Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger


Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger is Toei Company's 35th entry in its long-running Super Sentai metaseries of Japanese tokusatsu television series following Tensou Sentai Goseiger. It follows a Pirate motif and premiered on TV Asahi on February 13, 2011, joining Kamen Rider OOO and then Kamen Rider Fourze as a program featured in TV Asahi's Super Hero Time programming block, until Gokaiger 's conclusion on February 19, 2012. The catchphrase for the series is.
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.
On July 30, 2010, Toei applied for trademarks on the title to be used on various products. The Japan Patent Office approved these trademarks on August 26, 2010. 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.
Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger began airing in South Korea on July 2012 as Power Rangers Captain Force. Its footage was used for the 2014 American Power Rangers season, Power Rangers Super Megaforce.

Plot

A group of young pirates come from space to Earth to obtain the, 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 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 as the Gokaigers.

Episodes

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 Mahou 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.

Films

In addition to the protagonists' debut in , Gokaiger has five theatrical releases where they are the primary characters.

''Super Sentai'' 35th anniversary film

is the film commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Super Sentai Series. 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. However, due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, filming was affected and the film's release was postponed until June 11. 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.

''The Flying Ghost Ship''

is the main theatrical release for Gokaiger where the Gokai Galleon crew deal with revived enemies under the captain of a ghost ship. It was released on August 6, 2011, alongside the film for Kamen Rider OOO. The event of the movie takes place between episode 23 and 24.

''Gokaiger vs. Gavan''

The film 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. The event of the movie takes place between episode 46 and 47.

''Super Hero 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.

''Go-Busters vs. Gokaiger''

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.

''Super Hero Taisen Z''

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 , 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.

Kyuranger vs. Space Squad

is a V-Cinema release that features a crossover between Uchu Sentai Kyuranger and Space Squad. Aside from the main cast of Kyuranger, Yuma Ishigaki and Hiroaki Iwanaga, Yuka Hirata, Mitsuru Karahashi, Kei Hosogai and Ayame Misaki return to reprise their respective roles. The V-Cinema was released on DVD and Blu-ray on August 8, 2018.

Special DVD

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 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.

''A Day of One Hero''

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.

Video games

is a Wii action game developed by Bandai Namco Games which features the protagonists of Gokaiger, Tensou Sentai Goseiger, Samurai Sentai Shinkenger, Engine Sentai Go-onger, and Himitsu Sentai Gorenger. It was released on September 9, 2011. The game play is beat-them up like Dynasty Warriors series
A Nintendo DS game for Gokaiger called was released on November 17, 2011.

''Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger'' appearance

As part of Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohgers 40th anniversary celebration, the entire Gokaiger cast made a special appearance on episodes 28 and 29, commemorating the 1,999th and 2,000th episodes of the Super Sentai Series, including a new updated version of the Gokaiger ED titled 'Super Hero Getter 2016'.

Cast

;Opening theme
;Ending theme
The series' ending theme "Super Sentai Hero Getter" lists off all of the Super Sentai series, making reference to their songs and motifs, with each of the three verses of the song being played in rotation. The first verse covers Himitsu Sentai Gorenger through Choujuu Sentai Liveman, which all aired in the Shōwa period; the second covers Kousoku Sentai Turboranger through Mirai Sentai Timeranger, which all aired through the remainder of the 20th century; and the last one covers Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger through Tensou Sentai Goseiger, which were all broadcast in the 21st century.
The song is remixed into "Super Sentai Hero Getter ~ 199 ver." from their first team-up movie and then "Super Sentai Hero Getter ~ Now & Forever ver." in the final episode, the latter remix covering Gokaiger and Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters.
A new 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.