Dennou Keisatsu Cybercop
Dennou Keisatsu Cybercop is a Japanese tokusatsu TV series. First created in 1988 by Toho Enterprises, the show was an attempt to create a Tokusatsu series using a Super Sentai motif, but the idea was dropped after the unaired pilot. The series itself still slightly resembled a sentai show, with most of the protagonists wearing color-coordinated armor. The show was broadcast on NTV and aired from October 2, 1988 to July 5, 1989.
Story
In the year 1999, crime has overrun Tokyo city, Japan. Hopelessly outmanned and outgunned, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Force decides to set up a special taskforce to combat the dire situation. Codenamed “ZAC”, this police department is designed for special missions. For this cause, the police scientists developed the "Bit Suits", three high-powered armors outfitted with the latest technology: Mars, Saturn and Mercury. In the first episode, a mysterious young man, Shinya Takeda, appears from nowhere and saves the day after using his own armor, the Jupiter Bit Suit. Following his victory, he joins ZAC in battling the evil organization Death Trap, ruled by the ruthless Baron Kageyama, whose goal is to use the computers' will-power to gain world domination and appears to be mysteriously linked to Takeda's past.Characters
- Shinya Takeda/Jupiter: An amnesiac found by the Interpol rescue team, Takeda was assigned to ZAC due to him donning the Jupiter Bit Suit and in hopes of unraveling his past. While he has a very sunny disposition and is often very fun-loving, he has a considerable temper that can escalate into a “battle rage” when fighting opponents. When this happens, Jupiter is able to summon his own Cyber Arm, the Cyber Thunder Arm, and the Cyber Shield through a process called Cyber Boming, which ultimately destroys his enemies. Later, it is revealed that Takeda is a time traveller from the 23rd century and was brought to 1999 by a time-space portal fend opened after the Babylon Tower was blown up. Along with him, Lucifer and Kageyama were also transported. His original codename was "Z226". His Jupiter Bit Suit, as well as the Cyber Thunder Arm came with him to the past. In the end of the series, he goes back to the 23rd century with Lucifer and Tomoko, who asks to go with them to fight for a better time.
- Tomoko Uesugi: Backup ZAC officer for the Cybercop. Due to financial problems, her armor, Venus Bit, was never built. Monitors and assists with the maintenance of Cybernation and Black Chamber systems. Falls in love with Takeda and accompanies him back to the 23rd century by the end of the series. Carries the standard ZAC firearm, the S.D. Gun.
- Akira Houjyo/Mars: The team leader, Akira's father committed suicide when he was 8 years old, making him to become rebellious and to use his intelligence to hack the system of the enterprise in which his father worked in, eventually bankrupting it. After that, he was practically raised by Captain Oda, who wished to use the kid's high capacity for something beneficial. Cool under pressure and has a strong sense of duty and honor. Became top of his class at the Police Academy and was formerly an elite officer with the Tokyo Police Department. His armor is designed specifically to provide heavy artillery and firearms support. Due to the size of his suit, is one of the slower units and hampers Hojyo’s movements a bit. His armor is outfitted with “Stabilize Gear”, which brace his armor when he uses his heavy guns.
- Ryoichi Mouri/Saturn: A happy-go-lucky and a jokester, Mori is the team’s resident “mood maker”. He does not enjoy fighting, eventually doing it because of his duties. He has a younger brother and three younger sisters. His armor is equipped with numerous sensory and communication equipment which help aid the team in tracking down enemies and collecting data. His helmet antenna and his shoulder parabola sonar units can perform a wide range of surveillance, reconnaissance and tracking duties, making it the most vulnerable Bit Suit.
- Osamu Saiyonji/Mercury: Sayionji’s is the resident hand-to-hand combat specialist. His brother was also a cop, as Osamu always wanted to follow his steps. However, his brother was killed in action while investigating a case. From that point on, Osamu's mother tried to preserve him from the danger and risks of being a cop. Despite his moments of conflict, Osamu is very brave and has a great fighting spirit. His armor is the most lightweight of the armors and affords him extreme flexibility in movement and speed albeit at the cost of defense and protection. His unit is the fastest of the “Cyber Bit” armors and he can travel at incredible speeds. Mercury also has access to the “Linear Speeder” skates which enables him to traverse at speeds of up to. The skates can be controlled via brainwave controls in the Bit Suit helmet.
- Lucifer: Takeda's ex-partner in the future, was also transported with him and Kageyama to the 20th century through the same time-space portal. At first, his only wish is to avenge his dead comrades, targeting Jupiter as his nemesis and challenging him to a death confront. He allies with Baron Kageyama believing Takeda was the traitor who murdered his companions. Eventually, it is revealed that Kageyama was the mole. From then, Lucifer decides to aid the Cybercops without joining the group, helping them in battle more often than not. Lucifer's bit, along with Jupiter's, is the most powerful of the Bit Suits, as it is more equipped and enhanced than the others. Armed with two high-power pistols called Impulse Magnum, two machine-guns which come from his back to shoulders, the Pulsar Cannon, Gigamax and the Cyber Graviton, an energy absorber-releaser on his chest.
Other ZAC Members
- Captain Hisayoshi Oda: Sometimes strictly wrapped around young men who are kind and gently give instructions. Because of their personality the members' trust is also thick. Sometimes you say a cold pun.
- Shimazu Mizue: Second In Command. ZAC 's secretary and cap representative. She support Oda and sometimes take command when Oda is absent. There used to be a past where she became love with a bit suit researcher, but he is a victim of a missile that hit the laboratory. She is about ZAC's work which uses a bit suit to say also as his child through single bachelors.
- Daisuke Yazawa: ZAC computer operator. He gather information and analyze, and assist strategy. Abundant knowledge of computer and science.
- Miho Asakura: Communication officer of ZAC. Natural blur. The way of speaking has a slightly lingering impression. An ordinary girl who will always run away against the ZAC's duty to throw out his life.
Death Trap
Led by the maniacal and crazed computer program “Führer” Soutou, the “Death Trap” launches a number of terrorist attacks against Tokyo, using its army of “Death Droids” and battle mecha.
It is later revealed that the “Despot Führer” was in actuality a computer entity from the 23rd century which was sent back in time to usurp control of the world. The computer was built by a human - future criminal mastermind Baron Kageyama, who planned on ruling the world by taking over the past. Baron Kageyama, who had also created Madame Durwin, Einstein, Ploid and Luna, later merges himself with Despot Führer to become a superhuman entity.
The “Death Trap” consists of three crime organizations listed below. All of their leaders turn out to be androids created by Baron Kageyama.
;The Ominous Gang
Led by the evil criminal Professor Einstein, his gang consists of specially designed black armored Ominous Death Droids which can be customized with a number of deadly weapon attachments. Prof. Einstein’s brain was transplanted with the brain of a leading Hi-Tech/Cybernetics expert. Using this newfound knowledge he is able to unlock the mysteries of “Super Physics” to modify his Ominous droids.
;The Harkos Gang
Led by the feline-like Madam Durwin who commands the ghostly white Harcross Death Droids. These can also be outfitted with a number of deadly weapon attachments affording them a great deal of versatility and customization. Durwin was an expert in biology and genetics. Thus her name, which was a play of Charles Darwin, a famous naturalist.
Durwin was ordered to destroy the train tracks which the Cybercops were also traveling on with Luna, after learning Luna was an android. As Durwin warned Luna, Luna was nevertheless killed by baron Kageyama, who showed puzzlement over why his most beautiful creation would betray him. Luna said: "You could never understand the feelings of a puppet! You became a doll without human feelings!" After Luna exploded, the Baron confessed he loved her, as it's impossible to be a perfect doll by not having feelings and by thus being dangerous.
;The Garoga Gang
Led by the hulking Doctor Arthur Ploid, his Garogoid army is composed of monstrous mecha creations and robots. His brain was replaced with a leading expert in psychology Arthur C. Ploid, a scientist who died in 1937. Ploid is a specialist in grand scale attacks and psychological warfare. He carries an electrified whip.
;Others
Later yet another gang is incorporated into the “Death Trap”:
;Beast Master Luna and The Four Kings
Luna is Professor Enstein's sister. She managed to avenge her brother’s death at the hands of the Cybercops. Luna had assembled four super soldiers who would help her defeat the CyberCops:
- Tiger – armed with razor sharp boomerangs which he could use to behead his enemies.
- Salamander – who was armed with an electric charged whip.
- Turtle – who had superhuman strength and the ability to emit fire bursts.
- Hawk – a master martial artist whose hands and feet were armed with razors.
Trivia
- In 1994, all original armor, as well as the cyber weapons, ZAC police costumes and androids Harkos and Ominös were imported by Sato Company in Brazil and used to exhaustion in circus shows, copying the success already had in Jaspion circus. In 2003, Nelson Sato put the original armor for sale at an auction on the internet. Upon receiving false bids and disrupt the auction, he gave up selling them, anyway, the armor of Mars was acquired by a fan known only as "Burai."
Episode list
- The Strongest Cop! Jupiter is Born
- The City Vanishes! Help the Marine City
- Invest! The Cyborg Tank
- Traffic Panic! The Computer's Trap
- The Prince of Danger! The Escape from the Dark Zone
- The Targeted Oda! ZAC's Great Pinch
- The Assassin Jet!! Tokyo's Urban Strike
- The Dangerous Electric Usine! Tokyo's Dark Crisis
- The Racing Machine!! Blade Liner Appears
- The Ghost Hotel!? Zombies Everywhere
- The Tank in the Sky!! The Highway's Death Match
- Dragon Dance! The Strange Christmas
- The Satellite Falls! Jupiter is a Martyr!?
- Takeda's Secret!! Behold the Future's Illusion
- Change the Future!! Jupiter the Warrior of Hope
- The Messenger from Hell!? Lucifer is Born
- Lucifer's Revenge!! The Devil's Challenge
- Boming is Impossible!! The Giant UFO Appears
- Uesugi's Revolt!! The Watch Out Policewoman
- The Rising Lethal Weapon!! Gigamax's Might
- The 5th Cop!? The Ultimate Cyber Lucifer
- The Fake Cybers!! ZAC's Absolute Decease
- The Final Deadly Technique!! Cybernic Wave
- The Firing Missile!! Death Trap Base Attack
- The Female Warrior of Terror! Luna is Born
- Fight the Invisible Fortress!!
- The Damaged Cyber Bit!!
- The City Air Explosion! The Balloon Bomb
- Uesugi's Assassination! The Hurry Up Cop
- Run Through the Devil's Mount
- The Stolen Thunder Arm
- The Frightened Loft!!
- Protect the Linear Car!
- The End of Death Trap!!
- Request Top 10 Special Part 1
- Request Top 10 Special Part 2
Cast
- Shinya Takeda/Jupiter: Tomonori Yoshida
- Tomoko Uesugi: Mika Chiba
- *Fake Tomoko Uesugi : Mika Chiba
- Akira Hojyo/Mars: Shogo Shiotani
- Ryoichi Mori/Saturn: Tom Saeba
- Osamu Saionji/Mercury: Ryoma Sasaki
- Lucifer: Takashi Koura
- Captain Hisayoshi Oda: Masaaki Daimon
- Lt. Shimazu Mizue: Atsuko Mita
- Daisuke Yazawa: Shuhei Suzuki
- Miho Asakura: Hiromi Onishi
- Baron Kageyama: Junya Sato
- Dr. Ploid: Ken Okabe
- Mme. Durwin: Tomoko Ishimura
- Dr. Einstein : Takaki Kitagawa
- Luna : Masako Takeda
- Führer/Narrator: Goro Mutsumi
- ZAC's Syntheised Speech: Tembaro Baba
Guest Stars
- Cops : Saburo Ishikura, Mitsuhiro Takeda
- Lighthouse Attendant : Chafurin
- President Ryuichi Kaido : Sei Hiraizumi
- Reporter : Aruno Tahara
- Reiko Ando : Shiho Wada
- Prince Rolan : Roger Allen Hamrick
- Wolf : Ulf Otsuki
- Osamu's Mother : Kumiko Kishi
- Maki Ichijo : Masako Shiozawa
- Dr. Yamamoto : Akira Otani
- Alisa : Kurumi Wakuseiji
- Koichi Tachibana : Takeshi Iwase
- Akemi/Fake Akemi : Natsumi Nanase
- Kirara : Hiroko Ichikawa
- Michiko Saegusa : Rie Hirakata
- Pai Lo : Jyunichi Haruta
- Satoru : Yousuke Iizuka
- Yukari : Yuko Honna
- Kazumi Mori : Rika Abiko
- Naomi Mori : Mayumi Muto
- Kenji Mori : Daisuke Kurosawa
- Kumi Mori : Ayagi Aragaki
- Mamoru : Toshiharu Shinohara
- Kazuo Hasegawa : So Furukawa
- Snooker : Toshimichi Takahashi
Stunt
- Jupiter: Richii Seike
- Deathtrap's soldiers and monsters: Goichi Kayama, Takashi Sakamoto, Tokio Iwata, Takayuki Ishii, Yasuhiko Imai, Eichi Takagi and Hiromitsu Miyamoto
Songs
- "A Roar To Tomorrow Cyber Heart"
- *Lyrics: Yuho Iwasato
- *Composition: Daisuke Inoue
- *Arrangement: Ryomei Shirai
- *Artist: Hiroshi Nishikawa
- "Shooting Star"
- *Lyrics: Shun Taguchi
- *Composition: Yuji Toriyama
- *Arrangement: Yuji Toriyama
- *Artist: Mika Chiba
- "Brand New Tomorrow"
- *Lyrics: Shun Taguchi
- *Composition: VAX POP
- *Arrangement: Ryo Kunihiko
- *Artist: Mika Chiba