Space Sheriff Shaider

Space Sheriff Shaider is a Japanese science fiction television series that aired from 1984 to 1985. It is the third and final installment of the Metal Hero franchise's Space Sheriff subgenre. The show follows a heroic protagonist battling alien invaders in tokusatsu fashion.

Shaider concludes the 'Space Sheriff Series' trilogy, following Uchuu Keiji Gavan and Uchuu Keiji Sharivan. Together, these tokusatsu shows laid the groundwork for later localized adaptations. The series is a foundational text for the late 20th-century Japanese superhero genre.

The heroic protagonist battles alien invaders led by the evil Emperor Kubilai and his Fuuma Empire. Kubilai resides in a strange dimension called 'The Strange World' (Fushigigi World) and seeks to conquer the universe. Shaider travels back in time to destroy Kubilai's past self.

Yes, footage from Shaider was heavily used alongside Gavan and Sharivan to create the American television series VR Troopers in the 1990s. The Japanese main character, Dai Sawamura, was recontextualized for western audiences in the localized adaptation. The show helped introduce the Metal Hero genre to the United States.