Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan (太陽（たい よう）戦隊サンバルカン, Taiyō Sentai San Barukan; Solar Squadron Sun Vulcan) is a Japanese television tokusatsu series broadcast by TV Asahi. The series is the fifth installment of Super Sentai. Directed by Koichi Takemoto, Yoshiaki Kobayashi, Takafumi Hattori, Shohei Tojo, Kimio Hirayama, Akira Kashima and Minoru Yamada, it stars Ryūsuke Kawasaki, Kinya Sugi, Asao Kobayashi, Shin Kishida, Yumi Nemoto, Takayuki Godai, Machiko Soga and Yukie Kagawa. It aired from February 7, 1981 to January 30, 1982, replacing Denshi Sentai Denjiman and was replaced by Dai Sentai Goggle-V. The program first Super Sentai series to serve as a direct sequel to its previous series (Denshi Sentai Denjiman). It is also the first and only series in the franchise to have an all-male Super Sentai team, as well as the first to have fewer than five members in the core team. Its international English title as listed by Toei Company is Sunvulcan.
Contents
Plot
The threat of the Machine Empire Black Magma causes the United Nations to establish the Taiyo Sentai at a summit. From the UN's Guardians of World Peace's (GWP) air force, navy, and rangers, Commander Arashiyama assembles three specialists to become Sun Vulcan. When Black Magma learns of this, he attacks the GWP's base, but Sun Vulcan debuts in time to save it. Führer Hell Saturn prays to the Black Solar God and is rewarded with a revived Queen Hedrian, now a cyborg with a mechanical heart and a metallic afro. Black Magma's multiple plots, even with Hedrian's aid, fails. Following the death of 01, Amazon Killer, (a Vader) arrives from space, destroying the Sun Vulcan Base. A new Vulcan Base is then built.
The original Vul Eagle, Ryusuke Owashi, is replaced by a friend and master of the sword, Takayuki Hiba (who first appeared in episode 23).
Characters
Guardians of World Peace
The Japanese branch of the GWP is Sun Vulcan's secret headquarters, with the restaurant Snack Safari and a safari park acting as a front.
The eponymous Sun Vulcan is the name of the Guardians of World Peace's Taiyo Sentai, they are the first and only Super Sentai team to be all-male. Each of the Sun Vulcan members identifies himself before the group says "Shine! Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan!" (輝け!太陽戦隊サンバルカン!, Kagayake! Taiyō Sentai San Barukan!). Ryusuke, Kinya and Asao's last names also Takayuki's given name include the Japanese names of their totem animals.
Vul Eagle (バルイーグル, Baru Īguru): The red-colored leader of the Sun Vulcan team whose moniker was utilized by its original user and his successor.
Ryusuke Owashi (大鷲 龍介, Ōwashi Ryūsuke; 1–23): A GWP air force officer whose skills made him the top pilot in the organization. He left to pursue space shuttle research for NASA in the United States.
Takayuki Hiba (飛羽 高之, Hiba Takayuki; 23–50): A colleague of Ryusuke and master of kendo. He took over for Ryusuke after the latter left for NASA shuttle research. Along with his fellow red warriors from Himitsu Sentai Gorenger to Mirai Sentai Timeranger, Takayuki appeared in Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai. He also appeared in the final episode of Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger, receiving his powers back in the form of the Vul Eagle Key as the Gokaigers left Earth.
Kinya Samejima/Vul Shark (鮫島 欣也/バルシャーク, Samejima Kin'ya/Baru Shāku): The blue-colored warrior of the Sun Vulcan team. A GWP naval officer who is also an oceanographer, he spent most of his childhood in Africa. Having lost his parents and younger brother during an altercation, Kinya's hatred for any form of violence motivated him to volunteer for the Sun Vulcan project.
Asao Hyou/Vul Panther (豹 朝夫/バルパンサー, Hyō Asao/Baru Pansā): The yellow-colored warrior of the Sun Vulcan team. A GWP army officer who can climb any surface. Despite his courage in battle, Asao has an unusual fear of dogs - especially CC.
Machine Empire Black Magma
Machine Empire Black Magma (機械帝国ブラックマグマ, Kikai Teikoku Burakku Maguma) is an organization based at the Iron Claw Castle at the North Pole that worships the Black Solar God. Intending to have its Mechahumans rule the world, Black Magma's technology is advanced enough to cause natural disasters and cause global incidents. However, Black Magma targets Japan in order to obtain the cache of geothermal energy there needed to power their arsenal.
The Omnipotent God (全能の神, Zennō no Kami): The true leader of Black Magma, known as the Black Solar God. He is hinted to have connections to the Incan and Mayan civilizations. The Omnipotent God normally communicates to Hell Saturn via an idol.
Führer Hell Saturn (ヘルサターン総統, Heru Satān Sōtō): Though he rules over Black Magma, he is actually a servant of the Omnipotent God.
Zero Girls (ゼロガールズ, Zero Gāruzu): A quartet of female spies numbered 01-04. 01 wears red and wields throwing knives, 02 wears black and wields cards, 03 wears green and dual wields a pair of swords, and 04 wears purple and wields yo-yos. While Zero Girl 01 died, the remaining three survive until they die piloting King Magma during the final battle.
Zero Girl 01 (ゼロガール01, Zero Gāru 01): A red-suited member of the Zero Girls who functions as the active field commander and wields throwing knives. She is killed as the result of a cave-in.
Dark Q (ダークQ, Dāku Kyū): A series of spy mechanoids used by Hell Saturn for infiltration and assassinations, stronger than normal humans. Constructed with care, the mechanoids are placed in a torturous combat testing with the survivors branded as Dark Q and must succeed in their missions or be obliterated for failure. About 96 models were made before the 97th was created as the finalized model for Black Magma to use in its invasion. The 97th posed as Kagayama, becoming Arashiyama's aide to uncover info on Sun Vulcan Robo before she is exposed and ejected from the base before she self-destructs. The 97th model, wielding claws, aided in stealing a dangerous bacteria in Black Magma's scheme to cause conflict. A 98th model was built to kill various important figures considered national treasures in Japan, only to be stopped in her tracks. The 99th model, equipped with a detachable arm that doubles as flame thrower poses as an officer to obtain the contents of a vault. But her failure to secure it results in her destruction with the 100th model utilized to complete Black Magma's plan to build a fortress underground before she is destroyed by the Sun Vulcan group. Eventually, the Dark Q series is discontinued.
Episodes
Film
A Sun Vulcan movie written by Shozo Uehara and directed by Shohei Tojo was released on July 18, 1981, at the Toei Manga Festival (on the same day episode 24 aired). It takes place some time after episode 23.
Cast
Ryusuke Owashi: Ryūsuke Kawasaki (川崎 龍介, Kawasaki Ryūsuke)
Takayuki Hiba: Takayuki Godai (五代 高之, Godai Takayuki)
Kinya Samejima: Kin'ya Sugi (杉 欣也, Sugi Kin'ya)
Asao Hyou: Asao Kobayashi (小林 朝夫, Kobayashi Asao)
Daizaburo Arashiyama: Shin Kishida (岸田 森, Kishida Shin)
Misa Arashiyama: Yumi Nemoto (根本 由美, Nemoto Yumi)
Führer Hell Saturn (Voice): Shōzō Iizuka
Queen Hedrian: Machiko Soga
Inazuma Gingar (Voice): Takeshi Watabe
Zero One: Takako Kitagawa
Zero Two: Mariko Hikashi
Zero Three: Yuki Udagawa
Zero Four: Toshiko Takashima (1–4), Kyoko Hiro (5–50)
Narration: Tōru Ōhira
Amazon Killer: Yukie Kagawa
Sun Vulcan Robo: Eiji Kanie
Songs
Opening theme
"Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan" (太陽戦隊サンバルカン, Taiyō Sentai Sanbarukan)
Lyrics: Keisuke Yamakawa
Composition: Michiaki Watanabe
Artist: Akira Kushida & Koorogi '73
Ending themes
"Wakasa wa Plasma" (若さはプラズマ, Wakasa wa Purazuma; "Youth is a Plasma")
Lyrics: Keisuke Yamakawa
Composition: Michiaki Watanabe
Artist: Akira Kushida
Episodes: 1-33
"Ichi tasu Ni tasu Sun Vulcan" (1たす2たすサンバルカン, Ichi tasu Ni tasu Sanbarukan; "One plus Two plus Sun Vulcan")
Lyrics: Keisuke Yamakawa
Composition: Michiaki Watanabe
Artist: Akira Kushida
Episodes: 34-50
International broadcast
In the Philippines, the series was aired on BBC-2 from 1984 to 1985.
Marvel Productions commissioned a sizzle reel for an English-language adaptation in the vein of what would later become Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Stan Lee attempted to sell the show to multiple American broadcasters.