1 Shadow Land 2 Glory for Anubis 3 Secret of Wildfire 4 The Search Begins 5 Halo's Prison 6 The Counterattack 7 Splitting the Stone 8 Friend or Foe 9 Wildfire in the Sky 10 In the Sea of the Sky 11 Assault on the Dynasty 12 Shallow Darkness 13 Fate of the Ronin Armor 14 Armor of Life 15 The Ancient's Battle 16 Raid on Talpa's Castle 17 The Legend of the Armor 18 Talpa's Triumph 19 Wildfire's Fight Against Fate 20 Ronin vs. Sarenbou 21 Ryo's Mega Armor 22 Saberstrike's Deadly Challenge 23 White Blaze's Sacrifice 24 Sun Devil: Ambassador of Evil 25 Torrent's Evil Twin 26 The Armor Must Be Destroyed 27 Sand Blasted 28 Lady Kayura and the Dark Realm 29 Anubis is Reborn 30 Talpa Turns the Tide 31 Legend of the White Armor 32 Strategies of the Nether World 33 In Search of Secret Treasures 34 Strata's Defiant Stand 35 The Warriors Return 36 Cheap Tricks 37 Anubis' Armor Revived 38 Lady Evil Sees the Light 39 Triumphant Warriors
Introduction:
----- Ronin Warriors was originally called Yoroiden
Samurai Troopers in Japan. It was produced as a joint effort by Sunrise
Animation Studio and Nagoya Television. It first aired in japan on
April 30th, 1988 and ran weekly through March 4th, 1989. Yoroiden Samurai
Troopers (YST) was a far bigger success than was Ronin Warriors (its American
dub). YST was originally planned for only 19 episodes but the popularity
of the show promped the producers to extend it for another season for a total
of 39 episodes.
Series and OAV Information:
----- Sony Video was responsible for releasing
the television episodes as well as the OAVs on video casset (VHS) and laser
disk. Sony and CBS teamed up to produce the OAVs jointly.
Merchandise
Information:
----- The show was also a merchandising success. There were
13 CDs produced (by Sony). These CDs inculuded background music (my
favorites), original songs sung by the characters, and drama CDs (like a
story book on casset). The CDs are the major source of information
about the characters pasts and personalities (most of which I'm not to fond
of). Oddly enought the CDs were only going to be produced until March
of 1995.
----- In addition to the CDs, posters (about 10),
laminated cards, artbooks, casset covers, a handbag that resembles the one
Rowen was carrying in the OAVs, pencil cases, pencils, notebooks, and even
bath towels were produced.
----- In addition to all of that, action figures
were also produced. These were the one piece of merchandise that made
it to the American market. However the American and Japanese toys are
different (as in not using the same molds, or paint styles). For
information on the American figures, see my action figure section (its the
most complete one out there).
Dubbing
Information:
----- The show was later dubbed into many different
languages.
----- Perhaps the most important of these was
the American dub (yes I know several of you diehard anime fans might not
agree, and even hate the American dub). But without it, barely anyone
would even know of the show, and we would be deprived of seeing a great show.
So on a personal note, I ask you people out there not to bash the American
dub, but to welcome it as the harald of Ronin Warriors / Yoroiden Samurai
Troopers. After all how many of you were YST fans before RW fans?
Not many, if not none, I'm willing to wager.
----- The American dub of YST, which we all know
and love as Ronin Warriors, was born when Graz Entertainment and Ocean Studios
teamed up and purchased the rights to Yoroiden Samurai Troopers. Several
rather imperceptable changes were made. The theme song was changed
(understandable, considering less than 1% of Americans speak japanese).
The episodes were spead up or slowed down in certain areas to make
them fit the demands of American syndiated television. Most of the
sound effects are the same, though varied in intensity so that they would
match up with the dialogue.
----- The name was changed to Ronin Warriors to
avoid copyright conflicts with Super Human Samurai Syber Squad and
VR Troopers, which were both airing at that time.
----- Many of the character names were changes
as were all of the place names. The only other major change was the
introduction of Hariel. I consider this to be a positive change because
it reveals more information about the Armor's pasts as well as provides further
avenues for fanfic writers to explore.
Airing
Information:
----- After the show was canceled off of syndicated
TV, it was picked up by Sci Fi channel. The Sci Fi channel denies cutting
any scenes but they did. I'm sure of it. They cut them out to
air more Primal Rage Action Figure Commerials. But they didn't cut
that much, so it was still good to watch. It was also canceled after
a run and a half.