THE FIVE SAMURAI

The TV series of The Five Samurai (Yoroiden Samurai Troopers in the Japanese original) was made starting from 1988 by Sunrise and Nagoya Television, for a total of 39 episodes lasting 20 minutes each, based on the story written by Yatate Hajime and directed by Masashi Ikeda. In Italy it was broadcast for the first time on the Italia7 channel. Given their success, three OVAs were also produced, intended solely for the home video market: Gaiden, Kikôtei Densetsu and Message.

The story sees the land threatened by the evil spirit of Arago, the Emperor of Darkness. These took shape in an armor, due to the hatred and thirst for power of men. In very remote times, after having conquered almost the whole world, it was defeated thanks to the monk Ariel, the guardian of the world. In order to avoid the possible return of the demon, he melted the armor and forged nine different ones, each corresponding to a property of good: courage, wisdom, life force, fidelity, justice, loyalty, piety, obedience and serenity. Five armors were given to as many samurai, which also corresponded to the virtues of the five elements of nature: sky, water, fire, earth and light. Their name will be the five Samurai Troppers. The other four armors, however, were recovered by Arago, who in turn gave them to as many evil samurai.
Several years later, in the contemporary era, the demon of Arago, as predicted by Ariel, awakens creating chaos among the inhabitants of Tokyo, who see the sky of their city covered by a gigantic black cloud of human form, which causes the blackout of both electricity and car engines. At the same time, Amber Yagiyu reports to her grandfather Professor Yagiyu, a professor of literature at the university, of the disappearance of the precious Yoroi armor of the samurai. Meanwhile, a boy has moved the journalists, as he wanders the streets with a huge white tiger, which scares passersby: these is Fire ryo (Rekke in the Japanese original) one of the five samurai and Professor Yagiyu, who recognized him on television, sends Amber to look for him. A few minutes later people will flee terrified by a sudden earthquake, which will shatter the facades of the buildings. This heralds the arrival of a mysterious samurai warrior who will try to hit Ryo. It is an evil warrior from Arago, but the boy takes off his shirt, reveals that he is also a samurai and faces the demon in combat. The attacks of the evil demon put Ryo in serious trouble, but luckily the samurai arrives Kimo from heaven (Tenku), which saves his life. They also add to them Shido of the earth (Kongo), Simo from the sea (Suiko) e Sami of light. The other samurai also encounter the same difficulties as Ryo, but Amber, who knows all the potential of the five samurai, suggests they wear the armor. The demon then chains Amber and Danny, the little brother who in the general chaos has lost his parents. Ryo and the others recall their armor and immediately increase their power, revealing to be the legendaries 5 Samurai Troopers and sending away the demon, who thus frees the hostages. Before disappearing, the evil samurai reveals his identity: it is Demon of cruelty, the general of demons. Together with him, the other three Arago warriors appear: Kratos the general of the demons of darkness, Rasta the demon general of deception e krama General of the poison demons, who with a laugh announce that they were sent by Arago only to test the strength of the five samurai.
Meanwhile, the army identifies the Dark Castle of Arago, as it does not appear in the satellite maps, therefore it sends military helicopters. Arago, however, crashes the helicopters by turning off their engines and blowing up the fuel tanks, demonstrating the powerlessness of conventional weapons against magic. Arago sends Demon in search of the five samurai Troopers, arousing the jealousies of the other three. Meanwhile, Amber explains to the samurai, the studies made by her grandfather about the powers of the Yoroi armor. At that moment the white tiger Byakuen notices the presence of Demon and warns the Troppers, who with their armor promptly create a protective field around Amber and little Danny. However, this makes them vulnerable and Demon has an easy time with them. Just in the moment of greatest difficulty, a mysterious monk appears with his face hidden by a large Japanese hat and holding a stick, with which he breaks the Yoroi shield and returns the armor to the samurai, in reality he is the monk Ariel. Ryo confronts Demon, but is defeated despite managing to knock him down. Arago who has observed the scene feels concerned about the increase in power of the five samurai when they fight together. He then decides to launch a violent whirlwind, which sucks them in and disunites them, transforming them into spheres of energy. Ryo is thrown into a volcano and wakes up surrounded by a sea of ​​lava. Arago cannot defeat them permanently, as long as they possess the armor. Demon is considered a loser by the other samurai, as he was helped by Arago during the battle. Meanwhile, Amber and Danny find Ryo's sword and together with the tiger Byakuen, they head to the volcano, to return it to him. Arago sees the scene and decides to send Demon again to redeem himself. They are saved again by Ariel's intervention and so Ambra and the others in a jeep head to Ryo. He has met Demon and the battle begins. Luckily Byakuen manages to deliver the sword to Ryo, but Demon still manages to throw Ryo into the volcano. However, being the samurai of fire, he draws energy from the heat of the lava and returns more powerful than ever, defeating Demon, who kidnaps Amber and Danny in desperation. Ryo is forced to take off his armor so he is taken prisoner by the Demon. Despite everything Ryo manages to lead him near the crater and so he launches with him into the volcano. Demon comes out battered, but Ryo can break free and recall his armor. Arago is on a rampage over Demon's defeat, and the other generals can rejoice in that fact.

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