Tomica Hero: Rescue Force (トミカヒーロー　レスキューフォース) is a Japanese tokusatsu television series that began airing April 5, 2008, on TV Aichi. It is the first Tomica Hero series based on Takara Tomy's Tomica toy car line. The characters use Tomica's Super Tools (スーパーツール) and Super Vehicles (スーパービークル) to help save people from Super-Disasters and battle the evil causing them. It is the second tokusatsu series that Takara Tomy has been involved in following Madan Senki Ryukendo. It is directed by Masato Tsujino (辻野 正人), and written by Shinichi Inotsume (猪爪 慎一) and Hiroyuki Kawasaki (川崎 ヒロユキ), the same team behind Ryukendo. A film for Tomica Hero: Rescue Force was released in December 2008.

Characters

The United Fire-Defense Agency/Rescue Force

The second-generation Rescue Force (レスキューフォース) is a special Super-Disaster Response Team (超災害対応部隊) in the United Fire-Defense Agency (世界消防庁) or "UFDA", which is a branch of the Earth Federation (地球連邦). Based on the Hyper Rescue group, the Rescue Force is deployed to protect human lives from various disasters too extreme for normal rescue workers. By the time of Rescue Fire's formation, the Rescue Force is transferred to Europe branch. Normally stationed at the Rescue Phoenix (レスキューフェニックス) in Tateishi City (楯石シティ), whenever the artificial satellite Rescue Eye (レスキューアイ) detects a Super-Disaster, Rescue Phoenix switches from Fortress Mode (フォートレスモード) to Flight Mode (フライトモード) to carry the Rescue Force and the best situational choice of the Rescue Vehicles to the disaster site. The Rescue Phoenix assumes Spiral Catapult Mode (スパイラルカタパルトモード) upon landing, when launching the Core Striker Max. Each of the Rescue Force members has an orange suit, but they each have different colored armor.

Neo Terror

The Neo Terror (ネオテーラ) is an evil organization which causes Super-Disasters (超災害), working incognito until the events of episode 6 reveals their existence as the culprit of the disasters. Under its creator Daen, with Batsu pulling the strings, the Neo Thera exists to "reset the Earth". Their original base of operations is an air fortress that hides within the clouds until the time of Daen's death, now traveling across the country under Maen's leadership until she reveals herself as Batsu.

Batsu

An ancient nanocomputer that existed on Earth for 600 million years, Batsu (バーツ) watched over the newly born planet until humanity came into being and disrupted the natural order. As he attempted to steer their actions in the guise of various deities, Batsu came to the conclusion that mankind must die so the Earth can be saved. In the form of a mermaid of light, Batsu enters Obuchi's body and amplifies the man's malice, giving him the means to create the Neo Thera. After Daen's defeat, Batsu left him and assumed the guise of Maen (マーエン), a female solid hologram with a moody spoiled brat persona dressed in Gothic Lolita fashion. Claiming to be created by Daen, Maen uses the Executives to continue where Daen failed, making the call for a Zukcrane to be activated. Upon defeat, Maen leaves for the next town with a new recharge for the Executives once they make it to her location to start anew. Maen eventually reveals herself to the Rescue Force during the Kurei City incident, suggesting a Super-Disaster Title Match with the promise to stop her attack on the city. However, she adds a second round involving the Zukcrane causing the disaster. Later at Academia City, Maen attempts to have her Zukcrane take out the Rescue Max in a diversion while the executives obtain the Omeganium she requested. Once getting it, she uses both it and them to complete her Omega Zukcrane to carry out her master plan. But the plan goes awry when she is forced to directly link up to her creation, going down when it is destroyed. Maen also aided the insane Mataro Madano/Dr. Mado, but regretted her choice of teaming up with a human when he screwed up. Deciding to finish things and achieve her goal, Maen uses a mass firestorm to lure Super Rescue Max Crane into executing its Final Rescue, taking in enough energy to finally discard her guise and assume her true form as Batsu before scattering its being across the planet to commit global-scale genocide of the human race, while the main body remained in Japan with a barrier around it. Though the Great God Striker is able to pierce the barrier stop Batsu's plan, it was a step ahead of the UFDA's attempt with its unforeseen ability to regenerate from even the smallest remains making the battle seem hopeless. However, refusing to accept defeat, R1 and the Rescue Striker manage to enter Batsu's body and destroy it from the inside out. Batsu's name comes from the Japanese word for "X" (バツ), seen by the cross mounted on its back, while Maen's name comes from the Japanese word for "circle" (真円).

Rescue Vehicles

Rescue Striker

The Rescue Striker (レスキューストライカー) is R1's large-scale water truck Rescue Vehicle, which carries four small-scale Rescue Vehicles to the disaster site. By itself, the Rescue Striker's Final Rescue is called the Water Cannon (ウォーターキャノン), in which it shoots a jet stream of water with freezing ability. The Rescue Striker can also execute Hyper Up with the medium-scale Rescue Vehicles for more power. The Rescue Striker forms the torso of both Rescue Max and Super Rescue Max, with the Core Striker as the robot's brain. It is destroyed in the final fight with Batsu, with a new one built a month later.

Rescue Saver

The Rescue Saver (レスキューセイバー) is R2's large-scale all-terrain armored Rescue Vehicle. By itself, the Rescue Saver's Final Rescue is called the Flash Cannon (フラッシュキャノン), in which it shoots a cannonball of freezing water. It is able to split into four smaller vehicles, and can execute "Rescue Combine" with the medium-scale Rescue Vehicles for more power. The Rescue Saver forms the limbs and head of Rescue Max.

Rescue Diver

The Rescue Diver (レスキューダイバー) is R2's new large-scale armored Rescue Vehicle, completed during the Mach Train incident, able to assume Drill Tank Mode (ドリルタンクモード) and Jet Mode (ジェットモード). By itself, the Rescue Diver's Final Rescue is called the Flash Drill (フラッシュドリル), in which it shoots eight freezing missiles. It is the successor vehicle of the Rescue Saver, based around its design, and forms most of Super Rescue Max. It is able separable into four smaller vehicles, and can execute "Rescue Combine" with the medium-scale Rescue Vehicles for more power. It is piloted by R5 during its appearances in Rescue Fire.

Rescue Max

The Rescue Max (レスキューマックス) is a super large-scale humanoid robot created when the Rescue Striker and the Rescue Saver "Max Combine". Its design was developed by Obuchi before his change into Daen. However, learning that his cane contained Obuchi's designs, the UFDA secretly made the modifications on both the Striker and Saver vehicles during the lack of the Neo Thera activity until it resumed six months later. Its Final Rescue, the Max Cannon (マックスキャノン), allows it to freeze the target before bursting it into pieces with its fists.

Super Rescue Max

The Super Rescue Max (スーパーレスキューマックス) is a robot created when the Rescue Striker and the Rescue Diver "Max Combine". Its Final Rescue is the Drill Blaster (ドリルブラスター), which freezes the target before bursting through it with the drill.

Zero Fire

The Zero Fire (ゼロファイヤー) is R5's super large-scale carrier Rescue Vehicle with a large container with the four Zero Fire Cannons (ゼロファイヤーキャノン) which can carry five medium-scale Rescue Vehicles. It was originally R0's vehicle in the movie.

Medium-scale Rescue Vehicles

Small-scale Rescue Vehicles

Rescue Tools

Rescue Commander

The Rescue Commander (レスキューコマンダー) is an electronic pad used for reading Rescue Cards, communicating with the Rescue Phoenix, searching a disaster site, and transmitting data collected at a disaster site to the Rescue Phoenix.

Max Commander

The Max Commander (マックスコマンダー) is R1's personal electronic pad used to transform into R1 Max.

Rescue Card

The Rescue Cards (レスキューカード) are used by the Rescue Force, slashed through the Rescue Commander. While the Build Up (ビルドアップ) card (R1, R5) and the Change (チェンジ) card (R2, R3, R4) are used by all members to suit up while in the Rescue Phoenix, R1 and R2 use the other cards to activate the mecha they use in their missions. The Max Up (マックスアップ) card is used by R1, slashed through the Max Commander.

Rescue Breaker

The Rescue Breaker (レスキューブレイカー) is the common rescue tool of the Rescue Force with eight modes, usually kept in Mobile Mode (モバイルモード): until needed.

Rescue Crusher

The Rescue Crusher (レスキュークラッシャー) is a powerful rescue tool with three modes, usually kept in Trunk Mode (トランクモード) until needed. The Rescue Commanders can be installed onto the Rescue Crushers in their other two modes so they can use Rescue Cards, and its mode is called a Special Mode (スペシャルモード).

Max Divider

The Max Divider (マックスディバイダー) is R1 Max's gauntlet-type rescue tool with three modes. It has red, blue, and green buttons, and generates the ability of flame, ice, and wind.

Rescue Zamber

The Rescue Zamber (レスキューザンバー) is a rescue tool originally used by R0 before being used by the main Rescue Force. It has two modes:

Disaster Generating Devices

Disaster Generating Devices (災害発生メカ) are used by the Neo Thera to cause disasters to reset the Earth from humanity's machinations.

Episodes

Rescue the Mach Train!

Tomica Hero: Rescue Force Explosive Movie: Rescue the Mach Train! (トミカヒーロー　レスキューフォース 爆裂ＭＯＶＩＥ マッハトレインをレスキューせよ！) opened in theaters on December 20, 2008. Taking place between episodes 38 and 39, the film features guest stars Hiroshi Fujioka (藤岡 弘、) as Reiji Osakabe, the Director of the UFDA and R0 (wearing an orange & black suit with yellow highlights & a gold armor, with a red visor; and Ryota Yamasato (山里 亮太) of Nankai Candies (南海キャンディーズ) as Doktor Madu/Mataro Madono (ドクトル・マドゥ／真殿 麻太郎), who joins forces with the Neo Thera to hijack the super express train Mach Train with his Metal Train, intending to use the Mach Train in the most Super-Disaster ever. Kinuyo Kodama (児玉 絹世) plays Miyuki Maijima (舞島 美有紀), a high school student who befriends the Rescue Force and is later trapped with the other civilians during the hijacking. Cameo guest stars include Shogo Yamaguchi (山口 翔吾), Gen (源), Kohei Kuroda (黒田 耕平), and Ryota Sato (佐藤 亮太) reprising roles from Madan Senki Ryukendo; Takao Handa (飯田 孝男) as a ferryman; Gajiro Sato (佐藤 蛾次郎) as Gajiro's father; and camino as customers in yakitori restaurant. The short Explosive Run! Tomica Hero Grand Prix (爆走！トミカヒーローグランプリ) was shown alongside the film.

Cast

Guest Actors

Suit actors

Songs

Syndication

While Tomica Hero: Rescue Force initially aired on TV Aichi, it is syndicated on TV Tokyo Network, Iwate Menkoi Television, Higashinippon Broadcasting, Fukushima Central Television, The Niigata Television Network 21, Nagano Broadcasting Systems, TV Shizuoka, Ehime Asahi Television, Nagasaki Broadcasting Company, Ryukyu Asahi Broadcasting, and Biwako Broadcasting.