Ronin Warriors

Yoroiden Samurai Troopers (Legendary Armor Samurai Troopers) is a Japanese anime series created by Hajime Yatate. The anime was produced and animated by Sunrise, and aired across Japan on Nagoya Television from April 30, 1988 to March 4, 1989 and has a total of 39 episodes. There is also a 2-volume manga series that was published November 17th, 1988.

Ronin Warriors is an English dub of the series that was produced by Graz Entertainment and distributed by Cinar. The dub was recorded by the Ocean Group and first aired on American television during the summer of 1995 in syndication.

Ronin Warriors premiered on Toonami on September 27, 1999, ending the run of The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, which had been on the block since its inception. After appearing in every Toonami block that existed at the time (Toonami, Midnight Run, Rising Sun) Ronin Warriors ended its run on Toonami in March of 2001.

Plot
Talpa, the demon lord of the Netherworld, is bent on conquering the mortal world. Standing against Talpa and his four Dark Warlords are the five Ronin Warriors, each in possession of mystical armor and weapons. They are assisted by Mia Koji, a young student-teacher, and a mysterious warrior-monk known only as The Ancient.

Characters
Ryo Sanada — is the unofficial leader of the Ronin Warriors. He is often "hot-headed" and tends to charge ahead without putting too much thought into the situation beforehand (like Kento). Nevertheless, he has a big heart and cares for his friends. Ryo wears the Wildfire Armor and has an elemental affinity for fire. His virtue is righteousness and he wields a twin pair of katanas. When Ryo gathers energy and the guiding Virtues from the other four Ronin or Warlord Armors, the Armor of Inferno, sometimes simply called the White Armor in the dub, forms around him.

Sage Date — is a member of the Ronin Warriors and considered the most mature and aloof member of the team. Sage wears the Halo Armor and has an elemental affinity for Light/Lightning. His virtue is wisdom and he weilds a nodachi, a japanese broadsword.

Cye Mouri — is the oldest of member of the Ronin Warriors and normally one of the calmest. He has an Australian accent in the English dubbing. Cye wears the Torrent Armor and has an elemental affinity for water. His Virtue is Faith and he weilds a trident.

Kento Rei Fang — is a member of the Ronin Warriors and arguably has the greatest physical strength of the entire group, shown to perform feats like stopping speeding trucks, without using his armor. Like Ryo, he has a short temper and is quick to anger when provoked, but he also has the biggest heart, and is a loyal friend when push comes to shove. Kento wears the Hardrock Armor and has an elemental affinity for Earth. His virtue is Justice and his weapon is a combination of a three section staff and a naginata, known as a sanketsukon and he sometimes wields the sanketsukon like a pair of nunchakus in close combat.

Rowen Hashiba — is a member of the Ronin Warriors and is considered the most intelligent of the group, which causes the Dark Warlord Dais to describe Rowen as the most cunning and therefore the most dangerous of the Ronins. He supposedly has an IQ of 250 and often serves as the voice of reason in the group as a counterbalance to the hotter tempers of Ryo and Kento. Rowen wears the Strata armor and has an elemental affinity for air. His virtue is life and his weapon is a collapsable bow which can be attached to the back of his armor, when not in use, along with a small metallic quiver, from which a seemingly unlimited amount of arrows can be drawn.

Episodes
Ronin Warriors is a 39 episode Japanese anime series that aired across Japan on Nagoya Television from April 30, 1988 to March 4, 1989. The series was produced by Graz Entertainment and distributed by Cinar.

All episodes of Ronin Warriors have been released on DVD in the U.S., including a box set titled: Ronin Warriors: Complete Collection. In 2014, Discotek Media announced that they have licensed Samurai Troopers, the original japanese version of Ronin Warriors and will release the complete series on DVD in February 2015 with English subtitles. They currently can't rerelease the English dubbed version for unknown reasons.

Broadcast History

 * Japan (Nagoya TV) — April 30, 1988 - March 4, 1989
 * United States (Syndication) — 1995 - 1996
 * United States (Sci Fi Channel) — 1997 - 1999
 * United States (Cartoon Network) — September 27, 1999 - March 9, 2001

Toonami Broadcast History
Ronin Warriors aired on Cartoon Network's Toonami block from September 27, 1999 to May 5, 2000. The series then returned for a second run from November 13, 2000 to March 9, 2001. The series also aired on Toonami's Midnight Run from October 2, 1999 to March 4, 2000 and the Rising Sun from April 15, 2000 to May 13, 2000.


 * Toonami — September 27, 1999 - May 5, 2000; November 13, 2000 - March 9, 2001
 * Midnight Run — October 2, 1999 - March 4, 2000
 * Rising Sun — April 15, 2000 - May 13, 2000