Sean Akizuki's Super Sentai Blog

2021 is an anniversary year for Super Sentai with the upcoming Zenkaiger . However, let's take time to remember these shows from Toei from past to present. 50th anniversary The first Kamen Rider It started in 1971 and had a whopping 98-episode run. It's really something to think about that the Showa era Riders were usually not a stable franchise. While Kamen Rider Kuuga gets lots of love from newer fans but can the same be said about this one?  40th anniversary Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan  Sun Vulcan celebrates its 40 years since it aired last 1981. What was interesting was that Stan Lee nearly wanted to make this the first Power Rangers series. Marvel was also somewhat still involved at that time with Toei too.  35th anniversary Choshinsei Flashman Before Power Rangers Lost Galaxy - there was Choshinsei Flashman . Flashman may be regarded by many as the best of Hirohisa Soda's era. While I have no reason to believe Lost Galaxy was more popular than Seijuu Sentai Gingaman - t...

The fact that Kosoku Sentai Turboranger has been subbed brings two more series to mind. These series are Gekisou Sentai Carranger and Denji Sentai Megaranger . I heard Turboranger had its struggle, got unfairly maligned (and was underappreciated), and may have been vindicated by history after all to the point of overappreciation. Turboranger was the first Heisei era Super Sentai as well. Turboranger was also a show that was full of experimental concepts such as teenagers with attitude (hence the true trope codifier, not Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers ), automobiles for mecha (though the secondary mecha was a turbojet), and enemies that were sealed for centuries until they were released into the modern-day setting. The series was the start of the Heisei era while it signaled the end of the Hirohosa Soda era . Soda's era finally came to an end with Chikyu Sentai Fiveman - the series that nearly ended Super Sentai! Yup, you'll probably still hear more people preferring Kyukyu...

  I gotta confess that I was actually and slowly planning to move away from Super Sentai. Reasons? Well, there's the big world of digital media and there's other shows that have caught my attention. Meanwhile, I'm still reading Orends Range and JEFusion (where I'm no longer a guest writer). I don't give updates. Instead, I react to updates. The last reaction to an update I did was in December . So, here's an update that I may react to after reading Orends Range revealing about the power of the Super Sentai Gear . Here's what the Super Sentai Gear is revealed to be along with other stuff: Next are the Sentai Gear, which is this show's collectible gimmick. Once a Zenkaiger activates any of these items in the Geartlinger, he can summon a weapon or the ability of said Super Sentai team. For example, Zenkaiser uses the Zyuohger Sentai Gear, he will gain Zyuoh Eagle's ability to fly or if he uses the Goggle V Sentai Gear, he can summon their ribbon.  In ad...

This week's Kiramager episode is written by Tomihiko Tokunaga -- a new name I just jumped into RIGHT NOW. This week's episode seemed somewhat serious when you think that somebody could fall into serious despair.  Juuru is amazed at someone for having good illustrations while looking through his tablet. He wants to know how to draw better. Meanwhile, the Illusion Granterstone is now about to be put into good use. Carantula uses Wire Jamen who can shapeshift into anyone. However, it does have the serious flaw of a wire sticking out -- not a very good plan. However, they plan to turn a human into a monster. Product placement? I do feel like Monde Nisin's famous Fita biscuits are promoted in that episode. You may notice that they could be eating what could be the Fita biscuits from the Philippines. Is this another way to celebrate Japan's status as an ally of the Philippines? Wire Jamen has the Muddites capture some humans but finds no suitable victim. This would later move...

  I'm amazed at how Kiramager has managed to spread out Naruhisa Arakawa better than ToQGer spread out Yasuko Kobayashi. This week's writer is Kaori Kaneko who's also written some of the more imaginative episodes. Though, I do have quite some mixed feelings this week! The odd personality of Emperor Yodonheim is even worse than what Grand Lord Crisis had in Kamen Rider Black RX . Grand Lord Crisis had his other personality in General Dasmader. In this case, Shadon the famed sniper is also another host body for Emperor Yodonheim. I wonder how are these personalities not even aware that they're parts of Emperor Yodonheim? I have a theory that these masks used by Yodonheim are the ones that need a body. So both Shadon and Yodonna are actually borrowing the emperor's body and not the other way around. We have Mabusheena's coming-of-age ceremony. Sorry to say but some coming-of-age ceremonies have been simplified to the max due to the Legacy Virus pandemic. Both Tamet...

Well, we didn't have a New Year's special, right? Anyway, things are going to get rough as the battle for the Granterstones is on. Another plot reveals something with Takamichi's past during his adoptive years in Crystalia. Now, let's get on with it! The Kiramagers are starting 2021 (and still having to deal with COVID-19). They're wondering where Takamichi is. It's mentioned that Takamachi is out there to meet Garza over something very important. Yup, this is the plot of this week's episode. Carantula calls Yodonna as "Yodon". This reminds me of the finale scene of Kamen Rider Black RX where Black RX refers to Colonel Dasmader as "Grand Lord Crisis" before their final duel. Yodonna insists to be called as Yodon. Meanwhile, Yodon sends non-verbal commands unlike earlier on when the Emperor spoke to Yodonna in an audible voice.  The Tooth Decay Jaman grants instant tooth decay. Ouch! I'd hate to have him hit me. This monster has an obv...