Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger

is a Japanese Tokusatsu television series and Toei's twenty-fifth production of the ''Super Sentai'' metaseries airing in 2001 and celebrated the franchise's 25th anniversary.
It aired from February 18, 2001, to February 10, 2002, replacing ''Mirai Sentai Timeranger'', and was replaced by '' Ninpu Sentai Hurricanger''. Footage from this show was used in the 2002 American series ''Power Rangers Wild Force'' and was later dubbed in 2010 as the retitled ''Power Rangers: Jungle Force'' for South Korean television in place of ''Samurai Sentai Shinkenger''. Gaoranger aired alongside ''Kamen Rider Agito''.

On May 14, 2018, it was announced that Shout! Factory had licensed ''Gaoranger'' for release in North America and it was released on December 18, 2018. This is the 11th Super Sentai to be released in North America on DVD in Region 1 format as '' Jetman'' was released before ''Gaoranger''.

Plot

A millennium ago, humans fought a war against demon ogres known as the Orgs. With the help of the Power Animals, the ancient Gao Warriors were able to defeat the Orgs' leader Hyakkimaru, sealing the Orgs away along with one of their own. When the seal wanes, the Power Animals select a new generation of Gao Warriors to fight the freed Orgs and protect all life on Earth. The current Gao Warriors, the Gaorangers, are recruited to abandon their civilian lives and names while traveling to find the other Power Animals that were in hiding.

Characters

Gaorangers

Each of the Gaorangers' surnames either contain the kanji for their (, , , , from or resemble the name of their Power Animal from .

;: , the , was a veterinarian before becoming chosen by to become Gao Red. He was the last chosen of the Gaorangers, but has an affinity for animals. His other Power Animals are and . He was played by Noboru Kaneko.

;: , the , was an airforce pilot before he was chosen first by to become Gao Yellow. He is serious and regimental, deciding that the Gaorangers should refer to each other by color instead of name. His other Power Animals are and . He was played by Kei Horie.

;: , the , was a freeter before he was chosen by to become Gao Blue. He is the most immature of the team. His other Power Animal is , who appeared in Gao Blue's dream where it actually comes true that was about to lose against the evil tribe and that was why they needed Gao Giraffe to help them win against the evil tribe. Gao Giraffe will take Gao Shark or Gao Bear's place when it is chosen to fight. He was played by Takeru Shibaki.

;: , the , was a retired sumo wrestler who was working as a florist before he was chosen by to become Gao Black. He is the physically strongest, but shyest of the team. His other Power Animals are and . He was played by Kazuyoshi Sakai.

;: , the , was a martial arts student under her father before she was chosen by to be Gao White. She is the youngest and only female of the team. Her other Power Animals are and . She was played by Mio Takeuchi.

;: /, the , was a Gao Warrior from the Heian period over 1,000 years ago. He used the power of the Dark Wolf Mask to defeat the evil . However, he was turned into and got the other Gao Warriors to entomb him so he could not do any more harm. He was later awakened as Rouki in the present age, but was freed of his curse by the Gaorangers. As Gao Silver, his Power Animals are , , and . He was played by Tetsuji Tamayama.

Arsenal

Power Animals

The Power Animals are Mechas that are sentient and can be summoned by the Gaorangers.

Allies

Ogre Tribe Org

The is a race of Oni born from the sadness and madness of humans. They operate in a cavern known as the Matrix.

Highness Duke Orgs

The are the rulers of the Ogre Tribe Org.

Duke Orgs

The oversee the Baron Org attacks.

;: A crazed pierrot-like master of knives who claimed himself to Gao Yellow's greatest rival. He later developed a best friend in Tsue Tsue near the series end.
;: An arrogant Org priestess whose magic is as great as her devotion to the Highnesses. She is armed with a staff that spits Org Seeds to resurrect fallen Orgs into giants.

Baron Orgs

Grunts

Quests (episodes)

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''The Fire Mountain Roars''

is the theatrical adaptation of ''Gaoranger'' that was a double bill with the Kamen Rider Series film ''Kamen Rider Agito the Movie: Project G4''. The film features and the combination. The events of the movie takes place between Quests 40 and 41.

Production

The trademark for the series was filed by Toei Company on October 25, 2000.

V-Cinema releases

*
* (Takes place between Episodes 30 and 31 of '' Ninpu Sentai Hurricanger'')

''Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai''

aired in 2001. The plot revolves around the Gaorangers meeting up with previous sentai members. Each sentai teaches each one about their Super Sentai past. Past Sentai Heroes included Sokichi Banba/Big One from ''J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai'', Yusuke Amamiya/Red Falcon from ''Choujyu Sentai Liveman'', Gouki/Ginga Blue from ''Seijuu Sentai Gingaman'', Daimon Tatsumi/Go Yellow from ''Kyuukyuu Sentai GoGoFive'', and Miku Imamura/Mega Pink from ''Denji Sentai Megaranger''. All the prior Red Rangers from ''Himitsu Sentai Gorenger'' to ''Mirai Sentai Timeranger'' also make a cameo appearance at the end of the film. The events of the movie takes place between Quests 14 and 15.

Drama CD

A drama CD titled introduces Gao Panda.

Manga

A manga adaptation crossover with ''Himitsu Sentai Gorenger'' titled was released in September 2001.

Cast

*Kakeru Shishi:
*Gaku Washio:
*Kai Samezu:
*Soutaro Ushigome:
*Sae Taiga:
*Tsukumaro Oogami:
*, :
*:
*TsueTsue:

Voice actors

*:
*, :
*:
*Yabaiba:
*Rouki:
*:
*:
*: ,
*:
*Narrator,

Songs

;Opening theme
*
**Lyrics: Nagae Kuwabara
**Composition & Arrangement: Kōtarō Nakagawa
**Artist: Yukio Yamagata
*
**Lyrics: Nagae Kuwabara
**Composition & Arrangement: Kōtarō Nakagawa
**Artist: The Gaorangers
** ''Used as movie opening and the ending of the Quest 45''

;Ending themes
* (1–44, 46–50)
**Lyrics: Nagae Kuwabara
**Composition & Arrangement: Keiichi Oku
**Artist: Salia
* (51)
**Lyrics:
**Composition & Arrangement: Kōichirō Kameyama
**Artist: The Gaorangers
**Finale Ending

International broadcasts and home video

*The series was limited to only airing in Asian regions outside of Japan, as most international regions have aired the Power Rangers adaptation, Power Rangers Wild Force instead. This is also the very first Super Sentai season to be released on DVD in its home country of Japan. Originally released on Rental DVDs starting on October 12, 2001, it would also later be commercially released for sale on DVDs from December 8, 2001 to November 21, 2002, where all 12 volumes had all episodes with the first 10 volumes holding 4 episodes, the last two volumes holding 5. It was also released on VHS from January till December 2002 with those same volumes. On September 8, 2021, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the series' premiere, a collection set to spread through two volumes was released with the first volume having 25 episodes, and the second having 26.
**This was the very first Super Sentai series to be released in Vietnam and was given a Vietnamese dub by Phuong Nam Film Studio, where it was released as ''5 anh em siêu nhân Gaoranger'' around 2003-2004. It has seen unprecedented success, paving the way for more Super Sentai seasons to be released in the country. Although the ''Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai'' film was released as ''Anh em chiến binh Gao.''
**The series was released on home video in Thailand with a Thai dub by Rose Home Entertainment (formerly Rose Video) and it was very popular with consumers. It also used to air on Channel 5 during 2003, with distribution by First Entertainment Company.
**This was the first Super Sentai series since Ninja Sentai Kakuranger to air with both Mandarin (Taiwan dialect) and Cantonese dubs. However this time, both were shown at once and premiered within the same year in 2003.
***In Taiwan, the series aired with a Taiwanese Mandarin dub on October 3, 2003, until September 26, 2004 with all episodes dubbed, airing on GTV.
***In Hong Kong, the series aired with a Cantonese Chinese dub on November 9, 2003 (a month after Taiwan aired the Taiwanese Mandarin dub) on TVB Jade until October 24, 2004 with all episodes covered.
**In Philippines, this series was aired as Power Rangers adaptation of Sentai series called Power Rangers Wild Force. it was aired on ABS-CBN in 2004 until 2005 dubbed in Tagalog. this is the reason that Power Rangers series in 2000's airs on RPN-9 until it returns on ABS-CBN. After sometime, Gaoranger was aired on ABC 5 with names changed and also dubbed in Tagalog.
**In Malaysia, the series aired with a Malay dub produced by FKN Dubbing on TV2 around 2008 and finished around 2009. It was marketed under ''Leo Ranger.''
**In South Korea, the series was dubbed in Korean and aired in 2010 under ''Power Rangers Jungle Force.'' (''파워레인저 정글포스'') They have previously dubbed for its Power Rangers adaptation that was Wild Force in 2003, although aired under ''Power Force Rangers.'' (''파워포스레인저'') This series was picked up for broadcast after the Korean dub for Engine Sentai Go-Onger in 2009. The reason why they decided to go backwards and dub an earlier Sentai season was because they skipped Samurai Sentai Shinkenger due to the series having heavy use of elements involving Japanese culture. This is currently the only series to have both itself and its American adaptation dubbed for South Korea titled as separate shows.
**In North America, the series would receive a DVD release by Shout! Factory on January 30, 2018 in the original Japanese audio with English subtitles. It is the eleventh Super Sentai series to be officially released in the region.

Notes

References

External links

*
*
* at Super-Sentai.net

{{Super Sentai

Super Sentai
2001 Japanese television series debuts
2002 Japanese television series endings
Japanese action television series
Japanese fantasy television series
Japanese science fiction television series
Works about legendary creatures
Works about animals
Television series about animals