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Ronin Warriors

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Ronin Warriors
鎧伝サムライトルーパー
(Yoroiden Samurai Torūpā)
GenreSentai, Action
Manga
Written byHajime Yatate
Illustrated byRyūichi Hoshino
Published byKodansha
MagazineWeekly Shōnen Magazine
DemographicShōnen
Original run19881989
Volumes2
Anime
Directed byMasashi Ikeda (01-19)
Mamoru Hamatsu (20-39)
Written byHajime Yatate
StudioSunrise
Released 30 April 1988 4 March 1989
Anime
Gaiden
(外伝)
Directed byMamoru Hamatsu
Written byYoshiyuki Tomino
StudioSunrise
ReleasedApril 30th, 1989 (Vol. 1)
June 1st, 1989 (Vol. 2)
Anime
Kikōtei Densetsu
(輝煌帝伝説)
Directed byMamoru Hamatsu
Written byYoshiyuki Tomino
StudioSunrise
ReleasedOctober 8th, 1989 (Vol. 1)
November 1st, 1989 (Vol. 2)
December 1st, 1989 (Vol. 3)
January 11th, 1990 (Vol. 4)
Anime
Messēji
(メッセージ)
Directed byMamoru Hamatsu
Written byYoshiyuki Tomino
StudioSunrise
ReleasedMarch 21st, 1991 (Vol. 1)
May 22nd, 1991 (Vol. 2)
June 21st, 1991 (Vol. 3)
July 25th, 1991 (Vol. 4)
August 23rd, 1991 (Vol. 5)

Ronin Warriors, Known in Japan as Template:Nihongo title, is a Japanese manga and anime series created by Hajime Yatate. The anime was produced and animated by Sunrise, and aired across Japan on Nagoya Television from April 30, 1988 to March 4, 1989 and has a total of 39 episodes.

Ronin Warriors was produced by Graz Entertainment and distributed by Cinar, and it was recorded by the Ocean Group. Ronin Warriors first aired on American television during the summer of 1995 and subsequently appeared on the Sci-Fi Channel, Fox, and later, Cartoon Network. The series was released on DVD in 2002, including the original Japanese version with English subtitles on the reverse side of the disc.

The opening and ending sequences and the eyecatches were replaced with new ones, and the Japanese title cards were removed; there were no substantial cuts to the bodies of the episodes and the episodes retained most of the original music.

Three direct-to-video sequels were produced: Gaiden (Begins), Kikōtei Densetsu (The Legend of the Inferno Armor) and Messēji (Message). There is also a YST manga as well as numerous novels and audio dramas based on the anime. While all the sequels have been released on DVD, the manga and audio dramas have not been made available in English.

Premise

Talpa, the demon lord of the Netherworld, is bent on conquering the mortal world. Standing against Talpa and his four Dark Warlords are the five Ronin Warriors, each in possession of mystical armor and weapons. They are assisted by Mia Koji, a young student-teacher, and a mysterious warrior-monk known only as The Ancient.

The Legend

English Dubbed Legend

Torch of Spirit, sought through five,
Drinking strength from immortal fire,
Darkest prison sheds the light,
Churning beneath a swirl of salt,
Burning within a throne of rock,
Floating amongst the eyes of ages,
Unmoored in the stream of the sky

Legend of Hariel

A character conceived in the dubbing of Samurai Troopers, Hariel was created to prevent viewers from being confused when Ryo called upon the powers of the five armors to create the Inferno. Hariel's origins are also considered to be a request by the toy companies that made the Ronin Warrior action figures so consumers would not be confused by two versions of Ryo dressed in the Wildfire armor and the Inferno armor.

According to the character Badamon, Hariel is said to be the 'last wearer of the armor of Inferno' and that he was both Dark Warlord and Ronin Warrior. He is considered to be a great warrior and possibly haunts the white armor with his life force, making it possible that Ryo could be possessed by Hariel while wearing the white armor and making him a dangerous threat to the Dynasty.

In the original Japanese version, there was no "Hariel". The Sun Yoroi, Kikoutei, was formed from the souls of all five Samurai Troopers fused into a single being. It took some time for Ryo to gain control of Kikoutei, which at first was something of a berserker. According to some accounts, the original ending of Yoroiden-Samurai Troopers involved the destruction of all five Troopers, with Jun ("Yulie") finally defeating Arago ("Talpa").[citation needed] However, the series was popular and the creators then repeated the second-from-last episode, giving them time to reanimate the last two episodes and creating the super-fusion Kikoutei armor as a deus ex machina to save the Troopers.[citation needed]

The Heart of Ancients/Jewel of Life Legend

The English dub/original name of the stone used to bind the power of the Nether Realm. In both versions, this stone, a purple magatama rested in an ancient temple at the bottom of a lake. The reformed warlord Anubis/Shuten used the power of the Ancients/Kaos staff to reach it.

According to the character Badamon, the Jewel of Life is one of the three weapons that could destroy the Nether Realm. The Armor of Inferno, the Soul Swords of Fervor, and the Jewel of Life.

Though most of its powers are unknown and only a few have been seen in the show, the Jewel has the power to create a shield, blind enemies, destroy the spirits possessing soldier's armors, banish Netherworld priests, and for a short time, seal Talpa's power to keep him from defending himself against the final attacks of the Ronin Warriors/Samurai Troopers.

One considered use of the gem was to prevent Ryo from dying in the final attack when he was sucked into Talpa's body in the last battle. The Jewel came to life at the same time the Ronin Warriors went to attack Talpa and saved Ryo from being killed by his friend's weapons.

The Jewel took the place of the Ronin Warriors in the second half of the TV series as a means to protect Mia and Yulie.

The Armor

When Talpa was defeated in a previous attempt to conquer the human world, his spirit was sent to the Netherworld, but his armor, which was charged with demonic power, somehow remained behind. In order to prevent Talpa from returning to the human world, The Ancient diffused it into nine separate suits of armor.

In the original Japanese version, each set of armor is infused with one of the Confucian, or Bushido, Virtues: Jin (Righteousness), Gi (Justice), Rei (Courtesy), Chi (Intellect), Shin (Faith), Chuu (Loyalty), Tei (Obedience), Kou (Reverence for elders), and Nin (Tolerance). Two of these were changed for the American version: Chi became Inochi (Life), and Rei became Chi. Kou is translated as Piety, and Nin as Serenity.

The nine sets of armor have a number of special properties and they can be put on in an instant by calling out the name of the armor and its associated Virtue. For example, Ryo dons his Wildfire armor by calling out "Armor of Wildfire, Dao Jin!" In the Japanese version, the command used to summon the armor is "Busou (armor name)!"

In the English version, the Ronins say the phrase "Dao" followed by their kanji when they are calling their armors. For instance, Ryo would say "Dao Jin!". Literally translated, it would mean "The way of Virtue." It, therefore, becomes an appropriate description of Ryo himself, since by calling the armor, he is following the path of virtue. "Dao" was taken from the native Chinese religion of "Daoism". Also, if Ryo were to say Busou Rekka ("rekka" being the Japanese word for "wildfire"), the literal translation would be "To Arms, Wildfire!" or "Arm Wildfire!"

The armor also enhances physical strength and endurance, for example increasing lower-body strength to allow the wearer to run at high speed and jump great distances or allowing the user to ignore harsh environmental conditions such as lack of air, or extremes of heat and pressure. Each set of armor also has a unique fighting technique, typically referred to as hissatsu waza, which would mean something like "Critical Technique" or some such in English. It is later revealed that the power of the armor is known as 弾動力(Dandouryoku). Dandou is the Japanese word for the science of ballistics and ryoku is the word for "power" or "strength". Nasti then comments that the power of the "white armor" should probably be called 超弾動(Choudandou). This literally means "Super Ballistic" or "Ultra Ballistic". When Ryou is in the Solar Armor (輝煌帝, Kikoutei) his technique then becomes 超弾動双炎斬 (Choudendou Souenzan), the "Ultra Ballistic Twin Flame Slash".

Each of the five Ronin armor sets (Wildfire, Torrent, Hardrock, Strata, and Halo) have elemental affinities: Fire, Water, Earth, Air, and Light. Each armor can draw power from its respective element to give the wearer a power boost.

The four Warlord armor sets each have an affinity for one of the seasons: Cruelty with Spring, Illusion with Summer, Venom with Autumn, and Corruption with Winter. Each set also represent a different animal: Cruelty is an Ogre, Illusion is a Spider, Venom is a Snake, and Corruption is a Jackal or Wolf.

Characters

Main characters

Name American Virtues Japanese Virtues Armor Association Weapon English Special Attack Japanese Special Attack
Ryo Sanada Virtue 仁 - Jin (Righteousness) Fire/烈火 - Rekka (Wildfire) & Inferno (English), 輝煌帝 - Kikoutei (Solar/Sun)(Japanese) Paired Katana (Armor of Wildfire)/Swords of Fervor (Inferno Armor) Flare Up Now (Wildfire Armor) & Rage of Inferno (Inferno Armor)(Series dub), Fury of Wildfire (Wildfire Armor & Inferno Armor)(OAV dub) 双炎斬 - Souenzan, "Twin Flame Slash" (Wildfire Armor), 超弾動双炎斬 - Choudandou Souenzan, "Ultra Ballistic Twin Flame Slash" (Solar Armor)
Sage Date Wisdom 礼 - Rei (Courtesy)(Japanese), Grace (OAV dub) Light/光輪 - Kourin (Halo) Nodachi Thunder Bolt Cut (Series dub), Lightning Strike (OAV dub) 雷光斬 - Raikouzan, "Lightning Strike"
Cye Mouri Trust 信 - Shin (Faith) Water/水滸 - Suiko (Torrent) Jumonji Yari Super Wave Smasher (Series dub), Ultra Wave Crusher (OAV dub) 超流破 - Chouryuuha, "Ultra Wave Crusher"
Kento Rei Fang Justice 義 - Gi (Justice) Earth/金剛 - Hongou (Adamant) [Japanese], Hardrock [English] Naginata Iron Rock Crusher (Series and OAV dub) 岩鉄砕 - Gatessai "Rock Iron Crusher"
Rowen Hashiba Life 智 - Chi (Wisdom) Air/天空, Tenkuu (Heavens) [Japanese], Strata[English] Hankyu Arrow Shock Wave (Series dub), Heavens Shockwave (OAV dub) 真空波 - Shinkuuha "Vacuum Wave"
Ancient Shakujo
Talpa
Anubis Loyalty 忠 - Chuu (Loyalty) Spring/Cruelty Kusarigama Quake with Fear 紅雷閃 - Kouraisen "Crimson Lightning Flash"
Cale Obedience 孝 - Kou (Filial piety -- honoring one's parents and ancestors) Winter/Corruption Nodachi Black Lightning Flash 暗黒跳飛斬り - Ankoku Chouhigiri "Vaulting Darkness Slash"
Dais Serenity 忍 - Nin (Endurance) Summer/Illusion Six Kama Web of Deception 投蜘網 - Touchimou "Spiderweb Toss"
Sekhmet Piety 悌 - Tei (Elderly Reverence) Autumn/Poison Six Katana Snake Fang Strike 蛇牙剣 - Jagaken "Snake Fang Sword" and 六節大蛇 Rokusetsu Orochi "Six-jointed Orochi"
Lady Kayura Ai (Love) Stars/Starlight Starlight Sword (Twin Sai's) Star Sword Scream 嵐星斬 - Ranseizan "Storm Star Slash"

Other characters

Other main characters include Mia Koji, Ully, White Blaze, Kenboukyou, Kokuen-Oh, Badamon, Gogasha, Toryuki, Professor Yagyu, Luna, Uncle Chin, Shikaisen, Mad Scientist, Mukara, Naria, Kuroi Kikoutei, Suzunagi, Suzunagi's mother, Genchirou Hashiba, Touma's mother, Ryo's father.

Name Changes from Yoroiden-Samurai Troopers

The following is a list of the original Japanese names used in Yoroiden-Samurai Troopers, and the direct counterparts used in the English version, Ronin Warriors.

English Name Japanese Name
Ronin Warriors Yoroi Senshi (Armored Warriors) or Samurai Troopers
Ryo Sanada (pronounced "rye-oh" in the tv show and "ree-oh" in the OAV) Ryou Sanada (真田遼 Sanada Ryō)
Sage Date Seiji Date (伊達征士 Date Seiji)
Cye Mouri Shin Mouri (毛利伸 Mōri Shin)
Kento Rei Fang Xiu Lei Huang (シュー レイ フアン Shū Rei Fuan)
Rowen Hashiba Touma Hashiba (羽柴当麻 Hashiba Tōma)
Dark Warlords 魔将 - Mashou (Demon Generals)
Talpa Arago (阿羅醐)
Anubis Dohji Shutendouji (朱天童子 Shutendōji)
Cale Anubis (悪奴弥守 Anubisu)
Dais Rajura (螺呪羅)
Sekhmet Naaza (那唖挫)
Lady Kayura Kayuura (迦遊羅 Kayūra)
The Ancient Kaos (迦雄須 Kaosu)
Mia Koji Nasuti Yagyu (柳生ナスティ Yagyu Nasuti)
Yulie Jun Yamano
White Blaze Byakuen (this is not technically a name change, as 白炎, which means "White Blaze", is pronounced Byakuen.)
Dr. Koji Dr. Yagyu
Runa Luna
Mukala Mukara
Nadia Naria
Suzunagi Suzunagi

Music

  • Opening 1: Stardust Eyes (performed by Mariko Uranishi)
  • Opening 2: Samurai Heart (performed by Hiroko Moriguchi)
  • Ending 1: Faraway (performed by Mariko Uranishi)
  • Ending 2: Be Free (performed by Hiroko Moriguchi)

Singles & albums

  • Yoroiden Samurai Troopers Debut Album: Kimi o Nemurasenai (King Records, December 21, 1988, 4 weeks on Oricon chart, )[1] (4 weeks on Oricon chart, ranked as high as 44)[2]
  • Yoroiden Samurai Troopers: Best Friends (King Records, June 5, 1989)[3] (4 weeks on Oricon chart, ranked as high as 12)[4]

Episode list

This list comprises the episodes as shown on the English, Ronin Warriors including the episode number, original air date, and title.

Episode Air Date Title
1-1 26-Jun-1995 Shadowland
1-2 27-Jun-1995 Glory for Anubis
1-3 28-Jun-1995 Secret of Wildfire
1-4 29-Jun-1995 The Search Begins
1-5 30-Jun-1995 Halo's Prison
1-6 03-Jul-1995 The Counter Attack
1-7 04-Jul-1995 Splitting the Stone
1-8 05-Jul-1995 Friend or Foe
1-9 06-Jul-1995 Wildfire in the Sky
1-10 07-Jul-1995 In the Sea of the Sky
1-11 10-Jul-1995 Assault on the Dynasty
1-12 11-Jul-1995 Shallow Darkness
1-13 12-Jul-1995 Fate of the Ronin Armor
1-14 13-Jul-1995 Armor of Life
1-15 14-Jul-1995 The Ancient's Battle
1-16 17-Jul-1995 Raid on Talpa's Castle
1-17 18-Jul-1995 The Legend of the Armor
1-18 19-Jul-1995 Talpa's Triumph
1-19 20-Jul-1995 Wildfire's Fight Against Fate
1-20 21-Jul-1995 Ronin vs. Saranbo
1-21 24-Jul-1995 Ryo's Mega Armor
1-22 25-Jul-1995 Saber Stryke's Deadly Challenge
1-23 26-Jul-1995 White Blaze's Sacrifice
1-24 27-Jul-1995 Sun Devil: Ambassador of Evil
1-25 28-Jul-1995 Torrent's Evil Twin
1-26 31-Jul-1995 The Armor Must Be Destroyed
1-27 01-Aug-1995 Sand Blasted
1-28 02-Aug-1995 Lady Kayura and the Dark Realm
1-29 03-Aug-1995 Anubis Is Reborn
1-30 04-Aug-1995 Talpa Turns the Tide
1-31 07-Aug-1995 Legend of the White Armor
1-32 08-Aug-1995 Strategies of the Nether World
1-33 09-Aug-1995 In Search of Secret Treasures
1-34 10-Aug-1995 Strata's Defiant Stand
1-35 11-Aug-1995 The Warriors Return
1-36 14-Aug-1995 Cheap Tricks
1-37 15-Aug-1995 Anubis' Armor Revived
1-38 16-Aug-1995 Lady Evil Sees the Light
1-39 17-Aug-1995 Triumphant Warriors

English cast

OVA English cast

Japanese cast

References

  1. ^ "鎧伝サムライトルーパー/デビューアルバム「君を眠らせない」" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on January 31, 2010. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
  2. ^ "鎧伝サムライトルーパー 君を眠らせない" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on January 31, 2010. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
  3. ^ "鎧伝サムライトルーパー/BEST FRIENDS" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on January 31, 2010. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
  4. ^ "鎧伝サムライトルーパー BEST FRIENDS" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on January 31, 2010. Retrieved January 31, 2010.

See also