Sean Akizuki's Super Sentai Blog

King-Ohger isn't an anniversary season yet the budget can be MIND-BLOWING. Is it because Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers entered its 30th year and Toei wants to remember one of its biggest moments in the international market? Then I remembered 1988 was also the year of Chojuu Sentai Liveman . Now, it's time to point out another wacky wishful casting.  Don't get me wrong I do still think Yutaka Morioka does a good job being Douga. Douga's a sideline character so it doesn't require that much skill. That's as long as the actor does a good job in doing what they do, right? However, I felt that some of the Liveman alumni should've returned to play the role of the royal bodyguard. It's quite a bummer that Super Sentai alumi Daisuke Shiima retired last 2013. I kinda of wanted to see Red Falcon's actor act as Douga - the royal bodyguard of the Husty family. It would've been interesting because he'd be a former Red Ranger actor acting as a bodyguard...

  With the upcoming AGE-RESTRICTED Yodonna spin-off - I decided I would write this post for fun. I didn't want to write it last year and I was actually fine with Nashiko Momotsuki as Yodonna. Nashiko was actually the villain Shuka in the GARO Versus Road movie. However, I felt a more experienced actress such as either Nao Nagasawa or Ayumi Kinoshita could've done the part. My pick also came from a GARO movie and I want to emphasize her a lot... My personal thoughts were that Sayaka Akimoto should've been Yodonna. There are times established celebrities play up as important characters in Super Sentai. Goro Ibuki and Hayato Tani both played mentor roles to their fellow Takerus. The late Munemaru Koda and the late Soga Machiko do more than just Tokusatsu while playing recurring villains. I'm not saying that Nashiko didn't do well - she still did. However, I felt Sayaka's experience in martial arts, acting, and her role as Biku in the Garo spin-off movie. Her role...

After writing my wacky post where I called Lucky and Garu as Lone Starr and Barf in spandex  -- I decided to make another wacky post for where I'd like to imagine what if these two doofus villains Dark Helmet and Colonel Sandurz were actually employed by Don Armage as his henchmen. What if these guys were either in Kyuranger or at least had characters based on them. After all, if Lucky is Lone Starr in spandex then why don't we have Dark Helmet and Colonel Sandurz? Jark Matter actually took over the Universe 300 years before Kyuranger started. I could imagine if over the course of time Don Armage got overly complacent in some way and decided to hire two henchmen who would be similar to Dark Helmet and Col. Sandurz. I could remember some of the moments where Dark Helmet makes a fool out of himself or where Col. Sandurz is less bratty but still has a severe lack of common sense. So how would these guys fit into the Kyuranger universe or least have counterparts? What I cou...

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...

After watching Lupiranger vs. Patranger's first episode that I have my Boukenger hype all over again. But since it's Valentine's Day -- I decided to write this post on what Boukenger may have needed IMHO though some fans may disagree. So what's my latest view? I decided to rewatch some Jetman episodes that focused on the whole Gai loves Kaori but she loves Ryu and Ryu loves Rie scenario. But would such a similar scene work in Boukenger? I remembered a couple of times I did some Jetman/Boukenger comparisons -- such as comparing the rivalry of Satoru and Ryuon to Ryu and Radiguet or Satoru and Masumi have a Ryu vs. Gai rivalry minus the love triangles. So I thought wouldn't it be "fun" to throw Sakura into the picture? She's from a rich family and she joins the Boukengers to escape her boring life -- and I felt like she needed an episode where she has a snotty fiance that Masumi beats up. But that might only happen if Toshiki Inoue were one of its ma...

As Kyuranger comes to an end and we're just one episode away to the finale -- I just want to express my opinion on how or what I wish Don Armage was written in the series. I know that I do like the show but it doesn't mean there isn't some friendly criticism I'd like to give towards the series. One idea I wanted to happen is the idea of Don Armage is actually Cuervo -- or that Cuervo is a disguise of Don Armage. It's confirmed that the Cuervo that is Don Armage is but the villain possessing a dead body. I wanted it to happen where he disguised himself as Cuervo, fooled Tsurugi and decided to take away the immortality of the Phoenix. It could have been cool if he was given the concept that he could control multiple bodies like Grand Lord Crisis in Kamen Rider BLACK RX or Demon King Psycho in Sharivan. But they just decided to go on with him possessing dead bodies for some reason. Maybe, it's to avoid complicating things too much or executive meddling. Bu...

I was just digging some nostalgia while I'm waiting for Kyuranger to end (and yup, I'm finding Spaceballs and Star Wars references), I can't help but dig on nostalgia for the upcoming Super Sentai that would be called as Kaito Sentai Lupinranger vs. Keisatsu Sentai Patoranger. One name stumbled across my mind and it's the name of HIRONOBU KAGEYAMA! Can you guess why? You may know Hinorobu Kageyama as the person who is a major contributor to singing Anime and Tokusatsu theme songs. Maybe, even casual fans of Super Sentai fans like myself already knew he sang much of the songs of Changeman, Maskman and Jetman. He also sang the Five Robo theme song (Fiveman), the Kakure Dai Shogun theme song (Kakuranger), the Red Puncher theme song (Ohranger), Victory Fight (Ohranger), Dynamic Soul (Gaoranger), Hurricanger's ending theme, Dino Guts (Abaranger) and he was involved in Kamen Rider EX-AID's Gashat themes. Whether you know this or not - he was actually involved ...

I once thought that  Naruhisa Arakawa should've been Ressha Sentai ToQGer's head writer because of Akibaranger. Another writer worth mentioning is none other than Junki Takegami. So why would I mention him as an alternative? If you did some Super Sentai research for the late 90s up to late last decade it'd be obvious. On the other hand, for the sake of others who don't know why I could talk about it why I imagine him as its head writer. He was involved with not just one but two shows that were obviously public service announcements. In the year 1999 he was assigned to be Kyukyu Sentai GoGoFive's headwriter. In 2008 he was assigned as Engine Sentai Go-onger's headwriter. He's also the head writer of Denji Sentai Megaranger which might also help though I'd stick to the fact he's involved with GoGoFive and Go-onger for this post. GoGoFive, Go-onger and ToQGer may all be different themes but they have one thing in common: they promote safety rules a...

After I've been reading through Them's Fightin' Words, I decided to make my own wishful thinking. I'm also doing some Hurricanger rewatching right now for my planned top ten favorite Hurricanger posts (which might be canceled anytime soon because of real life issues) which has affected what I wanted to happen. On the other hand, I keep in mind that 2002 and 1988 are 13 years apart so this may not make any sense. Image taken from Thems Fightin' Words So I read of Shogo's blog posts and he thinks that Liveman's weaknesses are the two additional warriors . Here's what he said and I'd present my side of the story: When I picture in my head what Takuji and Mari's siblings as new heroes could have meant for the show, I get so mad, man. It certainly should have caused a bigger splash than it did. It's just no big deal to the characters, to the show, to the fandom. The big scene when the five transform and fight for the first time -- besides c...

I'm fine with Kyuranger and all but as always, I just love to nitpick on just anything. Come on, I've already wished for something like Megumi Mori should have been Oboro in Hurricanger or that Kazunori Inaba should have guest-starred as Takeru's father in Shinkenger for obvious reasons. Now let's get straight to business to who I felt should have played as Orion. First it's Kenji Ohba. Granted, the Kyurangers didn't meet Retsu Ichijouji in Space 18 so I don't see any reason why it could cause confusion. I think it should be a dream come true for the Kyurangers and more importantly 32-year old Keisuke Minami to run into Ohba himself. Ohba as Orion could have been a good thing. Another choice for Orion is Hiroshi Watari who played both Sharivan and Spielban. If Watari could return himself as the promoted Den Iga I think he could have made a cool Orion for Kyuranger. He made a short appearance in Boukenger as Eiji's father. Now why can't he app...

It's no secret that 2017 would have another new Star Wars film this December and May 25, 1977 is the time when Star Wars: A New Hope premiered. Kyuranger pretty much a lot of American sci-fi influences considering that it has an American input. So what am I expecting for Kyuranger for the whole season? Here's some of my expectations which I don't expect to come true but wish they would.

After watching GoGoFive's finale arc and remembering Fiveman's finale arc, I thought I might bring up the topic of Empress Meadow and Grand Witch Grandienne. So how were both handled in their respective series? What you see might be my severe and harsh criticism of some of Fiveman's weaker sides as a Super Sentai series. Then again, GoGoFive has its own series of weaknesses too. As said, I'm having a much easier time comparing GoGoFive to Fiveman since Lightspeed Rescue has a much different approach with its team members.  Warning: Spoilers ahead! Read at your own risk!

While it was nice to have Toshihide Wakamatsu was in Gokaiger 28, which is a guest appearance for Gai Yuki.   Gai Yuki's death was verified by the Jetman Encyclopedia, the son of Ryu and Kaori is named after him.  While it was nice to have Gai Yuki appear again even as a ghost, I always got bothered by WTF went wrong with Gokaiger 28 .  However please note that Super Sentai usually has no continuity, Gokaiger is more of an alternate continuity for the last 34 seasons. Really, it still bothers me until now that Gai Ikari can't see Gai Yuki.  I mean, he did meet the ghosts of Mikoto, Naoto and Burai.  Some may think that he was only able to meet the ghosts because he really died then he was restored fully back to life or two, it was a near death experience.  So what was really wrong?  Wow, Gai Ikari can't see Gai Yuki?  I always thought that episode was pretty stupid until now.  Dang it, Toshiki Inoue!

Shinkenger's stray villain Juzo was played by Mitsuro Karahashi.  What I felt like this guy was so blunt and boring.  I mean we had Rintaro Nishi to voice Doukoku (he did a good job in doing Doukoku's scenes whether it was a serious scene or a minor comic relief scene), now why couldn't they go something with Juzo?  I felt the actor himself was just boring and that Juzo was a real killer.  While Shinkenger is a lighter and softer series, come on you still need a good actor to play Juzo! If one person really might be good for Juzo in Shinkenger is actually Takashi Hagino (the idea is Shogo's actually, not mine).  He played the hero in Changerion (haven't seen that series) and the villainous murderer Takeshi Asakura/Kamen Rider Ouja in Kamen Rider Ryuki.  What's my reason?  Think of how scary Takashi Hagino was when he was Ouja.  He was a genocidal maniac who trolled just almost everybody, he had no remorse with who he killed and Juzo is suppose...

While watching ToQGer, I felt like the comedic execution of Zed was practically wrong, just wrong since it ruined the consistency behind Shadow Line's mission.  So how did I feel Zed should have been done?  Assuming ToQGer is meant to be a comedy series like Carranger or Go-onger (both series having fearsome big bads), I have some methods that could have worked out: Make him more or less like post-marriage Lord Zedd in a way which seemingly silly yet possesses a dangerous streak.  I will admit that I find post-marriage Lord Zedd better than before he got married considering he did a lot more damage than when he was still that temperamental fellow.  I would want to imagine Zed here as the son of Rita and Lord Zedd, misplaced and one day growing up wishing to restore his parents' legacy.  I would have him return in ToQGer, angry with Shadow Line that they haven't conquered the world with darkness and when he first arrives, he's disgusted with all the light and...

It's no secret that I do have my disappointment with ToQGer.  At this point, I would blame Toei's staff for not considering the writer of the series or they haven't looked back at every writer's strengths and weaknesses.  Knowing the right person to assign for writing a certain Super Sentai season can have great effects on the show. Yasuko Kobayashi for me just didn't make the cut here and it made her lackluster job as a writer for Tokumei Sentai Gobusters look like it was close to becoming a masterpiece!  While she was responsible for Seijuu Sentai Gingaman, Mirai Sentai Timeranger and Samurai Sentai Shinkenger, she was also responsible for Kamen Rider Ryuki, Kamen Rider Den-O (which she started dabbling with more comedy) and Kamen Rider OOO (which I enjoy).  Compared to Kamen Rider OOO, ToQGer really ran out of IMAGINATION, the supposed source of power for the show itself.  While she did good with Shinkenger (but it's not as good as Gingaman and Timeranger...

As somebody who likes Boukenger but not as much, I thought these guys should have been in Boukenger: For Gaja, I thought the actor Hiroo Okata was just too stiff. For one, Gaja was too generic a villain for me compared to Ryuon, the Questers (as idiotic as they may be) and Yaiba.  Namely, I tend to blame the actor.  Hiroo Okata is just too stiff and I thought somebody else should have taken the role. Yoshinori Okamoto is another villain actor who came into mind.  I have learned from Shougo B'Stard that Yoshinori Okamoto was the actor for Gaja on the Boukenger stage show.  I mean, this guy could have made a much stronger Gaja for these reasons.  He was both the suit actor AND voice to Adjutant Buuba in Changeman.  Later he would be Bo Gardan in Flashman and Dr. Ashura in Liveman.  In Hurricanger, he later appeared to both be the suit actor and voice of Sargain and the season was full of Liveman references.  He was even the suit actor of Agent...

Dairanger's ending for me sadly can get in a confusing direction. Now I'd like to cite what I really wish happened during Dairanger's finale arc. Here are some of the stuff that I thought needed to be worked out. I am writing this wishful thinking based on my speculation of the clay Gorma . There should have been some kind of explanation along the way like how can a clay dummy of Gorma XV possess memories of the real emperor? In my case, I might have it where Shadam might say something like, "Your majesty, your real body already perished long ago! I recreated you a body of clay so I can use you until my true plans were revealed. You were an idiot to think I was serving you! I transferred your spirit right into a clay body for that purpose!" Then we can have a bit of explanation to why Zaidos turned into dust. Gara asks Shadam, Shadam refuses to reveal his master plan. He thinks and says, Well, I had to revive a few dead Gorma. At this point, I can get my pos...

No doubt Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai is indeed a great crossover movie with nostalgic action. While I do still like the Boukenger vs. Super Sentai movie (the Boukengers at least weren't moving like drunks in that film) but the first is better, here's just my minor wishful thinking for the Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai movie. Now for the movie, we had Red Falcon meeting Gaku Washio to train him with the sword. It was awesome no questions asked but I did want this to happen, which could have made it more fun as well. Hehehehe, Gaku Washio's about to meet another Gaku and my choice is actually make him meet... Gaku Hoshikawa! Looking at that episode Gaku trains with his swordsmanship, he is also a teacher... what if Gaku Washio met Gaku Hoshikawa? Now don't get me wrong, I do like Yuusuke better than Gaku Hoshikawa but I wanted the movie to do the pun of Gaku meeting Gaku. My imagined dialogue is this... Gaku Hoshikawa meets Gaku Washio. He says, "We don't ...

After writing about the vile Radiguet, another vile piece of scum I believe needed a little more explanation is Shadam. Yes him, who can't forget this complete monster whose vileness caused him to be estranged from his wife and two sons? The fact he takes pride he doesn't care for his twin sons Kou and Akomaru makes his death all the more satisfying. Yet I also thought he's another villain that deserves to be given a clearer backstory, especially with the issue of clay Gorma. So it made me think he has a grand conspiracy yet he was made of clay in the end. Now I really think another backstory could explain why the clay Gorma happened as Dairanger as awesome as the series is, left a hanging mystery and a rather confusing ending to the Gorma. I thought only if we would know why in the world did Shadam marry his wife in the first place? He's Gorma, she's Daos. And it made me think that an explanation of his past may try to explain why he's such a despicable SOB...