Hikari Sentai Maskman

Hikari Sentai Maskman
Genre Tokusatsu
Created by Toei
Starring Ryousuke Kaizu
Kouichi Kusakari
Issei Hirota
Yuki Nagata
Kanako Maeda
Narrated by Hiroshi Takeda
Opening theme "Hikari Sentai Maskman" by Hironobu Kageyama
Ending theme "Ai no Soldier" by Hironobu Kageyama
Composer(s) Goro Omi
Country of origin Japan
No. of episodes 51
Production
Producer(s) Kanetake Ochiai
Takeyuki Suzuki
Kyōzō Utsunomiya
Running time 30 minutes
Production company(s) TV Asahi
NT21
Toei Company
Toei Advertising
Broadcast
Original channel TV Asahi
Original run February 28, 1987 – February 20, 1988
Chronology
Preceded by Choushinsei Flashman
Followed by Choujuu Sentai Liveman

Hikari Sentai Maskman (光戦隊マスクマン Hikari Sentai Masukuman, [Note 1]) is Toei's eleventh entry of the Super Sentai Series. It aired on TV Asahi from February 28, 1987 to February 20, 1988, with a total of 51 episodes. Its international English title as listed by Toei is simply Maskman.[1]

It was the first Super Sentai series that showcased each members having their own individual vehicles that forms their robot, it also introduced non-Japanese martial arts discipline.

Plot

Commander Sugata is a scientist and sage who excels in mental reinforcements and is a master of every martial arts discipline. He discovered the existence of the Underground Empire Tube, a once peaceful kingdom that has turned into a malignant force under the mysterious Zeba, who desires to conquer the surface. In order to stand against them and thwart their plans, Sugata recruits five young people to become the Maskmen. Each becomes specialized in a style of martial arts, and Sugata teaches them the ways of the mystical "Aura Power" energy. A year after Sugata recruits and trains the Maskmen, the Underground Empire Tube is ready to strike. Princess Ial of the deposed Igam Royal Family, sent to spy above ground as Mio, falls in love with Takeru, and wishes for those underground and above ground to coexist. She is kidnapped and imprisoned in ice for her betrayal. As Takeru and the Maskmen battle Tube, they learn about Ial and Igam's relationship, and a terrible dark secret about Zeba, the Tube leader.

Characters

Maskmen

The Maskmen as seen in the series' eyecatch: (from right), Black Mask, Yellow Mask, Red Mask, Pink Mask, Blue Mask

"Maskman" is the name of Sanjuro Sugata's top secret Hikari Sentai. Before Tube surfaced, the group put off the cover of being the Sugata Racing Team.

Arsenal

Vehicles

Mecha

Allies

Underground Empire Tube

The Underground Empire Tube (地底帝国チューブ Chitei Teikoku Chūbu) is described as a peaceful underground empire that came into being five millennia ago under the rule of the Igam family. Once it comes under the rule of the usurper Zeba, Tube begins preparing for war on the surface. They are based at the Underground Castle (地帝城 Chiteijō) until Zeba has it destroyed.

Kiros

Others

Episodes

  1. The Mysterious, Beautiful Runaway (美しき謎の逃亡者 Utsukishiki Nazo no Tōbōsha)
  2. Strange! The Dark Underground Castle (怪奇! 闇の地底城 Kaiki! Yami no Chiteijō)
  3. The First Step into the Unknown (未知への第一歩! Michi e no Daiippo)
  4. Burn! F1 Spirits! (燃やせ! F1魂! Moyase! Efu Wan Tamashii!)
  5. The Small Swordsman, Blue (小さな剣士ブルー Chiisa na Kenshi Burū)
  6. The God Hand of Dreams (夢のゴッドハンド Yume no Goddo Hando)
  7. Explode! Kenta's Love (爆発!ケンタの愛 Bakuhatsu! Kenta no Ai)
  8. Burn! The Flower's Sword (燃えろ!花の剣! Moero! Hana no Ken!)
  9. Combine! Aura of Life (合体!命のオーラ Gattai! Inochi no Ōra)
  10. Igam vs. Takeru (イガムVSタケル Igamu Tai Takeru)
  11. The Refugee From Underground (地底からの亡命者 Chitei Kara no Bōmeisha)
  12. A Challenge! The Pride of a Shinobi (挑戦!忍びの誇り Chōsen! Shinobi no Hokori)
  13. Chase the Idol! (アイドルを追え! Aidoru o Oe!)
  14. The Great Escape to the Blue Sky! (青空への大脱出! Aozora e no Dai Dasshutsu!)
  15. Farewell, Dear Flower! (さらば愛しき花よ! Saraba Itoshiki Hana yo!)
  16. Deadly! Blazing Baraba (必殺!炎のバラバ Hissatsu! Honō no Baraba)
  17. Smash it! The Hellish Labyrinth (破れ!地獄の迷宮 Yabure! Jigoku no Meikyū)
  18. The Dear Bloodsucking Doll! (愛しの吸血人形! Itoshi no Kyūketsu Ningyō!)
  19. Apparition! Anagumas (妖魔! アナグマス Yōma! Anagumasu)
  20. A Trap! The Sinking Giant Robo (罠! 沈む巨大ロボ Wana! Shizumu Kyodai Robo)
  21. The Black Shadow of the Misty Valley (霧の谷の黒い影 Kiri no Tani no Kuroi Kage)
  22. The Winds and Clouds of an Aura Storm! (風雲オーラの嵐! Fūun Ōra no Arashi!)
  23. Mio Who Has Become a Demon (悪魔になった美緒 Akuma ni Natta Mio)
  24. The Grotto of the Boy Monster (鍾乳洞の少年怪獣 Shōnyūdō no Shōnen Kaijū)
  25. Akira's Lover!? (アキラの恋人!? Akira no Koibito!?)
  26. Lives That Disappeared on Hot Sand! (熱砂に消えた命! Nessa ni Kieta Inochi!)
  27. Thief Knight Kiros! (盗賊騎士キロス! Tōzoku Kishi Kirosu!)
  28. Mio is Princess Ial!? (美緒がイアル姫!? Mio ga Iaru-hime!?)
  29. The New Lethal Weapon of Friendship (友情の新必殺武器 Yūjō no Shin Hissatsu Buki)
  30. Mama!! Baraba's Scream! (ママ!!バラバの絶叫! Mama!! Baraba no Zekkyō!)
  31. It Appears! The Guardian Deity Igam Dragon (出現!守護神イガム竜 Shutsugen! Shugoshin Igamuryū)
  32. Oyobu's Lethal Dash (オヨブー必殺走り Oyobū Hissatsu Hashiri)
  33. Takeru!! Severe their Love! (タケルよ!愛を斬れ! Takeru yo! Ai o Kire!)
  34. The Love and Murderous Intentive Blues (愛と殺意のブルース Ai to Satsui no Burūsu)
  35. The Mystery of Zeba! The Forbidden Tomb (ゼーバの謎! 禁断の墓 Zēba no Nazo! Kindan no Haka)
  36. Elimination! The Destructive Twin Girls (消滅!双子の破壊少女 Shōmetsu! Futago no Hakai Shōjo)
  37. Soldiers Who Bet on Their Dreams (夢に賭ける戦士たち Yume ni Kakeru Senshitachi)
  38. The Time to Erase Takeru (タケルが消される時間 Takeru ga Kesareru Jikan)
  39. Revival! The Mysterious X1 Mask (復活!謎のX1マスク Fukkatsu! Nazo no Ekkusu Wan Masuku)
  40. Resurrect! The Lovely Melody (甦れ!愛のメロディー Yomigaere! Ai no Merodī)
  41. Female Thieves Haruka & Momoko (女強盗ハルカ&モモコ Onna Gōtō Haruka to Momoko)
  42. Fly! The Poem of a Timid Boy (翔べ!いじけ少年の詩 Kakebe! Ijike Shōnen no Shi)
  43. Akira Loses His Eyesight! The Mysterious Spell (アキラ失明! 謎の呪文 Akira Shutsumei! Nazo no Jumon)
  44. Transform! Underground Empire Swordsman Akira (変身! 地帝剣士アキラ Henshin! Chitei Kenshi Akira)
  45. Prince Igam! You're a Woman! (イガム王子!君は女! Igamu-ōji! Kimi wa Onna!)
  46. Counterattack! The Bloody Pond's Secret (逆襲!血の池の秘密 Gyakushū! Chi no Ike no Himitsu)
  47. The Night Prior to the Attack! The Dance of Death (出撃前夜! 死の踊り Shutsugeki Zen'ya! Shi no Odori)
  48. Baraba! Death by Treachery (バラバ!裏切りに死す Baraba! Uragiri ni Shisu)
  49. The Revived Princess Ial (よみがえったイアル姫 Yomigaetta Iaru-hime)
  50. Zeba! His Hair-Raising Secret Identity (ゼーバ!戦慄の正体 Zēba! Senritsu no Shōtai)
  51. The Great Destruction of the Underground Empire Castle! (地帝城大崩壊! Chitei Shiro Dai Hōkai!)

Film

A film version of Hikari Sentai Maskman premiered on July 18, 1987 at the "Toei Manga Matsuri" film festival, where it was shown as part of a quadruple feature alongside Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle, Saint Seiya: The Movie and the film version of Choujinki Metalder.

International broadcasts

France

Marketed as the direct sequel to Choudenshi Bioman, the series was dubbed in French and broadcast as Bioman 2 in 1988.

Brazil

The series was broadcast on Rede Manchete (now RedeTV!) as Defensores da Luz Maskman - Maskman, Defenders of Light from 1991 to 1993. The last rerun was between January and October 1999, until episode 36.

Philippines

The series was dubbed in Tagalog as Laser Squadron Maskman and televised on ABS-CBN-2 in 1989 to 1991 and later on IBC-13 in 1991 to 1998. It was one of the highest rated programs in the Philippines. Like in France, it was also marketed as the sequel to Choudenshi Bioman, and became the first ever Sentai program to be broadcast with Filipino language dubbing, after the phenomenal airing of Uchuu Keiji Shaider, the country's first ever tokusatsu program to be aired in that language, in 1987-89.

Indonesia

In Indonesia, the series was first broadcast on RCTI in mid-1994-1995, rerun on SCTV in 1996-1997. In September 2011, Indosiar planned to rerun the series.

Thailand

Maskman was also broadcast in Thailand on Channel 3 during 1989-1990.

Malaysia

The series was dubbed in Malay as Maskman on TV2 in the early 90's.

Cast

Songs

Opening theme
Movie Opening theme
Ending theme

Notes

  1. Hikari (?) literally translates as "Light" or Lightning. In the series' name, "Light" serves as a better translation because the Maskmen are trying to stop the Underground Empire Tube from turning the world into a world of darkness.

References

External links