Line #126 WebVideo/FranceFive


1	[[quoteright:276:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/francefive_4850.jpg]]
2
3	->''France Five! En garde!''
4
5	''France Five'' (フランスファイブ ''Furansu Faibu''?), originally titled ''Jushi Sentai France Five'' (銃士戦隊フランスファイブ ''Jūshi Sentai Furansu Faibu'', translated as ''Musketeers Squadron France Five'') and later known as ''Shin Kenjushi France Five'' (新剣銃士フランスファイブ ''Shin Kenjūshi Furansu Faibu'', translated as ''New Sword Musketeers France Five''), is a French series produced by Buki X-1 Productions in 2000s. It is a homage to both Toei's ever-popular ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' series (which was extremely popular in France in the 1980s) and another Sentai pastiche, ''Film/AikokuSentaiDaiNippon'' ("''Patriot Squadron Great Japan''") (1982) by Daicon Films (now Creator/StudioGainax).
6
7	Glou Man Chou, ruler of the empire Lexos, desires to conquer planet Earth. However, the Eiffel Tower generates a barrier around the planet that keeps him from sending his armies en masse. Glou Man Chou sends his warriors and monsters to Earth in order to destroy the tower and enable a full scale invasion, but they are opposed by the France Five.
8
9	The show lasted 6 episodes, although they're treated as excerpts of a Sentai series of normal length. The series' fourth episode ended on a {{Cliffhanger}} with the fifth poised to be the GrandFinale. This was in [[DevelopmentHell 2005]]. Episode 5 was finally released [[http://www.francefive.com online]] in 2012 with the true finale, episode 6, released in 2013.
10
11	In 2019, ''{{Webcomic/Maliki}}'' revealed she was part of the adventure as a storyboard artist and the artist of the WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue... [[MilestoneCelebration and that she is working with the team on an audio episode with art to celebrate the 20 years of France Five.]] Said episode is an {{Interquel}} between episodes 3 and 4, and can be watched [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Df5D7AJlfc here]]. Details [[http://maliki.com/strips/courage-espoir-france-five/ here]] (warning: in french).
12
13	----
14	!!The France Five:
15	* Antoine Deschaumes / '''Red Fromage''': TheLeader.
16	* Thierry Durand / '''Black Beaujolais''': TheLancer.
17	* Albert Dumas / '''Blue Accordéon''': The [[PluckyComicRelief funny one]] and [[TheBigGuy strongest member]].
18	* Jean Pétri / '''Yellow Baguette''': The [[KidAppealCharacter youngest member]], also TheCasanova wannabe.
19	* Catherine Fontaine / '''Pink à la mode''': The [[TheSmurfettePrinciple only girl]] in the group.
20	* Aramis Léclair / '''Silver Mousquetaire''': The SixthRanger.
21
22	!!The Lexos:
23	* Glou Man Chou: The BigBad
24	* Cancrelax: The EvilGenius, he creates the [[MonsterOfTheWeek Lexostreum]], and [[MakeMyMonsterGrow turns them into giants]].
25	* Warduke: TheBrute
26	* Extasy: TheHeart
27	* Zakaral: Glou Man Chou's son, TheDragon
28
29	----
30	!! Recurring ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' tropes:
31	* BigBad: Glou Man Chou
32	* DefeatEqualsExplosion: Most enemies; another Sentai standard.
33	* FinishingMove:
34	** "Jushi Sentai Hexagonal Attack"
35	** "Botte Secrète de Nevers"
36	* HumongousMecha: The France Robot is a combination of two smaller mecha. A new, standalone France Robot appears in the final episode.
37	* MakeMyMonsterGrow: Cancrelax's job with every Lexostreum. [[spoiler:And in the final episode, to Glou Man Chou himself.]]
38	* MechaExpansionPack: Machine Chanteclerc is Silver Mousquetaire's rooster mecha. In the final episode it combines with the new France Robot into the Robot D'Artagnan.
39	* MonsterOfTheWeek: The Lexostreums.
40	* {{Mooks}}: The Panous-Panous. Which means "not us, not us" (as in "don't hit us").
41	* SixthRanger: Silver Mousquetaire who, in a funny subversion of the formula, enters the scene right in the first episode. But it is supposed to be a late episode of a bigger "series".
42	* TheSmurfettePrinciple: Catherine
43	* SpandexLatexOrLeather: Spandex for the heroes, naturally, since the series tries to stick very closely to classic Sentai. The villains are a bit more varied, with leather, dominatrix-style, for Extasy, spandex shorts and little else for Warduke, and flowing robes for Cancrelax and Glou Man Chou.
44	* SuperSentaiStance: Of course. Most notably, during the EyeCatch for the earlier episodes.
45	* TokyoIsTheCenterOfTheUniverse: Or Paris is, in this case. Justified, since the Eiffel Tower is protecting the Earth from a large-scale alien invasion.
46	* TransformationIsAFreeAction: Notably defied in episode 2, with Discostreum firing a blast just as the heroes try to transform, twice.
47	* TransformationSequence: For the France Five, naturally.
48
49	!!''France Five'' provides examples of:
50
51	* EleventhHourSuperpower: [[spoiler:"Operation: Gergovie" in episode 5, and the Robot d'Artagnan in episode 6.]]
52	* ActorAllusion: Combined with PropRecycling [[invoked]] in episode 6; the {{BFG}} that [[spoiler:vaporizes Succulard is identical to Caleb's Nuclear Gun from ''Series/FlandersCompany''. Ruddy Pomarede plays both Caleb and Succulard.]]
53	* AllergicToEvil: The France Five's reaction when [[spoiler:finally confronted to Glou Man Chou. Although not so much allergic as just buffeted by his enormous personal power]].
54	* {{Animesque}}:
55	** The EyeCatch for episodes 5 and 6, and a couple explosion effects in 6.
56	** The WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue.
57	* AffectionateParody: Very much so. The show can't be said to really "mock" {{Sentai}}, but rather follows every trope of the genre quite faithfully. The humor comes from the incongruity of setting a Sentai in France.
58	* ArmCannon: Zakaral
59	* TheArtifact: The France Cannon, which is only used to kill the monsters of the first two episodes, but is still shown and even mentioned in the lyrics of the opening song used for episodes 4-6.
60	* AvengingTheVillain:
61	** Lady Warcry is Warduke's daughter, and wants to avenge her father.
62	** A subversion with Glou Man Chou, as he [[spoiler:doesn't care about Antoine killing Zakaral, figuring if Zakaral had been worthy he wouldn't have lost.]]
63	* BabiesEverAfter: [[spoiler: For Antoine and Sophie during the epilogue.]]
64	* BaguetteBeatdown: Yellow Baguette's weapons of choice, first as a sword and later as a staff. Starting episode 2, he throws croissant boomerangs as his calling card, in a manner resembling [[Anime/SailorMoon a certain anime series]].
65	* BewareTheNiceOnes: [[spoiler:In episode 6, Margarine turns into... Wargarine. She makes short work of the MookLieutenant that was close to killing the heroes five minutes before.]]
66	* {{BFG}}: [[spoiler:Wargarine sports several.]]
67	* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:The Earth is saved, Antoine marries Sophie... and yet Aramis is dead and Catherine is alone to mourn.]]
68	* BrainwashedAndCrazy: [[spoiler:Extasy is actually Antoine's fiancée Sophie, captured and brainwashed into a willing member of Lexos.]]
69	* CallingYourAttacks: [[PunnyName With Punny]] [[ThemeNaming Theme Name]]:
70	** Babybomb (from Babybel, a french brand of cheese)
71	** Camemblade (from Camembert, a french cheese)
72	** Also "Double Cheese"; Red Fromage is fond of this.
73	* CaptainGeographic: But played for laughs. The themes for the heroes' powers and mecha are silly French stereotypes like cheese, wine, baguettes, and fashion. Honestly, they just don't cross into CaptainPatriotic because they don't wear the Tricolore.
74	* CerebusSyndrome: The last two episodes are much more serious than the beginning of the series. Again, it fits with the genre parodied, since the end of a Sentai series generally takes a turn for the drama.
75	* ChainsawGripBFG: [[spoiler:Wargarine uses one.]]
76	* ChefOfIron: Succulard
77	* ColdSniper: Snipostreum, the raptor-headed Lexostreum in the interquel episode, snips with a laser rifle. He brags that he never missed, and Cancrelax says that he can stay hidden and immobile for hours if need be.
78	* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: Well, it's a Sentai after all.
79	* ColorCodedSecretIdentity: This Sentai trope is played straight as our heroes wear their associated colors as civilians.
80	* CombinationAttack: Attaque Triplée
81	* CombiningMecha: Falcon D'Artagnan + Joan of Arc Mount = France Robot.
82	* CoupDeGrace: The finishing moves are called thus.
83	* CreepyCrossdresser: Agony
84	* {{Crossover}}: Catherine and Thierry appear in another French indie series, ''DAMNED Next'', to retrieve some stray Panous-Panous who wandered into the already over-the-top fight scene. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fca3UETyp_o#t=4m10s Hilarity ensues]].
85	* DarkestHour: Episode 5.
86	* DirtyCoward: Cancrelax
87	* DumbMuscle: Gorlock.
88	* EnemyMime: The Panous-Panous have been described as "[[McNinja ninja-mimes]]".
89	* EvilLaugh: Glou Man Chou's is epic.
90	* EvilIsHammy: Glou Man Chou pulls absolutely no punches, and it's glorious.
91	* EvolutionaryRetcon: Several costumes were upgraded over the series. Namely, Margarine, the France Five suits, and France Robo itself. The Episode 1 costumes reappear in flashbacks during Episodes 3 and 6, explained away as prototypes for the current models which now have always been there.
92	* ExcitedTitleTwoPartEpisodeName: As part of being a ''Sentai'' homage.
93	* FrenchAccordion: Blue Accordéon, of course, complete the set of French clichés associated with the heroes. He's sometimes seen playing the instrument, including in the opening credits.
94	* GigglingVillain: Cancrelax can't say a line without cackling evilly.
95	* GratuitousEnglish: In several places, such as [[CallingYourAttacks calling their attacks]] and when doing their version of the [[Series/HimitsuSentaiGoranger Goranger Storm]] in Episode 3.
96	* GratuitousJapanese: The full titles, and new theme tune.
97	* HandWave: The reason why Black Beaujolais is immune to poison. Also counts as FauxlosophicNarration.
98	* HeadBob: The France Five in armor have the head bobbing and exaggerated gestures, yet another staple of Sentai.
99	* HeroicSacrifice:
100	** [[spoiler:Aramis dies shielding Antoine and Sophie from Zakaral's attack, just as the final cannon fires to destroy the Eiffel Tower.]]
101	** [[spoiler:Wargarine stays behind to protect Professor Burgonde and is killed by Zakaral. (She gets better.)]]
102	** [[spoiler:Antoine sacrifices himself at the end of episode 6, staying behind to stop Glou Man Chou from exploding on Earth. Subverted: Antoine survives.]]
103	* HeroicSecondWind: [[spoiler:Red Fromage in episode 6]].
104	* IFellForHours: Red Fromage and [[spoiler:Zakaral exchange some words while they're both falling from a building]].
105	* InMediasRes: Implied with the first episode.
106	* ItHasBeenAnHonor: [[spoiler:Red Fromage before his HeroicSacrifice in episode 6]].
107	* JustEatGilligan: The standard one of these for Sentai series -- why the BigBad doesn't send all his monsters at once -- is justified. The Eiffel Tower projects a force field around planet Earth, meaning that the BigBad can only send small squadrons of troops to Earth at a time, including a monster, some Panous-Panous and his two lieutenants.
108	* KnightOfCerebus: Zakaral
109	* LampshadeHanging: In episode 6:
110	-->'''Yellow Baguette:''' Hey, is it over? Usually, [[DefeatEqualsExplosion when it explodes]], it means we won!\
111	'''Blue Accordéon:''' Hu, no, usually [[MakeMyMonsterGrow it grows up first]]...
112	* LargeAndInCharge: Glou Man Chou
113	* LaserBlade: [[spoiler:Wargarine]]
114	* LibationForTheDead: Done by Black Beaujolais in episode 3, by pouring wine on the tomb of his late mentor.
115	* LovesMyAlterEgo: Catherine was absolutely smitten with Silver Mousquétaire, but loathed Aramis for his rudeness. It wasn't until he revealed his motives that they patched things up. [[spoiler:And then he died.]]
116	* MacrossMissileMassacre: [[spoiler:Done by Robot d'Artagnan in episode 6.]]
117	* {{Malaproper}}: Professor Burgonde can't get any figure of speech right.
118	* MeaningfulName: Aramis, Jean Pétri, the monsters' names, and many others.
119	* MonumentalDamage: [[spoiler:The Lexos finally manage to destroy the Eiffel Tower in episode 4, opening the door for them to launch their full-scale invasion.]]
120	* NeverTrustATitle: [[spoiler:Episode 5 "Farewell, France Five! The Day of Glory has Arrived!"... ends on a {{Cliffhanger}}.]]
121	* NotSoHarmlessVillain: Cancrelax turns out to be this in the fifth episode.
122	%% TheOtherDarrin is trivia and already in the Trivia tab.
123	* PluckyComicRelief: Albert
124	* ThePowerOfHate: Blue Accordéon figures out that this is what gives Warduke a boost in his last stand. His hatred is so strong, it's able to create a duplicate of his, invisible to the naked eye.
125	* ThePowerOfLove: [[spoiler:Antoine manages to break through Extasy's brainwashing by finishing the proposal he made to Sophie just before Lexos abducted her.]]
126	* QuirkyMinibossSquad: Zakaral leads one in the last couple episodes, with Gorlock, Succulard, Agony and Lady Warcry.
127	* ShockAndAwe: Glou Man Chou's favorite way of punishing those who failed him, or smiting his foes, is with lightning.
128	* ShoutOut: Along with being a huge homage to ''Dai-Nippon'', the series has frequent callbacks to other Sentai shows:
129	** The original opening (episodes 1-2) is a remix of the ''[[Series/ChoudenshiBioman Bioman]]'' theme, while the ending (episodes 1-2) is a remix of ''[[Series/ChoujinSentaiJetman Jetman]]'''s closing theme -- both of which were broadcast and extremely popular in France.
130	** Also, the teleport fly-by from episode 2 onward is a blatant ''Jetman'' homage.
131	** The team's mecha follow early '80s Sentai conventions: One jet, one tank, and a main carrier.
132	** Blue Accordéon's original [[Series/HimitsuSentaiGoranger bow-and-arrow weapon]] in episode 1.
133	** The Olympic Crusher attack in episode 3 is not only a throwback to the Goranger Storm but a shot-for-shot nod to ''Gaoranger'' Storm attack featured in ''[[Series/HyakujuuSentaiGaoranger Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai]]''.
134	** Before using France Robo's fencing thrust final attack in Episode 3, he quotes ''Theatre/CyranoDeBergerac'':
135	--->'''Red:''' At the envoi's end, I touch!
136	** [[spoiler:France Robo's appearance in Episode 6]] is a complete homage to the launch sequence of ''Anime/MazingerZ''.
137	** When Red's cockpit moves after the big robot combination in Episode 6, it looks remarkably similar to Duke Freed's "Chute In" sequence from when he'd activate [[Anime/UFORoboGrendizer Grendizer]] (probably more appropriate to say...[[invoked]] [[CompletelyDifferentTitle Goldorak]]).
138	** Speaking of which, the password to make the robots combine? ''alea jacta est'' (lit. "The Die Is Cast") -- a regular catchphrase in ''ComicBook/{{Asterix}}''.
139	** The subtitle for episode 5 is the second line of ''La Marseillaise'' (i.e. the French national anthem).
140	** The final battle of Episode 6 has several visual nods to Episodes 5 and 6 of ''Anime/GunBuster''.
141	** For the ultimate full-circle, Glou Man Chou inadvertently quotes the French narration to ''Anime/BattleOfThePlanets''. Which is the first International adaptation of ''Anime/ScienceNinjaTeamGatchaman''. Which is considered to be the ultimate forerunner of the ''Super Sentai'' franchise.
142	* SpinToDeflectStuff: Blue Accordéon and Yellow Baguette twirls their weapons to make a shield against Glou Man Chou's lightning.
143	* ThisCannotBe: Naturally said by [[spoiler:Glou Man Chou during the ultimate battle]].
144	* TorsoWithAView: Succulard in episode 6 ends up with a wide hole in the torso (although the chain wrapped around him is undamaged...).
145	* VoiceOfTheLegion: Glou Man Chou
146	* WeaponizedLandmark: The series revolves around the idea that the Eiffel Tower is a shamanic totem holding the evil galactic empire at bay.
147	* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: The series' final ending.
148	* WolverineClaws: Cancrelax has a Freddy Claw, more accurately. Although being the EvilGenius, he's never seen using it in a fight.
149	* WrestlerInAllOfUs: Warduke pulls out a swinging neckbreaker, a suplex and a powerbomb during his final appearance.

Context WebVideo / FranceFive