Ronin Warriors

Ronin Warriors, known in Japan by its original title Legendary Armor Samurai Troopers (鎧伝サムライトルーパー, Yoroiden Samurai Torūpā), is a Japanese anime series created by Hajime Yatate and animated by Sunrise. The television series, co-produced by Nagoya TV, aired across Japan on the All-Nippon News Network from April 30, 1988, to March 4, 1989 for a total of 39 episodes. A manga adaptation was serialized on Kodansha’s Comic BomBom from November 17, 1988 to April 5, 1990 and the chapters collected into 2 tankōbon volumes.

Ronin Warriors
North American cover of the first DVD volume
鎧伝サムライトルーパー
(Yoroiden Samurai Torūpā)
Created byHajime Yatate
Anime television series
Directed by
  • Masashi Ikeda (#1–19)
  • Mamoru Hamatsu (#20–39)
Chief screenwriter
Screenplay by
  • Jinzō Toriumi
  • Masanori Oka
  • Saburo Ebinuma
  • Yūki Ōnishi
  • Hideki Sonoda
  • Yūji Watanabe
  • Satoshi Iwasaki
  • Toshiko Nakaya
Produced by
  • Hironori Nakagawa
  • Makoto Imai
  • Youichi Honna
Music byOsamu Totsuka
StudioSunrise
Licensed by
Original networkANN (Nagoya TV)
English network
Original run April 30, 1988 – March 4, 1989
Episodes39
Manga
Written byRyūichi Hoshino
Published byKodansha
MagazineComic BomBom
DemographicKodomo
Original runNovember 17, 1988 – April 5, 1990
Volumes2
Original video animation
Gaiden
Directed byKazuki Akane
Produced by
  • Hironori Nakagawa
  • Yasuhisa Kazama
Written byFuyunori Gobu
Music byOsamu Totsuka
StudioSunrise
Licensed by
  • NA: Discotek Media
Released April 30, 1989 – June 1, 1989
Runtime25 minutes
Episodes2
Original video animation
Legend of the Inferno Armor
Directed byMamoru Hamatsu
Produced by
  • Hironori Nakagawa
  • Yasuhisa Kazama
Written byMasashi Ikeda
Fuyunori Gobu
Music byOsamu Totsuka
StudioSunrise
Licensed by
  • NA: Discotek Media
Released October 8, 1989 – January 11, 1990
Runtime30 minutes
Episodes4
Original video animation
Message
Directed byMasashi Ikeda
Produced by
  • Shinichiro Kobayashi
  • Yasuhisa Kazama
Written byMasashi Ikeda
Fuyunori Gobu
Music byOsamu Totsuka
StudioSunrise
Licensed by
  • NA: Discotek Media
Released March 21, 1991 – August 23, 1991
Runtime30 minutes
Episodes5
Manga
Shin Yoroiden Samurai Troopers
Written byIzumi Nikaidō
Illustrated byYūji Hosoi
Published byKodansha
MagazineMonthly Shōnen Magazine
DemographicShōnen
Published1992
Volumes1

Plot
See also: List of Ronin Warriors characters

Talpa, the demon lord of the Netherworld and ruler of The Dynasty, is bent on conquering the mortal world. Standing against Talpa and his four Dark Warlords are the five Ronin Warriors, each in possession of mystical armor and weapons. They are assisted by Mia Koji, a young student-teacher, and a mysterious warrior-monk known only as The Ancient.

Media

Anime
See also: List of Ronin Warriors episodes

Ronin Warriors was originally licensed in the United States by Graz Entertainment and distributed by Cinar (now WildBrain), and it was recorded by the Vancouver-based Ocean Productions cast. Ronin Warriors first aired on American television during the summer of 1995 and subsequently appeared through syndication, as well as the USA Network (1995), Sci-Fi Channel (1996) and later on Cartoon Network (1999).[1]

The series was released on DVD in 2002, including the original Japanese version with English subtitles on the reverse side of the disc.[2] On September 4, 2014, North American anime licensor Discotek Media announced their license of the original Japanese anime (Yoroiden Samurai Troopers), and planned to release the series on DVD in 2015.[3] Discotek has said that on their Facebook page that they have no plans to release Ronin Warriors until they clear issues with the dub.[4] Discotek has also licensed the OVAs and includes both Japanese and English audio as well as English subtitles. By 2021, the issues were resolved and the series' English dub had a Blu-ray release on December 28, 2021.[5]

Crunchyroll later added the anime series for its streaming.[6] The English dub is legally available on streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video, RetroCrush, and Tubi.

The opening and ending sequences and the eyecatches were replaced with new ones, and the Japanese title cards were removed; there were no substantial cuts to the bodies of the episodes and the episodes retained most of the original music.

A line of action figures based on the anime was released by Playmates Toys in 1999, with a limited rerelease by Re:Play in 2001. [7]

Three OVA sequels were produced: Gaiden (Side Story), The Legend of the Inferno Armor, and Message. There are numerous novels and audio dramas based on the anime. While all the sequels have been released on DVD, the manga and audio dramas have not been made available in English.

Music
  • Yoroiden Samurai Troopers Debut Album: Kimi o Nemurasenai (King Records, December 21, 1988, 4 weeks on Oricon chart).[8] (4 weeks on Oricon chart, ranked as high as 44).[9]
  • Yoroiden Samurai Troopers: Best Friends (King Records, June 5, 1989).[10] (4 weeks on Oricon chart, ranked as high as 12).[11]
  • "Stardust Eyes" is the opening theme for episodes 1-20 is while the ending theme is "Faraway". Both were composed by Mariko Uranishi.[12] "Stardust Eyes" is highly influenced by the UK number 1 single It's A Sin by Pet Shop Boys
  • "Samurai Heart" is the opening theme from episodes 21-39, while the ending is "Be Free" both were composed by Hiroko Moriguchi.[12]
  • Gaiden would have "Stardust Eyes" and "Faraway" for its opening and closing theme for its first episode, and have "Samurai Heart" and "Be Free" for its second.[13]
  • Legend of the Inferno Armor would have "Stardust Eyes" for its opening theme and "Samurai Heart" as its closing theme for every episode.[14]
  • For Message, the opening theme is "Tsukamae Teite" and its solo on episode 5 is "Hoshi no Lullaby", both by Kaori Futenma.[15]

Video game

In July 2020, a crossover with Ragnarok Mobile was launched.[16]

See also

References
  1. Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. p. 688. ISBN 978-1476665993.
  2. Shepard, Chris (July 12, 2002). "Ronin Warriors DVD 1: The Call". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  3. Loo, Egan (September 5, 2014). "Discotek Adds Samurai Troopers, Bokurano, Comic Party, 3rd Lupin III TV Special". Anime News Network.
  4. "Yoroiden Samurai Troopers getting a re-release!". September 6, 2014. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  5. Lacerna, Michael (May 25, 2021). "Classic Ronin Warriors Anime Gets Blu-ray Release". Comic Book Resource. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  6. Ressler, Karen (January 18, 2017). "Crunchyroll Adds Samurai Troopers Anime Streaming". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  7. "Ronin Warriors Toys". Virtual Toy Chest. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  8. 鎧伝サムライトルーパー／デビューアルバム「君を眠らせない」 (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on January 31, 2010. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
  9. 鎧伝サムライトルーパー 君を眠らせない (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on January 31, 2010. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
  10. 鎧伝サムライトルーパー／ＢＥＳＴ ＦＲＩＥＮＤＳ (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on January 31, 2010. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
  11. 鎧伝サムライトルーパー ＢＥＳＴ ＦＲＩＥＮＤＳ (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on January 31, 2010. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
  12. "Legendary Armor Samurai Troopers (TV)". Anime News Network. November 8, 2021.
  13. "Ronin Warriors: Gaiden (OAV)". Anime News Network. November 8, 2021.
  14. "Ronin Warriors: Legend of the Inferno Armor (OAV)". Anime News Network. November 8, 2021.
  15. "Ronin Warriors: Message (OAV)". Anime News Network. November 8, 2021.
  16. "Ragnarok Mobile X Samurai Tropper Crossover Event". GamingPH.com. July 31, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
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