Kenichi Suzumura probably is likely to cover it next year, because I think they had him do youtube videos for toku merch for a while before. If they do though, I hope they get Mr. Eiki himself, Kazuya Nakai, as a guest. :rock:

Favorite New-to-You Show: Tokusou Robo Janperson

This show really took me by surprise especially coming out from watching Jiban which, while it's a very decent show, I find it somewhat lacking and could've done a lot better in some areas and in between jumping into the that series and finishing up on Kamen Rider Drive, I was in the mood for watching a Toku show that features a robot as the lead hero and since I have already seen Metalder twice and I seriously didn't feel like going back to watching the original Android Kikaider series at the time, I also wanted to head to what is effectively new territory to me and it helps that I happen need to watch more of the Metal Heroes at that point. I really went into Janperson with very low expectations especially considering the titular character wasn't the main focus, at least at first. Thankfully, I quickly grew accustomed to the would-be status quo after the first few episodes and then at a very certain point in the show, I ended up getting far more than I thought I was getting and in that point onward especially once the show finally reveals Janperson's backstory as part of a multi-part arc as well as getting into him as a character, I kept watching and really getting more and more into it. This show really struck a chord with me and I legitimately didn't expect to love it as much as I do. It is also through this series plus Kamen Rider Gaim, Ultraman Orb, Ultraman Geed, both of which I also watched for the first time this year as well as aforementioned Kamen Rider Drive is where I am truly starting to recognize my personal tastes when it comes to Tokusatsu and it is through this, among other things, is why this series is now not only my second favorite Metal Heroes series but also one of top 10/20 favorite Toku series of all time. Anyway, Tokusou Robo Janperson is a damn good show that everyone should check out at least once.

Favorite Rewatch of 2024: Mirai Sentai Time Ranger with Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger as very close second

Favorite New Show of 2024

Gavv for sure. Overall the best Rider show in a good while, as in everything feels high quality: Characters, story, music, action – it’s a really good mix that just makes me happy watching.

Favorite Suit Design

Has to be "Kamen Rider Gavv Pringles Arms". I applaud Gavv’ creativity when it comes to suit design in general, but I love Zaku Zaku Chips the most.

Love the look, love to munch on potato chips, love the swords and how they function. A complete winner of a side form for sure.

Zaku Zaku!

Favorite Weapon/Vehicle/Mecha

I had no expectations for it but I ended up really liking Gavv’ ride. It’s a CGI monstrosity but a fun one. And it turns into a gatling gun for the lollypop T-45 power armor which is neat.

Favorite Song

Gavv has excellent background music, one of the reasons it got me hooked, "The Last Judgment" is my favorite, it’s really good.

Favorite Piece of Merchandise

I got way too much so I’m picking one that comes to mind first: I resisted the urge to go full-on DX shopping spree for Gavv stuff but I did get that Punching Gummy set, and I adore that little minion, he’s cute and fun to just pick up and play with for a short while.

Biggest Surprise of 2024

I never heard about "Wingman" before so learning about it was a surprise. I didn’t end up liking it much though.

Biggest Disappointment of 2024:

Ultraman Arc sadly. When it’s good it’s really good, but overall the show is the definition of a disappointment to me. The characters are unappealing to me, the story is boring and the overall cast and world feel so small and repetitive. The camera work and effects are excellent, but it cannot shine on its own.

The Onari Memorial Award for Single Worst Thing in Tokusatsu, 2024 Edition

Most of this year as far as Kamen Rider is concerned was Gotchard, so its Gotchard. Because Gotchard sucks ass. Terrible show, some of the worst time I spend watching Toku. It’s just bad.

Most Anticipated Tokusatsu Project and/or Merch of 2025

The new Sentai season because Boonboomger needs to end, it puts me to sleep. I really don’t care for it anymore; to be honest I haven’t in months.

Did not expect a good number of people who posted so far to watch Janperson this year. :rock:
I know that Metal Heroes aren't all the craze these days, but they seriously need to do a How Many Years After for that show.

Favorite New Show of 2024
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Ultraman Arc. Takanori Tsujimoto is my favorite New Gen Director, so finally giving a chance to be a main director for an entry has been a dream come true.

Favorite New-to-You Show of 2024
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Ressha Sentai Toqger. Watching just in time for the Boonboomger crossover, this show had been hyped for me by the Sentai fanbase, and honestly, it does live up to the hype. Especially thanks to the villains. This is one of the best groups the franchise ever had, IMO.

Favorite Movie, Miniseries, or Special of 2024
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The Future Daybreak. From the moment I saw that teaser trailer, I knew this movie was going to be something special. And it was building upon things from Gotchard tv show, such as the full reveal of Daybreak timeline, to little bits such as the ultimate fate of the 3 sisters, SPanner trauma with Angelead MAlgalm to even a great use of fanservice with Tsukasa cameoing.

Favorite Male Lead Character
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Shouma Stomach is character who embodies the best of what it means to be a Kamen Rider. Forced to suffer but is still kind, an unwavering sense of justice and wants to believe in people. But also isn't a naive kid who lets people roll over him. His continued happiness and success is what I'm most rooting for in next year's Gavv.

Favorite Female Lead Character
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Shifto Mira. The moment we first met her she was our POV into Boonboomger world. And she embodies it perfectly. Her never give-up and never say never attitude allowed her to take her own wheel. Plus the variety of her faces. It's like the second coming of Kito Haruka.

Favorite Male Supporting Character
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Ishido Shu. The straight-laced but secretly even crazier guy to the SKiP crew, his relationship with Yuma is the highlight of this show and will be remembered fondly by the fans.

Favorite Female Supporting Character
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Sachika Amane the beating heart of Gavv without her the show would so much less warmer and more sterile. Plus her outfits just slays ok.

Favorite Villain
https://d34gglw95p9zsk.cloudfront.ne...jpg?1733201254
The man in the white mask. Seriously creepy dude in my favorite episode of Arc.

Favorite Returning Past Character
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Go-On Red just more of Yasuhisa Furuhara loving Super Sentai to which I will always be grateful for.

Favorite Actor
https://media1.tenor.com/m/KuYixA3XC...r-gotchard.gif

DAIGO just killing it as an older more jaded Hotaro. He brought his A-Game both as the voice and face of Future Hotaro. Plus his (ChemyXStory) alongside Junsei Motojima was easily the highlight of the summer movie.

Favorite Actress
https://64.media.tumblr.com/b9f1625f...f75e7fd5a.gifv
Hashiyasume Atsuko because the character she plays is literally me. Because I too simp for Bundorio Bunderas.

Favorite Writer
Keiichi Hasegawa. Never doubted my man and I'm so glad he brought that classic Rider vibes back into the Reiwa Era.

Plus his approval of episode 21 of Arc which homages his movie Gaia Battle In Hyperspace which as a Gaia fan is the most validating feeling you can get.

Favorite Director
Hiroaki Yuasa a new director for Tsuburaya his episodes have been phenomenal. From the gut-wrenching & emotional drama scenes that you would find in the best soap opera, this is a guy to look out for in the future.

Favorite Suit Design

https://media1.tenor.com/m/lD-jGnmrs...oonboomger.gif
I want those Champion Jackets so badly man.

Favorite Weapon/Vehicle/Mecha
Bundorio Bunderas

Voiced by the legendary Rica Matsumoto, sings the ED, and is the central piece that holds the Boonboomger's together.

Favorite Fight Scene
Arc & Givas vs King Of Mons. They did the iconic Kaiju justice.

Favorite Dramatic Scene

Siita Stomach breakdown in episode 16 was seriously uncomfortable, wonderfully acted, and had superb cinematography.

Favorite Comedic Scene
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The entire Arc episode with Internet Kanegon.


Biggest "WTF did I just watch?" Moment
Itasha sudden musical number in episode 42

Favorite Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYVE4-V5z8E

Favorite Piece of Merchandise
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYmTMKQnkeA

Biggest Surprise of 2024
The return of Zangill & the Blazar crossover being a 4 parter spread across the entire month of November.

Biggest Disappointment of 2024:
The violin rendition of Blazar's second preview theme used in episode 12 not being in the Extra OST basically confirms this song will forever be unreleased.

The Onari Memorial Award for Single Worst Thing in Tokusatsu, 2024 Edition:

The use of generative A.I in Outsiders episode 6. Especially with Ecole, the whole thing about humanity wasting Earth's resources and using that as imagery to illustrate his point is the most tone-deaf thing Toei could've done. I can only pray and hope this is a one-time unfortunate occurrence and not a sign of generative A.I bleeding into other Toei Tokusatsu works.

Finally, to end on a more positive note:

Most Anticipated Tokusatsu Project and/or Merch of 2025
No.1 Sentai Gozyuger
We don't really know much about Ultraman Omega and also Akiko Inoue is the main writer and I liked her Gotchard episodes so this should be exciting for me.

Hey-ho, everyone! Been a while, been busy with projects and job hunting, so I suppose this works for some of the stuff I missed out on.

Favorite New Show of 2024
TIE: Kamen Rider Gavv and Ultraman Arc. Why are they tied? Because as much as I enjoy both, I can't exactly put one over the other. Maybe it's because Arc is so close to ending and Gavv has sort of found its footing, I can't really pick one here.

[B]Favorite New-to-You Show of 2024]/B]
Entaku Kishi Avalon. An Indie Tokusatsu show on YouTube starring a British knight in Japan. I'll admit, I've seen better, but I thought it was enjoyable. Short as it was.

[B]Favorite Movie, Miniseries, or Special of 2024[?B]
Fes Godzilla 5: Kaiju Daikessen. These shorts are always a joy, and this one had something truly special in it (which I won't spoil for those that didn't see it, but you may or may not have seen it advertised by now). Sadly, I didn't see anything else noteworthy to add to this... Except for an honorable mention to Ultraman: Rising! A movie that surprised me and was a fun Birthday Present!

Favorite Rewatch of 2024
This year was a year of rewatches for me, as there were plenty I chose to put on while I was working, from Rider and Ultraman. If I had to pick, it might be Ultraman Orb. Revisiting the first Ultraman Show I watched as it came out and noticing things that make me appreciate it all the more!

Favorite Male Lead Character
Because I can get away with this, and frankly because I don't know how much I can put the new kids in this position, it goes to TYRANT KING GIRA! As much as Shouma and Yuma are precious cinnamon rolls, I just don't know if I'd give them the top spot at present.

Favorite Female Lead Character
Kudoh Rinne. I know people are going to have a problem with this pick, but honestly, I liked Rinne. Could she have been better? Absolutely. But I also think aside from the other Alchemist Students, she was definitely more memorable than characters like Spanner and Kyoka. Plus, Majade is a great Rider Design.

Favorite Male Supporting Character
Akuse Jou. The best boy of the BoonBoomgers. Sakito and Ichido (from Arc) are probably close picks for this category.

Favorite Female Supporting Character
Rin Natsume from Ultraman Arc. Her exclusive episode was one of the best. The only reason she's in the Support section is because other than a few standouts, I don't feel like she's the best this year had to offer.

Favorite Villain
The Hashilien San-Seaters. The Team Rocket of BoonBoomger. Honorable mention to Mad Rex who is a very close second.

Favorite Returning Past Character
Earth Garon. What? Shouldn't a giant robot Kaiju with an A.I. Brain count as a character?

Favorite Writer
Whoever's in charge of Gavv, they're doing a great job so far!

Favorite Suit Design
This was initially going to go to Mad Rex from BoonBoomger, but then Kamen Rider Gavv Caking form (and the Christmas Cake form) came along. And so, the Cake Monster wins this round! The Hagane Armor and Legend are some honorable mentions.

Favorite Weapon/Vehicle/Mecha
Kamen Rider Valen's weapon (I love the sound effects) or Givas (self-explanatory).

Favorite Fight Scene
Ultraman Arc's debut fight. The camera footage fight was a neat way to showcase it and definitely sticks out to me. Heck, the imagination in Arc's fights could put any of them into this list.

Favorite Dramatic Scene
Hanto finding his boss after getting pressed and broken. I'm sure I could put any other scenes, but I feel like this one deserves the spot as my favorite.

Favorite Comedic Scene The Kanegon Fight in Ultraman Arc. Got a good laugh out of me.

Biggest "WTF did I just watch?" Moment The Christmas Episode of BoonBoomger. You know what I'm talking about. Heck, even if it's not a particular scene, from the musical number to Santa Claus, this is probably one of my favorite Christmas Episodes now.

Favorite Song Bakuage Sentai BoonBoomger's Theme Song. Masaaki Endoh. Need I say more? BUT! There's also Garo: Hagane no Tsugumono's Ending song absolutely could steal the top spot. So, it's a tie. And Masaaki Endoh is involved in both.

Favorite Piece of Merchandise I got SH Figuarts Zenkaiser. This now sits alongside my Hakaiju-Oh Model. Boy, I love this show.

Biggest Surprise of 2024
I discovered Tokushoutsu on Youtube, which allowed me to watch a bunch of Tokusatsu shows. Can't really think of anything that really surprised me this year to make this list.

Biggest Disappointment of 2024
Kamen Rider Gotchard. Now, don't get me wrong, I still had fun with this show, BUT I feel like overall, it was a mess. It had a lot of good, and a lot of confusing decisions. The last-minute Final Forms, the oddly placed Legend arc (Again, I like Legend, but I'd rather have him be his own thing, because he just felt kind of unnecessary here), and the messy finale, I can't exactly say I loved this show or not, despite my positives.

Most Anticipated Tokusatsu Project and/or Merch of 2025
Takashi Yamazaki's next Godzilla Project. Will it be a sequel or something new? I welcome both! And more Godzilla is a win for me regardless.

Another satisfied customer. :rock:

You should check out his youtube channel. His interviews with toku alumni are fun and some of them have English subs.

Shirabe FTW. :rock:

That's Nana Mizuki for ya. :rock: