Tokusatsu 101: Super Sentai
You've probably seen a show that features super heroes with various colored tight suits. No not Superman, also his suite is kinda tight... No not Tarzan of course, where did that come from anyway. So then, these 5 colored heroes are called Super Sentai. Japan's number 1 hero squad, and for those of you who are currently thinking "Hey, isn't that the Power Rangers?" I will gladly underline my statement that Super Sentai IS NOT the Power Rangers. Although technically they are, but they are indeed very different from one another.
Let's begin with the day these heroes were born. The series was started by the same man who actually created the Kamen Rider, Mr. Shotaro Ishinomori. He created the first ever Super Sentai series called Himitsu Sentai Goranger. It features the long running battle between the Goranger squad against the evil forces from outer space. The Goranger is again, a 5 colored heroes squad consists of AkaRanger (Red), AoRanger (Blue), MidoRanger (Green), KiRanger (Yellow), and finally Momoranger (Pink).
For the next years, the Super Sentai franchise have expanded their ideas to create the most unique heroes the world have ever seen. After the Goranger, Toei releases Dengeki Kitai JAKQ which somehow based on trump cards and cyborg. The Goranger was a success, it runs for about more than 55 episodes. But sadly, JAKQ didn't. JAKQ is considered as a failure although they feature a very unique theme, and one of the most iconic senshi (ranger), Big One.
Not giving up with JAKQ they made another series called Battle Fever J. Now, Super Sentai is not just known for their suites, but also their mechas. And Battle Fever J is the first sentai that features a giant robot as their combat arsenal. After that they releases many other sentai. This era is called the Showa Era, and here are the list of the series:
- Himitsu Sentai Goranger
- Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan
- Dengeki Sentai Changeman
There are some interesting highlights across the Showa Era. Like Sun Vulcan for example, Sun Vulcan is the first sentai series that features 3 colored heroes, red, blue, and yellow, and the series they are named VulEagle, VulShark, and VulPhanter respectively. And also Liveman, according to history Liveman is the first sentai series that features the first ever combining robots like we all know today, in the series the robot is called Super Live Robo, which features 5 different robots combined into 1 humanoid giant robot.
The next era is called the Heisei Era. But according to Tokusatsu Enthusiasts, the Heisei era after the Showa Era is called the First Heisei Era. What's interesting from this era is theme they are using for the sentai. The First Heisei Era runs from 1990 to 2000. There are various theme that are used in this era. Kyoryuu Sentai Zyuranger was based on dinosaurs, which then they are adapted by Saban's Company from America into the Power Rangers. Chojin Sentai Jetman was based on birds, and I must say, Jetman's suite is very cool, even for now, despite it was made in 1991.
And there's also Gosei Sentai Dairanger which is based on mythical beast. Not just that, Dairanger also features Chinese Kung Fu fighting style which somehow seems inappropriate for children, not just because it was quite bloody, but because it was also pure awesomeness that little children couldn't handle. Denji Sentai Megaranger is largely influenced by the rise of technology. They are based on RPG Video Games, and also electronic appliances like PC, handphone, TV, etc. The sixth ranger in the series, MegaSilver, is the first senshi that uses phone device to transform which later is a common device in the next series.
There are also 2 series in this era that actually shared the same theme and one is being the parody of the other. Kousoku Sentai Turboranger is the first sentai series that is based on cars, later in 1995 Gekisou Sentai Carranger is released as a comedic type of sentai, with cars as their theme too, serving as the parody for the Turboranger. This era also held the darkest Super Sentai series of all time, Mirai Sentai Timeranger, which was based on time (title says it all). Not sure why though, because I personally haven't watch any of their episode. Here are the list of all the series in The First Heisei Era (XX):
- Kousoku Sentai Turboranger
- Kyoryuu Sentai Zyuranger
-Gekisou Sentai Carranger
- Denji Sentai Megaranger
- Mirai Sentai Timeranger
From the year 2000 until today, is known as The Second Heisei Era. As technology develops the CGI for the series become better and also the mecha design are becoming more dynamic. The transforming devices in this era is mostly based on phones, Gaoranger, Magiranger, Boukenger, Go-Onger, Shinkenger, and Gokaiger use phone like devices to transform. This era also features old themes like Ninpuu Sentai Hurricanger which uses ninja theme, same as Ninja Sentai Kakuranger. Bakuryu Sentai Abaranger uses dinosaur theme, same as Kyoryuu Sentai Zyuranger. And also Engine Sentai Go-Onger, which uses car theme, same as Kousoku Sentai Turboranger and Gekisou Sentai Carranger.
Although there are repetition of themes in this era but they also came up with new themes like magic, adventure, samurai, pirates, and angels. One of my favorite in this era is Mahou Sentai Magiranger. Funny thing is, I've never watch any episode of Magiranger before but I really like their costume. And their Power Ranger adaptation is not bad either, so 1-1 for USA and Japan.
Since there is always a series of Super Sentai in every generation of children, Toei try to keeping their old fans which is now a teenager or adult, by making a very catchy but great opening song. The opening song for Engine Sentai Go-Onger and Samurai Sentai Shinkenger tops off the Oricon Chart for 2008 and 2009 respectively. And they also held a concert, featuring the artists that sang Super Sentai song, in 2006 this concert is held, celebrating the 30 years of Super Sentai, alongside with the GoGo Sentai Boukenger. Here is the list to the Second Era series:
- Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger
- Ninpuu Sentai Hurricanger
- Bakuryu Sentai Abaranger
- Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger
- Mahou Sentai Magiranger
- Jyuuken Sentai Gekiranger
- Samurai Sentai Shinkenger
And today, 2011, Super Sentai is in their 35th year, and they celebrate it with a very special series, Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger. The Gokaiger is based on pirates. What they basically do is collecting ultimate powers from the previous 35 Super Sentai teams to destroy the Zangyack Empire. Techincally pirates are bad, but here they are heroes, and somehow legends. Gokaiger can transform into any of the previous super sentai by using the ranger key. You're not too late for following this series, so watch it now, rather than listening to my explanation.
So I think that is all for a brief explanation of Super Sentai, and not Power Rangers. What made this heroes legendary is that they are in everyone's heart and memory. Like I said before, there's always a Sentai in every generation. Its not something you should be ashamed of, the original one is better, this is one of the world's greatest show anyway, so its not too late to watch it.
And also this will be my last Tokusatsu 101 post, hope you guys are interested with Tokusatsu world, just Google the word and you'll find tons of reference to it.