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12-07-2011, 10:50 PM | #1 |
VALKYRIE
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Over the rainbow where your mom is at son
Posts: 23,515
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Back in the 90's I got into Power Rangers toys, from 93-96. I have fond memories of trying to hunt down the Megazord, to finally finding the Tigerzord, which was fortunately for me, due to a mom at the store deciding not to pick up 2.
Anyways I have had a thing for Japanese toys since childhood, especially Japanese robot toys. Power Rangers comes from a genre in Japan called Super Sentai, basically a team who fights evil and is usually different per year. Typically they have mecha, and in America, under Power Rangers, Zords became a generic name for Sentai mecha. Turns out I was exposed to Super Sentai a lot earlier than Power Rangers. Back in the 80's some of Bandai's Chogokin releases were brought over. I had this totally bad ass toy called DX Bio Robo, from Bioman, an 80's Super Sentai series. Now, back then, I knew nothing of Bioman aside from the fact that Bio Robo kicked ass. Apparently I had 2. One broke, and the other was accidentally left at some kid's house. Anyways that toy was cool, it could fire its fists, had diecast content and good heft, and could probably kill someone if thrown. IIRC it even had an opening canopy and pilot figure. Stuff like that, is awesome to me. So fast forward to 93 and I got into Power Rangers, at the time(and not until many years later), not knowing that Power Rangers was from the same genre as Bioman. For 3 years I collected MMPR toys, mostly zords. I actually still have most of them, however, most are not complete. One day I shall try to piece them back together, I never threw away the pieces, but as time went on, I kept track of them less and less, so the parts are in random places. I stopped collecting once Zeo came out because to me, Zeo was lame. I couldn't get into it. Saw some of Power Rangers Dino Thunder, mainly because it looked cool, and because Tommy, the Green Ranger, came back. Looking back, I should have bought the zords. I have a renewed interest in Super Sentai, and have been watching Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger, the newest Sentai series in Japan. Gokaigers are basically pirates, and I'm pretty sure a lot of the stuff that happened in the show will be censored next year when it's inevitably brought over to the states. I'm not even sure if they will be called pirates. Maybe something politically correct, like Power Rangers Sailors, or Power Rangers Navy. Something lame. Gokaiger is the 35th Sentai series and to celebrate the 35th anniversary, features homages to all 34 previous Sentai teams. So yea, Zyuranger, which was brought over as Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, is paid homage, as well as Ohranger(Zeo), Dairanger(the one where the lightning zords came from in MMPR season 2), et al. It's a pretty cool show, some of the old Sentai members make an appearance, and new versions of some of their zords show up, which can combine with GokaiOh, the Gokaiger's main mecha. Starting with Shinkenger(brought over as Power Rangers Samurai), Bandai Japan started making SH Figuarts of Sentai characters, with Shinken Red and Shinken Gold. These are actually available at USA Toys R Us stores for $34.99 each, and kick ass. There is also a line of super articulated mecha with diecast content, called Super Robot Chogokin(SRC), which also features Super Sentai mecha and many others. The cool thing is, Daizyujin is on the way! *Daizyujin is known in America as the original Megazord). The Super Sentai mecha in the SRC line do not transform, but some have parts which can be attached to SRC GokaiOh, like in the show. Anyways as I have gotten back into Super Sentai I will be keeping this thread updated. Feel free to join the discussion, and add pics of your Super Sentai/Power Rangers toys. |
12-08-2011, 08:53 AM | #2 |
Master Of Mind Control
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Upstate SC
Posts: 1,595
|
I have been a Godzilla fan for literally as long as I can remember, and I liked Ultraman as a young kid, so when MMPR came on, it wasn't much of a jump for me to get into it. I never bought the Zords much because I was in 5th grade when the show started so I was already starting to get out a lot of toy stuff, although I did pick up the Auto-Morphing Green Ranger when that was released.
I watched the show straight through Zeo, and ended up falling out for Turbo and In Space. Got back into the show during Lost Galaxy when I caught it quite by accident one Saturday morning when I was a freshman in college. Watched LG steadily, then got my friends into it as well through Lightspeed Rescue (my favorite series), Time Force, and Wild Force. When Ninja Storm came on, my ABC affiliate didn't carry it, so I didn't end up seeing it. Saw a good portion of Dino Thunder and SPD, then have caught little bits and pieces of the shows since then as my wife really dislikes tokusatsu. I also watched Masked Rider, VR Troopers, Superhuman Samurai Syber Squad, and Ultraman Tiga. Right now I am watching Jungle Fury on Netflix, Kamen Rider Dragon Knight on the 4kids website, and Gokaiger thanks to a fansub site. I have been buying a few vintage MMPR 5" Monsters lately to fill out my ranks. I bought Stag Beetle (my favorite MMPR monster) as a kid, and added Dramole and Eye Guy in the last few months off of eBay, along with the 8" Soccadillo I picked up a few years back. They hang out with the Masked Rider Cyclopter figure a friend of mine sent me about 5 years ago. I saw Rita Repulsa at Target the other day and seriously conisidered picking her up, but passed because the paint apps on her face are horrendous, and I don't know that I could repaint her well enough to be accurate. I have been tempted to pick up one or two Samurai figures because that show has actually been pretty consistantly good. But I mostly see the Mega Ranger figures and I would prefer one of the normal style. I might pick up Samurai Red if I see him at a good price. I am on the hunt for "Space Buccaneer" (Captain Mutiny from Lost Galaxy/Captain Zahab from Gingaman) and would still like to find a Red Lightspeed Ranger figure at some point, as he is my favorite Ranger character. I very nearly bought a classic Yellow Ranger from the guy I bought my Dramole from (always had a thing for Trini!), but it was not in the best shape and missing the Daggers, so I passed. Gokaiger has been very good so far (I'm only up to like episode 5) and I would really like a nice Gokai Yellow figure. I really like Luka's attitude.
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Vintage File Cards For Sale! My Feedback Thread -- http://www.hisstank.com/forum/buy-se...threadski.html "What is our ROE?" "Shoot anything which isn't Pythonized." |
12-10-2011, 11:04 PM | #3 |
VALKYRIE
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Over the rainbow where your mom is at son
Posts: 23,515
|
Quote:
I have been a Godzilla fan for literally as long as I can remember, and I liked Ultraman as a young kid, so when MMPR came on, it wasn't much of a jump for me to get into it. I never bought the Zords much because I was in 5th grade when the show started so I was already starting to get out a lot of toy stuff, although I did pick up the Auto-Morphing Green Ranger when that was released.
I watched the show straight through Zeo, and ended up falling out for Turbo and In Space. Got back into the show during Lost Galaxy when I caught it quite by accident one Saturday morning when I was a freshman in college. Watched LG steadily, then got my friends into it as well through Lightspeed Rescue (my favorite series), Time Force, and Wild Force. When Ninja Storm came on, my ABC affiliate didn't carry it, so I didn't end up seeing it. Saw a good portion of Dino Thunder and SPD, then have caught little bits and pieces of the shows since then as my wife really dislikes tokusatsu. I also watched Masked Rider, VR Troopers, Superhuman Samurai Syber Squad, and Ultraman Tiga. Right now I am watching Jungle Fury on Netflix, Kamen Rider Dragon Knight on the 4kids website, and Gokaiger thanks to a fansub site. I have been buying a few vintage MMPR 5" Monsters lately to fill out my ranks. I bought Stag Beetle (my favorite MMPR monster) as a kid, and added Dramole and Eye Guy in the last few months off of eBay, along with the 8" Soccadillo I picked up a few years back. They hang out with the Masked Rider Cyclopter figure a friend of mine sent me about 5 years ago. I saw Rita Repulsa at Target the other day and seriously conisidered picking her up, but passed because the paint apps on her face are horrendous, and I don't know that I could repaint her well enough to be accurate. I have been tempted to pick up one or two Samurai figures because that show has actually been pretty consistantly good. But I mostly see the Mega Ranger figures and I would prefer one of the normal style. I might pick up Samurai Red if I see him at a good price. I am on the hunt for "Space Buccaneer" (Captain Mutiny from Lost Galaxy/Captain Zahab from Gingaman) and would still like to find a Red Lightspeed Ranger figure at some point, as he is my favorite Ranger character. I very nearly bought a classic Yellow Ranger from the guy I bought my Dramole from (always had a thing for Trini!), but it was not in the best shape and missing the Daggers, so I passed. Gokaiger has been very good so far (I'm only up to like episode 5) and I would really like a nice Gokai Yellow figure. I really like Luka's attitude. Green/white ranger was my favorite as a kid, but I've seen clips of Zyuranger(the sentai series MMPR was based on), and Burai, the Japanese green ranger, is AWESOME! Fight scenes are much more intense. Him and the red ranger(Geki), are brothers. Burai turns good...and...yea there is a BIG difference in how he loses his powers compared to Tommy. Spoilers though.... I have seen 1 episode of Kakuranger, Hurricanger and Shinkenger. All 3 are good, Kaku and Hurrican have ninja motifs so of course I watched. Kakuranger is pretty entertaining. Obvious engrish just cause, and the 1st 2 guy rangers who show up are kind of moronic. Tsuruhime/Ninja White, is BAD ASS. The 1st mecha, Muteki Shogun, is one of my favorite sentai mecha of all time. In America it was called the Shogun Megazord, with the kanji chestplate swapped out for one with a molded thunderbolt. Tsubasamaru, known here as the Falconzord, was gutted of electronics. Also, Muteki Shogun's white arm was colored pink in the US. It looks better white. The pink throws off the colors. Funny that you mentioned Superhuman Samurai Cybersquad...I didn't like the show but liked the toys, however I suspect that the original Japanese version, Gridman, is probably a lot better....and speaking of which...Gridman is one of the NEXT figures up for release in the Ultra ACT line! Also there is a new contest going on...free Tamashii Nations swag! Tamashii Nations Photo Contest |
12-12-2011, 09:49 AM | #4 |
Master Of Mind Control
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Upstate SC
Posts: 1,595
|
I have seen like one episode of Zyuranger fansubbed, but I have read summaries of most of the Burai-centric episodes. What became The Green Candle over here was pretty damn intense in Zyuranger. Did you know, in the "Zyu2" footage (that is, the extra monster and Zord battle footage Toei shot specifically for MMPR, from the second half of season 1 and the beginning of season 2) when Dragonranger returns, he actually returns from heaven?! In the battle against Dramole, the monster darkens the skies, but the darkness is destroyed when Burai returns from heaven. Obviously they didn't use that part in the US!
I have seen a couple of eps of Kakuranger and the Ohranger vs Kakuranger movie. Between the two ninja shows I like Kakuranger a lot more. For one thing the meka are a LOT better. I agree with you wholeheartedly about Muteki Shogun/Shogun Megazord. Great, powerful design. I really like the helmets having the animal elements in them. Beyond that I also really like the Ninja Megazord, who's Japanese name I don't have off the top of my head. I was really amused to discover that they were flipped from their original order. I really like the first two meka from GoGoV, Victory Robo and Grand Liner. Victory Robo is just a perfect depiction of a vehicle meka, and the way in which the team combines it is too cool. I LOVE that the scale for Grand Liner stays true when he comes together, as well. But in general I have a huge soft spot in my heart for GoGoV and Lightspeed Rescue. Great theme, great villains, great arsenal and meka. I also really like the pun in their name. "Go" is how the number 5 is pronounced in Japan so Go-Go-5 is 5-5-5, the emergency phone number in Japan. I am assuming you have seen the Figurearts toys for Shinkared and Shinkagold which are at TRU here in the states? I am really tempted to pick one of them up because I have really liked what I have watched of Samurai. Shinkagold comes with his fisherman's pack as well which is just awesome. (I love how Dekker calls him "Fisherman" pretty much exclusively on the show as well.) But they are a little too rich for my budget right now! I have never seen any episodes of Gridman, but anything had to be better than SSSS. That show was pretty poor even by the low standards of the time. At least the virus monsters looked good (Tsuburaya's monsters always rock)! I'll try to take some pictures of my monsters to share! I miss the old days when Bandai USA would put out a whole line of monsters!
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Vintage File Cards For Sale! My Feedback Thread -- http://www.hisstank.com/forum/buy-se...threadski.html "What is our ROE?" "Shoot anything which isn't Pythonized." Last edited by ljacone; 12-12-2011 at 09:56 AM.. |
12-12-2011, 09:53 AM | #5 |
Master Of Mind Control
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Upstate SC
Posts: 1,595
|
Oh, and as far as old school (pre-MMPR) meka, one of my favorites is Flash King! Really embodies the classic meka design.
RangerCentral.Com / Power Rangers Central / Database / Chousinsei Flashman
__________________
Vintage File Cards For Sale! My Feedback Thread -- http://www.hisstank.com/forum/buy-se...threadski.html "What is our ROE?" "Shoot anything which isn't Pythonized." |
12-12-2011, 03:56 PM | #6 |
Master Of Mind Control
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Upstate SC
Posts: 1,595
|
I dig this figure but how the heck does it stand up?!
Super Robot Chogokin Deka Ranger Robo - Soul Of Chogokin Super Robot Chogokin
__________________
Vintage File Cards For Sale! My Feedback Thread -- http://www.hisstank.com/forum/buy-se...threadski.html "What is our ROE?" "Shoot anything which isn't Pythonized." |
12-20-2011, 11:16 PM | #7 |
VALKYRIE
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Over the rainbow where your mom is at son
Posts: 23,515
|
Quote:
I dig this figure but how the heck does it stand up?!
Super Robot Chogokin Deka Ranger Robo - Soul Of Chogokin Super Robot Chogokin ...AND..... after SRC Magiking, the next SRC might be DAIZYUJIN!, the original MMPR MEGAZORD! BTW there has been one small glimpse posted online a while back. |
01-05-2012, 02:47 PM | #8 |
VALKYRIE
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Over the rainbow where your mom is at son
Posts: 23,515
|
Ijacone and all other Sentai fans, here's something we've been working on in secret..
TokuNation.com |
01-05-2012, 03:02 PM | #9 |
Master Of Mind Control
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Upstate SC
Posts: 1,595
|
I just registered, but I have to wait until I get home to do the email confirmation. Looks like a blast!
Also, the Super Samurai figures have started popping up here. The big coats sort of make me think of the Gokaiger uniforms, oddly enough...
__________________
Vintage File Cards For Sale! My Feedback Thread -- http://www.hisstank.com/forum/buy-se...threadski.html "What is our ROE?" "Shoot anything which isn't Pythonized." |
01-05-2012, 03:08 PM | #10 |
VALKYRIE
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Over the rainbow where your mom is at son
Posts: 23,515
|
Dude wait for the SH Figuarts version, Super Shinken Red ISN'T a TamashiiWeb exclusive! Wonder if TRU will snag him..
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