The Tokusatsu Thread

[Dragon Ranger]

Tokusatsu (特撮 "special filming") is a Japanese genre of live-action film or television drama that uses many special effects.

Tokusatsu entertainment often deals with science fiction, fantasy or horror, but movies and television shows in other genres can sometimes count as tokusatsu as well. The most popular types of tokusatsu include kaiju monster movies like the Godzilla and Gamera film series; superhero TV serials such as the Kamen Rider and Metal Hero series; and mecha dramas like Giant Robo. Some tokusatsu television programs combine several of these subgenres, for example the Ultraman and Super Sentai series.

Tokusatsu is one of the most popular forms of Japanese entertainment, but most tokusatsu movies and television programs are not widely known outside Asia.


I am creating this thread so fans of all types of Tokusatsu from Godzilla to Power Rangers to Mothra and Kamen Rider can chat about the best quality releases and share information about which have sub titles (to make them English friendly) and the best place to purchase them from.


Rules of this thread - No 'Power Rangers suxxxxxx' style elitism please, Super Sentai and Power Rangers share a DNA so respect the fandoms of both.

If you are posting about the best home release of a certain title please include a picture of the cover art and where people can buy it from.

Remember to include if it is English friendly or not.

And please; just be nice to each other.

Now, on with the thread!

[Dragon Ranger]

Also I would love to hear how fellow fans got into Tokusatsu and see photos of your Blu ray/DVD/merhcandise/cosplay so please feel free to post these.

[hanshotfirst1138]

Originally Posted by Dragon Ranger

Also I would love to hear how fellow fans got into Tokusatsu and see photos of your Blu ray/DVD/merhcandise/cosplay so please feel free to post these.

I was into Power Rangers as a kid, and my uncles got me into Godzilla. That’s where my toku journey started.

[Dragon Ranger]

Originally Posted by hanshotfirst1138

I was into Power Rangers as a kid, and my uncles got me into Godzilla. That’s where my toku journey started.

Excellent; which are your favourite seasons/movies etc?

[hanshotfirst1138]

Originally Posted by Dragon Ranger

Excellent; which are your favourite seasons/movies etc?

For Power Rangers? The Judd Lynn era: In Space, Lost Galaxy, Lightspeed Rescue, Time Force. Lynn brought more gravitas than you’d expect, better villains, and some toku directors to give the American footage more flavor. For Godzilla? That’s tough. I was an obsessive toku fan as a kid, but I sort of grew past it. I’d say the whole Showa era has its ups and downs; Ishiro Honda could generally be relied upon though the 70s were lean except for the steps up in the Mechagodzilla duo. I like most of the Heisi era, after Destroyah is around when I got out of the game. I’ve always planned on getting back into the game, but haven’t gotten around to it. I do have some stray Ultraman episodes I watch from the old Mill Creek discs from time to time though .

[Dragon Ranger]

Originally Posted by hanshotfirst1138

For Power Rangers? The Judd Lynn era: In Space, Lost Galaxy, Lightspeed Rescue, Time Force. Lynn brought more gravitas than you’d expect, better villains, and some toku directors to give the American footage more flavor. For Godzilla? That’s tough. I was an obsessive toku fan as a kid, but I sort of grew past it. I’d say the whole Showa era has its ups and downs; Ishiro Honda could generally be relied upon though the 70s were lean except for the steps up in the Mechagodzilla duo. I like most of the Heisi era, after Destroyah is around when I got out of the game. I’ve always planned on getting back into the game, but haven’t gotten around to it. I do have some stray Ultraman episodes I watch from the old Mill Creek discs from time to time though .

I would highly recommend Godzilla against Mechagodzilla and Tokyo S.O.S. from the Millennium era as they have some of the strongest human characters and plots. Even though the latter acts as a direct sequel you have to buy them in separate double bill releases (which wasn't a chore for me as I loved the other movies that came with them too).

[Professor Knowby]

Glad to see this post! I started watching the Super Sentai releases from Shout Factory about a year and a half ago starting with Zyuranger and have been loving them. Does anyone know if Shout Factory confirmed this?

https://www.powerrangersnow.com/jetman-dvd-announced/

I've read that Jetman is one of the best of the "Super Sentai" shows - hope it's really coming out! The design of the mechs and costumes look fantastic.

[Dragon Ranger]

Originally Posted by Professor Knowby

Glad to see this post! I started watching the Super Sentai releases from Shout Factory about a year and a half ago starting with Zyuranger and have been loving them. Does anyone know if Shout Factory confirmed this?

https://www.powerrangersnow.com/jetman-dvd-announced/

I've read that Jetman is one of the best of the "Super Sentai" shows - hope it's really coming out! The design of the mechs and costumes look fantastic.

It is true; Shout are releasing Jetman (and Gaoranger later in the year). This video by the fantastic MMPRToys channel confirmed it (Bruno is good friends with the people at Shout).

Power Rangers & Super Sentai DVDs... TOP SECRET? - YouTube

I have seen Jetman and can confirm it is brilliant. Not just for the motif (birds, in tribute to the anime Gatchaman aka Battle of the Planets to the Western world), it's robots and action but for its depth of character. It has a love triangle that won't make you cringe, conflict between team mates that feels genuine and some of the best villains in the franchise history. Compared to how Sentai is these days it also feels a bit edgier due to some of the violence and people drinking and smoking, something you wouldn't see today! Plus Geki and Dan's actors from Zyuranger appear in a couple of episodes.

[agvd]

While I'm thankful for the US DVD releases we've got (e.g., Ultra Q, Ultraman, Ultraseven), I'm hoping for some more '60s and '70s stuff to make it to blu here aside from the occasional Toho film.

[Dragon Ranger]

Originally Posted by agvd

While I'm thankful for the US DVD releases we've got (e.g., Ultra Q, Ultraman, Ultraseven), I'm hoping for some more '60s and '70s stuff to make it to blu here aside from the occasional Toho film.

Same here; I know Space Sheriff Gavan & Sharivan are out on Blu in Japan as is Goranger and a fair few of the recent Super Sentai series and movies but none of them have Enlgish subs unfortunately.

[Jameron4eva]

Originally Posted by agvd

While I'm thankful for the US DVD releases we've got (e.g., Ultra Q, Ultraman, Ultraseven), I'm hoping for some more '60s and '70s stuff to make it to blu here aside from the occasional Toho film.

Or if Nothing else, SDBD for improved audio, and possibly a better image of the sd content, plus,cutting down on discs would be a great way to cheaply, and quickly get them out. Lazy yes, but unless you want to sink TOS/TNG levels of time and $$$ into updating EVERYTHING from whatever source remains....

[Dragon Ranger]

Originally Posted by Jameron4eva

Or if Nothing else, SDBD for improved audio, and possibly a better image of the sd content, plus,cutting down on discs would be a great way to cheaply, and quickly get them out. Lazy yes, but unless you want to sink TOS/TNG levels of time and $$$ into updating EVERYTHING from whatever source remains....

Agreed; the Mighty Morphin DVD's look pretty poor, especially season one. I would happily take SD on Blu ray discs with better image quality.

[professorwho]

I don’t happen to own any of the Shout releases of Super Sentai, but I’m gonna start picking them up starting with Megaranger (one of my favourites). I heard there were some issues with Carranger and the timing of the subtitles, so has Shout ever addressed these issues, and/or offered replacement discs?

[Dragon Ranger]

Originally Posted by professorwho

I don’t happen to own any of the Shout releases of Super Sentai, but I’m gonna start picking them up starting with Megaranger (one of my favourites). I heard there were some issues with Carranger and the timing of the subtitles, so has Shout ever addressed these issues, and/or offered replacement discs?

As far as I am aware they never offered replacement discs; the timing isn't hugely off or too frequent. It didn't affect my enjoyment of the series. Though it's probably my least favourite of the box sets released so far. The humour was enjoyable most of the time but kind of neutered any sense of drama. I suppose it's the Thor Ragnarok of Super Sentai.

[willtopower]

Hyped for Jetman. I've lagged a bit with the releases and haven't been able to catch up! Three behind so I better get back on the wagon to pick up the slack.
Kakuranger was next on my watchlist, but I think I will bump Jetman up because I've been wanting to watch that one for a long time.

Super Sentai all started with Power Rangers for me. When I rewatched Power Rangers as an adult and found out how to get some super sentai, I was hooked. Of course, I can't think of any tokusatsu I *don't* like...

Tokusatsu offers a very unique and special type of art form for me. It's the kind of verisimilitude only tapped into with practical effects like Jim Henson stuff here in the states. It lets you have fantasy and real-life at the same time in some ways. When I watch this stuff I still get the genuine feeling of wonder I got as a kid.

[Dragon Ranger]

Originally Posted by willtopower

Hyped for Jetman. I've lagged a bit with the releases and haven't been able to catch up! Three behind so I better get back on the wagon to pick up the slack.
Kakuranger was next on my watchlist, but I think I will bump Jetman up because I've been wanting to watch that one for a long time.

Super Sentai all started with Power Rangers for me. When I rewatched Power Rangers as an adult and found out how to get some super sentai, I was hooked. Of course, I can't think of any tokusatsu I *don't* like...

Tokusatsu offers a very unique and special type of art form for me. It's the kind of verisimilitude only tapped into with practical effects like Jim Henson stuff here in the states. It lets you have fantasy and real-life at the same time in some ways. When I watch this stuff I still get the genuine feeling of wonder I got as a kid.

That's very well put about how it is a unique and special kind of art form. I agree about the lineage with Jim Henson Productions and here in the UK I would relate it to the Supermarionation work of Gerry Anderson particularly in the use of vehicles/miniatures etc.

I would definitely recommend you put Jetman at the top of your watch list; it's one of the best Sentai I have seen. Curious to know which series people have watched so I will start a list of the ones I have seen so far.

Super Sentai:

Zyuranger
Jetman
Ohranger
Dairanger
Gokaiger
Toqger
Kyuranger
Gaoranger
Kakuranger
Carranger
Go-Busters

Metal Heroes:

Space Sheriff Gavan


Godzilla movies:

Godzilla
King Kong vs Godzilla
Son of Godzilla
Godzilla vs Megalon
Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla
Terror of Mechagodzilla
Giant Monsters All Out Attack
Godzilla against Mechagodzilla
Godzilla Tokyo S.O.S.
Godzilla Final Wars
Godzilla USA 1998
Godzilla USA 2014

Power Rangers

Mighty Morphin
Alien Rangers
Zeo
Turbo
In Space
Lost Galaxy
Lightspeed Rescue
Time Force
Wild Force
Dino Thunder
SPD
Mystic Force
RPM
Megaforce
Super Megaforce
Dino Charge
The Movie 1995
Turbo Movie
The Movie 2017

VR Troopers

Season 1 & 2



Currently watching:

Kyuranger
Lupinranger VS Patranger
Space Sheriff Gavan
Power Rangers Ninja Storm

[professorwho]

I see you didn't include Kamen Rider. While I haven't seen one yet, I'm gonna start KR Black shortly, as it appears to be the fan favourite. Though, some of the newer titles like 555 (pronounced Fiez, I think?) look pretty cool.

[Dragon Ranger]

Originally Posted by professorwho

I see you didn't include Kamen Rider. While I haven't seen one yet, I'm gonna start KR Black shortly, as it appears to be the fan favourite. Though, some of the newer titles like 555 (pronounced Fiez, I think?) look pretty cool.

I really need to get into Kamen Rider and Black is the series I am leaning towards. I watched Masked Rider back in the 90's but in no way consider that a fair representation of Kamen!

[Takeshi666]

I've watched Kamen Rider! The original!

That's about it, actually. I know Godzilla is technically toku, I'm not including it because I tend to reserve the term for masked heroes stuff.

[Dragon Ranger]

Originally Posted by Takeshi666

I've watched Kamen Rider! The original!

That's about it, actually. I know Godzilla is technically toku, I'm not including it because I tend to reserve the term for masked heroes stuff.

Which Kamen Rider have you watched? Any recommendations?