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, replacing Battle Fever J and was replaced by Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan. The title given to this series for international distribution by Toei is Denjiman, Denziman or Electric Fighters. Denjiman is the second Super Sentai series to be produced in partnership with Marvel Comics, bearing a Marvel copyright.

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 eponymous Denjimen is 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Jun Kiyama / Denji Yellow: An inventor and space researcher. He coaches calisthenics.
  • Tatsuya Midorikawa / Denji Green: A detective who lost his father to a Vader attack. He coaches boxing.
  • 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.

    Allies

  • Denji Dog IC: Intelligent robot dog that came from planet Denji 3000 years ago to assemble the Denjimen. He sacrificed his life to become a circuit for DaiDenjin in order to defeat the Omnipotent Monse.
  • Officer Chieko Matsuo: A fellow Police Officer who is good friends and allies with Tatsyua.
  • 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.

    Vader Clan

The Vader Clan are invaders from another dimension with warped concepts of outer beauty. They intend to pollute and corrupt the Earth and its inhabitants to fit its unusual aesthetic.
  • 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 in Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan and revived as a cyborg under their control.
  • General Hedler : The 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 Monster. He grew giant and fought against the DaiDenjin but fell to the Denji Sword after the Denjimen used the Denji Ball. He was saluted by the Denjimen after being defeated.
  • Keller and Mirror: The 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 Hedler. Banriki attacked all the Denjimen until there was Denji Red, not injured in Episode 37. The others fought through their fight against him. In Episode 37, Banriki grew after fighting Denjimen and was wounded after they used their Denji Boomerang. The Denjimen 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. Banriki was turned into a human candle. With the help of the Bankiri Monster, Banriki turned into a human and took back the Vader Clan. He was finally killed off by the Denji Boomerang.
  • Dustlers: The foot soldiers of the Vader Clan in black tights with skeletal designs who wield sickles. They can teleport from one spot to another.

    Vader Monsters

The Vader Monsters are 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 film and is referenced in two later episodes of the series, placing the events of this film 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
  • Officer Chieko Matsuo: Yukie Sakai
  • Princess Denji: Tamaki Funakura
  • General Hedler: Shinji Tōdō
  • Demon King Banriki: Kin Oomae
  • Mirror: Rie Yoshikawa
  • Keller: Chiaki Kojo
  • Constable Matsuo Tieko: Yukie Sakai
  • Vader Monsters: Shōzō Iizuka

    Songs

;Opening theme
;Ending theme
  • "Denjiman ni Makasero!"
  • * Lyrics: Kazuo Koike
  • * Composition & Arrangement: Michiaki Watanabe
  • * Artist: Ken Narita