Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger

Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger
The title card for Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger, as depicted in a 30 Sentai Encyclopedia featurette on GoGo Sentai Boukenger.
Genre	Tokusatsu
Created by	Toei
Starring	Yūta Mochizuki Aohisa Takayasu Hideki Fujiwara Takumi Hashimoto Reiko Chiba Shiro Izumi
Narrated by	Tōru Ōhira
Opening theme	"Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger" by Kenta Satō
Ending theme	"Bouken Shite Rappapiiya!" by Pythagoras
Composer(s)	Akihiko Yoshida
Country of origin	Japan
Language(s)	Japanese
No. of episodes	50
Production
Producer(s)	Atsushi Kaji Shinichirō Shirakura Takeyuki Suzuki Kyōzō Utsunomiya
Running time	approx. 25 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	TV Asahi
Original run	February 21, 1992 – February 19, 1993
Chronology
Preceded by	Choujin Sentai Jetman
Followed by	Gosei Sentai Dairanger

Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger (恐竜戦隊ジュウレンジャー, Kyōryū Sentai Jūrenjā^?, Dinosaur Squadron Zyuranger^[1]) is a Japanese tokusatsu television series and the sixteenth entry in the long-running Super Sentai franchise of superhero programmes. Produced by Toei Company Ltd. and Bandai, it aired on TV Asahi from February 21, 1992 to February 12, 1993, with a total of 50 episodes. It was the first Sentai series to be adapted as an installment of the American Power Rangers series - footage from all 50 episodes were extensively used for the first season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. The title Toei gives this series for international distribution is Galaxy Rangers (also the title under which Zyuranger is referenced in the credits of the first two seasons of Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers).^[2]

Despite the show's title, only two of the Zyurangers have true Dinosaurs as avatars (Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops). Despite superficial similarities, dragons are mythical creatures, not dinosaurs. Pteranodon (a variety of pterosaur) is a flying reptile from the same time period as dinosaurs (but not technically dinosaurs themselves) and the remaining Zyurangers are prehistoric mammals (Woolly Mammoth and Smilodon).

Every episode of Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger begins with the statement: "From hundreds of millions of years ago, in the age of the dinosaurs, 5 warriors revive in the present time!" (一億数千万年前の恐竜時代から、今甦った五人の戦士たち, Ichiokusū senmannen mae no kyōryū jidai kara, ima yomigaetta gonin no senshi-tachi.^?)

Plot

One hundred and seventy million years ago, five ancient human tribes, with the protection of the Guardian Beasts, coexisted peacefully with the dinosaurs. This ended when an evil witch named Bandora started a war on the dinosaurs because of the death of her son Kai. Bandora decided that the only way Kai's death could be avenged was if she sold her soul to Great Satan, an evil entity long defeated by the Guardian Beasts in their original form. In the end, the five tribes were ruined and the dinosaurs became extinct. The Guardian Beasts sealed Bandora and her minions on the planet Nemesis before going into hibernation. In 1992, Nemesis returned to near Earth's orbit. Two Japanese astronauts exploring the planet accidentally released her and her minions from their prison. With Bandora free, her arch-enemy, the wizard Barza retreated to his underground lair 2,000 meters below the apartment building where he worked as a front. There, he revived the five warriors he had been guarding, who had been in suspended animation to be awakened when they were needed. These five were each a member of the ancient human tribes, who co-existed with the dinosaurs. With the aid of the Guardian Beasts, the Zyurangers fought Bandora and her Dora Monsters. Later in the series, after the five have become used to modern times, the leader's elder brother comes forth with tales of jealousy and vengeance.

Zyurangers

They were the five greatest warriors of the five ancient tribes. Barza called them the Holy Warriors of Justice. The first five went into suspended animation to be ready in the event Bandora escaped her prison, while Burai followed them to get his revenge on Geki. Although they are still alive, they are now in Heaven with Barza and their Guardian Beasts, hoping to return to Earth when they're needed again.

Geki/TyrannoRanger

Adopted prince of the Yamato tribe.

Goushi/MammothRanger

Knight of the Sharma tribe.

Dan/TriceraRanger

Knight of Etof tribe.

Boi/TigerRanger

Knight of the Daim tribe.

Mei/PteraRanger

Princess of the Risha tribe.

Burai/DragonRanger

Geki's big brother who also hails from the Yamato tribe.

The Bandora Gang

The Bandora Gang (バンドーラ一味, Bandōra Ichimi^?): They are Bandora's forces and apparently Earthly in origin as part of ancient mankind. They are merciless (but hilarious) minions of darkness who were sealed away for causing evil to mankind. They are released thanks to the carelessness of two astronauts. Bandora and her minions were located at the BandraPalace (バンドーラパレス, Bandōra Paresu^?), which was on the Moon. Though their intent was making Earth a wasteland, they also caused mischief for the Zyurangers until they were sealed again in the finale.

Episodes

1. The Birth (誕生, Tanjō^?)
2. The Revival (復活, Fukkatsu^?)
3. Fight In The Land of Despair (戦え絶望の大地, Tataka e Zetsubō no Daichi^?)
4. Reawaken, Legendary Weapons (甦れ伝説の武器, Yomigaere Densetsu no Buki^?)
5. Scaaary Riddles (怖～いナゾナゾ, Kowai Nazonazo^?)
6. Arise! Daizyujin (立て!! 大獣神, Tate!! Daijūjin^?)
7. I Can See You, I Can See You (みえる、みえる, Mieru, Mieru^?)
8. Terror! Eaten In An Instant (恐怖! 瞬間喰い, Kyōfu! Shunkan Kui^?)
9. Run! Prince of the Eggs (走れタマゴ王子, Hashire Tamago Ōji^?)
10. Monkeys No More! (猿はもうイヤ!, Saru wa Mou Iya!^?)
11. My Master! (ご主人さま!, Goshujin-sama^?)
12. Papa's a Vampire!? (パパは吸血鬼!?, Papa wa Kyūketsuki!?^?)
13. Fire! The Golden Arrow (射て! 黄金の矢, Ite! Ōgon no Ya^?)
14. Become Small! (小さくなァれ!, Chiisaku Naare!^?)
15. Destroy! The Dark Super Sword (破れ! 暗黒超剣, Yabure! Ankoku Chō Ken^?)
16. The Great Sneeze Plot (クシャミ大作戦, Kushami Dai Sakusen^?)
17. The Sixth Hero (六人目の英雄, Rokuninme no Eiyū^?)
18. The Hate-Filled Brother's Sword (憎しみの兄弟剣, Nikushimi no Kyōdai Ken^?)
19. Female Warrior Scorpion! (女戦士サソリ!, Onna Senshi Sasori!^?)
20. Daizyujin's Last Day (大獣神最期の日, Daijūjin Saigo no Hi^?)
21. The Guardian Beast's Great Riot (守護獣大あばれ, Shugojū Dai Abare^?)
22. Combine! Gouryuujin (合体! 剛龍神, Gattai! Gōryūjin^?)
23. I Like, Like the Super Miracle Ball (好きすき超魔球, Suki Suki Chō Makyū^?)
24. Turtles Forever (カメでまんねん, Kame de Mannen^?)
25. The Park Where Demons Dwell (悪魔のすむ公園, Akuma no Sumu Kōen^?)
26. Together Spirits in Shaved Ice (カキ氷にご用心, Kakigōri ni Goyō Kokoro^?)
27. I Want to Eat Mei (メイを食べたい, Mei o Tabetai^?)
28. Great Upgrade! Clay Monsters (大改造! 粘土獣, Dai Kaizō! Nengo Jū^?)
29. A Mystery!? The Attacking Beast Knight God (謎!? 襲う獣騎神, Nazo!? Osō Jūkishin^?)
30. Satan Comes!! (サタンが来る!!, Satan ga Kuru!!^?)
31. Reborn! The Ultimate God (復活! 究極の神, Fukkatsu! Kyūkyoku no Kami^?)
32. Geki, Slash Your Tears (ゲキよ涙を斬れ, Geki yo Namida o Kire^?)
33. Teach Me! The Jewel of Bravery (教えて! 勇気玉, Oshiete! Yūki Tama^?)
34. Burai Lives! (ブライ生きて!, Burai Ikite!^?)
35. Ninja Warrior, Boi (忍者戦士ボーイ, Ninja Senshi Bōi^?)
36. Smash It! The Mirror of Death (くだけ! 死の鏡, Kudake! Shi no Kagami^?)
37. A Dinosaur is Born (恐竜が生まれる, Kyōryū ga Umareru^?)
38. Princess Mei's Seven Metamorphoses (メイ姫七変化!!, Mei-hime Shichi Henka^?)
39. A Subterranean Beast's Tears (地底獣の涙…, Chitei Jū no Namida^?)
40. Burai's Deathly Departure (ブライ死の出発, Burai Shi no Shuppatsu^?)
41. Blaze, Burai!! (燃えよブライ!, Moe yo Burai!^?)
42. Burai Dies. .. (ブライ死す…, Burai Shisu. ..^?)
43. Live Again! Zyusouken (甦れ! 獣奏剣, Yomigaere! Jūsōken^?)
44. Swordswoman! Japan's Best (女剣士! 日本一, Onna Kenshi! Nihon'ichi^?)
45. The Foolish Boy (バカヤロー少年, Bakayarō Shōnen^?)
46. Presenting! The Vicious Squadron (参上! 凶悪戦隊, Sanjō! Kyōaku Sentai^?)
47. Break in! The Final Deciding Battle (突入! 最終決戦, Totsunyū! Saishū Kessen^?)
48. The Son from the Darkness (闇からの息子, Yama Kara no Musuko^?)
49. The Gods Lost!! (神が負けた!!, Kami ga Maketa!!^?)
50. Long Live the Dinosaurs (恐竜万歳, Kyōryū Banzai^?)

Cast

• Geki/Tyranno Ranger: Yūta Mochizuki (望月祐多, Mochizuki Yūta^?)
• Goushi/MammothRanger:Seiju Umon (Aohisa Takayasu, 高安青寿^?, Takayasu Aohisa)
• Dan/TriceraRanger:Hideki Fujiwara (藤原秀樹, Fujiwara Hideki^?)
• Boi/TigerRanger:Takumi Hashimoto (橋本巧, Hashimoto Takumi^?)
• Mei/PteraRanger：Reiko Chiba (千葉麗子, Chiba Reiko^?)
• The Witch Bandora: Machiko Soga (曽我町子, Soga Machiko^?)
• Burai/DragonRanger：Shiro Izumi (和泉史郎, Izumi Shiro^?)
  • Burai (young): Hisashi Sakai (酒井寿, Sakai Hisashi^?)
• Barza: Jun Tatara (多々良純, Tatara Jun^?)
• Clotho: Mayumi Sakai (酒井麻由美, Sakai Mayumi^?)
• Tottpatt: Kaoru Shinoda (篠田薫, Shinoda Kaoru^?)
• Bookback: Takeshi Watabe (渡部猛, Watabe Takeshi^?)
• Lamie: Ami Kawai (河合亜美, Kawai Ami^?)
• DaiSatan: Masahiko Urano (浦野眞彦, Urano Masahiko^?)
• Kai: Issei Takahashi (高橋一生}, Takahashi Issei^?)
• Dora Franke/Zombie Franke/Satan Franke (28-31): Yen Tamura
• Gnome: Rikiya Iwaki
• Satoshi: Yuya Tajima (手島佑弥, Tajima Yuya^?)
• Satoshi's friends: Hayato Kikuchi (菊地隼人, Kikuchi Hayato^?), Masashi Mikami (三上雅士, Mikami Masashi^?), Hayato Seiodeki (青出来隼人, Seideki Hayato^?)

Voices

• Narrator: Tōru Ōhira (大平 透, Ōhira Tōru^?)
• Tyranosaurus, Daizyujin, Guardian Beast combinations: Eiji Maruyama (丸山詠二, Maruyama Eiji^?)
• Saber Tiger: Masaki Terasoma (寺杣昌紀, Terasoma Masaki^?)
• Grifforzer, Dora Skeleton (2): Kan Tokumaru (徳丸完, Tokumaru Kan^?)
• Pleprechuan: Yutaka Oyama (大山豊, Oyama Yutaka^?)
• Dokiita Golems: Kazuhiko Kishino (岸野一彦, Kishino Kazuhiko^?)
• DaiSatan: Seizō Katō (加藤精三, Katō Seizō^?)

Suit Actors

• Guardian Beast combinations, Tottpatt: Hideaki Kusaka
• Grifforzer: Takashi Sakamoto (千田義正^?)
• Bookback: Minoru Watanabe
• Pleprechuan: Takako Iiboshi

References

• Zyuranger in Filipino Sentai Version Was Aired in the Philippines on TV 5 (Formerly ABC-5) Every Sunday in 1998-2000, Then in 2009 on ABS-CBN Back to Back With Naruto Shipuden.

Songs

Opening theme

• "Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger" (恐竜戦隊ジュウレンジャー, Kyōryū Sentai Jūrenjā^?)
  • Lyrics: Gōji Tsuno & Reo Rinozuka
  • Composition: Gōji Tsuno
  • Arrangement: Kenji Yamamoto
  • Artist: Kenta Sato

Ending theme

• "Bōken Shite Rappapīya!" (冒険してラッパピーヤ!^?, "Rappapīya the Adventure!")
  • Lyrics & Composition: Gōji Tsuno
  • Arrangement: Kenji Yamamoto
  • Artist: Pythagoras (ピタゴラス, Pitagorasu^?)

References