Chouseishin Gransazer

Lore & Background

The story begins some 400,000,000 years after an ancient human civilization was destroyed by aliens. Twelve direct descendants of that civilization's warriors, called Sazers, have their powers awakened and form four tribes: Flame, Wind, Earth, and Water. Each Sazer is based on a Zodiac sign represented by an animal totem. Initially, the tribes waged war against each other, but after discovering the truth about their ancestry and the reason for their awakening, they united to protect Earth from the Warp Monarch, an alliance of alien species seeking to extinguish all life on the planet.

Reader's Guide

Chouseishin Gransazer is significant as the inaugural series of Toho's 'Seishin' franchise, establishing a formula of team-based superheroes with transforming robots that would be continued in later entries. Its premise draws parallels to both the Super Sentai series and the manga/anime Saint Seiya, featuring 12 heroes divided into four tribes, each with a giant transforming robot. The series introduced the concept of Knuckle-Risers, devices that allow transformation, weapon summoning, and robot piloting. The Flame Tribe, led by Sazer Tarious, is noted as the only tribe with two members capable of equipping their giant robot Garuda with personal weapons. The series also features a combination attack called 'Formation Zero' involving six Sazers. A cameo appearance by Sazer Mithras in Justirisers Episode 35 and Sazer Remls in Justirisers Episode 30 indicates cross-series continuity within Toho's productions.

Did You Know?

• The series is the first of Toho's 'Seishin (Star God)' series.
• The 12 heroes are divided into four tribes: Flame, Wind, Earth, and Water.
• Each Sazer is based on a Zodiac sign represented by an animal totem.
• The transformation call is 'Equip!' (装着, Sōchaku!).