Matchless Raijin-Oh
Matchless Raijin-Oh is a 51 episode Japanese anime television series, and the first series produced for the Eldran franchise funded by Tomy and produced by Sunrise. It aired in Japan from April 3, 1991 to March 25, 1992. The story revolves around a group of elementary school children who are given command of a mecha named Raijin-Oh and their efforts to defend the Earth from the evil Jaaku Empire.
There is also a four-episode OVA sequel.
Anime Midstream, Inc. announced in December, 2008, that it acquired the license for and planned to release the anime series Matchless Raijin-Oh in the U.S. sometime in 2009 as their first anime release. The company began selling the first volume of the series direct from their website, as well as several other online retailers as of late December 2009. The first volume contained episodes 1-5. The second volume, containing episodes 6–10, was released in September 2010, and translated the title beginning with this volume. The third volume was released on July 12, 2011, containing episodes 11-15. Each volume contains English and Japanese audio, as well as special features such as music videos, clean openings/closings, voice bloopers, and the third volume contains an audio commentary with several of the English voice actors. Two more volumes were released on June 30, 2012 for volume four and July 1, 2013 for volume five.
The rest of the series was released as a five-disc boxset; the Season 2 Collection, released on September 30, 2014. However, this set is in Japanese with English subtitles only.
Plot
Prior to Ganbaruger arriving to Earth, an evil organisation which was named the Evil Empire comes to Earth with the intent to conquer and despoil it. From their fortress they launch a missile that will flood the world with, eggs of darkness which hatch into evil monsters called based on things that annoy or frustrate humans.The "guardian of light" Eldran appears, an Ultraman-like entity who is sworn to protect the universe and Earth in particular then appears. Using the heroic robot Raijin-Oh, Eldran attempts to thwart the Evil Empire by preventing a missile from striking Earth. What happens instead is that the missile detonated against Eldran, throwing Raijin-Oh down to Earth. The robot crashes into Japan's Hinobori city, elementary school Hinobori School.
Eldran must leave to continue protecting the Earth, so he leaves the duty of defeating the Evil Beasts to a 5th grade classroom full of children, Earth Defense Class in the school where he crashed. He entrusts the children with Raijin-Oh, granting each child a different role to perform in either operating or supporting Raijin-Oh. Eldran also transforms their school itself, so it can transform into a command center when Raijin-Oh is needed.
Jin, Asuka and Kouji are chosen to lead Raijin-oh, but every day they live lots of amusing experiences in the school. Jin does not want to study, while his friends do and force him to do it by tickling him.
Characters
;Jin HyugaJin Hyuga is a leader in Earth Defense Class, the main pilot of Ken-oh and Raijin-Oh and God Raijin-Oh. He is brash, a braggart, and very good at sports. He has spiky hair, is boss of the kids, and has a strong sense of justice. His student number is the eighth. He often quarrels with Maria, but they trust each other. His parents run a sake shop, the Hyuga Store.
;Asuka Tsukishiro
Asuka Tsukishiro is the main pilot of Hou-oh, and flight and altitude controller for Raijin-Oh, God Raijin-Oh. He is a handsome, smart, rich, realist, but a vain and timid boy. He is very popular with girls in the class, and has his own fan club. His student number is seventh. Hiryu Tsukishiro is his cousin, who is the pilot of Ryu-Oh.
;Koji Hoshiyama
Koji Hoshiyama is the main pilot of Jyu-oh, also the power controller for both Raijin-Oh and God Raijin-Oh, and all-weapon controller. He is kind-hearted, timid but courageous, has a pair of binoculars, and he believes in UFOs and aliens. His student number is ninth.
;Maria Shiratori
Maria Shiratori is a commander in the Earth Defense Class, and the main pilot of Bakuryu-oh. She is smart, strong-willed, daring, has a ponytail, and is half Japanese and half French.
;Tsutomu Kojima
Tsutomu Kojima is the advisor in the Earth Defense Class, and computer operator. Tsutomu is a smart, polite, stubborn, and a typical nerd with bobbed hair and thick glasses who likes to study and research. He has done an analysis of the robots of Eldoran. Takako Kojima is Tsutomu's relative and cousin, who he respects her.
;Kirara Haruno
Kirara Haruno is mainly an operator with the outside. Kirara is an honest, frank, fluffy long-haired girl, and is a broadcasting committee member. She wants to be a newscaster, and is Asuka's fan club president.
;Akira Imamura
Akira Imamura is an operator of core robots's starting system and weapon selector of Bakuryu-oh. Akira is a pretentious sore loser and a punk boy who wants to be a rock star, and had put the mesh in his hair.
;Reiko Ikeda
Reiko Ikeda is mainly an operator with Raijin-Oh. Reiko is a lively, curious, big almond-shape eyed girl who is a big wrestling fan, and she troubled with the fact that she's the shortest student in the class. She is in love with Tsutomu.
;Miki Mano
Miki Mano is the energy gauge manager, launcher of Bakuryu Cutter fire, and safety manager of Bakuryu-oh's weapons. Miki is diligent, but quickly gives up, and is a member of the breeding committee.
;Hiroshi Takamori
Hiroshi Takamori is a vice-commander in the Earth Defense Class, safety manager of Raijin-Oh's weapons, and sub pilot of Bakuryu-oh. Hiroshi is the male representative of the class, and is usually inconspicuous, but trusted. He's in love with Cookie, his childhood friend.
;Orie Ishizuka
Orie Ishizuka, known as "Potato", is Hou-oh's all sensor systems monitor, and Raijin-oh's damage counter. Orie is a generous, strong-willed, chubby girl who loves potato chips.
;Yoko Kuriki
Yoko Kuriki, known as "Cookie", is Raijin-oh's radar operator. Cookie is a short, big-eyed girl who likes adorable things, but has strong dependence on others and can't do anything on her own. Her own teddy bear turns into an evil beast in episode 11.
;Yoshiaki Ogawa
Yoshiaki Ogawa, known as "Yoppa" is Ken-oh's circuit-based monitor, and Bakuryu-oh's transformation manager. 'Yoppa' is an own-pacer, lacking in cooperation, fat boy with spiky hair, who's somehow lovable.
;Tokie Sakai
Tokie Sakai is Jyu-oh's sensor systems monitor, and Bakuryu-oh's damage counter manager. Tokie wears overalls, meddles, and likes super heroes. She became friends with Osekkaizar, the evil beast from episode 36.
;Hidenori Kondo
Hidenori Kondo is Raijin-oh's radar operator. Hidenori is a super-rich, small, kind-hearted, polite, shy boy.
;Daisuke Sato
Daisuke Sato is Ken-oh's circuit system monitor, launcher of Bakuryu Cannon fire, and main mechanic of robots. Daisuke is the tallest and biggest student in the class, but a gentle, shy boy, and the eldest son of large family.
;Yu Izumi
Yu Izumi is a commander in Earth Defense Class, and main pilot of Bakuryu-oh. Yu is sickly, shy, timid, and has braided hair. She is the tallest girl in the class.
;Aiko Shimada
Aiko Shimada, known as "Love" is Ken-oh's sensors system monitor, and Bakuryu-oh's pulse checker. Aiko is a mature, tall girl who is good at sports, and is a physical education committee member.
Other
;Shuntaro ShinodaThe 25-year-old Homeroom teacher of 5th Grade Class 3 in Hinobori Elementary School, known as the Earth Defense Class. Mr. Shinoda is a young passionate teacher who loves the students, but he has often been disturbed a lesson by Evil Beasts.
;Ruruko Himeki
A 23 year old kind, beautiful public health doctor in Hinobori Elementary School. Mr. Shinoda has a crush on her.
;Eikichiro Yazawa
The 65-year-old principal of Hinobori Elementary who is a good supporter for 5th Grade Class 3. he's master of Tai Chi, also adviser of Kenpo club. He has a pet goat that is named Carol.
;General Takeda
General of the Defense forces. He had objected to the children fight but cooperates with them later. In Genki Bakuhatsu Ganbaruger, he has a daughter who went by the name of Katsura.
;Eldran
Eldran is Earth's guardian. 400 years ago prior to Raijin-Oh, Ganbaruger, Gosaurer and Daiteioh's appearances, Eldran has sealed Gokuark and had been fighting against Gokuark but it results into transforming into a white dragon at the demon world. He is the warrior of light who gave Raijin-oh to the Earth Defense Class in order to defeat the Evil Empire. He also later gives out Ganbaruger in Aozora, Gosaurer in Harukaze and Daiteioh in Gokuraku as the years progress one by one.;Emperor Warusa
Ruler of the Jark Empire, that exists in the five dimensions.
;Belzeb
Commander in Jark Empire, also main pilot of Jark Satan. Belzeb is a handsome, quick temper, strict warrior with long purple hair. The creatures in five dimension are able deform their own bodies like the amoeba, and have the power of teleportation.
;Falzeb
Belzeb's Alter ego, Falzeb is small woman look-like fairy with silver-haired and kimono. living in sub-space in Belzeb's chest, Falzeb turns devil face at the time irradiation the Jark Power.
;Taidar
Belzeb's subordinates. Taidar is a happy-go-lucky, leisurely, faithfulness, bearded plump man with punk fashion. He often gets an outburst of anger from Belzeb and Falzeb. Taidar is hired at Hyuga Store later, he appeared as a minor character also Genki Bakuhatsu Ganbaruger frequently.
;Gokudo
Appears at the OVA, a new evil guy from Jark Empire.
The Robots
- Specs
- *Height: 15.4 meters
- *Weight: 10.0 tons
- *Top Speed: 420 kilometers per hour
- *Power Output:
- Specs
- *Length: 35.7 meters
- *Weight: 15.5 tons
- *Ground Movement Speed: 80 kilometers per hour
- *Top Flying Speed: Mach 9
- *Power Output:
- Specs
- *Length: 30.5 meters
- *Weight: 28.5 tons
- *Top Speed: 640 kilometers per hour
- *Power Output:
- Specs
- *Height: 25 meters
- *Weight: 54 tons
- *Ground Movement Speed: 880 kilometers per hour
- *Top Flying Speed: Mach 10
- *Power Output:
- Specs
- *Length: 58 meters
- *Weight: 70 tons
- *Ground Movement Speed: 130 kilometers per hour
- *Top Flying Speed: Mach 20
- *Power Output:
- Specs
- *Height: 27.5 meters
- *Weight: 62 tons
- *Ground Movement Speed: 800 kilometers per hour
- *Top Flying Speed: Mach 14
- *Power Output:
As strong as Raijin-oh, its arsenal includes a cannon and a shield.
- Specs
- *Height: 41 meters
- *Weight: 116 tons
- *Ground Movement Speed: 1,200 kilometers per hour
- *Top Flying Speed: Mach 22
- *Power Output:
Cultural Impact
Raijin-Oh was a tremendously popular series at the time of its release, spawning two similar sequels and OVAs. This led to waves of similar TV shows in the early 90s, where a child or children were made into the pilots of giant robots. This was a significant change of pace for the mecha genre, which usually pursued an older demographic and used teenage or adult characters as pilots.Raijin-Oh success would inspire future shows like Gear Fighter Dendoh, Machine Robo Rescue, Tomica Hyper Rescue Drive Head Kidō Kyūkyū Keisatsu, and Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion. The spiritual successors contain many plot elements that directly similar to Raijin-Oh
Raijin-Oh was featured in the New Century Brave Wars game, along with several of the Yuusha series robots, also created by Sunrise at around the same time. The reason for this was likely to have been the similarities between the Yuusha series and the Eldran trilogy, that and both series were animated by Sunrise. The toy company which made the Yuusha series, Takara would later merge with Tomy and thus both companies had access to each other's toy ideas, hence why Raijin-Oh was part of the video game. However the other two Eldran series, Genki Bakuhatsu Ganbaruger and Nekketsu Saikyo Go-Saurer were not included; in fact, a few of the Yuusha series robots were also left out of the game. Raijin-oh, Ganbaruger, and Gosaurer may have been included in the Brave Saga New Asteria game.
Raijin-Oh has appeared in several installments of Banpresto's Super Robot Wars series of games. It has appeared in Super Robot Wars GC and its remake, Super Robot Wars XO, Super Robot Wars NEO, and Super Robot Wars BX. This is in part due to the fact that the Super Robot Wars series largely concerned itself with '70s and '80s series at the time the game series began in the early '90s. As of 2009, Raijin-Oh is nearly 20 years old and therefore old enough to be nostalgic to adult gamers. It is not clear why Raijin-Oh had only appeared in the 3D Super Robot Wars games that appear on Nintendo consoles, as opposed to the more popular 2D games that appear on PlayStation systems and Nintendo handhelds until the release of BX.
Episode list
| Original Airdate | Episode number | Title |
| April 3, 1991 | 1 | "Raijin-Oh arrives!" |
| April 10, 1991 | 2 | "We are the Earth Defense Class" |
| April 17, 1991 | 3 | "Test is how big an annoyance!?" |
| April 24, 1991 | 4 | "Protect the field of flowers!" |
| May 1, 1991 | 5 | "Decision! Unrivaled dragon tail" |
| May 8, 1991 | 6 | "Survive the traffic war!" |
| May 15, 1991 | 7 | "Taking care of drunkard" |
| May 22, 1991 | 8 | "Absolute union of friendship!" |
| May 29, 1991 | 9 | "Blowing away moldy feelings" |
| June 5, 1991 | 10 | "The town where gasoline vanished" |
| June 12, 1991 | 11 | "Cookie's nightmare" |
| June 19, 1991 | 12 | "The pool is too hot" |
| June 26, 1991 | 13 | "Get back the baby!!" |
| July 3, 1991 | 14 | "Final match! Baseball" |
| July 10, 1991 | 15 | "Fly at Mach 9!" |
| July 17, 1991 | 16 | "Crash course in returning the shot!" |
| July 24, 1991 | 17 | "Teacher is a Jaaku beast!?" |
| July 31, 1991 | 18 | "Presentation! Earth Defense Class' secrets" |
| August 7, 1991 | 19 | "Seaside School is in chaos!!" |
| August 14, 1991 | 20 | "Maria has disappeared!" |
| August 21, 1991 | 21 | "The enemy is Raijin-Oh!?" |
| August 28, 1991 | 22 | "Departure! The invincible warrior" |
| September 4, 1991 | 23 | "Come forth! Absolutely Invincible Union!!" |
| September 11, 1991 | 24 | "Dog/cat panic plan!" |
| September 18, 1991 | 25 | "Getting the scoop!!" |
| September 25, 1991 | 26 | "Great African battle!" |
| October 2, 1991 | 27 | "Defeat the earthquake" |
| October 9, 1991 | 28 | "Garuma's competition of fear!!" |
| October 16, 1991 | 29 | "Appear! Super Jaaku beast" |
| October 23, 1991 | 30 | "Jaaku beast is a friend?" |
| October 30, 1991 | 31 | "Fierce battle! Channel war" |
| November 6, 1991 | 32 | "Adventure in the haunted house" |
| November 13, 1991 | 33 | "Terror! Dancing Jaaku beast" |
| November 20, 1991 | 34 | "Skiing is too cold" |
| November 27, 1991 | 35 | "Vanished Commander" |
| December 4, 1991 | 36 | "Jaaku beast is an ally of justice!?" |
| December 11, 1991 | 37 | "Graffiti revolt" |
| December 18, 1991 | 38 | "Psychic Jin" |
| December 25, 1991 | 39 | "The celebration is a troubling thing" |
| January 8, 1992 | 40 | "Belzeb's great approach" |
| January 15, 1992 | 41 | "Kidnapping of the absolutely invincible" |
| January 22, 1992 | 42 | "Protect the secret of the school!" |
| January 29, 1992 | 43 | "Super Giant Reiko Appears!" |
| February 5, 1992 | 44 | "Decisive micro-battle!" |
| February 12, 1992 | 45 | "Broadcast! Earth Defense Class facts!!" |
| February 19, 1992 | 46 | "Taida becomes an Earthling" |
| February 26, 1992 | 47 | "Adult to child chaos!?" |
| March 4, 1992 | 48 | "Transformation! Black Taida" |
| March 11, 1992 | 49 | "Appear! Jaaku Empire" |
| March 18, 1992 | 50 | "Defeat Emperor Warza!" |
| March 25, 1992 | 51 | "Our dream is absolutely invincible!" |
OVA List
| Original Airdate | OVA number | Title |
| August 26, 1992 | 1 | "5 Nen 3 Kum 3 Memorial Page! " |
| September 30, 1992 | 2 | "Epic War for First Love!" |
| December 16, 1992 | 3 | "Story of the Nobori Castle Robot of Light Daydream" |
| February 24, 1993 | 4 | "Everyone is the Earth Defense Class" |
Game Appearances
The series first appeared on Sunrise Eiyuutan for the Dreamcast. Later on, it was included on Super Robot Wars GC for the Nintendo GameCube and again in Super Robot Wars XO for the Xbox 360.Raijin-Oh is again included as an entry in the Super Robot Wars series of video games, beginning with Super Robot Wars NEO for the Wii along with the other 3 Eldran robots.
It also appeared in New Century Brave Wars on the PlayStation 2 in Japan to establish the first official connection between the Eldran and Yuusha series, following the merger of Takara and Tomy.
It would later appear as one of the various Sunrise animated robots as a playable character in the RPG Battle of Sunrise, to celebrate the studio's 30th anniversary, released on the PlayStation 2.
There also exists a Game Boy fighting game published by Tomy in 1991, which has been translated into English through a fan-made patch.
Raijin-Oh, once again, is included in the Super Robot Wars series in Super Robot Wars OE and Super Robot Wars BX. BX is notable to be the first time Raijin-Oh appeared in a 2D Super Robot Wars game.