Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger is a Japanese Tokusatsu television series and the 40th entry of Toei's long-running Super Sentaimetaseries, following Shuriken Sentai Ninninger. Zyuohger premiered February 14, 2016, joining Kamen Rider Ghost, and later, Kamen Rider Ex-Aid in the Super Hero Time line-up on TV Asahi affiliate stations, until its conclusion on February 5, 2017. Released as part of Super Sentai's 40th anniversary and Toei's "Super Hero Year", Zyuohger is the fifth series in the franchise whose central theme is animals, 28 years after Choujuu Sentai Liveman, 18 years after Seijuu Sentai Gingaman, 15 years after Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger and 9 years after Juken Sentai Gekiranger. The series also has a Minecraft-inspired & Rubik's cube motif. The lead screenwriter for the series is Junko Kōmura. The cast and characters were revealed at an event at Tokyo Dome City on January 23 and 24, 2016, while the characters had their official debut in the film .
Story
Yamato Kazakiri, a zoologist, uncovers Zyuland, a world inhabited by an anthropomorphic animal race known as the. However, it coincides with the arrival of the from outer space who have chosen Earth to be the site of their 100th competition. Four of the Zyumans – the shark woman Sela, the lion man Leo, the elephant man Tusk, and the white tiger woman Amu – try to defend Zyuland from the Dethgaliens but their fight takes them to Earth, with Yamato in tow, and it is revealed that he possesses an artifact known as the Champion's Proof, the fifth of a set also possessed by his Zyuman companions. The Champion's Proofs transform into devices that allow the five of them to transform into the Zyuohgers and fight the Dethgalien general attacking the Earth. After the fight, the Zyumans realize that they are now trapped in the human world, as there needs to be six Champion's Proofs for them to return to Zyuland. Yamato helps the four Zyumans live in the human world while they search for the sixth Champion's Proof, all the while continuing to battle the Dethgaliens who have added the Zyuohgers to their Blood Game festivities, which become even more intense when the invaders kidnap the human Misao Mondo and transform him into an artificial Zyuohger to fight in their stead. However, once the Zyuohgers release Misao from the Dethgaliens' control, he joins their side as Zyuoh The World, while Bado, an old acquaintance of Yamato's family, later uses the sixth and final Champion's Proof to join the fight as Zyuoh Bird.
Episodes
Films
The Zyuohgers made their debut appearance in , released in Japanese theaters on January 23, 2016.
''The Exciting Circus Panic!''
was released in Japanese theaters on August 6, 2016, double-billed with the film for Kamen Rider Ghost. The event of the movie takes place between Episode 22 and 23.
''Zyuohger vs. Ninninger''
, is a feature film featuring a crossover between Zyuohger and Shuriken Sentai Ninninger, released on January 14, 2017. The event of the movie takes place between Episode 38 and 39.
''Ultra Super Hero Taisen''
A crossover film, titled featuring the casts of Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger, Uchu Sentai Kyuranger, Amazon Riders and Kamen Rider Ex-Aid, was released in Japan on March 25, 2017. This movie will celebrate 10th anniversary of Kamen Rider Den-O who also appear in this movie. It also features the spaceship Andor Genesis from the Xevious game, which serves to be used by the movie's main antagonists, as well as introducing the movie-exclusive Kamen Rider True Brave played by Kamen Rider Brave's actor Toshiki Seto from Kamen Rider Ex-Aid, and villain Shocker Great Leader III played by the singer Diamond Yukai. In addition, individual actors from older Kamen Rider and Super Sentai TV series, Ryohei Odai, Gaku Matsumoto, Atsushi Maruyama, and Hiroya Matsumoto reprise their respective roles.
''Super Doubutsu Taisen''
is included as part of the Blu-ray Miniseries releases of Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger. It comprises four episodes, featuring characters from previous Super Sentai series, as part of the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the franchise. The event of the special takes place between Episode 29 and 30.
V-Cinema
Give Me Your Life! Earth Champion Tournament
is a direct-to-video film to be released on June 28, 2017. Original characters are set to return in addition to new casts, such as rakugoka Hayashiya Taihei as Pocane Daniro and Rie Kugimiya as Lilian. The film also features the movie-exclusive Zyuoh Condor. The event of the movie takes place after the final episode of the series.
