That Good Old Super Sentai Eye-Catch
As a child growing up in the Philippines, I could remember the eye-catch which I found irritating. The eye-catch was pretty much something used to begin and end a commercial break. It's more fun to watch the shows without the commercial break. However, networks make money through commercials. I did also remember the commercial breaks such as toy commercials and food product commercials. The eye-catch was definitely, "We'll be right back after these messages." Their equivalents to the West are TV bumpers - something to get in and out of the commercial.
The way they are drawn almost resembles something out of Marvel and DC cartoon adaptations. Like any superhero show - the Super Sentai eye-catch had to change depending on the context. What came out with the use of classic illustrations (something I doubt will be all that appreciated today) would explore other ways to do them.
The eye-catch that features the rangers and their Megazord
The dawn of the Megazord (better termed as Giant Robot for Japanese audiences) caused an impact. Battle Fever J was the first Sentai series to be called Super Sentai. Yes, that's until both Himitsu Sentai Goranger and Dengekitai JAKQ were retroactively included during the 1990s. Battle Fever J introduced the first Megazord ever introduced in Super Sentai. The Megazord eye-catch was introduced in episode five.
There were different ways that this was done. Some eye-catches feature illustrations of the rangers and the Megazord. Denji Sentai Denziman up to Dengeki Sentai Changeman used the format. I find the ranger illustrations for the commercial back followed by the Megazord to be fun. I love how much effort the artist makes such wonderful illustrations. My first experience with that was Chodenshi Bioman - my very first Super Sentai series.
However, Choshinsei Flashman and Hikari Sentai Maskman featured the rangers-in suit for the outro. We also got to see the respective Megazords of both Flashman and Maskman do some motion. Was it to get the mecha suit actor acknowledged or what? I liked the way the logo changed into the Flashmen and how we had the Maskmen looking sideways. These are very creative ways to advertise the rangers and their Megazord.
The order was soon reversed in Chojuu Sentai Liveman. Instead, we saw the Live Robo spinning for the commercial break. After the commercial, we saw the roster which started out with the three rangers then the other two were added.
In the case of Kousoku Sentai Turboranger, the pre-break eye-catch had the use of the Turbo Robo becoming the Turborangers. The post-break had Seelon spreading magic into the ironically underused Saint Beast Rakia.
Later, the shows simply decided to gloat at how better the Zords have become than the pre-Zyuranger era. I'd say that Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger had every right to flaunt the dinosaurs. It's no wonder why the American localization Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers really clicked too fast! I could imagine how Toei Ltd. must've waited until they found cooler designs and made a near-overnight hit out of it! I'd probably imagine Haim Saban probably said, "Well, that's what might sell in the America." and Toei Ltd. got greedy.
Seijuu Sentai Gingaman went a bit old-fashioned with the use of illustrations instead of live shots. The show even ends with a storybook format! I'd say that for the weirdness that Gingaman had (the show's title doesn't seem to match up with the Aborigine-style costumes of the heroes) - it sure had a lot of great mecha to brag about. I guess Toei wanted to do a bit of nostalgic, maybe brag more about better sketches, or I can't exactly say why they did it.
The not-so-used on-screen logo eye-catch
Chikyu Sentai Fiveman featured this rather clean logo. I think this might be the cleanest type of eye-catch. The format was hardly used (and perhaps underappreciated). However, it really made a big break yet again.
This format was also re-used in Ressha Sentai ToQGer with the logo appearing at the lower right of the screen. Like Fiveman, ToQGer is what I'd call a show that's pretty much more appealing to children. The difference is ToQGer won a Railroad Day award and has managed to get more views even while Yasuko Kobayashi was burnt out.
In 2011, Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger, as an ANNIVERSARY SEASON chose to use Fiveman's style of eye-catch. I always found it amazingly clean and refreshing to return that kind of eye-catch. The location of the logo would change between the commercial back and back to the show though.
Even better, the format was later re-used with Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters except the format was a the bottom left of the screen. This format was also later re-used in Shuriken Sentai Ninninger. I found this usage in Go-Busters rather very appropriate due to the spy-ops theme and how it felt like a direct sequel to Power Rangers RPM.
Showcasing the main cast and the stunt doubles
Chojin Sentai Jetman is often hailed as the savior of the franchise. In this one, we saw the main cast post out-of-suit before we see the stunt doubles pose after the commercial break. This format was later repeated with Choriki Sentai Ohranger - a series that plunged into lower ratings after the Sarin Gas incident. Fortunately, Ohranger got vindicated by history one way or another.
There were some modifications that came along the way. Mirai Sentai Timeranger had a show of the Time Red belt, the stuntmen on the Time Flyer, and to the logo for the break. The post-commercial eye-catcher focused on the main team. In Gougou Sentai Boukenger and Jyuken Sentai Gekiranger - we get some clip shows. In their case, there's some fast motion of the stunt doubles for the commercial break. After the commercial break, we get to see the main cast.
Samurai Sentai Shinkenger did manage to have the main cast before the commercial break. After that, we see the stunt doubles where Shinken Red spins the disc to return to the show.
Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger proudly brought the format back. I may not like the show but it sure has a whole lot of cool cast fight scenes. The cast wasn't afraid at all to showcase their ability to fight that much. It's only normal that Power Rangers Dino Charge really keeps trying its very best to also do the same. Both shows are shows I still dislike while praising their generous amounts of action scenes.
Promoting the different rangers via eye-catches
A format we may never see again is the use of so many eyecatches. I'm amazed Toei Ltd. decided not to showcase how great the Chi Beasts are in Gosei Sentai Dairanger. Instead, we had all six rangers do different eye catches and it's that hard to keep track. The focus ranger was usually used as the eye catch for the episode. Later, Denji Sentai Megaranger also used the ranger-of-the-week as the eye-catch instead of gloating how great the new zords are.
In the case of Kakuranger, it combined the use of promoting individual rangers and the mecha. The first eye-catch features the focused ranger slashing the screen and we see the complete team. After the commercial break, we get to see Toei Ltd. flaunt how better-looking their merchandise is compared to what they offered in the past. Mahou Sentai Magiranger also had the ranger-of-the-week morphing then becoming a Gosei Card.
We also had that in Kyukyu Sentai GoGoFive. The ranger-of-the-week does a LITERAL eyecatch. The suit actor is focused then we see the main cast's right eye focused before the logo shows up. After the break, we see the logo become the GoGoFive team. I still feel GoGoFive could've used Fiveman's eye-catch instead of this well, literal eye-catcher!
Gekisou Sentai Carranger had a genius way of doing the eye-catch. Previously, the zord of the ranger-of-the week becomes the eye-catch before and after the commercial. Later on, a showcase of both the VRV Vehicle and the ranger-of-the-week was used before and after the commercial.
Bakuryu Sentai Abaranger would feature the ranger-of-the week with their respective zord's head. After the commercial, Abare Red slashes the screen to reveal the initial trio of rangers.
Later, Tokousu Sentai Dekaranger used a combination of individual ranger promotion and whole team promotion. What amazed me with Dekaranger was how the commercial break had an animated logo followed by the team. After the break, we see the focus ranger or even rangers if there's more than one character focused. Towards the finale, all six rangers are being shown after the commercial ends.
The successor Mahou Sentai Magiranger also somewhat repeated the format. We see the rangers posing and transforming into the logo. Later on, we see the ranger-of-the-week after the commercial break.
We would have Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger do mish-and-mash the eye-catchers eventually!
The rarely used ones...
Some of these were somehow never repeated again for a reason...
I wonder why Hyajakuu Sentai Gaoranger refused to flaunt the merchandise during the eye-catcher. Before the commercial break - we have Gao Lion roar and become the logo. Later, we have the rangers in display after the commercial break.
Ninpuu Sentai Hurricanger does manage to show the ninja theme better. First, we have shadows for the commercial break. Later, we have the original trio after the commercial break.
Engine Sentai Go-onger does have what I'd call the most kiddified eye-catcher. Before the break, we get a race. After the break, we get a winner. I was wondering if this was ever planned for Carranger but was considered too juvenile at that time? Hmmm....
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What are your favorite eye-catchers?
What are your favorite eye-catchers?
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