Dengeki Sentai Changeman

Dengeki Sentai Changeman
Title Screen
Genre	Tokusatsu
Created by	Toei Company
Starring	Haruki Hamada Kazuoki Takahashi Shiro Izumi Hiroko Nishimoto Mai Ooishi
Narrated by	Nobuo Tanaka
Composer(s)	Tatsumi Yano
Country of origin	Japan
No. of episodes	55
Production
Producer(s)	Moriyoshi Katō Takeyuki Suzuki Yasuhiro Tomita
Running time	30 minutes
Production company(s)	TV Asahi NT21 Toei Company Toei Advertising
Release
Original network	tv asahi
Original release	February 2, 1985 – February 22, 1986
Chronology
Preceded by	Choudenshi Bioman
Followed by	Choushinsei Flashman

Dengeki Sentai Changeman (電撃戦隊チェンジマン Dengeki Sentai Chenjiman, ^{[Note 1]}) is a Japanese television series and is the ninth installment in the Super Sentai franchise. It aired from February 2, 1985 to February 22, 1986 and ran for 55 episodes.

Plot

After conquering hundreds of planets, the Great Star League Gozma sets its sights onto Earth. To defend the world in such a great crisis, the Japanese military forms a special branch known as the Earth Defense Force, composed of elite members from all areas of the Japanese military. Under the supervision of Commander Ibuki, the numerous gathered soldiers of the Earth Defense Force begin harsh training.

As their first action, the Gozma decide to eliminate those who pose the greatest risk of interfering with their invasion — the military. After a particularly brutal day of training, the Earth Defense Force recruits are fed up with Ibuki's cruel ways and abandon the training session. Soon afterwards they're met with an attack by numerous Gozma troops. Five surviving officers gather together, beaten and exhausted, but refusing to step down from this threat. Just then, the Earth shakes and empowers the five with the Earth Force, enabling them to possess the power of mythological beasts and become the Changeman. With the mystical power of the Earth Force and the technology of the military, the Changeman begin their war against Gozma.

Characters

Changemen

Dengeki Sentai Changeman in front of their Auto Changers

The Changemen are all former members of the various branches of Japanese military who were hand picked by the Earth Defense Force to combat Gozma. As the Changemen, they derive their powers from a mysterious energy called Earthforce (アースフォース Āsufōsu), which gives its users the power to protect Earth from any threat to it.

• Hiryu Tsurugi/Change Dragon (剣 飛竜／チェンジドラゴン Tsurugi Hiryū/Chenji Doragon): Tsurugi, from Kōchi Prefecture, was previously an officer in the Japanese Air Force before becoming Change Dragon. Tsurugi is a passionate leader with a kind heart, often getting so focused on a task that he does not think of the possible danger he puts himself in to complete it. He is a sharpshooter and a skilled motorcycle driver. He was also his high school's best baseball player until an accident forced him to quit the game. As Change Dragon, Tsurugi is a master of airborne attacks as well as close-range and long-range attacks, even adding some of his baseball skills into his techniques.
• Sho Hayate/Change Gryphon (疾風 翔／チェンジグリフォン Hayate Shō/Chenji Gurifon): Hayate, from Aomori Prefecture, was previously a Japanese Army Ranger before becoming Change Gryphon. He's a narcissistic womanizer, often combing his hair before entering battle, though it's an exterior for his kind personality.
• Yuma Ozora/Change Pegasus (大空 勇馬／チェンジペガサス Ōzora Yūma/Chenji Pegasasu): Ozora was previously a Branch Officer in the Japanese Army before becoming Change Pegasus, serving as the group's tech member with the ability to tap into superhuman strength. As the youngest, he tends not to respect authority much and often associates himself with the children that the Changemen help. Ozora also has a dream to open up a tonkatsu shop after getting enough money to start it up.
• Sayaka Nagisa/Change Mermaid (渚 さやか／チェンジマーメイド Nagisa Sayaka/Chenji Māmeido): Nagisa was previously a task force officer in the Japanese Army before becoming Change Mermaid. She is the team's strategist, and sometimes focuses too much on the etiquette of her fellow Changemen. However, Nagisa has a loving and caring aspect of her seen in animals and her feelings for Tsurugi.
• Mai Tsubasa/Change Phoenix (翼 麻衣／チェンジフェニックス Tsubasa Mai/Chenji Fenikkusu): Tsubasa was previously a spy for the Japanese Army before becoming Change Phoenix. Like Tsurugi, she is also skilled at motorcycle driving. Though appearing to be a tomboy who is rough around the edges, Tsubasa is a caring figure and good friends with Nagisa despite their differences.

Arsenal

• Change Brace (チェンジブレス Chenji Buresu): The Changemen's transformation brace. The transformation call is "Let's Change!" (レッツチェンジ! Rettsu Chenji!), followed by the name of the team or the transforming member. It can also fire a Change Laser.
• Change Sword (チェンジソード Chenji Sōdo): The Changemen's sidearm. It has two modes: blaster and knight (sword and shield).
• Dragon-Zooka (ドラゴンズーカ Doragon Zūka): Change Dragon's Zooka weapon, which forms the Power Bazooka's main body.
• Gryphon-Zooka (グリフォンズーカ Gurifon Zūka): Change Gryphon's Zooka weapon, which forms the Power Bazooka's front barrel.
• Pegasus-Zooka (ペガサスズーカ Pegasasu Zūka): Change Pegasus' Zooka weapon, which forms the Power Bazooka's lower body cover.
• Mermaid-Zooka (マーメイドズーカ Māmeido Zūka): Change Mermaid's Zooka weapon, which forms the Power Bazooka's targeting scope.
• Phoenix-Zooka (フェニックスズーカ Fenikkusu Zūka): Change Phoenix's Zooka weapon, which forms the Power Bazooka's upper body cover.
• Power Bazooka (パワーバズーカ Pawā Bazūka): The finishing cannon formed from the Changeman's Zooka weapons. Change Dragon supplies the shell, while Change Mermaid aims the weapon. On one occasion in Episode 7, it received a power-up. In Episode 36, the Changemen learned to infuse the Earth Force inside the shell to further enhance its power.

Vehicles

• Auto Changers (オートチェンジャー Ōto Chenjā): Each Changeman rides on of these motorcycles.
• Change Cruiser (チェンジクルーザー Chenji Kurūzā): 4WD for the entire quintet.
• Jet Skis (ジェットスキー Jetto Sukī): Used in one episode during their clash against Ahames' forces in Nagasaki.

Mecha

• Shuttle Base (シャトルベース Shatoru Bēsu): Modeled after the Space Shuttle, is the ship that transports the team's mecha to the danger zone, and is the first Terran-made carrier to travel into space.
• Change Robo (チェンジロボ Chenji Robo): The team's robot. Change Dragon yells "Earth Conversion Start!" to begin the mecha's conversion, and then "Fusion, Earth Conversion" (合体、アースコンバージョン! Gattai, Āsu Konbājon) to combine them. It is armed with the Lightning Sword (電撃剣 Dengeki Ken) with its finishing attacks like Super Thunderbolt (スーパーサンダーボルト Sūpā Sandāboruto), Windmill Cut (風車斬り Fūsha Giri), and Swallow Return (燕返し Tsubame Kaeshi). Its other weapons are the Change Shield (チェンジシールド Chenji Shīrudo), which acts as the Lightning Sword's sheath, Change Robo Missile (チェンジロボミサイル Chenji Robo Misairu), Change Vulcans (チェンジバルカン Chenji Barukan) shoulder cannons, and Change Robo Flash (チェンジロボフラッシュ Chenji Robo Furasshu), which is a beam that the robo fires from its eyes.
  • Jet Changer I (ジェットチェンジャー1 Jetto Chenjā Wan): Change Dragon's mecha, which forms Change Robo's head and lower body. It is stored in Shuttle Base's fuselage, with wings and rudders retracted. It appeared again in Gaoranger vs Super Sentai.
  • Heli Changer II (ヘリチェンジャー2 Heri Chenjā Tsū): A helicopter piloted by Change Gryphon and Change Mermaid. It forms Change Robo's torso and arms. It is stored in back of Shuttle Base, behind Jet Changer I. Mai once took it for a joyride.
  • Land Changer III (ランドチェンジャー3 Rando Chenjā Surī): A cruiser piloted by Change Pegasus and Change Phoenix. It forms Change Robo's legs. It is stored in halves in back of Shuttle Base, with Heli Changer II between the two halves.

Allies

• Commander Ibuki (伊吹長官 Ibuki-chōkan): The leader of the EDF who seems cruel at first but has a caring side too. He is eventually revealed to be Yui Ibuki of Planet Heath which was destroyed by Gozma.
• Soldiers (戦士団 Senshidan): A group of people from various military organization like the Changeman, who function as the team's support. They help out the Changeman in certain situations.
  • Captain Inogoro: A EDF mechanic who works on the Auto Changers.

Aliens

The Changemen meet other aliens who end up on Earth because of Gozma.

• Nana (ナナ Nana, 13-14, 32-33, 42-43, 51-55): A young girl from the planet Rigel with superhuman abilities. She is used in tipping the scales for Gozma for when Rigelian girls reach an age they release a massive energy which would give power to whoever is caught in its path. Though aged by 20 years old thanks to Giluke's scheme to become stronger, Nana gains telepathic abilities along with heighten physical abilities.
• Sakura (さくら Sakura, 16, 55): An alien from planet Merle (メルル星 Meruru-sei).
• Volta (ボルタ Boruta, 21) An alien from planet Dora (トーラ星 Dora-sei) .
• Shinpei Mizuhara (水原 新平 Mizuhara Shinpei, 23)
• Zoorii and Waraji (ゾーリーとワラジー Zōrī to Warajī, 27, 47, 49, 51, 53. 55): Gaata's wife and son. Their role in the plot grows towards the end of the series because Waraji is able to play in his ocarina a tune which induces homesickness on space creatures, and is eventually used against Gozma members themselves, causing them (even a reluctant Gaata) to target the boy, who angrily breaks the ocarina and storms off, declaring he has no father. Zoorii, in the meantime, becomes pregnant with her and Gaata's daughter, forcing him to abandon Gozma for good.

Great Star League Gozma

The Great Star League Gozma (大星団ゴズマ Daiseidan Gozuma) is an interstellar empire that devastates planets and uses the survivors as warriors to invade other planets. The group is based on the battleship Gozmard (ゴズマード Gozumādo).

• Star King Bazeu (星王バズー Seiō Bazū): Bazeu is the leader of Gozma who only appears to his followers as a giant blue limbless torso, which is an illusion created by his true form: the living planet Gozma Star (ゴズマスター Gozumasutā) who absorbs other worlds throughout its interstellar conquest of the universe. Though he spares some planets, Bazeu uses them as a means to intimidate his minions with their destruction as both a drafting method and to ensure no failure. He manages to approach Earth undetected by hiding himself into the tail of Halley's Comet, but is ultimately destroyed by the Changemen after they ride Change Robo deep onto his body and destroy its core.
• General Girook (ギルーク司令 Girūku Shirei, 1-54): Originally from Planet Girath (ギラス星 Girasu-sei), Girook is the invasion leader and secretly plots on overthrowing Bazeu, his first attempt ending in failure. He uses a sword made for the strongest warrior from his homeworld. After being killed, he comes back as Ghost Girook (ゴーストギルーク Gōsuto Girūku, 38-43) and then force grows Nana to be endowed with the backlash of her energies to become Super Girook (スーパーギルーク Sūpā Girūku, 43-54) before becoming the Space Beast Warrior Girath (ギラス Girasu, 54) and is finally defeated by the Changemen.
• Adjutant Booba (副官ブーバ Fukukan Būba, 1-52): Booba is a former space pirate who has been conscripted to be one of Girook's lieutenants. Armed with the Buldobas Sickle, Booba was Change Dragon's rival. Eventually, learning of the brain washing he went through after seeing his former love, Booba helps free Sheema from Gozma's control before dying in a duel against Change Dragon.
• Adjutant Sheema (副官シーマ Fukukan Shīma): Sheema is the former princess of Planet Amanga (アマンガ星 Amanga-sei), whose people are able to fight with psychic powers called Amanga Energy (アマンガエネルギー Amanga Enerugī). When her planet was conquered, she was taken in by a Space Beast Warrior named Wuba and raised on its milk, turning her into a cold warrior with a deep male voice and no memories of her past. Thanks to Booba, she manages to return to her former self and joins forces with the Changemen.
• Queen Ahames (女王アハメス Joō Ahamesu, 17-53): Ahames is the former queen of Planet Amazo (アマゾ星 Amazo-sei) who joined with Giluke in his attempt to overthrow Bazeu. After the attempt failed, Ahames's whereabouts were unknown until she arrives to Earth. After Giluke is killed the first time, she takes over as the leader of Gozma's forces until his return. With all her minions defeated or defected, she was transformed into a Space Beast by Super Girook, and used her newfound powers to pinpoint the Changemen's secret base. Regaining her original form, but not her sanity, she destroys the base completely, killing herself in the process.
• Navigator Gator (航海士ゲーター Kōkaishi Gētā): Gator the navigator of the Gozmard, originally from the planet Navi (ナビ星 Nabi-sei). He reluctantly joins Gozma for the safety of his family, and also for the sake of his family, he eventually defects, siding with the Changemen though the rest of the series.
• Gyodai (ギョダーイ Gyodāi): A one-eyed creature from the planet of the same name who is used by Gozma to enlarge its minions. Left alone into a derelict Gozmard, he is rescued by the Changemen and aids them in the final battle against Bazeu.
• Jangeran (ジャンゲラン Jangeran): Jangeran is Ahames' familiar. It is a twin-headed dragon whose left head fires a cone of ice while its right unleases a torrent of flame. When Bazeu grows impatient with Ahames' lack of results against the Changemen, he splits Jangeran into two separate beings called Jan (ジャン Jan, 50) and Geran (ゲラン Geran, 50-51).
• Hidler Soldiers (ヒドラー兵 Hidorā Hei): Gozma's foot soldiers, these blue skinned aliens are feral creatures that use their talons as weapons. If wounded enough, a Hidler would bleed steam before evaporating within seconds.

Episodes

1. Arrival! The Secret Power! (出現！秘密の力！ Shutsugen! Himitsu no Chikara!)
2. The Wrath of Star King Bazoo (星王バズーの怒り Seiō Bazū no Ikari)
3. Scram! Soldier Group (スクラム! 戦士団 Sukuramu! Senshi Dan)
4. A Kiss After the Fight (キスは戦いの後で Kisu wa Tatakai no Ato de)
5. Pegasus Arrest Order (ペガサス逮捕指令 Pegasasu Taiho Shirei)
6. The Targeted High School Girls (狙われた女子高生 Nerawareta Joshikōsei)
7. The Sad Space Soldier! (悲しき宇宙戦士! Kanashiki Uchū Senshi!)
8. The Young Lady is a Vampire (お嬢さんは吸血鬼 Ojōsan wa Kyūketsuki)
9. Shine! The Deadly Miracle Ball (輝け! 必殺の魔球 Kagayake! Hissatsu no Makyū)
10. The Dreadful Driverless Car Army (恐怖の無人車軍団 Kyōfu no Mujin-sha Gundan)
11. S.O.S. Koko and Kiki (SOSココとキキ Esu Ō Esu Koko to Kiki)
12. Mama is Mermaid (ママはマーメイド Mama wa Māmeido)
13. Papa Sells the Earth (地球を売るパパ Chikyū o Uru Papa)
14. Attack! The Huge Lizards (攻撃！巨大トカゲ Kōgeki! Kyodai Tokage)
15. Reckless Rider Mai (暴走ライダー麻衣 Bōsō Raidā Mai)
16. The Girl Who Had Wings! (翼を持った少女！ Tsubasa o Motta Shōjo!)
17. Nagasaki's Mysterious Ghost Ship (長崎の謎の幽霊船 Nagasaki no Nazo no Yūreisen)
18. Ahames' Challenge! (アハメスの挑戦！ Ahamesu no Chōsen!)
19. Bet on Sayaka! (さやかに賭けろ！ Sayaka ni Kakero!)
20. Grand Counterattack! Giluke (大逆襲！ギルーク Dai Gyakushū! Girūku)
21. Gozma's Big Star (ゴズマの大スター Gozuma no Dai Sutā)
22. The Soldier Who Disappeared into a Mirror (鏡に消えた戦士 Kagami ni Kieta Senshi)
23. The Boy Who Rides Dolphins (イルカに乗る少年 Iruka ni Noru Shōnen)
24. Runaway Gyodai (ギョダーイの家出 Gyodāi no Iede)
25. Sing! With a Great Voice (歌え！大きな声で Utae! Ōki na Koe de)
26. Mai's 20-year-old First Love (麻衣20歳の初恋 Mai Hatachi no Hatsukoi)
27. Gator's Dream of Parent and Child (ゲーター親子の夢 Gētā Oyako no Yume)
28. The Cursed Crayon (呪われたクレヨン Norowareta Kureyon)
29. Protect the Flower! Phantom Butterfly (花を守れ！幻の蝶 Hana o Mamore! Maboroshi no Chō)
30. Run! Pegasus! (走れ！ペガサス！ Hashire! Pegasasu!)
31. Reveal It! The Mystery of Bazoo (暴け！バズーの謎 Abake! Bazū no Nazo)
32. Nana! Dangerous Reunion (ナナ！危険な再会 Nana! Kiken na Saikai)
33. The End of Girook!? (ギルークの最期！？ Girūku no Saigo!?)
34. Ahames, the Terrible (恐ろしきアハメス Osoroshiki Ahamesu)
35. Earth!! Help Us! (地球よ！助けて！ Chikyū yo! Tasukete!)
36. Behold! Our Power (見たか！俺達の力 Mita ka! Oretachi no Chikara)
37. Missing Dragon (消えたドラゴン！ Kieta Doragon!)
38. Ghost Baseball (幽霊ベースボール Yūrei Bēsubōru)
39. Dreadful Hide-and-Seek (恐怖のかくれんぼ Kyōfu no Kakurenbo)
40. Strange Candy (おかしなお菓子 Okashi na Okashi)
41. The Missing Prince of the Stars! (消えた星の王子！ Kieta Hoshi no Ōji!)
42. The Sailor-Suited Nana (セーラー服のナナ Sērāfuku no Nana)
43. Super Giluke (スーパーギルーク Sūpā Girūku)
44. Leave it to Mai! (麻衣におまかせ！ Mai ni O-makase!)
45. The Rainbow-Colored Girl Ira (虹色の少女アイラ Nijiiro no Shōjo Aira)
46. Beautiful Sheema! (美しきシーマ！ Utsukushiki Shīma)
47. Gaata's Tears of Parent and Child (ゲーター親子の涙 Gētā Oyako no Namida)
48. The Pirate Booba's Storm of Love (海賊ブーバ愛の嵐 Kaizoku Būba Ai no Arashi)
49. The Sad Sheema Beast Soldier (哀しきシーマ獣士 Kanashiki Shīma Jūshi)
50. The Day Gozma Trembled (ゴズマが震えた日 Gozuma ga Furueta Hi)
51. Nana!! Tell Him! (ナナよ！伝えて！ Nana yo! Tsutaete!)
52. Booba Dies on Earth (ブーバ地球に死す Būba Chikyū ni Shisu)
53. Fiery Ahames! (炎のアハメス！ Honō no Ahamesu!)
54. Girook Grand Explosion! (ギルーク大爆発！ Girūku Dai Bakuhatsu!)
55. Farewell, Friends of Space! (さらば宇宙の友よ Saraba Uchū no Tomo yo)

Movies

• Changeman theatrical short
• Changeman Shuttle Base! Close Call!

Cast

• Hiryu Tsurugi: Haruki Hamada
• Sho Hayate: Kazuoki Takahashi
• Yuma Ozora: Shirô Izumi
• Sayaka Nagisa: Hiroko Nishimoto
• Mai Tsubasa: Mai Ooishi
• Chief Yui Ibuki: Jun Fujimaki
• Officer Suzuki: Genshu Suzuki
• Officer Shoji: Hirokazu Shoji
• Officer Watanabe: Minoru Watanabe
• Officer Nomoto: Nahoko Nomoto
• Officer Kikuchi: Kaori Kikuchi
• Miralca: Hiroko Nishimoto (voice in episode 22)
• Icarus' mother: Hiroko Nishimoto (episode 41)
• Nana: Tokie Shibata
  • Young Nana: Miyako Hayakawa
• Sakura: Sachiko Shigeno
• Star King Bazeu: Kazuto Kuwahara
• Commander Girook: Shohei Yamamoto
• Queen Ahames; Voice of Maze: Fukumi Kuroda
• Būba: Yoshinori Okamoto
• Shiima: Kana Fujieda
• Waraji: Kazuhiko Ohara
• Narrator: Nobuo Tanaka

Guest stars

• Saga (ep 19): Tsutomu Kitagawa
• Nana's Adoptive Mother (eps 32-33): Yuriko Hishimi
• Aira (ep 45): Yoko Nakamura

Voice actors

• Shiima: Michiro Iida (male voice)
• Star King Bazeu: Seizō Katō (voice)
• Gyodai: Takeshi Watabe (voice)
• Gaata: Hiroshi Masuoka (voice)
• Zoorii: Makoto Kousaka (voice)

Crew

• Directors:
  • Minoru Yamada, Takao Nagaishi, Nagafumi Hori
• Writers:
  • Hirohisa Soda (main writer), Kunio Fujii, Kyoko Sagiyama
• Action Director:
  • Junji Yamaoka, Ryojirou Nishimoto

Songs

Opening theme

• "Dengeki Sentai Changeman" (電撃戦隊チェンジマン Dengeki Sentai Chenjiman)
  • Lyrics: Yoshiaki Sagara (さがら よしあき Sagara Yoshiaki)
  • Composition: Katsuo Ohno (大野 克夫 Ōno Katsuo)
  • Arrangement: Tatsumi Yano (矢野 立美 Yano Tatsumi)
  • Artist: KAGE

Ending theme

• "NEVER STOP CHANGEMAN" (NEVER STOPチェンジマン Nebā Sutoppu Chenjiman)
  • Lyrics: Yoshiaki Sagara
  • Composition: Katsuo Ohno
  • Arrangement: Tatsumi Yano
  • Artist: KAGE

Notes

1. In Episode 5, the arrest orders for Yuma Ozora refers to his unit as the "Lightning Party" in English, a translation of Dengeki (電撃^?) .

External links

• Official Dengeki Sentai Changeman website (Japanese)