Metal Hero Series
The Metal Hero Series (メタルヒーローシリーズ, Metaru Hīrō Series) is a metaseries of tokusatsu superhero TV series produced by Toei for Japanese television.
| Metal Hero Series | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Toei Company ∟ Saburō Yatsude |
| Original work | Space Sheriff Gavan |
| Films and television | |
| Film(s) | Space Sheriff Gavan: The Movie Space Sheriff Sharivan: Next Generation Space Sheriff Shaider: Next Generation |
| Television series | See below |
| Games | |
| Traditional | Rangers Strike |
| Video game(s) | The Space Sheriff Spirits |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Toy(s) | Souchaku Henshin Series S.H. Figuarts |
The protagonists of the Metal Hero Series are mainly space, military and police-based characters who are typically either androids, cyborgs, or human beings who don "metallic" armored suits. Henceforth, most of the Metal Heroes are also referenced as another example of the "Henshin (transforming) Heroes" genre. Usually, the genre revolves around a technological theme where technology, in the right hands, can be used for the greater good.
The shows were produced by Toei from 1982 through 1999 in conjunction with their other Tokusatsu superhero shows, Kamen Rider and Super Sentai. In addition to Japan, they are also popular in France, Brazil, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. During the 1990s, Saban Entertainment used some of the shows to produce programs similar to their Power Rangers series. Some of the Metal Hero Series even spawned such sequels which followed the continuity of the previous shows, resulting in the genre developing sub-categories based mainly on space, military and police-related characters.