[Suzu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueBuster116

I think the most proper answer to this is just KR Hibiki.

Actually, Hibiki as a show was very popular. The major problem were the toy sales, not the ratings. And that is completely understandeable because as cool as they Hibiki toys look from an adult point of view, I probably wouldn't have liked them either as a kid.
The authors didn't feel the need to change the show so more toys could be sold (because- it wasn't broken, why fix it? The show itself wasn't the problem) and thus Toei changed the staff so they could do something about the toys.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueBuster116

Quite frankly, more people beyond the age and population you mentioned really want Sentais to return to its roots. Am i American? no, Am i a teenage?, i wish. Am i an adult? yes, and i really enjoyed sentais as a child, i was introduced to them first and i didn't mind if the story was dark or had a serious tone, in fact it was interesting because at the time, they did cared for building up a concept and as such it was easier for the kids to relate with something that could happen (more or less) taking out the fact that it was just fiction, but when Toei began to rely heavily in supernatural plots and out of this world solutions plus emphasizing more animation generated content, it became like something cheap and disposable. In the long term yields predictable scenarios and plots plus Kids now accustom to the idea that a deus ex machina (magic, nature, or whatever) will make things to get solved.

I think this is a somewhat generational problem.
Military Sentai was very popular in a time that was not too long after WWII, with many serious global crises going on (there's still some, but let's say the overall atmosphere was different). For a world in which conflicts felt extremely close and real, people wanted to have heroes that felt real to tackle those problems.
Younger generations grew up in a somewhat more peaceful time. In the Heisei era, more fantastic concepts are popular, we like to keep war where it is- far away from us. That's of course a personal theory, but I think this is where it comes from.

Also, you're heavily overreacting on the magic thing. Sentai with magical themes are not just some godly power solving some problem. Take Magiranger for example. Yes, they use magic. But they create magic by being brave. The more mental power they have, the more magic they can use. It's not about some power from outside helping them out when they're in trouble. It's about growing stronger as a person, being rewarded with a power to solve your problems, presented metaphorically through magic here.
Same with Goseiger. The Goseigers ultimately defeat the main villain not because some greater power helps them out, but because they accept their own inexperience and decide to grow stronger, creating a power to save the world by changing their mental state.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueBuster116

If the current trend is maintained, probably something so mainstream and over goofy that even hardcore fans of today will find it hard to digest. Neither to imagine how would the kids of tomorrow be like.

You do realize that 80's and 90's Sentai are also extremely mainstream? Because as you said, the show always had an identity. In the early years, the mainstream for Sentai was dark and military, while newer Sentai have a more fantasy-heavy, light-hearted mainstream.
Don't cry for something being mainstream if you want another time's mainstream back. Please.

Also, 80's Sentai is super goofy as well. I mean, look at this!


Someone mentions Nessie and this is what the Sun Vulcan members do: making goofy poses and chant "Nessie! Nessie! Nessie!". How is that less goofy than today's Sentai?
And not only the heroes where goofy, but also the villains:


Excuse me, but saying today's Sentai was childish and not serious enough doesn't work, when you completely ignore that Sentai was always goofy and for children.
It was a bit grittier back in the day (which is also due to the time when it was broadcast- you can do darker stuff in the evening, when the whole family watches it, than in the morning, when it's mostly just children), but overall, Sentai is still Sentai.