Denshi Sentai Denjiman
Denshi Sentai Denjiman is Toei's fourth entry to its Super Sentai metaseries. It was broadcast from February 2, 1980 to January 31, 1981. The title given to this series for international distribution by Toei is Denjiman, Electric Fighters.
Plot
3,000 years ago, the Vader Clan, led by Queen Hedrian, devastated the planet Denji. Denji Land, an island from Denji, landed on Earth. In modern times, the computer of Denji Land awoke the Denji Dog IC when it detected the Vader Clan approaching Earth. IC found five young people to become the Denjimen in order to defend Earth, the Vader Clan's next target.Characters
Denjimen
The Denjimen are the first Super Sentai team to use a personal transformation device carried on their person. Their costumes are the first to use helmets with translucent materials for visors. Prior to battle, the team shouts "Behold, the Denshi Sentai Denjiman!"The Surnames of the members contain the kanji for their corresponding colors.
- Ippei Akagi / Denji Red: A teacher of karate and other sports to children at the Athletic Club. Twenty years after Denjiman ended, Ippei appeared along with 23 other Red Rangers summoned by Liveman's Red Falcon, in Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai.
- * Special move: Denji Vacuum Kick, Denji Punch
- Daigoro Oume / Denji Blue: A circus acrobat who teaches yoga and gymnastics at the Athletic Club and loves anpan. Years later, he becomes an anpan vendor, during which time he encounters the Gokaigers.
- * Special moves: Blue Rocket, Blue Screw Kick, Blue Snake, Denji Drill
- Jun Kiyama / Denji Yellow: An inventor and space researcher. He coaches calisthenics.
- * Special moves: Denji Suplex, Flying Attack, Hammer Punch, Yellow Headbutt, Denji Pile Diver
- Tatsuya Midorikawa / Denji Green: A detective who lost his father to a Vader attack. He coaches boxing.
- * Special move: Green Spin Kick
- Akira Momoi / Denji Pink: A former tennis player who teaches swimming at the Athletic Club. Quit the team in the first episode rejoined at the end of episode two. She saw her coach burn to death because of the Vader Clan's first attack.
- * Special move: Denji Thunder
Allies
- Denji Dog IC: Intelligent robot dog that came from planet Denji 3000 years ago to assemble the Denjiman team. He sacrificed his life to become a circuit for Daidenjin in order to defeat the Omnipotent Monse.
- Princess Denji : A survivor of planet Denji who visited Earth 3000 years ago, ordering a servant girl to defend the Earth with the rainbow stones. She left Earth to patrol the universe.
Arsenal
- Denji Ring: The Denjimen's transformation device. The transformation call is "Denji Spark!".
- Denji Stick: Each Denjiman is armed with a Denji Stick. These combine into the Denji Boomerang and are all used in the Electronic Lightning Fall. Other team attacks, not involving the sticks, include the Shotgun, Blitzkrieg Attack, Denji Circle, Denji Shower, Dragonfly, Scramble Chain, Denji Super Science, and Denji Tower.
Vehicles
- Denji Machine: Denji Red's motorcycle.
- Denji Buggy: A jeep for the rest of the team.
- Denji Crafts: Hovercrafts that the team uses.
- Denji Shooter: Underground transporter that can travel from the Athletic Club to Denji Land.
Mecha
- Denji Tiger: The flying fortress carrying the Denji Fighter that launches from Denji Land, the island headquarters.
- Daidenjin: The first transforming giant robot in the Super Sentai genre, Daidenjin transforms from an airship called the Denji Fighter. The Denji Fighter nose becomes Daidenjin's back, the sides of the underside become the chest, and the lateral sides become the legs. Its main weapon is the Denji Sword and it destroys monsters with its finishing attack, the Electronic Full-Moon Cut. Its other weapons are the Denji Ball and Daidenjin Boomerang. The Denji Fighter helped out in the fight against Rakushaasa in Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai.
Vader Clan
- Queen Hedrian: She hates inner beauty and wants to pollute the world. She finds happiness in human suffering. Cares deeply about her subjects. She vanished and sealed herself away in the North Pole, only to be found by Black Magma and revived as a cyborg under their control.
- General Hedrer : Field commander. He had a personal rivalry with Banriki Demon King. He was killed in battle when he interrupted the battle between the Denjimen and Banriki Demon King and Bankiri Monse. He grew giant and fought against the Daidenjin but fell to the Denji Sword after the Denjiman used the Denji Ball. He was saluted by the Denjimen after being defeated.
- Keller and Mirror: Female spies in silver and gold respectively. Keller can change into a shield, and Mirror a vanity mirror. Though Keller only turned into a shield once and that was to defend Queen Hedrian from an attack by Banriki Demon King. Sadly, it cost Keller her life, just as Mirror lost her life defending her Queen by blinding the Omnipotent Demon King.
- Demon King Banriki : A half-naked, musclebound space wanderer. He had a personal rivalry with General Hedrer. He attacked all the Denjiman until there was Denji Red, not injured in Episode 37. The others fought through their fight against him. In Episode 37, he grew after fighting Denjiman and was wounded after the Denjiman used Denji Boomerang. The Denjiman tried to give him the final blow with the Electronic Full Moon Cut in Episode 37. In Episode 48, he had Sakkalar to help him take over Vader Clan. He was turned into a human candle. With the help of the Bankiri Monse, he turned into a human and took back the Vader Clan. He was finally killed off by the Denji Boomerang.
- Dustlers: Grunts in black tights with skeletal designs. Armed with sickles. They can teleport from one spot to another.
- Vader Monsters: Monsters hatched from eggs that all have a specific numbered belt buckle. The number on the buckle is usually the episode number minus one. They all also possess the ability to control their body's Cellular structure and are thus able to make themselves grow larger or smaller. Each time a Vader Monster was destroyed, a bust was made in its honor.
Episodes
Movie
The movie for Denshi Sentai Denjiman premiered during the Toei Manga Matsuri film festival on July 12, 1980, the same day episode 24 aired. The character of Princess Denji makes her first appearance in this movie and is referenced in two later episodes of the series, placing the events of this movie sometime before Episode 26.Cast
- Ippei Akagi: Shinichi Yuuki
- Daigoro Oume: Kenji Ohba
- Jun Kiyama: Eiichi Tsuyama
- Tatsuya Midorikawa: Naoya Uchida
- Akira Momoi: Akira Koizumi
- Queen Hedrian: Machiko Soga
- Denji Dog IC : Hisako Kyōda
- Princess Denji: Tamaki Funakura
- General Hedrer: Shinji Tōdō
- Demon King Banriki: Hitoshi Oomae
- Mirror: Rie Yoshikawa
- Keller: Chiaki Kojo
- Constable Matsuo Tieko: Yukie Sakai
- Vader Monsters: Shōzō Iizuka
Songs
- "Ah Denshi Sentai Denjiman"
- *Lyrics: Kazuo Koike
- *Composition & Arrangement: Michiaki Watanabe
- *Artist: Ken Narita, Koorogi '73
- "Denjiman ni Makasero!"
- *Lyrics: Kazuo Koike
- *Composition & Arrangement: Michiaki Watanabe
- *Artist: Ken Narita
International broadcasts
Denjiman was also broadcast dubbed in Italy, in some regional channels.