Jushin Liger (TV series)


Jushin Liger is an anime superhero TV series created by Go Nagai. Produced by Sunrise Inc. with cooperation of Dynamic Planning, the series was originally broadcast on Nagoya Broadcasting Network /TV Asahi from to with a total of 43 episodes.
A manga series, written and drawn by Go Nagai, was also released alongside the anime, originally published by Kodansha in the magazine Comic Bom Bom from to.
This anime series inspired the real-life pro-wrestler, Jushin Thunder Liger.
The opening theme "Ikari no Jushin", which was performed by Yumi Hiroki, is also wrestler Jushin Thunder Liger's theme song. The song "Kiseki no Jushin" was also used by Liger on occasion.

The story

It is 199X A.D. In Kushiro, Hokkaido, the Drago Knights of the Dragon Empire attack. Possessing overwhelming destructive force, they attack the city to awaken their master, the devil god Jashin Drago from the Rock of Sealing he was trapped in. Two hundred years ago, Drago was trapped in the seal by a holy warrior with the tattooed mark of the Liger. Assuming that the warrior is dead, Drago and Empress Zara are free to conquer the Earth using their army of giant biomechanical beasts. Even the Japan Self-Defense Forces are no match for the Drago Knights' awesome power. One of the people fleeing is the protagonist, a milquetoast 12-year-old 6th grader named Ken Taiga. Unbeknownst to the Dragonites, Ken realizes that he is the descendant of the Lion Clan that once summoned Liger. In a burst of anger, Ken's Liger birthmark appears, and he rises his palm into the air, shouting the henshin command, "LIGER!" which then covers him in demonic, long-haired biomechanical armor. Ken transforms into Jushin Liger to fight the evil forces of the Dragon Empire.

Main characters

Source

Staff and production notes

Source

Theme songs

This was one of the first anime television series to feature two opening and two ending themes, a tendency that has been followed since then by several anime television series. The Ikari no Jushin, besides being still by Japanese wrestler Jushin Liger, has been used by the Hanshin Tigers as the climbing theme of pitcher Hirotaka Egusa. It's one of the anime themes that has been in constant use even after the TV show ended.

Manga

The manga, which was originally published in Kodansha's magazine Comic Bom Bom, was not published in tankōbon format by this company. Instead, it was published by Keibunsha, Daitosha and Daiso Shuppan.
  • Keibunsha
Japanese release dateVol.
1
2

  • Daitosha
Japanese release dateVol.ISBN
1

  • Daiso Shuppan
Japanese release dateVol.
1
2

Media

Home video

The TV series was released in VHS format by King Records in 1989 and 1990. The whole series was released in DVD by Geneon Entertainment in two DVD boxes of 4 discs each, with standard numbers GNBA-1230 and GNBA-1231 and released in and.

Music

The anime has generated the following records and CDs, all of them produced by King Records.
TitleFormatStandard numberRelease date
Jushin Liger EP recordK07S-10295
Jushin Liger CassetteK10H-23034
Jushin Liger 8cm single CDK10X-23049
Jushin Liger: Hoo Hisho HenLP album230R-7
Jushin Liger: Hoo Hisho HenCD album276A-7006
Jushin Liger: Fuun Ryuko HenLP album230R-8
Jushin Liger: Fuun Ryuko HenCD album276A-7010
Jushin Liger Cassette091S-10015
Jushin Liger 8 cm single CD091X-10015
Jushin Liger: Majin Hoko HenCD album276A-7017
Jushin Liger: Hoo Hisho HenCD albumKICA-2158
Jushin Liger: Fuun Ryuko HenCD albumKICA-2159
Jushin Liger: Majin Hoko HenCD albumKICA-2160
Jushin Liger 8 cm single CDKIDA-2121

Appearances in other media

The theme Ikari no Jushin appears in both its original and arranged versions in these CD music collections.
TitleLabelStandard numberRelease date
Kettei Ban: Star Child Best CollectionKing Records250A-50063
Pro-Wrestling: Pro-Wrestling Kakumeiji Theme CollectionVictor EntertainmentVDR-1649
The Pro-Wrestling '90'sVictor EntertainmentVICL-5041
New Japan Pro-WrestlingKing RecordsKICS-84
The Pro-Wrestling: All Japan Pro-Wrestling - New Japan Pro-Wrestling Saishin BanVictor EntertainmentVICL-5111
Cho Gekisen Samurai DenVictor EntertainmentVICP-5189
Gekitotsu Sengoku: New Japan Pro-Wrestling vs. WARVictor EntertainmentVICL-5196
New Japan Pro-Wrestling Best: King of Pro-WrestlingKing RecordsKICS-361/2
Mazinger DensetsuFirst Smile EntertainmentFSCA-10031
Super Robot Spirits Live Tour'98First Smile EntertainmentFSCA-10051
New Japan Pro-Wrestling Best: King of Pro-WrestlingKing RecordsKICS-2271
New Japan Pro-Wrestling VIII: Best of the Super JuniorsKing RecordsKICS-2278
Pro-Wrestling Q8 - Ji Dayo! Zenin SyugoKing RecordsKICS-2319
Euro Anime-JChapter OneCHCB-90004
Nagai Go Hero Densetsu Kotetsu Majin HenFirst Smile EntertainmentFSCA-10204
Toukonssuka!Pony CanyonPCCA-01928
Super Robot Spirits The Best Vol.1: Super Robot HenBe! SmileBSCH-30001/2
Mazinger Densetsu + 7: The Legends of MAZINGERBe! SmileBSCH-30012
Live!! Super Robot Spirits The Best: SRS Hen Part 1Be! SmileBSCH-30016/7
Super Robot Spirits The Instrumental: Super robot & Real Robot Hen Vol.1Be! SmileBSCH-30030
Best of MIQ - MIQUEST: Tamashii wa koku o koete...Be! SmileBSCH-30032
Super Robot Spirits Shudaika Best Collection 2Be! SmileBSCH-30038
Nagai Go Dynamic!! The chronicleBe! SmileBSCH-30040
Super Robot Spirits Best & Live: Girls Hen 2Be! SmileBSCH-30042
Live! From Super Robot Spirits Tour'98King RecordsKICA-1403/4
The Best!! Super Robot Spirits: Ultimate LIVE 10th Anniversary EditionBe! SmileBSCH-30057/60
The Best!! Super Robot Spirits: Super Robot Studio RecordingsBe! SmileBSCH-30063/6
The Best!! Super Robot Spirits: Girls Best CollectionBe! SmileBSCH-30077/8
Super Robot Spirits: Non stop mix Vol.3Be! SmileBSCH-30086
Buraban! TigersNippon CrownCRCP-40217
The Best!! Super Robot Spirits: The Best Karaoke songsBe! SmileBSCH-30094/7

Jushin Liger appears in the Wii video game Super Robot Wars NEO.