Matchless Raijin-Oh
Elementary school children pilot a giant robot against the Evil Empire.
Matchless Raijin-Oh (絶対無敵ライジンオー, Zettai Muteki Raijin-Oh; literally "Absolutely Invincible Raijin-Oh") is a Japanese anime television series running 51 episodes. It marks the first generation of the Eldran franchise, with funding from Tomy and production by Sunrise. The show originally aired in Japan between April 3, 1991 and March 25, 1992, and was followed by the second Eldran generation, Genki Bakuhatsu Ganbaruger. A single-episode OVA sequel also exists.
The plot follows a group of elementary school students who receive control of a mecha called Raijin-Oh. They use it to protect Earth from the Evil Empire (Jaaku Teikoku). Before the arrival of Ganbaruger, this empire deploys monsters via a 'Jaaku Juu' summoning process—summoning Evil Beasts from darkness eggs called Akudamas. These monsters are based on things that annoy or frustrate humans.
A being named Eldran, described as an Ultraman-like guardian of light sworn to protect the universe and Earth, appears. He entrusts the task of defeating the Evil Beasts to a fifth-grade classroom at the school, called the Earth Defense Class (Chikyuu Bouei Gumi). He gives each child a role in operating or supporting Raijin-Oh, and transforms the school itself into a command center. Eldran does not pilot the robot himself; he is a spirit-like entity who gives children control of Raijin-Oh.
Three students—Jin, Asuka, and Koji—are chosen to lead Raijin-Oh. Their daily school life includes amusing experiences, such as Jin avoiding studying while his friends force him by tickling him. When villains Belzeb and Taida use Jaku Satan to power up Evil Beasts into Super Evil Beasts, an auxiliary robot named Bakuryuu-Oh appears. The two mecha combine to form God Raijin-Oh, which must defeat the Evil Empire Emperor Warusa and destroy the organization.
In December 2008, Anime Midstream, Inc. announced it had acquired the U.S. license for the series and planned to release it in 2009 as its first anime release. The first volume, containing episodes 1–5, went on sale directly from the company's website and other online retailers in late December 2009.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Adventure, Mecha
- Creator
- Hajime Yatate
- Director
- Toshifumi Kawase
- Producer
- Shinsuke Kurabayashi (TV Tokyo) · Toshihiko Fujinami (Yomiko) · Kenji Uchida (Sunrise)
- Writer
- Hideki Sonoda
- Music
- Kohei Tanaka
- Company
- TV Tokyo · Yomiko Advertising · ja · 読売広告社 · Sunrise
- Network
- TXN (TV Tokyo)
- Country
- Japan
- Language
- Japanese
- First Aired
- 1991-04-03
- Last Aired
- 1992-03-25
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The story revolves around a group of elementary school children who are given command of a mecha named Raijin-Oh and their efforts to defend Earth from the evil Jaaku (evil) Empire. The evil organization, called the Evil Empire, comes to Earth with the intent to conquer and despoil it, deploying monsters via a 'Jaaku Juu' summoning process—summoning Evil Beasts from darkness eggs called Akudamas, which are based on things that annoy or frustrate humans. The guardian of light Eldran, an Ultraman-like entity, appears and entrusts the heroic robot Raijin-Oh to the children. Eldran does not pilot the robot himself; he is a spirit-like entity who gives children control of Raijin-Oh.
Reader's Guide
Matchless Raijin-Oh is significant as the inaugural entry in the Eldran franchise, establishing the template of children piloting a giant mecha to defend Earth, a formula continued by its successor Genki Bakuhatsu Ganbaruger. Its legacy includes a four-episode OVA sequel and a North American release by Anime Midstream, Inc., which began in December 2009 with the first volume containing episodes 1–5. The series was released in five volumes and a Season 2 Collection boxset (the latter in Japanese with English subtitles only). The show's premise—a 5th grade classroom, the Earth Defense Class, operating Raijin-Oh from their transforming school—remains a distinctive element of 1990s mecha anime.
Did You Know?
- The series aired in Japan from April 3, 1991 to March 25, 1992.
- Anime Midstream, Inc. acquired the license in December 2008 and released the first volume in late December 2009.
- The third volume, released July 12, 2011, contains an audio commentary with several English voice actors.
- The Season 2 Collection boxset, released September 30, 2014, is in Japanese with English subtitles only.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Matchless Raijin-Oh?
It is a 51-episode Japanese mecha anime that aired from April 1991 through March 1992, produced by Sunrise with funding from Tomy. The series follows a group of elementary school kids who gain command of a giant robot to defend Earth against the Evil Empire.
What franchise does Matchless Raijin-Oh belong to?
It serves as the founding entry of the Eldran franchise, making it the first-generation Eldran title. Its direct successor in that lineage is the second-generation series Genki Bakuhatsu Ganbaruger.
Who are the pilots of Raijin-Oh?
The mecha is operated by a team of elementary school students who are entrusted with its control. Together they battle the forces of the Evil Empire to protect the planet.
Is there any sequel or follow-up to Matchless Raijin-Oh?
Yes, a single-episode OVA sequel was produced after the original 51-episode run. The broader Eldran franchise also moved forward with the second generation, Genki Bakuhatsu Ganbaruger.
Why is Matchless Raijin-Oh notable in the Eldran lineup?
As the very first Eldran production, it established the franchise's core premise of kids piloting a giant robot against a galactic threat. Its April 1991 debut also marked the start of a distinct Tomy-and-Sunrise collaborative era in super-robot storytelling.
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