Metal Hero Series

The is a metaseries of tokusatsu superhero TV series produced by Toei for Japanese television.

The protagonists of the ''Metal Hero Series'' are mainly space, military and police-based characters who are typically either androids, cyborgs, or human beings who don "metallic" armored suits. Henceforth, most of the Metal Heroes are also referenced as another example of the "Henshin (transforming) Heroes" genre. Usually, the genre revolves around a technological theme where technology, in the right hands, can be used for the greater good.

The shows were produced by Toei from 1982 through 1999 in conjunction with their other Tokusatsu superhero shows, '' Kamen Rider'' and ''Super Sentai''. In addition to Japan, they are also popular in France, Brazil, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. During the 1990s, Saban Entertainment used some of the shows to produce programs similar to their ''Power Rangers'' series. Some of the ''Metal Hero Series'' even spawned such sequels which followed the continuity of the previous shows, resulting in the genre developing sub-categories based mainly on space, military and police-related characters.

List of ''Metal Hero Series''

* '
** 1982:
** 1983:
** 1984:
One of three series used in the American series Saban's ''VR Troopers''
** 2023:
* 1985:
* 1986:
One of three series used in the American series Saban's ''VR Troopers''
* 1987:
One of three series used in the American series Saban's ''VR Troopers''
* 1988:
* 1989:
* '
** 1990:
** 1991:
** 1992:
* 1993:
* 1994:
* '
** 1995:
Used for Saban's ''Big Bad Beetleborgs''
** 1996:
Used for Saban's ''Beetleborgs Metallix''
* 1997:
* 1998:

Theatrical releases

* 1984: ''Uchuu Keiji Shaider''
* 1984: ''Uchuu Keiji Shaider: Pursuit! The Strange Kidnappers!''
* 1987: ''Choujinki Metalder''
* 1989: ''Kidou Keiji Jiban: Great Explosion at the Monster Factory of Fear''
* 1993: ''Tokusou Robo Janperson''
* 1994: ''Blue SWAT'' (The first two episodes of the series in Movie format)
* 1994: ''Toei Hero Daishugō'' (Features clips of Janperson and Blue SWAT in 3D)
* 1995: ''Juukou B-Fighter''
* 2012: '' Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger vs. Space Sheriff Gavan: The Movie''
* 2012: '' Space Sheriff Gavan: The Movie''
* 2013: '' Kamen Rider × Super Sentai × Space Sheriff: Super Hero Taisen Z''

V-Cinema releases

* 1998: ''B-Robo Kabutack: The Epic Christmas Battle''
* 1999: ''Tetsuwan Tantei Robotack and Kabutack: The Great Strange Country Adventure''
* 2014: ''Space Sheriff Sharivan: The Next Generation''
* 2014: ''Space Sheriff Shaider: The Next Generation''
* 2017: '' Space Squad: Gavan vs. Dekaranger''
* 2017: '' Girls in Trouble: Space Squad Episode Zero''
* 2018: '' Uchu Sentai Kyuranger vs. Space Squad''
;Televi Magazine Super Video/Special DVD
* '' Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters vs. Beet Buster vs. J ''
* ''Space Sheriff Gavan Special DVD''

International adaptations

United States

During the 1990s, Saban adapted ''Metal Hero Series'' shows for American audiences; stock footage from ''Metalder'', ''Spielvan'' and ''Shaider'' was used in ''VR Troopers'' (1994–1996), and footage from both ''B-Fighter'' series was later used in ''Big Bad Beetleborgs''. Both shows ran for two seasons. As of 2018, Discotek Media has licensed Juspion for release marking the first release of the Metal Heroes in the US. Both ''Jiraiya'' and ''Gavan'' were used for the ''Power Rangers'' franchise with Jiraiya as Sheriff Skyfire in ''Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel'' and Gavan as Captain Chaku in ''Power Rangers Beast Morphers''.

Philippines

In the Philippines (where several series aired and were dubbed into local languages) '' Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan'' was greenlighted by Toei as a sequel to ''Shaider'', with characters who are descendants of those in the original series. Toei later halted production, instead authorizing a spin-off series set 20 years after the end of ''Shaider''.

Brazil

The ''Metal Hero'' series were successful in Brazil. In 1988, ''Juspion'' (as ''Jaspion'') was broadcast by TV Manchete. Manchete followed with ''Jiraiya'' in 1989, ''Jiban'' in 1990, ''Spielvan'' (renamed ''Jaspion 2'') in 1991, ''Winspector'' in 1994 and ''Solbrain'' in 1995. Other networks also bought shows, with TV Bandeirantes broadcasting ''Metalder'' and ''Sharivan'' in 1990 and two networks (Rede Globo and TV Gazeta) airing ''Sheider'' and ''Gavan'' (renamed ''Gyaban'') in 1991. ''Jaspion'', ''Jiraiya'' and ''Jiban'' were later released on DVD in the country.

Until 2016, most of the series that were released in Brazilian television in 80's and 90's are going to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Playplus in Brazil. The distribution company Sato Company acquired many of those series and negotiated with Netflix. Also, some new products like Garo series are in these negotiations too.

Current status

Other similar heroes, such as ''Nebula Mask Machine Man'', '' Kyodai Ken Byclosser'', '' Lady Battle Cop'', and ''Choukou Senshi Changéríon'', were also produced during the time that the ''Metal Hero Series'' were on the air, but are not included as part of the ''Metal Hero Series'' for various reasons. ''Machine Man'' and ''Bicrosser'' were created by Shotaro Ishinomori, while Changéríon's armor is not metallic and aired on TV Tokyo. It's unknown if Lady Battle Cop is part of Toei's shared universe.

Currently, the ''Metal Hero Series'' were one of Toei's defunct genres as the company rather favors more of the Super Sentai and Kamen Rider Series of shows and allegedly the passing of Shotaro Ishinomori. Although, many of the Metal Hero traits have been adopted into the new generation of Super Sentai and Kamen Rider shows. Today, the present versions of this type of heroes are also merged in with the Henshin Heroes description.

Some Metal Heroes have also made cameo appearances. In 2004, a special ''Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger'' stage show had a special appearance by Gavan, who assisted Hurricane Red from ''Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger'' and Aba Red from '' Bakuryuu Sentai Abaranger'' in battling various Alienizer monsters from ''Deka Ranger''.

In 2005, Toei released some ''Uchuu Keiji'' trilogy merchandise. Later that year, Bandai released a "Souchaku Henshin" figure of Gavan, followed by "Souchaku Henshin" figures of Sharivan and Shaider in early 2006. In May 2006, a PlayStation 2 video game titled ''The Space Sheriff Spirits'' was released. The game featured Gavan, Sharivan and Shaider all teaming up to battle past enemies from their series. The game was panned by critics, however, for bland graphics and dull gameplay. In early 2008, the trading card company Cardass announced a new, Metal Heroes based expansion to their '' Rangers Strike'' card game, entitled ''Special Metal Edition'', featuring characters and vehicles from the various ''Metal Hero Series'' for use within the game.

Despite no more television series having been made, the Space Sheriff Series re-emerged in the 2010s with feature films, including new actors portraying successors to Gavan, Sharivan, and Shaider. Some of them are stand alone entries, while others feature crossovers with other Super Sentai and Kamen Rider characters.

References

{{Metal Hero Series, state=expanded

Tokusatsu
Bandai brands