The Toku Thread

Dekafox

Fabulously Foxy Dragon
Citizen
For Omega, it sounds like the Ultra isn't going to have a host, but will be like Orb, Mebius, or Ultraseven and just take human form, and for backup he'll have a kaiju user ala Reimon, but pure Earthling(as far as we know).
 

Haywire

Collecter of Gobots and Godzilla
Citizen
Also, the first episode of Ultraman Omega is up on YouTube today. It's certainly interesting; I'll be interested to see where the story goes.
 

Haywire

Collecter of Gobots and Godzilla
Citizen
Is anyone else watching Ultraman Omega each week? I'm liking the story so far. Omega's Sorato persona is interesting, not always having the answer for everything right away, sniffing for kaiju, and almost obsessive focus on food. The kaiju and meteor monsters feel fresh, and the move away from a super science team or similar group does make it easier to keep track of characters.
I'm kind of wondering if there's not going to be some kind of plot hook involving the radio station that figures in almost every episode. There seems to be an unusual amount of screen time devoted to the broadcasts, but I can't tell if it's meant to be a Weirdly Plot Specific News station, or something else. Time will tell.
 

Ironbite4

Well-known member
Citizen
The thing I love about Omega, and the like 3 most recent Ultras, is that they're introducing new Kaiju to the costume closet. Blazer had like 16 new kaiju, Arc had 14, and so far Omega's had 8. It's really really awesome to see the new designs being used so they don't have to keep raiding the costume closet for old foes. Also helps that Omega's story seems to be about how humanity reacts to a brand new threat.

Ironbite-cause apparently, Kaiju haven't existed until Omega showed up.
 

Haywire

Collecter of Gobots and Godzilla
Citizen
It's kind of a weird balance with Ultra kaiju? On the one hand, there's this whole continuity and world-building established with recurring kaiju, chouju, and aliens that I like to see. On the other, the series can stagnate pretty hard if it only features things that came before.

I just recently rewatched/watched Tiga and Dyna (working on Gaia), and there's a lot of one-and-done kaiju in those series, and it really does work well to give it that feeling of newness even within established Ultraman patterns. Omega gives a similar vibe of freshness, and I really appreciate that. Ultraman Z is still my favorite modern series, but it is heavily referential to old material. So far, I think Omega may be a close second!
 

Dekafox

Fabulously Foxy Dragon
Citizen

Reminder that this is debuting on the 17th, and it'll likely be available on youtube officially(like the last series was)
 

Ironbite4

Well-known member
Citizen
SPEAKING OF OFFICAL TOKU!

Zeztze is now streaming on Youtube all proper like. As in, you'll get the Livestream on the Weekends, then Mondays the episode will be properly uploaded to view at your leisure.

Ironbite-Bullying works!
 

Dekafox

Fabulously Foxy Dragon
Citizen
Apparently Taiga is a movie, not a series, so it'll be a while before we see it... but on the other hand, Media Blasters picked up the license for this and the other movies!
Maybe now I can finally get a BD of the first half of season 1, and get the later seasons on BD...

They are teasing a new Ryuga series of Garo though:
1760657824324.jpeg
 

ZakuConvoy

Well-known member
Citizen
Those maniacs! They did it...they actually did it! They blew it up...they blew it ALL up...and then they turned around and POSED!
Project-RED.jpg


It's official. Super Sentai is getting replaced by a different Toku show. The rumors were true.

Supposedly, Toei's been pretty happy with how Kamen Rider Zeztz is performing with it's simuldub on Youtube. And they wanted to do the same with Super Sentai. But, they can't because Hasbro's been sitting on the rights. So...they just got around it by ending the show and starting a different one.

The overarching show is called "Project RED (Records of Extraordinary Dimensions)". And the first show under that umbrella is going to be Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity.

Now, if this had to happen, I'm kind of glad they decided to bring back the Space Sheriffs first. They've been teasing this big story for the Sheriffs in Sentai movies and specials for years. Maybe now we can finally get some follow up to all that Space Squad and Genmaku stuff they've been teasing for years.

I tend to doubt Sentai will actually stay dead for long. This kind of just feels like a negotiating tactic to get the international Sentai rights back. And given the way things are going, Hasbro might prefer to have the money, rather than the rights to something they don't seem all that interested in using. But, we'll see.

I have to wonder what they'll follow up Gavan Infinity with, though. I mean, they could just go in order and do "Sharivan Infinity" next. But, "Dimensions" seems to imply that Toei will be bringing back multiple different old Toku shows under this banner. I have a feeling that Inazuman could be next. Given how often he's made a cameo in various Sentai or Rider movies, I get the feeling someone at Toei has a lot of fondess for Inazuman. But, maybe they'll dust off something like Ninja Captor and give it another shot. Maybe we'll even get a revival of something from the Fushigi Comedy Series side of things, like Mysterious Nile Girl Thutmose. Zubat, Kyodain, Robot Detective, Henshin Ninja Arashi...Toei actually has a pretty deep well of old Toku shows they could follow up on.

Who knows what Toei's going to do next? I'm not even convinced that Toei itself knows for sure.
 
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Ironbite4

Well-known member
Citizen
This is not because Toei is happy with how Zeztz is being received online or anything. It's because of....DECLINING TOY SALES! That's it.

My main concern with this is we're bringing in another solo hero and we have that with Kamen Rider. Metal Heroes was fine when it didn't have something to compare it to. But now it does so I don't see this lasting that long.

Ironbite-but then again the Western market will probably eat this up so WHO KNOWS!
 

ZakuConvoy

Well-known member
Citizen
I'm not sure if this will end up being a solo-hero series or not. Even with Kamen Rider, we usually end up with a team of Riders by the end of the show. I wouldn't be surprised if we get a small team of Metal Heroes by the end of the show. Especially if they pull in some of the ideas they might have had for the Space Squad stuff.

Frankly, what we see of Gavan Infinity's suit reminds me more of Juspion or Spielban, rather than Gavan, anyway. So, I'm going to guess they'll probably be drawing some level of inspiration from most of the run of Metal Heroes for this season. We'll see, though.
 

Tm_Silverclaw

Active member
Citizen
This is not because Toei is happy with how Zeztz is being received online or anything. It's because of....DECLINING TOY SALES! That's it.

My main concern with this is we're bringing in another solo hero and we have that with Kamen Rider. Metal Heroes was fine when it didn't have something to compare it to. But now it does so I don't see this lasting that long.

Ironbite-but then again the Western market will probably eat this up so WHO KNOWS!
Supposedly we'll get Zenkaiger like support bots.
 

ZakuConvoy

Well-known member
Citizen
For anyone wondering how long the Sentai hiatus could last, it sounds like Toei is planning for it to be around 10 years.

So, I guess the next "10 Years After" special will be for Sentai itself! See you in 2035, Rangers!

Also, we got a teaser for Gavan Infinity.

It looks like it's keeping the "trippy" abstract vibe of the original. "Makuu Space" looks like it will continue to be a thing, or it's equivalent, I guess. Kind of wish we got a clearer shot of the suit, though.
 

Ironbite4

Well-known member
Citizen
I give it 3 before we hear rumblings of the return of Super Sentai. Earlier if Hasbro decides to do something with the property.
 
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