Movies - Metal Heroes

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	Movies - Metal Heroes

Metal Heroes is a series of tokusatsu superhero TV shows produced by Toei in Japan. The Metal Heroes are mainly space and police related characters who wears a "metallic" suit or transforms into a metallic warrior. Usually, the genre revolves around a technological theme where technology, in the right hands, can be used for the greater good; similar to the character of Iron Man. The shows were produced by Toei between 1982 and 1996 in conjunction with their other Tokusatsu superhero shows, such as Kamen Rider and Super Sentai. They are not just popular in Japan, but also in France, Brazil, Philippines, and other countries. Unlike Super Sentai or Kamen Rider some of the Metal Heroes series spawned sequels which followed the previous show, resulting in those shows develping their own sub-categories.

Metal Heroes in order

Space Sheriff Gavan (1982)
Space Sheriff Shariban (1983)
Space Sheriff Shaider (1984)
Giant Investigator Juspion (1985)
Dimensional Soldier Spielban (1986)
Super Machine Man Metalder (1987)
Worldwide Ninja Jiraiya (1988)
Mobile Detective Jiban (1989)
Special Rescue Police Winspector (1990)
Super Rescue Solbrain (1991)
Special Rescue Exceedraft (1992)
Special Investigations Robo Janperson(1993)
Blue SWAT (1994)
Heavy Shell B-Fighter (1995)
B-Fighter Kabuto (1996)

Space Sheriffs

Uchuu Keiji Gavan (Space Sheriff Gavan/Gyaban/Gaban) (1982): Also known as X-Or/X-But in France and Sky Ranger in the Philippines, this show starts the Space Sheriff trilogy featuring a police hero sent to Earth to battle a rampaging force of aliens, similar to DC Comics' Green Lantern comic book, and even Jack Kirby's OMAC. It was also strongly visually influenced by Star Wars. Gavan proved popular enought to spawn two direct sequels and introduce a new genre in japanese television.
Uchuu Keiji Sharivan (Space Sheriff Sharivan) (1983): Also popular in France but not in the Philippines because the series has not been aired there yet, this direct sequel to Uchuu Keiji Gyaban features Gavan's protege taking over the role of Earth's protector when Gavan gets promoted in rank(from sergeant to captain) in the Space Sheriff organization.
Uchuu Keiji Shaider
(Space Sheriff Shaider) (1984): This is the third & last of the Space Sheriff trilogy, with an Earth-born, galactic police force-trained officer taking over Sharivan's job alongside a female deputy. Shaider is the most popular metal hero in the Philippines. It was Americanized in the second season of Saban's VR Troopers.

Space Metal Heroes

Kyojuu Tokusou Juspion
(Giant Monster Investigator Juspion
) (1985): Similar in filming, tone, and style of the Space Sheriff shows, this series features a warrior sent to stop Satan Goss and his diabolical son Madgalant (Magaren in Brazil) from destroying the Earth with giant monsters. Juspion
had his own giant robot, Daileon, to combat the evil creatures. The show had a tremendous impact in Brazil.
Jikuu Senshi Spielban
(Dimensional Warrior Spielvan) (1986): Along with his sidekick, Diana, this program dealt with a hero who crosses through dimensions to combat an alien force that took his father's life and corrupted his sister into the evil Hellvira, who later joined her brother as Lady Helen. Americanized in the first season VR Troopers.

Cyborg Metal Heroes

Choujinki Metalder (Super Machine Man Metalder) (1987): Inspired by the classic tokusatsu hero Kikaider, this show dealt with an android given human memories, yet programmed to fight an insidious group that his creator once belonged to. Americanized in the first season of VR Troopers.
Kidou Keiji Jiban (Mobile Detective Jiban) (1989): Based similarly to RoboCop
, but also had elements of the 70's series Robotto Keiji
. This armored robot hero is a rookie cop gunned down and reborn as a fighting machine against the Criminal Syndicate Bioron, a group of bio-genetic freaks. Jiban is the first Metal Hero to actually bear the emblem of the Japanese National Police, although his "badge" shows a regular American-style sheriff star.
Tokusou Robo Janperson (Robot Investigator Janperson) (1993): Another series similar to Robotto Keiji. An abandoned police experiment robot is revived by its creator to combat three different organizations of crime in Japan. With a gruff, rougish, gun-totting robot partner named Gungibson, Janperson patrols the streets of Tokyo alongside his creator in shutting down the hidden crimelords that use super science to subjugate the masses.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Metal Heroes ]

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