Investigation Post

 What is Tokusatsu?

Tokusatsu is the small genre of mostly Japanese films and TV shows that are live-action drama and action shows with heavy use of special effects, an example that almost everyone knows would be Power Rangers, or more specifically Mighty Morphing Power Rangers which aired in 1993. The genre began in 1960 with the creation of UltraMan, a show about a Japanese soldier who is given the ability to turn into a giant robot to fight alien invaders, the series was an instant success. Though the series is not anywhere as possible in the United States, a similar comparison would be that Ultra Man is the Superman of Japan, though stylistically the two differ greatly. Soon after the success of Ultraman, a Japanese production studio under the name of Toei Superheros began production on a show known as Kamen Rider, an edgier, human-sized superhero whose powers came from his magical belt.

The Tokusatsu to Change It All

4 years after the start of Kamen Rider, the creator of the series pitched another show to Toei, this one about a team of Kamen Riders who all wear different colors. During early production, it was decided to change the team from being that of Kamen Riders to a new original name, Super Sentai. The first of these new series was Himitsu Sentai Gorenger, which was about 5 multicolored heroes fighting demons and aliens alike. A common trope in the genre would be the flipping and recasting between seasons, where a new actor, suit, and story would be introduced, carrying the core elements of the series along. This allows for more toy sales because there's always something new to be sold, and it allows for shows to last a very long time because they are not bound to a single actor for the main character. Following seasons of Super Sentai would introduce many things core to the series, such as phone or watch-like devices that allow people to transform into rangers, monsters turning giant after they are initially destroyed, a giant robot suit designed to finish off the threat.

Tokusatsu Spreads To America

Beginning in 1992, the new sentai was Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger, a series about 5 humans who are the physical embodiments of dinosaurs, who use their special powers to prevent another mass extinction event. Meanwhile, in America, a production studio under the name Saban Entertainment was looking at the series with intrigue, they believed that the series could be adapted for an American audience. after multiple test pilots and months of test screenings, the series was adapted. Starting in 1993, Mighty Morphing Power Rangers began airing on televisions across the United States. Before episodes released in Japan, Toei would send all the footage they recorded for that episode to Saban, where they would use the footage of the suits and robots to make their own series about 5 teenagers fighting off an evil space witch.

Too Big For Its Own Good

Power Rangers was a huge success, children loved playing with the brightly colored action figures and robots, and the unique visual style of the show attracted much attention. The show was criticized for its poor adaptation of Japanese footage, but in the eyes of its core audience, children, it was perfect as is. The original series ran for 3 seasons, but typical Sentai shows only run for 1 season, so when Zyuranger ended and there was no more stock footage, Saban was left with a problem. Their solution was to buy their own set of costumes and begin filming the ground-based fight scenes in California. But a series wouldn't be Power Rangers without giant robots, so using robot footage and a white ranger suit from the next sentai series, Gosei Sentai Dairanger. Saban knew that they couldn't keep using the Zyuranger suits forever, so for the third season of the show, they made the Rangers lose their powers and gain ninja based powers, meanwhile, friendly aliens who were also power rangers fought the battles against the giant robots, using footage from Ninja Sentai Kakuranger. 

Saban Makes A Leap of Faith

With less and less footage becoming available, Saban made a leap of faith by rebranding the show to Power Rangers Zeo, in which they completely changed suits to that of Chouriki Sentai Ohranger. The final season of Mighty Morphing Power Rangers ended with the main base of the Rangers being destroyed along with their powers, so upon gathering 5 "Zeo Crystals", 5 of the 6 original rangers became the new Zeo rangers. The original blue ranger named Billy was left out of Zeo, taking a support role using his scientific intellect to make gadgets and weapons for the rangers. 

A Dark Time for Power Rangers

In Japan, Ohranger was not as popular and Zyuranger so therefor got less footage, so Saban only had Zeo last for one season before switching suits again to the next series, Gekisou Sentai Carranger. There were some problems with adapting this series into Power Rangers Turbo, for the sentai was made as a parody of previous seasons, with more whacky cartoonish villains and suits. So as Turbo began airing in 1997, the people adapting the series kept trying to make a relatively serious story with good action, but the footage they were being provided with was that of a comedy. This along with other factors such as 4 of the members of the team being replaced halfway through, lead the show's ratings to drop, and people stopped caring about Power Rangers.

A Hail Mary Saves The Series

Contracts with Saban and Toei, along with ones between Saban and ABC family, guaranteed that there would be at least one more season of Power Rangers. The people at Saban had good reason to believe that this next season would be the last, so they wanted to give their all and make a season no one could forget. Using footage from Denji Sentai Megaranger, Power Rangers In Space began airing in 1998. This season was all about tying up loose ends that started in previous seasons. Previous villains reappeared to fight the new team of Rangers, and all failed. This was the first season of Power Rangers to use nostalgia as a hook to bring back old fans, which the return of Adam, the black mighty morphing power ranger, and Justin, the blue turbo ranger. The effects budget was greatly increased, along with other factors such as a much better writing team, and an epic finale to the show which presents earth nearly being taken over, lead to a revival of Power Rangers, now still to this day, Hasbro, the current owner of the Power Rangers brand, adapts Super Sentai footage.

The Current State Of Tokusatsu

Toei still produces seasons of Super Sentai and Kamen Rider, next year is the 45th anniversary season of Super Sentai. Though for many years Super Sentai was the more popular one between it and Kamen Rider, in recent years with sentai rating dropping, Kamen Rider is now the 2nd most popular tokusatsu just under Ultraman, despite this, there's no end in sight for this beloved genre of cheesy children's shows.

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