Kousoku Sentai Turboranger
Five high school seniors balance school and fighting demons.
Kousoku Sentai Turboranger (高速戦隊ターボレンジャー, Kōsoku Sentai Tāborenjā), also known in English as Turbo Rangers, is a tokusatsu television series from Japan that aired on TV Asahi. It is the thirteenth series in the Super Sentai franchise, with direction by Shohei Tojo, Takao Nagaishi, Kiyoshi Arai, and Masao Minowa. The cast includes Kenta Sato, Yoshiaki Ganaha, Keiya Asakura, Junichiro Katagiri, Noriko Kinohara, Fujita Okamoto, Mayumi Omuta, Kanako Kishi, Yoshinori Tanaka, and Masako Morishita. The series ran from February 25, 1989, to February 23, 1990, taking over from Choujyu Sentai Liveman and later giving way to Chikyu Sentai Fiveman.
During its original run, Turboranger was counted as the eleventh Super Sentai and promoted as the franchise's tenth-anniversary entry. This was because, from 1988 to 1994, Battle Fever J was considered the first Super Sentai series after Himitsu Sentai Gorenger and J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai were excluded due to rights issues with Shotaro Ishinomori. However, in 1995, Gorenger and J.A.K.Q. were reincorporated into the Super Sentai lineup, making Turboranger the thirteenth installment.
**Plot** Twenty thousand years ago, the Fairy race helped humans fight the Hundred Bohma Tribes, sealing them away. In the present day, pollution and humanity's damage to nature have weakened the Fairy magic, breaking the seal and freeing the Bohma. Dr. Dazai and Seelon, the last fairy, summon five high school seniors. As children, these five were bathed in the "flames of spirit" from fallen fairies in a forest, allowing them to hear Seelon's voice. Using powered suits created from a mix of Seelon's magic and Dr. Dazai's science, they become the Turborangers, balancing their school lives with battles against the Bohma Tribe.
**Characters**
**Turborangers** The Turborangers are students at Musashino Academy.
- **Riki Honoo / Red Turbo**: The brave captain of the high school baseball team. An ace pitcher with a technique called the "Demonball of Fire," he dreams of going pro. Riki is confident and has a strong sense of justice, but he is hyperactive and does poorly in school. After the series, the Turborangers' Greater Power was featured in Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger, granted to the Gokaigers via a Ranger Key rather than a personal appearance.
- Series
- Kousoku Sentai Turboranger
- English title
- Turbo Rangers
- Installment
- 13th of Super Sentai
- Broadcast network
- TV Asahi
- Air dates
- February 25, 1989 to February 23, 1990
- Directors
- Shohei Tojo, Takao Nagaishi, Kiyoshi Arai, Masao Minowa
- Notable fact
- The first Super Sentai series to air on Friday instead of Saturday was actually Chikyuu Sentai Fiveman; Turboranger aired on Saturdays.
Lore & Background
The Turborangers are students of Musashino Academy: Riki Honoo (Red Turbo), a brave baseball team captain; Daichi Yamagata (Black Turbo), a patient track star and good student; Yohei Hama (Blue Turbo), a swimmer with misbehavior problems; Shunsuke Hino (Yellow Turbo), a gymnast; and Haruna Morikawa (Pink Turbo), the student council president. Their allies include Dr. Dazai, Fairy Seelon (who stands 8 centimeters tall), Sacred Beast Lakia, teacher Misa Yamaguchi, and others. The Hundred Bohma Tribes are led by Great Bohma Emperor Lagorn, with subordinates including Bohma Doctor Lehda, Dark Bohma Zimba, Bohma Princess Jarmin, Rage Flying Bohma Zulten, and Ular Soldiers.
Reader's Guide
Kousoku Sentai Turboranger holds a unique place in Super Sentai history. During its initial run, it was billed as the tenth-anniversary title of the Super Sentai series (as Battle Fever J was designated the first from 1988 to 1994 after the exclusion of Himitsu Sentai Gorenger and J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai due to rights issues with Shotaro Ishinomori). However, in 1995, Gorenger and J.A.K.Q. were included into the Super Sentai series once more, making Turboranger the 13th in the franchise. It was also the first Super Sentai series to air on Friday instead of Saturday. The series' plot—centering on environmental pollution weakening fairy magic—reflects late-1980s ecological concerns. The Turborangers' high school setting and juggling of school life with superhero duties was a notable narrative element. After the series ended, Red Turbo (Riki Honoo) had a cameo appearance on Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger to grant the Greater Power of the Turborangers to the Gokaigers.
Did You Know?
- During its initial run, it was billed as the tenth-anniversary title of Super Sentai, but later became the 13th installment after Gorenger and J.A.K.Q. were re-included in 1995.
- Fairy Seelon stands only 8 centimeters (3.15 inches) tall and is only visible to the Turborangers or through special goggles.
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