OVA
Description
Sanada Ryou, also called Ryo of the Wildfire or Rekka no Ryo, descends from a lineage tied to a famed ninja clan, with his family name possibly referencing the samurai Sanada Yukimura. His father, the clan heir, abandoned tradition to become a wildlife photographer, cutting off Ryou's contact with paternal kin. After his mother's death in early childhood, Ryou lived under his frequently absent father's care. He resided in a remote mountain cabin in Yamanashi Prefecture, trekking nine miles daily to school. This isolation forged a deep bond with nature but hindered social skills, leaving him uneasy in cities and crowds. The white tiger White Blaze encountered him at ages four, seven, and ten, later guiding the Ancient One to train Ryou as a Ronin Warrior a year before the main conflict.
Ryou possesses a fundamentally benevolent, passionate nature driven by fierce loyalty and a powerful sense of justice. His defining virtue is "Jin," representing righteousness. He exhibits cheerfulness and determination, countered by stubbornness, impatience, and a tendency for reckless self-sacrifice, prioritizing others' safety above his own. He dislikes lukewarm baths, interviews, and flavored ice, shows indifference to fashion, and feels awkward in formal settings. His hobbies include hiking, bird watching, playing center forward in soccer, and the arcade game "Moguru Tataki" (whack-a-mole).
He wields the Wildfire Armor (Rekka no Yoroi), drawing power from heat sources like fire and volcanic energy. This red armor embodies fire and Jin. Its primary weapons are the twin Swords of Wildfire (Rekka Ken), used in his signature attack "Sou En Zan" (Twin Flame Cut/Flare Up Now). He obtained the armor during a forest fire started by poachers; his desperate desire to save everyone, even the poachers, caused the kanji for "Jin" to manifest on his forehead, letting him absorb flames to form the armor's sub-gear. He later gains the legendary Inferno Armor (Kikoutei), a white armor forged by channeling the combined energies and virtues of the other four Ronin Warriors or the four Dark Warlords. This armor grants immense, potentially planet-destroying power but initially damages his original swords. He then acquires the Swords of Fervor (Gou Retsu Ken) for the Inferno Armor, enabling its ultimate attack "Chōdandō Senkōzan" (Rage of Inferno/Ultra-Ballistic Flash Cut). Using the Inferno Armor drains the energies of the contributing warriors until they gain control. The Inferno Armor is ultimately destroyed in battle.
During the war against Talpa (Arago), Ryou emerges as the de facto leader of the Ronin Warriors. He is the first to confront Dynasty soldiers in Tokyo, showing early leadership despite struggles. Separated from allies and trapped within Mount Fuji, he awakens to his armor's power source, defeats the Dark Warlord Anubis (Shutendouji), and orchestrates the regrouping of the scattered warriors. His journey includes significant trials: temporary blindness inflicted by warlord Sekhmet and overcoming elemental opposites like water to rescue allies. His resolve wavers when Talpa absorbs his friends, but his refusal to surrender allows him to summon the Inferno Armor for the first time by channeling his comrades' virtues, leading to Talpa's initial defeat.
In the Gaiden OVA, set on his 16th birthday, Ryou travels to New York City with allies to investigate murders linked to a corrupted Halo Armor. He encounters Runa, a girl seeking vengeance after witnessing the possessed armor kill her brother. Ryou stops her attack on Rowen, later accepting her help after learning her story. When Shikaisen fatally wounds Runa, Ryou's grief and anger trigger the Inferno Armor, destroying Shikaisen. The story concludes with Ryou paying respects to Runa.
The Legend of the Inferno Armor OVA reveals the Black Inferno Armor in Africa and its guardian, Mukala. Ryou and his team, drawn into conflict, discover their armors' potential corruption. Cye's reluctance to fight stems from sensing this corruption, proving crucial in preventing disaster when the White and Black Inferno powers clash. Ryou loses his Wildfire Armor but gains the Swords of Fervor.
In the Message OVA, set when Ryou is 17, the team confronts Mukala again. Ryou demonstrates increased maturity and tactical awareness, coordinating with Sage against Mukala. He uses the combined power of the Ronin armors to summon the Inferno Armor for the final battle. The clash between the White and Black Inferno armors results in their mutual destruction. Ryou survives, now reliant solely on his Wildfire Armor.
White Blaze serves as his constant companion and guardian, choosing Ryou himself. Their bond is familial, with White Blaze acting as a substitute for his absent father and close confidant. Initially isolated due to his upbringing, Ryou develops deep, trusting friendships with the other Ronin Warriors through shared battles, evolving from a lone warrior into a leader who values and relies on teamwork, particularly for summoning the Inferno Armor.
Ryou possesses a fundamentally benevolent, passionate nature driven by fierce loyalty and a powerful sense of justice. His defining virtue is "Jin," representing righteousness. He exhibits cheerfulness and determination, countered by stubbornness, impatience, and a tendency for reckless self-sacrifice, prioritizing others' safety above his own. He dislikes lukewarm baths, interviews, and flavored ice, shows indifference to fashion, and feels awkward in formal settings. His hobbies include hiking, bird watching, playing center forward in soccer, and the arcade game "Moguru Tataki" (whack-a-mole).
He wields the Wildfire Armor (Rekka no Yoroi), drawing power from heat sources like fire and volcanic energy. This red armor embodies fire and Jin. Its primary weapons are the twin Swords of Wildfire (Rekka Ken), used in his signature attack "Sou En Zan" (Twin Flame Cut/Flare Up Now). He obtained the armor during a forest fire started by poachers; his desperate desire to save everyone, even the poachers, caused the kanji for "Jin" to manifest on his forehead, letting him absorb flames to form the armor's sub-gear. He later gains the legendary Inferno Armor (Kikoutei), a white armor forged by channeling the combined energies and virtues of the other four Ronin Warriors or the four Dark Warlords. This armor grants immense, potentially planet-destroying power but initially damages his original swords. He then acquires the Swords of Fervor (Gou Retsu Ken) for the Inferno Armor, enabling its ultimate attack "Chōdandō Senkōzan" (Rage of Inferno/Ultra-Ballistic Flash Cut). Using the Inferno Armor drains the energies of the contributing warriors until they gain control. The Inferno Armor is ultimately destroyed in battle.
During the war against Talpa (Arago), Ryou emerges as the de facto leader of the Ronin Warriors. He is the first to confront Dynasty soldiers in Tokyo, showing early leadership despite struggles. Separated from allies and trapped within Mount Fuji, he awakens to his armor's power source, defeats the Dark Warlord Anubis (Shutendouji), and orchestrates the regrouping of the scattered warriors. His journey includes significant trials: temporary blindness inflicted by warlord Sekhmet and overcoming elemental opposites like water to rescue allies. His resolve wavers when Talpa absorbs his friends, but his refusal to surrender allows him to summon the Inferno Armor for the first time by channeling his comrades' virtues, leading to Talpa's initial defeat.
In the Gaiden OVA, set on his 16th birthday, Ryou travels to New York City with allies to investigate murders linked to a corrupted Halo Armor. He encounters Runa, a girl seeking vengeance after witnessing the possessed armor kill her brother. Ryou stops her attack on Rowen, later accepting her help after learning her story. When Shikaisen fatally wounds Runa, Ryou's grief and anger trigger the Inferno Armor, destroying Shikaisen. The story concludes with Ryou paying respects to Runa.
The Legend of the Inferno Armor OVA reveals the Black Inferno Armor in Africa and its guardian, Mukala. Ryou and his team, drawn into conflict, discover their armors' potential corruption. Cye's reluctance to fight stems from sensing this corruption, proving crucial in preventing disaster when the White and Black Inferno powers clash. Ryou loses his Wildfire Armor but gains the Swords of Fervor.
In the Message OVA, set when Ryou is 17, the team confronts Mukala again. Ryou demonstrates increased maturity and tactical awareness, coordinating with Sage against Mukala. He uses the combined power of the Ronin armors to summon the Inferno Armor for the final battle. The clash between the White and Black Inferno armors results in their mutual destruction. Ryou survives, now reliant solely on his Wildfire Armor.
White Blaze serves as his constant companion and guardian, choosing Ryou himself. Their bond is familial, with White Blaze acting as a substitute for his absent father and close confidant. Initially isolated due to his upbringing, Ryou develops deep, trusting friendships with the other Ronin Warriors through shared battles, evolving from a lone warrior into a leader who values and relies on teamwork, particularly for summoning the Inferno Armor.