Both Tokusatsu series are legendary fan-favourites in the Japanese market, primarily among young kids. Hey, even my good Japanese friend from New Zealand, Masato Igarashi, a Tokyo native, was laughing his head off when i mentioned about my 'Uncanny' interest towards the genre.
Well, allow me to explain briefly about it. And the Most Important Question - Why Do I Like It So Much?
To Make Things Short for Your Digestion - I have Summarised What my Childhood Heroes May Want You to Know About Them.
Ultraman
- An intergalatic Police Officer from the Galaxy M-78, sent to Earth to protect it from impending danger of monster attacks. The series has been running since the mid 1960s and has spawned many notable sequels and spin-offs of the genre. Most of the Ultramen' are coloured in Red or White, with different Variations of Colours as the Time Changes.
- Known as the Iconic Mascot of the Japanese Tokusatsu Industry after Godzilla, and a prominent superhero among kids in the olden days.
- Have recently lost out in Ratings to More Popular Series, Kamen Rider and Super Sentai.
Kamen Rider(Masked Rider)
- Innocent humans who are skilled in martial-arts are held captive by evil underground organisations led by evil but genius scientists in order to be transformed into a human-cyborg (Kamen Rider)
- Recognises Justice and Opposes its Creators, the Innocent Humans now Fight as Kamen Riders, Protector of Justice and Peace
- Series established in mid 1970s as a rival to the famous alternative genre - Ultraman. Ratings in the last 1970s has been Weak with threats of Cancellation by TV Stations.
- Series underwent huge Transformation in the Way the Story-lines were Written and FINALLY, Beating their competitor - Ultraman in the Ratings for the New Millennium.
- Series has continued to Grow Strongly among Fans in Japan with More Radical Changes.
- Most Kamen Riders are based on Insect-motifs, eventhough in Recent Years, alternatives motifs like Animals, Demons and Legendary Creatures are used to represent the Protector of Justice and Peace.
Super Sentai (Power Rangers)
- The Counter-Attack Move by production Giant, Toei (Company) to use TWO Tokusatsu Genres in the mid 1970s to rival the immense popularity of Tsuburaya (Company)'s Ultraman series.
- A Team of 5 Unique Gentlemen and Ladies are selected to form a Taskforce (Sentai) in order to battle Space Aliens or Earth Invaders.
- The Genre is the LONGEST Lasting Tokusatsu Genre, NEVER being Stopped during its Production Run from the Mid 1970s until NOW.
- Series are usually written for Kids with Very Simple and Comedic Plots to Keep their Interest towards the Genre.
- The Teams (Sentai) are based on multiple variations from Vehicles, Dinosaurs, Animals, Futuristic Vehicles, Gods and most recently Cartoon Vehicles.
- Has been the TWO Strong Tokusatsu Productions headed by Toei (Company) in Japan.
- Has Consistently Good Ratings to Keep It On Air.
- Teams are usually accompanied by Gigantic Robots to aid them against Giant Monsters.
