SUPER SENTAI No.16 ／ 1992
恐竜戦隊ジュウレンジャー
The Sentai that became Power Rangers. Where it all began.
Warriors of ancient tribes awaken to fight the witch Bandora, who seeks the extinction of humanity. Known for its strong fantasy tone, treating its mecha as divine "Guardian Beasts".
WHY IT MATTERS / Why it’s remembered
No hype — just the facts: structure, firsts, and the people behind it.
Dragon Ranger / Burai (introduced in ep.17) was the first additional warrior made a series regular — the origin of the "sixth ranger" format that has continued for over 30 years.
The giant robots were framed as divine "Guardian Beasts," an unusual choice for the era and the source of the name Daizyujin.
Replacing the earlier "-Man" team-name format with "-Ranger", this entry set the naming convention that became standard for many later Super Sentai series.
Dinosaurs were picked because, as prehistoric creatures, they never go out of fashion, while embodying the "big and strong" beings children admire — with the novel Jurassic Park and its announced film adaptation in the air at the time.
Toy sales exceeded 9 billion yen, and the combining robot Daizyujin is reported to have recorded the top sales among Super Sentai combining robots at the time.
The opening "Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger" was sung by Kenta Satō and the ending "Bōken Shite Rappapīya!" by Pythagoras. The head writer was Noboru Sugimura.
The Dora Monsters created by Bandora's gang are largely based on Western folklore and mythological creatures (a sphinx among them). Layering Western-fantasy designs over the dinosaur theme is part of what gives the show its distinctive world.
A sixth warrior broke the franchise's "five as one" formula — almost a foul move — so its preparation was kept secret even within Toei. Per producer Shinichiro Shirakura, the aim was a rival in the vein of Mad Gallant from Jaspion; to differ from Bio Hunter Silva of Bioman, it was made a warrior in the same format as the core five. Planned at first for this show alone, it became a yearly fixture after Dragon Ranger drew so much popularity.
Producer Takeyuki Suzuki has said that depicting the robots not as machines but as strongly characterised "Guardian Beasts" made children feel close to them, and widened the creative freedom around robot premises in the shows that followed.
The revival of sealed heroes, divine revelations, and the hunt for the "five legendary weapons" — the early structure reads as an adaptation of the quest format of Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy, the games children were devoted to at the time. Head writer Noboru Sugimura later moved into games, writing Resident Evil and Onimusha; the logic of this show's item-collection drama already hints at it.
In the finale the warriors' deeds are bound shut as a single chronicle, the "Dino Chronicle", and the six ascend to the heavens as light. For all its present-day action, the show was at heart a myth meant to be handed down — casting its villain as a "witch" was part of a deliberate design to tell good and evil in the form of a fairy tale.
The preceding Jetman opened up older teen-plus fans with in-team romance and emotional drama. Zyuranger's role was to pull the target back to preschool-and-elementary children: it deliberately dropped complex romance and foregrounded a "mythic battle of gods and demons" and a "pure hero who saves children" — a direction inherited by the next series, Dairanger.
Saban Entertainment acquired the non-Asian rights (its contract with Toei is dated 1992) and built Power Rangers by reusing the battle footage while shooting only the drama in the US. After its August 28, 1993 Fox Kids premiere it became a smash; the polished combining gimmick of the DX Daizyujin in particular drove an explosive "Megazord" craze in North America, the decisive moment a niche Japanese hero robot leapt into the global boys'-toy market.
A sage who has fought Bandora's band since 170 million years ago and the guide who revived the Zyurangers in the present day at the Earth's hour of need. Played by Jun Tatara, he blends into modern life as an apartment caretaker, showing a comic side while supporting the warriors from behind with magic and ancient knowledge.
CREW / The people behind it
Key crew of the original broadcast — not later reruns or sequels.
Full episodes, free on the official Toei Tokusatsu YouTube channel — play them right here (official embed, no autoplay).
© Each video belongs to Toei. Playback uses YouTube’s official embed (this site does not host the footage).
New to it?
The Sentai that later crossed the ocean into Power Rangers. A sturdy fantasy world that enshrines its mecha as gods. Start with the official episode 1, free.
Availability changes over time — please check current listings on each service.
OWN IT / Keep the show on your shelf
Every episode, on your shelf — the official video releases.
Product data: Rakuten / Yahoo! Shopping (images provided unmodified by each mall). Price & stock vary.
Green DragonRanger joins from episode 17 — the franchise’s first "sixth warrior".
ROOTS / The real things behind the names
Tyrannosaurus, mammoth, triceratops, saber-tooth, pteranodon, and the guardian beasts. The real museum skeletons and reconstructions, side by side. Images © Wikimedia Commons (PD / CC — credited per image)
Real DX toys shown via Rakuten / Yahoo! product photos; machines without a toy are shown as this site’s generated symbols, so every machine is listed.
The original DX toys (mostly out of print, second-hand only) paired with Bandai’s recent Soul of Chogokin reissues, grouped by robot. Current items use Rakuten / Yahoo! (API) photos; out-of-print items use this site’s generated symbols.
Symbols for out-of-print items are generated art by this site (not official designs). Prices omitted (they change).
Crests are abstract symbols assigned by this site — not official designs.
Once a queen of ancient humanity, she lost her son Kai to dinosaurs and, consumed by hatred, contracted with Great Satan to become the greatest of witches. Bent on humanity's extinction, yet oddly familial — singing and dancing with her minions in the lunar palace.
Cast · 曽我町子（声・スーツ） ↗
A griffin-motif master swordsman; the silent warrior who stands at the front as Bandora's right hand.
Cast · 徳丸完（声・後期） ↗
A female warrior introduced from ep.19; revived from a secret egg, she joins as Grifforzer's wife.
A bat-motif, alchemist-like officer — talkative and impatient. Paired with Bookback as comic relief.
A pudgy officer blending goblin and troll traits; slow-witted, and usually acting alongside Totpat.
Cast · 渡部猛（声） ↗
A leprechaun-descended, craftsman-natured officer who shuts himself in his workshop, molding magic clay "Nendora" into the Dora Monsters and Golem foot-soldiers.
Cast · 大山豊（声） ↗
A great demon able to annihilate humanity in an instant; the head-only being who granted Bandora her power.
Cast · 浦野眞彦（声） ↗
The collective name for the giant monsters Pleprechaun molds from the magic clay Nendora. Each episode features one — modeled on a creature from myth or fairy tale — enlarged by Bandora's spell to battle the Guardian Beasts.
The mass-produced foot soldiers made by Pleprechaun — clay-doll troopers that swarm the warriors in numbers.
The villains are documented in these official references. Covers via Rakuten / Yahoo! (API).
Blu-ray, DVD boxes, art books, S.H.Figuarts, soft vinyl, model kits, role-play gear and more — sorted by type. Photos via Rakuten / Yahoo! (API); links go to product pages. prices omitted (they change)
The giant robots you build yourself — mini-pla and model kits, a gateway since day one.
You did all five roll-calls yourself, alone.
A memory of this showThe shock of the green Dragon Ranger showing up — that "big brother" was just too strong.
A memory of this showYou tried to combine Daizyujin with your own toys — and one part never quite clicked.
A memory of this showThe ancient tribal warriors are revived and the fight against the witch Bandora begins.
A memory of this showThe five Guardian Beasts unite — via Dino Tanker — into Daizyujin; the willed "god" robot fights its first battle.
A memory of this showThe sixth warrior, Dragon Ranger / Burai, debuts — the origin of the series' first regular sixth ranger.
A memory of this showAlso search second-hand
Out-of-print and limited items often surface here. Opens a search on each site (links only).
The way back in / 1992
Friday, February 21, 1992, 5:30 p.m. Home from school, schoolbag down, sitting in front of the TV. Here is that beginning, once more.
We all remember
Theme song
「Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger」
Vocals: Kenta Satō / Lyrics: Tsuno Gōji, Sonobe Kazunori / Music: Tsuno Gōji
▶ Find the official audio (YouTube) Insert songs & score ↓· What happened in the world that year is woven into the Broadcast Chronicle below.
The sound / SOUNDTRACK
Score by Akihiko Yoshida. Composed the series background score. No lyrics — only credits and a link to search for the official audio.
Vocals: Kenta Sato / Lyrics: Tsuno Goji, Kazunori Sonobe / Music: Tsuno Goji / Arr.: Kenji Yamamoto
Vocals: Pythagoras / Lyrics & Music: Tsuno Goji / Arr.: Kenji Yamamoto
Vocals: Machiko Soga / Lyrics: Kayoko Fuyumori / Music & Arr.: KAZZ TOYAMA
A villain-side theme sung by Machiko Soga, who played Bandora herself.
Vocals: Ju-project / Lyrics: Saburo Yatsude / Music: Yasuo Kosugi / Arr.: KAZZ TOYAMA
An insert song praising the combined robot, Daizyujin.
Vocals: Funky Y.K. / Lyrics: Saburo Yatsude / Music: Yasuo Kosugi / Arr.: Keiju Ishikawa
An insert song themed on Burai's Guardian Beast, Dragon Caesar.
Lyrics: Kumiko Aoki / Music: Hiroyuki Asami / Arr.: KAZZ TOYAMA
Lyrics: Kazunori Sonobe / Music: Akihiro Yoshizane / Arr.: Keiju Ishikawa
A character song for the lead, Geki / Tyranno Ranger.
Vocals: Sayuri Saito / Lyrics: Kumiko Aoki / Music: Akihiro Yoshizane / Arr.: Keiju Ishikawa
Vocals: Kenta Sato / Lyrics: Kayoko Fuyumori / Music: Katsuki Maeda / Arr.: Keiju Ishikawa
A comical number sung by Kenta Sato, the same vocalist as the opening theme.
Vocals: Takeshi Ike / Lyrics: Noboru Sugimura / Music: Takeshi Ike / Arr.: Keiju Ishikawa
An insert song with lyrics by head writer Noboru Sugimura.
Links open search results (not a guarantee of a specific streamed track). The Amazon Music link is an affiliate link. · Rights info — JASRAC works database ↗
Source: Wikipedia 日本語版 ↗
Broadcast chronicle / 1992–1993
Story turning points (red) interleaved with what was happening in the world (amber). · world events are placed at year resolution
The ancient tribal warriors are revived and the fight against the witch Bandora begins.
Wikipedia 日本語版 ↗The five Guardian Beasts unite — via Dino Tanker — into Daizyujin; the willed "god" robot fights its first battle.
Wikipedia 日本語版 ↗Age 14; her "happiest moment of my life" became a catchphrase
Wikipedia ↗Oricon #1 of the year and Japan Record Award; ~2.89M copies
Wikipedia ↗August 27; the first game in the series
Wikipedia ↗From September 12; the second Saturday of each month became a holiday
Wikipedia ↗Won the year's top buzzword award
Wikipedia ↗November 27 (called off the following January)
Number ↗February 19; the job-openings ratio fell below 1.0, marking the start of the "employment ice age"
Wikipedia ↗From March 7 on TV Asahi; the defining transforming-heroine series for girls
Wikipedia ↗July 18; directed by Hayao Miyazaki, the year's top-earning Japanese film
Wikipedia ↗The sixth warrior, Dragon Ranger / Burai, debuts — the origin of the series' first regular sixth ranger.
Wikipedia 日本語版 ↗Burai formally joins, and Gouryujin — built around Dragon Caesar — combines for the first time, adding a second lineup distinct from Daizyujin.
Wikipedia 日本語版 ↗Through the trial of the mystic swamp, King Brachion appears, opening the path to the ultimate union.
Wikipedia 日本語版 ↗Ultimate Daizyujin is completed — the strongest form, said to be the only one able to defeat Great Satan.
Wikipedia 日本語版 ↗Dragon Ranger / Burai meets his death — a major turning point in the story.
Wikipedia 日本語版 ↗Bandora's son Kai is revived alongside Great Satan; the heart of Bandora's past and motive is revealed as the finale closes in.
Wikipedia 日本語版 ↗The finale. The five unite their power to rescue the Guardian Beasts.
放送ライブラリー ↗All 50 episodes / EPISODE GUIDE
Every episode by broadcast cours, with air date, writer and director. Each cours opens with a short summary of how the story moves in that stretch. Key turning points carry a one-line note on what happens. Source: Japanese Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Cours summaries adapt the article’s synopsis, kept to broadcast-order facts. Per-episode synopses are not in the source table, so only key episodes carry a note.
170 million years ago, the fairy tribe sealed the witch Bandora — bent on wiping out humanity — on the planet Nemesis. In the present a shuttle accident revives her, and the sage Barza awakens five warriors of ancient tribes. In episode 6 the Guardian Beasts unite as Daizyujin.
Geki's elder brother Burai appears as the enemy Dragon Ranger (ep.17). After a duel they reconcile, and in episode 22 he joins as the series' first regular sixth warrior; his Dragon Caesar combines into Gouryujin.
Through the trial of the mystic swamp, the King Brachion appears (ep.29) and Ultimate Daizyujin is completed. The battle against the revived Great Satan intensifies.
Burai — granted only borrowed time after losing his life in his long sleep — fades away as his lifespan runs out (ep.42). In the finale the heroes face Dora Talos, piloted by Bandora's son Kai, and Daizyujin seals Bandora's band back into the jar.
Not show rips — creators’ own toy and model reviews. Open each on YouTube from the card. © each video belongs to its uploader
Burai had in fact died 170 million years ago, and was revived with a limited lifespan by the life spirit Clotho. After his "Room of Time" is destroyed, his life burns out, and he dies before the final battle, entrusting his power to Geki.
Bandora's son Kai is revived alongside Great Satan but dies a second time, causing Bandora to lose her power. The gang is resealed in a jar and cast to the ends of the universe.
US series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Season 1 was built on this show's action and mecha footage, with newly shot American drama scenes. Machiko Soga, who played Bandora, also appeared as Rita Repulsa in MMPR.
Along the series, and across the sea.
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