Choujyu Sentai Liveman (超獣戦隊ライブマン, Chōjū Sentai Raibuman; Super Beast Squadron Liveman) is a Japanese television tokusatsu series broadcast by TV Asahi. The series is the 12th installment of Super Sentai. Directed by Takao Nagaishi, Minoru Yamada and Shouhei Toujou, it stars Daisuke Shima, Kazuhiko Nishimura, Megumi Mori, Seirou Yamaguchi, Jin Kawamoto, Jouji Nakata, Yutaka Hirose, Akiko Amamatsuri, Toru Sakai and Yoshinori Okamoto. It aired from February 27, 1988 to February 18, 1989, replacing Hikari Sentai Maskman and was replaced by Kousoku Sentai Turboranger. Its international English title as listed by Toei is simply Liveman.
Contents
Plot
Science Academia is an elite school that various genius students from across the globe attend. Among them are Yusuke Amamiya, Joh Ohara and Megumi Misaki who with Takuji Yano and Mari Aikawa sought to create a suit strong enough for space exploration. However, three of their classmates and friends Kenji Tsukigata, Rui Senda, and Goh Omura felt their talents were being wasted and leave to join an evil organization called Volt who offers to raise their full scientific potential.
In 1988, the present day, with Kenji, Rui, and Goh now known as Doctors Kemp, Mazenda and Obular, Volt begins its attack by devastating Science Academia. As a result, Yusuke, Joh, and Megumi take up the suits they created and become the Livemen to battle against their former classmates and Volt.
Characters
Science Academia
Science Academia (科学アカデミア, Kagaku Akademia)
The eponymous Livemen utilize two-piece Twin Braces (ツインブレス, Tsuin Buresu) to transform. While transformed, each member carries a Liblaster (ライブラスター, Raiburasutā) sidearm, which can switch between Gun Mode (ガンモード, Gan Mōdo) and Sword Mode (ソードモード, Sōdo Mōdo). They can also use the Biomotion Buster (バイモーションバスター, Baimōshon Basutā) cannon to destroy human-sized Brain Beasts. Their special team attack is the Spark Attack (スパークアタック, Supāku Atakku).
The primary members composed of Yusuke, Joh, and Megumi ride Moto Machine (モトマシン, Moto Mashin) motorcycles for transportation. When facing enlarged Brain Beasts, they combine their personal mecha to form Live Robo (ライブロボ, Raibu Robo). Later in the series, Yusuke and Joh acquire new personal weapons that can combine with Megumi's to form the Triple Bazooka (トリプルバズーカ, Toripuru Bazūka).
The secondary members composed of Tetsuya and Junichi ride the Live Cougar (ライブクーガー, Raibu Kūgā) four-wheel-drive for transportation. When facing enlarged Brain Beasts, they combine their personal mecha to form Live Boxer (ライブボクサー, Raibu Bokusā), which can further combine with Live Robo to form Super Live Robo (スーパーライブロボ, Sūpā Raibu Robo).
A poor student at Academia, but a strong leader and quick at thinking under pressure. He is a brave hard worker and enjoys rock music and work outs. Initially starts as a hot-headed and sarcastic rebel, but grows into the role of dependable leader as the series progresses. Yusuke was once in love with Rui Senda, but she did not return his love. He was good friends with Kenji during their first year or so at Science Academia until things went sour between them once Kenji started down a dark path.
In the crossover film Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai, Yusuke is found visiting the graves of Takuji Yano, Rui Senda, Kenji Tsukigata, and Mari Aikawa. He briefly dueled Gao Yellow in a sword fight and then lectured Gaku on the many sword-wielding warriors of the Super Sentai franchise, and introduced the Gaorangers to all the 23 other Red Warriors. He performed his roll call twice in that special, one along with the Dream Sentai and Gaorangers and then again with the other Red Warriors.
Armed Brain Volt Army
Believing most of humanity to be inferior, the Armed Brain Volt Army (武装頭脳軍ボルト, Busō Zunō Gun Boruto) is based on the orbiting space station Zuno Base (ヅノーベース, Zunōbēsu) with its officers using a triangular shuttle to journey between it and Earth.
Great Professor Bias (大教授ビアス, Daikyōju Biasu): A super genius scientist whose appearance belies his actual age, well versed in all knowledge, and worshiped as a god by his officers.
Kenji Tsukigata/Doctor Kemp (月形 剣史/ドクター・ケンプ, Tsukigata Kenji/Dokutā Kenpu): Yusuke's former friend at Academia whose dream was to develop biotechnological means to make humans immune to any disease. However, Kenji became egotistical and power-hungry after taking the test Bias sent to him, killing Takuji and Mari while leaving to join Volt.
Rui Senda/Doctor Mazenda (仙田 ルイ/ドクター・マゼンダ, Senda Rui/Dokutā Mazenda): A haughty woman who was Megumi's rival at Science Academia and broke Yusuke's heart. Rui reconstructs herself as a cyborg to reflect her coldness and her desire to preserve her beauty, with concealed weapons within her robotic body like the Arm Gun, Elbow Gun, and Finger Gun.
Goh Omura/Doctor Obular (尾村 豪/ドクター・オブラー, Omura Gō/Dokutā Oburā): Joh's one-time friend at Science Academia. Goh is a childhood prodigy who uses Volt's research with his inferiority complex as a motivation to turn himself into a completely inhuman monster, called Monster Obular (獣人オブラー, Kaijin Oburā); in this state, he uses a battle axe as his weapon.
Arashi Busujima/Doctor Ashura (毒島 嵐/ドクター・アシュラ, Busujima Arashi/Dokutā Ashura): A tough-as-nails underworld figure and gang leader with a poor education who bears a grudge against the Science Academia and those smarter than he is.
Guardnoid Gash (ガードノイド・ガッシュ, Gādonoido Gasshu): Bias's robot bodyguard, a relentless machine who has knowledge of firearms and uses his Video Eye to locate targets.
Guildian Guildos (ギルド星人ギルドス, Girudo Seijin Girudosu): A robot secretly built by Bias to spur his scientists to break their limitations, believing himself to be an alien intelligence from the planet Guildo.
Others
Dinosaur Gon (恐竜ゴン, Kyōryū Gon): A dinosaur that Time Brain brought to the present, Gon was befriended by a boy named Kenichii.
Giga Volt (ギガボルト, Gigaboruto): Created by Bias as the result of his Giga Project, using the Giga Metal that Kemp synthesized and powered by the Giga Energy developed by Mazenda from geothermic heat to build this giant robot personally. Once finally activated, this robot emerges with Kemp piloting it.
"Ashita ni Ikiru ze!" (あしたに生きるぜ!; "Live to Tomorrow!")
Lyrics: Akira Ohtsu
Composition: Yasuo Kosugi
Arrangement: Ohzuchi Fujita
Artist: Daisuke Shima
Article from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), where it is maintained by volunteer editors.
As Red Falcon, Yusuke initially wielded the Falcon Sword (ファルコンソード, Farukon Sōdo) before it was replaced by the Falcon Saber (ファルコンセイバー, Farukon Seibā). He also pilots the Jet Falcon (ジェットファルコン, Jetto Farukon) mecha, which forms the head, back, hips, and upper legs of Live Robo.
He is at the bottom of the class at Academia and a sportsman and skateboarder. He is short-tempered and ready to dive into danger. Joh has the strength to back up his actions. He was once good friends with Goh and was heartbroken when their friendship dissolved once the weak-willed Goh fell into a bad crowd.
In Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger, Joh would appear to the Gokaigers and grant them the Great Power of Liveman, which is Super Live Robo.
As Yellow Lion, Joh initially wielded the Lion Punch (ライオンパンチ, Raion Panchi) gauntlet before it was replaced by the Lion Bazooka (ライオンバズーカ, Raion Bazūka). He also pilots the Land Lion (ランドライオン, Rando Raion) mecha, which forms the chest and arms of Live Robo.
A top class student at Academia who was nonetheless friends with Yusuke and Joh and did powered suit research with them and the late Takuji Yano and Mari Aikawa. She is good at swimming and bicycling and was taught archery by her father. Megumi often criticizes Yuusuke's strategies. A caring figure, feeling even for her enemies.
As Blue Dolphin, Megumi wields the Dolphin Arrow (ドルフィンアロー, Dorufin Arō) bow. She also pilots the Aqua Dolphin (アクアドルフィン, Akua Dorufin) mecha, which forms the lower legs of Live Robo.
The younger brother of Takuji and older brother of Takeshi. He is good at boxing. He nearly destroyed the Gran Tortoise after being taken over by Volt. Tetsuya is generally a good-hearted person, but has a temper and hatred, mostly fueled by his desire for revenge on Kemp for the murder of his older brother.
As Black Bison, Tetsuya wields the Bison Rod (バイソンロッド, Baison Roddo) staff. He also pilots the Bison Liner (バイソンライナー, Baison Rainā) mecha, which forms the head, body, arms, and left foot of Live Boxer.
The younger brother of Mari and a rugby player. He calls Tetsuya "Tetsu-chan", looking up to him as an older brother. The youngest member of the team, temporarily leaving high school in order to fight Volt. While impregnated by Vega Zuno, Junichi was fearful of the life inside him to the point of getting an abortion until the unborn Vega Baby pleas for its life and Junichi decides to "give birth," only to lose the child when it was killed by its biological parent and ended up getting a newfound respect for mothers.
As Green Rhino, Junichi dual wields the twin Rhino Cutter (サイカッター, Sai Kattā) boomerangs. He also pilots the Rhino Fire (サイファイヤー, Sai Faiyā) mecha, which forms the legs and right foot of Live Boxer.
Doctor Hoshi (星博士, Hoshi-hakase): The principal of Science Academia who made the Gran Tortoise and gave the Livemen mecha the ability to combine before dying. He died helping a pregnant woman trapped in the rubble of Science Academia's escape.
Colon (コロン, Koron): A female robot built by Doctor Hoshi to be in charge of the Gran Tortoise and assist the team.
Takuji Yano (矢野 卓二, Yano Takuji): A Science Academia student studying on the power suits for space travel with Yusuke, Joh, Megumi, and Mari. The older brother of Tetsuya and Takeshi. His prototype power suit featured a swallow.
Mari Aikawa (相川 麻理, Aikawa Mari): A Science Academia student studying on the power suits for space travel with Yusuke, Joh, Megumi, and Takuji. The older sister of Junichi. Her suit featured a dog.
Doctor Dorothee (ドロテ博士, Dorote-hakase): Tetsuya and Junichi's benefactor, the leader of the Science Academia group that built the Bison Liner and the Sai Fire. She later arrives to help the Livemen by providing a new power core for the Bison Liner. She was played by French children entertainer Dorothée.
Takeshi Yano (矢野 武志, Yano Takeshi): The younger brother of Takuji and Tetsuya, he met Yusuke and the others before Takuji was killed by Volt. He helps Yusuke complete the Live Cougar vehicle, which Yusuke started to build with Takuji.
Toshiko Omura (尾村 俊子, Omura Toshiko): Go's mother. When Go was young, Toshiko pressured her son into succeeding academically at the expense of giving him a normal childhood.
Yoichiro Misaki (岬 与一郎, Misaki Yoichirō): Megumi's father. A master of a form of archery known as the Higo Cross style (肥後バッテン流, Higo Batten Ryū). He goes to Tokyo to visit his daughter with the intention of pairing her with a potential marriage partner. He becomes proud of his daughter when he sees her use the Dolphin Arrow.
Mai Funachi (舟地 マイ, Funachi Mai): A long-time friend of Yusuke who works as a day-care worker in a kindergarten, who also knew Kenji before he became Doctor Kemp.
Chibuchian Butchy (チブチ星人ブッチー, Chibuchi Seijin Butchī): An orange ape-like robot secretly built by Bias to spur on Kemp et al.
Jinmmers (ジンマー, Jinmā): The green-skinned android soldiers with mohawk 'haircuts'. They are very difficult to defeat, as their head and limbs operate independently when dismembered.
The Brain Beasts (頭脳獣, Zunōjū) are experimental lifeforms created by Guardnoid Gash who combined a brain core with a random object and chaos energy. Each one is used by either Guardnoid or one of the other Armed Brain Volt Army members. To make a Brain Beast grow, Guardnoid Gash would fire the Giga Phantom at them.
The following Brain Beasts were used by Guardnoid Gash:
Disconnect Brain (バラバラヅノー, Barabara Zunō): A Brain Beast covered in smaller creatures.
Fire Brain (ファイヤーヅノー, Faiyā Zunō): A pyrokinetic Brain Beast with dragon heads instead of hands.
The following Brain Beasts were used by Doctor Oblar:
Virus Brain (ウイルスヅノー, Uirusu Zunō): A syringe-themed Brain Beast.
Time Brain (タイムヅノー, Taimu Zunō): A chronokinetic clock-themed Brain Beast created by Doctor Obular from the contents of his Time Chaos Capsule.
Baboon Brain (ヒヒヅノー, Hihi Zunō): A baboon-themed Brain Beast created by Doctor Obular whose bite from the large jaw he has in place of his right hand can turn anyone into Ape-Men.
Plasma Brain (プラズマヅノー, Purazuma Zunō): A Jiangshi-themed Brain Beast used by Doctor Obular.
Study Brain (ベンキョウヅノー, Benkyo Zunō): A brain-themed Brain beast created by Doctor Obular from his own brain.
The following Brain Beasts were used by Doctor Mazenda:
Transmission Brain (デンソーヅノー, Densō Zunō): A transmission device-themed Brain Beast.
Tank Brain (タンクヅノー, Tanku Zunō): An oil tank/octopus-themed Brain Beast created by Doctor Mazenda.
Poison Gas Brain (ドクガスヅノー, Dokugasu Zunō): A barnacle-themed Brain Beast that emits toxic gas upon eating garbage.
Twin Brain (ツインヅノー, Tsuin Zunō): A twin-themed Brain Beast created by Doctor Mazenda from her DNA sample that contains the love aspect and posed as Rui Senda's twin sister.
Pig Brain (ブタヅノー, Buta Zunō): A pig-themed Brain Beast.
Light Brain (ヒカリヅノー, Hikari Zunō): An electric light-themed Brain Beast.
Robo Brain (ロボヅノー, Robo Zunō): A Brain Beast created by Doctor Mazenda using the blueprints to Tetsuya's robot suit.
Armor Brain (ヨロイヅノー, Yoroi Zunō): A turtle-themed Brain Beast.
Wolf Brain (ウルフヅノー, Urufu Zunō): A wolf-themed Brain Beast created by Doctor Mazenda.
Space Brain (スペースヅノー, Supēsu Zunō): An alien-themed Brain Beast with a hammer gun for a right hand that lives in the gem that's associated with it.
Nightmare Brain (アクムヅノー, Akumu Zunō): A Chimera-themed Brain Beast who was created by Doctor Mazenda in her dream machine as the combined form of Transmission Brain, Test Brain, Gal Brain, and Meteor Brain after getting an inspiration from a dream she had of defeating the Livemen. When Gou revealed to Doctor Mazenda that Great Professor Bias and Guardnoid Gash were about to kill her, Doctor Mazenda exited the dream machine causing Nightmare Brain and the Ghost Brains that make up him to vanish.
The following Brain Beasts were used by Doctor Kemp:
Engine Brain (エンジンヅノー, Enjin Zunō): A vehicle-possessing engine-themed Brain Beast created by Doctor Kemp.
Anger Brain (イカリヅノー, Ikari Zunō): An Oni-themed Brain Beast created by Guardnoid Gash for Doctor Kemp from the harvested rage of humans.
Maze Brain (メイロヅノー, Meiro Zunō): A maze-making Brain Beast whose vehicle form can manipulate time-space.
Pierrot Brain (ピエロヅノー, Piero Zunō): A pierrot-themed Brain Beast created by Doctor Kemp from a pierrot doll.
Obular Brain (オブラーヅノー, Oburā Zunō): A demon-themed Brain Beast who was a clone of Doctor Obular.
Sword Brain (ケンヅノー, Ken Zunō): An armored samurai-themed Brain Beast that wields a Giga Metal sword.
Gore Brain (ゴアヅノー, Goa Zunō): A blood-sucking Brain Beast created by Doctor Kemp from his own blood.
Guild Brain (ギルヅノー, Giru Zunō): A hidden weapon-themed Brain Beast with a blade for a right arm and a gun for a left arm.
Shark Brain (サメヅノー, Samezunō): A shark-themed Brain Beast.
Invisible Brain (トウメイヅノー, Toumei Zunō): A crystal-themed Brain Beast created by Doctor Kemp who can turn invisible.
Battle Brain (バトルヅノー, Batoru Zunō): A Brain Beast created by Doctor Kemp who can create weapons by absorbing attacks.
The following Brain Beasts were used by Doctor Ashura:
Test Brain (テストヅノー, Tesuto Zunō): A computer monitor-themed Brain Beast created by Doctor Ashura.
Elec Brain (エレキヅノー, Ereki Zunō): An electrokinetic electric eel/plug-themed Brain Beast.
Spirit Brain (レーヅノー, Rē Zunō): An Ochimusha-themed Brain Beast used by Doctor Ashura and wielded the Resurrection Sphere that enabled it to revive Virus Brain, Transmission Brain, Engine Brain, Time Brain, Tank Brain, Maze Brain, Baboon Brain, Test Brain, Poison Gas Brain, Fire Brain, Plasma Brain, Pierrot Brain, Twin Brain, Regeneration Brain, Guitar Brain, and Sword Brain.
Hacker Brain (ハッカーヅノー, Hakkā Zunō): A hacker-themed Brain Beast.
The following Brain Beasts were used by Guildian Guildos and Chibuchian Butchy:
Regeneration Brain (サイセイヅノー, Saisei Zunō): A Brain Beast with regenerative abilities who was created by Guildian Guildos.
Guitar Brain (ギターラヅノー, Gitāra Zunō): A guitarist-themed Brain Beast created by Chibuchian Butchy.
Earthquake Brain (ジシンヅノー, Jishin Zunō): A seismic-generating excavator-themed Brain Beast used by Guildian Guildos and Chibuchian Butchy.
Vega Brain (ベガヅノー, Bega Zunō): A carnivorous plant-themed Brain Beast created by Guildian Guildos and Chibuchian Butchy from a lifeform they found on the planet Vega.
Meteor Brain (インセキヅノー, Inseki Zunō): A meteorite-themed Brain Beast with a burning face that was created by Guildian Guildos and Chibuchian Butchy from a meteor fragment.
Guildo Brain (ギルードヅノー, Girūdo Zunō): An unspecified reptile-themed Brain Beast created by Guidian Guildos.
Reckless Brain (ボウソウズノ, Bousou Zuno): A engine-themed Brain Beast in roller skates who accompanied Chibuchian Butchy in his attack on the city.
The following Brain Beasts were used by Great Professor Bias:
Gal Brain (ガルヅノー, Garu Zunō): A baboon-themed Brain Beast summoned by Great Professor Bias.
Bomber Brain (ボンバーヅノー, Bonbā Zunō): A bomb-themed Brain Beast created by Great Professor Bias.
Electron Brain (デンシヅノー, Denshi Zunō): An electron-themed Brain Beast created by Great Professor Bias.
1988 · 1 season · 49 ep · Action & Adventure · Sci-Fi & Fantasy
TMDB 8.3/10 (180 votes)
Yusuke, Jo, Megumi, Kenji, Gou and Rui are students at Academia but the latter three decide to turn bad and join forces with the evil army Volt. When the defectors return, their three friends are forced to combat them as Choujuu Sentai Liveman. With the help of an android ally named Colon and a few others along the way, the Liveman must save the world and their friends.
Cast & crew political lean — 1 of 11 researched: 0 left · 0 center · 0 right · 1 no public record. Based only on cited public statements, endorsements, and documented donations.
