is a Tokusatsu

Tokusatsu

is a Japanese term that applies to any live-action film or television drama that usually features superheroes and makes considerable use of special effects ....

 series created by Toei Company

Toei Company

is a Japanese film, television production, and distribution corporation. Based in Tokyo, Toei owns and operates thirty-four movie theaters across Japan, a modest vertically-integrated studio system by the standards of the 1930s United States; operates studios at Tokyo and Kyoto; and is a...

. The series aired from April 3, 1996 to December 25, 1996. It was originally planned to run for a full 52 episodes before being cut down to 39 due to low ratings. This series is called the roots of Heisei

Heisei

is the current era name in Japan. The Heisei era started on 8 January 1989, the first day after the death of the reigning Emperor, Hirohito. His son, Akihito, succeeded to the throne...

 Kamen Rider series

Kamen Rider Series

The is a metaseries of manga and tokusatsu television programs and films created by manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori. The various Kamen Rider media generally feature a motorcycle-riding superhero with an insect motif who fights supervillains often referred to as...

.

Plot

The DarkZide stealthily appeared on Earth from their dying world in Dark Dimension to acquire the Larmu, human life-energy, to continue their existence. To counter the threat, Takeshi Munakata of the Cabinet Secret Service established the group SAIDOC to intercept the DarkZide. SAIDOC developed the Crystal Power needed to completed the Changérion project. However, the power was accidentally transferred into the body of detective Akira Suzumura.

SAIDOC

• Akira Suzumura/Changéríon: An irresponsible, optimistic, frivolous PI who ended up with the Crystal Power. his favorite is banana parfait. he has a vast debt because he is a waster who loves woman and gambling. he obtained power due to a sudden accident, he wants to accept power with pleasure, and to be boasting of his own activity. he refused to join SAIDOC at first. But he joined over time.

• Akemi Tachibana (1-14): Akira's aid and supposed girlfriend. She is very reliable and she is the pivot of the detective office of Akira. She left Suzuma to be a kindergarten teacher.　

• Takeshi Munakata: Chief of the SAIDOC. He is anguished by the fact that the government doesn't believe that DarkZide exists.

• Katsuhiko Hayami/Brader: The SAIDOC member who was originally meant to have the Crystal power.　He is a serious strait-laced man in contrast with Akira, and his sense of duty is very strong. He feels a bit of animosity through Akira for stealing his thunder. He have ability to transform itself into Brader when he will eat Umeboshi
  Umeboshi
  Umeboshi are pickled ume fruits common in Japan. Ume is a species of fruit-bearing tree in the genus Prunus, which is often called a plum but is actually more closely related to the apricot. Umeboshi are a popular kind of tsukemono and are extremely sour and salty...
  
   later. However, his transformation is removed when a Umeboshi is digested in his body, and the his memory at the time of the transformation disappears.

• Eri Minami: only woman in the SAIDOC member. A brave, willful, & confident woman. She falls in love with Kuroiwa (Gawer).

DarkZide

: Queen of the DarkZide.

• The Sacred Cadres of the DarkZide
  • : Muscular demon who assumed the guise of
  • : A toad-like demon.
  • : A tree-like demon who possesses the Key Bird, Mordos is the calm of the 3 Cadres.: A rogue DarkZide. He assumes the human identity of : She assumes the human identity of : Kuroiwa's secretary.

DarkZide Monsters

• Gingar (01): Posed as Izumi, the teacher of an elementary school, kidnapping children to use their lifeforce to resurrect Sacred Cadres. Though killed, she succeeded in reawakening her masters,
• Shoeser (02): Posing as a lady's shoe salesman, he kidnapped his victims using the pair of shoes he sales to them
• Jatou (03): Abducts brides.
• Miraiza (04): A Mummy-like monster who posed as the driver of the paper recycling truck. He was the first to be defeated by the Choukou Kishi.

• Insurar (13)
• Shiragar (14)
• Do Gotch (15)
• Chameleo (16)

Episodes

Cast

• Akira Suzumura/Changéríon - Takashi Hagino
  Takashi Hagino
  is a Tokyo-born Japanese actor. He is noted for his roles in tokusatsu dramas, such as the lead role in and his supporting role in as the anti-hero Kamen Rider Ouja.-Television roles:*Choukou Senshi Changéríon - Akira Suzumura/Changerion...
  
  
• Akemi Tachibana - Mie Hayashi
• Rui Kirihara - Yuka Matsui
• Katsuhiko Hayami/Blader - Kazunari Aizawa
• Eri Minami - Chika Kochihira
• Takeshi Munakata - Noboru Ichiyama
• Shogo Kuroiwa/Gawer - Atsushi Ogawa
• Dark General Zander (Voice) - Ryūzaburō Ōtomo
  Ryuzaburo Otomo
  is a Japanese voice actor, actor and narrator from Tokyo. He is currently affiliated with Aoni Production as of December 2006, and was formerly affiliated with 81 Produce and the Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society....
  
  
• Doctor Vinsue (Voice) - Tomoyuki Terai
• Priest Mordos (Voice) - Toshimichi Takahashi
• Kazuki Katagiri - Yutaka Hirose
  Yutaka Hirose
  is a Japanese actor and voice actor, widely known to international audiences for his work in the tokusatsu genre of television series, usually portraying villanious characters. His real name is , which was the name he was credited during his debut. He has also been credited as , changing his...
  
  
• Sayoko - Ayami Endō
• Eureka - Mieko Kinoshita
• Narration - Noboru Ichiyama, Daiki Nakamura
  Daiki Nakamura
  is a Japanese voice actor and member of 81 Produce.-Anime:* The Brave Express Might Gaine * Colorful * Cromartie High School * Grandpa Danger...
  
  

Suit actor

• Changéríon - Jiro Okamoto

Songs

Opening themes

1. by MISA
2. "OVER THE TIMES (English Version)" by MISA

Ending themes

1. by
2. by KAT

External links

• Changerion Memorial at Toei
  Toei Company
  is a Japanese film, television production, and distribution corporation. Based in Tokyo, Toei owns and operates thirty-four movie theaters across Japan, a modest vertically-integrated studio system by the standards of the 1930s United States; operates studios at Tokyo and Kyoto; and is a...
  
  
• CHANGERION UNPLUGGED at Radiotoon (Character Design)