Sean Akizuki's Fantasy Critic

Tokosou Exceedraft finally had its fansubs (and well, sadly Toei's official Youtube doesn't have subs). I finished Tokkei Winspector  and  Tokyuu Shirei Solbrain which were directly connected. This show was supposedly its own continuity UNTIL the finale. Commander Masaki returns for the three-part finale with a rather weird plot. A mixture of history and fantasy in the sink created a weird series. Yes, we're talking about Exceedraft . Granted, I've seen Kyukyu Sentai GoGoFive first. I watched that show without thinking about Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue . However, Exceedraft ends up with that concept because of the turbo-charged powers in their metallic suits. Lightspeed is a metaphor in Lightspeed Rescue . Exceedraft tries to take it literally though they'd perish if they were dealing with the villains of either GoGoFive or Lightspeed Rescue . The show mixes sci-fi together with some supernatural. The first two series did it. However, the finale for the two seri...

  There's always some blatant product placement in Tokusatsu, right? Somehow, fictional heroes like Superman and Santa Claus become endorsers of real products. Santa Claus The Movie was an endorser of McDonald's. Super Sentai and Kamen Rider are also endorsers of McDonald's. Toku is no exemption to that rule. I thought about Exceedraft episode 14 had the episode where the Super Famicom was the craze. It also involved one father's quest to get the Super Famicom (and go to absurd lengths like in Jingle All the Way ) while making up a lie he was abroad when he wasn't. It really had the letter from a boy who wanted a Super Famicom because, boo hoo, he was the only one in the class who didn't have one. Peer pressure again? The plot of the episode though involved an old friend of Kosaku named Tome. Tome wanted to get his son, Toshio, the Super Famicom and it was a promise. The great absurd lengths were to try and get some money from the villain of the week, Ryo Takaha...

It's been week since Sailor Otaku (due to real life reasons) hasn't released a fan sub beyond Exceedraft's seventh episode. The seventh episode where Hayato supposedly "betrays" Exceedraft and "joins" the Red Spade is one intense arc. A police officer on an undercover mission? He supposedly "murders" his chief and he gets in? I can't wait to see more of it! I just even think that the subs really need a lightspeed rescue -- LITERALLY!

Exceedraft had its two episodes and I want to call it a "Snailspeed Rescue" instead of Exceedraft which their suits would grant them the power of a lightspeed rescue. What I'm thinking right now is that Sailor Otaku's probably having some real issues to why it took so long to release the first Exceedraft subs. I guess finding the right team and raw footage isn't even easy, right? With that in mind -- it's understandable with all the real life issues that the subbers have to face. Hopefully, they can get some help and lightspeed rescue it!

I thought about reviewing the now inactive and maybe never-to-return Metal Hero series. Kamen Rider's Showa era ended in 1989 with what some called the Kamen Rider BLACK RX meltdown (but I still have a soft spot for it). Without Kamen Rider in the workload -- Toei could have had more time to devote itself to developing Metal Hero until its inevitable demise when Robotack ended. 1990 was a turning point of a year since Super Sentai was having some problems until Jetman saved it in 1991. That year was also the year of Winspector when Noboru Sugimura shifted from the first Robocop inspired series Jiban. Sugimura was now tasked with doing something more "mature" with Winspector and Solbrain. Superheroes aren't so powerful, especially they could only use their special suits for a time limit. It was also sort of trying to do a Japanese version of Automan and Knight Rider except it was ironically for children. Winspector was different was that there was no main villain ...

Is it me or do I miss the time when Tokusatsu was more action-oriented and much less of a toy commercial? This time, I'm watching Exceedraft which was FINALLY subbed by Sailor Otaku (also alternatively known as Weeaboo Shogun). It's time to get into the first episode of the show. This was supposed to take in a different continuity than Winspector and Solbrain but later added as part of the Rescue Police Trilogy. Last year was its 25th anniversary and I was very disappointed as to why it didn't surface after that. The first two members are introduced as Kosuko and Ken who are Blues and Keace. Kosaku seems to be the dandy one while Ken is the joker of the group. Unlike the first two series, they are using this jeep compared to Winspector and Solbrain using cars. Quite interestingly, the GoGoFive siblings drove around a jeep when they were in civilian form. This is well-equipped with equipment to put out fire. We are introduced to the mentors of Exceedraft. We hav...

Maybe one reason why I tend to prefer mostly old school Tokusatsu from the 80s to 90s is most of them tend to have the more "mature" feel. Okay, it doesn't mean I'm not enjoying new school Kamen Rider (which I prefer over old school Kamen Rider) and Ucchuu Sentai Kyuranger. I'd like to talk about Metal Hero shows that didn't look too much like a kiddie show. Tokkei Winspector The very first of the Rescue Police Trilogy. The series itself has no real main villain. It's almost like a strange blend of American shows Automan and Knight Rider. Although the setting is pretty much science fiction but it has a LOT of lessons that seem to be more fit for grown ups than children. There's a lot of real gun action, some blood and criminal cases aside from the fantasy-based environment. Think of it as Tokusatsu version of Rescue 911. Tokkyu Shirei Solbrain Winspector ended after 51 episodes with the first villain they faced as the final villain. Now comes...

Watching some classic Metal Hero series before they declined into the state of being too "kiddie" (with Kabutack and Robotack), I thought another series I want to try watching with subtitles is Exceedraft. Sailor Otaku has brought in a series that I originally didn't like as a child but like as an adult namely Solbrain as well as Winspector before it. But right now, Sailor Otaku is on hiatus (for probably very valid reasons) and there's not a single Exceedraft episode. I just hope there'll be an Exceedraft fan sub for the older audience. =P