This article is about additional unnumbered (EX) series entry in the Super Sentai series.
Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger (非公認戦隊アキバレンジャー,Hikōnin Sentai Akibarenjā?, translated as Unofficial Squadron Akibaranger), is an "unofficial installment" of the Super Sentai series. The series began airing in October 6, 2007, though it aired on Tokyo MX instead of TV Asahi like the mainstream series.
The series' theme is based on the Akihabara (AKA "Electric Town") section of Tokyo, Japan, and is geared more towards teenagers and otaku rather than young children and families like the mainstream series.
The series was renewed for a Season 2, which began airing on April 6, 2008.[1]
"A tiny paradise amongst a sea of skyscrapers: Akihabara. There we find three warriors who believe pain is power and who fight battles that exist entirely in their heads. They are...Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger!"
―Hiroyo Hakase[src]
Akibaranger tells the story of three people being part of an otaku club and living in the new "Electric-Town" Akihabara. They have to fight a mysterious malevolent entity that swore to conquer Earth with cool gadgets created by a brilliant genius. However, the Akibarangers' ultimate goal is to become an "official" sentai team.
The Akibaranger's secret base/hideout is a "Sentai Cafe," a Super Sentai version of the popular maid cafes in Japan.
Production[]
The official website lists several tokusatsu and anime veterans, including director Ryuta Tazaki (Kamen Rider), director/character designer Keiichi Satou (Tiger & Bunny), writer Naruhisa Arakawa (Kamen Rider Kuuga), and composer Kenji Kawai (Ghost in the Shell).
Starting on July 6, Animate.tv will broadcast Unofficial Sentai Akibaranger Official Web Radio (Temporary) (非公認戦隊アキバレンジャー公認ＷＥＢラジオ（仮）,Hikōnin Sentai Akibarenjā Kōnin Uebu Rajio (Kari)?). The bi-weekly web radio series will feature the voices of the TV series cast, as well as special guests in every show.[3]
Treasure of the Maid Empire hoax[]
At Tamashii Nation 2002, the Akibaranger booth were showing multiple posters and advanced ticket gifts for the fake movie, Akibaranger the Movie: Treasure of the Maid Empire.
The Akibaranger staff decided to take a joke from twitter to the next level by making it seem like a movie was being released. Even going as far as making posters, fake tickets and the limited edition ticket gift, AkibaRed Special Color version as pictured below. [4]
It is the first Sentai series in which both the Blue and Yellow Ranger are females.
This is the first season in which there are more female rangers than there are male rangers.
This is the first Sentai series to have three kanji preceding the "sentai" kanji, as opposed to the usual one or two.
The helmets having "sculpted hair" as opposed to more traditional rounded helmets are similar to the helmets used in Battle Fever J; in particular, the helmet of Battle Japan.
This is the first Sentai parody series meant for mature audiences.
Nobuo refers to the team as "the 37th" Super Sentai. When Hiroyo Hakase points out they are unofficial, he makes it his goal to make the Akibarangers to be recognized as the 37th Super Sentai. Next year, however, with Season Two airing concurrent with the official 37th Sentai Series, the Akibarangers' goal is changed to fixing the history of Super Sentai series which is being constantly tampered with.
This is currently shorter than any of the official Sentai series, with only 13 episodes.
The series was originally intended to be a Gokaiger spin-off called Kaizoku-ban Sentai Gokaiger (Pirate Copy Sentai Gokaiger).[5]
This is the first Sentai series to have a second season.
This article is about additional unnumbered (EX) series entry in the Super Sentai series.
