Kagaku Sentai Dynaman (科学戦隊ダイナマン) (1983-1984)

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, although it would later become a science-themed season. In 1987, six episodes were given a spoof dub and aired on the USA cable network under the simplified title Dynaman.

Dynaman was simply nicknamed "Kayaku Sentai" (火薬戦隊 with Kayaku meaning "gunpowder") by Japanese fans as a pun on the many explosions within the series. Producer Takayuki Suzuki even said the staff used the "highest quantity of gunpowder". In the west, that nickname is lost, but the prefix "Dyna" could be seen as an abbreviation of the word "Dynamite," therefore retaining the original meaning of the pun.

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.

The average ratings of the series was 10.6%.

Production

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.

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 (あらすじ)

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.

Episodes (放映リスト)

1. The Tailed-People Clan's Challenge (有尾人一族の挑戦 - Saturday February 5, 1983
2. Warriors Who Chase Dreams (夢を追う戦士たち) - Saturday February 12, 1983
3. Bat Hell Flight (コウモリ地獄飛行) - Saturday February 19, 1983
4. The Rumbling Fossil-Human (ゴロゴロ化石人間) - Saturday February 26, 1983
5. The Evolution Beast's Scary Dream (進化獣のこわい夢) - Saturday March 5, 1983
6. Fight to the Death! The Haunts of a Poisonous Snake (死闘! 毒蛇の魔境) - Saturday March 12, 1983
7. Operation Tokyo Sea of Fire! (東京火の海作戦!) - Saturday March 19, 1983
8. Evil Flower Princess Chimera (悪の花王女キメラ) - Saturday March 26, 1983
9. The Do-or-Die Bomb Race (決死の爆弾レース) - Saturday April 2, 1983
10. The Intruder from Outer Space (宇宙からの侵入者) - Saturday April 9, 1983
11. The Day Fish Attack Humans (魚が人間を襲う日) - Saturday April 16, 1983
12. The Targeted Blood Bank (狙われた血液銀行) - Saturday April 23, 1983
13. The Kidnapped Bride (さらわれた花嫁) - Saturday April 30, 1983
14. Assault, Choroppo Soldier (突撃チョロッポ兵) - Saturday May 7, 1983
15. Ninjutsu vs. Chimera Witchcraft (忍術対キメラ妖術) - Saturday May 14, 1983
16. The Big Mt. Aso Explosion Operation (阿蘇山大爆発作戦) - Saturday May 21, 1983
17. Fear! Kyushu Major Earthquake (恐怖! 九州大地震) - Saturday May 28, 1983
18. The Big Tsunami That Attacks Tokyo (東京を襲う大津波) - Saturday June 4, 1983
19. The Fuse is a Red Toxic Flower (導火線は赤い毒花) - Saturday June 11, 1983
20. Chase! The Amakusa Sun (追え! 天草の太陽) - Saturday June 18, 1983
21. Angry Hokuto's Deadly Sword (怒りの北斗必殺剣) - Saturday June 25, 1983
22. The Great Prank War (いたずら大戦争!) - Saturday July 2, 1983
23. Operation Human Slug (人間ナメクジ作戦) - Saturday July 9, 1983
24. The Dreadful Comet's Great Approach (恐怖の彗星大接近) - Saturday July 16, 1983
25. The Mysterious Guffaw Hell (謎のゲラゲラ地獄) - Saturday July 23, 1983
26. Intense Fighting! The Solar Lighthouse (激闘! 太陽の灯台) - Saturday July 30, 1983
27. Chirping Cicada: The Sound of Death (死の音セミシグレ) - Saturday August 6, 1983
28. Rescue the Doll-Humans! (人形人間を救え!) - Saturday August 13, 1983
29. Chimera's Cursed Clothes (キメラの呪いの服) - Saturday August 20, 1983
30. The Enemy is a Drudge Evolution Beast (敵はガリ勉進化獣) - Saturday August 27, 1983
31. The Spy-Tailed Person's Trap (スパイ有尾人の罠) - Saturday September 3, 1983
32. The Missing Power Gun (消えたパワーガン) - Saturday September 10, 1983
33. Unaccustomed to Red (レッドになれない) - Saturday September 17, 1983
34. Formidable Enemy! Mechaevolution (強敵! メカシンカ) - Saturday September 24, 1983
35. Seeking a New Finishing Move (新必殺技を求めて) - Saturday October 1, 1983
36. It Came Forth!! The Finishing Move (出たぞ! 必殺技!) - Saturday October 8, 1983
37. Female Shogun Zenobia (女将軍ゼノビア) - Saturday October 15, 1983
38. Rejuvenate! Genius Brain (若返れ! 天才頭脳) - Saturday October 22, 1983
39. Hold it! The Egg of the Tailed-People (抱け! 有尾人の卵) - Saturday October 29, 1983
40. Explosion! Silent Anger (爆発! 無言の怒り) - Saturday November 5, 1983
41. The Biker Gang Who Disappeared (闇に消えた暴走族) - Saturday November 12, 1983
42. Challenge: The Dark Knight (挑戦ダークナイト) - Saturday November 19, 1983
43. Shima! You're Blue Lighting (島! 君は青い稲妻) - Saturday November 26, 1983
44. Explosion! Magma Bomb (爆発! マグマ爆弾) - Saturday December 3, 1983
45. Mama is Zenobia? (ママはゼノビア?) - Saturday December 10, 1983
46. The Saber That Runs Love Through (愛を貫くサーベル) - Saturday December 17, 1983
47. An Evil Wish, Ten Tails (悪の願い十本尻尾) - Saturday December 24, 1983
48. Doctor Yumeno's Big Secret (夢野博士の大秘密) - Saturday January 7, 1984
49. The End of General Kar (カー将軍の最期) - Saturday January 14, 1984
50. The Revived Formidable Enemy (よみがえった強敵) - Saturday January 21, 1984
51. The Fight That Flew Through Tomorrow (明日をかけた戦い) - Saturday January 28, 1984