I thought occured.

Boukenger is an adventure series about treasure and the journey. While Indiana Jones is the first archetype to come to mind, I also realized that Tolkien may have been a big influence on the series concept.

Think about it. The Peter Jackson movies were still recent and fresh and probably received international release. Lord of the Rings is considered a seminal adventure story about a heroic quest, and Gollum constantly refers to the One Ring as "precious", which is what the supernatural MacGuffins of Boukenger are referred to as.

In all likelihood, someone somewhere probably already realized this. Those involved in the series may have even admitted this already, perhaps. It just didn't click for me until now.

Lately I've been thinking of a Super Sentai series based on monkeys. Like, a gorilla ranger, an orangutan ranger, a mandrill ranger, etc. I dunno, I just though the idea was nice.

I could see some problems if a series like that ever gets adapted into Power Rangers though.

You can replace monkeys with less offensive animals, like bears or horses. What are your plans for the sixth ranger?

I dunno, I just thoight the idea of a monkey sentai was awesome. Like, a gorilla, a mandrill, an orangutan, a chimpanzee, a baboon, etc forming a Sentai team and doing stunts and boarding a monkey mecha...I'd watch that. Not really in the mood for changing the animal.

I don't have plans for a sixth ranger, this was just an idea I randomly though of after all.

In retrospect, I think the casting director for Shinkenger did a good job of hiring Hiroki Aiba as Ryunosuke/Shinken Blue. The others probably had zero to a year or so worth of acting experience while Aiba was acting in Prince of Tennis musicals, tv dramas and movies since the early 2000s, and perhaps that's why I think there seems to be a sense of composure that the others didn't have in their acting during the show. And I don't mean to belittle the others for how they did at the time, but rather just saying how putting someone with decent years of experience in the mix among a cast of new and up-and-comers seems to help when watching a group of people act together.

Apparently, Toei thinks the same and that is why they have been adding older actors to Sentai teams lately.

Yeah, come to think of it Ryoma Baba is another instance of that as well aside from playing the oldest member in the team. It does seem like a good way for the cast members new to the business learn from a senior about the craft.

I was just watching a compilation of Sentai mech combinations and it really struck me how so many components of the 80s mechs could be best classified less as cars, trucks, planes, tanks, etc. and more as "ground things" and "air things."

Like the Bull Vulcan which makes up the feet and legs of Sunvulcan Robo. It's pretty much a building on wheels. :lolol
They do specify with names starting with Goggle V but the early to mid 80s still had some abstract-looking vehicles that make up the robot. The jets were more relatable and identifiable but the ground things would make you think for a moment.
For instance, the Tank Commando from Flashman, although one of my favorite designs, doesn't really say tank at first glance, and the Masky Tank which make up the legs of Great Five was more of an armored carrier than a tank. And honestly I don't know what to make of the Turbo Ranger (not to be confused with the first Heisei Sentai team, and is pronounced more like Turbo Rahn-jer) from Maskman other than being an over-sized coupe with hovering units instead of wheels. :lolol

Watched the Ohranger Movie and....WHAT THE HELL!?

Buldont's film makes absolutely no sense in terms of story narrative or organization. His sets are just a ragtag bunch of crap that's been thrown together with no discernable pattern to any of it. Frail looking Christmas Trees with a wet floor and TVs with a close-up of the same eye. The various Machine Beasts are as random and wild with no obvious pattern to series proper Machine Beasts. The excess cruelty that Buldont commits to humans adds such a darkness that you have to wonder how any of the central kids can get out of this without serious therapy. There's something haunting about the girl who expresses her love of the Earth as she resigns herself to her fate, which juxtaposes the random sequence where Emperor Bacchusfundo says humans don't care about the Earth. The final battle should be something interesting, but it's kinda lame with a weak monster who shouldn't be given that he's a fusion monster who's components just survived the Big Bang Buster, a combined weapon that was powerful enough to take down the giant-sized Bara Saucer in Ep. 2. Buldont's giant sphere-pooping horse model flies off and he wants to produce a Kaiju Movie (which never happens). The film ends with close-ups of all the central and some of the side characters with what sounds like an instrumental of "Saints Go Marching In" playing. Camera Trick would make cameos in the series, while JagChuck becomes Bara Jaguchi in Ep. 31 (with different hat, different faucet spigots on his rain slicker) and again had the audacity to replay the CGI faucet peeing in that episode as backstory.

Again...WHAT THE HELL!!!

Incomprehensible , a wildly inconsistent tone... It's just like the show proper! :p

Issei Takahashi who played Kai in Zyuranger (yes, as in Bandora's kid) and Marie Iitoyo who played Yayoi/Kyoryu Violet in Kyoryuger are now newlyweds. Looks like co-starring in the live action adaptation of Rohan at the Louvre, which Takahashi plays the titular character and Iitoyo was the female lead, was how they met.

https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2327351/full/

What's crazy is both are sentai alumni from dinosaur-themed shows and then co-starred in a movie of a JJBA spinoff story.

If the Shocker Combatmen are the iconic grunts of Kamen Rider then who would be Super Sentai's iconic grunts?

And no do not answer with the Putties as those are the iconic Power Rangers grunts. But who in Super Sentai's side would fill that spot?

My first thought is that these must be Zolders:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pr...8SCjLk2n_wvrit
But if we talk about a recognizable image, then we need to give this title to the Demons Bugs Soldiers Bibi. To be honest, they deserve it just by their name.
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/8a/62/99/8...5b42c777fb.jpg

What's holding them back from using the Black Cross Army seeing the many times they homaged and had guest appearances of Goranger? If it's due to their designs or background then upgrade them to be less problematic. It's not like Shocker started out as the same skeleton Luchadores they're known for today either.
https://images2.imgbox.com/f0/51/lA7OH2R1_o.jpg
https://images2.imgbox.com/9c/b4/1xZslTfm_o.jpg

Looking at the Zoldars, there doesn't look anything offensive about their design either.
https://images2.imgbox.com/83/5b/vca4i64J_o.jpg

Hard to say. Probably because they've never been marketed like Shocker grunts.

Several potential candidates (outside of the Zolders from Gorenger):

- Dustlers from Denziman (due to the popularity of the series in its heyday).

- Wular from Turboranger (had the main variety, higher variety, and even a "god" or sorts in the form of the Wular Bouma; also an anniversary Sentai before Gorenger and JAKQ were included).

- Golem from Zyuranger! Yes, I know they're considered invalid, but they have become so big thanks to the Putties that not including them is a disservice. Plus, they were featured in Kyoryuger VS. Go-Busters. And if I remember correctly, the suits were reused in the live-action Sailor Moon!

- Nanashi from Shinkenger (multiple varieties, popularity of the series, and it took the face of the Combined Combatant in the Gokaiger Movie).

- Gormin and Zugormin from Gokaiger (popularity of the series, Anniversary Sentai Grunts, and they fought some 37 Sentai and Gavan and multiple Riders in the first Taisen Movie and have made a few sporadic appearances over the years).

Okay, gave it some thought. Here are my picks.
Mechaclones from Bioman. 80s design at its finest, and I loved how their outer head shells would split to reveal their faces before they blew up.
Zolohs from Flashman. THEY SPIT ACIDIC STUFF. Even disintegrated a random civilian in episode 1 or 2 iirc.
Pordermen from LuPat, Beautiful design. The bullet hole aesthetic was a neat touch.
Kuros from ToQger. Again, beautiful. The details especially.

Not dismissing the Golems but my point was Power Ranger's fandom and nostalgia in America is different from Japan and the thought I had was them being popular in America doesn't necessarily mean their Sentai counterparts are equally popular in Japan.

Alas, there would be none, since Sentai changes its villain grunts on a yearly basis. I guess we've seen the Zorima from Kyoryuger slightly more often since that's the show they've revisited most often, but that's a very near thing.

Personally, I don't know that grunt design has ever been as awesome as the Kuros from ToQger. It may not have been my favorite Sentai at the time, but the grunts and the master villain designs were just too-good-to-be-true.

My stance though is that their status has transcended Power Rangers AND Sentai and made them too cross-culturally significant to be contained in a simple bubble. Japan may not have a lot of hard feelings for Zyuranger as America does for Mighty Morphin', but Japan has seen dubs of Mighty Morphin' and is aware that for better or worse the Putties are iconic from a U.S. standpoint at least, which inevitably puts focus back on the Golems whether or not it's intentional.

That said, the Golems are merely candidates and not a conclusive standout villain force that could be considered the staple Sentai grunts. I honestly believe the Gormin are closer to that status than the Golem. I don't expect to ever see a Gorenger Hurricane or JAKQ Big Bomber performed on Golems anytime soon!

Definitely. I remember exactly a decade ago when it was airing a good number of us were praising its design. Also the reason why I chose it as well.

After months of procrastination and then a few google searches later I finally found it. This is one of the best tracks ever from Super Sentai. :rock:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5rqYbWYxkE

Hey aren’t we usually supposed to have gotten the next sentai trademark by now? Has it not happened because the last major Boonboomger toy hasn’t been released, or should we be worried since this is kind of coinciding with the definitive death of Power Rangers?

Maybe, like the rider, the Sentai want to arrange an ongoing show in China and Toei are waiting for confirmation?

I thought the Champion Carrier was the last major toy.

It feels like people start worrying that Sentai is ending for one reason or another every year.

It?s just that for several years now there have been rumors that Sentai doesn?t earn enough. Although, given that this is the second most successful serial tokusatsu franchise, the question arises: who makes enough money then? Personally, I think that even if Sentai is truly commercially unviable and not suitable for resuscitation, Toei will wait until its 50th anniversary, and only then will change something.

Sentai's declining sales primarily have to do with the ever shifting interest in kids towards digital interaction over physical toys.
Toys will never truly be phased out, but it's certainly not as strong. Likewise, viewership is also weaker due to on streaming services (Both paid and free, like Youtube) becoming more prevalent over network TV.

Too many people see Sentai's declines and worry about it's death as if the majority of standard kids entertainment isn't encountering the same problem.
Also not helped that Toei is infamously bullheaded, so getting any level of significant change from them is difficult.

Japan's horribly declining birthrate probably doesn't help, either.

I imagine it may be more pronounced for westerners given what happened to Power Rangers.

But all of the above reasons, in principle, apply to all children's content. Worrying specifically about Sentai, given that the franchise, at least in Japan, is at the top, seems excessive to say the least.

So I remembered a list someone made calculating how much each head wroter for Kamen Rider wrote out of the episodes of the series they were showrunner for (since there are 5 Rider shows that changed head writers partway through, and one with two head writers who wrote different episodes). So I decided to do the same for each Super Sentai season (I’m going with the very high probability that Tomioka will be doing the last episode of Boonboomger, because it would be very strange if he didn’t).

Sentai Head Writer percentages.
Gorenger: 51/84 (60.8%)
JAKQ: 26/35 (74.3%)
Battle Fever: 36/52 (69.2%)
Denziman: 30/51 (58.8%)
Sun Vulcan: 29/50 (58%)
Goggle Five: 29/50 (58%)
Dynaman: 31/51 (60.7%)
Bioman: 37/51 (72.5%)
Changeman: 39/55 (70.9%)
Flashman: 36/50 (72%)
Maskman: 35/51 (68.6%)
Liveman: 37/49 (75.5%)
Turboranger: 33/51 (64.7%)
Fiveman: 33/48 (68.75%)
Jetman: 29/51 (56.9%)
Zyuranger: 34/50 (68%)
Dairanger: 26/50 (52%)
Kakuranger: 32/53 (60.4%)
Ohranger: 23/48 (47.9%)
Carranger: 28/48 (58.3%)
Megaranger: 22/51 (41.1%)
Gingaman: 36/50 (72%)
GoGoV: 23/50 (46%)
Timeranger: 40/51 (78.4%)
Gaoranger: 38/51 (74.5%)
Hurricaneger: 23/51 (45.1%)
Abaranger: 26/50 (52%)
Dekaranger: 27/50 (54%)
Magiranger: 16/49 (32.7%)
Boukenger: 23/49 (46.9%)
Gekiranger: 24/49 (48.97%)
Go-Onger: 25/50 (50%)
Shinkenger: 42/49 (85.7%)
Goseiger: 24/50 (48%)
Gokaiger: 25/51 (49.01%)
Go-Busters: 36/50 (72%)
Kyoryuger: 48/48 (100%)
ToQger: 36/47 (76.6%)
Ninninger: 39/47 (82.97%)
Zyuohger: 34/48 (70.8%)
Kyuranger: 42/48 (87.5%)
Lupinranger vs Patranger: 33/51 (64.7%)
Ryusoulger: 32/48 (66.7%)
Kiramager: 20/45 (44.4%)
Zenkaiger: 47/49 (95.91%)
Donbrothers: 49/50 (98%)
King-Ohger: 48/50 (96%)
Boonboomger: 25/48 (52.1%)

I am genuinely impressed. :rock:

It occurred to me that Super Sentai should resume replacing the rangers. That is, this was never a particularly popular technique and was only practiced out of necessity, but it seems to me that right now it would benefit the franchise.
Firstly: this allowed us to increase the number of rangers (and therefore toys) without creating overly cumbersome teams and devoting time to each character.
That is, for example, the Black Ranger leaves and is replaced by the White Ranger, etc.
Secondly: since these replacements will be in advance (plus/minus are spelled out), this will make it possible to create more complex and less predictable stories, which are now more the prerogative of the Riders. Characters will leave, return, try themselves in different roles, and all this will diversify the franchise well.

And finally, I want to share my opinion about these replacements in the show where they were used most often. Namely, in Battle Fever J. The change of Miss America as a whole was good for the show. Yes, I would have preferred that Diana's place be taken by Tomoko or Keiko, but it is typical for tokusatsu to prefer introducing a new character to changing the status of an old one. . However, Maria was clearly a likable and even necessary character who updated the show well.
But the Cossack replacement, in my opinion, turned out to be extremely unsuccessful. Yes, Daisuke Ban is a recognizable face, but his character, Makoto Jin, does not at all cover the loss of Shiraishi. These are two very different characters, which is reflected in the way they are presented in the opening. Shiraishi saves a girl from under a car, then crashes into a pole while Jin shoots. And in fact, this is precisely why the loss of Shiraishi is such a big blow to the show. He is the most sympathetic and selfless member of the team. Each episode dedicated to him is essentially a story about how he helps someone. And this is very important so that the viewer can understand that in the show good fights evil, and not just guys in colorful suits beating each other up.
And here's the thing. There is nothing wrong with replacing a character with someone completely different.But then the replacement must open up new perspectives, as in the case of Mary. But Jin doesn’t give it. Basically, he's the same calm cool guy as Den Masao, who is already on the team. Only even calmer, cooler and without a sense of humor. Not that it added anything to the show, which suffered from the loss of Shiraishi. And I seriously don't see how any of the Jin-centric episodes couldn't have been done with another character.
So, as for me, the writers got into trouble with him and only the presence of a recognizable actor, loved from other shows, saves the situation a little.

I finished Time Ranger on Tubi today.

As I own 15 of them (5 Man - Deka) from Shout Factory I will finish these first before I stream the rest.

Random thought crossed my mind. I got curious curious, how often do the main mecha and sixth ranger's mecha have a combination? While it's typically seen as a given, does it happen as often as we assume it does each season?
And I also wanted to know how far one could stretch the idea of a combination. Does standing on a mech mean they've now combined?
Zyuranger/MMPR S1 has Zyutei Daizyujin/Mega Dragonzord (And the Ultra combination), so that's a Yes.
Dairanger/MMPR S2 has one that's debatable. Won Tiger can't combine with RyuuseiOh, but it does have the Heavy Armor Qi Palace...Which involves Won Tiger sitting inside Daimugen, and the individual components of DaiRen Oh standing on top of Daimugen in their Qi Palace formation. Does this count as a combination if no one is combining? I dunno, so I'll put a tentative Maybe? for this one.
Kakuranger/MMPR S3 is the first one that truly matters on whether or not you're going with PR or Sentai. For PR, it's an easy Yes, since all 5 Ninja Zords plus Tommy's Falconzord. But Kakuranger's sixth stand in is the extra hero, Ninjaman, who can't combine, making it a No.
Ohranger/Zeo holds another contentious option. King Pyramider and Ohranger Robo's combo is just the components of Ohranger Robo standing on King Pyramider like an aircraft carrier, while Super Ohranger Robo's combo is just it standing inside Pyramider. No combining, just carrying with extra steps...So...Maybe?
Carranger/Turbo is a clear cut No. Signalman's robot can't combine with rangers'. And even considering Turbo's Phantom Ranger as a full blown ranger, giving the Rescue Megazord Artillatron's cannons a combination does not make.
Megaranger/In Space pushes things a bit. While the Mega Winger can't interact with the Astro Mega, it can with the Mega Voyager. However, it's only able to equip it's wings and nothing more. Hard to call it a real combination, so much like the Rescue Megazord getting some cannons, Mega Voyager getting some wings I wouldn't call a full combination. No.
Gingaman/Lost Galaxy is lacking a sixth ranger, and the stand in cannot combine with any of the mechs. Easy No.
GoGoV/Lightspeed Rescue once again varies depending on which version we're going with. GoGoV lacks a sixth ranger entirely, not even having a stand in extra hero, so No. However, Lightspeed has the Titanium Ranger, whose official zord is the Max Solarzord, which can combine to make the Lightspeed Solarzord, so...Yeah. Even if footage of Ryan piloting the thing is rare, it's still his.
Timeranger/Time Force is a No. While Time Robo can ride V/Q-Rex, it's not a combination, just one mech hitching a ride on another.
Gaoranger/Wild Force is a surprising No. Despite the play feature revolving around part swapping, there's no real way to combine all 6 rangers' mechs.
Hurricanger/Ninja Storm is close. However, it falls just short. Tenkuujin and the Dolphin zord don't seem to get along, as no combination makes use of both, leaving it out of the final 2 combinations. No.
Abaranger/Dino Thunder is also an unfortunate No. Brachio participates in no combinations, merely hauling the others into battle (And being used as a ramp once or twice).
Dekaranger/SPD finally nets us a 6 person combination, not excluding any rangers for Super Dekaranger Robo. Yes
Magiranger/Mystic Force Once again opts to not, as Travelion sticks to itself. No. Fun fact: For the toys, Travelion's torso can replace Magiking's, but that's still axing Phoenix and Fairy (And the other cars), so it's still no.
Boukenger/Operation Overdrive. Despite having the impressive 10 part Ultimate Daibouken, it doesn't utilize any of Siren Builder's mech to do so. So No.
Gekiranger/Jungle Fury is also an easy No. Regardless of Touja or Fire, the Rhino and Red's mech are put together, while the other 3 rangers' mechs just run alongside it (Also, not a six man team anyway, but even including Rio and Mele, the other 3 mechs just kind of running still invalidate it)
Go-Onger/RPM A very strong Yes. G12 is one of the poster boys for clusterfuck combos, and for good reason. And all 7 rangers were already together for G9, so an even bigger combo is just icing on the cake.
Shinkenger/Samurai is also another Yes, though much weaker. All 6 rangers' mechs come together for Daikai Shinken Oh, though by the time we reach Samurai HaOh, pink and yellow's mechs are just kind of hanging off the rear wheels? Eh, still, they achieved a full blown combo earlier, so it's fine.
Goseiger/Megaforce is another Yes. Back to back, fantastic! Ground Gosei Great makes use of all six rangers, as well as an additional Headder for good use. While their final mech, Gosei Wonder, can't interact with Ground, they still managed a full combo of all 6.
Gokaiger/Super Megaforce is most definitely a No. While their Kanzen Gokai Oh is impressive, it eschews the other 4 Gokai machines and 2/3 of Gokai Silver's GoZyuJin.
Go-Busters/Beast Morphers is a very solid Yes. Great Go-Buster goes through extensive methods to use everything, even to it's own detriment of looking chunkier than a fat kid at a golden corral.
Kyoryuger/Dino Charge is a curious No. Despite it's abundance of various combinations, there is no combination that uses all 5 main rangers and Kyoryu Gold. Hell, it takes until their final combo to even use all 5 main rangers in one combination.
ToQger needs the help of the secondary mecha, Diesel Oh, when combining with Build Dai-Oh but they get there. Yes.
Ninninger/Ninja Steel is an easy Yes. I'm not so pedantic as to consider whether the individual shuriken should be included.
Zyuohger is another easy Yes. The first 9 cube animals all come together. Their final form pushes it by excluding the trailer portion of Cube Rhino, but Tousai King gets it done.
Kyuranger/Cosmic Fury ends our streak. The closest we get is Kyutamajin, but that excludes nearly every mecha, only using the Kyutama. So No.
Lupinranger vs Patranger is a very curious situation. Now, we obviously have Good Cool Kaiser VSX, a combination that uses all 7 rangers mechs. However, viewing each team as individuals, there is no combo between Lupin/Pat X's trains and the normal mecha. However, there is still a combination that makes use of all the main mechs, even if they have to be with their enemies to do so, so Yes
Ryusoulger/Dino Fury continues the tend of having a highly customizable system, and not utilizing it to it's fullest. Once Mosa Rex starts appearing in combinations, the other rangers' mechs tend to be excluded, unfortunately. No
Kiramager is another No, with Gigant Driller doing it's own thing.
Zenkaiger continues on with the lack of full combos. While we get a 5 man combination at the end, Crocodai Oh is never modified to interact. Sad. No.
DonBrothers though, has a hell of a final combination, making use of both of Jiro's mech and the Phoenix. Yes
King Ohger then takes it even further, not just making use of all 6 rangers, but even each auxiliary mech too, for a huge combo in God King Ohger. Yes.
Boomboonger has us asking if one mecha squatting as another stands behind it to fire a big attack counts as a combination. I don't consider it, but others may, so...Maybe?

Going through, it's curious to see that, if only going by Sentai, we don't have a definitive 6 ranger combination for 9 years (Ohranger to Dekaranger. Even further if you're like me and you're hesitant to count Ohranger's combinations).
We also max out at 2 different 3 year streaks of full combos.
Additionally, despite introducing the sixth ranger over 30 years ago, only 11 seasons actually feature a full 6 ranger team combination.

I find it interesting that it's not as common as we assume it is.

Well, that takes some pressure off us to figure out how the heck to work the sixth's mecha into every fan-series robot we think up ��
As a related question, it seems like sixth rangers always get their own robot, but are there any who just have non-humanoid mecha and only get to be in a humanoid robot by combining with the other rangers?

That one is fairly easy. They mostly always get a full blown mech.
Dragon Caesar and Top Galer are the only two.

Several sixths do need additional components to become humanoid, but they often debut alongside them (Or close to), and are essentially treated as their personal mechs. Gao Silver's personal animal is Gao Wolf, but the other two are his as well. Same for Gosei Knight's Ground Leon, but owning the Air and Sea Leon Headders, too.