Episode 51: Kamen Rider & Super Sentai(Power Rangers) Tutorial

Topic: Kamen Rider & Super Sentai(Power Rangers) 

This week, we move on from Drama to entirely different type of drama.  Granted this one is far more interesting to me because of Explosions, Cool Poses, and Brightly Colored Uniforms.  We welcome back my little brother to discuss Toei’s most popular Tokusatsu series: Kamen Rider and Super Sentai, better known in the west as Power Rangers.

History:

Shotaro Ishinomori

Father of Super Sentai, Kamen Rider, and Cyborg 009

1. Started as an Assistant to Osamu Tezuka (Astroboy, grandfather of Manga/anime)
2. Developed his own popular manga, Cyborg 009 in 1963 – 1984.
3. Late developed Skullman in 1970, a one off manga volume that told story of a vigilantly hero of Skullman trying to find the murder of his parents, and stop an evil organization.
4. Developed Kamen Rider initially as a live action version of Skullman, but later adapted look of a Grasshopper to make new series
5. Fathered the Henshin style super hero in Tokusatsu series
6. Created  Himitsu Sentai Gorenger, first Super Sentai Series
7. Went on to make many Tokusatsu series
8. Died of heart failure at age 60

Tokusatsu
Japanese Live Action Film/TV series with heavy use of Special Effects.

Kamen Rider

• Started as adaptation of Skullman, but due to the violent tones of Skullman, the series was reworked to have a Grasshopper motif for the lead hero.
• Original Series
  Takeshi Hongo is kidnapped and experimented on by the villainous terrorist group Shocker, turning their soldiers into mutant cyborgs and brainwashing them.  Hongo escapes before the brainwashing and fights Shocker as the grasshopper, masked man: Kamen Rider.
  Due to a filming accident in episode 10, the actor playing Kamen Rider had his legs broken, and is replaced by a second Kamen Rider, Hayato Ichimonji, who also escaped Shocker.  To differentiate the two, Hongo is Kamen Rider 1 and Ichimonji is Kamen Rider 2
  After the actor playing Hongo is healed, both Kamen Riders continued the series until it’s conclusion at 98 episodes.
  This would start the Showa Era of Kamen Rider.  

Showa Era (1971 – 1989)

• Showa Era due to Emperor Hirohito, who died in 1989.  Upon their death, Japanese Emperors are posthumously renamed as the Era they presided over.  Thus, Emperor Hirohito became Emperor Showa.  Showa roughly meaning ‘Enlightened Peace’ or some interpret as ‘Radiant Japan’.
• Several other shows were produced until 1976, with other individuals as Kamen Riders, but dubbed Riders.  There was V3, X, Amazon, and Stronger. 
• The show took a hiatus for a few years to develop Himitsu Sentai Gorenger, first Canonical Super Sentai Series. 
• Returned in 1979 with Kamen Rider Skyrider, Super 1 and ZX.  The series would go back in to Hiatus, until 1987, with Kamen Rider Black, the first series to not be tied in to the early series.
• Also a direct Sequel in Kamen Rider Black RX, which was the based for Saban’s Masked Rider, ala Power Ranger style.
• The series would not have any major TV series for the next decade, but kept alive through live action performance, movies, and CD Dramas.  
  

Heisei Era, Phase 1 (1999 – 2009)

• Heisei meaning “Peace Everywhere” which started after previous Emperor’s Death and lasted until 2019 when then Emperor Akihito abdicated the throne to his Son.  When the former Emperor dies, he will be then known as ‘Emperor Heisei’. 
• 1997 began production on Kamen Rider Kuuga, a rebirth of the series after a decade of television hiatus.  Series father Shotaro Ishinomori, began production with the intent of having a 30th anniversary of the series, but died before Kuuga could air.  On January 30th, 2000, Kuuga ushered in the rebirth of Kamen Rider.
• Heisei Era would feature a new Kamen Rider series every year, with and established various motifs and ideas over the decade. 
• During this time, movie series called Kamen Rider: The First, re-imagined the original Showa Era Kamen Rider tv show and manga, and created  series of movies with a darker tone to the original.
• With popularity of Kamen Rider Den-O, a tradition of having a Movie come out toward, or directly after, the end of the series.  Movies often add new element to show or expand upon the ending, but usually always have a cameo from the next Kamen Rider in the movie.
• Phase 1 ended with Kamen Rider Decade, a series that followed a Kamen Rider going to alternate version of the last nine Kamen Rider series and gaining their abilities and powers.
• Decade finished early, marking the first time in 10 years where instead of starting in January or February, Kamen Rider shows would start in late August, early September.

Heisei Era, Phase 2 (2009 – 2019)

• Phase 2 continued the trend of Kamen rider shows, with some notable motifs.
• Double was first rider to be two people
• Wizard was first entirely magical, not based on technology, Rider.  Wizard was also first gay Rider
• Phrase 2 concluded with Kamen Rider Zi-o, a similar series to Kamen Rider Decade where the hero revisited other Kamen Riders to gain their powers.
  

Reiwa Era (2019 – Current)

Reiwa meaning “Beautiful Harmony”.  With Abdication by Emperor Akihito, his son, Naruhito, became Emperor on May 1st, 2019.  When Emperor Naruhito dies, he will be renamed as Emperor Reiwa. 

• First series to be fully produced in Reiwa era is Kamen Rider Zero-One.  It reuses a similar Grasshopper motif.
• Staples of Kamen Rider:
  Rider Belt (Henshin Device)
  Announcing “Henshin” to change
  Alternate and/or Super Forms
  Motor Cycles
  Every episode takes place over two episodes, IE, two episodes make up one whole story
  Pervious series have no bearing/repercussions on future series.  IE, each series is self-contained.  Exceptions are Decade, Zi-o, and Majority of Showa Era series.

Rider Motifs/Themes
Each Rider has a motif or theme their rider is based on.  These are often over arching themes or motifs for both Riders and bad guys. 
Some include:

Showa Era

• Kamen Rider - Grasshopper
• Kamen Rider V3 - Grasshopper
• Kamen Rider X - Grasshopper
• Kamen Rider Amazon - Incan/Mayan Origin
• Kamen Rider Stronger - Kabuto (Rhino Horn beetle)
• Kamen Rider Skyrider - Remake of First Kamen rider
• Kamen Rider Super-1 - Gloves give special Powers
• Kamen Rider Black - Darker Tone, Seperation from original series
• Kamen Rider Black RX - Direct Sequel to Black, Form Change

Heisei Era Phase 1

• Kamen Rider Kuuga - 30th Anniversary
• Kamen Rider Agito - First series with multiple Riders
• Kamen Rider Ryuki - Battle Royal
• Kamen Rider 555 - Greek letters
• Kamen Rider Blade - Playing Cards, Zodiac
• Kamen Rider Hibiki - Japanese Oni(Demons)
• Kamen Rider Kabuto - Various Insects
• Kamen Rider Den-O - Time Travel, Japanese Poems
• Kamen Rider Kiva - Hollywood Monsters, Stained glass, Vampires
• Kamen Rider Decade - 10 Anniversary of Heisei Era, Photography

Heisei Era Phase 2

• Kamen Rider W - Two riders as one, mix/match Forms 2x, USB Sticks
• Kamen Rider OOO - Animals, Coins(Metals), Vending Machines, mix/match 3x
• Kamen Rider Fourze - 40th Kamen Rider Anniversary, Space, Mix/Match 4x
• Kamen Rider Wizard - Fantasy magic, Rings
• Kamen Rider Gaim - Japanese Feudal Warfare, Fruit, Dance gangs
• Kamen Rider Drive - Cars, Detective/police
• Kamen Rider Ghost - Historical Figures as Power Ups, Ghosts
• Kamen Rider Ex-Aid - Video Games & Mechanics, Hospital/Doctors
• Kamen Rider Build - Mix/Match x2, Bottles/mixology, science
• Kamen Rider Zi-O - Time Travel, Clocks/Watches

Reiwa Era

• Kamen Rider Zero-One - Grasshopper/Animals, Androids

Super Sentai

Early Super Sentai started as mixing Kamen Rider and Cyborg 009, to create a Team of Kamen Rider.  It was also then only known as Sentai.
First canonical series: Himitsu Sentai Gorenger

• Original based off Masks, but later to color.
• Debuting in 1975, longest running Sentai Series.
  Weapons came from Mask
  Very popular, and filled time slot of Kamen Rider.

Japanese Spiderman

• Debuting in 1978, Toei licensed Marvel properties for a few years, their first was Spiderman
• Radically different origin/take on Spiderman
• Similar powers, but via a bracelet.
• Introduced Leopardo, a spaceship that transformed in to a Giant Robot (Giant Robo, popular type of Anime/manga in the 70s and early 80s)
• Due to the License agreement with Marvel, next Super Sentai series was partially based Captain America, Battle Fever J
• Marvel initially considered bring over various Super Sentai Series and have American Actors take part of the Japanese actors, something that would be done a decade later.  They didn’t due to being unable to secure TV rights. 
• Due to introduction of giant robots, series was redubbed Super Sentai.  Earlier series Goranger and J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai were later added to the Super Sentai series in 1995.
• First Super Sentai Series to air in America was Kagaku Sentai Dynaman in 1988, simply as Dynaman.  The series however, as broadcast on Nickelodeon and USA cable networks, was a parody, with voice over.

Power Rangers

• Haim Saban major work including making opening themes for various animation series, most notably DIC shows and 80s Tv shows.  He would do it for free, but retain the rights to the music.
• In 1984, while in Japan, he discovered Super Sentai series and fell in love with it. 
• Attempted to bring series Choudenshi Bioman to the state, but couldn’t get it picked up on Television
• Saban eventually found success in bring over Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger (16th Series) to America as Power Rangers.
• Zyuranger Set a lot of milestones for Super Sentai
• 1st 7 mecha combiner
• 6th ranger that was evil before turning good
• More light hearted than other series
• Purely fantastical premise, no military or organization
• First series To be based on Dinosaurs
• Saban got Power Rangers approved by Fox Kids, finally getting the series added.
• Mighty Morphin Power Rangers debuted in 1993.
• Gosei Sentai Dairanger & Ninja Sentai Kakuranger were used for the 2nd and 3rd Season, with part of Kakuranger used for Mighty Morphin Alien Ranger.
• Only the mechs and badguy suits were kept, despite being a new series with new good guy suits, they kept the previous season’s suits.  Saban bought the suits and mecha from Toei. 
• For Kakuranger, the mecha used is in reverse, with the Ninja MegaZord coming in the second half of Kakuranger, as in Power Rangers it came before the Shogun MegaZord.
• Saban Entertainment asked Toei to shoot new Footage of Kyuranger fighting Dairanger badguys.  They later bought the suits outright and had their cast do all the fight scenes in costume
• With Shouriki Sentai Ohranger, the team from previous season would get new outfits and robots, signaling the change with every new subsequent series.  Later seasons would be redubbed based on that years season’s Sentai Series, IE, Power Ranger Zeo
• With Power Rangers Turbo, adapted from Gekisou Sentai Carranger, it started with previous seasons cast, but mid-way through, it got a brand new cast to replace older cast.
• With Power Rangers in Space, adapted from Denji Sentai Megaranger, it brought back the old cast, gave new colors, and put an end to the Zordon Era of Power Rangers.
• Subsequent Seasons of Power Rangers would more closely follow the style of Super Sentai, with a new team every season to correspond with the Super Sentai Season.  IE, no more reusing Rangers.  They also rarely brought up other series or events in other Power Ranger seasons.
• Exception for Power Rangers Dino Thunder, adapted from Bakuryu Sentai Abaranger, where long stay character Tommy comes back.
• Tommy is actor with most Suits: Green Ranger, White Ranger, 2 Red Rangers, and a Black Ranger.
• Originally airing on Fox from 1993 to 2002, Walt Disney purchased the Fox Kids brand and Power Rangers from Saban Entertainment in 2001.  The show then aired on Disney affiliated channels until 2009.
• Power Rangers RPM was to be the last canonical Power Ranger series, adapted from Engine Sentai Go-onger.  RPM is considered very dark for a Power Ranger series, but is also adapted from Go-onger, which was a very silly and light hearted show, striking a tonal difference.
• In 2010, Saban bought back Power Rangers License and produced Power Rangers Samurai in 2011, ending a two year Hiatus for the series.
• Power Rangers Samurai, adapted from Samurai Sentai Shinkenger, is a more literal adaptation, carry a majority of themes, story, and character names from the Japanese version.  Also first series on Nickelodeon; due to format of Nickelodeon, the series was produced as two seasons, as was Nickelodeon’s format at the time.
• Per Nickelodeon’s style of formatting seasons, rather than typical 32-35 episode season, spanning a year’s worth of episodes, each Sentai Series takes place over two 22 episodes seasons, causing each Super Sentai Series to be told over the course of two years time.
• They are thus bypassing Ressha Sentai ToQger, Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger, Uchu Sentai Kyuranger, and Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger.

Staples of Super Sentai:

• Mix of 5 man/woman Ranger Teams
• Occasionally Teams of 3 men/women
• Usually will add a 6th member, usually more powerful than rest
• Sometimes a 6th Man is added who isn’t a Ranger
• Teams are made up of bright colors, rarely reusing colors
• Always a Red and Blue Ranger on a team, Yellow is second most common to be on a team, followed by Pink, then Green, then Black. 
• Most common 6th Ranger is Silver, followed by White, Green, Black, Marron/violet.
• 36% of all shows have a Red, Blue, Yellow, Pink, and Green Combination of main team
• 20.5% of all shows have a Red, blue, Yellow, Pink, and Black Combination of main team
• Info Graph
• When outside of their Ranger Suits, actors tend to wear similar colors to their Ranger Suits, IE: Red Ranger is typically wearing red clothing
• Always have a Robot that combines
• In Power Rangers, they’re called Zords, with the combined form being MegaZord, and the ultimate version being Ultra MegaZord
• In Sentai, each robot has their own unique term, with no consistency in the naming scheme
• Monster of the week format
• A new bad guy to beat each episode, with some development in story or character development, with the bad guy working for the main nemesis.
• Bad guy turns into a giant form upon defeat
• In some seasons, they end up piloting a new robot of their own.
• Always some kind of disposable henchmen type character that aids the main character
• Suit actors, people in the suits, typically play the same type of character for years at a time.
• IE: Red Ranger is typical the same suit actor, trading with other male rangers
• Super Sentai typically have a movie midway through.
• Power Rangers has had two movies thus far
•  Power Rangers, the Movie (1995)
•  Power Rangers (2017)

Notable Themes

Much like Kamen Rider, each season has its own theme, with some themes repeating themselves.  These are some of the unique themes and first time seen:

• Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger - Dinosaur Theme
• Ninja Sentai Kakuranger - Ninja Theme
• Gekisou Sentai Carranger - Car Themed
• Denji Sentai Megaranger - Space themed
• Mirai Sentai Timeranger - Time Travel
• Mahou Sentai Magiranger - Wizards/magic
• Engine Sentai Go-onger - Talking Cars/animal vehicles
• Samurai Sentai Shinkenger - Samurai
• Tensou Sentai Goseiger - Angel Themed
• Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger - 35 Anniversary, Pirate Themed
• Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters - American FBI
• Ressha Sentai ToQger - Train themed
• Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger - Cube Animals
• Uchu Sentai Kyuranger - Zodiac, 12 rangers
• Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger - First series to follow two Ranger Teams
  

Other companies attempted to follow suit with popularity of Tokusatsu series.

• DIC brought in Denkou Choujin Gridman as Superhuman Samurai Syber Squad
• Saban also brought in Space Sheriff Shaider, Jikuu Senshi Spielban, and Choujinki Metalder as VR Troopers
• Saban also brought Juukou B-fighter and B-Fighter Kabuto as Big Bad Beetleborgs
  

Homework

Episodes 1-4 of Kamen Rider Ex Aid

Episodes 1-4 Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger