Samurai Flamenco is an anime television series produced by Manglobe. The series focuses on a young man named Masayoshi Hazama, who takes on the superhero persona of Samurai Flamenco to fight crime in the streets. The series, directed by Takahiro Omori and written by Hideyuki Kurata, aired on Fuji TV's noitamina programming block between October 10, 2013 and March 27, 2014 and was simulcast by Crunchyroll. The series is licensed by Aniplex of America in North America, Anime Limited in the United Kingdom, and Madman Entertainment in Australia.
For the first eleven episodes, the opening theme is "JUST ONE LIFE" performed by Spyair and the ending theme song is "Date TIME" (デートTIME, Dēto Taimu), performed by Haruka Tomatsu, Erii Yamazaki, and M·A·O as their characters' band Mineral Miracle Muse. From episode 12 onwards, the opening is "Ai Ai Ai ni Utarete Bye Bye Bye" (愛愛愛に撃たれてバイバイバイ, Ai Ai Ai ni Utarete Bai Bai Bai) by FLOW and the ending is "Flight 23-ji" (フライト23時, Furaito Nijūsanji) also performed by Mineral Miracle Muse, which will be released on a mini-album titled Koidama Cholesterol (恋玉コレステロール, Koidama Koresuterōru).
Episode list
Episodes 6, 8, 12, 15, 17, 19 and 20 were written by Takahiro. All other episodes were written by Hideyuki Kurata.
Masayoshi Hazama always dreamed to be a hero and fight for justice, but when he decides to become the masked vigilante "Samurai Flamenco", he ends up getting in more trouble than he can handle, until a policeman called Hidenori Gotō learns of his secret and attempts to lend him a hand.
2
"My Umbrella Is Missing" Transcription: "Kasa ga Nai" (Japanese: 傘がない)
Masayoshi struggles to concile his work as a model and his secret life of crimefighting with no success, until he rushes to stop a man who stole an umbrella and the ensuing situation brings him the attention of the media.
3
"Flamenco vs. Fake Flamenco" Transcription: "Furamenko VS Nisefuramenko" (Japanese: フラメンコVSニセフラメンコ)
As the ruse about Samurai Flamenco increases, Masayoshi meets Joji Kaname, a veteran actor of action hero shows and one of his idols since childhood. However, tension rises between them when Joji attempts to take advantage of Flamenco's sudden fame to bolster his own career.
Masayoshi is approached by Mari Maya, an idol and aspiring superheroine who drags him to do her bidding as she starts fighting crime in the city as the "Flamenco Girl".
5
"The Meaning of Justice" Transcription: "Seigi to wa" (Japanese: 正義とは)
Fumiya Kitajō
Fumiya Kitajō
Wataru Yamamoto, Saka Ikeda, Yūji Hakamada
November7,2013(2013-11-07)
The partnership between Samurai Flamenco and Flamenco Girl soon attracts the media's attention, until their conflicting views of justice puts a divide between them and Mari decides to join forces with her fellow idols instead.
6
"Capture Samumenco!" Transcription: "Samumenko o Tsukamaero!" (Japanese: サムメンコを捕まえろ！)
A huge sum is offered to whoever exposes the identity of Samurai Flamenco and Masayoshi is facing the risk of his secret identity exposed, until scientist Jun Harazuka appears with some weapons disguised as stationary to help him.
7
"Change the World" Transcription: "Chenji za Wārudo" (Japanese: チェンジ・ザ・ワールド)
The efforts of Samurai Flamenco and the Flamenco Girls bear fruit and the city becomes a safer place, but Masayoshi is devastated upon learning the secret behind his parents' death. When doing a PR event with the police, Masayoshi and Hidenori find themselves in a pinch when a real monster appears before them.
8
"Attack! Army of Evil" Transcription: "Mōkō! Aku no Gundan" (Japanese: 猛攻！悪の軍団)
Futoshi Higashide
Futoshi Higashide
Takaaki Wada, Yoshihiro Kanno, Shunryō Yamamura, Saka Ikeda
November28,2013(2013-11-28)
King Torture, leader of the evil "Torture" organization declares his intention to enslave the people of Japan and dares Samurai Flamenco to challenge him. Since then a monster attacks the city every week, just to be defeated by Flamenco with assistance from Hidenori and the Flamenco Girls. As the heroes always defeat Torture's monsters, the Japanese Government stops caring about it at all and both Masayoshi and Mari's band have a huge leap in their careers, unaware that according to King Torture, everything is going as he planned.
As the monsters sent by Torture are continuously defeated by Masayoshi without further casualties, the population stop bothering at all for their battles and even Mari stops lending him a hand, determined to confront King Torture herself instead. However, Mari ends up captured by King Torture who uses her as a hostage to challenge Samurai Flamenco for a decisive battle.
10
"Final Battle at the Enemy Base!" Transcription: "Kessen! Teki no Kichi" (Japanese: 決戦!敵の基地)
Having captured both Mari and Moe, Torture brutally tortures Moe, who expresses her desire to take Mari's place in order to save her. Torture in turn releases Moe, stating to Mari that she herself never really cared for her. Masayoshi eventually arrives and confronts Torture, who explains how he was a boy who enjoyed superhero stories but once realizing that the heroes he idolized never attain the true peace they fight for, he decided to turn to evil instead. When Torture corners Masayoshi, he is impaled after Hidenori arrives on the scene. Torture then reveals his master plan, in which he plans to launch a rocket that will release particles that will combine with particles left behind by the defeated monsters and create a giant monster. However, Hidenori manages to stop the rocket from launching whilst Masayoshi defeats Torture. After defeating the villain and stopping his master plan with Hidenori's help, Masayoshi reveals his secret identity to the world.
Just as the press question Masayoshi about his identity, a mysterious floating island rises from the Tokyo Bay. Joji reveals to Masayoshi that this is the work of From Beyond, an alien organisation that provided Torture with the power to make monsters. To this end, Joji has been assembling a team known as the Flamengers, planning on recruiting Masayoshi as their leader. Upon reaching their secret base, however, they discover it has been infiltrated by a toxic commander from the From Beyond organisation named Ugly Toxic Poison. Joji assembles four more Flamengers, who are all confused over being allegedly recruited as Red Rangers, asking them to sort amongst themselves who gets to be leader whilst he goes to confront Poison. After Joji's noble 'sacrifice', the group decide to let Masayoshi be the leader and confront Poison, who soon grows to enormous size but is defeated by the Flamengers' Flamen Robo.
12
"Documentary! We Are the Flamengers!!" Transcription: "Dokyumento! Kore ga Furamenjā da!!" (Japanese: ドキュメント！これがフラメンジャーだ!!)
As the Flamengers continue to defeat monsters from the From Beyond organisation, Masayoshi is still trying to adjust to his role as a team leader. Meanwhile, Mari has been hiding from the public eye at Hidenori's place, feeling she has no place to return to. The Flamengers have a documentary filmed about them as they go against some From Beyond monsters turning cities into an ice age. After defeating two monsters who were holding some kids hostage, they are soon confronted by a large group of monsters, but with some teamwork and new weapons, they overcome them. The team soon act on more friendlier terms with Masayoshi, until they learn there are yet more From Beyond monsters to come.
13
"The Eve of the Final Battle" Transcription: "Kessen Zen'ya" (Japanese: 決戦前夜)
With From Beyond allegedly sporting over 60,000 monsters at their disposal, Masayoshi finds himself under a lot of stress, particularly when he learns of an all-out attack on Japan being planned for February 7. Joji convinces Prime Minister Shintaro Okuzaki to make an announcement, on the condition it be made after the leaders and their families are evacuated first, giving the Flamengers 24 hours to each choose five people to move to the shelters with them. Whilst going to speak with Hidenori, Masayoshi discovers Mari staying with him and is unable to tell him about the evacuation. As Masayoshi finds he cannot limit his choices to just five, Joji tells him his decision to not tell anyone, only to disappear the next morning. Masayoshi, paranoid that an attack could occur at any moment, decides to make his own announcement during a talkshow appearance.
14
"The Destruction of Japan" Transcription: "Nippon Kaimetsu" (Japanese: ニッポン壊滅)
Just as Masayoshi makes his announcement, members from the From Beyond organisation call all the cellphones in the area, stating they will attack the next morning. After the prime minister declares a state of emergency, Masayoshi is picked up by Sumi and Akira, who had learned of the government's plans. Feeling responsible, Masayoshi makes his own broadcast to encourage the panicked citizens to be heroes in their own way, allowing them to reach shelters without hassle. The next morning, Hidenori brings Moe and Mizuki to his apartment to talk things out with Mari before heading to his post. As From Beyond's attack begins, they bring forth a 'Destruction of Japan Device', which plots to drill into Mt. Fuji, causing it to erupt. Just as things look their worse, Joji returns, bringing with him various tokutatsu heroes to help the fight, encouraging the citizens to fight alongside them. Just as the Flamengers are about to take on the destruction device, Masayoshi receives a call from the From Beyond organisation's final member, Beyond Flamenco, who looks exactly like Masayoshi.
Beyond Flamenco states a lot of cryptic messages, before taking his own life, causing all the From Beyond members to disappear. With the destruction device still running, the Flamengers try to use all their Flamen Robo's weapons to try and stop it, managing to stop it in time and safely escape. With peace returned to Japan, the Flamengers disband and return to their daily lives. Meanwhile, Masayoshi, still curious about Beyond Flamenco's last words, is approached by an American hero named Mr. Justice, who protects him from the Bureau of Peace who are after him and the other Flamengers for some reason. Justice informs Masayoshi that the Japanese government, led by the prime minister, created From Beyond as a means to distract countries from wars and improve their political standing, just like in his country. As the Flamengers were seen as a threat to the Japanese government's plans, they decided to frame the Flamengers for attempting to overthrow the government. Justice helps Masayoshi escape whilst he himself is apprehended, leaving Masayoshi fleeing as he is put on Japan's Most Wanted list.
16
"The Wandering Hero" Transcription: "Sasurai no Hīrō" (Japanese: さすらいのヒーロー)
Mari, who had run off from Moe and Mizuki after backlashing at them, revisits King Torture's hideout, reminding herself of the horrors she and Moe went through and lamenting her own worthlessness. Moe and Mizuki catch up to her and the three manage to make up with each other. Meanwhile, Mazayoshi, who is still in hiding from the authorities and growing weak from hunger, meets a short-sighted homeless man who offers him some food. He explains how when life was treating him badly, it was Samurai Flamenco who taught him to help others. Encouraged by his words, Mazayoshi goes to Hidenori, who has been waiting for him to come seek his help.
17
"The Ultimate Prime Minister" Transcription: "Saikyō Sōri" (Japanese: 最強総理)
Masayoshi escapes with Hidenori and Jun, who have been in contact with each other whilst he was in hiding, arriving at a secret base where Akira awaits, later joined by Mr. Justice. The next day, Masayoshi and Hidenori arrive at the Diet to stop Prime Minister Okuzaki from passing an anti-superhero bill. Okuzaki equips himself with a powerful mech suit, powered by support from the public, and starts attacking Masayoshi, overpowering all of his techniques. Whilst Mari and the others hold off Okuzaki's guards, Hidenori joins the fight but is also beaten. However, Akira manages to stream the action, and Okuzaki's plot, on television to the world, rapidly decreasing his support and weakening his suit, allowing Masayoshi and Hidenori to defeat him. However, it is soon revealed that Mr. Justice is actually an Alien Flamenco, whose race had replaced all the world's leaders, which Okuzaki was trying to put a stop to. Stepping outside, Masayoshi and the others are shocked to find a giant spaceship in the sky.
18
"Flamenco in Space" Transcription: "Uchū de Furamenko" (Japanese: 宇宙でフラメンコ)
A mysterious being calling himself a Flamencolian appears before Masayoshi and the others, wishing to speak to Masayoshi alone. Despite concerns that he might not make it back alive, Hidenori encourages Masayoshi to go into the Flamencolian's spaceship, where he explains he was the one responsible for King Torture and From Beyond's monsters, believing evolution is the key to universal peace. Unable to persuade him to join their cause, the Flamencolian grows in size to attack Masayoshi, who uses the Flamencolian's evolutionary device to grow in size too, becoming Space Final Flamenco, knocking the Flamencolian into an endless journey into deep space. Stranded on the moon following the battle, Masayoshi is greeted by a being calling itself the universe's will. He explains all of the enemies Masayoshi has faced came because he wished for them, giving him the choice of whether to continue fighting evil, or live on in peace. Masayoshi decides to return to his own world, choosing to keep being a hero not to fight enemies, but to do what is right. After getting to speak with the spirit of his grandfather and learning the somewhat uneventful meaning of "Flamenco", Masayoshi is sent back home where he meets up with Hidenori.
19
"The Quiet Life" Transcription: "Shizuka na Seikatsu" (Japanese: 静かな生活)
Six months has passed and life has been peaceful for Masayoshi, who people are keen to make World President. Meanwhile, Hidenori makes plans to meet up with his girlfriend for a long-awaited date. Upon hearing about this, Mari drags Masayoshi along with him to follow Hidenori to his hometown. There, Hidenori's mother explains that Hidenori had a girlfriend during high school, who disappeared one day and was never found. She then reveals that Hidenori had in fact been sending texts to himself impersonating the girlfriend in order to keep his sanity. As Mari feels downhearted upon learning about this, she spends the evening with Moe and Mizuki. Meanwhile, Masayoshi encounters a boy named Haiji Sawada, who sets off an explosion which destroys Masayoshi's apartment.
20
"Boy From The Past" Transcription: "Itsuka Mita Shōnen" (Japanese: いつか見た少年)
As Masayoshi is left with many questions about Haiji, he receives a call from him whilst staying in a hotel, explaining how he became obsessed with him after witnessing his earliest superhero efforts, deciding he wanted to become his arch nemesis dedicated to doing bad things to Samurai Flamenco. Masayoshi becomes further confused when he hears from the police that Haiji Sawada allegedly died from illness one year ago. The next day, after Haiji tells Masayoshi he intends to do something 'colorful', malicious things are done to the Flamengers, with Jun being pushed down the stairs and Joji being hit by a truck. After receiving more threats from Haiji, Masayoshi meets up with Hidenori, who offers little comfort and even becomes angry when he brings up her missing girlfriend. Upon realising that the only one who has seen or heard Haiji is himself, Masayoshi starts to wonder if he is just imagining him.
21
"Teaching Love" Transcription: "Ai o Oshiete" (Japanese: 愛をおしえて)
After being informed about Haiji, Mari steps up on stage for her concert, only to find Moe and Mizuki had been poisoned. Meanwhile, Masayoshi is called to the hospital by Joji, who had heard someone mention Samurai Flamenco before he was hit by the truck, telling him that he needs to learn to love to become stronger. As Masayoshi becomes hung up over what that means, Sumi offers to give him advice about his situation, asking Akira to investigate Haiji before teaching Masayoshi about the various types of love. Meanwhile, Haiji lures Hidenori into a trap and kidnaps him, instructing Masayoshi to go to his old apartment.
Hidenori recalls how he started sending messages to himself after his girlfriend went missing, despite attempts from his mother to get him to stop, eventually joining the police force in the hopes of one day finding her. Back in the present, Haiji attempts to drive Hidenori into killing him by deleting the texts that have kept him going all this time. After hearing from Akira that Haiji had his parents fake his death, Masayoshi arrives at the apartment to confront Haiji, who desires to turn Samurai Flamenco into a 'dark hero' by having Hidenori kill him. Believing fighting him as Samurai Flamenco won't solve anything, Masayoshi strips naked in order to confront him as himself. As Hidenori tries to aim Haiji's gun at him, Masayoshi stands in his way and manages to calm him down in his own way, whilst Mari apprehends Haiji. Six months later, a museum is opened to celebrate heroes, whilst Masayoshi, who occasionally pays visits to Haiji, continues to act as Samurai Flamenco to help solve the little crimes.
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