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Logo-supersentaiThis article is about a series entry (the 15th) in the Super Sentai series.

Chōjin Sentai Jetman (鳥人戦隊ジェットマン Chōjin Sentai Jettoman, translated into English as Birdman Squadron Jetman), is the 15th entry of Super Sentai series. It was produced by Toei and Bandai. It aired on TV Asahi at 5:30 PM every Friday from February 15, 1991 to February 14, 1992, with a total of 51 episodes.

The show was inspired by Kagaku Ninjatai Gatchaman, and was the last Super Sentai series not to be adapted into a Power Rangers series until Ressha Sentai ToQger.

It later spawned a non-canon manga sequel, Choujin Sentai Jetman: Toki wo Kakete, set five years after the series.

The show was also distributed internationally, airing with dubbed versions in Thailand (with multiple dubs said to exist), France, The Philippines (with two Tagalog dubs), Malaysia (with English and Malay dubs), Spain (with a Basque dub), Indonesia and Hong Kong. Portugal aired the series in Japanese with English subtitles. Shout! Factory released Jetman on Region 1 DVD in North America on September 25, 2018. This makes Jetman the first non-Power Rangers adapted Sentai as well as the first pre-Mighty Morphin Sentai series to be released in North America in its original form.[1]

The average ratings of the series was 7.1%.[2]

Production[]

Planning Stages[]

Predicting that the Super Sentai series might fade into "a long-term rut" after the poor performance of 1990's Fiveman, Takeyuki Suzuki was chosen to be the producer of the 1991 Sentai series, with Keita Amemiya as director. In fact, during the early stages of production, Jetman was originally going to be the final Sentai season ever made.[3]

For the motif, they chose to base the series on Kagaku Ninjatai Gatchaman, which was a bird-themed five member team that had rivalries between its members. During auditions the show went by the name of "Supermen Sentai Birdman" (超人戦隊バードマン Chōjin Sentai Bādoman; note the different kanji on "Chōjin"), and shopped around to actors as a "live-action version of Gatchaman", among them Toshihide Wakamatsu, who would go on to play Gai Yuki/Black Condor.

Conversely, a live-action film of Gatchaman was released in the summer of 2013, and the role of Ken the Eagle (the team's leader, upon which Ryu Tendou's character was inspired) was played by Tori Matsuzaka, who played Takeru Shiba in Samurai Sentai Shinkenger.

Features[]

Backstory - The Ranger's powers come from "Birdonic Waves" created by "Sky Force", the members of the team were given the powers accidentally, two of which do not appear in the first episode. Having the team be incomplete in the first episode was a first for the Sentai series.

Writing - Before Jetman, members were for the most part referred to by their color. Kotaro Tanaka and Toshihide Wakamatsu said to the cast that "this [was] unnatural", and paved the way for Jetman and shows afterwards to have characters refer to each other by their names instead of their colors. The writer also proposed to have episodes without the characters transforming and fighting, but it was met by opposition from Bandai until the later in the show.

"Trendy drama conflicts" - Takeyuki Suzuki came up with the idea for having a love triangle for Jetman when watching Tosho Daimos, and wanted to capture its "high romance". The tension and comedy of the love triangles of the show was influential in its popularity, and became a defining part of the show. Gokaiger playfully mocked this in their ending theme by describing the series as "trendy".

Internal strife inside the enemy faction - Not only were the Vyram fighting against the Jetman, they were also fighting each other. Storylines involving conflicts between the villains became fixtures in Jetman and future seasons.

Reception[]

Due to the changes to the show as mentioned above, the result was in a wider age group than ever before. The show's ratings increased over the previous year, with Jetman getting an average of 7.1% compared to Fiveman's paltry 6.5%.

Although the show received some criticism for adding "romance drama to a children's show", characters like Gai Yuki became a big hit with mothers; who sent clemency pleas to TV Asahi so that they did not kill him off.

Even today, many fans cite it as a masterpiece among the Super Sentai series, with it topping the #1 popular vote for Bandai's B-ClUB magazine and Toei's "Super Sentai Request Tournament"

In the end, total revenue from the series greatly exceeded over 15 billion yen.

Plot[]

This series takes place in 1991 on the Earth Ship, the command center of an international defense agency called Sky Force, the guardian of peace on Earth. In the ship, scientists have developed "Birdonic Waves", a newly developed technology which gives the subject superhuman abilities. The experiments called "J-Project" were successful. Aya Odagiri, the director of the project, chose five elite Sky Force officials from Earth to use this technology. Ryu Tendo, one of the Sky Force officers, was successfully exposed to the Birdonic waves, making him the first Jetman, the Red Hawk.

However, the Earth Ship is suddenly attacked by Vyram, an evil outer-dimensional organization bent on inter-dimensional domination. They successfully destroy the ship and seemingly killing Ryu's lover and fellow candidate member Rie, in the chaos. The remaining Birdonic waves that were meant for the other four officials become scattered on Earth, hitting four civilians instead. Odagiri and Ryu successfully escape and begin searching on Earth for the four remaining Jetman, training them to aid them in stopping Vyram's plans of conquering our dimension.

Characters[]

Rangers[]

Jetmen[]

Jetman (Team)

Jetmen

Main article: Jetmen
Designation Name Actor
Red Hawk Ryu Tendo Kotaro Tanaka
Black Condor Gai Yuki Toshihide Wakamatsu
Yellow Owl Raita Ooishi Tomihisa Naruse
White Swan Kaori Rokumeikan Rika Kishida
Blue Swallow Ako Hayasaka Sayuri Uchida
Green Eagle Jeffrey Kensaki N/A (manga only)

Debatable Extra Heroes[]

Main article: Back Dimension Dimensian Soldiers (23 & 24)
Designation Name Actor
Birdman Ray Yasuhiro Ishiwata
Birdman Kanna Kanako Maeda
Birdman Dan Hideki Fujiwara

Neo-Jetman[]

427x240

Neo-Jetmen

Main article: Neo-Jetmen (40 & 41)
Designation Name Actor
Neo-Jetman 1 J1 Yuta Mochizuki
Neo-Jetman 2 J2 Ryuji Kasahara
Neo-Jetman 3 J3 Minoru Watanabe
Neo-Jetman 4 J4 Takeshi Miyazaki
Neo-Jetman 5 J5 Miyuki Nagato

Shadow Jetman[]

Main article: Shadow Jetman (25)
Shadow Red Hawk Shadow Red Hawk
Shadow Yellow Owl Shadow Yellow Owl
Shadow White Swan Shadow White Swan
Shadow Blue Swallow Shadow Blue Swallow

Skyforce[]

Back Dimension Allies[]

Other Allies[]

Villains[]

Arsenal[]

Main article: Arsenal (Jetman)

Transformation Devices[]

Communication Devices[]

Multi-Use Devices[]

  • Bird Icons

Sidearms[]

Other Weapons[]

Vehicles[]

Mecha[]

Main article: Mecha (Jetman)

Jet Machines System[]

Legend:◆ piloted mecha, ✶ team-piloted mecha, ● other

Episodes[]

Main article: Choujin Sentai Jetman Episodes
  1. Ep. 1: Seek the Warriors (戦士を探せ Senshi o Sagase)
  2. Ep. 2: The Third Warrior (第三の戦士 Daisan no Senshi)
  3. Ep. 3: The Power of Five! (五つの力 Itsutsu no Chikara)
  4. Ep. 4: The Fighting Bride (戦う花嫁 Tatakau Hanayome)
  5. Ep. 5: Fall for Me (俺に惚れろ Ore ni Horero)
  6. Ep. 6: Get Angry, Robo! (怒れロボ! Ikare Robo)
  7. Ep. 7: Ryu's Marriage!? (竜の結婚!? Ryū no Kekkon!?)
  8. Ep. 8: The Laughing Diamond (笑うダイヤ Warau Daiya)
  9. Ep. 9: Muddy Love (泥んこの恋 Doronko no Koi)
  10. Ep. 10: Cup Noodles (カップめん Kappumen)
  11. Ep. 11: A Dangerous Game (危険な遊び Kiken na Asobi)
  12. Ep. 12: Hellbound Bus (地獄行バス Jigokui Basu)
  13. Ep. 13: Maze of Love (愛の迷路 Ai no Meiro)
  14. Ep. 14: The Bazooka of Love (愛の必殺(バズーカ) Ai no Hissatsu Bazūka)
  15. Ep. 15: High School Student Warrior (高校生戦士 Kōkōsei Senshi)
  16. Ep. 16: Paper Uprising (紙々の叛乱 Kamigami no Hanran)
  17. Ep. 17: The Revived Empress (復活の女帝 Fukkatsu no Jotei)
  18. Ep. 18: Gai Dies! (凱、死す! Gai, Shisu!)
  19. Ep. 19: I Can See! (見えます! Miemasu!)
  20. Ep. 20: Marriage Vacuum Cleaner (結婚掃除機 Kekkon Sōjiki)
  21. Ep. 21: Walking Garbage (歩くゴミ Aruku Gomi)
  22. Ep. 22: Exploding Love (爆発する恋 Bakuhatsu Suru Koi)
  23. Ep. 23: The New Warriors Debut (新戦隊登場 Shin Sentai Tōjō)
  24. Ep. 24: Launch, Super Robot (出撃超(スーパー)ロボ Shutsugeki (Sūpā) Robo)
  25. Ep. 25: The Laughing Shadow-People (笑う影人間 Warau Kage Ningen)
  26. Ep. 26: I'm a Primitive (僕は原始人 Boku wa Genshijin)
  27. Ep. 27: The Great Escape From Hell (魔界大脱出 Makai Dai Dasshutsu)
  28. Ep. 28: The Original Dimensional Beast (元祖次元獣 Ganso Jigenjū)
  29. Ep. 29: The Final Battle (最後の戦い Saigo no Tatakai)
  30. Ep. 30: The Three Demons Rise (三魔神起つ San Majin Tatsu)
  31. Ep. 31: The Sentai Disbands (戦隊解散! Sentai Kaisan!)
  32. Ep. 32: Wings!! One More Time (翼よ! 再び Tsubasa yo! Futatabi)
  33. Ep. 33: It's a Cockroach (ゴキブリだ Gokiburi Da)
  34. Ep. 34: Ryu the Traitor (裏切りの竜 Uragiri no Ryū)
  35. Ep. 35: The Courage to Fight Given by a Dove (鳩がくれた戦う勇気 Hato Gakureta Tatakau Yūki)
  36. Ep. 36: A Walking Appetite! The Antmen (歩く食欲! アリ人間 Aruku Shokuyoku! Ari Ningen)
  37. Ep. 37: The Birth of Emperor Tranza! (誕生! 帝王トランザ Tanjō! Teiō Toranza)
  38. Ep. 38: Sudden Hammer! (いきなりハンマー! Ikinari Hanmā!)
  39. Ep. 39: Spin, Roulette of Life (廻せ命のルーレット Mawase Inochi no Rūretto)
  40. Ep. 40: It's an Order! Change the Sentai (命令! 戦隊交代せよ Meirei! Sentai Kōtai Seyo)
  41. Ep. 41: Transformation Impossible! The Base Destroyed (変身不能! 基地壊滅 Henshin Funō! Kichi Kaimetsu)
  42. Ep. 42: Sleep on My Chest! (おれの胸で眠れ! Ore no Mune de Nemure!)
  43. Ep. 43: Sneak into the Commander's Body (長官の体に潜入せよ Chōkan no Karada ni Sennyū Seyo)
  44. Ep. 44: Demon Robo! Veronica (魔神ロボ! ベロニカ Majin Robo! Beronika)
  45. Ep. 45: The Hot Milk of Victory (勝利のホットミルク Shōri no Hotto Miruku)
  46. Ep. 46: The Great Demon King of the Tomato Field (トマト畑の大魔王 Tomato Hatake no Daimaō)
  47. Ep. 47: The Glory of Emperor Tranza (帝王トランザの栄光 Teiō Toranza no Eikō)
  48. Ep. 48: A Kiss of Death (死を呼ぶくちづけ Shi o Yobu Kuchidzuke)
  49. Ep. 49: Maria... Her Love and Death (マリア…その愛と死 Maria... Sono Ai to Shi)
  50. Ep. 50: Battles to the Death (それぞれの死闘 Sorezore no Shitō)
  51. Final Ep.: Flap Your Wings! Aviators! (はばたけ! 鳥人よ Habatake! Chōjin yo)

Specials

  1. Choujin Sentai Jetman: Jetmen Finishing Move Graffiti (鳥人戦隊ジェットマン ジェットマン必殺技グラフィティ! Chōjin Sentai Jettoman: Jettoman Hissatsu Waza Gurafiti)
  2. Toei TV Hero Encyclopedia (東映テレビヒーロー図鑑 Tōei Terebi Hīrō Zukan)

Stage Shows

  1. Jetman Stage Show at Red Heroes Korakuen Yuenchi
  2. Jetman Stage Show at Super Hero Korakuen Yuenchi
  3. Jetman Stage Show at 3 Heroes Korakuen Yuenchi
  4. Jetman Stage Show at Super Hero Nostalgia

Epilogue Manga

  1. Part 1: Time Gallops By
    1. Chapter 1: Resurrection
    2. Chapter 2: Challenge
    3. Chapter 3: Personal Grudge
    4. Chapter 4: Counterattack
  2. Part 2: Soldier Running in the Sky
    1. Chapter 1: Plunder
    2. Chapter 2: The Night Before
    3. Chapter 3: Father's Girl
    4. Chapter 4: Lament
    5. Chapter 5: Conclusion
    6. Chapter 6: The End
  3. The Last Story: Blue Room

Songs[]

Main article: Chōjin Sentai Jetman Soundtracks
Opening theme
Ending theme
Mecha themes
Insert themes
  • "Oozora No Chikai" (大空の誓い Ōzora No Chikai, "Sky Oath")
    • Artist: Morinoki Jidou Gasshoudan (森の木児童合唱団)
  • "Tori ni Narou yo" (鳥になろうよ Tori ni Narō yo, "Let's Turn Into Birds")
    • Artist: Toshinao Fukushima (副島 俊直 Fukushima Toshinao)
  • "Aozora De Aimashou" (青空で会いましょう Aozora De Aimashō, "Let's Meet in Blue Skies")
    • Artist: Sayuri Saito (斉藤 小百合 Saitō Sayuri)
Character themes

Cast[]

Guest Stars[]

Suit Actors[]

Tagalog Voice Cast[]

Most of the characters in the series remains unchanged unlike other previous sentai series where their Japanese names are renamed. It was also given two Tagalogs where one aired on CNN Philippines (formerly known as RPN-9) and a second aired on TV5 (formerly known as ABC-5). Here are the voice actors in the TV5 version.

  • Ryu Tendo - Bernie Malejana
  • Gai Yuki - Allan Ortega
  • Raita Ooishi - Ed Belo
  • Kaori Rokumeikan - Vilma Borromeo
  • Ako Hayasaka - Stella Canete
  • Commander Aya Odagiri - Marichu Villegas
  • Supreme Commander Akira Ichijo- Roger Aquino
  • Rie Aoi/Maria - Amy Panopio
  • Count Radiguet - Bambam Labalan
  • Tran - Gloria "Ollie" De Guzman
    • Emperor Tranza - Montreal "Monty" Repuyan
  • Gray - Jun Legaspi

French Voice Cast[4][]

  • Ryu Tendo - William Coryn
  • Gai Yuki - Alexandre Gillet (first voice)/Antoine Nouel (second voice)
  • Raita Ooishi - Mark Lesser
  • Kaori Rokumeikan - Virginie Ogouz
  • Ako Hayasaka - Emmanuelle Pailly (first voice)/Marie-Laure Dougnac (second voice)
  • Tran, Maria - Sophie Arthuys
  • Commander Aya Odagiri - Christine Champneuf
  • Emperor Tranza - Régis Reuilhac
  • Count Radiguet, Grey, narrator - Maurice Sarfati

Toyline[]

Main article: Jetman (Toyline)

Notes[]

  • This is the first Sentai series to have a third Robo, Tetraboy.
  • During development, the Jetmen team was planned to have a fortress robot, specifically a retool of the Turbo Builder from Turboranger as seen here, but it didn't go through.
  • Jetman introduces the format of the first five Rangers being Red, Blue, Yellow, Black and White.
  • Like its respective 1981 and 1984 predecessors Sun Vulcan and Bioman, Jetman was also considered to be the first series to be adapted as a Power Rangers series, but ultimately not adapted as FOX felt that the season's immediate successor, Zyuranger, would be more suitable for children as a result of its fantasy aspects in contrast to the more militaristic and sci-fi feel of Jetman.
  • A game based on Jetman was released for the Nintendo Famicom.
  • This is the last Sentai team where a member of the core team dies. After this season, all permanent deaths have only occurred with Sixth Rangers, Extra Rangers or Heroes.
  • The individual cockpits for the Jet Machines, as well as the main cockpit for Jet Icarus, Bird/Jet Garuda & Great Icarus would later be reused in the next season, Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger as the individual cockpits for the Guardian Beasts & Dragon Caesar, while the main cockpit was used for Daizyujin, Gouryuzin, Zyutei Daizyujin and Ultimate Daizyujin, which was used in footage for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (Season 1) as the cockpits for the Dinozords, Dragonzord, Megazord, Dragonzord Battle Mode and Ultrazord.
  • The Filipino opening aired on CNN Philippines (formerly known as RPN-9) was extremely different: the English logo was superimposed over the katakana logo of Jetman while the main characters and cast were given English names. However, the names of both actors of Tomihisa Naruse and Toshihide Wakamatsu has just shortened to both Tomi and Toshi respectively when they were introduced during the opening. This opening version is later reused in the TV5 version during the redubbed in 1999.[5]
  • This is the last Sentai show to be dubbed in Tagalog and French. Although the latter was incomplete with only 28 out of 51 episodes dubbed and with censorship involving footage removed for content.
  • This is the only Sentai show to be given a Basque dub. Despite airing in Spain, it never had a Castilian Spanish dub there. [6] [7]

External Links[]

References[]

Footnotes[]


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