So It's Driving Back To Modern Japan With Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger

There's a difference between giving updates and reacting to updates. Fan sites like JEFusion (which I stopped writing for so I can focus on personal stuff) and Orends Range (where I got this update from) focus on updates. In my case, I prefer to react to updates. Sure, this blog may soon come to an end like a lot of fansites. This time, I'm not surprised to learn that Bakuage Sentai Boonboomer is going back to modern Japan. I think it's because part of Super Sentai's charm is the absurdity of Tokyo being the Center of the Universe. I guess it's pretty much how American superheroes have aliens who tend to focus on attacking America. 

Sure, there's no press conference yet. However, what can't be denied is that the cast that leaked. The car theme reminds me it's actually 35 years since Kosoku Sentai Turboranger. Yeah, a show that may be Vindicated by History but won't get more love because of Gekisou Sentai Carranger. I guess Toei still honors Turboranger even if the show did suffer from low ratings, and backlash (because the Boma Generals were the poor personifications of wickedness), and I'd say Denji Sentai Megaranger may have made the show less appreciated. Now, I wonder what's wrong with going back to cars again?

Initial thoughts on the rangers themselves

What amazed me was the color coding. Yes, it's been some time since we had Battle Fever J's color coding for the men. Red, blue, black, orange, and should we consider Miss America a pink ranger? Anyway, it's already 45 years for Battle Fever J and I think it's just viewed as some history lesson now. The Battle Fever Robo was pretty much the first Megazord but I doubt so many people ever remember it now. Maybe, some people were shocked that the Battle Fever Robo had no combining sequence either. My first exposure to that fact was when I got into the Internet and learned that the "Japanese Power Rangers" is really called Super Sentai.

The red ranger is described as:

Taiya Hando/Bun Red is a kind hearted man who loves cars. A master of developing and modifying cars, he works as a "delivery man" using the tuned-up red car that he built. When he likes someone or something, he generously and energetically acquires it. He has a strong competitive instinct, and has the ability to see through the essence of things. He is able to carve out his own by making quick decisions, and even in difficult situations, he is someone that you can rely on! Lastly, he is skillful with both rods and guns, and is good at creative battles that suit the situation. 

He is played by Haruhi Iuchi, and his suit actor is Hirotsugu Mori (Tonbo Ohger, Kamen Rider Slash).

I guess it's only fair that the red ranger, Taiya, should be a car lover. I wonder if this guy will become like Kyousuke Jinnai in Carranger one way or another. The character may end up creating a lot of crazy imaginative solutions as the leader. 

The blue ranger is described as:

Ishiro Meita/Bun Blue is a cool young man who supports Taiya as an "informant". A master of information gathering, he is a freelance spy who has a worldwide network.  He's methodical, sarcastic, and is cynical at times. He always considers risks and makes calm decisions, but when Taiya makes a decision, he just accepts because he has complete trust on Taiya. He fights alongside Taiya as this was the "job that Taiya gave him." He has an excellent dynamic vision, and is good at precise movements. If you let him use a gun, he'll get 100 shots. 

He is played by Yuki Hayama, and his suit actor is Takahiro Yoneoka (Kamen Rider Over Demons, Don Murasame)

Okay, I think this character is deliberately BLUE and has a methodological way of doing things. Doesn't that remind you of Hoji Tomasu/Deka Blue from Tokosou Sentai Dekaranger? Hoji was arrogant early on because of that but became humble as the series progressed. In this one, seeing him as an informant of sorts can be interesting. Maybe, he's meant to be a tribute to the scientifically-inclined Nagare Tatsumi/Go Blue from Kyukyu Sentai GoGoFive. Both blue rangers are my favorites from their respective shows. 

The pink ranger is described as:

Mira Shifuto/Bun Pink is the mood maker and trouble maker who is full of curiousity and sticks her nose into everything. She also shows a lot of emotions and is very innocent. She's a "driver" who is a master of driving and maneuvering. She has a lot of part-time jobs, and works at various stores, but she ends up reconsidering her direction in life after meeting Taiya. After said meeting, she began to show her true core strength. She also has a unique sensitivity and fights instinctively. 

She is played by Miu Suzuki, and her suit actor is Yume Sakanashi (Kamakiri Ohger, Future Oni Sister).

This is kind of interesting though the actress is actually in her 20s now. I wonder if getting a cast member that young is harder these days? Reiko Chiba was below 20 when she was in Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger - explaining why she was still learning the ropes. It's unlike Rin Takanashi and Amy Jo Johnson who had a bit of experience. So, she's going to be very innocent and the moodmaker, trouble maker, and hmmm curiosity causes trouble? I guess she's going to be some kind of Nancy Drew-type character then. Super Sentai is no stranger to making references to American pop culture even if it's aimed for mostly Asians. 

The black ranger is described as: 

Jou Akuse/Bun Black is a super serious rookie police officer who dreams of becoming a hero. Passionate about justice, he usually patrols the town on his bicycle, and while patrolling, he hears screams and rushes over to find a monster and a "tire man"?! Serious and aggressive, he is confident with his physical strength. He primarily uses the Boon Change Axe in its Rod Mode. 

He is played by Ryu Saito, and his suit actor is Shigeki Ito (Kuwagata Ohger, Twokaizer).

He might just be another Keiichiro Asaka in this one. I do tend to compare Keiichiro to Officer Dibble from the Top Cat sitcom. Dibble's the friendly antagonist of sorts. I wonder if he will turn out to be another version of Dibble or any comedic cop after justice? However, his strength might be a reference to Kindergarten Cop starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Maybe, we might hear him do an impersonation of "SHUT UP!" done by Arnold. 

The orange range (and that color is VERY RARE, last we saw it was as a sixth ranger color in Ressha Sentai ToQGer) as:

Genba Bureki/Bun Orange is a dependable man who is "procurement expert" and can procure you what you need form anywhere. He has a kind and soft demeanor. He is also an elusive man and never shows his true feelings as his background is currently unknown. Even if that's the case, Taiya is confident in working with a procurement agent. He is good at fighting by taking advantage of his opponent's movements, and primarily uses the Boon Change Axe in its Axe Mode. 

He is played by Satoru Soma, and his suit actor is Yukimasa Ono (Kamen Rider Turbon).

I guess this will be one guy who may become a Walking Spoiler. Back then, a lot of characters never had their backgrounds really known. Not so much since the 1990s up to the present when character development is probably on-demand. 

We have the character known as Bundorio Bunderas - an alien robot. It's obviously a plan on Antonio Banderas. The fact it's a car-shaped robot might be a pun on Optimus Prime. It's already said that he would also act as the Megazord of the show.  He's also called Bunbun. He's voiced by Rica Matsumoto who also voiced Arthur G6 from Chikyu Sentai Fiveman. 

Also, it's nice to know that Super Sentai will have an ending theme AFTER SOME TIME. The last time an ending theme was played was in Ucchu Sentai Kyuranger and then poof. The whole concept was gone for a few years. Matsumuto will also perform the ending theme aside from voicing the equipment. Is Toei going stingy this time after Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger's huge budget? 

An initial look at the villains

The villains get this description as:

Finally, their enemies are the Great Space Invasion Running Team Hashiryan, a group that invades the stars and expand their territory. The ones we will meet are the three stupid on-site supervisors who will end up causing trouble every time, and they are:

• Dekotorade (seen on the right), who discovers Earth and plans to invade it. He aims to be a handsome guy, but he is a bit of a fool. He is voiced by Junichi Suwabe (Fate franchise, Bleach).
• Ittasha (seen on the left), who is curious about many things on Earth and can turn various things into monsters that can go on a rampage! You can also see her reprimand Dekotorade. She is voiced by Nana Mizuki (Naruto, Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha). 
• Yeiyei Yaruka (seen with Ittasha), who is little car-shaped Hashiryan. Sometimes they can turn into a giant car, sometimes they don't. They are voiced by Sumire Morohoshi (The Promised Neverland). 

In the case of Yeiyei as they/them, it's most likely due to the little car-shaped Hashiryan being unknown. The description of the initial villains as stupid on-site supervisors is pretty much this. Most supervillains always cook up ridiculous plans that are very questionable. It's all part of the fun, right?

For final details...

The series will be produced by TV-Asahi's Takehiro Okawa (Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger) and Keisuke Shibataka (Kamen Rider Gotchard); Toei's Reijin Kuji, and Toei Agency's Koichi Yada. The series will be written by Atsuhiro Tomioka (Pokémon anime franchise, Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's) and directed by Shojiro Nakazawa (Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger, Kamen Rider Geats). Veteran suit actor Jun Watanabe (Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger) will serve as the show's action director, while Hiroshi Butsuda will once again serve as tokusatsu director. Lastly, the designs of the Hashiryan and their related monsters were designed by manga artist Kazuhiko Shimamoto (Skull Man, Kamen Rider Ghost).

Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger is set to premiere this March 3, 2024, replacing Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger in TV-Asahi's Super Hero Time block.

Right now, it would be good to have more unfamiliar writers. Now, Atsuhiro Tomioka having been involved with Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh might be some fresh new experiment. After all, Super Sentai is aimed at children. That would explain why the show got significantly toned down one way or another.

That's all fo rnow!