Gokaiger is a special anniversary series. Its protagonists are able to transform into not only their own unique, pirate-themed forms, but also all of the previous 34 Super Sentai teams, each of which have their own unique power that the Gokaigers can access. The series and related films also features reappearances of actors reprising their characters from each of the previous series.
The story takes place in a world where previous Super Sentai groups exist, a group of young pirates come from space to Earth to obtain the "Greatest Treasure in the Universe" (宇宙最大のお宝, Uchū Saidai no Otakara), which can only be acquired after obtaining the "Greater Powers" of the different 34 Super Sentai Teams. However, they end up facing the Space Empire Zangyack, whose earlier invasion forces were wiped out by the 34 Sentai groups not long ago before a new invasion force is established under Commander Warz Gill, the emperor's son. As a result, due to their history with the empire, the space pirates use the powers of the older teams and attempt to master their powers to fight the Zangyack forces like the Gokaigers.
Several of the episodes in Gokaiger feature and focus on the actions of one of the Legend Sentai. Those episodes are titled in a fashion similar to that of the original series. For example, episode 3, which features Mahō Sentai Magiranger, has a magic spell as part of the title, while episode 7, which features Juken Sentai Gekiranger, features one of the nonsense phrases that series protagonist Jyan Kandou would use.
On July 30, 2010, Toei applied for trademarks on the title Kaizoku Sentai Gōkaijā (海賊戦隊ゴーカイジャー) to be used on various products. The Japan Patent Office approved these trademarks on August 26, 2010.[2][3][4] During the Super Sentai VS Theater programming on December 26, 2010, the series was officially announced in a commercial. A Tokyo Dome City event for the premiere, serving as the introduction of the cast and theme song singers to the public, held on January 29 and 30, 2011.[5]
Gokaiger Goseiger Super Sentai 199 Hero Great Battle (ゴーカイジャー ゴセイジャー スーパー戦隊199ヒーロー 大決戦, Gōkaijā Goseijā Sūpā Sentai Hyakukyūjūkyū Hīrō Daikessen) is the film commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Super Sentai Series.[6] The film primarily featured the casts of Gokaiger and Tensou Sentai Goseiger, among the 199 total heroes from the Super Sentai series to appear. The film was originally scheduled for release on May 21, 2011.[7] However, due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, filming was affected and the film's release was postponed until June 11.[8] The addition of Gokai Silver is revealed at the end of the movie and he goes on to appear in his TV debut in the episode "The Awesome Silver Man" released the following day. The event of the movie takes place between episode 16 and 17. This film is a tribute to Himitsu Sentai Gorenger.
Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger the Movie: The Flying Ghost Ship (海賊戦隊ゴーカイジャーTHE MOVIE 空飛ぶ幽霊船, Kaizoku Sentai Gōkaijā Za Mūbī Sora Tobu Yūreisen) is the main theatrical release for Gokaiger where the Gokai Galleon crew deal with revived enemies under the captain of a ghost ship.[9] It was released on August 6, 2011, alongside Kamen Rider OOO Wonderful: The Shogun and the 21 Core Medals.[10] The event of the movie takes place between episode 23 and 24.
The film Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger vs. Space Sheriff Gavan (海賊戦隊ゴーカイジャーVS宇宙刑事ギャバンTHE MOVIE, Kaizoku Sentai Gōkaijā Tai Uchū Keiji Gyaban Za Mūbī) was released in theaters on January 21, 2012. This is the first Vs. Series crossover film that does not feature another Super Sentai team, but the hero of the first Metal Hero Series: Space Sheriff Gavan. The heroes of Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters also make a cameo appearance in the film.[11][12] The event of the movie takes place between episode 46 and 47.
Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Super Hero Taisen (仮面ライダー×スーパー戦隊 スーパーヒーロー大戦, Kamen Raidā × Sūpā Sentai: Sūpā Hīrō Taisen) is a film which features a crossover between the characters of the Super Sentai and Kamen Rider Series. The protagonists of Gokaiger and Kamen Rider Decade are featured, as well as those of Kamen Rider Fourze, Kamen Rider OOO, and Go-Busters.[13][14]
Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters vs. Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger: The Movie (特命戦隊ゴーバスターズVS海賊戦隊ゴーカイジャーTHE MOVIE, Tokumei Sentai Gōbasutāzu Tai Kaizoku Sentai Gōkaijā Za Mūbī) was released in theaters on January 19, 2013. As with previous VS movies, it features a crossover between the casts of Gokaiger and Go-Busters, along the debut of the 37th Super Sentai, Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger.[15][16]
Kamen Rider × Super Sentai × Space Sheriff: Super Hero Taisen Z (仮面ライダー×スーパー戦隊×宇宙刑事 スーパーヒーロー大戦Z, Kamen Raidā × Sūpā Sentai × Uchū Keiji: Supā Hīrō Taisen Zetto) was released on April 27, 2013. It features the first crossover between characters of Toei's three main Tokusatsu franchises, Kamen Rider, Super Sentai, and the Metal Hero Series represented mainly by the Space Sheriff Series. The protagonists of Space Sheriff Gavan: The Movie, Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters, and Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger are featured, but the casts of Kamen Rider Wizard, Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger, and Kamen Rider Fourze also participate in the film. Junya Ikeda reprises his role as Gai Ikari, while Ryota Ozawa returns only to voice Gokai Red.
Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger the Movie: Red Battle! All Sentai Great Assemble!! (機界戦隊ゼンカイジャー THE MOVIE 赤い戦い！オール戦隊大集会!!, Kikai Sentai Zenkaijā Za Mūbī Akai Tatakai! Ōru Sentai Daishūkai!!) is a film released in Japanese theaters on February 20, 2021, as part of Super Sentai Movie Ranger 2021 (スーパー戦隊MOVIEレンジャー2021, Sūpā Sentai Mūbī Renjā Nisen-nijū-ichi), alongside Mashin Sentai Kiramager the Movie: Be-Bop Dream and Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger Special: Memory of Soulmates.[17]Naoya Makoto (Himitsu Sentai Gorenger), Kei Hosogai (Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger), and Jingi Irie (Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger) reprise their respective roles, and Nobutoshi Canna (Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger) and Megumi Han (Shuriken Sentai Ninninger) reprise their respective voice roles.
Special DVD
Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger: Let's Do This Goldenly! Roughly! 36th Decree Gokai Change!! (海賊戦隊ゴーカイジャー キンキンに！ド派手に行くぜ！36段ゴーカイチェンジ!!, Kaizoku Sentai Gōkaijā Kin Kin ni! Dohade ni Ikuze! Sanjūroku Dan Gōkai Chenji!!) is a special DVD by Kodansha that is used to show some of the items in the series. In this special, taking place after episode 38, Captain Marvelous and Gai are accidentally fused together in one body during Insarn's attempt to fuse Gai with Karizorg, an android in Barizorg's image. Determined to retrieve Insarn's gun and restore themselves, Gai is allowed free use of their body to transform into a version of Gokai Silver with Gokai Red's helmet and boots as he assumes the forms of the previous 34 Super Sentai red warriors and Gokai Red to defeat dozens of Gormin. Though Gai gets exhausted from the overuse while Insarn fuses Karizorg with a Zugormin to create Zugozorg, Marvelous takes over their body and uses Gold Anchor Key to become Gokai Red Gold Mode (ゴーカイレッド ゴールドモード, Gōkai Reddo Gōrudo Mōdo) and finish off Zugozorg. The fusion gets Insarn's gun as she retreats, separating back to normal. Back aboard the Gokai Galleon, Gai offers the Captain a strawberry/vanilla swirl ice cream before an argument between them has Navi use the fusion gun on them.
Gokaiger initially had a V-Cinema adaptation planned before it was canceled in the aftermath of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake. Kaizoku Sentai: Ten Gokaiger (テン・ゴーカイジャー, Ten Gōkaijā) is a V-Cinema release which received a limited theatrical release on November 12, 2021, followed by its DVD and Blu-ray release on March 9, 2022.[18][19] The V-Cinema commemorates the 10th anniversary of the series,[18] making of Gokaiger the fourth series of the franchise receiving a tenth-anniversary special film after Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger, Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger and Engine Sentai Go-onger. In addition, Kohei Shoji reprises his role from Mashin Sentai Kiramager.
Zenkaiger vs. Kiramager vs. Senpaiger
Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger vs. Kiramager vs. Senpaiger (機界戦隊ゼンカイジャーVSキラメイジャーVSセンパイジャー, Kikai Sentai Zenkaijā Tai Kirameijā Tai Senpaijā) is a V-Cinema release that features a crossover between Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger and Mashin Sentai Kiramager.[20] The V-Cinema received a limited theatrical release on April 29, 2022, followed by its DVD and Blu-ray release on September 28, 2022.[20] Additionally, Ryota Ozawa made an appearance, reprising his role as Captain Marvelous/Gokai Red, alongside Asahi Ito of Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger reprising his role as Kairi Yano/Lupin Red.[21] The events of the V-Cinema take place after the final episode of Zenkaiger.[20]
Web episodes
Twokaizer × Gokaiger: The Tanuki-Charmed June Bride (ツーカイザー×ゴーカイジャー ～ジューンブライドはたぬき味～, Tsūkaizā Kakeru Gōkaijā Jūn Buraido wa Tanuki-aji) is a web-exclusive crossover series released on Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club on June 5, 2022, featuring characters from Gokaiger and Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger.[22]Ryota Ozawa, Yui Koike, and Junya Ikeda return to reprise their respective roles as Captain Marvelous/Gokai Red, Ahim de Famille/Gokai Pink and Gai Ikari/Gokai Silver respectively.[22]
A Day of One Hero, Starring Kazuki Shimizu (A DAY of one HERO 清水一希 主演, A Dē obu wan Hīrō Shimizu Kazuki Shuen) is a direct-to-video film released on November 21, 2011, starring Kazuki Shimizu as himself in a mockumentary of his acting career as Don "Doc" Dogoier in Gokaiger. The film also features cameo appearances by Tokusatsu veteran actors Yoshio Yamaguchi and Nao Nagasawa.[23]
A Nintendo DS game for Gokaiger called Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger: Gathered Transformation! 35 Sentai! (海賊戦隊ゴーカイジャー あつめて変身!35戦隊!, Kaizoku Sentai Gōkaijā Atsumete Henshin! Sanjūgo Sentai!) was released on November 17, 2011.
Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger appearance
As part of a special celebration for the 40th anniversary of the Super Sentai Series, the entire Gokaiger cast made a special appearance on episodes 28 (September 4, 2016) and 29 (September 11th, 2016), commemorating the 1,999th and 2,000th episodes of the entire franchise, including a new updated version of the Gokaiger ED titled 'Super Hero Getter 2016'.[25]
The song is remixed into "Super Sentai Hero Getter ~ 199 ver." from their first team-up movie (eliminating all but one of the choruses) and then "Super Sentai Hero Getter ~ Now & Forever ver." in the final episode, the latter remix covering Gokaiger and Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters.
A second version titled "Super Sentai Hero Getter 2016" was released in episodes 28 and 29 of Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger during the celebrations of the 2000th episode of the franchise, with two verses, including the first 40 Super Sentai Series. The first verse covers the 20 earlier series from Gorenger to Gekisou Sentai Carranger and the second one covers the 20 late entries, from Denji Sentai Megaranger to Zyuohger.
^In early promotional materials for the series, the Japanese word gōkai (豪快, exciting; heroic) is used as a meaning for the series' title.
^This episode was originally scheduled to air on March 13, 2011, but TV Asahi postponed the airing of this and several other television programs to air news coverage on the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
^This episode was the final Super Sentai episode to air on analog television in most of Japan. Analog television broadcasts ceased at noon that day.
"Official page at TV Asahi" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 30, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
