[Androzani84]

Favorite New Show of 2023

I’m gonna champion the little guy and go for Ultraman Regulos.

Favorite New-to-You Show of 2023

I only saw two new shows this year, and while V3 had some of the craziest monsters in Rider, it’s Jiban’s ludicrously specific set of laws for any crime the villains might commit that wins it for me

Favorite Movie, Miniseries, or Special of 2023

Juuga vs Olteca takes it for me, purely for the “UKIP” and “(name of former President redacted)” jokes me and a friend got out of the “Humans as Kamen Riders” project.

Favorite Rewatch of 2023

It’s a tie between Blue SWAT and B-Fighter Kabuto for me, given that I was finally watching both without having to wait weeks between new releases.

Favorite Male Lead Character

I’m going to go with Regulos again, because it was refreshing that they didn’t depict his desire for revenge against the people who killed his friends and injured his teacher as wrong, so much as the intent behind them (his emotions).

Favorite Female Lead Character

Rinne has been a nice breath of fresh air from the more overly emotional or comical females of previous years.

Favorite Male Supporting Character

Yanma Gast, for being arguably the smartest person in the first episode of his show, due to not buying Rcules’ bullsh*t.

Favorite Female Supporting Character

Sara Sakurai, probably the most selfless person in Geats (even Keiwa’s wish to revive the fallen of the DGP had some air of self-gratification behind it) and she has probably the most unique animal motif of any Toku hero.

Favorite Villain

Beroba, both for how she’s such a sick bitch and this line from TV-Nihon’s April Fools release, directed at Michinaga (“I knew that makeover would go to your head”)

Favorite Returning Past Character

Going for the deep cut with the return of Imit-Ultraman in Regulos: First Misison after what appears to be over a decade.

Favourite Actor

Masahi Ikeda (Jeramie from King-Ohger) takes the crown, both for spending much of his early screen time off screen and his uncanny impersonation of Taisei Sakai (Gira) in the body swap episode.

Favourite Actress

Alisa Sakimaki (Lachesis in Gotchard), and I’m shallow enough to admit that it’s partially because she’s hot.

Favourite Writer

Hiroki Uchida’s been consistently on point this year, so he takes the crown.

Favourite Director

Takayuki Shibisaki for KR Outsiders. Zein’s debut was suitably intimidating.

Favourite Suit Design

Tonbo-Ohger. It’s my regret that I haven’t got around to buying an action figure.

Favorite Weapon/Vehicle/Mecha

The Bujin (Keiwa’s katana), for its sheer simplicity.

Favourite Fight Scene

UFO-X’s debut battle against Dread

Favourite Dramatic Scene

Yanma sacrificing his chance to take back N’Kosopa to rescue his friend. Though it’s mostly for the song lyrics playing in the background

Favourite Comedic Scene

Lord Zedd’s signature letter being mistaken for ‘N’s.

Biggest "WTF did I just watch?" Moment

Blazar’s first episode, purely for how unusual it is.

Favourite Song

Again, the one from King-Ohger 35. But since I don’t have a name for that yet, rain forecast from Ultraman Regulos.

Favorite Piece of Merchandise

By default (being one of five things out this year I bought), it’s the Gotchardriver (with the close second being the Ultraman Dyna Flash Type Hyper Key)

Biggest Surprise of 2023

The end of New Generation Stars revealing that the mystery villain wasn’t malicious at all.

Biggest Disappointment of 2023:

Ultraman Blazar’s toyline. It seemed cool in the promos, but seeing it in reviews made clear that it wasn’t that cool (it’s dependent on stock dialogue, with the only change between form related items being the colours and transformation sounds)

Most Anticipated Tokusatsu Project and/or Merch of 2024

It’s a tie between the return of the Hyper Keys and the new Mebium Brace with the voices of the Showa Ultra actors who appeared in Mebius.