Avataro Sentai Donbrothers


Avataro Sentai Donbrothers is a Japanese tokusatsu television dramedy, the 46th entry in Toei's long-running Super Sentai series and the third produced in the Reiwa era. The series is a semi-sequel to the previous entry, Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger, and premiered one week after its ending, joining Kamen Rider Revice and later, Kamen Rider Geats in the Super Hero Time lineup on TV Asahi on March 6, 2022 and the series was succeeded by Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger. The series is loosely based on the Japanese folktale of Momotarō and the heroes fight monsters whose designs pay tribute to previous installments of the franchise.
Donbrothers began airing in South Korea as Power Rangers Don-Brothers. It was also the first series of the franchise since Gaoranger to air officially in mainland China.
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Plot

A man called Jin Momoi finds a baby inside a peach-shaped capsule whom he names Taro and raises. 21 years later, mysterious monsters called the Hitotsuki begin appearing when humans overcome with their inner desires are taken over by the spirits infused with powers related to the Super Sentai of the past. Taro, and four other individuals selected by Jin; Shinichi Saruhara, a smart but eccentric young man, Haruka Kitou, a high schooler manga artist, Tsubasa Inuzuka, a wanted fugitive, and Tsuyoshi Kijino, an ordinary salaryman; begin fighting the Hitotsuki and saving their hosts as the Donbrothers. They are later joined by Jiro Momotani, who was also found in a capsule as a baby and raised in a rural area, whose dream is to become a hero.
Also standing in their way are the Nouto, elusive and ruthless individuals from a higher plane of existence who stop the Hitotsuki by sealing their hosts in another dimension, unlike the Donbrothers, who use their powers to rescue them, Don Murasame, a mysterious warrior sent to fight them, and the Juto, strange and powerful creatures who are a threat to both humans and the Nouto. The Donbrothers also count on the help of Kaito Goshikida, the owner of the coffee shop Donbura who transforms into Zenkaizer Black, and Jin, who is trapped in a virtual prison and occasionally offers them advice.

Production

The trademark for the series was filed by Toei Company on October 18, 2021, while the cast and staff was officially announced on February 9, 2022, with Toshiki Inoue as main writer.
Don Momotaro, one of the main protagonists, first appeared in episode 42 of Zenkaiger as a mean of connecting both series. Two members of the team have inhuman proportions while transformed and are animated with computer graphics. The series is the first in the franchise to make use of on-set virtual production.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

Haruka Kitou's actress, Kohaku Shida, tested positive for COVID-19 on July 27, 2022, and recovered on August 9, 2022.

Films & Specials

Theatrical

''New First Love Hero''

Avataro Sentai Donbrothers the Movie: New First Love Hero is a film released in Japanese theaters on July 22, 2022, double-billed with the film for Kamen Rider Revice the Movie: Battle Familia. Actors Wakako Shimazaki, Nobuo Kyo, and Rika Kishida guest-starred as Reiko Saegusa, Director Kuroiwa, and an unnamed recipient respectively. The events of the film take place between episodes 20 and 21. This film is a tribute to Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger.

Special episodes

  1. Let's Eat
  2. Let's Use
  3. Breakfast
  • Avataro Sentai Donbrothers Meets Senpaiger: A web-exclusive short special released on the Bandai Official, TV Asahi Super Hero Time, and Toei Tokusatsu YouTube Official YouTube channels on March 9, 2022. It shows Don Momotaro using his powers to Avatar Change into eleven past Red Sentai from Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger to Mashin Sentai Kiramager and Zenkaizer from Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger. The shorts were released to promote the then-upcoming crossover film between Zenkaiger and Kiramager, which starred the featured past Red Sentai warriors as a tribute to Senpaigers.
  • Avataro Sentai Donbrothers Spin-Off: This Is the Donbrothers' Roll Call! The True Avataro!?: A web-exclusive short special released on the Bandai Official, TV Asahi Super Hero Time, and Toei Tokusatsu YouTube Official YouTube channels on March 30, 2022.
  • Ninpu Sentai Hurricanger With Donbrothers: A web-exclusive special released on Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club on December 25, 2022, featuring the Donbrothers teaming up with the Hurricangers as part of the celebrations for the 20th anniversary of Ninpu Sentai Hurricanger with Shun Shioya, Nao Nagasawa, and Kōhei Yamamoto reprising their respective roles.
  • Bakuryū Sentai Abaranger With Donbrothers: A web-exclusive special released on Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club on August 27, 2023, featuring the Donbrothers teaming up with the Abarangers as part of the celebrations for the 20th anniversary of Bakuryū Sentai Abaranger with Koichiro Nishi, Sho Tomita, and Michi Nishijima reprising their respective roles.
  • Avataro Sentai Donbrothers vs. Avataro Sentai Donburies: A web-exclusive special released on Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club on November 5, 2023.

V-Cinema

''Donbrothers vs. Zenkaiger''

Avataro Sentai Donbrothers vs. Zenkaiger is a V-Cinema release that features a crossover between Donbrothers and Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger. The V-Cinema had a limited theatrical release on May 3, 2023, followed by its DVD and Blu-ray release later on September 27, 2023. This film is divided into three acts, focusing on the Donbrothers and Zenkaigers after their respective series, before uniting in the final act. The events of the V-Cinema take place a year after the final episode of the series.

''King-Ohger vs. Donbrothers''

Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger vs. Donbrothers is a V-Cinema release that features a crossover between Donbrothers and Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger. The V-Cinema had a limited theatrical release on April 26, 2024, double-billed with Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger vs. Kyoryuger, and followed by its DVD and Blu-ray release on October 9, 2024.

Cast

  • Taro Momoi: Kouhei Higuchi
  • Shinichi Saruhara: Yuuki Beppu
  • Haruka Kitou: Kohaku Shida
  • Tsubasa Inuzuka: Totaro
  • Tsuyoshi Kijino: Hirofumi Suzuki
  • Jiro Momotani: Raizou Ishikawa
  • Kaito Goshikida: Kiita Komagine
  • Sonoi: Yuya Tominaga
  • Sononi: Amisa Miyazaki
  • Sonoza: Shinnosuke Takahashi
  • Sonoshi: Tomoki Hirose
  • Sonogo: Mana Takai
  • Sonoroku: Shin Koyanagi
  • Miho Kijino, Natsumi Kuramochi: Momoko Arata
  • Yuriko Kitou: Hitomi Miwa
  • Kenji Sayama: Ryoji Sugimoto
  • Manager Yamada: Kohtaro Taki
  • Ishikawa: Takahito Ueda
  • Takenaka: Akira Takeuchi
  • Kiriyama: Ryosuke Yusa
  • Jin Momoi: Soko Wada
  • Don Murasame: Ayumu Murase
  • Mother: Mamiko Noto
  • Donbrothers Equipment Voice, Ninjark Sword Voice: Daiki Hamano
  • Don Doragoku/Don Torabolt Equipment Voice: Romi Park

Guest cast

Songs

;Opening theme
;Ending theme
  • "Don't Boo! Donbrothers"
  • *Lyrics: Shio Watanabe
  • *Composition & Arrangement: Go Sakabe
  • *Artist: Win Morisaki

Reception

In an interview with series producer Shinichiro Shirakura, anime mecha designer Masami Ōbari praises the Donbrotherss mecha Don Onitaijin for its detailed proportions and its design, which he considered as an improvement over the past Sentai mechas. Shirakura added that the design of Don Onitaijin was decided as a sort of "revenge" for Zenkaiger's failed attempt to keep up with Bandai's toy release schedule. Ōbari had also hoped to participate in the production of Donbrothers in the future as a storyboard artist.