Ronin Warriors

{{About|the anime television series|the historical Japanese warriors|Rōnin}}

{{Infobox animanga/Header

| name = Ronin Warriors

| image = Ronninwarriorsdvd1.jpg

| caption = North American cover of the first DVD volume

| ja_kanji = 鎧伝サムライトルーパー

| ja_romaji = Yoroiden Samurai Torūpā

| genre =

| creator = Hajime Yatate

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Video

| type = tv series

| director = {{ubl|Masashi Ikeda (#1–19)|Mamoru Hamatsu (#20–39)}}

{{Infobox|decat=yes|child=yes|label1=Chief screenwriter|data1= {{ubl|Ryōsuke Takahashi}}}}

{{Infobox|decat=yes|child=yes|label1={{nowrap|Screenplay by}}|data1= {{ubl|Jinzō Toriumi|Masanori Oka|Saburo Ebinuma|Yūki Ōnishi|Hideki Sonoda|Yūji Watanabe|Satoshi Iwasaki|Toshiko Nakaya}}}}

| producer = {{ubl|Hironori Nakagawa|Makoto Imai|Youichi Honna}}

| music = Osamu Totsuka

| studio = Sunrise

| network = ANN (Nagoya TV)

| network_en = {{English anime network|US= First-run syndication, Sci-Fi Channel, Cartoon Network (Toonami)}}

| licensee = {{English anime licensee|NA=Discotek Media
{{small|(formerly held by Graz Entertainment)}}}}

| first = April 30, 1988

| last = March 4, 1989

| episodes = 39

| episode_list = List of Ronin Warriors episodes

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Print

| type = manga

| author = Ryūichi Hoshino

| publisher = Kodansha

| demographic = Kodomo

| magazine = Comic BomBom

| first = November 17, 1988

| last = April 5, 1990

| volumes = 2

| volume_list =

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Video

| type = ova

| title = Gaiden

| director = Kazuki Akane

| writer = Fuyunori Gobu

| producer = {{ubl|Hironori Nakagawa|Yasuhisa Kazama}}

| music = Osamu Totsuka

| studio = Sunrise

| licensee = {{English anime licensee|NA= Discotek Media}}

| first = April 30, 1989

| last = June 1, 1989

| runtime = 25 minutes

| episodes = 2

| episode_list = List of Ronin Warriors episodes#Ronin Warriors: Gaiden

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Video

| type = ova

| title = Legend of the Inferno Armor

| director = Mamoru Hamatsu

| writer = Masashi Ikeda
Fuyunori Gobu

| producer = {{ubl|Hironori Nakagawa|Yasuhisa Kazama}}

| music = Osamu Totsuka

| studio = Sunrise

| licensee = {{English anime licensee|NA= Discotek Media}}

| first = October 8, 1989

| last = January 11, 1990

| runtime = 30 minutes

| episodes = 4

| episode_list = List of Ronin Warriors episodes#Ronin Warriors: Legend of the Inferno Armor

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Video

| type = ova

| title = Message

| director = Masashi Ikeda

| producer = {{ubl|Shinichiro Kobayashi|Yasuhisa Kazama}}

| writer = Masashi Ikeda
Fuyunori Gobu

| music = Osamu Totsuka

| studio = Sunrise

| licensee = {{English anime licensee|NA= Discotek Media}}

| first = March 21, 1991

| last = August 23, 1991

| runtime = 30 minutes

| episodes = 5

| episode_list = List of Ronin Warriors episodes#Ronin Warriors: Message

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Print

| type = manga

| title = Shin Yoroiden Samurai Troopers

| author = Izumi Nikaidō

| illustrator = Yūji Hosoi

| publisher = Kodansha

| demographic = Shōnen

| magazine = Monthly Shōnen Magazine

| published = 1992

| volumes = 1

| volume_list =

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Video

| type = tv series

| title = Yoroi Shinden Samurai Troopers

| director = Yōichi Fujita

| writer = Shōgo Mutō

| producer =

| music = Shūji Katayama

| studio = Sunrise

| network =

| network_en =

| licensee =

| first = January 2026

| last = scheduled

| episodes =

| episode_list =

}}

Ronin Warriors, known in Japan as {{nihongo|Yoroiden Samurai Troopers|鎧伝サムライトルーパー|Yoroiden Samurai Torūpā|"Legendary Armored Samurai Troopers"}}, is a Japanese anime series created by Hajime Yatate and animated by Sunrise. The television series, co-produced by Nagoya TV, aired across Japan on the All-Nippon News Network from April 30, 1988, to March 4, 1989, for a total of 39 episodes. A manga adaptation was serialized on Kodansha’s Comic BomBom from November 17, 1988, to April 5, 1990, and the chapters collected into 2 tankōbon volumes. A sequel to the original series is set to premiere in January 2026.

Plot

Talpa, ruler of the Dynasty, is bent on conquering the Earth. Standing against Talpa and his four Dark Warlords are the five Ronin Warriors, each in possession of mystical armor and weapons. They are assisted by Mia Koji, a young student-researcher, Ully, a child, and a mysterious warrior-mystic known only as the Ancient One.

Media

=Anime=

Ronin Warriors was originally licensed in the United States by Graz Entertainment and distributed by Cinar (now WildBrain), and it was recorded by the Vancouver-based Ocean Productions cast. Ronin Warriors first aired on American television during the summer of 1995 and subsequently appeared through syndication, as well as the USA Network (1995), Sci-Fi Channel (1996) and later on Cartoon Network (1999).{{cite book |last1=Erickson |first1=Hal |title=Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 |date=2005 |edition=2nd |publisher=McFarland & Co |isbn=978-1476665993 |page=688}}

The series was released on DVD in 2002, including the original Japanese version with English subtitles on the reverse side of the disc.{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/ronin-warriors/dvd-1|title=Ronin Warriors DVD 1: The Call|publisher=Anime News Network|last=Shepard|first=Chris|date=July 12, 2002|access-date=November 8, 2021}} On September 4, 2014, North American anime licensor Discotek Media announced their license of the original Japanese anime (Yoroiden Samurai Troopers), and planned to release the series on DVD in 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-09-05/discotek-adds-samurai-troopers-bokurano-comic-party-3rd-lupin-iii-tv-special/.78423|title=Discotek Adds Samurai Troopers, Bokurano, Comic Party, 3rd Lupin III TV Special|publisher=Anime News Network|last=Loo|first=Egan|date=September 5, 2014}} Discotek has said that on their Facebook page that they have no plans to release Ronin Warriors until they clear issues with the dub.{{cite web|url=http://www.souloftheseasons.com/yoroiden-samurai-troopers-getting-a-re-release/|title=Yoroiden Samurai Troopers getting a re-release!|date=September 6, 2014|access-date=November 8, 2021}} Discotek has also licensed the OVAs and includes both Japanese and English audio as well as English subtitles. By 2021, the issues were resolved and the series' English dub had a Blu-ray release on December 28, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/ronin-warriors-samurai-troopers-blu-ray/|title=Classic Ronin Warriors Anime Gets Blu-ray Release|website=Comic Book Resource|last=Lacerna|first=Michael|date=May 25, 2021|access-date=November 8, 2021}}

Crunchyroll later added the anime series for its streaming.{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-01-18/crunchyroll-adds-samurai-troopers-anime-streaming/.111206|title=Crunchyroll Adds Samurai Troopers Anime Streaming|publisher=Anime News Network|last=Ressler|first=Karen|date=January 18, 2017|access-date=November 8, 2021}} The English dub was legally available on streaming services such Amazon Prime Video, RetroCrush, and Tubi.

The opening and ending sequences and the eyecatches were replaced with new ones, and the Japanese title cards were removed; there were no substantial cuts to the bodies of the episodes and the episodes retained most of the original music.

A line of action figures based on the anime was released by Playmates Toys in 1999, with a limited rerelease by Re:Play in 2001.{{cite web |title=Ronin Warriors Toys |url=http://www.virtualtoychest.com/r/roninwarriors/roninwarriors.html |website=Virtual Toy Chest |access-date=March 26, 2023}}

Three OVA sequels were produced: Gaiden (Side Story), The Legend of the Inferno Armor, and Message. There are numerous novels and audio dramas based on the anime. While all the sequels have been released on DVD, the manga and audio dramas have not been made available in English.

A sequel of the original series, titled {{nihongo|Yoroi Shinden Samurai Troopers|鎧真伝サムライトルーパー|Yoroi Shinden Samurai Torūpā|"New Legendary Armored Samurai Troopers"}}, was announced on June 11, 2025. It will be produced by Sunrise and directed by Yōichi Fujita, with Shōgo Mutō handling series composition and episode scripts, character designs by Yuhei Murota, villain designs by Tsukasa Kotoboki, Yoroi Gear design by Takuya Suzuki with original Yoroi Gear design concepts by Hideo Okamoto and Shūji Katayama composing the music. It is set to premiere in January 2026.{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2025-06-11/samurai-troopers-gets-new-yoroi-shin-den-samurai-troopers-sequel-anime/.225449|title=Samurai Troopers Gets New Yoroi Shin Den Samurai Troopers Sequel Anime|publisher=Anime News Network|last=Ressler|first=Karen|date=June 11, 2025|access-date=June 11, 2025}}

=Music=

Yoroiden Samurai Troopers Debut Album: Kimi o Nemurasenai (King Records, December 21, 1988, 4 weeks on Oricon chart).{{cite web|url=http://ranking.oricon.co.jp/free_contents/search/detail.asp?itemcd=130918&samecd=3|script-title=ja:鎧伝サムライトルーパー／デビューアルバム「君を眠らせない」|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=January 31, 2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20100131174817/http://ranking.oricon.co.jp/free_contents/search/detail.asp?itemcd=130918&samecd=3|archive-date=January 31, 2010|url-status=dead}} (4 weeks on Oricon chart, ranked as high as 44).{{cite web|url=http://ranking.oricon.co.jp/free_contents/search/ranking_list.asp?itemcd=130918&samecd=3&chart_kbn=11A&linkcd=30008558|script-title=ja:鎧伝サムライトルーパー君を眠らせない|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=January 31, 2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20100131174532/http://ranking.oricon.co.jp/free_contents/search/ranking_list.asp?itemcd=130918&samecd=3&chart_kbn=11A&linkcd=30008558|archive-date=January 31, 2010|url-status=dead}}
Yoroiden Samurai Troopers: Best Friends (King Records, June 5, 1989).{{cite web|url=http://ranking.oricon.co.jp/free_contents/search/detail.asp?itemcd=10340&samecd=3|script-title=ja:鎧伝サムライトルーパー／ＢＥＳＴＦＲＩＥＮＤＳ|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=January 31, 2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20100131174902/http://ranking.oricon.co.jp/free_contents/search/detail.asp?itemcd=10340&samecd=3|archive-date=January 31, 2010|url-status=dead}} (4 weeks on Oricon chart, ranked as high as 12).{{cite web|url=http://ranking.oricon.co.jp/free_contents/search/ranking_list.asp?itemcd=10340&samecd=3&chart_kbn=11A&linkcd=30009950|script-title=ja:鎧伝サムライトルーパーＢＥＳＴＦＲＩＥＮＤＳ|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=January 31, 2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20100131175042/http://ranking.oricon.co.jp/free_contents/search/ranking_list.asp?itemcd=10340&samecd=3&chart_kbn=11A&linkcd=30009950|archive-date=January 31, 2010|url-status=dead}}
"Stardust Eyes", the opening theme for season one's episodes 1-20, was composed by Yasuhiko Shigemura. Its ending theme, "Faraway", was composed by Midori Karashima. Both were sung by Mariko Uranishi. {{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=340|title=Legendary Armor Samurai Troopers (TV)|publisher=Anime News Network|date=November 8, 2021}}
"Samurai Heart", the opening theme from season two's episodes 21–39, and "Be Free", its ending theme, were composed by Yasuhiko Shigemura. Both were sung by Hiroko Moriguchi.
The first OAV Gaiden features "Stardust Eyes" and "Faraway" as its first episode's opening and closing themes, and "Samurai Heart" and "Be Free" as its second's.{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=1879|title=Ronin Warriors: Gaiden (OAV)|publisher=Anime News Network|date=November 8, 2021}}
The second OAV Legend of the Inferno Armor features "Stardust Eyes" as its opening theme and "Samurai Heart" as its closing theme for its four episodes.{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=13253|title=Ronin Warriors: Legend of the Inferno Armor (OAV)|publisher=Anime News Network|date=November 8, 2021}}
The third OAV Message has no opening theme but its ending theme, "Tsukamaeteite", was composed by Ami Keizou. Episode 5 also features an insert song, "Hoshi no Lullaby", composed by Ritsuko Okazaki. Both were sung by Kaori Honma (née Futenma).{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=13254|title=Ronin Warriors: Message (OAV)|publisher=Anime News Network|date=November 8, 2021}}

=Video game=

In July 2020, a crossover with Ragnarok Mobile was launched.{{Cite web|date=July 31, 2020|title=Ragnarok Mobile X Samurai Tropper Crossover Event|url=https://gamingph.com/2020/07/ragnarok-mobile-x-samurai-tropper-crossover-event/|access-date=July 31, 2020|website=GamingPH.com|language=en-US}}

References

External links

{{anime News Network|anime|340}}
{{IMDb title|0159933|Yoroiden Samurai Troopers}}

Ronin Warriors

Plot

Media

=Anime=

=Music=

=Video game=

References

External links

See also