Uchuu Keiji Gavan (宇宙刑事ギャバン,Uchū Keiji Gyaban?), or Uchyu Keiji Gaban[1], translated in English as Space Sheriff Gavan, is the first of the Metal Hero Series. It aired on TV Asahi from Friday March 5, 1982 through February 25, 1983 at 7:30 pm.
For distribution purposes, Toei refers to this television series as Space Cop Gabin.
Despite the show not being adapted in America, Gavan was given the name as Captain Chaku in Power Rangers Beast Morphers.
By September of 1981, the end of Tsuburaya Production's latest installment to the Ultra Series (Ultraman 80) and Kamen Rider Super-1 were finished. Toei Company were in the works of the next Super Sentai project (Dai Sentai Goggle-V), but they also wanted to have a solo superhero show for 1982, but not another Kamen Rider season. They wanted to have a brand new show that children could instantly jump into without having to know anything about the concept.
Producer Susumu Yoshikawa was in charge of the new series, and Katsushi Murakami was the head designer, which he came up with a drawing of a warrior who was wielding a sword with the universe behind him.
The 1st initial title for the project was "Space Detective Z", which would be scrapped. Other titles pitched around were Gingjiro and Ginbird. But the decision was finally settled on "Space Sheriff Gavan" based on the famous French actor Jean Gabin, who was immensely popular in Japan. It was also easy to trademark the name because of its non-Japanese background.
As for actors, it was decided to cast Keniji Ohba from the already acclaimed shows Battle Fever J (1979) & Denzi Sentai Denziman (1980) to play the main role of Retsu Ichijouji/Space Sheriff Gavan. Producer Susumu Yoshikawa informed Keniji Ohba that "If the show drops to single digits in ratings, it's getting the cut." So Ohba made sure his portrayal was likeable for audience members so they could come back to watch more. The average ratings for Space Sheriff Gavan was 18.6%, making it a very successful show.
Plot[]
Earth is invaded by the Makuu Empire (literally "demon space"), led by Don Horror, who had first destroyed a space colony near Earth. Don Horror wants to dominate the whole universe, and the Earth represents an obstacle that he has to overcome, but not necessarily destroying it. To do this, Don Horror sends spaceships to create panic on Earth. While the Makuu is trying to impose its dominance, Space Sheriff Gavan from the Galactic Union Patrol, arrives in his spaceship, the Dolgiran. He comes from the Bird Planet, the planet where Space Sheriffs are trained and where they are stationed while on call. Gavan is asked to defend the Earth, which is his mother's planet of origin.
Gavan is helped by Mimi, the daughter of Commander Qom, and is given information by Qom, assisted by Marin on his home planet. Gavan goes to Earth to defend it against Don Horror and his devilish schemes. He settles on Earth incognito, using his actual human name, Retsu Ichijouji; he takes a job at the Avalon Riding Club in Japan.
Some of the characters are renamed with the exception of Mimi. Also his codename Gavan is changed to Gavin as a nod to Sky Ranger Gavin. It was mentioned during the climax episodes in both ABS-CBN and GMA Tagalog dubs of Uchuu Keiji Shaider. Since this is the first Metal Hero of the Space Sheriff trilogy being dubbed in Tagalog as a sequel despite this entire series is before Uchuu Keiji Shaviran then to Uchuu Keiji Shaider. It was dubbed on IBC-13 (formerly known as VTV) every Wednesday afternoon in 1996. It made a re-runs on ABC-5 now known as TV5 during the Saturday afternoon line-up in 1999 and it was replayed on Solar Channel Philippines in 2001. Other characters like Commander Qom and Kojiro Oyama retain their Tagalog dub names in Uchuu Keiji Shaider.
Uchuu Keiji Gavan was released in the Philippines as Sky Ranger Gavin (although the eyecatch and the theme song still says Uchuu Keiji Gavan) in the early 1990s - years after its sequel Uchuu Keiji Shaider aired in that country. Oddly enough, the series was not as popular as Shaider.
Malaysia's screening of Gavan (translated as Space Cop Gaban) on local TV has gained itself a cult following, and the word 'Gaban' itself has become a meme. It's used after adjectives to give an image of bravery e.g "besar gaban" (epically big) or "gaban betul" (really brave).
In Indonesia, it was not release not on Television channel, but release on VHS on 1980s. The show was title call same as Malaysia title, Space Cop Gaban. It's used title Gaban, and most people of Indonesia give the word "Segede Gaban" (As big as gaban). It popular in Indonesia. And 1 notice, there's has similar statue from Ancol and has been demolished a long ago.
In Brazil, this show was aired as simply Space Cop.
Notes[]
The eyecatch for Uchuu Keiji Gavan features an illustration of Gavan with a Shotari Ishinimori-inspired look.
Although the show was called Space Sheriff Gavan, Gavan's design still had some leftover initial plans for the original title Space Detective Z. You can clearly see the remnant of a Z shape design on his chest. His laser attack was called Laser Z Beam.
In the Philippine Dub, the original title logo during the beginning of the opening theme was replaced with the imposed Sky Ranger title logo.
This article is about a series entry (the 1st) in the Metal Hero Series.
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(Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters 31 & 32)