Kagaku Sentai Dynaman (科学戦隊ダイナマン Kagaku Sentai Dainaman?, translated into English as Scientific Squadron Dynaman) is the 7th entry in the Super Sentai series produced by Toei Company Ltd. The series aired from February 5, 1983, to January 28, 1984, with a total of 51 episodes. It had originally been intended as a baseball-themed sentai. In 1987, six episodes were given a spoof dub and aired on the USA cable network under the simplified title Dynaman.
Dynaman was called "Kayaku Sentai" (火薬? meaning "gunpowder") from Japanese fans because of the many explosions. Producer Takayuki Suzuki even said the staff used the "highest quantity of gunpowder".
Voice actor, Toru Ohira, who narrated the Super Sentai series beginning with Himitsu Sentai Gorenger, departed after this series. After narrating the Metal Hero Series from 1984 to 1989 (Except for Choujinki Metalder in 1987), he would later return to narrate Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger in 1992, and perform the voice of Emperor Bacchus Wrath in Chouriki Sentai Ohranger in 1995.
Production[]
A pre-production photo of the original design of the Dynamen.
The original name of the series was "Yakyuu Sentai V-Leaguer" (Baseball Sentai V-Leaguer), with the motif of the team being that they were a baseball-based team (possibly to ride on Goggle V's success with rhythmic gymnastics) and with development made to the point of the baseball motif being rather prominent in the season. However, it was judged through the development of the uniform that the appropriate "coolness" was not achieved in it and thus the concept was scrapped. It was ultimately switched to "Dynaman" due to the concept of the heroes having an "explosion of spirit" similar to the explosion of dynamite. However even with the sudden change in motif, many aspects of the "baseball" image ultimately remained in Dynaman: the suits still remained with the "baseball" look even with some slight differences, certain poses still looked more appropriate to baseball and DynaRobo's fusion term was "Grand Slam"; while the "clang" within the opening theme holds a similarity of a ball being hit by a metal bat.
An image from a 1983 calendar, showing the Dynamen with their original name, V-Leaguer.
Other major evolutions and developments with Dynaman occurred with the evolution of the villains of the season in the Jashinka Empire. Initially, Jashinka was to have a "beautiful villain" by way of Prince Megiddo, who was modeled off various similar "bishonen male villains" of giant robot anime. However when the Sentai producers realized that the level of beauty they needed was impossible in live action compared to anime, Megiddo was eventually "changed" only to return near the end as the mysterious Dark Knight. It was as the Dark Knight that Megiddo made a greater impact, becoming the first Sentai "Dark Hero". Jashinka likewise experienced developments that would impact storytelling in Sentai, including character development and, with the successful return of the "mid-season upgrade" in Goggle V, the first true "villain upgrade" in Sentai for their side.
Possibly the greatest "change" that Dynaman held in Sentai's evolution was unintentional but important: due to the increase in time of a Japanese news program, the Sentai timeslot was suddenly reduced from 30 minutes to 25, which included opening, ending and preview. This reduction ended up forcing a tightening of action and story and less time with stock footage, ultimately improving the franchise in the long run.
Plot[]
Dynaman
The Jashinka Empire (ジャシンカ帝国?) (Combination of the Japanese words for "evil" (邪心 Jashin?), and "evolution" (進化 Shinka?)) rises from the depths of the Earth to conquer the world.
To stop them, Dr. Yumeno assembles five inventors to his laboratory, Yumeno Invention Laboratory and gives them the power to become Dynamen. Each member has their own goal, but as the Kagaku Sentai Dynaman, they are united to stop the Jashinka Empire in their tracks.
Characters[]
The Dynamen with Dr. Yumeno.
Dynamen[]
| color | role | actor |
|---|---|---|
| DynaRed | Hokuto Dan | |
| DynaBlack | Ryuu Hoshikawa | |
| DynaBlue | Yousuke Shima | |
| DynaYellow | Kousaku Nangou | |
| DynaPink | Rei Tachibana | |
| DynaMagenta | Harunaga Shiba |
Yumeno Invention Center/Dyna Station[]
- Dr. Kyuutarou Yumeno
- Kendo Robo
- Invention Center Kids (Yutaka, Aiko, Takao, Satoshi, Emi)
Other Allies[]
Tailed People Clan Jashinka Empire[]
- Emperor Aton
- General Kar
| Dark Knight | Prince Megiddo |
- Gira and Geel (1-8)
- Princess Chimera (8-51)
- General Zenobia (37-50)
- Bilgis
- Tail Soldiers
- Gizmosquito
- Evolution Beasts
- Crab Evo (1)
- Rhino Evo (2)
- Bat Evo (3)
- Trilobite Evo (4)
- Tapir Evo (5)
- Spider Evo (Movie/32)
- Snake Evo (6)
- Sponge Evo (7)
- Butterfly Evo (8)
- Scorpion Evo (9)
- Octopus Evo (10)
- Dolphin Evo (11)
- Flea Evo (12)
- Frog Evo (13)
- Diving Beetle Evo (14)
- Gecko Evo (15)
- Archaeopteryx Evo (16)
- Dinosaur Evo (17)
- Stingray Evo (18)
- Porcupine Evo (19)
- Squid Evo (20)
- Crocodile Evo (21)
- Cat Evo (22)
- Slug Evo (23)
- Fox Evo (24)
- Bee Evo (25)
- Starfish Evo (26)
- Cicada Evo (27)
- Striped Mosquito Evo (28)
- Cactus Evo (29)
- Thorn Ant Evo (30)
- Mantis Evo (31)
- Spider Evo (32)
- Mammoth Evo (33)
- Mechaevolution Beasts
- Missile Crayfish (34)
- Guillotine Lizard (35)
- Machinegun Jaguar (36)
- Electric Eel (37)
- Armor Rose (38)
- Laser Hawk (39)
- Word Processor Armadillo (40)
- Drill Horse (Pegasus) (41)
- Axe Bear (42)
- Rocket Tiger (43)
- Shovel Kong (44)
- Rainbow Chameleon (45)
- Jet Flying Squirrel (46)
- Poison Gas Weasel (47)
- Boomerang Jackal (48)
- Computer Dragon (49)
- Fire Sphinx (50 & 51)
Arsenal[]
Transformation Devices[]
Sidearms[]
- Dyna Rod
Individual Weapons[]
- Dyna Swords ◆◆
- Cross Cutter ◆
- Battle Tector ◆
- Strong Shower ◆
- Blue Frisbees ◆
- Jet Surfin' ◆◆
- Attack Board ◆
- Chain Crushers ◆
- Yellow Bomber ◆
- Rose Saber ◆
- Flower Shield ◆
- Rose Finale ◆
Mecha[]
Category:Mecha (Dynaman)
Episodes[]
Kagaku Sentai Dynaman Episodes
Songs[]
- Opening: Kagaku Sentai Dynaman
- Ending: Yume wo Kanaete Dynaman
- Mecha Theme (Dyna Robo): Go Go Dyna Robo
- Matte Ita n da Dynaman
- Honoo no Senshi ~Fire Crew~
- Ore no Heart wa Yumejikake
- Mahiru no Arashi ~Bomber Twist~
- Super Dynamite
- Endless Way
Cast[]
- Hokuto Dan (弾 北斗 Dan Hokuto?): Satoshi Okita (沖田さとし Okita Satoshi?) (English Parody voice: Peter Alves)
- Ryuu Hoshikawa (星川 竜 Hoshikawa Ryū?): Jyunichi Haruta (春田 純一 Haruta Jun'ichi?) (English Parody voice: Bill Johnston)
- Yousuke Shima (島 洋介 Shima Yōsuke?): Kouji Unogi (卯木浩二 Unogi Kōji?) (English Parody voice: Mark McKinney)
- Kousaku Nangou (南郷 耕作 Nangō Kōsaku?): Yuu Tokita (時田優 Tokita Yū?) (English Parody voice: Bruce Pirrie)
- Rei Tachibana (立花 レイ Tachibana Rei?): Sayoko Hagiwara (萩原 佐代子 Hagiwara Sayoko?) (English Parody voice: Kathleen Laskey/Angela Muto)
- Dr. Kyutaro Yumeno (夢野久太郎 Yumeno Kyutarō?): Junshi Shimada (島田順司 Shimada Junshi?) (English Parody voice: Peter Alves)
- Yutaka (ユタカ?): Gojiro Nagao (長尾豪二郎 Nagao Gōjirō?)
- Aiko (アイコ?): Rie Igarashi (五十嵐里恵 Igarashi Rie?)
- Takao (タカオ?): Takayuki Motohashi (本橋隆行 Motohashi Takayuki?)
- Satoshi (サトシ?): Masanobu Shokawa (庄川正信 Shōkawa Masanobu?)
- Emi (エミ?): Ai Yatsuka (八束 愛 Yatsuka Ai?)
- Kendo Robo (剣道ロボット Kendō Robotto?, Voice): Misa Kadoya (門谷美佐 Kadoya Misa?)
- Emperor Aton (帝王アトン Teiō Aton?, Voice): Takeshi Watabe (渡部 猛 Watabe Takeshi?) (English Parody voice: Jack Newman)
- Megiddo (メギド Megido?): Kenju Hayashi (林健樹 Hayashi Kenju?) (English Parody voice: Peter Alves)
- Dark Knight (ダークナイト Dākunaito?, Voice) (voice): Michirou Iida (飯田道郎 Iida Michirō?)
- General Kar (カー将軍 Kā Shōgun?): Masashi Ishibashi (石橋雅史 Ishibashi Masashi?) (English Parody voice: Alan Gordon)
- Princess Chimera (キメラ Kimera?): Mari Kouno (香野麻里 Kōno Mari?) (English Parody voice: Angela Muto)
- General Zenobia (女将軍ゼノビア Onna Shōgun Zenobia?): Ritsuko Fujiyama (藤山律子 Fujiyama Ritsuko?)
- Gira (ギーラ Gīra?): Hirokazu Shoji (庄司 浩和 Shōji Hirokazu?)
- Keel (キール Kīru?): Keiji Tsujii (辻井啓嗣 Tsujii Keiji?)
- Bilgis (ビルギス Birugisu?): Kasumi Yasuda (安田加寿美 Yasuda Kasumi?)
Crew[]
- Directed by
- Shouhei Toujou, Minoru Yamada, Takafumi Hattori, Nagafumi Hori
- Story and Screenplay by
- Hirohisa Soda, Kousuke Miki, Kyoko Sagiyama, Kenji Terada, Isao Matsumoto, Ichirou Yamanaka, Shunsuke Yoshida
- Action Director
- Junji Yamaoka
Stage Shows[]
- Dynaman Stage Show at 3 Heroes Korakuen Yuenchi
- Dynaman Stage Show at Super Hero Korakuen Yuenchi
Notes[]
- Dynaman is the last of a set of series where the three "main colors" (Red, Blue and Yellow) were all males. An all male trio would not occur with these colors again until Kousoku Sentai Turboranger.
- In Kamen Rider x Super Sentai: Super Hero Taihen – Who’s the culprit?!, we learn that DynaYellow was originally going to be orange.
- This is the first Sentai where the heroes wore suits made of spandex, the material that would become synonymous with both Super Sentai and its adaptation Power Rangers. Spandex would be used for all future Sentai teams until Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters, a span of nearly three decades, although the proceeding series, Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger, returned to using spandex.
- This season shares concepts and ideas of the classic Sentai-influencing anime "Kagaku Ninja-tai Gatchaman" (Science Ninja Squadron Gatchaman), speaking of the responsibility of science while fighting inhuman villains and even using the "Kagaku" of the Gatchaman name for their own name.
- Jetman likewise is influenced by Gatchaman in the usage of a "bird team".
- Dynaman has also been marketed as Dynaman The Commando.[1]
- This series was originally called Baseball Sentai V-Leaguer.[2]
- Their official counterparts in Super Megaforce are given the name Batallion.