Sean Akizuki's Super Sentai Blog

Maskman 20 for me leaves a question of why Momoko in the first place was the target.  I mean, they did notice that Akira is the weakest mentally speaking (but he matures along the way), so why Momoko?  Momoko is certainly not a weakling as this episode shows but one must realize, strength is not always how you can win a battle.  I mean, in history some people won not as badass soldiers but as great thinkers regardless of gender.  I guess at that point, Tube considered Momoko as the weakest member though we see that she is also tough-ass.  But there's more than just strength that they would have focused why they attacked her in the first place. Momoko is shown to be a tai chi teacher and she is fond of children.  Okay she may not be handling school in the academic sense like Kasumi/Five Pink or Mako/Shinken Pink but she is teaching students.  We don't know what she was in the past, maybe like Haruka she was too focused on martial arts and well, too ...

Well it's time for Boukenger and we,, a really overrated series even I myself overrated it.  Made me really think that I enjoyed Sho Aikawa's being the head writer of Kamen Rider Blade which was a serious season vs. this lighter and softer season.  It was an adventure theme but let's just see... I thought that I kept rewinding this season sine I had lesser access to other Sentai (then again, I can't trust those crap dubs either)... now for the episode analysis: Sho Aikawa (main writer): 1-11, 17-20, 25-26, 29-30, 33, 47-49 (23 eps) Tasks 1-3 introduces us to the first three villain factions namely Gordom, Jaryuu and Dark Shadow.  In this episode, we get a glimpse of the characters' personalities though I failed to notice much of the character flaws most of the team are jerks.  So the beginning has Satoru wanting to drop Masumi into the lava?  WTH?  I just thought that we get a blur picture of how the villaisn will be. Task 4 has a focus on Satoru an...

Okay Go-onger may be in my lower part of the list, I don't really find anything that appealing to it aesthetic-wise or execution-wise, etc. but I just don't hate it. In fact, while it's silly but I certainly don't consider it a disasterpiece. So far, I still think this series is still passable even if I don't consider it awesome. It's nice to have a comedy season for once. I know some of you may not agree with me, some of you say Go-onger sucks but I don't find the cast boring compared to Goseiger.  ow don't flame on me, this is more editorial. Factual-wise, Go-onger is a comedy season which at the same time provides room for some character development.  It sort of makes fun of Super Sentai by actually giving us characters who are pretty silly (even Renn's intelligence doesn't spare him) and it's pretty comical at the same time. Plus, at least characters get development even for the Patrick Star-type character of Hant gets character devel...

Magiranger for me felt like a series of attempting to mix Fiveman (siblings team), Gaoranger (three arcs) and a season that got me mixed.  Particularly because of... HOUKA!  Houka does get really irritating while Urara is real empowerment for the show.  The series had me mixed.  So yeah we have Maekawa, Arakawa, the writing team Michiko Yokote before it fell apart and Akatsuki Yamatoya. You can tell how much I didn't enjoy the show that much too... Atsushi Maekawa (main writer) : 1-5, 9-10, 13, 16, 20, 28, 35-36, 41-42, 49 (16 eps) Episodes 1-5 is an introduction to the whole Ozu family.  We are introduced to the fact that the Ozu family isn't aware of their true heritage as of that point.  I would admit the writing had done a good job introducing the mecha and the differences of the family.  Again, it really irritates me to how Houka can be that stupid at the same time, a bit of Kai as the youngest becoming the red ranger. Episodes 9 has the ...

For me ToQger is one show that may or may not have a glimmer of hope.  Okay I'll admit that I'm not really enjoying it, I expected more from Utsnonomiya as a producer but, apparently the whole show is what I'll call, "I don't like it but I respect it for the sake of the other fans."  For Yasuko Kobayashi, I really think she really needs a break considering she's burnt out during Gobusters.  On hte other hand, I do have a feeling I might be able to tolerate this show like I did with Kamen Rider Kiva.  On the other hand, I feel like the show may actually fit in a new generation of Sentai fans.  The cast is lively and for one, may actually click with the new audience. The idea of imagination power of changing colors is fun.  So I started tot hink that the show itself has potential for kids.  Yes kids, they are the primary target for Super Sentai.  But I would admit that Yasuko Kobayashi tends to suck at comedy (she did succeed with Shinkenger) bu...

Megaranger apparently tries to take a lot of Hirohisa Soda's era and compress it into one show while adding the sixth ranger from Sugimura era. Now what are the conflicts involving science and technology in Megaranger? Here's what I can find: Warning there will be spoilers ahead as usual in the major plots analysis series so don't read further if you don't want to be spoiled . Man vs. machine INET didn't want the idea of the Galaxy Mega being piloted by teenagers with attitude so they decided to create an AI program.  It's a man vs. machine episode. In this episode, the Megarangers show how they can defeat Crayfish Nejire in spite of being teenagers with attitude. The Megarangers also had another episode involving man vs. machine when Shun fell for a girl he didn't know was a robot. During that episode, one of the robot girls started to gain human emotions.  It reminded me of the episode in Bioman when Miki a Mecha Human was given her conscience ci...

Back then as a child, I always thought Power Rangers was a Sentai-inspired show, it was Saban's original production when it was actually a show that Saban produced with Toei's permission.  I was around 15-16 as a hormone driven, problematic teenager when I discovered about Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger with the Internet.  I discovered MMPR was based on Zyuranger then it took footages from Dairanger and Kakuranger... woah I started to get shattered and then, I started to campagain against Power Rangers.  I started seeing Sentai raw on Youtube... which started to make me think, "Woah my childhood is a LIE!"  Then it began, my hate campaign against Power Rangers. I did some research on Zyuranger, I landed on Jillun's website  , I also went to Rovang's website and started finding out about Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger and more.  I started to be that enraged fanboy and said, "Why in the world did Power Rangers have to exist?!"  So I started that hate campaign, th...

It's time for me to be honest and stop pretending what I'm not... so let's just get it over my confessions about blogging.  Being honest can help a lot eventually.  So let's get it started. During the time I started my blog I was only reading episode synopsis, spoilers and the only Super Sentai series I saw from start to end (with fansubs or dubs) were dubs of Fiveman and Bioman and for those subbed were Maskman and Jetman (by CSCentrl).  Then I started seeing other fan subs namely Boukenger, Dekaranger and then started entering into Shinkenger.  So I was pretending to be a know it all because I wanted instant gratification, which of course landed me on nothing more than well-deserved constructive criticism that I needed to stop pretending what I'm not.  Being a so-called know it all only made me write terrible fan fics (my infamous fic SS vs. PR is now my time machine on WHAT NOT TO DO in my future projects), terrible blog entries. etc.  It takes gut...

Super Sentai has some "names the same" characters but some are probably tributes to previous characters or even actors.  Let's move on shall we? Gai Yuki was probably created in tribute to the guest character Ryo Asuka... only this time setting him as a regular ranger. Hideaki Fujiawara appeared in Chojin Sentai Jetman as a character named Dan.  His Zyuranger character was also named as Dan. Burai is probably another tribute to Ryo Asoka/X-1 Mask. Sometimes I think Lin in Dairanger is a tribute to Momoko/Pink Mask

So I thought I could talk about Jasmine next.  In my case, I wrote in my celebrities blog about why the actress Ayumi Kinoshita fits well with her role , now I'd like to talk about the character in context. Like Mako, I am a fan of the character Jasmine but I think her popularity is also again, a result of too much credit.  Granted, Jasmine is a better fighter than Mako and she is really, really hot to the point I expected a river of tears when the actress got married.  So let's get started shall we? Let's take a look at her personality.  Jasmine is pictured to be a calm, collected, cheery individual although she has a disturbed past and even considered suicide.  She was able to use her tragic past to reach out to a boy who hated his being an ESPerer.  Unlike Sakura in Boukenger who is cold (though she defrosted), it's probably easier for just anyone to love Jasmine's character of being cheery and bright.  I mean, when Jasmine's not in the face of d...

After doing an episode writers' analysis on Dekaranger (man those critiques are really hard), I would probably want to do some criticism on the more unusual and unique storyline of one of my favorite Super Sentai, Tokosou Sentai Dekaranger.  I will also confess that I tend to be biased when a new season of Super Sentai feels "unusual" never mind, sometimes you need to break the mold.  Now for my critique to Dekaranger as a uniquely executed Super Sentai season! So one may ask.. why so unusual?  You have the five members, sixth members are now expected these days, you have primary and secondary mecha... what's so different?  Good you asked.  Now it's time for me to show what's unique about Dekaranger!  I would say that while Dekaranger has usual Sentai tropes such the five man team, the sixth ranger (it's very common now), the team mentor... but now to focus on its unique aspect... the way Alienizers (a name called for the alien criminals) is being handl...

Super Sentai usually had male mentors but at times, it had female mentors.  These are the following icons of women's rights and of course, gender fairness.  There are a couple of female rangers but I want to pay tribute to those women not in spandex who stand out as teachers: Commander Aya is the first female mentor for Chojin Sentai Jetman.  Sometimes we had female assistants who were brains behind the men.  I here, she takes over the place that was lost by her superior and proves she can do a good job while maintaining gender fairness.  What I like about her as a commander is that she always manages to put the team together whenever it's needed.  Also I just love how she respected Ryu's tears over Rie when she said, "Cry now so you don't have to later."  I hate it whenever male commanders just berate a man when they cry.  I hated it when I was berated for crying because I was a man, and sadly even one of them was a woman.  But she believ...

Well I'm back and here's for Gaoranger, another of Takegami's head writing jobs and sadly, not so many major writers aside from him.  I mean, I felt like Megaranger was great with the Takegami/Kobayashi/Arakawa team... now moving on. Junki Takegami (main writer): 1-18, 20, 22-23, 25, 27-28, 32-40, 44, 48-51 (38 eps) This is Takegami's writing of Gaoranger.  So he was Gogo V's head writer after Megaranger and he was also an Anime writer himself.  Now for the episode analysis of this guy for all the 38 episodes! Episodes 1-2 introduces us the introduction of what Gaoranger will be.  Episode 1 has Kakeru in introduction, the biases that Gaku has on Kakeru (which I can understand because he is after all imo more qualified) and the introduction of the Orgs' mission against humanity.  I love how Kakeru shows he has his ability to talk to animals used in a bigger way compared to Shiro's in Bioman (which was for me, pretty experimental at that stage).  It a...

Okay I'll probably resume my analysis for major plots (when I finally get ANOTHER series to complete) and my writers' analysis when my mind cools down, but after doing Megaranger, I thought that the whole series was probably a huge tribute to Hirohisa Soda's era in the 80s. The head producer has Shigenori Takatera while it had three major writers namely Junki Takegami, Yasuko Kobayashi and Naruhisa Arakawa. Hirohisa Soda's works tend to get modified by many writers today. While I admit Hirohisa Soda is past his prime but without him, we can't get some revolution for Super Sentai and I still think his era's writing is the best. How is that possible? I'll name some things that came from the Soda era minus the sixth ranger, sometimes I wish we'll have another series without any additional rangers: Megaranger is the second Super Sentai team of teenagers with attitude as rangers. Unlike Turboranger where teenagers with attitude with fairy energies were ...

Well it's time I present the first Junki Takegami headwriting work (and technically the second series I saw from him, the first one was Go-onger) which had some of the best writers.  Naruhisa Arakawa and Yasuko Kobayashi were also major writers.  Shigeru Yanagawa was a minor writer for five episodes. Junki Takegami (main writer) : 1-3, 5-6, 8-9, 12-14, 19-21, 27, 30, 38-39, 42-43, 46, 48, 50 (22 eps) Episodes 1-2 is the introduction arc of Megaranger.  It starts with Kenta who was recruited after he scored high in the Megaranger arcade game while four of his schoolmates were trapped in the proess.  The Nejire had begun its invasion.  Dr. Hinelar destroys one of INET's bases as to avoid any threat of anybody getting rid of him as the supreme scientific genius (Bioman anyone?), only to face the Megarangers.  The episode kind of has the heroes realize that their first battle wasn't over. Episode 3 is an episode where the concept of huge Nejire Beasts go...

Dairanger for me is one of those rare masterpieces in Super Sentai which will be pretty hard to replicate.  Although Gekiranger does have a great story, but Dairanger for me had most of its charm. Noboru Sugimura (main writer) : 1-4, 7-8, 13-14, 17-18, 21-22, 28-32, 37-38, 42-46, 49-50 (26 eps) Episodes 1-2 is the focus of introducing the Dairangers and the Gorma.  The Gorma are introduced as a triumvirate of evil.  Ryou is hesitant to become a Dairanger at the first episode but realizes he's needed.  The Gorma are introduced as a trio that will menace the Dairangers throughout the series.  Also we know that the Gorma have their sick human sacrifice rituals as well. Episodes 3-4 is one nightmare fuel plot.  Souls of children are stolen by the Key Jester.  I really felt sorry for the kid whose younger brother's stole got stolen.  Fortunately the Dairangers were able to save the day.

Go Go Power Rangers!  Wait it's Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger!  Now it's time to feature another episode writers' analysis of a show I watched from start to end.  This was the beginning of the Noboru Sugimara era.  I'll be doing some MMPR comaprison as well. Noboru Sugimura (main writer): 1-6, 7 (co-written with Araki), 8-10, 11 (co-written with Araki), 14-15, 17-23, 28-31, 34, 36-37, 40-42, 47-50 (34 eps) Episodes 1-2 would be the "Day of the Dumpster" arc.  This gives us an idea of how Noboru Sugimara would write his intros with extreme blasts and a different approach.  It's a two parter introduction and how different Zyuranger can be.  It also gives us an idea of Bandora hating children which was never explained until later why. Episodes 3-4 is the Legendary Weapons arc.  Compared to most Super Sentai, Zyuranger is the only season to let them find their weapons.  Most of the time, Sentai warriors get their signature weapons from their me...

Well I'll be talking about yet my favorite 90s Sentai not because it's really the best for me, but because I can relate to it in a way.  Hehe.  This was Toshiki Inoue's only Sentai headwriting work and after that, he resumed his sub-writing job and became more involved with Kamen Rider.  These were the days before Toshiki Inoue burned out, at the same time we have a preview of garbage he will throw into Tokusatsu later.  Now for the episode analysis: Toshiki Inoue (main writer) : 1-7, 12-14, 17-18, 22-24, 30-32, 36-37, 42-45, 47-51 ( 29 eps) Toshiki Inoue proved himself able to create great scripts but bad ones at the same time.  In Jetman, he showed some of his potential trademarks that would be carried over in Kamen Rider. Episode 1 features a much different way of introducing Sentai rangers.  One soldier loses his girlfriend, he must get over it and now must find the other four to who will become the Chojin Sentai Jetman.  We only have a team...

Obviously this is the era where Hirohisa Soda had no idea what to do anymore but to try and create a portfolio of his previous works.  Burned out, Soda had some rather silly episode to serious ones, but whatever, Soda really needed to step down after writing so many series!  Other than that, Fiveman for me is still more watchable than Magiranger in the long run! Hirohisa Soda (main writer) : 1-5, 7, 9, 12-15, 19-21, 23-26, 28-31, 33-34, 37-38, 42-48 (33 eps) Episodes 1-2 introduces us to the Fiveman and the Zone.  I thought that the series was interesting considering it was an all-sibling team, compared to the standard non-sibling team.  It did leave some things to our imagination like how time ran between Zone and Earth considering the Fivemen grew up while Zone didn't age a day.  It was a nice premiere but the series was going to a messed up direction but not to the point it's ultimately not unwatchable. Episode 3 introduces the rivalry of Five Red and...

Kosoku Sentai Turboranger was a test formula for teenagers with attitude.  At the same time, it was where Soda was basically in decline and his era was coming to an end.  Now for the episode analysis: Hirohisa Soda (main writer) : 1-5, 7, 10, 13-15, 17, 20-21, 23-24, 27-33, 36, 38-40, 44-50  (33 eps) Episodes 1-2 is the introduction of Turborangers to the Bouma.  At this point, I was thinking whether or not Seelon was wise in her decision to choose teenagers with attitude to fight a 10,000 year old awakened threat of the Bouma.  We are introduced to the Bouma's officers and their leader Emperor Ragorn.  It was also one to try and link Sentai to ancient mankind in spite of the use of modern technology. Episode 3 features some nightmare fuel and comedy at once.  Ms. Yamaguchi notices something is different with the Turborangers' like Riki's baseball pitch even dies out.  This features a weird plot of Dango Bouma turning humans into balls, wh...

Well I'm back for now and don't expect me to marathon this... nor my next post to be another extensive post like this considering I do have other stuff to do.  Meanwhile I could really say Liveman despite its rather weaker finale (but wraps things up in a way that's not a terrible finale)... it has a lot of decent episodes. Hirohisa Soda : 1-7, 10-14, 16, 19-23, 25-31, 33, 37-38, 41-49 (37 eps) Hirohisa Soda was in here, prior to his burnout which happened in Turboranger.  Now here's what I thought about his episodes in summary that is... Episodes 1-2 is the introductory arc.  Apparently, Soda likes to write grim stories during his time doing them rather well.  The two parter introduction shows loads of sad stories and a glimmer of hope.  A pregnant woman dies but the child is safely delivered.  It gives us a good idea or an introduction of how things will be between our heroes and villains Episode 3 starts to introduce us to Dr. Oblar who has his ...

Now it's on to Maskman since I'll probably arrange the shows I've watched from start to end based on their years, not on the sequence.  Now for the Maskman episodes.  This was another of Soda's got the huge cake series.  However we are introduced to more of Kunio Fuji and Toshiki Inoue.  I can't critique Toshiki Inoue's Flashman episodes since I haven't seen much Flashman to do a full critique.  On the other hand, unlike my major plots analysis, this may not even be a marathon because of extensive research needed per show. Hirohisa Soda:  Episodes 1-6, 10, 12, 14, 19-25, 27-32, 35-36, 38, 41, 43-51 Episode 1 is the introductory episode.  During this chapter, the Maskmen learn of the mysterious Igam who is Takeru's girlfriend.  The introduction features the Maskmen who are yet to see the full power of the enemy.  They are overly confident but are told by their team mentor they haven't unlocked their powers in full. Episode 2 deals ...

After doing a major plots analysis, I'll do an episode analysis by writers and how they managed to do it for better or for worse.  Some of them will be pretty incomplete because I don't know how to read the Japanese kanji.  Thanks to Tokuwarriors for providing me the information to do so: Hirohisa Soda (main writer) - episodes 1-8, 10-11, 13-14, 16-17, 19-20, 22, 25-26, 28, 30-38, 40, 43-44, 47-51 Obviously and no doubt that Hirohisa Soda wrote most of Chodenshi Bioman.  He's the primary writer and it was the golden age of the 80s Sentai, or for some, the golden age of Sentai stories.  After discussing Bioman's major plots, I'd like to talk about how he writes episodes.  And I just love his episodes. Episodes 1-3 introduces use to the basic personalities of the Big Three. Episodes 1-2 writes Mika Koizumi's introduction which sadly, Soda had to write her off in episode 10 thanks to Yuki Yajima's rather unprofessional leave.  He also wrote episode 11 w...