Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger (忍風戦隊ハリケンジャー, Ninpū Sentai Harikenjā; Wind Ninja Squadron Hurricaneger) is a Japanese Tokusatsu television show and Toei's twenty-sixth production of the Super Sentai metaseries. After Toei filed the trademark for the series on November 22, 2001, it aired from February 17, 2002, to February 9, 2003, replacing Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger, and was replaced by Bakuryū Sentai Abaranger. Its footage was used in the American series Power Rangers Ninja Storm (the end credits listed the show as titled Hurricane Rangers).
On April 1, 2013, Shun Shioya, Nao Nagasawa, Kohei Yamamoto, Yujiro Shirakawa, and Nobuo Kyo, who played Hurricane Red, Hurricane Blue, Hurricane Yellow, Kabuto Raiger, and Kuwaga Raiger, respectively, announced that a tenth-anniversary V-Cinema release called Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger: 10 Years After would be produced. This is the first time a movie has been made commemorating the anniversary of a single Sentai series. The movie is a direct to DVD and Blu-ray release. Shout! Factory released Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger: The Complete Series in North America on March 26, 2019. This is the twelfth Super Sentai series to be released in North America. It aired alongside Kamen Rider Ryuki.
Hurricaneger is the first Super Sentai series to officially celebrate its own 20th anniversary, with a V-cinext release for this occasion which debuted in 2022.
Contents
Plot
Three misfit pupils of the Hayate-Style Ninja School, who are given a rigorous training regiment by their sensei Mugensai Hinata, are the only survivors when most of their peers are slaughtered during the graduation ceremony by a group of evil space ninjas known as the Jakanja that serve a mysterious power hidden on Earth. Mugensai, who has turned himself into a hamster to evade his pursuers, and his daughter Oboro Hinata recruit the trio to become the legendary Hurricanegers to fight Jakanja. The Hurricanegers are joined by the Gouraigers of the Ikazuchi-Style Ninja School, who were initially their enemies, and later the mysterious Shurikenger who unites the two ninja groups to stop Jakanja from acquiring the mysterious power.
Characters
Space Unified Ninja School
Space Unified Ninja School (宇宙統一忍者流, Uchū Tōitsu Ninja-ryū)
The eponymous Hurricanegers are three ninja students in the 507th class who are the survivors of the Hayate-Style (疾風流, Hayate-ryū) ninja school, Ninpukan (忍風館, Ninpūkan), where they master their school's Super Ninja Art (超忍法, Chō Ninpō) ninjutsu. They represent the Hayate Heart embodying the "Presistence of the Future". Their special team attack is the Shadow Dance (影の舞, Kage no Mai).
The Hurricanegers transform by utilizing Shinobi Medal (シノビメダル, Shinobi Medaru) coins in conjunction with Hurricane Gyro (ハリケンジャイロ, Hariken Jairo) bracelets to transform. While transformed, each member carries a Hayatemaru (ハヤテ丸) sidearm, which can switch between its ninjatō-like Cut Mode (斬モード, Zan Mōdo) and its rifle-like Shoot Mode (射モード, Sha Mōdo). They also ride Hurricane Winger (ハリケンウインガー, Hariken Uingā) hang gliders for transportation. By combining their personal weapons, they form the Triple Gadget (トリプルガジェット, Toripuru Gajetto), which has three modes that can perform a different finisher depending on which weapon is used as the front piece, to destroy human-sized Jakanja members.
When facing enlarged Jakanja members, the Hurricanegers summon and combine their Shinobi Machine (シノビマシン, Shinobi Mashin) mecha to form a Karakuri Giant (カラクリ巨人, Karakuri Kyojin) known as Senpuujin (旋風神, Senpūjin) via Shinobi Wind Combination (忍風合体, Ninpū Gattai). Alternatively, it can assume a more agile form known as Senpuujin Hurrier (旋風神ハリアー, Senpūjin Hariā), but only for a duration of one minute.
Yosuke Shiina (椎名 鷹介, Shiina Yōsuke)
The leader of the team, his courageous determination making up for his slow-thinking. Long after the Jakanja's defeat, while aiding the Abarangers and then the Gokaigers, Yosuke became a handyman who travels around the world. During his travels, six months prior to the events of Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger: 10 Years After, Yosuke befriends Tenkai and is forced by Bat Ze Runba to attack Space Unified Ninja School branches and steal his teammates' Shinobi Medals. But with his friends' help, Yosuke frees Tenkai and becomes a mentor to the boy.
As the "Air Ninja" (空忍, Sora'nin), Hurricane Red (ハリケンレッド, Hariken Reddo), Yosuke wields the Dry Gun (ドライガン, Dorai Gan), which allows the Triple Gadget's Dry Gadget (ドライガジェット, Dorai Gajetto) mode to shoot a flaming energy ball. His personal Shinobi Machine is Hurricane Hawk (ハリケンホーク, Hariken Hōku), which forms the head of Senpuujin.
Allies
Mugensai Hinata (日向 無限斎, Hinata Mugensai)
The ninja master of the Ninpuukan ninja school and a master of the animal-change Ninja Art, having turned into a hamster to evade Jakanja's attack on his school yet panicked and mixed up the words in his spell and has been referenced as "Hamster Curator" (ハムスター館長, Hamusutā Kanchō). Despite his form, he can fight and communicated with Kagura before she revealed herself. While Mugensai was temporary restored during the events of Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger: Shushutto the Movie by Laiina until she left Earth, he regains his humanity in the finale and graduates the Hurricanegers and Gouraigers two months after their battle with Tau Zant.
Oboro Hinata (日向 おぼろ, Hinata Oboro)
Mugensai's scholarly daughter and the director of the Hayate-Style Ninja Arts Laboratory (疾風流忍術研究館, Hayate-ryū Ninjutsu Kenkyū-kan) who provides the Hurricanegers' arsenal, being their senpai due to her being a member of the 487th graduating class. She also invented the robot kuroko that mind-wipe out the ninjas' existence from civilians those who left Hayate-Style to ensure their school's secrecy.
Kagura (覚羅)
A 500-year-old seemingly young woman who is the daughter of a feudal lord who died protecting her before she went into hiding as Gozen (御前様, Gozen-sama) with Shurikenger as her protector while some of her descendants become members of the Space Unified Ninja School she established. Kagura's prolonged life is due to Dark Stone (闇石, Yami Ishi) embedded on her forehead, the item revealed to be the Grieving Bow (嘆きの弓, Nageki no Yumi) which the Earth ninjas' technology is derived from. But Kagura refrains from any form of sadness to maintain the seal placed on the Grieving Bow. After moving in with the Hurricanegers after her location is compromised, Kagura learned of how much the world changed during her solitude while seeing the ninja are true heroes despite her earlier impressions. But Sandaaru learned of the seal, killing her once it is undone. During the events of Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger: 10 Years After, the Hurricanegers meet a leading figure of the Space Unified Ninja School who is a blood relative of Kagura's and was entrusted with Shurikenger's Shinobi Medal before it was stolen.
Yonosuke (鷹乃介, Yōnosuke)
Space-Ninja Group Jakanja
The Space-Ninja Group Jakanja (宇宙忍群ジャカンジャ, Uchū Ningun Jakanja) are a ruthless band of alien ninja based in their fortress Parasite Fortress Centipede (寄生要塞センチピード, Kisei Yōsai Senchipīdo), the Jonin (上忍, Jō'nin; High-Ranked Ninja) group known as the Seven Dark Spears (暗黒七本槍, Ankoku Nanahon Yari) with three commanding the Chuunin (中忍, Chū'nin; Middle-Ranked Ninjas) that consist Jankanja's Space Ninjas (宇宙忍者, Uchū Ninja). Each one leads their own Ninja Corps. Their goal is to bring Earth to ruins to invoke "it" (アレ, Are), the "Evil Force" (邪悪なる意志, Jaakunaru Ishi) that would form in the depths of the ocean before destroying the universe. But when Tau Zanto assumes his ultimate form the Centipede is destroyed in the transformation, Furabiijo and Wendinu are among the survivors that also include the Reverse Seven Spears.
Leader Tau Zant (首領タウ・ザント, Shuryō Tau Zanto)
Jankanja's leader, an Ōmukade-like demon with various faces on his segments who desires the Evil Force's power to wipe out the universe and create a new one he intends to rule. He made numerous attempts to bring about the Evil Force's coming with Gouraigers kill each other and later Fangerus before ingesting the Raging Arrow (怒りの矢, Ikari no Ya) and the Grieving Bow to transform himself into the mobile giant Tau Zant Ultimate Form (タウ・ザント究極体, Tau Zanto Kyūkyokutai) and absorb the Evil Force. But Tau Zant is shrunk down to human size and is finally destroyed by the ninjas using the Victory Gadget.
First Spear Furabiijo (一の槍フラビージョ, Ichi no Yari Furabījo)
A kunoichi dropout in a bee headdress and a user of the bee ninja art who Tau Zant recruited, carrying a notepad she uses to grade Space Ninja members sent to attack Earth. She once acted on her own by creating the android Furabijenu, who briefly forced her out of Jakanja before manipulating Nanami into creating a remote control for her creation. Following the series finale, assumed to have been killed, Furabiijo and Wendinu ended up on Dino Earth where they attempted to ally themselves with the Evoliens during the events of Abaranger vs. Hurricaneger. Furabiijo later resurfaces briefly in GoGo Sentai Boukenger vs. Super Sentai as a key ingredient in Chronos's plans, making a return appearance in Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger: 10 Years After as a supporter of Bat Ze Runba before taking her leave.
Episodes
Episodes are referred to as "Scrolls" (巻之).
Film
Shushutto the Movie
Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger: Shushutto the Movie (忍風戦隊ハリケンジャー シュシュッと THE MOVIE, Ninpū Sentai Harikenjā Shushutto Za Mūbī) is a 2002 film, which takes place between episodes 25 and 26.
V-Cinema
Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger vs. Gaoranger (忍風戦隊ハリケンジャーVSガオレンジャー, Ninpū Sentai Harikenjā Tai Gaorenjā): A 2003 V-Cinema release, which takes place between episodes 30 and 31.
Bakuryū Sentai Abaranger vs. Hurricaneger (爆竜戦隊アバレンジャーVSハリケンジャー, Bakuryū Sentai Abarenjā Tai Harikenjā): A 2004 V-Cinema release, which takes place between episodes 40 and 41 of Bakuryū Sentai Abaranger.
GoGo Sentai Boukenger vs. Super Sentai (轟轟戦隊ボウケンジャーVSスーパー戦隊, Gōgō Sentai Bōkenjā Tai Sūpā Sentai): A 2007 V-Cinema release, which takes place between episodes 42 and 43 of GoGo Sentai Boukenger.
Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger: 10 Years After (忍風戦隊ハリケンジャー 10 YEARS AFTER, Ninpū Sentai Harikenjā Ten Iyāzu Afutā): A 2013 V-Cinema release, which takes place after the final episode of the series.
Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger de Gozaru! Shushutto 20th Anniversary (忍風戦隊ハリケンジャーでござる！シュシュッと20th Anniversary, Ninpū Sentai Harikenjā de Gozaru! Shushutto Tuentīsu Anibāsarī): A 2023 V-Cinema release, which takes place after the final episode of the series.
Specials
Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger: Super Ninja and Super Kuroko (忍風戦隊ハリケンジャー スーパー忍者とスーパー黒子, Ninpū Sentai Harikenjā Sūpā Ninja to Sūpā Kuroko): A 2002 Kodansha Super Video special.
Hero Mama League (ヒーローママ★リーグ, Hīrō Mama Rīgu): A 2018 Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club-exclusive special.
Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger With Donbrothers (忍風戦隊ハリケンジャーwithドンブラザーズ, Ninpū Sentai Harikenjā Wizu Donburazāzu): A 2022 Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club-exclusive special that is a prequel to Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger de Gozaru! Shushutto 20th Anniversary.
Cast
Yosuke Shiina, Yonosuke (Shushutto 20th Anniversary): Shun Shioya (塩谷 瞬, Shioya Shun)
Nanami Nono, Nami (なみ; Shushutto 20th Anniversary): Nao Nagasawa (長澤 奈央, Nagasawa Nao)
Kota Bito, Kotaro (吼太郎, Kōtarō; Shushutto 20th Anniversary): Kōhei Yamamoto (山本 康平, Yamamoto Kōhei)
Ikkou Kasumi, Ikkaku (一角; Shushutto 20th Anniversary): Yujiro Shirakawa (白川 裕二郎, Shirakawa Yūjirō)
Isshu Kasumi, Ikki (一牙; Shushutto 20th Anniversary): Nobuo Kyo (姜 暢雄, Kyō Nobuo)
Furabiijo: Azusa Yamamoto (山本 梓, Yamamoto Azusa)
Wendinu: Mio Fukuzumi (福澄 美緒, Fukuzumi Mio)
Futoshi Hase (馳 太, Hase Futoshi): Hiroshi Teruya (てるや ひろし, Teruya Hiroshi)
Kagura, Inquirer (10 Years After): Hitomi Miwa (三輪 ひとみ, Miwa Hitomi)
Mugensai Hinata: Ken Nishida (西田 健, Nishida Ken)
Oboro Hinata: Shoko Takada (高田 聖子, Takada Shōko)
Voice cast
Shurikenger: Taiki Matsuno (松野 太紀, Matsuno Taiki)
Tau Zanto: Kiyoyuki Yanada (梁田 清之, Yanada Kiyoyuki)
Chuuzubo: Daisuke Gōri (郷里 大輔, Gōri Daisuke)
Manmaruba: Takahiro Imamura (今村 卓博, Imamura Takahiro)
Sargain: Yoshinori Okamoto (岡本 美登, Okamoto Yoshinori)
Satarakura: Bin Shimada (島田 敏, Shimada Bin)
Sandaaru: Shūichi Ikeda (池田 秀一, Ikeda Shūichi)
Narrator, Fuuraimaru, Bat Zhe Rumba (10 Years After): Hironori Miyata (宮田 浩徳, Miyata Hironori)
Guest cast
Ikki Kasumi (15-18, 31): Jiro Dan (団 時朗, Dan Jirō)
Taro Kakio (柿生 太郎, Kakio Tarō; 23): Kunihiko Oshiba (大柴 邦彦, Ōshiba Kunihiko)
Roppei Tsuzumi (鼓 六平, Tsuzumi Roppei; 24, 51): Ryuichiro Nishioka (西岡 竜一朗, Nishioka Ryūichirō)
Kazuya Misaki (三崎 和也, Misaki Kazuya; 26, 51): Masaya Matsukaze (松風 雅也, Matsukaze Masaya)
Yuusaku Ramon (羅門 勇作, Ramon Yūsaku; 28): Toshiya Fuji (藤 敏也, Fuji Toshiya)
Doctor Takanashi (高梨医師, Tanakanashi-ishi; 32): Takashi Inoue (井上 高志, Inoue Takashi)
Yoshinari Hashimoto (橋本 善成, Hashimoto Yoshinari; 34, 51): Yoshihiro Masujima (増島 愛浩, Masujima Yoshihiro)
Kazuma Namekawa (滑川 数馬, Namekawa Kazuma; 35, 51): Yūji Kishi (岸 祐二, Kishi Yūji)
Teppei Sakaki (坂木 鉄平, Sakaki Teppei; 39): Shūhei Izumi (和泉 宗兵, Izumi Shūhei)
Sanpei Hamada (浜田 三平, Hamada Sanpei; 42, 51): Tatsuya Nōmi (能見 達也, Nōmi Tatsuya)
Jou Kikuchi (菊池 丈, Kikuchi Jō; 44, 51): Masaru Shishido (宍戸 勝, Shishido Masaru)
Retsudou (烈堂, Retsudō; 45): Kenji Ohba (大葉 健二, Ōba Kenji)
Spin-off cast
Princess Laiina (ライーナ姫, Raīna-hime; Shushutto the Movie): Sayaka Yoshino (吉野 紗香, Yoshino Sayaka)
Knuckle (ナックル, Nakkuru; Voice; Shushutto the Movie): Yūko Miyamura (宮村 優子, Miyamura Yūko)
Space Ninja Monkey Hizaaru (宇宙忍猿ヒザール, Uchū Nin'en Hizāru; Voice; Shushutto the Movie), Combined Space Ninja Monkey Ashurazaaru (合体宇宙忍猿アシュラザール, Gattai Uchū Nin'en Ashurazāru; Voice; Shushutto the Movie): Arata Furuta (古田 新太, Furuta Arata)
Space Ninja Monkey Blizaaru (宇宙忍猿ブリザール, Uchū Nin'en Burizāru; Voice; Shushutto the Movie): Hiroyuki Muraoka (村岡 弘之, Muraoka Hiroyuki)
Chubouzu (チュウボウズ, Chūbōzu; Voice; Hurricaneger vs. Gaoranger): Yūji Kishi
Tenkai (10 Years After): Komi Hashimoto (橋本 仰未, Hashimoto Kōmi)
Teruhime (照姫; Shushutto 20th Anniversary): Nagi Hasegawa (羽瀬川 なぎ, Hasegawa Nagi)
Moeru Kirarazaka (雲母坂 萌瑠, Kirarazaka Moeru; Shushutto 20th Anniversary): Hazuki Kimura (木村 葉月, Kimura Hazuki)
Oiranda (オイランダ; Shushutto 20th Anniversary): Hana Hizuki (陽月 華, Hizuki Hana)
Aunja (アウンジャ, Aunjya; Voice; Shushutto 20th Anniversary): Kenji Nomura (乃村 健次, Nomura Kenji)
Songs
Opening theme
"Hurricaneger Sanjō!" (ハリケンジャー参上！, Harikenjā Sanjō!; Hurricanegers Arrive!) (1-50)
Lyrics: Neko Oikawa (及川 眠子, Oikawa Neko)
Composition & Arrangement: Takeshi Ike (池 毅, Ike Takeshi)
Artist: Hideaki Takatori (高取 ヒデアキ, Takatori Hideaki)
The second part of this song is used as ending theme of episode 51
Ending theme
"Ima, Kaze no Naka de" (いま,風のなかで; "Now We're in the Wind") (1-50)
Lyrics & Composition: Hideaki Takatori
Arrangement: Hiroaki Kagoshima (籠島 裕昌, Kagoshima Hiroaki)
Artist: Hironobu Kageyama (影山 ヒロノブ, Kageyama Hironobu)
