Sean Akizuki's Super Sentai Blog

I may have already watched Kyukyu Sentai GoGoFive,  and I've been gloating about how it's better than Chikyu Sentai Fiveman . However, Fiveman still deserves to be Vindicated by History in terms of plot and ideas . One similarity worth bringing up is how both the Fivemen and the Zyurangers were FRAMED. I pointed out the similarity back when I was 10 years old -- back when I still saw Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers . So yeah, I wasn't surprised to learn Power Rangers was an American franchise and that it's a LICENSED adaptation. That's why I refuse to call Power Rangers bootleg despite my dislike for it.  The Fiveman episode was actually brutal (while showing people CAN BE IDIOTS)  Fiveman episode 42 started the clues pointing out Vulgyre's true nature . I had issues learning that Empress Meadow was nothing more than an illusion projected by Vulgyre. Watching Dengeki Sentai Changeman made me think it's Star King Bazoo "gone wrong". However, after...

I wouldn't be giving episode reviews these days. Expect me to REACT TO UPDATES. If you want updates then CHECK OUT sites like Tokusatsu News Network, UkiyaSeed, and JEFusion (I left guest writing it to pursue my own passion). Anyway, time for a bit of my random react! No. 1 Sentai GoZyuger introduces us to Megumi Osai -- another Universe Warrior. It's explained that the Universe Warriors partake in the power of the red rangers. The only true Super Sentai now are the Gozyugers. Yeah, it seems Gozyuger is some kind of finale-esque Super Sentai entry. I had that feeling when I was watching Mirai Sentai Timeranger and Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger. Well, it also happened during Doubotsu Sentai Zyuohger,  which caused that line that still makes me chuckle, "The History of Super Sentai! It's over!" It was also because Shuriken Sentai Ninninger isn't all that good.  It's really easy to notice some references every now and then. The name Tega Sword sounds like MEGAZORD....

The death of Jason David Frank (JDF) last November 20, 2022, really reminded me of Burai's death in Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger . Not surprisingly, Shiro Izumi (who's 61 by now) had given his condolences and called JDF "Dragon Ranger" instead of Green Ranger. Green Ranger is a very generic term and may be confused with Midoranger (Mido means green) from Himitsu Sentai Goranger or any of the spandex heroes in green. I heard it was suicide and five years ago - we also had Tatsuya Nomi of Gosei Sentai Dairanger die of suicide five years ago. I could accept Koji Naka's death by sickness but some deaths are so frustrating to read. I felt Nomi and JDF could've sought some help. I feel that JDF may have had the same issues with Baku Hatakeyama (the first Kiranger) who unfortunately also committed suicide.  I may not like Power Rangers.  I'm a Super Sentai snob in some way. It's the sense that I practically dislike the franchise. Yet, somehow, deep within me, I ...

  The Super Sentai franchise underwent some turbulent times. Before Super Sentai - it was just "Sentai" with Himitsu Sentai Goranger and Dengekitai JAKQ . One series was so good it reached 84 episodes of overextension. The other was so bad it got rushed to only 35 episodes. I felt that JAKQ really can help me justify why I didn't like the Disney rushed Power Rangers seasons. Super Sentai nearly faced cancellation after the hiatus that happened after JAKQ which Battle Fever J became the standard bearer of a yearly Super Sentai. It was in the late 1980s when Kosoku Sentai Turboranger started to have its ratings decline (hence why the Nagare Bouma got introduced in hopes of fixing it) and the controversial Chikyu Sentai Fiveman meltdown. Fiveman was SO BAD for its time that it nearly killed the franchise. Winspector was doing good at that year though. Though, I still feel both series served as important lessons for making better series such as Gekisou Sentai Carranger (thoug...

Image Source While Ryusoulger is airing back this Sunday of next week, the summer episodes are coming but I'd like to really express myself concerning possible Toei's love affair with dinosaurs. Now, let's take a bit of the long history Toei had with dinosaurs.  1992's Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger and 1993's Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers Toei itself started its affair with dinosaurs right after Jetman saved Super Sentai from what could have been its cancellation. Now, it was a bright new time to innovate and they probably wanted to give dinosaurs a shot -- just a year before Jurassic Park hit the scenes. Jurassic Park's novel was published on November 20, 1990, which was three years before it got adapted for the big screen. Jurassic Park was screened on August 11, 1993 -- which is just a very short time before Mighty Morphin' premiered. The characters in Zyuranger were dressed up like RPG characters instead of cavemen. The kingdoms in the f...

The Super Sentai Strongest Battle is coming to an end and I feel like writing yet another post due to the Zyuranger connection -- it's because the villain Rita had her plan to revive Dai Satan who was used as Lokar in Mighty Morphin'. I know there have been mixed reviews, I would even dare say that Zyuranger isn't solid gold either (and no Super Sentai is without its flaws... GET OVER IT) but I still want to talk about why I'd end up choosing Zyuranger over Mighty Morphin'. Yeah, I know I've been told not to think about Mighty Morphin' and just enjoy Zyuranger for what it is. So let's get started, shall we? Child of the week is better than Bulk and Skull's weekly antics I know Zyuranger gets skewered at times because of the child of the week focus. I know it's a weakness but I'd rather take the Zyurangers having to handle some brat in trouble over the antics of Bulk and Skull. It's just like how I still think Ohranger's most unf...

Zyuranger's 25th anniversary may be over. However, hearing that Dai Satan may be the last boss of Super Sentai Strongest Battle  makes me want to remember all the nightmare fuel of Zyuranger. I don't deny that some of these footage was used in Mighty Morphin' -- I just want to write about the nightmare fuel that Zyuranger had really exceeded that of its localized version! I could always talk about how I think Bandora is funnier than Rita Repulsa -- yet one can't deny that she's also scarier and more cruel at the same time? Her hatred for children is even worse (and better played) than that of Professor K in Machineman. Professor K's rather ridiculous schemes to punish children for his allergies are usually played for laughs. But not with Bandora -- she really comes up with some rather half-brained brains that result to a lot of nightmare fuel. Think about how Gorgom's stupid plans for world domination have lots of nightmare fuel in them. Remember that t...

I decided to read Nihon Hero and got an interesting tidbit which reveals that Dai Satan might as well be the final boss of the four-part mini-series. Here's a summary of said series: Super Sentai continue to attack Gaisorg who wants to challenge & fight the Strongest One in the Universe. Meanwhile the true meaning of hosting Super Sentai Saikyo Battle comes to light gradually. Using the battle of Super Sentai, they were planning to revive Dai Satan in order to destroy the whole universe. The end of the Universe is getting near. Will Super Sentai be able to save the universe by bringing their Hearts of Justice, together? Just for starters -- Super Sentai series are usually independent or self-contained from each other or there are many universes for Super Sentai . If you've seen Kyuranger cross into the Dekaranger/Gavan universe then you might realize how there are parallel universes across Super Sentai such as the VS. Universe. Then if you've watched Zyuranger...

I admit, I got inspired by the fantastic Sentai Bandicoot  on his entry on my personal favorite Chojin Sentai Jetman. In response, I thought I could reply with one series that I believe I have shifting opinions on and it's Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger. Yes, that show. Watching the show from start to end prior to the Shout! Factory release also put me into shifting opinions. Right now, I'd just want to focus on Zyuranger for being Zyuranger without bringing up too many comparisons with Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers due to the huge differences in both shows. Instead, I could bring up past and present Super Sentai seasons and where it stands. I remembered watching the Zyuranger fan subs which were taken down due to the Shout! Factory release. At first, I thought that I was watching something cool then there were some plot issues. Although I am fascinated by its action scenes (and I still think it beats Abaranger in that department) but there's the weakness of the child of th...

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...

Here's Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger for its 20th anniversary. Here's my top ten favorite episodes which I thought were really good for the series. Here's the list from bottom to top: 10. Episode 13 While I certainly feel Reiko Chiba's acting is so-so considered her having no prior experience in the theater but I thought this was one cool episode. The nightmare fuel involved with Bandora trying to eat children as apples makes her real nightmare fuel. It did make sense for Bandora (in some way but she lacks common sense) to actually have Mei poisoned because that would get the other Zyurangers defenseless without the arrow. Mei learns to conquer her fears so she can help the others. 9. Episode 15 Bandora plans to build an evil sword using a child who will turn ten under a full moon. It was interesting for Goushi to try and save the same boy from Bandora's rather cruel and half-brained scheme. I love how the plan actually the boy couldn't be harmed by the Duran...

Image taken from Henshin Grid ... I felt like writing this editorial due to the launching of the Power Rangers movie and because it's also Zyuranger's 25th anniversary. With that in mind, I also remembered another series called Lion Voltron which was based on Beast King Golion. It's pretty much of a nostalgic trip since I watched both in the 90s but have no intention of rewatching them after seeing both Zyuranger and Golion in my older years. Golion was a part of a long list of Super Robot while Lion Voltron was a first of its kind in the U.S. to start a new trend Golion was already in the long list of Super Robot Anime with all the cliches from Combattler V and Voltes V. Although the concept was pretty innovative with its status as a legendary god of destruction but it didn't so so well in Japan. I don't think it was a failure but it just wasn't memorable. Was it because of the excess violence that its predecessors never had or was it too dark and edgy a...