Counting Down To "Gavan Infinity" As "Super Sentai" Takes What Might Be A Badly-Needed Hiatus

I once thought that Universe Heroes was a renaming of the Super Sentai franchise, but I later realized it was a hiatus. Instead, since last year, it was announced that Universe Heroes is taking over the Super Sentai franchise since last year. Even the very way No. 1 Sentai Gozyuger may have had a dead giveaway. Megazord Graveyard at the beginning was just the beginning. Celebrating Super Sentai's 50th birthday instead of the 50th entry? Those were crazy signs that I felt weren't 

I already thought that the Super Sentai franchise needed a break ever since the end of Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger. The post-Gokaiger era had its creative direction's ups and downs. It was a rollercoaster ride for me (but I never rode a rollercoaster, weak stomach) when I was critical about Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger after Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters. It took me some time to appreciate Ressha Sentai ToQGer given that I had an overload. The series had its ups and downs. In fact, I even remember LAUGHING when the caption "The history of Super Sentai! It's ever!" appeared during the Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger vs. Shuriken Sentai Ninninger (based on two shows that I felt were BEAUTIFULLY POINTLESS) crossover. I had my thoughts that Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger's finale gave me a thought that Super Sentai's hiatus (or even possible cancellation) could be close. That finale ALMOST felt like a huge farewell. Gokaiger's finale was a huge farewell too! 

I had to get my head together when Gavan Infinity's cast members were finally revealed. Now, it's time to look into the plot. 

​The production announcement event revealed that the series will feature three Multiverses, and each Multiverse has its own Gavan and support team. These Multiverses are: Multiverse Earth Α0073 (Alpha 0073), Multiverse Earth Λ8018 (Lambda 8018), and Multiverse Earth Ι5109 (Iota 5109).

This one features the Multiverse Concept -- a common trope in classic superhero lore. You may find the concept similar to that of the Marvel Universe, where certain characters may come from the Mainline continuity, the Age of Apocalypse continuity, the Askani Future, etc. The details I got seem to indicate NOTHING about the 1982 Ucchu Keiji Gavan, as this might either be an AU Gavan or a complete reboot. If it's a soft reboot then the chances are we'd see Kenji Ohba despite his AGE.

Multiverse Earth Α0073 (Alpha 0073) main characters

Details for the main hero:

Reiji Doki/Gavan Infinity (played by Kouhei Nagata) is an investigator belonging to the Documents Division of the Galactic Federal Police's Earth Branch. Filled with a passionate sense of justice, he is honest about his anger. Influenced by his master, he joined the Galactic Federal Police. After being exposed to a special form of Emorgy, he gained the ability to transcend dimensions.

Using the "Documents Division", a dead end department as cover, he will travel across dimensions, to any universe where an Emorgear incident occurs on the infinitely numerous multiverse Earths. Each time, he meets someone calling themselves "Gavan" from that universe, and while they are sometimes misunderstood and sometimes hit it off, they pursue "Emogear criminals" and engage in joint investigations, eventually forming a strong friendship with the "Gavan" from another universe.

The shade of red for the main hero, Gavan Infinity, reminds me of the direct Gavan sequel (but soft sequel), namely Ucchu Keiji Sharivan. I preferred Sharivan over Gavan in terms of characters. The new organization, Galactic Federal Police, is a direct take on the Galactic Union Police Force from the original series. However, it's really clear that the series 

Apparently, these Emorgears might actually be similar to the Alienizers in Tokosou Sentai Dekaranger. Dekaranger even had a movie with Ucchu Keiji Gavan. Gavan also got tangled up with Super Sentai in a few turns. It looks like these Emorgears might actually be the label for generic criminals rather than a central organization. The term Alienizer was used to label ANY criminal in Dekararanger, whether they were aligned with Abrella or not.

Colonel Daisuke Date (played by Arihiro Matsunaga) was Reiji's classmate at the police academy. He always speaks and acts calmly, and has a gently demeanor. He is able to control even eccentric people (including Reiji). As the head of the Documents Division, he supports Reiji in his investigations. Since his student days, he has believed and researched the existence of the multiverse "Cosmo Layer". Because he does not have a special constitution like Reiji, he is unable to leave the Cosmo Gavarion when on business trips to other universes. He hopes that one day he will be able to roam freely across the multiverse Earths, and he continues his research to achieve this. 

This might actually be a huge handicap. What's about this special constitution like Reiji? Why is he unable to leave the Cosmo Gavarion when on business trips to other Universes? This might actually be an interesting plotline.

AGI (played by Kohana Arisaka), is an autonomous AI and an all-purpose assistant for the Documents Division created by the Colonel. Her name stands for Artificial General Intelligence. She acts by anticipating the Colonel and Reiji's thoughts. She has a physical form like a human, and can transform her body into particles and infiltrate anywhere. When necessary, she also assists Reiji in his investigative activities across the multiverse. She can also transform the particles that make up her body and change her costume at will.

This makes me laugh, thinking about android women. Most AI women were usually meant to be non-robotic. So what's Toei doing with another female android character character here? Her concept reminds me of Kyoju Tokosou Juspion's Anri -- a robot girl that served as the assistant to the main hero Juspion. We also had Izu from Kamen Rider Zero-One. 

Rikiya Wanibuchi (played by Hiroto Yasuda) and PatRun (voiced by Takehito Koyasu) are a duo of elite investigators from the First Investigative Division of the Galactic Federal Police's Earth Branch. They boast that the First Investigative Division is the star department, and always treat the Documents Division as a dwarf, and are completely unaware of their true nature. Both were classmates with Reiji and the Colonel at the police academy. PatRun is an alien from the planet Hyakuto.

The new duo of eliteinvestigators. This looks like the kind of "necessary conflict" or "necessary foil" like Hoji Toru was in Kamen Rider Agito. Patrun happens to be that "cute mascot character" that might be needed for the Bandai merchandise. How does this plot fuel things with someonewho doesn't realize that the Documents Division have been saving the heroes behind their backs? It looks like we're going to play on secret identities again. 

Carel Qom Vigiles (played by Yuta Hiraoka), the head of the Security Bureau of the Galactic Federal Police's Earth Branch. A man of unknown age and a mysterious character, he is said to have been involved in the founding of the Documents Division. Despite being a high ranking official in the organization, he secretly supports the Documents Division's investigations.

The name Qom almost feels like a throwbak to Commander Qom from the original Gavan. What's this guy's motives for supporting the Documents Division in secrets? Hmmm....

Multiverse Earth Λ8018 (Lambda 8018)

Setsuna Aikokuin/Gavan Bushido (played by Ryuga Akahane) is the Gavan from the Multiverse Earth Λ8018. In this dimesion, Gavan is the captain of the Special Forces of the Public Order Maintenance Headquarters. He is a silent warrior who values the code of honor. In fact, he is an artificial human created for war, with the ability to automatically repair wounds, and has lived for thousands of years. 

Over the years of traveling to various planets, he has become interested in human emotions and has learned to control his facial expressions, but he is unable to cry because he is not equipped with the ability to shed tears. He admires the act of crying. 

This one creates another non-human hero. His interest in human emotions makes me think of Naga from Ucchu Sentai Kyuranger. However, he's actually an artificial human that has lived for thousands of years. He's probably a result of a genetic experiment 1,000 years ago, before the series began. This makes him the oldest known character!

Rui Amou (played by Anna Iriyama) is the head of the Public Order Maintenance Headquarters of the Multiverse Earth Λ8018 and is Setsuna's superior. She is calm, confident, and a capable boss who trusts Setsuna very much. She looks just like the woman from another planet who gave Setsuna her name long ago, but Rui is not yet aware of this.

At this point, this could be a mystery of, "Is she or is she not?" We've got a lot of doppelgangers walking around in the Earth. I even feel like hundreds of people might bear my face on this planet! This could create an interesting mystery!

Multiverse Earth Ι5109 (Iota 5109)

Kiki Iwai/Gavan Luminous (played by Kokona Sumi) is the Gavan from Multiverse Earth Ι5109. The Gavan in this dimension is an unusual detective who is recognized as Gavan, despite being in the Forensics Department. She excels in deductive and analytical skills, but has an otaku-like nature and is completely focused on what interests her.

​Her joy is "knowing", and is particularly interested in Emorgear. She can understand the language of the Emorgear. She accurately analyzes situations and seeks solutions with the optimal equipment.

This would be a bring back for classic female sidekicks in the Metal Hero franchise. There were a few cases of transforming sidekicks like Diana in Jiku Senshi Spielban. Female secondary Kamen Riders have become more and more of a thing -- despite having no female lead as a titular hero. Female characters may usually be put in a female secondary market. It's not like Sailor Moon franchise where the main target was the female demographic. In my case, I felt that having a woman who excels in deductive and analytical skills might be the badly needed lifesaver for the male heroes! I always felt that, despite lacking female leads -- the female sidekicks are the necessary balancers! However, I feel her concept feel smore likeshe should be a non-transforming sidekick that provides the badly needed BTS support. 

Kotobuki Takanari (played by Lana Tanida) is Gavan Luminous' investigation partner. Skilled and active, she excels in weapons handling and martial arts. She has been best friends with Kiki since high school, and has always been the straight man to Kiki's laid-back attitude. 

On the other hand, we've go thte action oriented female. I was thinking about the striaght woman to Kiki's laid back is the perfect balancer. It's kinda funny to see Kotobuki as the sidekick instead of Kiki. I mean, I would've probably recommended her over Kiki. But it seems the show wants to break some tropes!

Other details

Now for the voice cast, Toshihiko Seki (Kamen Rider Den-O, Mobile Suit Gundam Wing) will voice the Gavarion Trigger and Cosmo Gavarion's system, while Ayako Kawasumi (Fate/stay night) will voice the Emorgear and will narrate the series.

Lastly, May'n will perform the show's theme song, "LOVE IS THE STRONGEST". As previously reported, Atsuhiro Tomioka (Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger) will serve as the show's head writer, with veteran tokusatsu suit actor and action director Hirofumi Fukuzawa serving as director. Veteran Toei tokusatsu special effects director Hiroshi Butsuda will serve as special effects director, while Kentaro Sonoda (KonoSuba) and Yuki Nara (The Legendary Hero is Dead!) will both compose the show's music.

Super Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity is set to premiere on February 15th at 9:30pm JST only on TV Asahi.

This reminds me that it's going to be close to the Lunar New Year. I'm also feeling old thiking how Super Sentai was 50 years old in 2025. The hiatus chose to happen that year instead of one more season to close the circle. Boonboomger's head writer would also be involved. Hopefully, this will be a new franchise that might pump more fresh ideas into Toei Ltd. Super Sentai's fate is best resolved depending on how the market will be in the future.