • Artist: New JACK Takurō

Ending theme

• "Oretachi Muteki Sa!! Dairanger" (俺たち無敵さ!! ダイレンジャー, Oretachi Muteki Sa!! Dairenjā^?, "We're Invincible!! Dairanger")
  • Lyrics: Saburo Yatsude
  • Composition: Katsuo Ohno
  • Arrangement: Kenji Yamamoto
  • Artist: New JACK Takurō

Notes

1. ^ Gosei (五星^?) literally translates as "Five Stars".

References

1. ^ "Library -- English Titles -- TOEI TV Website". http://tvarc.toei.co.jp/tv/library/series-title.html. Retrieved 2007-12-28. 

External links

• Official Gosei Sentai Dairanger website (Japanese)

Preceded by Zyuranger

Super Sentai 1993–1994

Succeeded by Kakuranger