Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Best and Worst of 2014: Power Rangers and Super Sentai

It is almost the end of the year, magazines, TV shows and websites do their Best and Worst of the year so here is mine. I usually split it up by series, Power Rangers and Super Sentai, now I am just clumping them in Best and Worst.
 
BEST of 2014

Best App
The Dino Charge app just came along on Thanksgiving but it has to be the best app for Power Rangers ever. It has the new theme song, stickers for pictures, 3-D morph images, 'prizes' and 'levels.'
 
Best Butt
I did best Abs last year and I am sure some fans will complain that 'this is too gay' but I bet you if I did 'Best Butt' of a girl, there would be no problem. This goes to Azim Rizk (Jake).
 
Best Theme Song in the last six years
We finally got a song that doesn't recycle Mighty Morphin Power Rangers theme song. It has the 'Go Go Power Rangers' hook but at least it sounds different.
 
Best Use of Orange
Toq 6 Gou is the second Orange Ranger, other than Battle Cossack of Battle Fever J (1979).
 
Best use of a Dog Mecha
People might not agree with the choice of mecha for Ninninger or even the use of another train since the pervious Sentai was all trains. I sure liked the dog.
 
 
 
WORST of 2014
Worst Finale
  I won't mince words. I wish I could put this in the middle but this is best and worst, not kinda okay list. This was a major disappointment for fans. Fans were hoping to see Tommy actually fight and see more or hear more of the other veteran Rangers. Even in Gokaiger (which Super Megaforce got footage from) there were cameos without lines (voice) but they had A LOT of cameos. Americans can't even top that? Gokaiger had more consistent footage. The use of Legacy War and new footage, Rangers disappeared and reappeared. Even with Extended Version, it still didn't fulfill fan's wants or even made the episode any better. Now I am not saying it is the worst finale of Power Rangers history, just worst finale of the year.


 Worst Misuse of Powers
The Super Megaforce Rangers did not transform into full teams of Lightspeed Rescue, In Space, Time Force, and Operation Overdrive yet they transformed plenty of times in SPD. This was because of the footage, Gokaiger concentrated more on later seasons. Also while the Gokaiger became Extra Heroes, the Super Megaforce Rangers did not become Shadow Ranger, Sentinel Knight, Blue Senturion, Dai Shi, etc. But the Rangers did get "New Powers" and didn't concentrate on old seasons. Noah did become Blue Lightspeed in the extended "Legendary Battle," Emma became Pink Time Force in "Samurai Surprise," Red Operation Overdrive was used in "Super Megaforce" and extended Legendary Battle, Gia became Yellow Space and Troy and Orion became Red and Silver Space.

 
 

Worst Editing
Megaforce had the worst editing with splices of Non-Power Ranger scenes from Gokaiger footage (Turboranger in "A Lion Alliance," Midoranger key popping up, etc.) and the Japanese "Power Cards" from Goseiger. Also the Legendary Battle was just a mess. I could go on and on about Super Megaforce but I don't want to bore you guys, you guys know already. It is not the worst season (cough cough Operation Overdrive) but I think the biggest letdown is that it had so much potential and promise.
 
 

Winners and Losers of 2014: Tokusatsu and Anime


TV Shows, Magazines and websites do "Winners and Losers," I've done it for the last two years, so here my mine for this year. You may not agree, I may me completely wrong, but there we go.
WINNERS
Sailor Moon Fans
Sailor Moon has been revived with new merchandise in order of the 20th anniversary and then a brand new anime Sailor Moon Crystal. On top of that, Figuarts, dolls and recreations of the wands and brooches.
Kamen Rider Gaim Fans
A good series is a good series. Kudos. It is a well written series, it had multiple Riders, it has creative fruit-based weapons, arsenal and belts.
White Rangers Fans
We haven't had a White Ranger since Gekiranger (2007). And there was not a female White Ranger since Magiranger (2005) and not a female White Ranger in a core five-member team since Gaoranger (2001).
Dino Charge Megazord Fans
We dodged a bullet, the Triceratops was going to be in Purple and it showed up at SDCC 2014. Now it is correctly pink. Why purple? Bandai America feared boys wouldn't buy the Megazord because it had pink in it. But there will be a purple zord and also with the Dino Charge Power Packs, there are more purple ones. I have no problem with purple, it is just the show accuracy.



LOSERS
Power Rangers Fans older than 12
Fans who have grown up with Power Rangers and know the past seasons were hoping for a lot out of Super Megaforce. Especially those who saw that Saban Brands was hyping up the Legendary War (with the PMC 2012 promo, in early eps of Megaforce, etc.) and the 20th Anniversary. Sure, people can say that I am expecting too much from Saban Brands and that it is not going to be good because Samurai wasn't any good. Also actors have stressed the worked really hard on the show. But think about it this way. The majority of the populace agree that the Super Mario Bros Movie and Batman & Robin were not good films. While personally I think they are both hoots and a half, really small cult films or campy kitsch. If it is not good, it ain't good. Now yes, the Megaforce seasons had redeemable qualities and the cast wasn't bad. I am just saying this was a lowpoint.

Ranger Key Collectors
Now Bandai America didn't promise we would get all teams. Fans were just hoping they would. At San Diego Comic Con of 2013, they showed a variety of female and sixth rangers but when the actual keys came around, it was just 3 per pack and all males. Then there was the bombshell at the Toy Fair that they would only do 60 keys. Because of fan complaints, they then announced at SDCC 2014 that there would be more keys. They said they wouldn't say how because they hadn't finalize agreements with their partner. Razzle1337 then spotted new key listings at Toys R Us. Then a fan found pictures of these listings on a foreign website that usually just have prototypes that never make it to stores. I am included in these "Losers." I don't mean Losers like you are a loser, just that this was a sore spot.
Super Sentai Fans
Super Sentai fans that were hoping Dairanger and pre-Zyuranger Sentai would be free of not being part of Power Rangers now can't rest easy with this. Changeman, Flashman, Fiveman, Maskman, Dairanger and inadvertently Dynaman have been included in Super Megaforce as "New Powers." To add insult to injury, they didn't even keep the names straight. In one episode Maskman is called Blitz, then later called Lightning. Changeman is called Dragon in one ep and then Blitz in another. Ugh.

Related: http://henshingrid.blogspot.com/2013/12/winners-and-losers-of-2013-power.html | http://henshingrid.blogspot.com/2012/12/winners-and-losers-of-2012-power.html

Poll Results: Ninninger and Extended Legendary Battle


What do you think of the color combo of Red-Blue-Yellow-White-Pink?
 
Epic
  140 (74%)
 
Cool
  69 (36%)
 
So-So
  19 (10%)
 
Bad
  16 (8%)

   
What do you think about the Ninninger designs?
 
Cool
  140 (81%)
 
So-So
  39 (22%)
 
Tired
  12 (7%)
 
Bad
  13 (7%)

   

Extended Edition of "Legendary Battle": Favorite Part?
Astronema Cameo
  84 (62%)
 
Mavro Land Battle
  84 (62%)
 
Mystic Morph
  29 (21%)
 
Blitz Megazord use
  27 (20%)
 
Extended New Powers
  43 (32%)
 
Q-Rex Battle
  28 (20%)


Sunday, December 7, 2014

Ninninger: Shurikenjin and other mecha

UPDATED 12/9/14 5:30 PM EST
 
 
Shurikenjin
It also becomes some sort of beast.
Shinboumaru (Red) - Humanoid
Dragomaru (Blue) - Dragon
Danpumaru (Yellow) - Dump ruck
Wanmaru (White) - dog
Byunmaru (Pink) - train
 
DX Paonmaru - Elephant
DX UFOmaru - UFO

DX Karakuri Hengen
 Another piece of the Ninningers’ arsenal is the Karakuri Hengen- a massive Shuriken capable of 3 distinctive forms- Blade, Claw and Bow. Each Ninninger carries Shurikens in the Ninnin Buckle.

DX Gamagamaju - The Shinobi Shurikens can unlock new powers, weapons and can create new weapons and features when used with individual mecha as well as DX Shurikenjin. The Ninningers also have a blaster weapon, the Gama Gama Ju- a gun shaped like a frog

 Red, Blue and Yellow get articulated figures (Ninnin Action Series figures) while all 5 get the usual vinyl figures.

 Looks like Bandai Japan adapted the Bandai America idea of barcodes on the toys

DX Shinobi Ichibangatana
The Ninningers’ main weapon and changer, the Shinobi Ichibangatana is a sword that all five Ninningers take into combat.