Jetman | Chōjin Sentai Jetman | RPN & ABC 90s Filipino Dubbed Super Sentai Series

Jetman was a Filipino dubbed super hero kids show which first aired in RPN-9 every Sunday evening at around 6PM or 7PM in 1997, and later every weeknights on ABC-5 (now TV5) in 1998. Jetman was originally Chojin Sentai Jetman (鳥人戦隊ジェットマン Chōjin Sentai Jettoman), a Japanese tokusatsu television series by Toie Company and Bandai which is the 15th super sentai series. Chojin Sentai Jetman which translates to Bird Task Force Jetman originally aired on TV Asahi from February 15, 1991 to February 14, 1992 with a total of 51 episodes. Jetman pays homage to the Science Ninja Team Gatchaman 1972 anime series using a bird as its motif and some setup with its characters. Like most old school heisei series, Jetman was way ahead of its time with its darker tone, tragedies, and its emphasis on romance (love triangles). Let's go down memory lane as we look back at Jetman.


Chojin Sentai Jetman - The Story
Chojin Sentai Jetman Series Plot

The story starts in Sky Force, an Earth Ship command center where scientists have developed "Birdonic Waves" technology which gives its subject superhuman abilities. The experiments was called the "J-Project" was successful with Ryu Tendoh, one of the Sky Force officers successfully being exposed to the Birdonic Waves and making him the first Jetman - the Red Hawk. The J-Project was lead by Director Aya Odagiri who chosed five elite Sky Force officials from Earth to use this technology.


However, the Earth Ship gets suddenly attacked by Vyram, an evil outer-dimensional organization bent on inter-dimensional domination. Vyram successfully destroy the ship, apparently killing Ryu's lover and fellow candidate member Rie. In the process, the remaining Birdonic Waves for the other four official candidates were scattered on Earth, hitting four civilians. Odagiri and Tendoh successfully escape and begin searching on Earth for the four remaining Jetman, training them to aid them in stopping Vyram's plans of conquering Earth.

Kotaro Tanaka as Jetman Red Hawk Ryu Tendoh; Toshihide Wakamatsu as Jetman Black Condor Gai Yuki; and Rika Kishida as Jetman White Swan Kaori Rokumeikan.
Jetman Opening Theme
Chojin Sentai Jetman Series Intro



"Chōjin Sentai Jetman" (鳥人戦隊ジェットマン Chōjin Sentai Jettoman)

Lyrics by Toyohisa Araki
Composition and Arrangement by Gōji Tsuno
Artist: Hironobu Kageyama


Ikko Tadano as Jetman Yellow Owl Raita Oishi and Sayuri Uchida as Jetman Blue Swallow Ako Hayasaka
Jetman Closing Theme
Chojin Sentai Jetman Series Outtro



"Kokoro wa Tamago" (こころはタマゴ?, "The Heart is an Egg")

Lyrics by Toyohisa Araki
Composition by Kōji Tsuno
Arrangement by Kenji Yamamoto
Artist: Hironobu Kageyama
Jetman was one of those super sentai shows that treat kids with respect and the seriousness they deserve with its dark and serious tones. I was a 90s kid who grew up watching tokusatsu shows and Jetman combined all those elements and added darker elements setting up an 11-year old kid on what life would probably be like in the not so far off future. It was a different time back in the 90s... it was awesome! Kids show started waning when Philippine television companies started patronizing more US kids shows and local teledramas than borrowing from our neighbor Japan. I can even say we can even blame media for making kids such drama kings and queens nowadays, Hahahaha. Looking back at it now, it sure is one of those nostalgic super sentai series that has always painted a smile on my face.

My favorite Jetman is Jet Blue or Blue Swallow Ako. It has been somewhat ingrained in my head an episode focusing on her and this cup noodle (ramen) monster. I like blue and she was also very cute. My 11-year old television infatuation. I also clearly remember playing a Jetman game on a gaming rental shop back in the days for the Family Computer (known in the US as the Nintendo Entertainment System or NES). I remember it was tough as hell coz I suck a bit at platforming back in the days (never finished a megaman or rockman game EVAR! Hahahaha). I have dug some footage of Jetman the Game online and here is what the game was like.



What about you guys? What are your fondest memories, favorite episode, character or merchandise from Jetman? Share your thoughts and experiences about 90s Chojin Sentai Jetman in the comments section below: