Skyers 5: A Challenge to New Heights

Skyers 5 - Skyers Five - Full Review and Recommendation

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Broadcast period

1967/10/04 ~ 1972/03/30 First period: 1967/10/04 ~ 1967/12/27 *Black and white version 2nd period: 1971/10/07 ~ 1972/3/30 *Color remake version Broadcast every Wednesday from 19:00 to 19:30

Total number of episodes: 53 (14 black and white, 39 color)

■Broadcasting station

TBS Network

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 53

■Original Story

Kyojiro Sanada

■ Director

Haruyuki Kawashima

■ Production

Planning and production: TBS
Video production: TCJ (now Eiken)

■Works

©TBS

■ Story

A serious incident occurs when a passenger plane bound for Japan is shot down by a missile. Hayatoru miraculously survives, losing his mother and sister who were on board. He learns that the incident was the work of an international crime organization called "Ghost," and decides to become a member of the elite International Police unit, "Skyers 5." Taro, who has recently joined the S5 team, confronts "Ghost" with his trusted companions.

■Explanation

Following on from "Eight Man" and "Space Boy Solan", this was produced in collaboration between TBS and TCJ. It was one of the first series to incorporate the "group spy action by multiple agents with different special skills" element of the 1967 foreign TV drama "Mission: Impossible". It is also a unique work with high-quality entertainment value that can be enjoyed by adults as well. Prior to the broadcast, a manga by Noboru Kawasaki, who was in charge of character design, was serialized in Shueisha's "Shonen Book".
This series was originally produced in black and white, but the series ended before the story was resolved. However, four years later, a new color version was produced, with the exception of a few episodes, and the final battle with Ghost was successfully depicted.

■Cast

・S5 (Juntaro) / Hideo Nakamura ・S1 (Captain) / Kyosuke Maki ・S2 (Polka) / Setsue Wakui ・S3 (Yuri) / Yoko Kuri ・S4 (Samson) / Takuzo Kamiyama ・Ghost / Masayasu Takato

■ Main staff

・Original story by Kyojiro Sanada・Original concept by Taro Koizumi and Takashi Ishikawa・Character design by Noboru Kawasaki・Composition and director (chief director) by Haruyuki Kawashima・Direction by Haruhisa Sasaki, Toru Murayama, Mineharu Yamaguchi, Tatsuo Ono, Isao Yamamoto, Isao Kawachi・Animation by Kiyoshi Onishi, Setsuo Keuchi, Yoshiyuki Kumao, Hisae Namba, Shojiro Hirakawa, and others・Art by Minoru Izumiya, Tadashi Igarashi, Hiroshi Ota, Keiji Kamezaki, Saburo Kameya, and others・Music by Ichiro Tsukasa

■ Main Characters

・S5 (Hayato Taro)
A young man who joined the army after a certain incident. His symbol is a spade.
・S1 (Captain)
The unit's commander. A gentleman who calmly monitors the movements of his troops.
・S2 (Polka)
He is the mood maker of the squad, and has a diamond as his symbol. He is good at driving.
・S3 (Yuri)
She is the only female member who saves Taro from danger. Her symbol is a heart.
・S4 (Samson)
A member of the unit who boasts great strength and a distinctive large build. His symbol is a club.
Peter: The white jaguar who was rescued by Taro on a deserted island. The squad's mascot.
・Ghost The leader of the crime organization "Ghost." He operates secretly all over the country as a merchant of death.

■ Theme songs and music

・OP
・"Skyers 5"
Lyrics by Sanpei Akasaka Music by Koichi Sugiyama Song by Honey Knights IN
・"Skyers March"
Lyrics by Sanpei Akasaka, Music by Ichiro Tsukasa, Sung by Kamitakada Boys Choir

■Detailed evaluation and recommendation

"Skyers 5" is an anime series that aired on TBS from 1967 to 1972, and is still loved by many fans today due to its unique charm and historical background. This work is a spy action anime that depicts the exploits of the elite unit "Skyers 5" that fights against the international crime organization "Ghost," and made a strong impression on viewers at the time.

Story and Characters

The story centers on Hayato, who lost his mother and sister in a passenger plane shooting incident, and joins the "Skyers 5" in pursuit of revenge and justice. Hayato's growth and the bonds he forms with his teammates are depicted, deeply moving viewers. Each character has a rich personality, with different charms such as the Captain's calmness, Polka's cheerfulness, Yuri's kindness, and Samson's strength. Peter, the white jaguar, is also beloved as the team's mascot, adding warmth to the story.

Background and influences

"Skyers 5" was a joint production between TBS and TCJ (now Eiken) and was influenced by the TV drama "Operation Spy" at the time. This work introduced a new format of group espionage action by multiple agents and was accepted by a wide range of audiences, from adults to children. In addition, the transition from black and white to color reflected technological advances and enhanced the visual appeal. The character design by Noboru Kawasaki also contributed greatly to the success of the work.

Music and theme song

The theme song "Skyers 5" is sung by Honey Knights, and adds to the atmosphere of the work. The music by Koichi Sugiyama, who composed the song, resonates strongly with the viewers and enhances the worldview of the work. In addition, "Skyers March" is sung by the Kamitakada Boys' Choir, making it a song that symbolizes the team's unity. These musical pieces are important elements that further enhance the appeal of the work.

Recommended points

I highly recommend Skyers 5 for the following reasons:

• Depth of the story : Hayataro's revenge, growth, and bonds with his friends are depicted, leaving viewers in awe.
• Character appeal : Each character has a unique personality, making them beloved by viewers.
• Interesting production background : The production background is interesting, including the transition from black and white to color and the influence of foreign dramas.
• The appeal of music : The theme song and insert songs enhance the world view of the work and resonate with the viewers.

How to watch and related products

Skyers 5 is currently available on DVD and Blu-ray. Some episodes are also available on streaming services. Related merchandise includes character goods and soundtrack CDs, which are must-have items for fans. Additionally, the manga version by Noboru Kawasaki is also useful for gaining a deeper understanding of the worldview of the work.

summary

"Skyers 5" is a work that leaves a strong impression on viewers due to its unique story and characters, production background, and the charm of the music. As a pioneer of spy action anime, it continues to be loved by many fans today. Please watch it once and experience its charm.