Sean Akizuki's Super Sentai Blog

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 remembered doing some wishful thinking for Megaranger -- after all, nothing is perfect, right? This one had me rethinking about how I wish Chisato to have appeared especially after watching the Megaranger vs. Carranger film. While events in that film are most likely not to fit in either which continuity but I thought of it'd be better if Natsumi Shinohara/Yellow Racer actually teamed up with a more badass Chisato. Both Natsumi and Chisato bring back the experimental concept of Mika Koizumi for a reason -- one's a rebel loner and the other is a photographer. Rewatching all the Natsumi focused episodes in Carranger is where it's just badass. Natsumi herself shows just how you can't mess with her. What else does Natsumi and Mika have in common? Their fondness for red clothing and the tendency to oppose the red ranger. Heck, I even felt Natsumi-focused episodes written by Hirohisa Soda actually had Mika in mind. I even called Natsumi a season long Mika . Now I'd...

Since it's #MoonFestival2017 I decided to write about moon bases that were used by both heroes and villains. Here goes nothing and here's as far as I can remember so I may have missed a lot. =P The Bandora Palace Bandora herself decided to have her palace located at the moon since it's just a barren wasteland. I guess her stay in Planet Nemesis with her followers may have also affected her mindset. This was originally built on Earth during Bandora's initial attack. The Baranoia Palace It was built on the moon some time ago though it became active in the year 1999 in Ohranger's continuity. The machines were exiled away from Earth to the moon millions of years ago. Baranoia built its base on the moon where it hopes to organize its invasion forces. Later, the Baranoia moved to Earth after their near victory before the final battle. What happened to it is unknown. INET Moon Base This didn't always appear in Megaranger until episode 32. From episodes...

Well I haven't done anything much for a 20th anniversary tribute to the One True Mega Series . Like the Maskman post in response to Sentai Bandicoot  I will connect certain arcs as "one episode". Without much ado, I'll present my top ten favorite episodes not because they were the "best written" but with how they appeal to my personal preferences. Remember there will be some extreme favoritism and dumb shipping so be very wary while reading this post. Episode 19 Kenta accidentally injures a child while in Mega Suit. It's sort of like the lesson that with great power comes great responsibility. It was a great way to introduce Gurail as the badass sinister villain who I thought should have stayed longer. I felt sorry for Kenta and how he wants to take responsibility. For me this is the best Kenta focus episode ever. Episode 10 If Megaranger improved Bioman's first three episodes I think this episode ended up giving a shortcut version of the Sa...

Well it's summer in Japan and I wish Kyuranger had a different ending theme until the end of summer 2017. On the other hand, here's Megaranger's ending theme for non-Japanese speakers: (Asore!) Bomb-bomb dancin' (Mega!) Bomb-bomb dancin' (Mega!) Bomb-bomb dancin' (Mega!) Bomb-bomb dancin' Listen to the beat Megaranger Move your hips a little to this dance (Hoi!) With our superior digital power (Asore!) We are quite unbelievable (Duwap!) Today the universe is our stage!(Duwap!) Mega mega mega mega it’s time to do the bomb dancing (Ayoisho!) Bomb-bomb dancin' (Mega!) Bomb-bomb dancin' (Mega!) Bomb-bomb dancin' (Mega!) Bomb-bomb dancin' The Nejireia are the worst But we will continue our dance!(Hoi!) Those guys will soon understand (Asore!) For tomorrow we will render them speechless!(Duwap!) Will the Nejire want to take this opportunity to dance?(Duwap!) Once we start, we will never stop Mega mega mega mega Our love of dancing is powerful! ...

Make no mistake I like Denji Sentai Megaranger but I can never call a series perfect. Do you know how much I still criticize the way Gai Yuki and Naoto Takizawa died  even if I like Jetman and Timeranger? I still end up criticizing everything anyway even shows that I like. While I do have my DUH I prefer Megaranger over Power Rangers in Space but here's some of the stuff I wish happened instead. For Megaranger's anniversary I could talk about some things I wish happened in Megaranger but it wouldn't make much of a difference if they happened. Chisato Jougasaki's characterization I guess you're thinking I'm being pervy in raising Chisato up here. In my case, I thought about the first few episodes of Megaranger. Shun wanted to leave the Megaranger team because he wanted to pursue his ambition. My wishful thinking was that it was her and not Shun who tried to leave the team to pursue her ambition as a photographer. I would actually have it go this way. I woul...

What I missed or didn't miss is that the Carranger DVD release and the upcoming Megaranger DVD release happen in the year 2017. In short, both DVDs are released during the 20th anniversary of both Power Rangers Turbo and Megaranger. Both shows were also under the production of Shigenori Takatera who was also the man behind Gingaman, Kamen Rider Kuuga, the first half of Hibiki and Daimajin Kanon.  Gekisou Sentai Carranger I remembered some rants I made about Carranger. My first Carranger rant was that I thought Toei and Shout should have considered a Turboranger DVD release . It was because Turboranger may have something Mighty Morphin' fans can relate to. But it seems that Toei's decision might be led by this that they released Zyuranger because it was what Mighty Morphin' was based from. Then you have Dairanger, Kakuranger, Ohranger and now Carranger. Carranger didn't really raise the ratings back to normal and that it was really Megaranger that did. C...

With the fact that a Carranger with English subs DVD release  is coming soon I'm thinking about how Megaranger may be the Mega-Release that U.S. fans are waiting for. Awhile ago, I remembered rambling on the Sentai DVD releases  where I considered releasing something different or from the pre-Zyuranger era. I even felt like Shout should have released Turboranger instead of Carranger  then they can go ahead and proceed with Megaranger. I originally thought that Shout should release Changeman over Megaranger but my mind's changed. I think Megaranger would do better in the long run. It took me some time to think of what to write in this post but now here it is!

During the time I watched Megaranger, I just thought there was one episode that resembled the two parter arc in Bioman involving Satan Megas. We do have a battle of scientists in Dr. Kubota and Dr. Hinelar who were once close friends like Dr. Shibata and Dr. Man. Now for the similarities. The two android girls have a scene of crossing the street. Miki crosses in the morning while 167 (she wasn't given a human name to cover her true identity) crosses the street at night. Both of their robotic natures are discovered. Miki activates her energy when she's in danger and 167 isn't hurt when she's ran by a car. But unlike Miki, 167 develops human feelings on her own. Both androids start to think they are human but later discover that they are mecha humans. Shuichi meets Miki thinking she was just a human being. Shun falls for 167 believing that she's a normal human being. 167 doesn't even know her own name. Another similarity is where both Dr. Man and Dr. Hi...

Back then, I heard that Carranger saved Super Sentai and here's what TV Tropes (now whoever edited this, I really welcome you to comment here) said this: Gekisō Sentai Carranger (Extreme Rush Squadron Carranger) is the twentieth installment in the Super Sentai series, airing from 1996 to 1997. It's about a group of idiot workers at Pegasus Garage who use the power of car-shaped constellations to fight a group of idiot aliens called "Space Biker-Gang Bowzock". As the twentieth installment of the franchise, it's an Affectionate Parody of Super Sentai and all the tropes it has, while being a full Super Sentai series in and of itself. At the time, Super Sentai was under serious threat of cancellation due to falling ratings, and popular opinion is that the executives simply did not give a damn and allowed the writers to do whatever the hell they thought they could get away with... resulting in a series so ridiculous, comedic and inexplicably popular that it saved...

When I think of Bioman and how short-lived Mika was, fortunately the concept did not die with the character.  I felt like Bioman was a season to experiment here and there.  Bioman was the first Super Sentai series to have two females (and back then, I had NO IDEA that most Sentai series had only one girl in the team back then), the first female yellow ranger (one died, another came in) and you can consider the first (and only) Super Sentai team to use the Beastnoids lacking human-sized monsters (Dekaranger hardly had human-sized monsters but no Beastnoids that keep retreating) and the first to have a mad scientist (Dr. Man).  Now I can discuss about Mika's concept and how it really lived on even if she didn't last long... that is the concept of a female yellow ranger who's snappy, rebellious (but not really) and badass! The concept was sort of relived with Haruka herself in Maskman. I felt like Mika's concept was relived in Maskman, one of my favorite series. Haruka...

So as a child who watched Maskman's crappy dub on IBC-13 way back in the 90s, I was always intrigued by the one-time ranger Ryo Asuka also known as X-1 Mask... so much after seeing Bioman's Magne Warrior episodes.  I always said, "Why couldn't X-1 Mask just stay for more than one episode?"  Back then, I also watched Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers while having no clue about Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger... but now it's time for me to speak as a grown-up 30 year old Super Sentai fan! Just in case you didn't know but I guess most Sentai fans know, Toshiki Inoue was the writer behind the X-1 Mask episode of Maskman.  It was sort of his experiment to attempt on an anti-hero who would oppose the red ranger.  X-1 Mask was an experimental Maskman who ran off without a word after his girlfriend died during a Tube attack.  So with Gai Yuki doing the stuff like X-1 Mask did before he fully becomes a Jetman like going to a bar, playing pool, getting a drink, going t...

It's been some time since I did some reviews or write-ups on Sentai crossovers. As said, the Super Sentai crossovers DO NOT happen in the mainstream universe but in the VS. Universe . This is because the norm of writing Super Sentai is to start everything from scratch in a self-contained continuity compared to the norm of Power Rangers of attempting to link them one by one. Both writing styles have their merits and demerits. Now I'd like to share my thoughts on the Mega-Crossovers what what I thought about them. What's also funny for Carranger, Megaranger and Gingaman all my favorites are the RED RANGERS. Both crossovers were written by Naruhisa Arakawa. Megaranger vs. Carranger The movie's crossover plot involves Picot who travels from one planet after the other granting wishes. I felt this movie may have tried to reference throughout the Hirohisa Soda era with with what may be incidental references such as the Carrangers dressing up as high schoolers (t...

Well I thought Power Rangers Megaforce for me was a disappointment, maybe other Power Rangers fans were also Mega-Disappointed. Now for a really truly Mega-Series, one may consider watching Denji Sentai MEGAranger, a truly MEGA series over Power Rangers Megafail. Now let's move on... Megaranger became popular during its airing and may still have a strong fanbase. While I am not here to demean Megaforce fans but, I'm here to express my OPINIONS. Again, this is not a post for purists but only for people who were upset over Power Rangers Megaforce. This is another of my silly posts so proceed with caution. This is just a rant against Megaforce which really was a bad season. This season helped me recover as well. When you think of the cast on both sides... now I know this feels unfair considering Megaranger was already two decades ago, but Megaranger is the true Mega series. Megaforce had a lot of stuff Megaforced which made it Megafail for me. Watching Megaranger after a bad ...

Megaranger itself is one amazing Super Sentai series and I can dub it as a masterpiece.  After the horrendous failure called Power Rangers Megaforce, I am tempted to write this entry on Megaranger, the one true Mega series.  Megaranger was a series that aired from February 14, 1997 to February 15, 1998 which was trying to do some tribute to the Hirohisa Soda era  while having some elements from the Sugimura era.  The whole show in itself was indeed one Mega-series and I'd love to talk how it was a Mega Graduation for a team of teenagers. Megaranger was head-produced by Shigenori Takatera and its major writers were Junki Takegami (22 episodes as head writer), Yasuko Kobayashi (13 episodes) and Naruhisa Arakawa (11 episodes) who were the series' biggest contributors.  Takegami would later be responsible for GogoV, Gaoranger and well, Go-onger (which is a love it or hate it series, I just like it but I don't love it).  Yasuko Kobayashi herself would be ...

Oh no!  Who is the strange villain in the shadows? Megaranger itself was one amazing season.  It was the first season to try and deal again with the science theme on focus after the Hirohisa Soda era which introduced Bioman (robotics vs. life), Flashman (manipulating life) and Liveman (good vs. evil use of technology).  The whole idea of Megaranger was bordered on science. Super Sentai seasons are usually known for introducing a game changing villain and Gurail was one of them.  He was sent by the ruler of Nezire, Javious I to keep the invasion team on track.  Gurail was introduced in Megaranger episode 19 of Megaranger.  I thought he really looked frightening, he was one sadistic creature and I would admit, he has a very creepy laugh and mysterious feel.  At the same time he also feels like the Scott Evil of Megaranger's villains considering that he always had better plans than most of his comrades. What made Gurail an interesting villain for m...

Megaranger itself had no actual couples, only official attractions.  I started to think about the possible outcomes for these teenagers with attitude.  So here's our possible couples and why they are a possible couple.  It's past Valentine's Day but hey, February is not yet over so I created this crazy post considering my heart was broken many times as a teenager. Chisato's possible pairings.   For a bit of Chisato, she is probably the hottest girl in school and maybe every guy wants her... well maybe except her friends.  However I had some possible pairing talks with possible Miss Popularity here.  I have at least two possible pairings here for her. Kenta x Chisato .   Well, I did warn every newbie to Super Sentai about this  crack pairing .  So unlike the other couples I mentioned like Burai and Mei (which has ZERO chemistry), the two can get easily shipteased by the writers.  Now Kenta isn't attracted to Chisato and vic...

Megaranger presented the first teenagers with attitude Christmas in Japan. Turboranger didn't have this while Dairanger and Kakuranger had Christmas specials. In this one, it specifically wraps up the Nejiranger Arc (though they return in the Hinelar City Arc). Episodes 42-43 feature the fight before Christmas. What amazed me is how the remaining Nejirangers still pose a threat, even if they are down to three. Miku is in a mute dilemma which is broken when someone's baby almost got ran over by a car. Fortunate Yuusaku as "Santa Claus" appears which lures away the Nejirangers. The Megarangers are excited about Christmas but can they save everybody else's holiday? The Nejirangers are in human form looking for the remaining Megarangers. The remaining Nejirangers engage the Megarangers in battle.  They are enlarged to which they gain the upper hand BY capturing the mecha for part one.  On the other hand, Dr. Hinelar's plans are about to be set in motion.

While watching Megaranger while there was zero attraction between Kenta and Chisato (they were just friends) but I thought that they can be ship-teased and it's more of Kouichirou/Chisato shiptease (but it never became a relationship either).  So much for me making a warning MUCH earlier not to attempt this. Episode 9 felt like a bit of Kenta/Chisato tease than real pairing.  So while I can't really say, "Hey they're lovers already." but it was kind of funny. I thought the interaction between them for the episode felt like they could work out. Although Chisato is attracted to Kouichirou and not Kenta and Kenta's not attracted to her, I felt like the series was teasing everyone. Episode 11 had a minor shiptease... nothing more. But I really wonder what was Chisato's reason for putting the box lid on Kenta's head? XD Episode 23 is for me, another potential shiptease. While Chisato just plays the concerned friend, it's funny how she would go...