 This article is about an episode in Avataro Sentai Donbrothers.
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Don 41: Santa Struggling (サンタくろうする Santa Kurōsuru) is the forty-first episode of Avataro Sentai Donbrothers. It features the only appearances of the Lupinranger and Patranger Avataro Gear Alters, the Lupinranger Alter, the Patranger Alter, and the Good Strike Bazooka, as well as the final appearance of Don Momotaro Alter and Toradora Onitaijin.
Synopsis[]
Despite the Noto wanting to settle their situation with the Donbrothers, they have a secret duty to perform once every year. Sonoi and the others try to consult with Taro, but they cannot say what they want easily. The secret duty involves becoming Santa Claus and no fighting!? Sonoi, who has no formal knowledge about Santa, decides to learn about him. He decides to ask Taro if he’s ever met the jolly gift giver…
Plot[]
Sononi narrates in the recap that Tsubasa has obtained Murasame and that she told him one truth: that the sword will eliminate the Juto, and one lie: as she plots to trick Tsubasa into killing Natsumi by killing the Crane Juto while Natsumi is still trapped in the Forest of Silence.
Christmas Eve 2022, Sonoza narrates that the Noto must perform a sacred annual duty on this night… with the Noto trio carrying sacks on their backs and dressed as Santa.
Days earlier, the Donbrothers and the Noto try to settle their feud with each other on a rooftop and both parties transform to fight. Sonoza battles Shinichi, Haruka and Tsuyoshi fight Sononi and Taro and Sonoi continue their rivalry as they clash blades. As their battle intensifies, the others stop fighting and cheer on Taro and Sonoi, with the latter engaging Taro in his Kyokatai form. Their fight lasts until sunset and ends in a draw, with both combatants exhausted and complimenting each other’s skills. Sonoi promises that they will fight again tomorrow, and Taro looks forward to it.
The next day, Taro and Sonoi resume their fight with their teammates cheering from the sidelines. But again, the fight ends in a draw at sunset as both deal a final sword slash and collapse from exhaustion and their injuries. Sonoi at first wants to continue the battle tomorrow, but then asks Taro to meet him at Cafe Donbura to ask him something…
The next day at Cafe Donbura, the Noto try to speak with Taro about something, while Kaito is concerned about the Noto “becoming regulars” at his establishment. The Noto struggle with what they want to say and while they do, Shinichi once again tries to impress Sononi with a Haiku and once again gets a cake to the face in rejection. Sonoi apologizes and tells Taro to forget about it, they seem too ashamed to tell him what it is and quietly leave.
A young girl named Aki is being bullied by two kids on her way home from school about believing in Santa Claus, the mean boys say that Santa is just their parents dressed up in costumes and she needs to grow up. Aki says that they are wrong and she saw the real Santa, which a passing Sonoi, Sonoza and Sononi take interest in. They try to ask questions about Santa, only for Taro and the others to have followed them. The Noto trio go somewhere private and confess to the Donbrothers that they must fulfill an annual duty to be Santa, a tradition of their people, and they cannot fight for the entire week leading up to Christmas Day.
The Noto feed on the brainwaves of humans and to show gratitude to humanity for sustaining them, the Noto have some of their own go out on Christmas Eve as Santas to give the children of Earth something to believe in. This year, Sonoi, Sonoza and Sononi have been selected, but they know nothing about Santa and were asking Aki about him because they were too embarrassed to ask them. The Donbrothers are happy to help and Sonoi asks Aki again, but she apologizes and confesses that she lied about meeting Santa, but she does believe that he exists.
Tsuyoshi admits that scenario reminded him of an old anime, Haruka remembers the anime too and it ended with the little girl being rewarded for her belief by seeing Santa flying in the night sky. Taro finds that ridiculous and states he has met the real Santa once. When he explains that there are Santas everywhere in town, Haruka breaks the bad news that those Santas are just people who do promotions at their businesses or work for department stores. While Taro finds that fact enlightening, he reaffirms that he saw the real Santa Claus when he was a boy.
One Christmas Eve, Taro woke up from his bed and Santa was there beside him, taking his toys and putting them in his sack. Haruka seems to think he just described a burglar in disguise who simply robbed his home, but Taro says it was Santa. Kaito says that he also knows Santa, calling him a hero and saying he used to be close friends with him. Sonoi asks where Santa is, but Kaito says Santa has changed since he last saw him and has become a Hitotsuki!
Santa uses an invisible door as the Maskman Hitotsuki, Hikariki, to enter people’s homes and give them smelly trash as gifts. He returns to a waste facility to wrap more “gifts”, including a moldy bagel and an empty popcorn bucket, when a heartbroken Aki, the Noto and Donbrothers see Santa has become a grouchy homeless person. Taro realizes it is Santa upon getting a closer look and Sonoza says that Kaito sent them to check on him. Santa remembers Kaito, saying he has always been on the Nice list and that they promised to be eternal heroes together. Haruka asks him if that is true, why did he become a Hitotsuki?
Santa says he misses the old days when everyone loved him and accepted his gifts, but times change and so did the children of the world. He remembers during a visit to Japan that spoiled brats threw his handmade toys such as a kendama into the garbage because it wasn’t what they wanted. He tried to keep up with the times by observing what kids actually wanted for Christmas but they got greedier as time went on and wanted high end electronics like video games.
Eventually, he could not keep up with trends and children started asking for things he couldn’t give like a brother for a boy who originally wanted a game. So he made the not so wise decision to go to the boy’s house and claim to be his older brother to cheer him up, which resulted in the boy’s mother calling the police and Santa getting arrested and put in jail. Taro bluntly admits that was an expected natural outcome.
Santa said that the humiliation of being arrested and the bitter resentment he has for the children of the world for being so spoiled turned him into a Hitotsuki. Now he desires revenge against the people of the world for their greed and plans on ruining Christmas for everyone. This upsets Aki, who now doesn’t believe in Santa after seeing how disgruntled and mean he has become. Shinichi says that she shouldn’t give up and that she might be the key to fixing this, Haruka agrees as Aki’s innocence could encourage Santa to be his old self again.
Aki tries to say to Santa that she still believes in him because he gave the children of the world something to dream for and the Noto also try to get Santa to return to his duties so that they can be his apprentices. This doesn’t work as Santa angrily says young people don’t understand what he is going through and becomes Hikariki again and runs away. Taro pulls out his DonBlaster and decides that they need to help Santa “the hard way”, summoning the Lupinranger and Patranger Alters to chase him down.
The Noto decide that if Santa can’t perform his duties, then they must step up and do their tradition without learning from Santa. Taro encourages them to do so, but imparts some advice, if they are going to be Santa, they need to do endurance training and learn to smile to play the part.
The Alters find Hikariki and blast him to slow him down long enough for Taro in his Don Momotaro Alter form to combine the Lupinranger and Patranger Alters into a mini cannon to knock down Hikariki. Shinichi arrives carrying Taro’s body, who upon returning to it criticizes how Shinichi handled him as the others catch up and engage Hikariki together.
Meanwhile, the Noto go through rigorous endurance training with jogging up stairs, sidestepping jumps and hundreds of pushups. They then practice smiling, with Sonoza criticizing Sonoi’s and Sononi’s as “too seductive” while his smile comes off as “too creepy” and they continue practicing.
As the Donbrothers continue to fight Hikariki, the demon possessed Santa says they will never understand how he feels and uses Maskman’s Aura Power to blast them and float in the air using meditation.
Taro equips his GolDon armor, while Jiro rushes to meet up with them and is upset that they started without him. Tsubasa arrives and Avatar Changes into NinjaBlack, using different elemental Ninpo techniques to knock Hikariki down and calling Murasame to help him weaken the Hitotsuki. Taro, not willing to be upstaged, gives Tsubasa 32 points and pushes him aside for the finisher. Jiro, not wanting to be left out, quickly powers up his Ryukonogeki and both purify Hikariki with the Festival End/Lightning Dragon Flash combo. Santa is purified, but Don Murasame has another power surge and is compelled to obey Mother, wildly attacking the Donbrothers despite Tsubasa urging him to stop and growing into Black Onitaijin with the Rangers becoming Toradora Onitaijin.
Night falls on Christmas Eve and the Noto prepare for their rounds of gift deliveries as Santas, using their newfound endurance and strength to swiftly leap across buildings and use invisible doors to visit the homes of good girls and boys. They smile and greet the children, handing out presents to everyone including Aki.
Meanwhile, the Rangers are forced to separate out of their combined form after an intense fight leads to near defeat when Black Onitaijin uses its Shark Shower beam attack. The Donbrothers use their individual Robotaro forms to overwhelm Black Onitaijin and then they combine into Toradora Onitaijin Kiwami and defeat Black Onitaijin with the DonBros Fantasia Supreme. Don Murasame then flies away inside his sword in retreat, confused as to what he was doing.
Santa is standing alone depressed and about to walk away until Taro arrives with his sack. He reminds him of his visit to his home on that Christmas long ago when he was a child. A flashback shows that Santa had run low on gifts to bring to the kids and asked little Taro for help by donating some of his. Taro agreed and as a thank you, Santa stayed with him for a bit to be his friend and played with him. Taro never forgot about that and ever since, he set money aside to buy gifts for children at Christmas to give to Santa if he ever needed help with his deliveries again. Taro hands Santa his sack filled with gifts he bought and says that the world needs a Santa Claus.
Santa is reluctant, as time has moved on without him, but Taro says that Santa is born to be who he is and he will only become a Hitotsuki again if he lets the world get him down. Santa remembers the beating he took from Inu Brother and upon seeing the beautiful Christmas lights, he decides to try getting back to his work again. He puts his magic sack on his shoulder and transforms into his iconic red suit. Taro tells Santa he looks better that way and the jolly gift giver thanks the young lad for believing in him and never giving up on him, patting Taro’s head.
Tsuyoshi is celebrating Christmas with Miho at his apartment when he suddenly hears the sound of sleigh bells, he looks out the window to see something and he and Miho smile. Shinichi is outside his home writing a haiku when he also hears the sleigh bells and looks up at the night sky…
Tsubasa is carrying Murasame and also sees something in the air, which Jiro also sees nearby while doing his bicycle food deliveries and smiles.
At Cafe Donbura, Haruka walks outside upon hearing the bells and is stunned to see Santa Claus flying in his sleigh, who wishes her and all of Japan a Merry Christmas. Haruka breaks the fourth wall narrating they naturally ended the episode on a classic staple of a Christmas show.
Cast[]
- Taro Momoi (桃井 タロウ Momoi Tarō): Kouhei Higuchi (樋口 幸平 Higuchi Kōhei)
- Shinichi Saruhara (猿原 真一 Saruhara Shin'ichi): Yuuki Beppu (別府 由来 Beppu Yūki)
- Haruka Kitou (鬼頭 はるか Kitō Haruka): Kohaku Shida (志田 こはく Shida Kohaku)
- Tsubasa Inuzuka (犬塚 翼 Inuzuka Tsubasa): Totaro (柊太朗 Tōtarou)
- Tsuyoshi Kijino (雉野 つよし Kijino Tsuyoshi): Hirofumi Suzuki (鈴木 浩文 Suzuki Hirofumi)
- Jiro Momotani (桃谷 ジロウ Momotani Jirō): Raizou Ishikawa (石川 雷蔵 Ishikawa Raizō)
- Kaito Goshikida (五色田 介人 Goshikida Kaito): Kiita Komagine (駒木根 葵汰 Komagine Kiita)
- Miho Kijino (雉野 みほ Kijino Miho): Momoko Arata (新田 桃子 Arata Momoko)
- Sonoi (ソノイ): Yuya Tominaga (富永 勇也 Tominaga Yūya)
- Sononi (ソノニ): Amisa Miyazaki (宮崎 あみさ Miyazaki Amisa)
- Sonoza (ソノザ): Shinnosuke Takahashi (タカハシ シンノスケ Takahashi Shin'nosuke)
- Don Murasame (ドンムラサメ DonMurasame, Voice): Ayumu Murase (村瀬 歩 Murase Ayumu)
- Mother (マザー Mazā, Voice): Mamiko Noto (能登 麻美子 Noto Mamiko)
Guest Cast[]
- Santa Claus (サンタクロース Santakurōsu)/Hikariki (光鬼 Hikariki): Yukijiro Hotaru (螢 雪次朗 Hotaru Yukijirō)
- Taro Momoi (Child): Kira Miura (三浦 綺羅 Miura Kira)
- Aki (アキ): Yuwa Kamimura (上村 結羽 Kamimura Yūwa)
- Elementary School Boys: Jun Saito (齋藤 潤 Saitō Jun), Sotaro Tokita (鴇田 蒼太郎 Tokita Sotaro), Haruna Horikawa (堀川 陽菜太 Horikawa Haruna)
- Young Woman: Yuki Mano (真野 柚希 Mano Yuki)
- Young Man: Toshi Okumura (奥村 等士 Okumura Toshi)
- Aunt: Umi Umiguchi (うみぐち うみ Umiguchi Umi)
Suit Actors[]
- Don Momotaro: Kosuke Asai (浅井 宏輔 Asai Kōsuke)
- Saru Brother: Yasuhiro Takeuchi (竹内 康博 Takeuchi Yasuhiro)
- Oni Sister: Ayumi Shimozono (下園 愛弓 Shimozono Ayumi)
- Inu Brother: Kazuya Okada (岡田 和也 Okada Kazuya)
- Kiji Brother: Masashi Takada (高田 将司 Takada Masashi)
- Don Doragoku: Shigeki Ito (伊藤 茂騎 Itō Shigeki)
- Don Murasame, Black Onitaijin Murasame (motion capture): Takahiro Yoneoka (米岡 孝弘 Yoneoka Takahiro)
- Chouzetsu Dai Gattai Toradora Onitaijin (motion capture), Kyukyoku Dai Gattai Toradora Onitaijin Kiwami (motion capture): Yohei Fujita (藤田 洋平 Fujita Yōhei)
- Transformed Sonoi: Hirotsugu Mori (森 博嗣 Mori Hirotsugu)
- Transformed Sononi: Yuichi Hachisuka (蜂須賀 祐一 Hachisuka Yūichi)
- Transformed Sonoza: Riichi Seike (清家 利一 Seike Riichi)
- Hikariki: Kenya Saitou (齊藤 謙也 Saitō Kenya)
Form Changes and Collectibles Used[]
Avataro Gears[]
- Don Momotaro - Lupinranger Alter, Patranger Alter, Don Momotaro Alter, Omikoshi Phoenix, Don Robotaro, Avataro Kiwami
- Saru Brother - Saru Brother Robotaro
- Oni Sister - Oni Sister Robotaro
- Inu Brother - Kakuranger, Inu Brother Robotaro
- Kiji Brother - Kiji Brother Robotaro
- Don Doragoku - Toradoragonjin
- Don Torabolt - Toradoragonjin (off-screen)
Avatar Changes[]
- Don Momotaro - GolDon Momotaro, Don Robotaro
- Saru Brother - Saru Brother Robotaro
- Oni Sister - Oni Sister Robotaro
- Inu Brother - NinjaBlack, Inu Brother Robotaro
- Kiji Brother - Kiji Brother Robotaro
- Don Doragoku - Don Robogoku
- Don Torabolt - Don Robobolt
- Don Murasame - Black Onitaijin Murasame
Errors[]
- During the first two fights if the viewers look close enough the camera crews reflection can be seen.
- When Haruka cheers for Taro in the first fight.
- In the close up of Taro and Sonoi in the second fight.
Notes[]
- Viewership: 4.9%
- As part of Super Hero Time, this episode aired alongside Kamen Rider Geats
episode 15, Conspiracy VI: Kamen Rider Qualifications. - Donbrothers sunglasses featured in title card: Red
- Count at episode end
- Gears in the Donbrothers' possession: Zenkaiger, Ryusoulger, ToQger, Lupinranger, Ohranger, Patranger, Zyuohger, Fiveman, Kiramager, Go-Busters, Gokaiger, Ninninger, Kyuranger, Kyoryuger, Turboranger, Carranger, Zyuranger, Jetman, Go-Onger, Dairanger, Hurricaneger, Shinkenger, Megaranger, Gekiranger, Kakuranger, Goggle V, Magiranger, Dynaman, Abaranger, Flashman, Goseiger, Boukenger, Sun Vulcan, Dekaranger, Liveman, GoGoFive, Gingaman, Denziman, J.A.K.Q., Timeranger, Maskman
- Despite Christmas Day falling on a Sunday in 2022, this episode aired a week earlier.
- Oddly, Donbrothers still aired on Christmas Day despite this.
- The date shown on the calendar in Café Donbura when the Noto talk to the Donbrothers is Friday, December 23, five days after the episode's airdate.
- Tsubasa’s Avatar Change into Ninja Black is the first Avatar Change in the series that uses a Avataro Gear which was never shown being picked up on-screen.
- This features the first appearance of Legend Alters since Don 25 and Don Momotaro Alter since Don 32. For Taro Momoi specifically, this features his first usage of Legend Alters since Don 8.
- The episode’s title is wordplay on Kurosuru (Struggling) sounding phonetically similar to “Claus”.
episode 15, DVD/Blu-ray Releases[]
Avataro Sentai Donbrothers Volume 11 features episodes 41-45: Don 41: Santa Struggling, Don 42: Off-putting Family, Don 43: Run Through Time, Run Through the Mysteries, Don 44: White Revealed, Black Revealed, and Don 45: Laughing Village, Rugged Village.
External Links[]
- TV Asahi's official preview for サンタくろうする
- Toei TV's official episode guide for サンタくろうする
- JAE's official episode guide for サンタくろうする
References[]
Footnotes[]