is a Japanese
tokusatsu television franchise that began in 1972 by
P Productions
is a Japanese production company, which has produced anime and tokusatsu television programs, with minor work in motion pictures. It was founded in 1960 by the late TV producer Tomio Sagisu (also known as Soji Ushio). The company exists today a ...
as ''
Extraordinary Hero Lion-Maru''. The basic premise of the series is that the main character has the ability to transform into a
superpower
A superpower is a state with a dominant position characterized by its extensive ability to exert influence or project power on a global scale. This is done through the combined means of economic, military, technological, political and cultural s ...
ed
anthropomorphic
Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities. It is considered to be an innate tendency of human psychology.
Personification is the related attribution of human form and characteristics t ...
lion
The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'' native to Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body; short, rounded head; round ears; and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. It is sexually dimorphi ...
, usually wielding a
katana. The original two series were set in
feudal Japan and were, essentially, tokusatsu versions of the
samurai dramas that were extremely popular at the time. The 2006 program, ''
Lion-Maru G'', is set in the near future, but still uses the samurai motif for the designs of the main characters.
Series
*''
Kaiketsu Lion-Maru'' (1972)
*''
Fuun Lion-Maru'' (1973)
*''
Lion-Maru G'' (2006)
Tokusatsu television series
{{Japan-tv-prog-stub