What are the Eto Rangers?

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"The Twelve Warriors: Eto Rangers" is a less-serious Japanese anim� series first released in 1995. Eto Rangers (ER for short, as I'd like to call it) is based on the twelve signs of the Chinese Zodiac: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, ..., Dog, Boar--most specifically a legend where some animals were invited to participate in a race where the first twelve to cross a river become the signs of the zodiac. The rat rode on the ox's back and leapt off it onto the bank to become the first sign. The others followed (no story), with the pig last because he was lazy.

In another version, however, a certain Buddha guy held a race to determine the signs of the zodiac. The race starts at sunrise, when the animals must wake up and cross the river to earn their rights. The cat and the rat agreed that they would wake each other up early so that they can win together. However, the rat decided to sleep in the ear of the ox and forget about the cat. So, in the same vein, the rat won, followed by the ox, etc. etc. However, the cat became enraged for being betrayed by his friend, hence the rat and the cat became enemies for all time.

The Eto Rangers are the twelve personifications of the Zodiac animals, in proper order. This means, of course, that the rat is #1 and the leader. However, the cat, the enemy of the rat, also makes an appearance as Nyanmar, Queen of Evil.

more info coming soon...

I am still looking for the bases for the concepts of Murgen, The Novel Pole, Princess Aura, Kirinda, Kirin the reporter, and some events which happen in the series (such as the death of Kirin)...

If you have any idea in oriental mythology as to the origin of these concepts, please email me with your ideas at percival_brock@lycos.com, and you will be credited! Please attach a summary of the legend/myth in question, of course.