Avataro Sentai Donbrothers

Avataro Sentai Donbrothers (暴太郎戦隊ドンブラザーズ) is a Japanese tokusatsu television drama, the 46th entry in Toei's long-running Super Sentai series and the third produced in the Reiwa era. The series is a semi-sequel to the previous entry, Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger, and premiered one week after its ending, joining Kamen Rider Revice and later, Kamen Rider Geats in the Super Hero Time lineup on TV Asahi on March 6, 2022. The series is loosely based on the Japanese folktale of Momotarō and the heroes fight monsters whose designs pay tribute to previous installments of the franchise.

Donbrothers began airing in South Korea as Power Rangers Don-Brothers. It was also the first series of the franchise since Gaoranger to air officially in mainland China.

Plot
A man called Jin Momoi finds a baby inside a peach-shaped capsule whom he names Taro and raises. 21 years later, mysterious monsters called the Hitotsuki begin appearing when humans overcome with their inner desires are taken over by the spirits infused with powers related to the Super Sentai of the past. Taro, and four other individuals selected by Jin; Shinichi Saruhara, a smart but eccentric young man, Haruka Kitou, a high schooler manga artist, Tsubasa Inuzuka, a wanted fugitive, and Tsuyoshi Kijino, an ordinary salaryman; begin fighting the Hitotsuki and saving their hosts as the Donbrothers. They are later joined by Jiro Momotani, who was also found in a capsule as a baby and raised in a rural area, whose dream is to become a hero.

Also standing in their way are the Nouto, elusive and ruthless individuals from a higher plane of existence who stop the Hitotsuki by sealing their hosts in another dimension, unlike the Donbrothers, who use their powers to rescue them, Don Murasame, a mysterious warrior sent to fight them, and the Juto, strange and powerful creatures who are a threat to both humans and the Nouto. The Donbrothers also count on the help of Kaito Goshikida, the owner of the coffee shop Donbura who transforms into Zenkaizer Black, and Jin, who is trapped in a virtual prison and occasionally offers them advice.

Production
The trademark for the series was filed by Toei Company on October 18, 2021, while the cast and staff was officially announced on February 9, 2022, with Toshiki Inoue as main writer.

Don Momotaro, one of the main protagonists, first appeared in episode 42 of Zenkaiger as a mean of connecting both series. Two members of the team have inhuman proportions while transformed and are animated with computer graphics. The series is the first in the franchise to make use of on-set virtual production.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
Haruka Kitou's actress, Kohaku Shida, tested positive for COVID-19 on July 27, 2022, and recovered on August 9, 2022.

New First Love Hero
Avataro Sentai Donbrothers the Movie: New First Love Hero (暴太郎戦隊ドンブラザーズ THE MOVIE 新・初恋ヒーロー) is a film released in Japanese theaters on July 22, 2022, double-billed with the film for Kamen Rider Revice. Actors Wakako Shimazaki, Nobuo Kyo, and Rika Kishida guest-starred as Reiko Saegusa, Director Kuroiwa, and an unnamed recipient respectively. The events of the film take place between episodes 20 and 21. This film is a tribute to Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger.

Special episodes

 * Avataro Sentai Donbrothers Meets Kamen Rider Den-O: Aim! Don-O (暴太郎戦隊ドンブラザーズmeets仮面ライダー電王 目指せ！ドン王): A three-episode web-exclusive short special released on the Bandai Official, TV Asahi Super Hero Time, and Toei Tokusatsu YouTube Official YouTube channels on March 1, 2022, containing a series of skits starring Don Momotaro and Kamen Rider Den-O. Toshihiko Seki reprised his voice role as Kamen Rider Den-O Sword Form.
 * 1) Let's Eat (たべよう)
 * 2) Let's Use (つかおう)
 * 3) Breakfast (あさめし)
 * Avataro Sentai Donbrothers Meets Senpaiger (暴太郎戦隊ドンブラザーズmeetsセンパイジャー): A web-exclusive short special released on the Bandai Official, TV Asahi Super Hero Time, and Toei Tokusatsu YouTube Official YouTube channels on March 9, 2022. It shows Don Momotaro using his powers to Avatar Change into eleven past Red Sentai from Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger to Mashin Sentai Kiramager and Zenkaizer from Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger. The shorts were released to promote the then-upcoming crossover film between Zenkaiger and Kiramager, which starred the featured past Red Sentai warriors as a tribute to Senpaigers.
 * Avataro Sentai Donbrothers Spin-Off: This Is the Donbrothers' Roll Call! The True Avataro!? (暴太郎戦隊ドンブラザーズ スピンオフ コレがドンブラザーズの名乗りだ！暴太郎のホントの姿！？): A web-exclusive short special released on the Bandai Official, TV Asahi Super Hero Time, and Toei Tokusatsu YouTube Official YouTube channels on March 30, 2022.
 * Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger With Donbrothers (忍風戦隊ハリケンジャーwithドンブラザーズ): A web-exclusive special released on Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club on December 25, 2022, featuring the Donbrothers teaming up with the Hurricanegers as part of the celebrations for the 20th anniversary of Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger with Shun Shioya, Nao Nagasawa, and Kōhei Yamamoto reprising their respective roles.
 * Bakuryū Sentai Abaranger With Donbrothers (爆竜戦隊アバレンジャーwithドンブラザーズ): A web-exclusive special released on Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club on August 27, 2023, featuring the Donbrothers teaming up with the Abarangers as part of the celebrations for the 20th anniversary of Bakuryū Sentai Abaranger with Koichiro Nishi, Sho Tomita, and Michi Nishijima reprising their respective roles.
 * Avataro Sentai Donbrothers vs. Avataro Sentai Donburies (暴太郎戦隊ドンブラザーズVS暴太郎戦隊ドンブリーズ): A web-exclusive special released on Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club on November 5, 2023.

Donbrothers vs. Zenkaiger
Avataro Sentai Donbrothers vs. Zenkaiger (暴太郎戦隊ドンブラザーズVSゼンカイジャー) is an V-Cinema release that features a crossover between Donbrothers and Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger. The V-Cinema had a limited theatrical release on May 3, 2023, followed by its DVD and Blu-ray release later on September 27, 2023. This film is divided into three acts, focusing on the Donbrothers and Zenkaigers after their respective series, before uniting in the final act. The events of the V-Cinema take place a year after the final episode of the series.

King-Ohger vs. Donbrothers
Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger vs. Donbrothers (王様戦隊キングオージャーVSドンブラザーズ) is an upcoming V-Cinema release that features a crossover between Donbrothers and Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger. The V-Cinema is scheduled for a limited theatrical release on April 26, 2024, double-billed with Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger vs. Kyoryuger, and followed by its DVD and Blu-ray release on October 9, 2024.

Cast

 * Taro Momoi (桃井 タロウ): Kouhei Higuchi (樋口 幸平)
 * Shinichi Saruhara (猿原 真一): Yuuki Beppu (別府 由来)
 * Haruka Kitou (鬼頭 はるか): Kohaku Shida (志田 こはく)
 * Tsubasa Inuzuka (犬塚 翼): Totaro (柊太朗)
 * Tsuyoshi Kijino (雉野 つよし): Hirofumi Suzuki (鈴木 浩文)
 * Jiro Momotani (桃谷 ジロウ): Raizou Ishikawa (石川 雷蔵)
 * Kaito Goshikida (五色田 介人): Kiita Komagine (駒木根 葵汰)
 * Sonoi (ソノイ): Yuya Tominaga (富永 勇也)
 * Sononi (ソノニ): Amisa Miyazaki (宮崎 あみさ)
 * Sonoza (ソノザ): Shinnosuke Takahashi (タカハシ シンノスケ)
 * Sonoshi (ソノシ): Tomoki Hirose (廣瀬 智紀)
 * Sonogo (ソノゴ): Mana Takai (高井 真菜)
 * Sonoroku (ソノロク): Shin Koyanagi (小柳 心)
 * Miho Kijino (雉野 みほ), Natsumi Kuramochi (倉持 夏美): Momoko Arata (新田 桃子)
 * Yuriko Kitou (鬼頭 ゆり子): Hitomi Miwa (三輪 ひとみ)
 * Kenji Sayama (狭山 健児): Ryoji Sugimoto (杉本 凌士)
 * Manager Yamada (山田部長): Kohtaro Taki (滝 晃太朗)
 * Ishikawa (石川): Takahito Ueda (植田 敬仁)
 * Takenaka (竹中): Akira Takeuchi (竹内 啓)
 * Kiriyama (桐山): Ryosuke Yusa (遊佐 亮介)
 * Jin Momoi (桃井 陣): Soko Wada (和田 聰宏)
 * Don Murasame (ドンムラサメ): Ayumu Murase (村瀬 歩)
 * Mother (マザー): Mamiko Noto (能登 麻美子)
 * Donbrothers Equipment Voice, Ninjark Sword Voice: Daiki Hamano (濱野 大輝)
 * Don Doragoku/Don Torabolt Equipment Voice: Romi Park (朴 璐美)

Guest cast

 * Haruo Suzuki (鈴木 春男): Seiya (せいや)
 * Dandy (6): Tomohito Wakizaki (脇崎 智史)
 * Man (8): Satoru Soma (相馬 理)
 * Makoto Tanabe (田辺 誠): Yuya Hirata (平田 雄也)
 * Reiko Saegusa (三枝 玲子): Wakako Shimazaki (島崎 和歌子)
 * Tetsu Utsunomiya (宇都宮 テツ): Seikō Senoo (妹尾 青洸)
 * Kentarō Gōda (豪田 健太郎): Tet Wada (テット・ワダ)
 * Butler (22): Katsumi Nakayama (中山 克己)
 * Takeo Aota (青田 武夫): Yoshito Momiki (籾木 芳仁)
 * Oden cart owner (34, 37, 38, 49, 50): Hiroo Otaka (大高 洋夫)
 * Mutō (武藤): Hiroyuki Matsumoto (松本 博之)
 * Santa Claus (41): Yukijirō Hotaru (螢 雪次朗)
 * Sonona (ソノナ): Yuka Motohashi (本橋 由香)
 * Sonoya (ソノヤ): Kōhei Murakami (村上 幸平)
 * President of Jōdansha (50): Toshiki Inoue (井上 敏樹)

International broadcast

 * Donbrothers began airing in South Korea as Power Rangers Don-Brothers.
 * In the Chinese-speaking world, Both Mandarin (Taiwan dialect and Putonghua) and Cantonese dubs were produced and aired in Taiwan, Mainland China and Hong Kong respectively.
 * In Taiwan, the series began airing with a Taiwanese Mandarin dub on June 16, 2023 and is scheduled to finish its broadcast in June, 2024 with all episodes dubbed, airing on EBC Yoyo.
 * In Mainland China, the series aired with a Putonghua dub from December 25, 2022 until December 24, 2023.
 * In Hong Kong, the series aired with a Cantonese Chinese dub on June 18, 2023 on ViuTV and is scheduled to finish broadcast June, 2024 with all episodes dubbed. This would be the first Sentai Series to air on ViuTV.

Songs

 * Opening theme
 * "Ore koso Only One" (俺こそオンリーワン)
 * Lyrics: Neko Oikawa (及川 眠子)
 * Composition & Arrangement: Fuwari (フワリ)
 * Artist: Win Morisaki (森崎 ウィン)
 * Ending theme
 * "Don't Boo! Donbrothers" (Don't Boo！ドンブラザーズ)
 * Lyrics: Shio Watanabe (渡部 紫緒)
 * Composition & Arrangement: Go Sakabe (坂部 剛)
 * Artist: Win Morisaki

Reception
In an interview with series producer Shinichiro Shirakura, anime mecha designer Masami Ōbari praises the Donbrothers's mecha Don Onitaijin for its detailed proportions and its design, which he considered as an improvement over the past Sentai mechas. Shirakura added that the design of Don Onitaijin was decided as a sort of "revenge" when Zenkaiger's failed attempt to keep up with Bandai's toy release schedule. Ōbari had also hoped to participate in the production of Donbrothers in the future as a storyboard artist.