"Kakuranger Act 3: Middle Aged Struggles": A Short Reunion Film With A Relevant Message For Youngsters?

 

I was getting skeptical about Super Sentai reunion films. In this case, I decided to watch this Ninja Sentai Kakuranger to see how it'd go. It's a half-hour-long short film. I guess Toei has a lot of projects this time. The cast of Kakuranger all return with a relevant message. We have the following actual ages of the cast members:

• Teruaki Ogawa is 55 going 56
• Satomi Hirose is 44 years old (youngest member)
  
• Kane Kosugi is 49 going 50
• Hiroshi Tsuchida is 52 years old
• Shun Kawaii is 52 going 53 years old

The short film's introduction has the Narrator talk about how the Internet has become toxic. As the former rangers gather -- they talk about how the Internet had become a TOXIC PLACE. Yes, even mere disagreements can turn into huge quarrels. I'm not so innocent myself either. I've noticed some YouTube videos no longer allow comments. The new generation Youkai were born from the Internet. A span of 30 years could've given birth to a new generation of Youkai. 

The film introduces a redemption arc for Prince Junior. This kinda reminds me that Rito Revolto's final fate in Power Rangers in Space remained unknown. Meanwhile, Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd were turned human. Prince Junior bore a son named Goro -- the key plot. Goro is the half-Youkai grandson of the original Daimaou -- making him the New Generation Youkai's ideal leader. Goro had no idea he was a human being. Prince Junior cast a reincarnation spell but lost his memories in the process. Sidenote, I kinda always joke that Rito Revolto is now endorsing Pizza Black -- it's because of Kenichi Endo. 

It's nice to see the Kakurangers give a lecture to the ONION-SKINNED Generation Z. Sure, it was funny to see them transform again despite being past their prime. They had to do their job for the sake of Goro. 

For a bit of a spoiler -- the only time Kohei Yamamoto, Hidea Tawada, and Nao Nagasawa show up is in the CREDITS. Thankfully, their cameo was only in the credits. The movie tried to focus on the Kakuranger continuity and that crossover movies are usually meant to be non-canon.