Nostalgia Analysis Part 20: Shinkenger (2000s Sentai)

Samurai Sentai Shinkenger is one Super Sentai series for me that had plenty of "nostalgic value" in an indirect way like...


Like the Maskmen they focused training daily with their minds and bodies to unlock some mystical energy to combat the forces of darkness.  The character power and aura power were kinda alike in some way, mental and body focused which can grow intensely powerful.  Shinkenger imo as a Super Sentai does manage to reflect on Maskman in some ways.


Just my thought- I really wrote an entry comparing Shinkenger to Rurouni Kenshin.  Click here.


Hmmm I wonder what came into the minds of the producers and the writer Yasuko Kobayashi to name the red ranger Takeru.  Actually the second Takeru does some meditation cycles but has a far more aloof attitude than the first Takeru.  Both of them had some stupid childhood secrets to share and fan-paired with the yellow or pink rangers.  I just thought though what was the reason of naming Shinken Red as Takeru, several years after the first Takeru was conceived.  The Takeru Shiba/Mako pairing has more sense than the Takeru/Momoko pairing anytime for me.


Ryunosuke and Akira (Ao Ranger) were both archers and blue rangers.  Ryunosuke also shares some attributes to Kenta in being reliable though not always a better substitute.


Mako does somewhat share a few attributes to Momoko being feminine yet tough while Mako was far more developed and had real interactions with the Takeru of her show, compared to Momoko who barely spoke to the Takeru of her show (that was the 80s flaws that were soon fixed later).  For looks, well I could compare her to Kimberly from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers but it's just a coincidence but I do think there's a similarity there (I think they look alike except Mako's sexier) and like Lin, they're wind blowing hot chicks (cloning projects anyone?!).  Also, she does bring back our childhood crushes unintentionally, we can't do anything about that I think.  I just thought though, Super Sentai-wise, Mako is far closer to being Kimberly Hart than she is to Momoko though she does reflect traits of Momoko as well (being tough).  But surface-wise, she's just smoking hot like Kimberly was in the 90s.  Both Mako and Kimberly are overrated for being HOT so much MMPR nostalgia there in one character!


Chiaki and Akira were both mischievous members of the team despite the color code differences.  I just thought it's nice to see another character like Akira after some time.  Maskman's Akira or Shinkenger's Chiaki?  I don't know who's nuttier.


Kotoha was the cheery yellow type, I kinda remember Saki but she's far more developed imo.  Well I don't know if she can be compared with Sara from Flashman considering she's not that witty, just an average girl who becomes a heroine.


For Genta, well he might remind us of any typical comedic character in Anime.  I just thought at a superficial view, he could remind us of Skull personality-wise but he's funnier and more intelligent.  Maybe not.  But somehow, he reminds me of Skull from the Zordon arc in some way.  Hmmm some find him horrid too.  Or maybe we can say what if Skull had a son by a Japanese woman.


Jii like Director Sugata were both focused on "aura power" and meditation.  Like Kurama Tetsuzan, Jii is a bad-ass swordsman who did actual combat in their respective shows.


The Shinken-oh kinda reminds me of Battle Fever Robo design-wise and its finishing move.


The Mougyudaioh belongs to the list of initially unstable robots like Galaxy Robo and Red Puncher.  Personally though, I thought Mougyudaioh was a show flaw and wasn't as good as Galaxy Robo and Red Puncher.



Mr. Brown wanting to learn the ways of the samurai was just that funny.  I remember Bulk in MMPR with that guy but he was just a guest star.  Okay... kinda weird now he and Bulk are both bald (which did happen in the adaptation PR Samurai).  Fortunately he was just for one episode or he'd ruin the whole show if he was just there to be there.  I considered his presence funny considering he was that much of a moron.  At least he didn't bring Spike with him or who knows what Spike will do. =P


The Decade-Shinkenger crossover would remind some of the rather failed Mashed Rider-MMPR crossover but it was better written than that for some.  However Decade imo I can live without it- it's near as horrid as Saban's Mashed Rider IMO.  Credits though that Mako didn't stay in bed the whole day during the crossover unlike Kimberly. :)  For those who don't like Decade, they'll say, "Hey the Shinkenger crossover is just as bad as the Mashed Rider-MMPR Crossover."  Not really.  I could like the Kamen Rider Decade-Shinkenger crossover BUT not Decade in itself.  No offense to Kamen Rider Decade fans.

Doukoku like Zeba are both ill-tempered, underground monsters who ruled with much power who wish to invade the surface world.  They also had their downfalls caused because certain women got involved.  Doukoku had the real 18th Shiba head Kaoru use the sealing character on him (which allowed Takeru and his team to finish the job the princess couldn't) and Zeba because of the Igam twins.


Shitari would bring back the era of creatures that Hirohisa Soda handled which the producers of the shows created.  While I compared him to Anagbas personality wise but he can also be compared to Dongoros from Fiveman and Gator from Changeman in the creature feature though personality-wise he is nowhere near.

Well this is pretty long and I'll be working on Goseiger to Gokaiger.  Missed any?  Let me know!