Kaiketsu Lion-Maru

Extraordinary Hero Lion-Maru (快傑ライオン丸) was a Japanese tokusatsu television series in the Lion-Maru franchise that aired in 1972–1973, produced by P Productions and set during Japan's Sengoku period (the Age of Warring States).

Plot
During the late 16th century (September 1, 1567 to December 31, 1600), a trio of ninja orphans are wandering Japan and saving people from evil by battling a villain of the week in each episode, all of which are serving the devil known as Gousan. The main character, Shishimaru, has been granted the ability to transform into a superpowered anthropomorphic white lion, usually wielding a katana.

Characters

 * Shishimaru (獅子丸): A man who becomes Lion-Maru (ライオン丸) by unsheathing the katana Kinsachi (キンサチ) and uttering the words "O Wind! O Light! Ninja Art: Lion Change!" (「風よ！光よ！忍法：獅子変化！」) to take on the power.
 * Saori (沙織): An acrobatic female fighter who often becomes a damsel in distress.
 * Kosuke (小助): The young boy who uses his flute to summon the Pegasus known as Hikarimaru.
 * Gousan (豪山): The series' chief villain.
 * Tora Jōnosuke (虎 錠之介) (episodes 27-30, 36-54): A man recruited by Gosun, given the mysterious sword Ginsachi (ギンサチ) to become Tiger Joe (タイガージョー).
 * Kashinkouji (家臣工事): The elderly mentor who adopted the three war orphans (Shishimaru, Saori, and Kosuke) and taught them everything they know. After perishing from an attack by Gousan's forces, his souls is reincarted as the Pegasus known as Hikarimaru.

Episodes

 * 1) Emissary of Darkness Orochi (魔王の使者オロチ)
 * 2) Beat It!! Monster Yamawaro Child (倒せ‼怪人ヤマワロ童子)
 * 3) The Demon Forest: Wakuranba (魔の森 わくらんば)
 * 4) Musasabian: Explosion Plan!! (ムササビアン 爆破作戦！！)
 * 5) Obo, the Grim Reaper Who Came From Hell (地獄から来た死神オボ)
 * 6) The Man-Eating Flower Flowander (人食い花フラワンダー)
 * 7) The Cursed Gold Mine: Ginzame (呪われた金山 ギンザメ)
 * 8) Shadow Clone Demon King Debonoba and Monster Iwageba (分身魔王デボノバと怪人イワゲバ)
 * 9) The Vampire Who Calls Death, Monster Zombie (死を呼ぶ吸血怪人ゾンビー)
 * 10) Water of Death: Poison Newt (死の水 ドクイモリ)
 * 11) Wolf of Hell, Kamakirian! (地獄の狼カマキリアン！)
 * 12) Monster Gilozie: The Sea's Pits (怪人ギロジー 海の落し穴)
 * 13) Monster Umikaburo and The Man-Eating Merman (怪人ウミカブロと人食い怪魚)
 * 14) The Wandering Monster Nezuganda (さすらいの怪人ネズガンダ)
 * 15) Elethunder: The Duel On The Hell Valley (エレサンダー 地獄谷の決闘)
 * 16) The Creeping Hands of Evil: Meleonga (忍びよる魔の手 メレオンガ)
 * 17) Monster Jeromo: The Demonic Beacon (怪人ジェロモ 悪魔のノロシ)
 * 18) Monster Muiodoro: The Call of The Blessed Mountain! (怪人ムイオドロ 恵山の叫び！)
 * 19) The Monster Who Takes Children: The Confrontation at Sunset! (子連れ怪人 夕陽の対決！)
 * 20) The Killer Pursuer Kumaoroji (殺しの追跡者クマオロジ)
 * 21) Hannyarasu: A Mother's Love Lullaby (ハンニャラス 母恋い子守唄)
 * 22) The Stolen Pipe: Monster Kibagira (盗まれた笛 怪人キバギラー)
 * 23) The Snake and Scorpion Monster Dakatsu (蛇と蝎の怪人ダカツ)
 * 24) Lion Flying Slash vs Monster Tobimusashi (ライオン飛行斬り対怪人トビムサシ)
 * 25) Shadow Hunter Monster Mothgiger (影狩り怪人モスガイガー)
 * 26) The Last Defense Captain Kuwarugirubi (最後の守備隊長クワルギルビ)
 * 27) Great Demon King Gorsun Gets Mad! (大魔王ゴースン怒る！)
 * 28) The Evil Swordsman Tiger Joe (悪の剣士タイガージョー)
 * 29) Three Shadows: Monster Dokuronga (影三つ 怪人ドクロンガ)
 * 30) Monster Matsubaraba: The Mystery of The Solitary Pine Tree (怪人マツバラバ 一本松の謎)
 * 31) The Demon Sword of Resentment: Orochi Junior (怨みの魔剣 オロチジュニア)
 * 32) Gamaurufu: The Note's Secret (ガマウルフ 覚え書の秘密)
 * 33) The Heartless Robber: Gamemadara (非情の盗賊 ガメマダラ)
 * 34) The Killer Melody: Monster Pandaran (殺しのメロディ 怪人パンダラン)
 * 35) Laughing In Blood Monster Arisazen (血に笑う怪人アリサゼン)
 * 36) The Broken Spear: Monster Hachigaraga (折れた槍 怪人ハチガラガ)
 * 37) The Targeted Man: Monster Todokazura (狙われた男 怪人トドカズラ)
 * 38) Gorsun's Secret: Monster Tatsudorodo (ゴースンの秘密 怪人タツドロド)
 * 39) Monster Kichiku: The Evil Buddha (怪人キチク 悪の念佛)
 * 40) Great Demon King Gorsun: Gets Mad Once Again! (大魔王ゴースン 再び怒る！)
 * 41) Great Demon King Gorsun: Aim For That Heart! (大魔王ゴースン あの胸を狙え！)
 * 42) The Killer Stranger: Kilgod (殺しの流れ者 キルゴッド)
 * 43) Betrayal's Ridge: Monster Girara (裏切りの峠 怪人ギララ)
 * 44) A Female Ninja's Tears: Monster Meganda (くの一の涙 怪人メガンダ)
 * 45) A Runaway Ninja's Animal Path: Monster Hanzaki (抜け忍けもの道 怪人ハンザキ)
 * 46) The Biwa Master of Darkness: Monster Noizer (暗闇の琵琶法師 怪人ノイザー)
 * 47) The Coffin of Hell: Monster Jenma (地獄の棺桶 怪人ジェンマ)
 * 48) The Hitman Covered In Wounds: Monster Mafian (傷だらけの殺し屋 怪人マフィアン)
 * 49) The Terrifying Butcher: Monster Jammla (恐るべき屠殺人 怪人ジャムラ)
 * 50) Hang Up Lionmaru!! Monster Juukaku (ライオン丸を吊るせ‼怪人ジュウカク)
 * 51) The Final Eight: Monster Avter (最後の八人衆 怪人アブター)
 * 52) The Fast-Drawing Six-Chambered Revolver: Monster Gunrad (早射ち六連発 怪人ゴンラッド)
 * 53) The Sad Tiger Joe's End! (悲しきタイガージョーの最期！)
 * 54) Lion-Maru: The Final Battle To The Death (ライオン丸 最後の死闘)

Cast

 * Tetsuya Ushio as Shishimaru / Kaiketsu Lion Maru (voice)
 * Akiko Kujō as Saori
 * Norihiko Umechi as Kosuke
 * Kazuo Kamoshida as Kaiketsu Lion Maru (suit actor)
 * Shingo Fukushima as Tiger Joe (suit actor)
 * Kiyoshi Kobayashi as Akuma Gosun / Devil Gosuun (voice)
 * Kōji Tonohiro as Tora Jōnosuke / Tiger Joe (voice) [episodes 27-30, 36-41]
 * Yoshitaka Fukushima as Tora Jōnosuke / Tiger Joe (voice) [episodes 42-54]
 * Daisaku Shinohara as Narrator

Music

 * Opening Theme
 * "Kaze yo Hikari yo" (風よ光よ) by Yuuki Hide (秀夕木) & Young Fresh (ヤング・フレッシュ)
 * Ending Themes
 * "Lion-Maru ga yatte kuru" (ライオン丸がやってくる) by Young Fresh (ヤング・フレッシュ)

International broadcasts and home video

 * The series was released in Japan on DVD on October 25, 2002 to commemorate the series' 30th anniversary broadcasting, via Volume 1. Then on December 25, 2002, Volume 2 of the series was broadcast. A DVD boxset that contains all 54 episodes of the series was released on March 26, 2008.
 * It was broadcast in Thailand around 1974 every Sunday on Channel 5 in Thai dubbed, as Nakak Sing (หน้ากากสิงห์, lit. Lion Mask).
 * The series was broadcast in Italy in 1983, dubbed, as Ultralion.
 * The series was also dubbed into English, but only one episode (the first) surfaced in North America, released on a VHS tape in 1986 distributed by Kids Klassics and also by Remco through other copies, entitled Magic of the Ninja and sold through toy store chains such as Toys R Us.
 * It was aired in Brazil with a Brazilian Portuguese dub under the title Lion Man (or otherwise known as Lion Man Branco as he became known in the region) on Rede Manchete in 1990, following the success of airing its sequel series Fuun Lion-Maru first. But unlike that, this series was reportedly a flop and it did not last long on the network, given that the sequel was more popular and that one actually aired first.

DVD release
In P Productions' publicity materials for the 2002 DVD release, Lion Maru was subtitled The Beast-Transformed Ninja Warrior.