The Special Duty Combat Unit Shinesman

Japanese OVA (original video animation) series

The Special Duty Combat Unit Shinesman (特務戦隊シャインズマン) is a Japanese anime OVA of two episodes. It was released in Japan on February 21, 1996. It is based on the Manga comic art of Kaimu Tachibana and Hideki Sonoda, and directed by Shinya Sadamitsu. The character designer was Akiharu Ishii. The video was produced by Gakken, Aniplex, and Movic. The film has been dubbed into English by Media Blasters, and released on DVD in North America.

The Special Duty Combat Unit Shinesman video is a parody of the famous Super Sentai series of Tokusatsu programs. The king of the alien planet, "Voice", has declared war against Earth. However, the war takes a peculiar form; it is a war of "Big Business". The king's plan is to send Prince Sasaki and his strategist, Seki, to Earth, in order to form a corporation which is large enough to rule Earth. The corporation would fund a television series titled "Greatman" and control its marketing. Earth, however, has The Special Duty Combat Unit Shinesman, a team of heroes ready to fight back. The opposing corporation, the "Right Trading Company" has created the Shinesman team along the lines of the superhero television programs of their day.

The characters were created with particular well known Japanese actors in mind to voice them, both initially, and if a series was filmed. Moreover, the characters were given names to represent these actors. As a curiosity, he shares his name with a real life actor who is a Super Sentai alumnus, having played Tsubasa Ozu/Magi Yellow in Mahou Sentai Magiranger and Masato Jin/Beet Buster in Tokumei Sentai Go Busters.

Hayami believes himself popular with women; a "ladies' man". He helps Matsumoto to learn the ways of the Right Trading Company.

Yamadera loves his car, a Montero. He becomes very anxious if someone else is working on it. He believes his color, grey, represents regal manliness.

Ono is a devoted husband and father. He loves his little girl, Tamari. He keeps her photo on his desk and buys her a fish soft toy. He is unimpressed by the team's weapons.

Hidaka is the only female in the team. Although she is an office girl she objects to being sent to get cigarettes or coffee. She tends to accidentally break things by crushing them.

Sakakibara is the Manager of Human Resources at the Good Trading Company. She is also the team's deputy leader. She fantasizes about being a Shinesman herself one day. She dislikes the color of four of the team. Her assistant is Tsukasa Nakamura.

Kasahara is a sweet natured and timid secretary who is actually from Voice. She came to Earth in search of her brother, who disappeared. Only Sakakibara knows her secret.

Sasaki leads the alien attack on Earth. Despite his leading role, Sasaki is angry at having to pose as a corporate employee. He is also unhappy to be working with his cousin, Shiina.

Seki is Lafure's brother. They are from Voice. Seki once opposed Voice's invasion of Earth. He was brainwashed and now joins Sasaki's mission. He has also forgotten his sister, so when Seki meets Hitomi/Lafure, he assumes that she is a spy. This particular plot point has not been resolved (see the notes below).

Shiina is Sakaki's excitable and ditzy cousin. She never shows any bare skin to men as she states, she would have to 'marry or kill' them. Sakaki is annoyed she has come on his mission. Shiina falls in love with Matsumoto/Shinesman Red and starts to oppose Voice's invasion of Earth. Shiina appears only as an anime character. However, she is drawn in manga form for the accompanying drama CD.

The film was received with mixed reviews. Despite its short length, it has a fan base, especially for the dubbed version. Some appreciated the comedy elements of the program, others less so.