Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger

Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger (非公認戦隊アキバレンジャー, translated as Unofficial Squadron Akibaranger) is being named the "unofficial installment" of the Super Sentai series. Its theme is based on the Akihabara (AKA "Electric Town") section of Tokyo, Japan. The series started airing in April 6, 2012, but unlike the usual Super Sentai series it will be airing on Tokyo MX and BS Asahi. Another notable difference from usual Super Sentai is that this series is geared towards teenagers and Otaku, while the normal series is geared towards young children and families.

Plot
''"A tiny paradise amongst a sea of skyscrapers: Akihabara. There we find three warriors who believe pain is power and who fight battles that exist entirely in their heads. They are...Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger!"

- Narrator ''

Akibaranger tells the story of three people being part of an otaku club and living in the new "Electric-Town" Akihabara. They have to fight a mysterious malevolent entity that swore to conquer Earth with cool gadgets created by a brilliant genius. However, the Akibarangers' ultimate goal is to become an "official" sentai team.

The Akibaranger's secret base/hideout is a "Sentai Cafe," a Super Sentai version of the popular maid cafe in Japan.

Production
The official website lists several tokusatsu and anime veterans, including director Ryuta Tazaki (Kamen Rider), director/character designer Keiichi Satou (Tiger & Bunny), writer Naruhisa Arakawa (Kamen Rider Kuuga), and composer Kenji Kawai (Ghost in the Shell).

Akibarangers

 * Main Article: Akibarangers

Allies

 * Hiroyo Hakase
 * Sayaka Honiden
 * Kozkoz Mita
 * Ikura
 * Aoi Ichikawa (of the show "Nijiyome Academy Z-Cune Aoi")
 * Kazuo Niibori (guest)
 * Tazuko

Evil Group Stema Ostu Corporation/Delusion Empire

 * Doctor Z
 * ©Na
 * Delu-Knight
 * Shatieeks
 * Chief Clerks
 * Shibuya Seitakaawadachisouhidenagaaburamushi (1)
 * Shibuyakouzorinahigenagaaburamushi (2)
 * Kabukichōmesugurohyoumonchou (3, 5)
 * Monzennakachōhashibirokō (4)
 * Shimokitazawahoya (6)
 * Yoyogisujibokehashirigumo (7)
 * Tsukishimaalpaca (8)
 * Asakusaalpaca (9)

Arsenal

 * Main article: Arsenal (Akibaranger)


 * MMZ-01 Moe Moe Z-Cune: The Akibaranger's changer and sidearm.
 * Inordinate Power: Powers belonging to each Sentai team.
 * Dekaranger: Deka Wappa
 * Boukenger: Bouken Shovel
 * Jetman: Jet Winger

Mecha

 * Machine Itashar: The team's car and robo.

Episodes
The episodes in this season have either "pain", "delusion", or both in their titles.
 * 1) Ep. 1: Pain is Power!
 * 2) Ep. 2: The Activation of a Bizarrely Decorated Vehicle Summons a Full Blast of Red Delusion
 * 3) Ep. 3: Pain Touch! Drunken Hero Adventure!!
 * 4) Ep. 4: Forbidden Delusion is the Pain of Immortality Blue
 * 5) Ep. 5: Our Pain ☆ Yellow Mama
 * 6) Ep. 6: Take Flight Leader! The Painful Trap of Deluded Photography
 * 7) Ep. 7: Delirious Runaway Itasher Break Through the Limit!
 * 8) Ep. 8: The Bonds of Painful Special Training are the Authorization Road's Conspiracy Intersection
 * 9) Ep. 9: The Pain Sentai Breaks Up.
 * 10) Ep. 10: Non-Pain Inducing Curse of Z ― Into a New Chapter
 * 11) Ep. 11: The Second Generation is a Fresh and Painless Warrior
 * 12) Ep. 12: Most Painful Times. Farewell, Delusional Sentai
 * 13) Ep. 13: Evaluation Meeting! If You Don't Hurt, That's Alright!

Web radio series
Starting on July 6, Animate.tv will broadcast Unofficial Sentai Akibaranger Official Web Radio (Temporary) (非公認戦隊アキバレンジャー公認ＷＥＢラジオ（仮）). The bi-weekley web radio series will feature the voices of the TV series cast, as well as special guests in every show.

Cast

 * Nobuo Akagi: Masato Wada (和田 正人)
 * Mitsuki Aoyagi: Kyoko Hinami (日南 響子)
 * Yumeria Moegi: Karin Ogino (荻野 可鈴)
 * Hiroyo Hakase: Maaya Uchida (内田 真礼)
 * Kozkoz Mita: Kozue Aikawa (愛川 こずえ)
 * ©Na: Honoka (穂花)
 * Sayaka Honiden: Miiko Morita (森田 美位子)
 * Tatsuko: Yuki Ueda (植田ゆう希)
 * Ikura: Ikura (いとくとら)
 * Doctor Z: Kazuki Yao (矢尾 一樹)
 * Shibuyaseitakaawadachisouhidenagaaburamushi, Shibuyakozorinahigenagaaburamushi (Voice): Kenji Hamada (浜田 賢二)
 * Kabukichōmesugurohyomoncho (Voice): Hikaru Midorikawa (緑川 光)
 * Monzennakachōhashibirokō (Voice): Takaya Kuroda (黒田 崇矢)
 * Shimokitazawahoya (Voice): Taiki Matsuno (松野 太紀)
 * Yoyogisujibokehashirigumo (Voice): Issei Futamata (二又 一成)
 * Tsukishimaalpaca, Asakusaalpaca (Voice): Tomokazu Seki (関 智一)
 * Delu-Knight (Voice): Hiroaki Hirata (平田 広明)

Guest stars

 * Himself, Deka Red (Banban "Ban" Akaza): Ryuji Sainei (載寧 龍二)
 * Bouken Red (Satoru Akashi, Voice): Mitsuomi Takahashi (高橋 光臣)
 * Masako Yamada: Rica Matsumoto (松本 梨香)
 * Himself: Kazuo Niibori (新堀 和男)
 * Producer Tsukada (Voice): Yasuhiro Takato (高戸 靖広)
 * Haruko Momoi (桃井 はるこ)
 * Yukio Yamagata (山形 ユキオ)
 * Mio Usagi: Julia Nagano (長野 じゅりあ)

Suit actors

 * Akiba Red: Sanshiro Wada (和田 三四郎)
 * Akiba Blue: Haruka Oshima (大島 遥)
 * Akiba Yellow: Fusayo Fujita (藤田 房代)
 * Akiba Red (Takuma): Masaki Onishi (大西 雅樹)
 * Akiba Yellow (Masako): Kaori Ichijo (一条 かおり)
 * Chief Clerk: Tomohiko Akiyama (秋山 智彦)
 * Past Sentai Warrior: Hiroshi Maeda (前田 浩)

Staff

 * Character design: Keiichi Sato (さとう けいいち)

Theme songs

 * Opening theme
 * "Hikounin Sentai Akibaranger" (非公認戦隊アキバレンジャー)
 * Lyrics & Composition: Haruko Momoi
 * Arrangement: Hiroaki Kagoshima
 * Artist: Haruko Momoi feat. Yukio Yamagata
 * Ending theme
 * "Ashita wa Akiba no Kaze ga Fuku" (明日はアキバの風が吹く)
 * Lyrics: Mike Sugiyama
 * Composition: EFY
 * Arrangement: Makoto Miyazaki
 * Artist: Nobuo Akagi (Masato Wada)

Trivia

 * The previews for series in the website showcase cartoon silhouettes, similar to when Sailor Luna was first previewed for the live action version of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon.
 * The series logo bears a striking resemblance to classic Sentai logos, most notably that of Himitsu Sentai Gorenger.
 * Even though this is currently an unofficial series, it is the first Sentai series in which both the Blue and Yellow Ranger are females.
 * This is also the first season in which there are more female rangers than there are male rangers.
 * Nobuo actually points out those two irregularities in the first episode.
 * This is the first Sentai series to have three kanji preceding the "sentai" kanji, as opposed to the usual one or two.
 * The helmets having "sculpted hair" as opposed to more traditional rounded helmets is similar to the helmets used in Battle Fever J; in particular, the helmet for Battle Japan.
 * This is the first Sentai parody series meant for mature audiences.
 * This is the first Sentai to have a female Blue Ranger with a dark blue suit since Choujuu Sentai Liveman's Blue Dolphin.
 * Nobuo refers to the team as "the 37th" Super Sentai. When Hiroyo Hakase points out they are unofficial, he makes it his goal to make the Akibarangers to be recognized as the 37th Super Sentai.
 * This is the second unofficial Sentai series, after Ninja Captor, which Toei stopped including as a part of the Super Sentai series.
 * Akibaranger is the first Sentai series since Taiyou Sentai Sun Vulcan to feature only three rangers.
 * This is the shortest Sentai series, with only 13 episodes.
 * This is the first Sentai series to break the fourth wall as a plot point.