DYK: "Eto Rangers" was Studio Shaft's first full-length television anime series?

"Eto Rangers", also known as "Juuni Senshi Bakuretsu Eto Ranger", is a Japanese anime television series that premiered on April 7th, 1995, and concluded on January 26th, 1996, with a total of 39 episodes. But did you know that this series marked an important milestone in the history of Japanese animation studio Shaft?

Before becoming widely recognized for visually distinctive productions such as "Puella Magi Madoka Magica" and the "Monogatari" series, Shaft had already established its foundations in the animation industry through several earlier projects.

In 1984, Shaft worked as a subcontracted animation studio for "Zuiyo on Elves of the Forest", marking its first project as a primary animation studio. Three years later, in 1987, the studio released "Yume kara, Samenai", its first wholly original production in the form of an original video animation (OVA).

However, it was in 1995 that Shaft began producing full-length television anime series, with "Eto Rangers" becoming its first major television series production.

Created and produced by Kimio Ikeda, the series was directed by Kunitoshi Okajima, with Mayori Sekijima handling the writing. Its musical score was composed by Takeshi Ike and Osamu Totsuka, with animation production handled by Studio Shaft.

The story takes place in the floating world of Mugen, where twelve anthropomorphic animal warriors representing the Chinese zodiac are tasked with protecting the world from evil forces. They travel into different fictional worlds based on fairy tales, folklore, and literature to restore corrupted stories and prevent their world from falling into destruction.

Interestingly, the series also featured several creators who would later become prominent figures in the anime industry. Mamoru Hosoda contributed storyboards to multiple episodes, while Goro Taniguchi worked as an episode director and storyboard artist. Their involvement makes the series an interesting early credit in the careers of these acclaimed anime directors.

For fans of 1990s animation, "Eto Rangers" also brings to mind the era of anthropomorphic animal action-comedy series. One notable comparison is Go Mihara and Tatsunoko Productions' "Samurai Pizza Cats", which became a memorable example of the genre through its colorful characters, comedic storytelling, pop-culture references, and action-packed adventures.

Although the two series have different premises and production histories, they share an appeal built around animal characters, adventure, and comedy. "Eto Rangers" also developed a nostalgic following among viewers in parts of Asia, including the Philippines.

More than just an entertaining adventure featuring the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, "Eto Rangers" represents an important chapter in Studio Shaft's history. Its combination of fairy-tale parodies, imaginative storytelling, and contributions from creators who would later shape the anime industry makes it a noteworthy title in the studio's early television production history.
.
Source:
- Wikipedia:
-- "Eto Rangers" - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juuni_Senshi_Bakuretsu_Eto_Ranger
-- Shaft - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaft_(company)