This article is about a temporary monster in Avataro Sentai Donbrothers. |
- "Shut up! All of you, just shut up, shut up! What could bunch of youngsters like you know about the trauma I've been through?!"
- ―Santa Claus's words before being turned into a Hitotsuki[src]
This incarnation of Santa Claus (サンタクロース Santakurōsu) turns into a Buddha-themed Hitotsuki called Hikariki (光鬼 lit. Light Demon), possessing a Maskman Avataro Gear, out of his desire to take revenge on people who have changed with the times.
History
In part of the city, Hikariki uses an invisible door to enter people’s homes and give them rotten 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.
Eventually, 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.
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 and Santa is purified.
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.
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. TV STORY-Don 41: Santa Struggling
Personality
to be added
Hikariki
- Height: 194 cm
- Weight: 249 kg
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Aura Power (オーラパワー Ōra Pawa): Hikariki is able to use his aura powers for attacks.
Abilities
to be added
Weaknesses
to be added
Arsenal
- to be added
Behind the Scenes
Portrayal
- The Donbrothers' incarnation of Santa Claus is portrayed by Yukijiro Hotaru (螢 雪次朗 Hotaru Yukijirō), who also voiced his Hitotsuki form. As Hikariki, his suit actor is Kenya Saitou (齊藤 謙也 Saitō Kenya).
Design
- Hikariki's design is based on Hindu mythology and the Buddha-esque image depicted in Maskman.
Etymology
- "Hikari" is Japanese for "Light" and refers to Hikari Sentai Maskman.
Notes
- Skin Name: Burning Aura (燃えるオーラ Moeru ōra)
- Hikariki's transformation is a reference to Maskman's Aura Mask transformation.
- Hikariki's skin name references the Maskman's Aura Power.
Appearances
References
Footnotes