Sean Akizuki's Fantasy Critic

I remember the good old 1990s. Okay, maybe NOT so good old anymore after I wrote that might be the "farewell post" for my Super Sentai blog. It was a post where I attacked IBC-13's bad scheduling of its Anime and Tokusatsu . Just in, the news that Kenji Ohba had passed away at 71 years old hit hard. It's another part of my childhood gone. It should be noted that Ucchu Keiji Gavan started its airing on March 5, 1982 -- another show that may have never made it to the Philippines thanks to the rule of the late Emperor Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Gavan aired during the 1990s. I can't pinpoint the exact time it aired on ABC-5, but I think it was before Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers aired. I felt it was the "carefree times" and times when I tried to escape reality via television. I'd say Gavan was definitely THAT imaginary friend. Basically, the Philippines was behind with Tokusatsu especially it was the 1990s and Gavan was aired in 1982. I could say it was m...

  After watching Kaiju No Kami's Janperson review , I noticed that the reviewer gave Janperson a 3/5 rating and a higher score for Jiban . Jiban was one show I grew up watching. However, I didn't really find my Jiban rewatch all too entertaining. I watched both Janperson (as a teenager) and Jiban (as a child). Rewatching Janperson doesn't appeal to my inner child either. Janperson is actually MORE VIOLENT than the Robocop TV series ! The Metal Hero franchise even created four shows that were actually MORE MATURE than one thinks -- even if they were AIMED AT CHILDREN ! Janperson started with an air of mystery. Just who is Janperson? The show opens with something that may no longer make it in today's Super Sentai  shows. Just think how Super Sentai, since 2001, began a Lighter and Softer direction. Not even Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters in 2012 could match the depressing vibes of Mirai Sentai Timeranger . I had a guilty pleasure of liking Timeranger that much for its depres...

I love watching the reviews of Kaiju No Kami -- even when he gave some shows I like a low score. For instance, his Kosoku Sentai Turboranger highlighted some problems that I failed to look into. Yeah, I could agree that Rehda was indeed a waste of the late Masashi Ishibashi. Kaiju gave some shows I liked a 3/5 stars -- a score he also gave to Tokosou Robo Janperson . The guy has some strange humor that I appreciate -- even when it comes to his unfavorable reviews to shows I enjoyed! Hey, it's a free market! I looked into the review and I was impressed by some things he pointed out. For instance, there were two cops and a reporter for the first few episodes. However, it's unknown why actors Naoto Tada and Junichiro Katagiri (Green Two and Yellow Turbo) left the show so soon. Were they just meant to be well... GUEST STARS? Was it because of real life issues? There were some things that could've been done with police drama. Instead, it seemed like a Real Life Writes Plot. I wa...

I finally finished Blue SWAT . I was waiting for some time to watch this. It's official now that I've seen most Metal Hero series but not Kabutack and Robotack . Metal Hero was canceled but not forgotten. Metal Hero influence could still be observed even long after it was discontinued. It has the same fate as the Super Robot Anime series -- canceled but not forgotten. Watching Blue SWAT gave me a deeper appreciation for the overrated masterpiece  Tokosou Sentai Dekaranger. However, this show can still be more depressing than Dekaranger . Dekaranger would later repeat themes here while giving tribute to the Rescue Police Trilogy. What I enjoyed about the 1990s shows was the more mature theme. For example, Tokosou Robo Janperson is actually more violent than the Robocop cartoon. This was the era when occasional gunshot wounds ON HUMANS happen. Blue SWAT presents a darker, more intense atmosphere than what Dekaranger was allowed to do. Sure, Dekaranger's overarching antagonist...

We are introduced to three big baddies who were the main enemies of Gavan, Sharivan, and Shaider.  They have different methods in their quest to take over the Universe. It's unknown whether or not they battled for some time, but here they are, those stuck in the wall villains: Don Horror of Ucchu Keiji Gavan Gavan's foe was the Space Crime Organization Makuu. Don Horror was pretty much well... WALLPAPER! He was the background character that kept barking orders. It's never explained how Don Horror became the way he is. Did Don Horror get paralyzed or what? Is he a Dark Lord Under Life Support? It's a typical 1980s show, so don't expect too much from this Orcus on the Throne! He's pretty much like Horde Prime in She-Ra: Princess of Power in some way.  I found Hunter Killer to be rather generic. Instead, things got better when San Dorva and his wife, Witch Kiba came along. Witch Kiba is an old hag -- suggesting that Don Horror is also an OLD MAN. However, I must wo...

It's no surprise that Kidou Keiji Jiban is followed by Tokosou Janperson . Janperson is getting an official DVD release. Is it surprising that the second Robocop-inspired Tokusatsu is getting an official DVD release? I missed this and realized that man -- I'm getting old! Shout! Factory has been handling DVD releases. Meanwhile, this classic Janperson is what I'd call, "That BADLY-NEEDED release!"  What makes a Janperson DVD release exciting? Who can remember the Robocop (1994) TV series that came after it? I'd like to quote Shogo B'Stard's statement on the said series: So, the whole humanity of Murphy being what interests me about the character, I read that the show delves deeper into that, so that basically decided for me. But...the show tries, but just doesn't quite go to the levels that I feel it should, and it doesn't try to say as much as that first movie. For example: an early episode has religious zealots protesting the police because t...

I enjoy Kaiju No Kami's reviews even if he gives low scores to some of my favorite shows. I may have been a fan of Kosoku Sentai Turboranger but I enjoyed his negative review of the show. I may no want to rewatch VR Troopers after watching Chojinki Metalder . Kaiju No Kami's review of the said show highlights some weak points. Compared to most shows -- Metalder was way more serious. Sure, Kamen Rider BLACK was Darker and Edgier but it has a huge fanbase. Hikari Sentai Maskman was also more serious than usual -- it still managed to get a one-year run. However, Metalder only had 39 episodes and why is that? Why did it get rushed? Watching Kaiju No Kami's review -- it can be easily understood. The show's target audience was children. If most of the viewers were teenagers to adults -- who's really going to buy the toys?! I even feel that Metalder's design isn't really all that cool TBH. Maybe, I can say that there were too many Neros warriors put at once. I coul...

Before Haim Saban had the greenlight from Toei to produce VR Troopers -- there was the 1980s Jikuu Senshi Spielban . Sure, the late Soga Machiko may always be remembered as Witch Bandora in Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger . However, I think some people may have noticed that Despera was used as Desponda (who had Andrea Harmon for the U.S. footage). Blink and one may miss that some of Desponda's footage involves Machiko's face instead of Harmon. I only knew it when I was in college. VR Troopers was a strange mix -- it used Chojinki Metalder footage along with Spielban in the first season. It was later I noticed that Ucchu Keiji Shaider footage was used. It was that time I was still ignorant about international marketing and felt Toei should sue. I learned it was a contractual agreement. Dislike Power Rangers or any American adaptations all I want -- those shows can't be bootleg! Yes, that's why I've heckled a group of people who call Power Rangers BOOTLEG because no matter ho...

I've finally finished Seiki Ninja Jiraiya which translates into World Ninja War Jiraiya . I'd like to say it's one weird series because Japanese is hardly spoken. It's full of strange executions such as when non-Japanese characters are played by JAPANESE actors. I can easily accept the Yamaji family (and Takumi Hashimoto was there as Manabu). Takumi was only 16 years old when he played Boi in Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger   - making him only 12 years old when he played Manabu.  It can explain why some people never got unmasked at all! It would be awkward especially since some of the ninjas are descendants of Western characters such as Billy the Kid or a descendant of the Crusaders. There's also Turkish ninjas and it's one strange series. Sure, I'm already used to defying logic in Tokusatsu such as dealing with Super Sentai having giant Megazord battles every week, how often the MOTWs explode in the city (and Dimensional Warrior Spielban introduced the one-shot won...

I guess I'm ready for another divisive OPINION post. I watched both Juuki B-Fighter followed by B-Fighter Kabuto . The two shows are direct sequels to each other. One show was a hit and the other was a FLOP. Okay, there will be SPOILERS ahead so if you haven't watched both shows - READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION. I finished both shows so I'm going to do this weird post. How does this go? I'm going to talk about how B-Fighter ended (and what the show brought up) together with how the show linked the direct sequel. So, unlike Kamen Rider BLACK RX where the hero dons a different suit, we have a new generation of B-Fighters . I guess the failure that's BLACK RX made Toei to swear to never upgrade the heroes and introduce a new hero huh? Still, I can't deny I can enjoy BLACK RX and B-Fighter Kabuto even if I'm totally aware that they're quite messy. It took something as messy as Saban's Masked Rider and Beetleborgs Metallix (which was worse than its previous ...

I guess the success of B-Fighter caused the launch of what's considered the messy B-Fighter Kabuto . It's really A MESS but it's a WATCHABLE MESS IMHO. Some Tokusatsu shows aren't so well-loved but I enjoy them. I'm aware how Kamen Rider BLACK RX was pretty much what caused that hiatus but I still enjoy it. I'm aware of how Kamen Rider Kiva is berated as Toshiki Inoue's lowest point but I like it. I can now enjoy Ressha Sentai ToQGer even if Yasuko Kobayashi was at her lowest point. B-Fighter Kabuto is often regarded as that Franchise Killer but it seemed Toei actually decided to let it happen. Just think that 2006 gave us Kamen Rider Kabuto - a show that seems to tell us Toei's not bringing back the Metal Hero franchise but hasn't forgotten it either. Granted, the show's pretty much a DIRECT sequel to B-Fighter . It wasn't too surprising that the B-Fighters do return to assist the heroes. Bailout? Maybe, maybe not. I do find the first team b...

I finished watching Juuku B-Fighter and I decided to check what was deemed a failure, B-Fighter Kabuto . I admit that there are a few shows that aren't popular but I enjoy them. Some of these shows are  Kamen Rider BLACK RX (which I see as a necessary failure), Kosoku Sentai Turboranger , Chikyu Sentai Fiveman (though Kyukyu Sentai GoGoFive is miles better), and I could also say Kamen Rider Kiva was considered that low point in Toshiki Inoue's career. Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters initially didn't do well but somehow got vindicated by history.  B-Fighter Kabuto is a direct sequel to B-Fighter . The setting is five years later. Unlike Beetleborgs Metallix - the show uses a different set of heroes. I guess the people from Toei Ltd. learned not to repeat the whole Kamen Rider BLACK to BLACK RX move. I guess I'm only enjoying BLACK RX more as an adult because Saban's Masked Rider was way worse. Takuya is now sidelined to make room for newer characters. There were even episo...