Kaiketsu Lion-Maru


Extraordinary Hero Lion-Maru was a Japanese tokusatsu television series in the Lion-Maru franchise that aired in 1972–1973, produced by P Productions and set during Japan's Sengoku period.
WWW amuse-s-e.co.jp/p-pro/kai...

Plot

During the late 16th century, a trio of ninja orphans are wandering Japan and saving people from evil by battling a villain of the week in each episode, all of which are serving the devil known as Gousan. The main character, Shishimaru, has been granted the ability to transform into a superpowered anthropomorphic white lion, usually wielding a katana.

Characters

  • Shishimaru: A man who becomes Lion-Maru by unsheathing the katana Kinsachi and uttering the words "O Wind! O Light! Ninja Art: Lion Change!" to take on the power.
  • Saori: An acrobatic female fighter who often becomes a damsel in distress.
  • Kosuke: The young boy who uses his flute to summon the Pegasus known as Hikarimaru.
  • Gousan: The series' chief villain.
  • Tora Jōnosuke : A man recruited by Gosun, given the mysterious sword Ginsachi to become Tiger Joe.
  • Kashinkouji: The elderly mentor who adopted the three war orphans and taught them everything they know. After perishing from an attack by Gousan's forces, his souls is reincarted as the Pegasus known as Hikarimaru.

Episodes

  1. Emissary of Darkness Orochi
  2. Beat It!! Monster Yamawaro Child
  3. The Demon Forest: Wakuranba
  4. Musasabian: Explosion Plan!!
  5. Obo, the Grim Reaper Who Came From Hell
  6. The Man-Eating Flower Flowander
  7. The Cursed Gold Mine: Ginzame
  8. Shadow Clone Demon King Debonoba and Monster Iwageba
  9. The Vampire Who Calls Death, Monster Zombie
  10. Water of Death: Poison Newt
  11. Wolf of Hell, Kamakirian!
  12. Monster Gilozie: The Sea's Pits
  13. Monster Umikaburo and The Man-Eating Merman
  14. The Wandering Monster Nezuganda
  15. Elethunder: The Duel On The Hell Valley
  16. The Creeping Hands of Evil: Meleonga
  17. Monster Jeromo: The Demonic Beacon
  18. Monster Muiodoro: The Call of The Blessed Mountain!
  19. The Monster Who Takes Children: The Confrontation at Sunset!
  20. The Killer Pursuer Kumaoroji
  21. Hannyarasu: A Mother's Love Lullaby
  22. The Stolen Pipe: Monster Kibagira
  23. The Snake and Scorpion Monster Dakatsu
  24. Lion Flying Slash vs Monster Tobimusashi
  25. Shadow Hunter Monster Mothgiger
  26. The Last Defense Captain Kuwarugirubi
  27. Great Demon King Gorsun Gets Mad!
  28. The Evil Swordsman Tiger Joe
  29. Three Shadows: Monster Dokuronga
  30. Monster Matsubaraba: The Mystery of The Solitary Pine Tree
  31. The Demon Sword of Resentment: Orochi Junior
  32. Gamaurufu: The Note's Secret
  33. The Heartless Robber: Gamemadara
  34. The Killer Melody: Monster Pandaran
  35. Laughing In Blood Monster Arisazen
  36. The Broken Spear: Monster Hachigaraga
  37. The Targeted Man: Monster Todokazura
  38. Gorsun's Secret: Monster Tatsudorodo
  39. Monster Kichiku: The Evil Buddha
  40. Great Demon King Gorsun: Gets Mad Once Again!
  41. Great Demon King Gorsun: Aim For That Heart!
  42. The Killer Stranger: Kilgod
  43. Betrayal's Ridge: Monster Girara
  44. A Female Ninja's Tears: Monster Meganda
  45. A Runaway Ninja's Animal Path: Monster Hanzaki
  46. The Biwa Master of Darkness: Monster Noizer
  47. The Coffin of Hell: Monster Jenma
  48. The Hitman Covered In Wounds: Monster Mafian
  49. The Terrifying Butcher: Monster Jammla
  50. Hang Up Lionmaru!! Monster Juukaku
  51. The Final Eight: Monster Avter
  52. The Fast-Drawing Six-Chambered Revolver: Monster Gunrad
  53. The Sad Tiger Joe's End!
  54. Lion-Maru: The Final Battle To The Death

Cast

  • Tetsuya Ushio as Shishimaru / Kaiketsu Lion Maru
  • Akiko Kujō as Saori
  • Norihiko Umechi as Kosuke
  • Kazuo Kamoshida as Kaiketsu Lion Maru
  • Shingo Fukushima as Tiger Joe
  • Kiyoshi Kobayashi as Akuma Gosun / Devil Gosuun
  • Kōji Tonohiro as Tora Jōnosuke / Tiger Joe
  • Yoshitaka Fukushima as Tora Jōnosuke / Tiger Joe
  • Daisaku Shinohara as Narrator

Music

;Opening Theme
  • "Kaze yo Hikari yo" by Yuki Hide & Young Fresh
;Ending Themes
  • "Lion-Maru ga yatte kuru" by Young Fresh

International broadcasts and home video

  • The series was released in Japan on DVD on October 25, 2002 to commemorate the series' 30th anniversary broadcasting, via Volume 1. Then on December 25, 2002, Volume 2 of the series was broadcast. A DVD boxset that contains all 54 episodes of the series was released on March 26, 2008.
  • It was broadcast in Thailand around 1974 every Sunday on Channel 5 in Thai dubbed, as Nakak Sing.
  • The series was broadcast in Italy in 1983, dubbed, as Ultralion.
  • The series was also dubbed into English, but only one episode surfaced in North America, released on a VHS tape in 1986 distributed by Kids Klassics and also by Remco through other copies, entitled Magic of the Ninja and sold through toy store chains such as Toys R Us.
  • It was aired in Brazil with a Brazilian Portuguese dub under the title Lion Man on Rede Manchete in 1990, following the success of airing its sequel series Fuun Lion-Maru first. But unlike that, this series was reportedly a flop and it did not last long on the network, given that the sequel was more popular and that one actually aired first. Only about 22 out of 54 episodes were dubbed.

DVD release

In P Productions' publicity materials for the 2002 DVD release, Lion Maru was subtitled The Beast-Transformed Ninja Warrior.