Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger (Tokusatsu Critic's Version)

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. Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger Season 2 started airing on April 6, 2013.

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!"

- Hiroyo Hakase

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 cafes 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

{|
 * width="20" style="background=color:silver" | AkibaGrace
 * width="20" style="background=color:gold" | AkibaGreat
 * width="20" style="background=color:bronze" | AkibaGrand
 * width="20" style="background=color:gold" | AkibaGreat
 * width="20" style="background=color:bronze" | AkibaGrand
 * width="20" style="background=color:bronze" | AkibaGrand

Allies

 * Hiroyo HakaseAkibaranger_SSB.jpg
 * Sayaka Honiden
 * Kozukozu Mita
 * Ikura
 * Aoi Ichikawa (of the show "Nijiyome Academy Z-Cune Aoi")
 * Kazuo Niibori (guest)
 * Tazuko

Imaginary Legends
{
 * width="20" style="background-color:red" | DekaRed
 * Banban "Ban" Akaza
 * width="20" style="background-color:red" | Bouken Red
 * Satoru Akashi
 * width="20" style="background-color:red" | Red Hawk
 * Ryu Tendo
 * width="20" style="background-color:red" | Go-On Red
 * Sosuke Esumi (Episode 14)
 * width="20" style="background-color:red" | Shinken Red
 * Takeru Shiba (Episode 14)
 * width="20" style="background-color:red" | Gosei Red
 * Alata (Episode 14)
 * }
 * Takeru Shiba (Episode 14)
 * width="20" style="background-color:red" | Gosei Red
 * Alata (Episode 14)
 * }
 * }

Blatantly Evil Marketing Firm B/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)
 * Drill Cyclops (11)

Mecha

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

Episodes

 * 1) Ep. 1: Lameness is Power
 * 2) Ep. 2: Lame Spirits Return! Call Forth a Crimson Full Blast of Delusion!
 * 3) Ep. 3: Lame! Drunken Hero Adventure!
 * 4) Ep. 4: Forbidden Delusion! The Lame Blue Corruption!
 * 5) Ep. 5: Laaaaaame! ☆ Yellow Mama
 * 6) Ep. 6: Soar, Master! A Lame Trap at the Delusional Studio!
 * 7) Ep. 7: Race Deludedly, Itashar! Break Your Limits!
 * 8) Ep. 8: Bonds of Lame Training! A Fork in the Road to Official-ness!
 * 9) Ep. 9: Lame Sentai Disbands
 * 10) Ep. 10: The Bitter Curse of Z ― A New Chapter Begins
 * 11) Ep. 11: The Replacement is Cool, Not Lame
 * 12) Ep. 12: Lame-ale: Farewell, Deluded Sentai
 * 13) Ep. 13: Recap! It's Okay to Not be Lame!
 * 14) Akibaranger Episode 14 (stageshow)

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-weekly web radio series will feature the voices of the TV series cast, as well as special guests in every show.

Treasure of the Maid Empire hoax
At Tamashii Nation 2012, the Akibaranger booth were showing multiple posters and advanced ticket gifts for the fake movie, Akibaranger the Movie: Treasure of the Maid Empire.

The Akibaranger staff decided to take a joke from twitter to the next level by making it seem like a movie was being released. Even going as far as making posters, fake tickets and the limited edition ticket gift, AkibaRed Special Color version as pictured below.

Cast

 * Nobuo Akagi: Masato Wada (和田 正人)
 * Mitsuki Aoyagi: Kyoko Hinami (日南 響子) (season 1)
 * Luna Iwashimizu: Shione Sawada (澤田 汐音) (season 2)
 * Yumeria Moegi: Karin Ogino (荻野 可鈴)
 * Hiroyo Hakase, Aoi Ichikawa (voice): Maaya Uchida (内田 真礼)
 * Kozukozu 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)
 * General Tsu: Ryo Horikawa (堀川 りょう) (season 2)

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

 * AkibaRed: Sanshiro Wada (和田 三四郎)
 * AkibaBlue: Haruka Oshima (大島 遥)
 * AkibaYellow: Fusayo Fujita (藤田 房代)
 * AkibaRed (Takuma): Masaki Onishi (大西 雅樹)
 * AkibaYellow (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)
 * Machine Itasshaa!