Zettai Muteki Raijin-Oh

Aired: 1991

The first entry in Sunrise's Eldran robot trilogy, broadcast on TV Tokyo. When the malevolent Jaaku Beast Empire begins its invasion of Earth, an entire fifth-grade class of eighteen elementary schoolers is chosen by the Eldoran Earth Defense Corps to pilot the giant robot Raijin-Oh. The series uniquely casts a whole classroom in the role of mecha pilots, dividing roles among ordinary children who must balance schoolwork with saving the planet, while their school cleverly transforms into a hidden base. SILK's catchy opening Dream Shift exemplifies the show's bright energy, paired with a rousing choral ending performed by the cast that helped build the franchise's enthusiastic fan following.