I guess you missed the part where we moved over to the news thread and I apologized? :|

His post was 7 hours ago. For all intents and purposes, it was already over...
Just because you react to it late doesn't mean he was reviving an argument when the flames of that argument were still raging at the time it was posted.

Actually hadn't notice the time stamp, reacting :p

But while we're discussing this let me inform you about the Zyuranger was REVOLUTIONARY for sentai. It followed the 15th anniversary series Jetman, they wanted to move in a different direction and so they elevated monster designs, cleaned house and went with entirely new design teams and writers. The ranger suits were incredibly original. The mecha evolved from flat painted cardboard into truly detailed designs. Zyuranger was HUGE at the time of it's airing and is still huge with the Japanese fan base. There was a letter writing campaign by child and adult fans to bring Burai back from the dead that was so overwhelming they brought him back as a ghost for an episode! I don't want anyone to think for a second the US was the only driving factor.

Same thing with Kiba Ranger. He's being produced in conjunction with Ryu Ranger as a part of the Akibaranger marketing machine. Because they've begun releasing Dairangers in Japan. Ryu Ranger first, Kiba second. There is no "exclusive significance" here when it comes to him.

No kidding.

Sorry I was late to the party when the party was just getting underway?

This makes sense.

But still, with the 20th Anniversary, "powerful rangers" parts, I can't help but feel that it's not just about Zyuranger, which was my point in the end. I mean hell, the simple fact that a female yellow is being made pretty much cements that it's just as much a dedicated effort to appeal to American audiences. This is working out better for Americans than Japanese fans, to the point where it's obviously intentional.

Still oftly coincidental that he's almost up right behind the MMPRs in release.

Then again that's probably the entire point. These characters all have some significance in Japan, but stack up perfectly for American audiences (more perfect than if they were just celebrating these series by themselves) as well. It's two birds one stone. All on the year celebrating PR's 20th. At the very least the level of insult that ahs been present towards American fans today is wholey uncalled for.

I still think it's far more than coincidental that the Zyu Figuarts release just happen to coincide with PR's 20th anniversary. :p

Anyway, this makes me want to watch Jetman and Zyuranger, just to see how they stepped things up in terms of design (While I could just look at pictures of the monsters, that takes the fun out of it) and writing.

I've always wanted to watch Zyuranger, just to see how things were done.

But I feel like I'd have to play the MMPR soundtrack behind it to lessen the culture shock.

I haven't watched all of Zyuranger, but its fun to see the extra bits of fight footage we didn't get. And I actually think the score for it is pretty awesome. I love the Daizyujin theme.

Plus, this amazingness:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY8RixeJpJc

Insult? Trust me that's been a 2-way street today. I've been called an "elitist" for not wanting to buy a female version of a figure that I'm buying the male version of merely because I like Zyuranger more :lol

And I'm not trying to say it's ONE market over another in all of this, both markets make up the demand here. Trying to say one over the other is more important is just a circular discussion. It's huge here, it's huge there too. The Zyurangers were going to be released via Akibaranger anyway, Bandai sells more toys because it's also an anniversary in the US, win win. Kiba Ranger is the same thing except that he's also being produced to go along with a Dairanger that's coming out before him. Just like with other sentai SHF's, they release 1 or 2 members, gauge reaction, then make more of that team based on sales. hence Gosei Knights' lonliness :( These are great coincidences that Bandai is profiting from that benefit and cater to both markets.

Don't take this the wrong way, but I find it it insulting when people think the US market is the only deciding factor here. We most certainly aren't. There's just as big a fanbase over there as there is here for a lot of these shows. Though things like the DBZ figuarts can prove how much more in demand some things can be in this market.

It's a great show, you should really check it out. Again they completely retooled everything for that show and went off brilliantly.

To be honest, it's less US fans feeling that they're the deciding factor, and more of an opportunity to finally say "Take That!" to the naysayers who were pretty cockily stating that the Western audience had no influence whatsoever over the past few months.

Well, I wasn't trying to say it was only the US market, just say that, I mean, come on you can tell a good chunk of this is geared towards American fans, and people are making it out like it's some afront. But we're getting BOTH versions, in seemingly equal quantities.

I mean, they're literally making everyone happy... and everyone's STILL not happy! :lol