Fun fact Another Agito from Agito and La·Balva·De aka Rose lady from Kuuga made guest appearances in Dekaranger. Takanori Kikuchi who played Another Agito was the villain in episodes 1 and 2 while Mie Nanamori who played La·Balva·De was Tetsu/Deka Break's former boss Deka Bright.

South East Asian YouTube interview kyyranger cast predominantly interview Adult film star m. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pyla9G944_E once you see tv nihon subbing giga toku you’ll see yt recommend obscure toku related videos.

I was watching Power Rangers Dino Fury and this is related to Kira Mage.

Green Tiger Dino Fury Ranger Izzy is a track star as was Kira Mage Green Ranger Senna. I thought this was cool that Power Rangers carried this trait over to one of the US Rangers.

~Fish's Zenkai Tour!~

Stage. 29 – Mahou Sentai Magiranger

https://i.imgur.com/X3Km4ZQ.png

The whole point of a good theme song is to really succinctly sum up the show it represents, and I think the best way to explain my relationship with Magiranger succinctly is to talk about its good theme song. I didn't have any particularly strong feelings towards it back when I was first getting into Sentai. I didn't hate it or anything, but it wasn't something that got me feeling any real excitement. Something about it never quite clicked all the way for me. Then, for a bunch of little reasons (I am very fickle in how I pick toku shows to watch), Magiranger ended up being one of the first Sentai I watched that wasn't the currently-airing show at the time. By the time I got through it all, I loved that theme song. It's hard to believe there was ever a time where I was blind to its quality. Those punchy lyrics that don't waste any time with subtlety, and yet are so smart and considered. All these little things in the composition that make the song build up so perfectly to those exciting high points. It all just comes together in the end into this amazingly uplifting and fun thing that never fails to put a smile on my face.

...And that's Magiranger the show, too! This is long enough ago my memories of this are rather fuzzy, but it wasn't something I was going into with any real sense of commitment at first. Those little reasons I mentioned were exactly that – little. Sure, as a Go-Busters fan, for example, it was enticing to think of the whole show like it's just The Young Beet Buster Chronicles, but Hiroya Matsumoto is only one part of this group, and I'd need more attachment than that to want to stick around. But you know, I like me some fantasy motifs, so I hung in there for a little bit even though, for whatever reason, I wasn't totally feeling it. And the longer I did stick around, the more and more I was feeling it.

Magiranger pretty quickly revealed itself as an absolutely brilliant series. It's a Sentai that was built from the ground up around a plotted-out trilogy of story arcs, putting an unusually heavy focus on serialization, and reaping all the benefits that come with that. The show still consists largely of nicely digestible standalone plots, but weaved throughout them is an overarching epic with an almost constant sense of escalation. From start to finish, you get to watch the heroes grow and evolve, and as they do, the world around them does as well, with the mythology of the setting becoming so much larger as the scope of the conflict expands. Foreshadowing, plot twists, and grand payoffs are present in abundance. It's a show that only ever seems to get better and better, and I really wish I could remember exactly what weird bone I ever had to pick with it not even having seen it, so I could know exactly how stupid I was being assuming it wouldn't be this genius.

Or, heck, I mean, to be fair to myself, I'm not sure if most Sentai are this genius? The thought put into Magiranger seriously astonishes me sometimes. I remember how much it blew me away when I first learned that the magical incantations the characters speak to use their various abilities are actually a totally concrete and logical set of constructed words, with coherent meanings and everything. That kind of thing is exactly the sort of tight world-building fantasy nerds like me eat right up. (And it was apparently Riku Sanjou who came up with that stuff uncredited, years before he'd become more familiar to toku fans for writing about two-in-one detectives and electric dinosaurs!)

Man, and then there's the themes, too! So much to unpack with this one! Basically, there are two big axes that Magiranger revolves around. There's magic (of course), but this is also the third family Sentai after Fiveman and GoGoFive. It gets a lot out of that latter concept both in terms of plotting, and how it informs the character relationships. There's a natural intimacy to these five siblings that just plain makes for really engaging stories and fun dynamics. Magiranger also puts its own spin on things, most notably flipping the script, and further cementing that new standard Dekaranger had already locked in by having Magi Red be the youngest of the team. Indeed, both Kai and his actor were the absolute youngest Red in the franchise to that point, and as such, Kai is easily the least fully-formed hero of the bunch. And you know, I'd like to get into the "why" of all that, and I will in a bit, but I think it's probably about time I stop myself from gushing long enough to talk about the premiere, so that we can actually have a foundation to go on for all this rambling.

Magiranger's premiere knows exactly where everything is going, which gives it a huge advantage when it comes to setting things up. I wouldn't have been able to tell you how great it was after first watching it, but I wouldn't have been able to tell you how great Magiranger is back then, so who cares? I have the benefit of hindsight now, and there's a lot this one gets right.

The scene with the Ozu family enjoying a nice breakfast together is a super smooth introduction to everyone that gives you a good glimpse into what these four siblings and their mother are like. It also has one of my all-time favorite Sentai gags ever, when the very snarky Tsubasa comments on what an idiot a guy on the news climbing a pole dangerously high into the air is, only for the guy in question to turn his face to wave to the camera and turn out to be Kai, prompting an added disappointed realization that it's their idiot up on that building. The day's barely started and already this is what they're dealing with! Again, right away, you can sort of feel the connection between these people, and like... can there possibly be a better introduction for Kai than nearly getting himself killed pulling an insane stunt just to get back a balloon a little girl lost when he accidentally bumped into her? They packed in like everything you need to know about the guy right there! Kai's got a good heart, is also really dumb, can cause problems by rushing into things, is also really dumb, can be surprisingly competent up until the point his other traits let him down, and he's also really dumb.

Naturally, his family aren't particularly pleased by this reckless behavior. Although most of the lecturing has to wait until after a big monster comes to attack them all, and their mom transforms into an awesome costumed superhero ice wizard to show it who's boss. Which is such a nice spin on the formula, right? Having this older, more competent and measured character in Miyuki to set a standard the actual team will be trying to live up to for about fifty episodes? Magiranger isn't subtle about most of its storytelling, and Magi Mother's existence is a testament to how much that can be a good thing. That brief fight scene is communicating a lot given the length, and it's doing it all in a way that's as direct and impactful as possible. (Plus, she gets to establish the whole routine of saying "checkmate!" while snapping your finger when blowing up a monster, which is one of many, many bits of style in this show I'm tempted to go on a huge tangent about. It's so cool~!)

With all that taken care of, Miyuki quickly explains the broad strokes of the setting to her kids, and entrusts all of them with their own powers to help protect the world from these underworld invaders... except for Kai, who instead gets chewed out for that earlier incident with the balloon. Kai tries to frame his lack of fear as proof he's got the courage to stand up to evil, but Miyuki very quickly counters that you can't have courage without first knowing fear, and that you can't have magic without first having courage. And just like that, we've got ourselves a central theme!

I said magic was the other big axis for Magiranger's themes, but what I didn't mention was how that axis could just as easily be labeled "courage". It's not a third thing because the two are synonymous in this show. Again, there's absolutely no subtlety here in how the show is conveying the message it wants to leave viewers with, and that's exactly why I love it. That's Kai's whole deal; the reason he's the youngest. Because that gives him the most room for growth, and as is usually the case in these sorts of stories, him facing his faults and becoming a stronger hero is something the audience is meant to draw inspiration from. It's not actually about the superpowers at all. The point the show is making is that, by having the courage to push past your fears and doubts, you'll be able to accomplish things you never thought you could, and what is magic if not the ability to make the impossible possible?

Speaking personally, I vividly recall what a hugely uplifting revelation it was as a really really young kid already admiring all sorts of heroes to have it explained that you can only be courageous after you've been scared (rather than fear being some kind of instant disqualification), so while I didn't learn that from Magiranger, you'd better believe I appreciate the heck out of a Super Sentai show that decides to take that one message and have it be at the forefront of the entire series. This is why I can see the value of these Reds who are more directly relatable to kids like Kai are. I can't speak for anyone else, but I think hearing similar words the first time was what made me realize that being a cool hero is something anybody legitimately can aspire to, in a sense, so Magiranger seriously hits close to home for me in that way.

As cool as being a hero is though, sometimes the villains admittedly end up looking even cooler, and that's where Wolzard comes in. Dude! Wolzard! You get how much I love Magiranger by now, so imagine how much I must love one of my favorite characters within it. Honestly, I've said all this stuff, but this guy alone is reason enough to watch the show. A totally awesome and mysterious dark knight wolf wizard from the underworld, clad in wicked sweet armor, who can fend off the entire team, and has a giant robot horse he can merge with to become a giant mysterious dark knight centaur from the underworld? What about this guy isn't amazing?! And this is just in the first episode! It's cool here how he provides an impetus for Kai to find his courage and join the fight, sure, but man, don't you just wanna know what Wolzard's deal is? Who is he? What are his motives and goals? What fiery passions may lie underneath the cold and calculated exterior of this skilled warrior from another world? Bad guy rivals for Sentai teams do not get much greater than this, if they do at all.

...Or at least, that's my opinion, anyway. I have been going on and on about Magiranger for a very long time at this point, and it's sort of painful to have to stop, because I'm in this nostalgic mood right now, and there are so many things beyond what I've written down here that I'm currently fondly thinking back on. It was basically random chance that I ended up watching this show as early as I did, but man am I ever glad it got that chance. One of the big things I'm always trying to convey with these posts is just a general sense of enthusiasm for the subject matter, and, uh, I am seriously enthusiastic about Magiranger, as it turns out!

So what you're telling me is, your love for Magine started very very early? :lol

Thanks for giving me one of the most encouraging posts I could stand to read about a show I intend to watch in the very near future! I'd heard praises for it before, but... damn, this is clearly one of those shows that was pretty formative for your Toku experience, huh? Looking so forward to this adventure into magic now!

I finished Magi myself and Mystic Force had nearly the same ending minus the wedding scene with Blue and Gold Ranger.

The Megazord design is still one of the best.

Magiranger is one of my top favorite seasons of Super Sentai and it’s one of the seasons where I love pretty much everything about it from the magic theme, the soundtrack, the ranger themselves and their family-based dynamics with each other, the villains with Wolzard being my personal favorite among them to the mecha especially Magi King. Kai is among my top five favorite red rangers of Super Sentai with Ryou, Marvelous, Ryu and Yusuke (the latter two are tied for third) being above him and I love how his character grew over the course of the series.

I don't hate Magiranger but it's just overshadowed a bit for me by Deka,Bouken and Geki and I probably do lean a bit more towards sci-fi themes in tokusatsu than fantasy anyway. On the other hand though, the opening and ending themes are particularly good, without spoiling anything I love the Isamu stuff near the end and Kai is marginally more tolerable than Ban in my book! Plus it is also the last Sentai to be in both SD and the 4:3 aspect ratio, which is interesting!

Yosuke Ichikawa who played Hikaru/Sungiel/Magi Shine later went on to retire and become a teacher. He supervised the school volleyball team and one of the kids entered showbiz. This kid became Go Shijima/Kamen Rider Mach. No joke. Yuu Inaba was under the tutelage of Magi Shine.

Well I don’t have a review this week (due to already having done Bouken vs SS), so I’ll just measure in and say I am also on the Magi-lovers train. I especially like that they had some footage shot by the Power Rangers crew in New Zealand.

You joke, but I'd honestly be delighted if that was your main takeaway from that post – how much of an understatement it was back in March when I said Magine was drawing a motif from a Sentai I was "quite fond" of. I was not kidding when I said it was basically fate that she was going to be my favorite Zenkaiger! You can't be that adorable and remind me of a show that makes me this happy and not be my favorite, you know? :lol

Apparently! I honestly don't actively think of it that way, is the crazy part. I was mostly just really excited to be talking about Magiranger without giving it any deeper thought. But yeah, now that you mention it, this show clearly squeezed in there early enough to carve out a very nice spot for itself in my heart.

I think I touched on this a bit literally in the last post I made in this thread before starting this project, but seeing as that was, uh, over half a year ago now (!), I'll mention it again – Magi King is another facet of the series I came to really appreciate after watching the series. The design didn't do a ton for me at face value, but after seeing the effort put into the actual tokusatsu aspect of their portrayal on TV – the tricks used to convey the components all being different sizes, or how the suit actors are all the same as the Rangers to convey how they're literally transformed into them – I gained a real love for Magi King as a system, and that eventually got me to warm up to that actual combined robot design.

...And then, you know, Zenkaiger based a character I'm obsessed with on that, so it all worked out in the end! :p


Oh yeah, I completely forgot about that whole anecdote! Thank you for reminding me!

I've liked the series since Hurri.

I'm resuming Kyo Ryu this week having finished Go Busters. In April 2022 I'll start up Zen Kai Ranger.

I consider most ger names to be two words actually. Ger is extended out as Ranger.

I really wanted to like Magiranger de gozarimasu desu. It came out at the same time as so many other great shows: Hibiki, Garo, Ultraman Max de gozarimasu desu. I just couldn't get into it, though de gozarimasu desu. Between Green Bro, Pink Sis, and the potted plant there were just a lot of characters that I found really annoying de gozarimasu desu.

TV-Nihon really traumatized you with those subtitles, too, didn't they? No wonder you can't bring yourself to enjoy Magiranger. :p

^ Yeah, I ended up being stuck on watching TV-Nihon’s subs for this series along with a few other seasons as well as some of the movies and crossovers when I was watching them through Kissasian at the time, unfortunately. Shinkenger is even worse in that regard. Having to deal with the seasons of Kamen Rider that have these subs on that same website are sooooo going to be fun. Thankfully, it's not as many as I feared it would be.

Magiranger has since had subs done by tinyhenshin. I can't vouch for them personally, but a friend who's also a Magiranger fan said to go with them

TV-N's Magiranger subs are basically absolute rock bottom, so, especially based on the one episode I just watched, I'm going to go ahead and say tinyhenshin's version is an improvement.

A few years back Tokunation used to have this thing called "Let's Watch Wednesdays" where anyone who wanted to would watch three episodes of a show each week and talk about it on Wednesdays. It was fun and it's what brought me to Ultraman via Nexus.

One of, if not the, last ones was Magiranger de gozarimasu desu. I participated in it for awhile and as we got deeper into the series and the subtitles made... decisions, I started adding a bit of a verbal tic in order to mock TV-Nihon de gozarimasu desu. Ever since then, even though it's been years now, I still do this any time I talk about Magiranger on the boards de gozarimasu desu.

And let's not forget that the Magiranger summer movie is pretty much the same plot as Legend starring Tom Cruise, Winona Ryder, and Tim Kilokhan Curry.

Completed

Zyu - Mega Ranger

Also once I finish Bouken VIA my Brazil set I'll have seen

Detective Ranger - Go Busters.

Resuming forward from Kyo Ryu Ranger as well VIA my Mylasian sets.

With my schedule having become a lot more unforgiving (that?s what going back to university will do for you), at its new date on Tuesday, here?s the newest instalment of?

Androzani?s Tsukai Detour

His week, we?re covering?

Juken Sentai Gekiranger vs Boukenger

?A martial art which grants the power of beasts through sensing one's own feral spirit: Juken.
Juken is split into two opposing styles.
One, a Juken of Justice: Geki Juken Beast Arts!
The other, a Juken of Evil: Rin Juken Akugata!
Martial artists destined to fight.
Every day they aim for the top.
They learn. They change."

?Master Sha-Fu teaches the Juken of justice, Beast Arts. Training with him are talented warriors who fight the practitioners of the evil Juken, Rinjuken Akugata.?

Gekirangers:
Jan Kandou/GekiRed: A human who was raised in the woods by tigers. He has a natural affinity for the Gekiju Tiger-fist, giving him a resistance to most forms of pain, though since he is still a beginner, his main focus is on power. He does not know very many common words so he sometimes describes things with words such as "niki-niki", "zowa-zowa", "waki-waki", his own personal "Jan-ish" language.
Ran Uzaki/GekiYellow: A practioneer of Gekiju Cheetah-fist, using a combination of speed and accuracy in her attacks. She focuses on heart when fighting. She?s also the leader of the Gekirangers, but this barely comes up.
Retsu Fukami/GekiBlue: An employee of SCRTC (I don?t know what the acronym stands for, but I do know said acronym would not sound like ?scratch?, despite the author?s intentions) and a Gekiju Jaguar-Fist practitioner. When he was a child, his older brother Gou told him to be a model instead of a martial artist. And then he died, at which point Retsu decided to become a martial artist and avenge him. He focuses on technique when fighting.
Gou Fukami/GekiViolet: Retsu?s older brother, who it turns out was not dead, but turned into a werewolf for 15 years, which kept him from ageing or dying. He has a fierce rivalry with Rin Juken's leader Rio, who was responsible for his condition. Though he is of the Geki Juken, Gou lacks a passion for justice and fights only for himself. This resulted in Gou mastering a personal and dangerous form of Geki that he developed himself, called Shigeki as well as the reinvention of the Wolf-Fist into his personal Fukami-Way, a form of the actual Wolf-Fist that uses Muay Thai fighting moves. However, Sha-Fu believed that Gou actually does have a passion for justice deep down, and gave him the Juken Henshin Brace GongChanger which he commissioned specially for Gou to use. After much soul searching and cajoling by the others, he agrees to become GekiViolet and eventually overcome the beast within him, thanks to Rinju Fly-Fist Bae. However, Gou still desires to defeat Rio and prove himself as his rival, holding some animosity towards Jan Kandou whom Rio sees as a rival.
Ken Hissatsu/GekiChopper: A lazy prodigy who somehow mastered the style used by Juken's founder Brusa Ee, Gekiju Rhinoceros-fist. Ken was originally to aid Ran Uzaki and Retsu Fukami, but he left to travel abroad since his GekiChangers were busted. Furthermore, he sold the SoJuTo that Sha-Fu gave him for traveling money. Despite this, he is capable of using the incredibly-hard-to-master Geki Kensan technique.

Allies:
Miki Misaki: Scrtc's main executive in charge of weapons development, who creates the Gekirangers' gear. She is a master of Gekiju Leopard-fist, who was part of a previous trio of students, not unlike the current one, with Gou and Rio (no prizes for guessing how that ended up). Before she joined Geki Juken Beast-Arts, Miki was an infamous sukeban in her youth and the former leader of the Kanto Sukeban Alliance, a reputation that still holds to the present day.
Master Sha-Fu: A student of Brusa Ee who is a grandmaster of the Gekiju Felis-fist. He is the mentor of the Gekirangers and leader of the Kensei, mastering all three of its aspects and able to channel Kageki. And the conflict in the series is his fault, but more on that later.

Rin Juken Akugata: A branch of Juken that split off when their founder Maku was suggested for the role of Brusa Ee's successor by Sha-Fu. This martial arts school focuses on the principles of natural selection: that only those strong enough can survive the harsh and inhuman training while fully mastering the Akugata's fighting styles. Unlike the Geki used by Geki Juken, which is fuelled by one's sense of Justice, Rin Juken's Rinki draws its power from the darkness in one's heart.

Black Lion Rio: Rin Juken's current leader and a master of Rinjū Lion-fist. Formerly a member of Geki Juken Beast Arts, he decided they were holding him back, murdered his mentor Dan and defected to Rin Juken. He has a rivalry with Ian, due to seeing the latter as his opportunity to overcome Dan, the one opponent he could never defeat. In the present, he set about reviving Rin Juken's founders, the Kenma to increase his strength, only for them to eventually turn on him after he only gained a fraction of Maku's power. He is now considering learning the ways of Gen Juken from a stranger known as Long?
Chameleon-Fist Mistress Mele: A practioneer of Rin Juken who lived and died during the Geki-Rin War hundreds of years ago. She was brought back in the present as a Rinshi Beast by Rio in order to serve him, due to her having the same need for strength as he does, infusing her with enough of his Rinki to be completely human-like. Since then, Mele fell deeply in love with Rio, though the feeling's not mutual, hence she fights only to prove her love to him even if it kills her.
Fly-fist Bae: A former student of Geki Juken, who was turned into a fly and absorbed by Mele during the Geki-Rin Rebellion. In the present, due to a curse preventing him from leaving Mele for prolonged periods, he mostly comments on the battles between Juken Giants and enlarged Rinshi Beasts.

Dark Shadow: A Negative Syndicate that collects Precious to sell them to high bidders.

Maboroshi no Gekkou (Moonlight of Illusions): A ninja warrior who merged his body with that of a Demon Bird, trapping him in the form of an owl, but granting him eternal life. He mostly stays on the sidelines, using his Kami Ninpo to create Tsukumogamis and to enlarge them.
Kaze no Shizuka (Silence of Wind): A human ninja working for Dark Shadow, who is mostly in charge of interacting with others due to her immaturity and ineptitude for combat. Following the ousting of Yami no Yaiba, she is now Dark Shadow?s second-in-command.

What do I think of Gekiranger? Well frankly, it?s the first Sentai I watched in full that I disliked.

The show has no idea how to properly pace itself. It thrusts us into an arc that most shows do after 12-14 episodes after THREE EPISODES, giving us no idea how the stakes are supposed to be much higher than before (Oh right, the Rinrinshi have sashes now), and after that settles into a rut of ?new villain appears, Rangers spend two episodes getting a new power, new power stays on top for two episodes, rinse and repeat?. And when the show does slow down and give us some filler episodes, it?s in the middle of a major climactic arc. Ie. WHEN THEY SHOULDN?T BE DOING FILLER AT ALL.

And then there?s the characters. Of the 5 heroes, only Jan and Gou get any character development or major focus. And Jan is essentially a Mary Sue, given how he?s able to master supposedly complex techniques with no training. And I don?t know about you, but if I knew a guy who sounded like Jan, I would not be friends with him. And of the side characters, the 7 Kensei are relevant for like 2 episodes each, after which they might as well have killed them off, because they contribute nothing but unnecessary comic relief that clashes with the rest of the show.

I don?t have a much higher opinion of the villains either. Rio is essentially a creator?s pet, since we?re told countless times he?s redeemable, with no proof offered. We?re told his disposition is the result of a tragic backstory, but when he loses his memory in one episode, he acts EXACTLY THE SAME AS USUAL. Long isn?t much better as an antagonist, since the show contrives ways for him to be responsible for every bad thing in the show and absolve all the other villains of their wrongdoings so they can be easily forgiven. It doesn?t help that his actor is utterly unthreatening, with a voice that seems more suited for a camp-gay gag villain than an ultimate mastermind. And his delivery is strangely wooden, which detracts from any menace the dialogue was trying to convey.

But enough negativity. This is the last series (and subsequently, the last of these movies) to be produced by Hideaki Tsukada until Kiramager (he did produce Kamen Riders W and Fourze). And it?s the last one in a series of Arakawa-penned storylines (which is just as well, since I wasn?t keen on his Gekiranger output, since it contained much of the problems I?ve listed above and below), while the director is Noboru Takemoto (who?s Twitter account does for Dekaranger what Nobuhiro Suzumura?s does for Kuuga). With all that said, on with the review.

We open in space, with DaiVoyager heading towards an undiscovered planet (As it set out to do in Boukenger's finale), touching down.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FAnjTODW...jpg&name=small

As Sakura scans for Precious, getting a huge reading, the ground beneath her cracks, sucking her in.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FAnjTOIX...jpg&name=small

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FAnjTONX...jpg&name=small

Back on Earth, Kaze no Shizuka breaks into Scrtc, with a red ball, confused as to the assignment (we never find out who hired her to steal this, but an obvious candidate will soon present itself)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FAnjTOXW...jpg&name=small

But unfortunately for her, stopping while the alarm is still ringing OUTSIDE THE BUILDING, NO LESS, is a bad idea, as the Gekirangers show up quickly.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FAnjea9X...jpg&name=small

And then the Boukengers on Earth show up, looking to secure the red ball, which is classified as a Precious (we never find out it?s hazard level, though), and get into a battle with the Gekirangers over it (And since Yuichi Hachisuka is in the GekiYellow suit, and to avoid paying him twice as much, the role of BoukenYellow will be played by his twin brother, Shoichi).

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FAnjeaMX...jpg&name=small

Cue the theme song (I know a lot of people love this, but personally, I?ve only seen it as ok. But I did make my own translation of the lyrics)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=7vKjcdjQ...4_JPiGMqZIkc-A

That's right, GEKI! GEKI! Extremely!
Gan-gan Let's go
Let?s blaze a trail, for the sake of changing
Gekiranger!

Throughout this Earth, sounds a rhythm, inviting forth an awakening.
Master the Gekiwaza, to challenge the evil
Oh beasts of justice.

Harness and unleash the bestial power
Mind and skill, and body together!

That's right, GEKI! GEKI! Extremely!
Gan-gan Let's go
Reach for the sky to claim your dreams
How about GEKI! GEKI! Impact!
Bang-Bang Feel it
Who now than others is the strongest of all.
Juken Sentai Gekiranger
Gekiranger!

It also comes with a special credits sequence, which sadly gets dropped after the next VS movie. And it's own modification to the opening narration.

?Protecting peace in the world? Fighting for the people, Super Sentai. Super Sentai has two shining teams. First, their blazing Geki is proof of Justice, Juken Sentai Gekiranger. Second, Endless Bouken Spirits, GoGo Sentai Boukenger. Warriors who never should have met, now unexpectedly meet and change.? (So does this mean the VS world theory is canon? Also that part about them changing is a pack of lies, since no-one gets any lasting development from these things)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FAnjeb4W...jpg&name=small

After the two trios fight into the morning (seriously, it?s framed as if neither of them took any breaks. I can get the Gekirangers being able to fight for that long, but Boukenger?), Shizuka decides now is the time to retreat with the red ball. Unfortunately, she forgot about Eiji.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FAnjecUW...jpg&name=small

As Shizuka leaves disappointed, the fight gets derailed by the appearance of Akashi, who was last seen heading into space in DaiVoyager, now wearing a leather jacket (and sunglasses, but he took those off prior to this picture)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FAnjoNXW...jpg&name=small

Akashi doesn?t answer the question, instead taking the red ball for himself and leaving (and that's why he's so cool). Realising that Boukenger know something, Mimi has the Gekirangers escort them to Scrtc. Once there, Masumi (who now has a crazy haircut to go with his crazy teeth), explains Boukenger?s mission statement.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FAnjod7W...jpg&name=small

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FAnjomvW...jpg&name=small

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FAnjooRW...jpg&name=small

Eiji then reveals what the deal is with the red ball. It?s a powerful Precious that?s not that powerful on its own.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FAnjxHBW...jpg&name=small

Master Sha-Fu then shows up to elaborate and unlike everyone in Gekiranger proper, Boukenger are weirded out by a sapient, talking cat (he's either that or a really hairy foreigner)? well, almost all of them.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FAnjxIzX...jpg&name=small

He then explains the story of the one man who defeated Juken?s founder, Brusa Ee (a notion that confuses Retsu), the master of Uchuu Kenpo (Space Kung-Fu. It?s as ridiculous as it sounds, so I?ll stick with the untranslated version)

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(I have no idea why the ultimate warrior of a Chinese fighting style is a Peruvian god. Or why the opponent that two teams of demon fighters join together to overcome is an outright alien)

As Retsu points out that someone else must have the blue ball, we cut to the RinJuDen, where DaiVoyager, in robot mode, touches down.

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Mele tries to call for help repelling the intruder, but due to it being cold and flu season, the only one she can get is the Hippopotamus-fist user, Baka (who?s name tells you all you need to know about him)

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Somehow, Baka performs Ringi: Jashin Koutei Henge to face the giant on even terms, only for it to turn out his one attack he remembers is tickling which is about as effective as you?d expect against a giant robot. As this is happening, Sakura sneaks into the throne room and tries to take the blue ball (I guess Maku was taking souvenirs when he left to form his own sect), only to be stopped by Rio (F*cking Rio)

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Akashi and Sakura then make RinJuken an offer: Help us acquire the ultimate power of Pacha Kamaq and you?ll get your share of it (and it seems that Sakura has an unusual Ki about her). Rio, being power-hungry, agrees readily. At Beast-Arts, Prof. Makino arrives from SGS (turns out, he and Miki know each other from the Dino Curry house), having analysed footage Souta sent back of the red ball.

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His analysis gives them some insight into Pacha Kamaq.

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He then tells them where to go.

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The seven heroes then set off, with the Boukengers getting confused over Jan?s ?language? and Miki sending in Gou and Ken to help the party in South America (the first seven come in via GoGoDrill, the latter two via GekiWolf. Don?t ask how). After Eiji, Gou and Ken get caught up battling Baka (who manages to overpower all three of them somehow, partially due to pain resistance of some kind). While climbing the mountain, the Gekirangers tire easily (since they?ve only been trained to go forward, not up), while the Boukengers climb it easily. After a talk about the thrill of adventure (you know, Boukenger?s secondary theme, behind everyone having their own Precious to search for), while Jan decides that Akashi can?t be all bad. When everyone makes it to the temple, it?s too late. Akashi and Sakura have placed the two balls in the alter, opening a portal.

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As this happens, Pacha Kamaq emerges from within Sakura, leading Rio and Mele into the portal.

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And then Baka runs in after them while everyone?s confused as to what?s happening.

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Akashi then explains that the planet they landed on, Isla, was where Pacha Kamaq was sealed away, and their landing awakened him, allowing him to possess Sakura. (Erm, oops)

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As they realise that Pacha Kamaq?s arrival on Earth increased the Hazard Level of the Precious, Pacha Kamaq, now sporting a pair of additional arms on his shoulders and with the three Rin Juken Akugata under his control (I wonder how long it took him to do that to Rio and Mele. Baka likely took no time at all).

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As the 4 fly to Berlin (Why, I have no idea. Especially since Pacha Kamaq and his followers have never been there before), the heroes drop down in Ultimate DaiBouken (See, that makes more sense than the drill), with the Gekirangers vowing to prove he?s misusing his strength, while Akashi and Sakura vow to take him down as revenge for manipulating them.

Akashi: Ready?

Gekirangers: Tagire, Kemono no Chikara! (Roar, power of the beast)

Gou: Hibike! Kemono no Sakebi (Echo, howl of the beast)

Ken: Togisumase! Kemono no Yaiba! (Sharpen, blade of the beast!)

All: Beast On!

Boukengers: Boukenger, Start Up!

Eiji: GoGoChanger, Start Up!

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Akashi: The Fiery Adventurer, BoukenRed!

Masumi: The Fast Adventurer, BoukenBlack!

Souta: The High Up Adventurer, BoukenBlue!

Natsuki: The Strong Adventurer, BoukenYellow!

Sakura: The Deep Adventurer, BoukenPink!

Eiji: The Dazzling Adventurer, BoukenSilver!

Akashi: Endless Bouken Spirits?

All: GoGo Sentai Boukenger!

Jan: This body flows with infinite energy! Unbreakable Body, GekiRed!

Ran: With daily purification, polishing the heart! Honest Heart, GekiYellow!

Retsu: Techniques colour this grand flower! Fantastic Technique, GekiBlue!

Gou: Excitement, my style, to the limit of my will! Iron Will, GekiViolet!

Ken: Polishing the talent, I cut open my future! Amazing Ability, GekiChopper!

All: Our blazing Geki is proof of justice, Juken Sentai Gekiranger!

Jan: We?re all together!

Akashi: Eleven members!

All:

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Pacha Kamaq isn?t impressed, sending his minions in to do battle. Akashi and Jan face the big man himself, Rio beats the stuffing out of Masumi and the Fukami Bros, Mele gives the women a hard time and Baka does his thing with what?s left over. And then Pacha Kamaq reveals that those arms aren?t just for show.

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However, a heroic second wind then blows, symbolised by each of the Gekirangers turning into their Kageki forms (Gou and Ken don?t have them, since neither mastered Kageki) and overpowering and blowing up their opponents. (Unfortunately, they survive)

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And then Souta, Ken and Eiji combine their techniques to finally overpower Baka.

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With their feelings now as one, Jan and Akashi assume their respective super modes to face Pacha Kamaq on equal terms, managing to hit him with the Red Zone Tiger Geki.

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Managing to overpower Uchuu Kenpo with this power, all 11 then gather around to do a group finisher to defeat Pacha Kamaq and Baka (who already used up his ?one growth per monster? earlier).

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All: GoGo GekiGeki Shoot!

But Pacha Kamaq survives, using Uchuu Kenpo?s ultimate power to grow giant and fly to the moon, where he prepares his ultimate attack.

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But the heroes show up in GekiBatFire, GekiTohjaWolf riding DaiVoyager and Ultimate DaiBouken.

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And then to make the fight more epic, Rio and Mele show up in RinLion and RinChameleon, calling a temporary truce.

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They then combine with GekiTohjaWolf (since the others won?t allow such a smooth combination by design), forming GekiRinTohjaWolf (They keep treating this like a new thing, but this is the third time it's appeared in anything chronologically)

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Using the new power of a sword (something they could?ve used Zubaan to do, but whatever), GekiRinTohjaWolf destroys Pacha Kamaq?s additional arms.

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And it?s now that they use Zubaan? combining his Dai Seiken Giri with GekiRinTohjaWolf?s GekiRin RouRou Zan and GekiFire?s Gekiwaza: GanGan Knuckle Otoshi.

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As Pacha Kamaq dies before he can implore his long lost son to avenge his death, the three robots stand triumphant.

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As the two Sentai say goodbye, Boukenger decide to tease Akashi over the fact he?s no longer the chief by calling him ?Satoru?, while Ken decides to try his luck with Natsuki (who is way outside of his age range). Luckily, Zubaan makes himself known at that point.

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We then show the credits, depicting what everyone did next (even Shizuka), set to the one Sentai ED Ichiro Mizuki has performed in his long career (for comparison he?s done 4 Rider OPs, 5 Rider EDs, 1 Metal Heroes OP, 3 Metal Heroes EDs and two Ultra OPs).

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When a person reaches for a goal
He will see a path towards it

It's a bold journey
Bang! Bang! There may be clashes along the way
More! More! But I want to learn more and more
And become even stronger

Just feel it, Don't think 'bout it
It's your own unique path!
Go for it, Don't give it up
Reach until the end... Gekiranger!

Final thoughts: It?s a fairly decent, if average plot. The film has some good action set pieces, but not much else.

Didn’t Naruhisa Arakawa also wrote the crossover movie between Gekiranger and Go-Onger albeit alongside Junko Komura?

I was going for exact words.

~Fish's Zenkai Tour!~

Task. 30 – GoGo Sentai Boukenger

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Coming at you in all its 16:9, high-definition glory, it's Boukenger, the show that celebrated that big 30th anniversary with boundless adventure spirits... and also the show that failed to become one of the first Sentai I watched.

Despite the hook, it's not actually a very dramatic story. Years and years back at this point, in the window where I was getting big into Kamen Rider but not yet into Sentai all that much, I was watching Kabuto for the first time, and I decided that – possibly as a conscious decision to try and grow my palate? – I should go ahead and watch the Sentai it aired with alongside it. It should totally spice things up, right? But as I recall, neither of those shows were totally gripping me, and I just sorta... gave up on Boukenger, after only a little over a half-dozen episodes?

It still feels so weird, thinking back on it. It's rare for me to drop a show that hard and not pick it back up again at some point, which means Boukenger has become most notable to me personally specifically for being that oddity – a tokusatsu series I chose to stop watching. Granted, it's not like I'm not planning to watch the whole show at some point, but like... I don't even feel that bad about taking this long? I didn't form much of an emotional connection with the show in that limited space, and while I think that was way more about me in that particular timeframe than it was about the inherent quality of the series, it's also worth noting this is another one I've largely seen people describe as okay at best. I'm not sure if it was quite part of the cycle of the Worst Sentai Ever, but there's a sentiment I recall seeing fairly often that it took them until the next time to finally get an anniversary show right.

Really though, none of this matters all that much. Apathy from the fandom happens to plenty of shows I end up liking, and my whole story there hinges upon how I was looking at Boukenger from the start as merely some kind of add-on for another show, which probably wasn't fair to it.

The weirdest part is, it's not even like I didn't enjoy what I saw.

For one thing, I'll throw in a quick mention that both the opening and ending themes for this series are fantastic. They have the same lyricist as Magiranger's themes, and as such benefit from that same really direct and uplifting tone, all while working the motifs of the show in there brilliantly. Especially in the case of the ED, which is also performed by Psychic Lover, who have quite the track record of all-time great Sentai tunes.

The show itself though, I mean, it's also pretty cool! I worry I took too long with that preamble and made it sound like Boukenger is some dour experience, but as I said upfront, this is a show about adventure! And that means the first episode goes big. The structure of this one is extremely unique and memorable, and has naturally stuck with me surprisingly well over the years. The simplest way to put it is that it's like the entire first episode is the exciting cold open part of a proper blockbuster adventure film. Things will slow down for detailed exposition later, because right now, what's most important is giving the audience a taste of how thrilling this whole world is, and Boukenger takes that mentality so seriously, you wait half the episode to see the heroes undo their transformations for the first time, rather than waiting for them to get their powers.

The Boukengers are professionals on a mission to secure incredibly dangerous ancient artifacts for safekeeping, and that's not a job that involves waiting around. Indeed, the episode comes right out of the gate with the team driving off to dive headfirst into the unknown in their huge super vehicles, since the mecha were a particular focus for the show as well. This is true in a lot of other places throughout the episode as well, but the emphasis here is firmly on practical effects and props. The GoGo Vehicles are portrayed in an extremely charming old-school fashion, with tons of detailed miniature work shot in a way that lends them a genuine feeling of scale and weight. It's some definitively tokusatsu stuff, and I'm definitely glad this was the approach they decided to go with for the first Sentai to have this kind of picture quality. I love me some good mecha action, and this premiere has it in spades. Again, it feels like a big movie in a way.

Similarly cinematic is the treasure hunting plot, which, in addition to all the discoveries and traps and secrets and what have you, even makes room for a shocking betrayal. A really shocking one, at that, because it's Bouken Black selfishly trying to make a daring escape with the loot to prove himself the superior hunter to Bouken Red. These are shows all about teamwork and heroism, and you're gonna bust that plot twist out in the first episode?! It's totally crazy, and I have nothing but praise for this choice. It's a way to establish the team dynamic while highlighting what makes Boukenger unique. In a show about anything other than the thrill of adventure, it would seem absurd for the leader of the team to be proud of someone for insubordination on that level, but here, it honestly fits the tone and themes for Akashi to just be more excited about having this new recruit onboard after seeing how bold he can be when he puts his mind to it. And you know, for my part, I was definitely more excited about this show after seeing what a bold bit of writing that was. That macho conversation above deadly lava is hard to forget, and communicates super clearly what this show, and especially those two specific characters, are all about – being awesome.

So yeah, I should probably get back to Boukenger at some point. It's definitely a series that put some unique spins on the usual formula (I didn't even mention the multiple villain factions), and I imagine I'd be significantly more appreciative of it now than I was when I first gave it a go.

Surprising to hear you've heard most say Bokenger is only okay. I've heard nothing but high praise about it, personally.

For me, it’s a combination of both. I thought Boukenger is only okay myself. There are some pretty good episodes here and there though with Sakura being my favorite ranger for this series and I really like Zubaan far more than I should.

It depends what you're counting as ''the consensus''. Even without getting into the minutiae of which English-speaking website had the most people who hated something(which, I admit I used to waste a lot of time reading stuff like that in the 00s which I regret!), I do kind of think it is mostly just the average viewers in Japan who actually watched it on TV back then who can form any kind of collective opinion really.

There are two things to care about in Boukenger. One, the Bouken Red Bad Luck episode. Two, the... Bouken Red Bad Luck episode.

That’s easily one of the best episodes of this series. I even enjoyed how that episode was adapted in Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive.

It wouldn't surprise me if you did. I sort of forgot to mention it this time, but as I've said with other shows, my own limited impression of how The Fandom views a show is only ever going to be just that. Most of what I've heard about Boukenger comes from nearly a decade ago, too, and (in my personal experience!), even toku shows that are met with a frosty reception at first find more and more fans with time. Assuming I'm even right about that much here. I think it might just be a case where Boukenger seemed unloved to me because quite a few of the shows to either side of it are huge, obvious fan-favorites.

The Boukengers are four professionals and one grown-ass woman who acts like a fucking toddler.

I really like Boukenger. I still have about 7 or 8 episodes to finish, but I like it. Natsuki is just the absolute worst, though.

Overall I'd say it was a 6.5/10. It has its moments. The designs were dope and I loved the Captain Planet or James Bond Jr. dynamic it had going for it with the multiple villain factions.

Finishing Bouken VIA. Brazil DVD. (Episode 28)

Resuming Kyo Ryu (Episode 20) and then will piggy back my Malaysian sets to finish through Kira Mage Ranger.

For Shout I have Zyu - Hurri so I'll finish episodes after Mega Ranger.

I will need to finish the rest of Aba.

Also picked up Go Busters for my Malaysian set.

I watched Bouken 27 which Jetix had adapted as Out Of Luck.

Let?s set off at Mach speed for another instalment of

Androzani?s Tsukai Detour

And this week, we?re doing?

Engine Sentai Go-Onger vs Gekiranger

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Strap yourselves in, since the character explanations are lengthier than usual. Those who don?t like long posts feel free to leave now.


?Machine World is one of the 11 Braneworlds other than our own, which is referred to as the Human World. Machine World is home to giant vehicular beings called Engines who wage a war against the Gaiark, who desire to pollute their world. Losing, Gaiark's three Pollution Ministers escape to Earth, seeing the Human World as an easier location to create their ideal paradise. The six Engines manage to pursue them, selecting five humans to become their partners, the Go-Ongers. The team are later joined by the Go-On Wings and their Wing Engines, as well as the Ancient Engines. Together they battle the Gaiark and other evil villains from other Braneworlds.?

Go-Ongers:
Sosuke Esumi/Go-On Red: ?Speed King?. A former racer who was present when the Gaiark and Engines first arrived on Earth. He is partners with Engine Speedor. Possessing a sunny disposition, he was referred to by his racing team as "Miracle Esumi" for his belief in miracles. Unyielding to the point of obstinance and always full of confidence, he confronts all obstacles without hesitation. He is often seen flipping a Go-Onger coin for good luck. He may or may not have a crush on Miu
Renn Kousaka/Go-On Blue: ?Cyclopedia?. A former bus driver who tends to be somewhat talkative. Because of his doting personality and cooking expertise, he has been referred to as the Go-Ongers' "mother" (オカン okan) by the other Go-Ongers and even his own Engine partner, Engine Bus-on; he takes no offence to and even revels in the reverence. Renn carries a small memo notebook, which is the source of his massive knowledge; in it, he jots down notes about and draws doodles of the enemies the team faces, even in the middle of a fight. Not only is Renn the "mother" of the team, but he is also the chief technician; he made modifications to the Engines so they could come together in the Engine-O G6 and Engine-O G9 formations, developed the Kyuyu Soul, and assisted the Go-on Wings in fine-tuning the Armored Wheel GoRoader GT. Tends to begin sentences with ?just? (zubari).
Saki Rouyama/Go-On Yellow: ?Sweet Angel?. A former concessions vendor at the Twin Ring Motegi. Along with Sosuke and Renn, she was one of the first three chosen by Bomper to be a Go-Onger. She dreams of one day opening her own cake shop, to the point where she can?t cook anything without adding sugar. She has an older sister named Sanae, a manipulative and devilish woman who often tormented her when they were younger and continues to make trouble for her in the present time. She possesses a constantly optimistic outlook, often telling people in a funk to ?smile, smile? and is partnered with Engine BeaRV.
Hant Jou/Go-On Green: ?Vagabond?. A former pizza boy who lost his job after a series of incidents resulting from seeing the Go-Ongers detransforming. Enthusiastic, kindhearted, but immature, Hant seems to always have a part-time job of some sort. Is partners with Engine Birca.
Gunpei Ishihara/Go-On Black: ?Chaser?. A former police officer with excellent marksmanship and a passion for justice. After seeing the Go-Ongers in action, he quit his job and joined with them, becoming partners with Engine Gunpherd. Gunpei initially thought the main three were just kids, considering himself ?a man more qualified to be a Go-Onger?. However, he formed a bond with the team over time.

Go-On Wings: A separate group of related heroes, who received their powers from the flying ?Wings? Engines.
Hiroto Sutou/Go-On Gold: ?Philosopher?. The serious and elitist leader of the Go-On Wings. He is amazing in combat. His fighting styles are boxing and kickboxing. He possesses an esper ability that allows him to sense when danger is near. Due to his more advanced combat trading, he and his sister, Miu Sutou, see the Go-Ongers as being too inexperienced to protect the Earth from Gaiark. With his sister, they live in a Mediterranean-style villa on the beach. His hobbies include reading Western philosophy in English, boxing and drinking cappuccinos at cafes. He is also popular with the ladies. Partnered with Engine Toripter.
Miu Sutou/Go-On Silver: ?Lovely Sensation?. Hiroto's younger sister, a "princess" sort of girl whose esper ability allows her to see things through the flowers she tends. While also dismissive of the Go-Ongers, she at least is willing to interact with them casually. She is amazing in combat. Her fighting style is aikido. She idolizes and is severely dependent upon Hiroto, who she always addresses as "Ani" (a shortened form of "aniki," the Japanese honorific expression for "older brother"). She has a tendency to try to "improve" those she sees as lesser than she is, which Hiroto refers to as her "bad habit." She has a crush on Sosuke, but she wouldn?t admit this to anyone. Is partnered with Engine Jetras.

Engines: The partners of the Go-Ongers, hailing from the Engine World. In order to survive on Earth they need to separate into Engine Casts, miniature versions of their true Engine forms, and Engine Souls, which are cartridge-shaped objects that store the soul of an Engine. When the Engine Casts are reunited with the Engine Souls, the Engines are brought back to full size for ten minutes, after which they risk rusting.
Engine Speedor (speed + condor): Sosuke?s partner, who resembles a racing car. He can't be beaten when it comes to his speed and courage. He primarily attacks by spewing flames from his engine while dashing through foes in the Speedor Burst, and he can also "fly" (more along to gliding) by folding down his wings and deploying his "arms" to punch foes down. He is also very genuine, as he is true to his friends and most especially to his partner, Sosuke. He doesn't like letting Sosuke down and often has to apologize for his actions, that essentially came with well intent. He forms the arms, head and upper torso of Engine-O, though for G6, 9 and 12 the arms devolve into shoulders only.
Engine Buson (bus + lion): Renn?s partner, who resembles a bus. He is pure fiery force in contrast to Ren's intelligence. On his screen he can scroll various phrases such as "Stop" and "Go Go-Onger!". His large size allows him to ram through obstacles and foes, and he can also attack with Bus-on Missiles, where he lifts the compartments on his top to fire missiles. He can alternatively fire the Highway Fireworks, a blue laser beam from said compartments. He forms the hips and legs of all Engine-O formations.
Engine BeaRV (do I really have to explain this?): Saki?s partner, who resembles an RV. She is a cheerful gutsy girly who will take on any challenge. She speaks by flapping her hood up and down. Often times, Saki calls her by the name "BearR" (ベアール Beāru). She once showed interest in Jetras, which ended when she saw him wearing her cast. She really likes talking about guts, especially in her partner Saki. Her spunky pep is due to her not being a picky eater, eating even enemy aircraft in her BearR Attack (ベアールアタック Beāru Atakku), and she can attack with the BearR Press (ベアールプレス Beāru Puresu), running over the enemy when they're already down, and the V V Missile (ブイブイミサイル Bui Bui Misairu), fired when she exposes her "palate" (roof of the mouth). According to her dad, the latter attack was unladylike. She forms the midsection of all Engine-O formations.
Engine Birca (bike + orca): Hant?s partner who resembles a motorcycle. He speaks a variety of words from English, Mandarin Chinese, French, Spanish, Portuguese, & Italian; he interjects a variety of these words at the end of his sentences (even when they don't make sense) such as "- bravo!", "- linguini!", and "-dalmatian!". He also says he is Latin. He is easygoing and he likes pretty girls, even wanting Saki as his partner first. He disobeys the rules often, and rushes into things without thinking them through first. In battle, Birca uses his tail, the Bircutter as a weapon. Being part-motorbike, he is good at quick movements. He forms the main right arm for GunBir-O, Engine-O G6 and G9, the right ankle of Engine-O G12 and the left gauntlet of Engine-O G7.
Engine Gunpherd (gun + shepherd): Gunpei?s partner, who resembles a police car. He pursues enemies and acts like he is the law, and is a very serious and professional Engine, to the point of scolding Gunpei for missing three shots against Speaker Banki. Referred to as "Sniper" by the other Engines, he is stubborn and much like a detective, he didn't want to acknowledge Gunpei as his partner but did accept his help to find his Engine Cast. Known as a sniper for his cannon nose, the Gunpherd Gun, Gunpherd pursues enemies in a hot chase with an equally burning sense of justice. He forms the main right arm of GunBir-O, Engine-O G6 and G9, the left ankle of Engine-O G12, and the right gauntlet of Engine-O G7.
Engine Carrygator (car carrier + alligator): Hant and Gunpeis? secondary partner, based on a car carrier. He hails from the Gian Clan, a clan that is isolated among the other Engines. He has a samurai honorific persona, and he is also often blown up to be old & wise, as when confronting the Wing and Ancient Engines the main Go-Ongers went to him for answers but then came out disappointed due to his lack of them. Being of the powerful and legendary Gian Clan, Carrigator can supposedly combine with all Engines, and do so without the need of a human partner. His large size makes him resistant to most Gaiark attacks, and he can also chomp down on whatever gets near his mouth. He is also capable of lifting his midsection like a snake and maneuver his head for attacking and lifting those he's bitten, and he has the ability to carry two Engines (normally Birca and Gunpherd) and they can drive off the ramp on his head. He forms the main body of Engine Gattai GunBir-O and the feet of Engine-Oh G6, G9, and G12, as well as the helmet of Engine-O G6.
Engine Toripter (niwatori (chicken) + helicopter): Hiroto?s partner, who resembles a helicopter. He possesses a lively prankster personality and is a master in aerial dogfights. He is one of the two Wing Clan Engines who arrived at Human World before Speedor and the others. With his rotor blades, he can perform the Toripter Patriot (トリプターパタリオット Toriputā Patariotto) and he also attacks with the Missile Battery Out, firing a supply of bullets from his turrets. He is part of a pair with Engine Jetras. He can serve as an auxiliary arm for Engine-O, GunBir-O, and is the main right arm of Seikuu-O. He also forms the right shoulder for Engine-O G9 and G12, the left foot of Engine-O G7, and his tail forms the chestplate for Engine-O G7, 9 and 12, his rotors forming a part of G7's wingpack.
Engine Jetras(jet + tora(tiger) + s): Miu?s partner, who resembles a fighter jet. He has a calm but strict soldier-like personality. He has a tendency to say English phrases such as "No problem, buddy!". He refers to Miu as "buddy". With his wings and amazing offensive abilities, he can fire the Jetras Torahawk (ジェットラストラホーク Jettorasu Torahōku) cruise missile from his mouth. It can also act as a "dart", remotely destroying and targeting foes without exploding. He can also perform the Jetras Phantom (ジェットラスファントム Jettorasu Fantomu), where he creates illusory clones to confuse the enemy. He is part of a pair with Engine Toripter, and forms the main left arm of Seikuu-O. He also forms the left shoulder and helmet of Engine-O G9 and 12, as well as Engine-O G7's right foot and wingpack.
Engine Jum-bowhale (again, do I really have to explain it?): Hiroto and Mius? mentor, who resembles a jumbo jet. After coming to the conclusion that Engines and humans need to work together, he created the Go-Onger's and Go-On Wing's weapons and transformation devices in order to create a way to strengthen the bond and powers of the Engines soul and their human partners' hearts. He is greatly renowned among the Wings for his wisdom and skill, with Jetras referring to him as the ?Veteran Hero?. He is the main body of Engine Gattai SeiKuu-O. To form Engine-O G9 and G12, he connects to Engine-O G6's back.
Engines Kishamoth, T-Line and K-Line (kikansha (locomotive) + mammoth): A trio of Engines from ancient times who came to Earth to fight the original Banki beast, Horondethal. All three resemble trains, with Kishamoth being a steam train, while T-Line and K-Line are the Nozomi and Hikari bullet trains respectively. The three combine into Kyoretsu-Oh, with Kishamoth as the main body, while T-Line and K-Line for, the right and left legs respectively. When combined as Engine-Oh G12, Kishamoth forms the feet and backpack, while T-Line and K-Line form the arms.

Allies:
BOMPER (Born to Outerdimension and Mechanic x Pitcrew-type Engine-support Robot): A pink navigation rabbit robot created by Jum-bowhale from the Machine World (though he originally planned to paint him violet and pink with green and blue polka dots), supporting the Go-ongers by creating their arsenal, performing maintenance on the Engines, and at the beginning of the eyecatch, he is served as the referee. Everything relating to Bomper involves the number 66. All of his dimensions are 66 cm, weighing 66 kg with a top speed of 66 km/h. As Bomper is from the Machine World, he ends his sentences with "Bom-Bom!" (ボンボン！ Bonbon!).
Natsume Misaki: Miki?s daughter, an elementary schooler (though her actress is a senior in middle school). She has helped out the Gekiranger team by practicing dancing along with them and teaching Jan how to be patient with "Koto-Koto." She has also helped out Gou on his path to becoming a Gekiranger by showing him that even though he could have fled to save himself, he decided to protect her from Mele. She decides to learn the Juken in the finale, becoming one of Retsu's students.

Barbaric Machine Clan Gaiark:

"The Dried Cracked Ground! I am Land Pollution Minister Yogostein nari"

?The muddied and fetid waters! I am Water Pollution Minister Kegalesia ojaru!"

?The blackened skies! I am Air Pollution Minister Kitaneidas zoyo!"

?We are the Gaiark Three Ministers!?

A group of beings from Machine World who desire to create a world of pollution. To that end, they have chosen to use Human World as their test bed.

Land Pollution Minister Yogostein: The acting leader among the three ministers. Following the death of his subordinate Hiramechimedes, he has declared war on the Go-Ongers, planning to awaken the ancient Horondethal.
Water Pollution Minister Kegalesia: The sole female among the three ministers. She resembles a human due to her artificial skin. In her human guise of Rena Kegareshi, she developed a vendetta against Hant due to his falling in love with her and calling her endearing names, like ?pure?, which are offensive to members of the Gaiark. She sometimes forms the idol group G3 Princess with Saki and Miu.
Air Pollution Minister Kitaneidas: The smartest among the three ministers, he experimented with Bikkurium's potent abilities prior to using it on Banki beasts. However, sometimes, just like 2 other ministers, he tends to be goofy.

Genjuken: A form of Juken that channels the power of mythical beasts. Utilizing a golden qi called Genki, Genjuken users seek to surpass the power of natural beasts by mastering the power of mythical beasts, with thirteen fighting styles based on the Five Sacred Beasts and the Chinese Zodiac. Over time, the Genjuken style is revealed to be a front for Long to raise a potential human though the Infinite Path, turning that person into a mindless monster that would destroy the world.

MugenRyu (Infinity Dragon) Long (Chinese for ?dragon?): An immortal who has been on Earth for centuries, having grown bored of existing. Eventually, Long decided to create a Destroyer to make the world "less dull" by offering his services to Maku and to condition him while secretly aiding in the foundation of the RinJuken Aku Gata. But after the Kensei sealed Maku and the other Kenma, Long was forced to wait for another ideal pawn before he found a young Rio. Murdering the child's family, Long instilled a fear in Rio to become strong enough to escape the memory of that rainy night. To ensure no interference with Rio's progress, Long mortally wounded Dan years later so Rio can never have closure and then slaughtered Dan's kin while making it look like the village was decimated by a storm. Only Dan's wife and their son Jan survived, with Long personally killing the woman after she knocked her son into the river. Believing the child drowned, Long went back into hiding to watch Rio from afar, using his Blood-Oath Ceremony to obtain followers. Once the Kenma had proceeded Rio?s training far enough, Long disposed of them and offered Rio a chance to become the strongest through Genjuken. However, seeing Jan as a hindrance to his plans, Long attempted to kill him behind Rio's back. But ironically, Jan managed to awaken Rio as the Destroyer; much to Long's praise. Mele's interference ruined it, with Long's treachery and true identity revealed as a result, before beating Rio to find out why he didn't completely become the Destroyer. When Mele interfered once again, Long attempted to kill her, only to have Rio jump in front of her to shield her from the blast. Seeing Mele as the cause, Long took her as a hostage so Rio can resume his part in the master plan. But once his plan is completely shattered, Long decided to kill them all and start finding a new Destroyer to replace Rio. However, Long was soon defeated by SaiDaiGekiRinTohja's Saidai Geki Rin Zan which destroyed his physical form. However, his spirit endured and entered his servant Sanyo, using him to recreate himself. Now with a newfound interest in the Juken power that rivals his own, Long fused with Sanyo and assumed his true form to personally destroy the world himself. Mele sacrificed herself to save the Gekirangers from one of his attacks, after which Gou and Ken tried fight GekiTohjahWolf and SaiDaiOh, but Long effortlessly defeated them both. Rio attempted a suicidal attack to kill him but Long survived because of his immortality, though he was forced back into his armored form. Even in this state he still overwhelmed all five Gekirangers. Gou and Ken later fought him, along with the Kensei but they were no match for him. Long finally met his match when Jan, Retsu, and Ran returned after mastering the Rinjuken style. However, because of Long's immortality, the Gekirangers were unable to kill him so they instead sealed him in a small ball, the Dōkokugan (which I feel comfortable using instead of the more direct ?lamentation ball? because Spin Master didn?t directly localise their card game as ?Explosive Balls?). Jan vowed to safeguard the small golden orb by wearing it as a necklace.

What do I think of Go-Onger? I definitely prefer it not only to Gekiranger, but also to the other vehicle themed comedy series (namely because it?s actually funny).

As for this movie, as GA87 pointed out last time, this is a collaborative writing between Arakawa and a new writer from the same high school named Junko Komura (thoug Arakawa is some twelve years earlier), who later went on to be the secondary writer for Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger and Kamen Rider Wizard, before becoming the main writer for Satria Garuda Bima-X, Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger, Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger vs Keisatsu Sentai Patranger and the currently airing Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger. The producer is Jun Hikasa in his final full Sentai series as main producer (he was initially in charge of Goseiger, but took an executive job halfway through) and directed by Satoshi Morota, who was the main director for Timeranger, Gaoranger and Boukenger, plus a recurring extra in Kamen Rider Fourze. With all of that said, on with the review.

We open with Jan in battle with a Nunchaku-themed Banki Beast named? Nunchuck Banki. And both of them are using their weapons the Hollywood way (swinging it around like a moron) instead of the proper way (throwing it forward, swinging it to the side and catching with your other hand).

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB4f22V...jpg&name=small

(If you?re confused, that means that Yogostein, Kegalesia and Kitaneides all collaborated on the design)

As Jan gets cocky and almost pays for it, Ran and Retsu show up to bail him out (just like old times).

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB4f2YX...jpg&name=small

As the three have a reunion and wander who their new enemy is (clearly they don?t follow the news, as Gaiark is very definitely public knowledge in Go-Onger proper). As the Go-Ongers show up to respond to the Gaiark signal, Nunchuck Banki performs a RinJuu Tortoise-fist Ringi.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB4f8xX...jpg&name=small

As the Gekirangers are sucked into a portal, Nunchuck Banki then turns another RinJuu Tortoise-fist Ringi on the Go-Ongers: Jirettai (Timed Weaken).

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB4oqAX...jpg&name=small

Nunchuck Banki then disappears into a black hole, as Ken and Gou show up in time to misinterpret the situation, fail to recognise the Go-Ongers (despite their existence being so much not a secret that they don?t even have secret identities) and attack them.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB4oqAX...jpg&name=small

As the understanding is quickly cleared up, and the three Gekirangers have ended up in a shaolin-esque temple where Nunchuck Banki attacks them, the heroes on Earth compare notes as they drive back to SCRTC.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB4oqkU...jpg&name=small

After Ken tries and fails to hit on Saki (dude, she?s underage), they arrive at SCRTC where it turns out that Natsume has improved enough to evenly match her mother. After the Go-Onger see and get confused by Shafu (who turns out to be about as perverted as Ken, since he says he loves the feel of young girl?s hands). Gou explains that Bae (who was last seen leaving with him to travel the world) got separated from him in India, it turns out that, like with Arakawa?s other works, Hant and Miki have a history related to Dino Curry.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB40l-U...jpg&name=small

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB40l7V...jpg&name=small

(Man, Hant has some mad game to be going after a woman who?s not only much older than him, but old enough to have an abnormally tall grade school child)

Shafu then explains about Long and the Doukukugan to the Go-Ongers, figuring that RinJuuKen remnants are backing Gaiark to try and recover it. As BOMPER discovers where the hole in space was opened, Shafu reopens it with Gekiwaza: KuuKuuRenSai (Space space continual again). And just in time, as Nunchuck Banki has an unfair advantage against everything his opponents use.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB475dW...jpg&name=small

However, the arrival of the others turns things around, with Sosuke foreshadowing the 2009 Super Hero Time lineup before they show the trailers for it after the movie.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB4755X...jpg&name=small

As the Go-Ongers and Gekirangers formally introduce themselves to each other, Nunchuck Banki summons the Ugutz to fight with him, leading into the opening, which is the Sentai debut for singer Hideayuki Takahashi, lyricist Mike Sugiyama and composer Kenichiro Oishi, all of whom would become regular contributors. (Plus it?s my personal favourite Sentai theme)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=_61DW7ur...pRxgkAY6GuiL4z

Engine full speed! Go-Onger!
One, two, three, four, five, Onger!
Three, two, one, let?s Go-Onger (Go-On)

Riding feels so right,
Burst into full bloom,
Charge up your hope with infinite energy. (hey!)
This happiness seems dangerous,
Cool and exciting,
Overtake your past self (hey, hey, hey)!

Your voice lets me know I?m not alone,
Speed up! Accelerate the courage!

Engine full speed! Go-Onger
Go full speed down the highway of justice,
Let it ring in your heart too! (Hey)
Boom boom, bang bang, Go-Onger
Aim for smiles as the goal,
Engine Sentai Go-Onger! Go-On!

And like last time, there are special credits for the movie.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB475nW...jpg&name=small

After the fight is seemingly over, the Go-Ongers show off their partners to the Gekirangers.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB5DqgX...jpg&name=small

But while they?re distracted, Nunchuck Banki steals their Engine Souls using a magnet.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB5Dq4V...jpg&name=small

The Three Ministers then show up?

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB5DqZW...jpg&name=small

As does their RinJuuKen benefactor, Mad Engineer Meka (which in case you don?t get the pun, I?ll be calling him ?Turtle-bot? from here on in).

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB5DrBV...jpg&name=small

The bad guys then make them a fair offer: Give us the Doukukugan and we?ll return your Engine Partners? Souls. Disagree and we?ll destroy them. Which Jan quickly agrees to.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB5OinX...jpg&name=small

However, once they get the Doukukugan, the bad guys instead mock them for thinking they?d go through with it, before explaining that they still need the Engine Souls so that Turtle-bot can remodel Nunchuck Banki to use the Doukukugan the same way the Go-Ongers use the Souls. As Turtle-bot banishes everyone back to Earth, and Carrygator and Jum-Bowhale try to reassure everyone, Sosuke overhears the Gekirangers saying that they get stronger through training and comes up with an idea.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB5OipW...jpg&name=small

As the other Go-Ongers also make the request, the Gekirangers agree. Back in the sub space, Turtle-bot tries to insert the Doukukugan, but runs into a snag: the slot is the wrong shape. (You think he would?ve noticed this before)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB5OjLV...jpg&name=small

As he tries to murder the Gaiark over this (really? A bit extreme, isn?t it?), they explain the confusion.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB5YeyW...jpg&name=small

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB5Ye7X...jpg&name=small

Turtle-bot?s solution? Reforge the Doukukugan into an Engine Soul. Back at Scrtc, Sosuke gets his assigned training from Jan.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB5YfpU...jpg&name=small

Saki and Gunpei have a slightly better assignment from Ran and Ken: Grab as many of the falling leaves that we drop as possible.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB5YflV...jpg&name=small

But Renn and Hant have one that borders on impossible: play the piano? using only your toes. (And Renn isn?t allowed to use science to do this)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB5gnTU...jpg&name=small

Meanwhile, the reforming is complete and Turtle-bot successfully empowers Nunchuck Banki, giving him super speed (but Long can?t control him at all. What a ripoff)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB5gm5X...jpg&name=small

Turtle-bot: Once again RinJuuKen will rule everything under heaven. I?ll be the new world?s turtle (kame). No, I will be a god (kami).

As the two monsters begin trashing the city, none of the Go-Onger are allowed to stop to fight them. Luckily, the Go-On Wings aren?t doing any training, so they can respond just fine.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB5gnWV...jpg&name=small

As Saki, Gunpei, Renn and Hant master their skills, Sosuke has enough and leaves to save Speedor himself. Meanwhile, Hiroto and Miu transport Turtle-bot and Nunchuck Banki away from the city to a nearby dam.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB5gnlV...jpg&name=small

They then have a fight with the two, during which it turns out that the two learned some GekiJuuKen moves when they were children. But Nunchuck Banki turns out to be too much for them and the two villains proceed to try and kill them. (Man, this got dark fast)

But along the way, Sosuke finds them and finds that he?s unlocked his own Kenpo. Jan explains that the actual point of his test would be to see how long he tries doing it, before giving up and going to save his friend (So basically, he was being a massive troll). And because he passed, he has created a new style: Engine-fist, the power of which allows Sosuke to overpower Nunchuck Banki with Geki-Speedor: Saber Straight and get Speedor back.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB5pxEV...jpg&name=small

Nearby, Renn uses the balance he picked up to confuse Yogostein while double-teaming him with Retsu.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB5pxCV...jpg&name=small

He then defeats him with Engine-fist: On On Dan, taking back Buson?s Engine Soul. (As for the music playing in the scene, it?s the one linked below.)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=qLGIplka...a0Gam6fbclm4D3

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB5yLEU...jpg&name=small

And then Hant and Gou take down Kegalesia with Engine-fist: Brrr Brrr (pronounced ?baru?) Dan, reclaiming Birca.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB5yKkX...jpg&name=small

Saki and Ran do likewise against Kitenaides using Engine-fist: V V Dan and taking back BeaRV.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB5yLHV...jpg&name=small

Gunpei and Ken then defeat Turtle-bot with Engine-fist: GanGan Dan, to recover Gunpherd.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB5yKmX...jpg&name=small

Finally, Jan and Sosuke defeat Nunchuck Banki by combining GekiWaza: Hou Hou Dan with Engine-fist: Drr Drr (pronounced ?doru?) Dan.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB55LjU...jpg&name=small

As the Three Ministers withdraw, it?s revealed that the Doukukugan took most of the blast, causing it to shatter and release Long. (F*cking Long)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB55LDW...jpg&name=small

As Long proceeds to try and blow everyone up remotely (precisely the reason I hate face villains, especially ones without a monster form), Hiroto, Miu and Shafu are all called to a certain spot by the voices of Rio (F*cking Rio) and Mele, before performing a ritual to raise the two from the dead.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB55LGX...jpg&name=small

As Long shows off just how bizarre his facial expressions can get (seriously, this actor is trying way to hard to sell himself as a bad guy. When he shows up again as a conflicted villain of the week in Double and a police inspector in Wizard, he?s a lot more natural), Hiroto and Miu show up, with Rio and Mele, now restored to life, in tow.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB55LJX...jpg&name=small

As Turtle-bot is shocked by their reappearance, Long is genre savvy enough to be cynical.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB6xI_V...jpg&name=small

Miu and Hiroto then clarify that it?s the same deal that Burai got in Zyuranger: They come back to life for a few hours, after which they go back to being dead and can?t come back to life again, even with the power of God. Only since they spent most of their life as bad guys, they get a punishment attached. Namely, they have to go to Hell for 10000 years (and yet, like Burai, that doesn?t stop them from showing up in Gokaiger?s Legend War). With that out of the way, everyone transforms.

Go-Ongers/Go-On Wings: Change Soul, set! Let?s Go-On.

Jan, Ran and Retsu: Tagire, Kemono no Chikara!

Gou: Hibike, Kemono no Sakebe!

Ken: Bucchiagire! Kemono no Yaiba!

All: Beast On!

Rio: Rinki: Gaisou (Victory-Song Equip).

Mele: ?

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB6xJTV...jpg&name=small

Sosuke: Mach Full Force (Zenkai)! Go-On Red!

Renn: Just Correct (Seikai)! Go-On Blue!

Saki: Smile Blooming (Mankai)! Go-On Yellow!

Hant: DokiDoki Delight (Yukai)! Go-On Green!

Gunpei: Dash Dynamic (Gokai)! Go-On Black!

(If you want to take umbrage with the above translations, I?ll point out that they?re written on the jackets, making them as official as you can get)

All: Pressing down the road of justice, Engine Sentai Go-Onger!

Hiroto: Break the Limits (Genkai)! Go-On Gold!

Miu! Sparkling World (Sekai)! Go-On Silver!

Both: Take Off! Go-On Wings!

Jan: Overflowing in this body is infinite power! Unbreakable Body: GekiRed!

Ran: With daily purification polishing the heart! Honest Heart: GekiYellow!

Retsu: Techniques colour this grand flower! Fantastic Technique: GekiBlue!

Gou: Excitement, my style, to the limit of my will! Iron Will! GekiViolet!

Ken: Polishing my ability, I cut open my future! Amazing Ability! GekiChopper!

Rio: Pure ferociousness like a lion. Pure power also like a lion. My name is the Black Lion Rio!

Mele: I live for Rio-sama?s love. For Rio-sama?s love, I fight as his love warrior. RinJuu Chameleon-fist Mistress, Mele!

Jan: Our blazing Geki is proof of justice,

The first five: Juken Sentai Gekiranger!

The last two: ?

Sosuke: We are?

Jan: Super Sentai!

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB65k-U...jpg&name=small

Long isn?t impressed, fusing with Nunchuck Banki?s corpse for a physical battle.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB65k-V...jpg&name=small

A battle that goes poorly for the GenJuKen, with Turtle-bot being beaten easily by the Wings and Mele (who is disgusted that he was the one survivor of RinJuKen), while Rio combines his powers with Jan and Sosuke for the GekiRinEngine Dan, which overpowers Long?s new body enough to have everyone prepare their finishers.

Go-Ongers: Pole position: Super Highway Buster!

Go-On Wings: Attention: Wing Booster!

All: ChouChou Special Highway Buster!

Jan, Ran and Retsu: GekiBazooka!

All Juken users: ChouChou Special GekiRin Dan!

Through the power of everyone?s spirits, Turtle-bot is destroyed and Long gets knocked back.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB65lDV...jpg&name=small

Long, desperate for more, grows giant by combining his power with the Bikkurium (bikkuri = surprise) Energy in the Banki body.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB65lHV...jpg&name=small

The Go-Ongers and Go-On Wings teleport their Engine Casts to them, allowing their partners to enlarge, while the Juken users summon their Geki/Rin Beasts, forming GekiRinTohjaWolf (Why the Wolf? Just why? Especially since the Cheetah showed up in the stock footage), while the 9 Engines and 7 humans combine their power into Engine-Oh G9.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=RkuZCkppUto

And Bae returns from India to commentate on the event.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB7F2LV...jpg&name=small

As Long Banki turns out to be too powerful for both, they summon SaiDain and the Ancestor Engines, upgrading into SaiDaiGekiRinTohja and Engine-Oh G12 respectively.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB7F2XU...jpg&name=small

The two ultimate formations then combine their power into one attack, the Super Sentai Engine Beast Grand Prix that overpowers Long, destroying him for good.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB7F2ZV...jpg&name=small

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB7NsIX...jpg&name=small

As the sun sets, Rio and Mele bid the Gekirangers farewell before returning to hell (eh, Mikoto did it better).

We then cut to the credits (set to the below song, Ashitta mo Go-Onger), where it turns out that Jan and Gou returned to celebrate Natsume?s birthday. And because Jan doesn?t know his own birthday, they decide to make today a celebration of that too.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=l6x68abR...4ysKtLVd1l9ug4

Make a positive beat and tune up the mood
Toss the map away and grab the wheel
Forget yesterday's goofs, take a bite of toast
With the wind at your backs, how far can you go?
Racing around, getting lost
Underneath the shining sun

Go, go, go, Go-Onger
Always be cool
Never go alone
Go, go, go, Go-Onger
Head towards your dreams
Tomorrow there will still be Go-Onger

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBB7NsSX...jpg&name=small

Final thoughts: I really like the dynamic they gave the two Sentai in this one, plus the plot felt like a seamless blending of the two shows. And seeing Long finally get what?s coming to him was some well-deserved catharsis.

Join me next time when I see the Go-Onger team up with one of the two series that have trailers shown at the end (the other one has a thread for the full series underway by a certain user). I?ll see you then.

Go-Onger vs Gekiranger is my second favorite Sentai crossover movie. The dynamic between both teams are great, awesome fight scenes including an extremely satisfying final battle against Long to the point where the film itself feels like an epilogue to Gekiranger in some way, and the ending is just the epitome of pure wholesomeness.

All I remember is Go and Retsu playing the piano with their toes. Why it has never been a meme I think is one of the many mysteries of the universe. :lolol

Update

Bouken 30

In 29 the Rangers had just met Zuban / Sentinel Knight

~Fish's Zenkai Tour!~

Lesson 31 – Juuken Sentai Gekiranger

https://i.imgur.com/pFWOzQ9.png

GAAAHHHH GEKIRANGER IS SO GOOD YOU GUYS I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO START THIS POST!!!

...But I guess I'll go with that, because abruptly screaming in all-caps about this show's immense quality was how I started talking about Gekiranger on this forum way back in 2017, when I originally watched it. As always, this was a decision made on a fickle whim.

I don't think I've explicitly mentioned this backstory at all since the very start of the tour, so I think I'll lay out the details here, for the sake of it. Around that time, I had recently finished rewatching all of Ninninger, regularly posting about it in this thread as I went along. A story for another week, obviously, but once that was done, I decided to get around to a whole bunch of Sentai shows I was particularly curious about in that moment, and for once, I ended up with a rather defined road map. I was going to watch Carranger, Megaranger, Gingaman, and Shinkenger, and, I did, in *pretty much* that order... just not without taking a little detour right after Carranger.

I was just feeling Gekiranger, you know? And I mean, feeling it so much, I plowed through the entire show in a single week. The whole thing that prompted that original all-caps outburst was that I had sat down to watch the first couple episodes, and only managed to stop myself after episode eight. I simply could not get enough of Gekiranger. Honestly, I still can't? This is one of those shows where the mere thought of it alone is enough to get me excited.

"But Fish, couldn't you say that about a ton of other—"

YEAH BUT THIS ONE IS GEKIRANGER!!! I'm going to attempt to explain the difference, but man, you'll have to forgive me if I'm so netsunetsu about this show that it's difficult to even tell what I'm talking about at points. (Like right there, for example!)

On the broadest possible level, Gekiranger is a super cool martial arts Sentai show with extremely tight character writing and an unusual amount of focus on developing the main antagonists as much as it does the heroes. That's what I had always heard about it going in, and it's part of what attracted me to the show in the first place. (That and the killer theme song, but I'll spare you a whole paragraph about it to save what time I can here.) Gekiranger was one of those Sentai I always vaguely knew I wanted to get around to, but I don't think I was prepared for how immensely every single facet of it ended up resonating with me.

In large part thanks to those martial arts influences, Gekiranger's storytelling is done on a really intimate level. It's not so much about the bigger picture of threats to the world or anything like that. What it's truly centered around is self-improvement, and the way it lets that hang over the series as a whole gives it a degree of focus that all the individual pieces benefit from. That's part of what's making it tricky for me to figure out some sort of order to tackle this overview in – everything connects back to everything else, so I can more or less talk about anything, no matter how abrupt, and manage to connect it to whatever other point I feel like. So... mind if I talk about the team's roll call for a bit?

I adore the Gekiranger roll call. Easily one of the best out there, in my opinion. It's also one of the most elaborate. The poses each of the characters do are both lengthy and mesmerizingly graceful, which means they're great to watch on screen, and a lot of extra work to replicate, which means anyone who wants to look as cool as a Gekiranger has to put forth the genuine effort to practice, so even there, the themes of the show are represented. Even more than that, though, it's the catchphrases I'm in love with. Again, they're longer than plenty of other teams, and that length is put to good use, as rather than a simple epithet describing each member's powerset or animal motif, each character essentially gives a summation of the unique philosophy they apply to their discipline in Japanese, punctuated by a two word English phrase that conveys the same idea.

This is especially significant for the main trio of Geki Red, Blue, and Yellow, who each represent a different aspect of shingitai (心技体), a martial arts concept that, as best as I can put it, basically defines three principles a martial artist should strive to perfect: heart (心), technique (技), and body. (体) So you've got Geki Red, Jan, whose Unbreakable Body lets him endure hardship with sheer power and brute force. There's Geki Blue, Retsu, who values his Fantastic Technique above all else, with a thirst to learn and master his style down to the finest details. And Geki Yellow, Ran, functions as the team's Honest Heart, exemplifying the earnest dedication and diligence required to devote yourself fully to whatever you set out to accomplish. The whole trick here is that this Triangle is all about being balanced, and individually, each one of these three is weak in whatever two areas they don't specialize in.

I feel like I'm doing a poor job describing this, but what I'm trying to get at here is that Gekiranger had this exceptionally clever way to define and contextualize the personalities of the main characters, while simultaneously making a point of why they need to lean on each other to succeed. There is a clarity of purpose to the characterization here that still blows my mind, years later, and again, all of this is so deeply ingrained into so many other aspects of the series. Going back to those cool roll call poses, the final stance the three of them adopt together is literally in the shape of a triangle, just to rub this in even more.

As I said, this is a show about self-improvement, so most (all?) of the plotting comes back to that idea, with individual episodes and larger arcs alike centered around how the characters work to grow beyond their shortcomings, and this is applied not only to the main protagonists, but to the bad guys as well. The show's primary antagonist, Rio, is every bit as much a student as the Gekirangers themselves, and alongside Mele, who is unflinchingly loyal in supporting him, the contrast in why and how these two groups of individuals pursue the goals they do forms the backbone of the series. (With Rio and Mele even having "strength" and "love", respectively, as their own defining traits.) It's the parallels in how their respective stories intertwine that make them all pop so much more. It's very easy to understand the warmth between the Gekirangers and the masters they train under when it's put right next to how cold and unforgiving Rio's training is, and vice versa.

It's only now occurring to me that I've been banging on about nothing besides character for most of these paragraphs, but that really is the crux of why this show stuck with me. Character, character, character. It's where Gekiranger excels most, and it's why I'll always remember it so fondly; because I'm fond of the characters I got to meet watching it. Seriously, I could go on a huge spiel about any one of them right now, and I kind of want to! I'd really love to tell you all about how wakiwaki it is finding excuses to work Jan quotes into your vocabulary, or how genuinely I find Ran's whole heart shtick inspiring (I'm pretty sure I learned the word 根性 from her, and I really like that word), or this, or that, or— you get the idea, I think. I sacrificed talking about basically anything else in the show (which is all also really good!) just to talk as much as I could about these guys, and I'm still cutting myself off entirely because I'll never start talking about the first episode if I don't. Ironically, that fact probably says more than the words themselves do.

Oh, right, the premiere! I think that's what these posts are supposed to be about? I'm really just winging it at this point, aren't I? Anyway, Gekiranger's first episode is as nikiniki as ever, even on a second viewing. I think the best way to put it is to say that if you watch the episode and look at how Jan is reacting to everything... that's basically me? Wrestling with pandas in the forest? That's fun as heck! There's a plane that just crashed nearby? Aw man, let's see what that's all about! Some lady in a suit is beating up bad guys with kung fu? She's cool and I wanna know who she is! Geki Blue and Geki Yellow are sparring in a gym? I love watching Super Sentai!

...Yeah, in case you can't tell, Jan is very much another Red meant to represent the viewpoint of the kids at home, and Gekiranger finds yet another extreme to take that to, as Jan's whole shtick is that he literally has the mentality of a very young child, due to growing up in the wild without any other people around. (He also has a limited vocabulary as a result of this, often expressing thoughts using loads of mimetic words that are sometimes common, sometimes corruptions of other common words, and sometimes just... distinctly Jan.) Reds are also generally meant to represent the overall theme of a show, too, so naturally, the point of Jan starting out like this is for him to learn and change, maybe more than anyone else in the series, until he finally starts acting his age by the end. As per usual with this mold of Red, your mileage may vary on whether or not this is endearing, but, man, I don't know how anyone could be cruel enough to call someone as adorable as Jan annoying. His enthusiasm has always been downright infectious for me, and that makes this a very easy premiere for me to get into, then and now.

It's also one that benefits a ton from hindsight in subtle ways. Gekiranger had a pretty thoroughly planned backstory that the series only reveals gradually, but you can catch quite a few bits of foreshadowing right here at the start, as long as you know what you're looking for. The attention to detail is nice, and it's not even the only smart thing going on in this one. Right away, Gekiranger demonstrates how the villains and heroes act as foils to one another, as Rio being told he needs to make others suffer to achieve true strength is contrasted with Jan finding out he can only gain power when he wants it for the sake of helping people. It's the most basic possible thing to start with, but that's exactly why it works. This is an episode that needs to make plenty of time for exposition, but it finds room to have a nice straightforward arc that sets up Jan's heroic potential. Him not being able to work his Geki Changer until he sees a monster threatening a little girl has always been one of the moments I remember most vividly from the show. Again, he is the kids at home, watching Geki Blue and Yellow in action, thinking they're awesome, and trying to imitate them, so I can't stress enough how much I like the show stressing that being a cool hero is not actually about hitting people. That is always a lesson worth teaching!

I don't know if I'd say Gekiranger's first episode is necessarily the absolute most solid ever, or the most exciting, but it certainly is solid and exciting, and accomplishes everything it sets out to do. You get a taste of the characters, a feel for the setting and mythos, plenty of extremely stylish martial arts action, and even a pretty cute cliffhanger as a bonus.

The series as a whole, though, I mean, that's wonderful. I could talk about Gekiranger for so long, the only word to describe it would be zunzun. Or at least, that's the word I'd use!

So much more I could still be touching on! I love those slick suit designs, that forgo having belts entirely. I love the robot action, especially early on. I love how those "robots" are actually physical manifestations of the team's spiritual energy, further underlining the themes, as always. I love how those themes are specifically geared to try and impart to kids the value of actively working to make yourself a better person. I love that this show is this smart and dramatic and yet is also hilarious and fun enough to have a character literally named Sharkie Chan. Heck, one of the only things I could say I dislike about Gekiranger is how it got buried in the shadow of Kamen Rider Den-O and ended up underperforming in both viewership and sales.

Aw man, this really is going to go on forever if I don't force myself to stop. There are simply too many reasons I adore Gekiranger, and it's so tempting to try listing every single one. I'm just not sure that list ever ends.

Okay now we wait for matrix to show up and agree with fish.