[Androzani84]

Shuriken Sentai Ninninger Shinobi 7: Spring Ninja Festival

"To earn the title of 'Last Ninja', his five grandchildren carry on his will. Their enemy: the strongest Sengoku general, Kibaoni Gengetsu. The current young ninjas are the Shinobi that don't hide!"

The characters

Takaharu Igasaki/AkaNinger: “A Splendid Rampage”. One of Yoshitaka Igasaki's successors, Takaharu was one of his grandchildren chosen to become the Ninninger, even the first one to use its powers. While on his way to his family's dojo, an army of Hitokarage destroyed it, with Takaharu transformed for the first time as AkaNinger and eliminate them. After reuniting with the other Ninninger candidates, Tsumuji Igasaki, his father leads them to Gengetsu Kibaoni's resting place, which was sealed by Yoshitaka until the Sealing Shuriken were released by the revived Gengetsu and wandered off to various part of the city. After the Ninningers destroy Youkai Kamaitachi, it grew large and they received five OtominNin Shuriken, which they used to form Shurikenjin and finished the Youkai. Yoshitaka revealed himself to be much alive, but lectured them for their inexperience and lead them to the new dojo that they will use as their new base. Over time, Takaharu becomes his team's leader, as they face many more Youkai and tried to reclaim their grandfather's 48 Sealing Shuriken while trying to inherit the Last Ninja title. Takaharu is the type that acts before thinking. He acts like a big brother, trying to pull everyone together, sometimes unsuccessfully. His caring nature makes him draw the shortest straw most of the time, but even then, he is an optimist who believes everything will be alright.

Yakumo Kato/AoNinger: “The Roaring Cloud”. Takaharu’s cousin who spent his time in England, learning magic from a special school. He’s spent so much time there he now considers himself an Englishman and has picked up a habit of saying “Easy, isn’t it?” as a catchphrase. Yakumo has lived most of his life abroad and was learning European magic in England when he was called back. He is the rich boy type with a cool demeanor and somewhat presumptuous. In contrast, however, he has a quick temper and can be a bit of a bonehead at times. Out of his cousins/Ninningers, Yakumo is a quick-learner and can master ninjutsu more quickly than the others, claiming it easier than magic. Yakumo at first had no interest in Ninjutsu, claiming it easier than magic training. This was however until when he was lectured by Takaharu/AkaNinger and had developed a rivalry with him, he decided to compete with the others to inherit his grandfather's title as the Last Ninja.

Nagi Matsuo/KiNinger: “The Dazzling Calm”. Another cousin who is a high school student. His main character trait is helping others in need. Nagi is a very friendly young man. He may seem to not be thinking of anything but is actually very observant and street smart. He is obsessed with getting licences and certifications for different things to make good use of. Knowing of his grandfather's title as the Last Ninja, he decided to compete against his teammates to inherit it, thinking the title would help him in looking for jobs.

Fuuka Igasaki/ShiroNinger: “A Petal Blowing in the Wind”. Takaharu’s younger sister, who is still in high school. Unlike the rest of her family, she would very much like to pretend she is not a ninja… probably because of all the abuse she takes on the job (though she still gets some off the job). A pure, optimistic and hard working young girl. Fuuka is Takaharu’s younger sister and her reliability may be the product of growing up with a fireball like Takaharu. She is jolly most of the time but when something saddens her, it is very deeply.

Kasumi Momochi/MomoNinger: “The Wavering Mist”. The last of the 5 cousins competing for the Last Ninja title. Kasumi’s field is science and experimentation, often coming up with plans that could hurt someone if they go wrong… which is why all of them are tested on Fuuka. Kasumi is a very reserved girl with something of a genius in her. She loves science and is very astute with mechanics, but she is unable to read between lines or take a hint. Hence there are times in which, in spite of her looks, she can be really sharp-tongued. At the same time, deep within her there are some very girly aspects she seldom shows. Inspired by her grandfather's ability to communicate with aliens, she dreams of becoming an astronaut.

Allies:

Yoshitaka Igasaki: The legendary Last Ninja, who was active 444 years ago. Among his feats are making first contact with extraterrestrial life and defeating the Kibaoni Yokai Army all those years ago. With Kibaoni’s revival imanent, he created the NinShurikens and OtomoNin for his grandchildren to use both to defeat the Yokai threat and to compete to succeed him as the Last Ninja.

Tsumuji Igasaki: Takaharu and Fuukas’ father, who never learned ninjutsu. So of course, Yoshitaka put him in charge of teaching the next generation the ways of Shuriken Ninpo. Is basically an older and wiser version of Takaharu in personality.

Other Sentai heroes

Sasuke/NinjaRed: The 24th descendant of Sarutobi Sasuke, who, along with 5 other legendary ninjas, sealed away the Yokai Army Corps (no relation to Kibaoni’s). In 1994, their descendants formed the Ninja Sentai Kakuranger to prevent the return of the Yokai from destroying the world.

Tsuyoshi Kaijo/Akarenger: A soldier for EAGLE (EArth Guard LEague), who was the sole survivor of the destruction of the Kaito base at the hands of Kurojuji Army’s Ōgon Kamen. He and EAGLE’s chief this gathered the survivors of EAGLE’s other branches into HimitsuSentaiGorenger Sentai Gorenger, Earth’s first Super Sentai warriors(in terms of chronicle. Choriki Sentai Ohranger’s KingRanger is the first in history).

Kibaoni Yokai Army Corps.

Kyuemon Izayoi: The retainer of Kibaoni, who now seeks to revive him by turning the 48 Sealing Shuriken that imprisoned him into Yokai to collect grief. He also has mastery of Izayoi style Yojutsu, a similar style to Igasaki style Ninpo, which he uses to enlarge defeated Yokai and to create a gigantic, barely sentient Yokai known as a Gashadokuro, though he uses a hammer rather than a sword to perform these techniques. He has an (currently) unknown history with Yoshitaka, who he believes to be carrying the “Owari no Shuriken”(Shuriken of the End, often rendered as End Shuriken in English), which he needs for an unknown purpose.

Raizo Gabi: the Spearhead of the Kibaoni army, who possesses a fierce hatred of the Igasaki Ninja and a lust for power. The first of the army’s leaders to be resurrected in the modern day, he cares little for the goal of reviving the master, instead focusing on defeating AkaNinger, the only Igasaki ninja who can match him in combat. He only goes along with Kyuemon’s orders because the Ninningers are after the Sealing Shurikens, which he can use as an excuse to have the fight he’s looking for.

Hitokarage: The footsoldiers for the Kibaoni Corps.

A lot of fans hate Ninninger. I am not one of them.

This episode actually has another name you won’t be familiar with if you only follow my threads to know who’s who in Sentai writers. Namely, Kento Shimoyama. He was a staff writer on Sentai from Shinkenger through Go-Busters, before moving on to do the Kikaider REBOOT movie, before doing this show. After this, he stayed on as a staff writer through Zyuohger and Kyuranger, before jumping ship to Kamen Rider to write Zi-O. And since that, he hasn’t done much Tokusatsu related (though reportedly, he is in talks to do Zi-O’s novel). With all that said, on with the review.

The episode opens with the 5 Ninningers pushing themselves harder than normal, which Tsumuji notes.



Yakumo explains that it’s because of how badly everyone was defeated by Gabi in the last episode.



As Takaharu defeats Nagi handily (which was ironically, what they were trying to prevent in order to get stronger. Guess the training isn’t going well), and Kasumi gets the better of Fuuka, Fuuka tries to work up the courage to thank him for saving her life in the last episode… and fails miserably (man, this just isn’t her day).



Tsumuji stops the training as Yakumo beats up Nagi (it isn’t his day either) to give a speech about how Fuuka getting kidnapped last time made him realise how helpless he was, not knowing ninjutsu like they do. So that’s why he’s called in a pair of special teachers in to help them improve.



The titles then commence and our usual narration gets replaced with one explaining why two legendary Sentai are showing up in what is ostensibly not another Gokaiger.









(This was supposed to air on the direct anniversary, but due to ToQger’s penultimate episode being preempted for coverage of a murder, it was pushed back and aired a week later).

We then cut to the titles and the absolute banger that is “Saa Ike, Ninninger!”

As the episode resumes, the two new teachers introduce themselves.





As the students bow in deference, Sasuke asks them to consider something before training begins.



Takaharu answers this as “one who doesn’t give in to fear or worries, or takes things lightly.” Yosuke then chimes in with my opinion on some callbacks that aren’t entirely right.



Sasuke and Yosuke then give their own ideas of what a ninja is (read: their team’s mottos).









They then make it clear that this isn’t so much a lesson, as it is an intervention related to the Ninninger motto “We are shinobi, but we do not hide”. (Which producer Naomi Takebe said in interviews she deliberately chose as the Ninninger motto because it was the opposite of Kakuranger’s, so to show these were a new breed of ninja for the 21st Century)





We then cut away from the “it was better in my day” stuff to the training, with the two legends during it out in front of the kids. Sasuke uses his Wakemi no Jutsu.



Yosuke then counters with Chou Ninpo: Soragake.



The fight then ends with the lesson plan for today.



Despite Fuuka’s protests, everyone breaks into groups and tries it. But Fuuka’s worries prove correct when her own Shuriken Ninpo: Bunshin no Jutsu goes awry. (Though it’s not seen here, Kasumi’s falls apart immediately afterwards)



As Nagi proves unable to do better than a Migawari no Jutsu (using a scarecrow as a double to fool your enemies. For reference, he was trying the Bunshin no Jutsu), Yakumo seems to have mastered the Soragake no Jutsu. Or so it seems.



Finally, Takaharu gets knocked out of his transformation by Sasuke before he can do a Migawari no Jutsu.



At the Kibaoni headquarters (I think it’s a mansion, but I’m not sure), Kyuemon sends Gabi to recover from his injuries sustained in the last episode (wherein Taka beat him up and cut off one of his horns).



He agrees reluctantly, but leaves one request behind for when he returns (which’ll be two episodes from now).



Kyuemon then remembers Yoshitaka telling him that the Owari no Shuriken was not in his position, which he disbelieves, having seen it in his possession before (this’ll be expended upon in a few episodes).





Back at the Igasaki dojo, everyone receives their scores for the day.













Yosuke and Sasuke then make it clear they think all of them are fairly bad at being ninjas, but Takaharu in particular is someone they’re surprised is even still alive (to be fair, he is an idiot and none of the monsters so far do much actual fighting).





Takaharu says that it sounds fun, which just confuses the two.

Takaharu: I’m counting on you two for stronger training. This is hot. I’m on fiiire!”

As the two legend ninjas shoot each other confused looks, a Sealing Shuriken finds its way to a stopwatch, creating the Yokai Nekomata (despite what the caption is translated as, that is not a subtitle. That’s the literal translation of Nekomata).



As the Yokai alert sounds in the dojo, Sasuke stops Takaharu from leaving, despite everyone’s glowing testimony, using his On Saru Nin technique to freeze him, before Yosuke binds him with Chou Ninpo: Jizai Nawa (wasn’t that one of Sandaaru’s techniques?)



As Nekomata uses his power to send things backwards in time, Kyuemon finds him and gets an idea.



He entrusts Nekomata with locating the Owari no Shuriken from the point in time where Kyuemon last saw it, ten years ago. As the Ninjas show up to face him, and Takaharu escapes the ropes with his teeth, Kyuemon stops the Ninningers with Yojutsu: Ikazuchi Shourai no Jutsu (which sadly, does not summon the Gouraigers, despite the name).



Nekomata thus uses this opening to blast everyone out of their suits and open a doorway to time, allowing him to go back to the past. Takaharu shows up and runs into the door just as it closes.



Yosuke and Sasuke thus lament that they failed.



They explain to the others that Taka and the Yokai went back in time ten years, explains why they decided to train the Ninningers today, rather than before.













To help out his newcomer, Yosuke initiated Ryuuha Choetsu: Kage no Mai.



But Nekomata had what he’d come for and opened a doorway of time to return to the future. When Takaharu tried to stop him, he was blown to pieces by an attack from Nekomata.



All that remained was his burnt out score sheet he’d received earlier.



They came to train the Ninningers to try and help Takaharu save himself from death. But they failed. And Fuuka has a sobering realisation.



But Yakumo refuses to believe the Takaharu is dead, because that would mean that he died before Yakumo could become the better ninja. (I see he’s in stage one of grief) Nekomata then returns and hands off the box he recovered to a Hitokarage who takes it away. Before he can attack them, Takaharu appears and kicks him from behind (“Don’t kill me off” is practically his family motto, after all).



He explains that he made the Yokai think he was dead with a Migawari no Jutsu and then crawled after it through the doorway. Sasuke is sceptical though.





Everyone then shows a remarkable amount of faith that he was alive the whole time (where was this faith when he was seemingly dead)



As Nekomata recovers, everyone prepare for battle with the obligatory transformation scene.

Ninningers: Shuriken Henge!

Sasuke: Super Henge, Doron Changer!

Yosuke: Ninpuu, Shinobi Change!



And then, it’s roll call time.



Sasuke: Ninja Red, Sasuke!

Yosuke: The winds cry, the sky rages! Sky Ninja, HurricaneRed!

Takaharu: The Splendid Rampage, AkaNinger!

Yakumo: The Roaring Cloud, AoNinger!

Nagi: The Dazzling Calm, KiNinger!

Fuuka: A Petal Blowing in the Wind, ShiroNinger!

Kasumi: The Wavering Mist, MomoNinger!

Takaharu: We are Shinobi, but we do not hide…

Ninningers: Shuriken Sentai Ninninger!





A fight then begins.

Takaharu: Instead of hiding, we rampage!



The Ninninger face down Nekomata, who gives them some slight trouble before they get the better of him through the aid of the Legend Ninjas, who invite Takaharu to join them, after Sasuke blasts Nekomata with On Saru Nin: Kaen Tsumuji no Jutsu and Yosuke hits him with Chou Ninpo: Ranbu San-Juu Shou (that technique that was crucial to victory in the first two Sakai episodes of Hurricaneger. I finally learned how to spell it).



After Nekomata finds his techniques have no effect on the now, more powerful Ninjas, who all hit him with their most powerful sword techniques.

Sasuke: Kakure-Ryu: Mangetsu Giri!

Yosuke: Uchuu Toitsu Ninja-Ryu Kengi: Shippu Zan! (Nice nod, but in the 10 Years After, it was still Hayate-Ryu Kengi.)

Takaharu: Nin Retsu Zan!

As Nekomata dies from this, the two Legends give their one-liners.

Yosuke: Say bye bye!

Sasuke: Praise Buddha.

Then Takaharu feels his ass burning, which means there’s a new NinShuriken incoming. This time, there’s two, based off Kakuranger and Hurricaneger.



The team collectively realises what this means.



Elsewhere, Kyuemon opens the box… only to find that it’s not the Owari no Shuriken inside.



He then throws it away in disgust, much to Sasuke’s hilarious consternation.



Kyuemon leaves them for today, summoning a Gashdokuro as he does so via Gashadokuro Shokan no Jutsu. The Ninningers has summon their 5 OtomoNin, Shinobimaru, Dragomaru, Dumpmaru, Wanmaru and Byunmaru, combing them into Shuriken Gattai Shurikenjin.

When the Gashadokuro proves much more powerful than the first one they faced, they get advice from Sasuke to use their new Waza NinShurikens to turn the tide.

First, they use Shuriken Ninpo: Kakure no Jutsu to replicate Shurikenjin for a four-pronged attack.



Takaharu then has Shinobimaru attack close up using Shuriken Ninpo: Hurricane no Jutsu.



They then destroy the Gashadokuro with Shurikenjin’s Appare Giri (Splendid Cut). They then find neither a hide nor hair of Sasuke or Yosuke.



Fuuka then decides to thank Taka at long last, saying that it’s whatever when he doesn’t remember what she’s thanking him for.



From afar, Sasuke and Yosuke observe the Ninningers, realising there’s a merit to the “shinobi who don’t hide” thing.





Then Akarenger and Yoshitaka showing up, with the former pointing out that for all their mottos about being in the shadows, they were much the same in the hiding record (well, Sasuke was. Yosuke’s support crew included memory wiping robots).



The episode then ends with a discussion between Yoshitaka and Akarenger, as the Ninningers go home, unaware of this.







In my next instalment, the Ninningers recap their past battles with the help of another legend, but things don’t quite go as planned. This and more in “Shinobi 43: The Legendary Ninja! Yokai Karuta Tactics!”

Final thoughts: A fairly good display of the idea that the new generation, while they might not be doing things the way it was done in your day, can in fact produce results that are just as good, if not more. Or as a wise man once put it “tradition sucks”. And we get a monster with a unique gimmick on top of that (even if I did think there was slightly more that could be done with it, especially in an anniversary episode, but I’ll let that slide).

[Androzani84]

Shinobi 43: The Legendary Ninja! Yokai Karuta Tactics

Okay, there’s been sone changes to Ninninger’s status quo since last time, so I’ll start by recapping those.

New Characters:

Kinji Takigawa/StarNinger: “The Colourful Star”. An American from a long line of Yokai-hunting cowboys (no, really), whose family was murdered by the Western Yokai Ookami Otoko (wolf man). He idolises the Last Ninja and purchased the gear needed to become a student of Igasaki-Ryu Shuriken Ninpo, which he became after many arduous tests. Kinji bears a likeness to Takaharu, since both are fans of Yoshitaka Igasaki and wishes to follow his path as the Last Ninja. Due to this, he labels himself with the title of Youkai Hunter, hunting Youkai to become stronger. Ever since he learned of Yoshitaka being a Ninja, Kinji displays fanaticism over things related to ninjas and Youkai, even likes to take pictures and footprints of any Youkai he comes across with. Kinji himself is naive, having following others' orders and quickly apologizes should he had made a mistake, even tends to leave his opponents alone if they were busy with their situations. After bonding with Yakumo Katou/AoNinger, Kinji's partnership with the magic ninja, who learned the art of magic at a school in England, is jokingly referred to by the other Ninningers as the Western Combo (欧米コンビ Ōbei Konbi, Western Combi), coined by Kasumi, referring to the special relationship between the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

Shishi-Oh/Lion Haoh Jou (Lion Supreme King Castle): The legendary Flying OtomoNin, who was the only one Yoshitaka was unable to control. The final test for Kinji to be taken in as a student was to accomplish that task, which they did by appealing to his love of rampaging. He can take on the form of the Chozetsu NinShuriken, allowing any Ninninger he deems worthy to “Chozetsu Henge” into an armoured form that uses his power (though Kasumi prefers to use him solely for attacks, since the armour clashes with her speed-based fighting style).

The Committee to Protect Ninja Honour: A group composed of experienced ninjas from around the world, set up to prevent the public from seeing Ninjas as their enemies following the attacks by the Izayoi-Ryu Ninjas and the Karakuri Kyubey constructed from their Core Gears. Their president is Toha Yamaji/Sekai SenNin Jiraiya.

Masakage Tsuguomori: Gengetsu Kibaoni’s retainer, who took charge of the Kibaoni Army following the death of Raizo Gabi and took charge of the monster growing hammer after Kyuemon’s defeat at the hands of Gekiatsu Dai-Oh. Capable of surviving explosions that would kill a being of his size.

Ariake no Kata: Gengetsu’s shrill harpy of a wife who treats everyone equally horribly. She steals large amounts of the fear energy that’s already been gathered both to preserve her vanity and to help her give birth to her son Mangetsu (who she dotes after, despite him arguably being the one person deserving of her abuse). Takaharu can never remember her name, much to her chagrin.

New reveals about old characters

Tsumuji Igasaki: Turns out that in his teenage years, he was actually a prodigy ninja known as “Chou Ninja Tsumuji”, who specialised in wind based techniques (Tsumuji = cyclone), before his powers were taken by his fellow student, along with his memory of ever having powers.

Kyuemon Izayoi: Turns out he was once a student of Yoshitaka during his teenage years, alongside Tsumuji. But he left when he realised the Last Ninja didn’t trust him and stole his fellow student’s Nintality (the energy that makes you a Ninja), converting it into the source of his Izayoi-Ryu Yojutsu, which he shared among 5 of Kibaoni’s ninjas, allowing them to use a variant of Shuriken Ninpo. It also turns out that he’s the first born son of Gengetsu Kibaoni, which explains a lot about his dedication.

This episode is written by another new name, Nobuhiro Mouri, who’s previous writers credits include several episodes of OOO, Go-Busters and Gaim, with his most major projects so far being Gaim’s movie war with Wizard, the ToQger/Gaim crossover, the Kikaider episode of Gaim and the novel for OOO. After this series, in which he serves as the secondary writer (by default, since there are only two writers for this whole series), he goes on to be a staff writer for Ghost, the main writer for Kyuranger and the secondary writer for Zi-O and Saber.

With all that said, on with the review.

Since it’s a new year, we open with the Ninningers doing some spring cleaning. But then Tsumuji appears from behind the screen and challenges Takaharu to a fight.



After a brief struggle, in which Takaharu expresses his admiration for how challenging his dad turns out to be. But then a second Tsumuji appears and is shocked to find he has a double.



“Tsumuji” sighs at not being able to keep up his ruse for longer. He then pulls out the Shuriken Ball (you can see where this is going), and if you’re not convinced he’s related to the Ninningers, he does the Ninninger/Ninja Steel pose.



Shurikenger: I am Ninja of Ninja! The Green Light Bullet! Tenkuu Ninja, Shurikenger, has arrived!



(Don’t ask how he’s alive. The episode isn’t keen to explain it, nor how he has the Shuriken Ball again)

Having never heard of Shurikenger before, the Ninningers assume that he’s a new recruit, given their shared shuriken motifs.





But Shurikenger puts paid to the idea of a MidoNinger (at least, until the returns special), explaining why he’s here.





This then leads to some recaps of the previous Legend Ninjas they’ve faced (Oh yeah, did I mention this was a clip show?)









Shurikenger decides to put that to the test with a special training exercise: Yokai Karuta (for reference, Karuta is a game where cards are scattered over a play area and players compete to pick up cards that someone announces with a flowery description. I think that in order to win, you have to have the most cards).



Elsewhere, Arachne no Kata (who, to extend the moon theme the Kibaoni clan has going on, is voiced by Kotono Mitsuishi) is out looking for her son Mangetsu, assuring him there’s no hard feelings.



Teriyaki no Kata runs into Masakage, who assures her that Mangetsu is currently engaged in battle, which cheers her up for now.



However, as she leaves to cheer him on, Masakage admits that he can’t tell her that her son was killed by Haoh Gekiatsu Dai-Oh in the last episode (video of the Mecha included below)

As Shurikenger shows off his Karuta cards, everyone changes into kimonos (apparently, that’s part of the rules/traditions of Karuta. I don’t know why), as the game starts.



The game proceeds, with Kasumi getting the card for Kamaitachi (from episode 1), Nagi claims the card for Enraenra (from episode 11), Raizo Gabi’s (last seen in episode 12) card is obtained by Takaharu, the card for Suzembachi (from episode 33) goes to Yakumo, Taka gets Tsuchigumo (from episode 4), Fuuka gets Nue (from episodes 19-20), Mujina (from episodes 31-2) gets taken by Takaharu, Ookami Otoko (episodes 27 and 35-6) brings back some bad memories for Kinji and Tsumuji gets nostalgic and joins in when Shurikenger calls out Kasabake no Ame (who Tsumuji helped defeat in episode 16). In the middle of this disruption, the deck gets infected by a Sealing Shuriken.



The next card to get called is Yamabiko (from episode 14), which Fuuka goes for. But at the last moment, the card swaps out for the card for Ushi-Gome, sucking her into the Yamabiko card, to everyone’s confusion… even Shurikenger’s.





A creepy voice speaks up, claiming credit for the deed.



(Note that he uses “kami” rather than “shin”. There’s a reason for that)

He explains that Fuuka is now inside the Karuta, which resembles the place where they fought Yamabiko the first time… and he’s there again (he’s also now capable of disguising his appearance as well as his voice, but that doesn’t translate well to picture).



Fudagaeshi explains the new rules to everyone.



The only way to save Fuuka is to keep playing the game… which results in Yakumo and Kasumi being sucked into the cards for Otoroshi (see episode 18) and Yuki-Onna (see episode 23)





In the real world, Nagi has an idea and in the next round, everyone gets the wrong cards, allowing themselves to be sucked into the same worlds as the others.



Kinji also brings along Yakumo’s lawnmower (don’t ask) to give Yakumo a clear conscience to kill Otoroshi (it’s a long story)



As everyone transforms, Takaharu does a Chozetsu Henge…

And all three opponents are double-teamed to death.



As they return to the real world, Fudageashi uses Yojutsu: Karuta no Mai to unleash a group of revived Yokai to fight back.



Then Kinji joins in on the super mode action (the sword is his item, not the Shuriken).

Everyone defeats their opponents, except Takaharu, who gets restrained.



But Shurikenger hears the word “fire” and takes that as his cue to do something.



Shurikenger: Chou Ninpo: Senbon Knock!



It then transpires that Fudagaeshi is in the last card in the deck (even though I’m sure I saw a Kyuemon card earlier than no-one did anything with)… which the Ninningers don’t recognise (it’s the Yokai from the VS movie with ToQger, which does call into question when that movie is supposed to take place, if at all, when this episode ends)



Rumbled, Fudagaeshi reveals himself.





Then Kinji explains to all the Americans pirating this to post their views on online forums for other people to disagree with because they don’t like the show this guy likes why he used “kami” instead of “shin” to introduce himself.



As Fudagaeshi begins leaping all over the room to escape, Takaharu uses the Shukushaku Shukkushou Nin Shuriken (last seen in ToQger vs Kyoryuger) to reduce himself in size.



And so, a chase commences.



Takaharu defeats him with the Chozetsu Shuriken Zan, which creates a smaller flame that Fuuka extinguishes with a glass of water.



As this gets cleaned up, Shurikenger gives Yoshitaka his praise before leaving.



As the kids go New Years shopping, Kirisaki no Kata’s search leads her to Kyuemon.



Unlike Masakage, Kyuemon is brutally honest, telling her in the nicest way possible that her son was killed by the Igasaki ninjas.



Unable to process this revelation, Ariake no Kata explodes into a whirlpool of fear energy (relax, she’s alive)



This being exactly what Kyuemon was banking on, he then redirects the large pool of energy to the Kibaoni lair.



The accumulated energy reaches its target and begins to take shape.



As the Ninningers return from their New Years shopping, they spot a black cloud on the horizon (ominous).



And the Last Ninja tells them both that this is Gengetsu Kibaoni and that the curtain is about to rise on the final battle, as the episode ends.



Final thoughts: Nothing took special. Just a fun little self-contained episode with a little fan service and it advanced the plot. And people look down on clip shows as pointless filler.

Join me next tiem for the final (for now) instalment of my watch thread, wherein I review Hero Mama League.

[Androzani84]

Hero Mama League Episode 1: Solved in No Time! The Path to Hero Mama is a Glittering One

Here we are, at the last entry in this thread (for now). A special episode showing three former Sentai heroines as mothers. But as opposed to being some random bit of fluff, it serves as a prequel to the then-upcoming VS movie “Uchuu Sentai Kyuranger vs Space Squad (which I will not be covering here). Now then, let’s meet the other two Hero Mamas.

Marika “Jasmine” Hiwatari (nee Reimon): Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger’s DekaYellow. A psychic (ESPer), as she can pick up sensory impressions of others through handling an object or visiting a location her target has touched or been to, although she can get exhausted if she overuses them. Jasmine wears gloves to help control her powers when she doesn't need to use them.

Houka Ozu: Mahou Sentai Magiranger’s MagiPink. Utilises the wind element and is the second oldest child (and oldest daughter) of the Ozu family. Specialises in transformation magic. She is cheerful and flighty, stringing along several boyfriends (as many as 15 at the same time), and her catchphrase is "Yahoo!", but also has a tendency to refer herself in third-person. She has a narrow focus, though, and can be a troublemaker. However, she also sees everything in a positive light (except for the Infershia. Hades God Titan was the only exception), which can sometimes steer her into arguments with her older brother. She works as a fashion model when she feels like it.

And our bad guy for this special.

UchuuNin (Space Ninja) Demost: An apostle of the Genmakuu cult, taking on the identity of the legendary Sekai Ninja who was defeated by Sekai SenNin Jiraiya during the quest for the Pako. His origins and motives, like the rest of the Genmakuu, are shrouded in mystery.

Our writer for this special is Ayumi Shimo, who has no prior Sentai credits, but did go on to be a staff writer for Ryusoulger and Kiramager (like every other writer at Toei, she’s sitting Zenkaiger out). With all that said, on to this, the final review.

(Disclaimer: there are no subs for the video I am watching. Any translations choices or interpretations of the scene are entirely my own, based on the context I have)

We open on a faraway planet, with Demost in the midst of a ritual, while a narrator explains who he is and mentions that he’s part of Genmakuu.





As Demost perfects his new Ninpo, and the planet he’s on begins to glow, we cutaway to Earth to meet the members of the eponymous Hero Mama League. Nanami…



Jasmine…



And Houka.



As the narrator explains who they are with a montage, we see that they’re taking their kids to daycare.





They drop them off and then we get a look at the daycare manager Hiroto (played by Hideya Tawada, better known as Kinji from Ninninger)… who doesn’t recognise the kids’ mothers (the hell kind of daycare is he running where he doesn’t know the parents? What if something happens on his watch?)



The Hero Mamas retreat to a cafe (which isn’t very busy, since there are only three other customers). While wondering how they can impress the daycare teacher, Nanami mentions how she had to have an expandable shinobi suit made to fit her pregnancy (they didn’t just… give her time off? The Space Union Ninja Style must have a horrible union)



Then Jasmine mentions she had to have “mind the baby” stickers made for PatArmor (which means that the Space Police are either letting her bring a baby on police missions, or they’re not giving her maternity leave. Either way, their union is just as horrible).



And Houka mentions that she had to give her baby Fuuka her MagiStick as a toy (which is arguably, the least severe of the three things they’re talking about. Until you factor in that it’s a magic wand, that is based around transforming things, being giving to a baby), leaving her unable to fight (there’s also that)



They then begin thinking of ways to appear more notable to Hiroto… but they’re on a budget (both in and out of a universe). Back on his planet, Demost performs his Uchuu Ankoku Ninpo: Kikai Ninchuu Bakutan, giving birth to an army of Machine Ninsects (my own translation)… which, due to budget, are rendered as barely animated 2D drawings (the narrator explains that no image is available), which he then directs to Earth



Back with the Hero Mamas, as they discuss their home lives, we get a glimpse of Nanami’s husband… shot from the back, so we don’t see who it is (the narration assured us that we’ll find out who she and Houka married “another time”).



This conversation is interrupted at one point by Jasmine getting a call from work, wanting her on a case. She returns after a time cut, complaining about how hard it was, since there were some unusually tough Androids Boss (the nickname for Doggie Cruger/DekaMaster) was on vacation in the tropics (sadly, I don’t have an image for that). In the midst of this, Demost increases the size of his army with Uchuu Ankoku Ninpo: Mushi Seiretsu. After another few minutes of conversation, Houka receives a call from her brother Tsubasa (because by this point, Toei has Hiroya Matsumoto locked in their basement), telling her of the appearance of Infershia (the bad guys from Magiranger) remnants.



As Houka returns (and the customers and staff seem unusually unpaused by the women on the nearby table transforming into superheroes, running off and then coming back) and describes what happened (apparently, it was something to do with fish and green gunk). As Nanami feels depressed and recovers from it, the Machine Ninsects descend upon Earth, with all three running into battle together to face them, doing a group transformation…



But since there’s no budget or time, we cut to the Hero Mamas having already defeated the Machine Ninsect invasion and Demost swearing vengeance (with the narrator reminding us to watch Kyuranger vs Space Squad to see what happens next). The three then pick up their kids, with the daycare teacher at first confused about their being out of breath, but then apologising for his crass remarks earlier (glad that was solved in some way, even if it wasn’t entirely satisfactory). Nanami, Jasmine and Houka then take their kids home, as the short ends.



Final thoughts: This is just a short comedy fluff piece, with not much going on (literally, when it’s not the three characters talking in a cafe, or weird jump cuts to them doing flashy poses, it’s Demost standing there and making hand gestures). But I do like that the main gag is a threat that they don’t have the time or budget to adequately depict.

[Androzani84]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Androzani84

Hero Mama League Episode 1: Solved in No Time! The Path to Hero Mama is a Glittering One

Here we are, at the last entry in this thread (for now). A special episode showing three former Sentai heroines as mothers. But as opposed to being some random bit of fluff, it serves as a prequel to the then-upcoming VS movie “Uchuu Sentai Kyuranger vs Space Squad (which I will not be covering here). Now then, let’s meet the other two Hero Mamas.

Marika “Jasmine” Hiwatari (nee Reimon): Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger’s DekaYellow. A psychic (ESPer), as she can pick up sensory impressions of others through handling an object or visiting a location her target has touched or been to, although she can get exhausted if she overuses them. Jasmine wears gloves to help control her powers when she doesn't need to use them.

Houka Ozu: Mahou Sentai Magiranger’s MagiPink. Utilises the wind element and is the second oldest child (and oldest daughter) of the Ozu family. Specialises in transformation magic. She is cheerful and flighty, stringing along several boyfriends (as many as 15 at the same time), and her catchphrase is "Yahoo!", but also has a tendency to refer herself in third-person. She has a narrow focus, though, and can be a troublemaker. However, she also sees everything in a positive light (except for the Infershia. Hades God Titan was the only exception), which can sometimes steer her into arguments with her older brother. She works as a fashion model when she feels like it.

And our bad guy for this special.

UchuuNin (Space Ninja) Demost: An apostle of the Genmakuu cult, taking on the identity of the legendary Sekai Ninja who was defeated by Sekai SenNin Jiraiya during the quest for the Pako. His origins and motives, like the rest of the Genmakuu, are shrouded in mystery.

Our writer for this special is Ayumi Shimo, who has no prior Sentai credits, but did go on to be a staff writer for Ryusoulger and Kiramager (like every other writer at Toei, she’s sitting Zenkaiger out). With all that said, on to this, the final review.

(Disclaimer: there are no subs for the video I am watching. Any translations choices or interpretations of the scene are entirely my own, based on the context I have)

We open on a faraway planet, with Demost in the midst of a ritual, while a narrator explains who he is and mentions that he’s part of Genmakuu.





As Demost perfects his new Ninpo, and the planet he’s on begins to glow, we cutaway to Earth to meet the members of the eponymous Hero Mama League. Nanami…



Jasmine…



And Houka.



As the narrator explains who they are with a montage, we see that they’re taking their kids to daycare.





They drop them off and then we get a look at the daycare manager Hiroto (played by Hideya Tawada, better known as Kinji from Ninninger)… who doesn’t recognise the kids’ mothers (the hell kind of daycare is he running where he doesn’t know the parents? What if something happens on his watch?)



The Hero Mamas retreat to a cafe (which isn’t very busy, since there are only three other customers). While wondering how they can impress the daycare teacher, Nanami mentions how she had to have an expandable shinobi suit made to fit her pregnancy (they didn’t just… give her time off? The Space Union Ninja Style must have a horrible union)



Then Jasmine mentions she had to have “mind the baby” stickers made for PatArmor (which means that the Space Police are either letting her bring a baby on police missions, or they’re not giving her maternity leave. Either way, their union is just as horrible).



And Houka mentions that she had to give her baby Fuuka her MagiStick as a toy (which is arguably, the least severe of the three things they’re talking about. Until you factor in that it’s a magic wand, that is based around transforming things, being giving to a baby), leaving her unable to fight (there’s also that)



They then begin thinking of ways to appear more notable to Hiroto… but they’re on a budget (both in and out of a universe). Back on his planet, Demost performs his Uchuu Ankoku Ninpo: Kikai Ninchuu Bakutan, giving birth to an army of Machine Ninsects (my own translation)… which, due to budget, are rendered as barely animated 2D drawings (the narrator explains that no image is available), which he then directs to Earth



Back with the Hero Mamas, as they discuss their home lives, we get a glimpse of Nanami’s husband… shot from the back, so we don’t see who it is (the narration assured us that we’ll find out who she and Houka married “another time”).



This conversation is interrupted at one point by Jasmine getting a call from work, wanting her on a case. She returns after a time cut, complaining about how hard it was, since there were some unusually tough Androids Boss (the nickname for Doggie Cruger/DekaMaster) was on vacation in the tropics (sadly, I don’t have an image for that). In the midst of this, Demost increases the size of his army with Uchuu Ankoku Ninpo: Mushi Seiretsu. After another few minutes of conversation, Houka receives a call from her brother Tsubasa (because by this point, Toei has Hiroya Matsumoto locked in their basement), telling her of the appearance of Infershia (the bad guys from Magiranger) remnants.



As Houka returns (and the customers and staff seem unusually unpaused by the women on the nearby table transforming into superheroes, running off and then coming back) and describes what happened (apparently, it was something to do with fish and green gunk). As Nanami feels depressed and recovers from it, the Machine Ninsects descend upon Earth, with all three running into battle together to face them, doing a group transformation…



But since there’s no budget or time, we cut to the Hero Mamas having already defeated the Machine Ninsect invasion and Demost swearing vengeance (with the narrator reminding us to watch Kyuranger vs Space Squad to see what happens next). The three then pick up their kids, with the daycare teacher at first confused about their being out of breath, but then apologising for his crass remarks earlier (glad that was solved in some way, even if it wasn’t entirely satisfactory). Nanami, Jasmine and Houka then take their kids home, as the short ends.


Final thoughts: This is just a short comedy fluff piece, with not much going on (literally, when it’s not the three characters talking in a cafe, or weird jump cuts to them doing flashy poses, it’s Demost standing there and making hand gestures). But I do like that the main gag is a threat that they don’t have the time or budget to adequately depict.

Well, the good news is, I?ve managed to find a subbed version of this short film. So I thought I?d do that here.

We open on a faraway planet, with Demost in the midst of creating a new Ninpo, while a narrator explains who he is and mentions that he?s part of Genmakuu (for more on them, see here. And here





As Demost perfects his new Ninpo, and the planet he?s on begins to glow, we cutaway to Earth to meet the members of the eponymous Hero Mama League. Nanami?



Jasmine?



And Houka.



(The narrator states that their husbands won?t be revealed this time. Then when will they be, Narrator? When?)

And as the three see off their children, with Nanami and Jasmine using their skills as an actress and a cop respectively to calm their children, while the situation is reversed for Houka and Fuuka, the daycare manager Hiroto comes up and tells the three they look tired (dude has no tact)



The Hero Mamas retreat to a cafe (which isn?t very busy, since there are only three other customers). While wondering how they can get the daycare teacher to compliment them, Nanami mentions how she had to have an expandable shinobi suit made to breastfeed her baby (they didn?t just? give her time off? The Space Union Ninja Style must have a horrible union)



Then Jasmine mentions she had to have ?mind the baby? stickers made for PatArmor so she could use it as a diaper changing station. (And she adds that she?s required by S.P.D guidelines to take an infant with her on missions, rather than giving her maternity leave. Evidently, their union is just as horrible).



And Houka mentions that she had to give her baby Fuuka her MagiStick as a toy (which is arguably, the least severe of the three things they?re talking about. Until you factor in that it?s a magic wand, that is based around transforming things, being giving to a baby), leaving her unable to fight (there?s also that)



They then discuss ways they use to cheat at doing chores to make battles shorter. Namely, gathering all the dirt in one place can be applied to the bad guys, cutting out the hanging out part of laundry can be applied to cutting out the roll call (which Nanami breaks the 4th wall to point out that it would get some outcry. Rovang can attest to that), and Houka suggests using her strategy of buttering up her husband (played by Nao Nagasawa?s real life husband. Clearly InuBrother and KijiBrother aren?t the first Sentai heroes embroiled in an infidelity plot)to do jobs she doesn?t like to calling in powerful allies to defeat enemies you don?t want to fight.



As if on cue, Jasmine gets called in as DekaYellow, vowing to use the advice given to make the fight three minutes long, with Nanami giving her the on-the-spot advice to change into DekaYellow there and then (and none of the cafe patrons care about this). Back on his planet, Demost performs his Uchuu Ankoku Ninpo: Kikai Ninchuu Bakutan, giving birth to an army of Machine Ninsects (my own translation)? which, due to budget (or lack thereof), are rendered as barely animated 2D drawings, which after gathering them like ?a reality show audience?, he then directs to Earth.



More than 3 minutes later, Jasmine returns to the cafe, exhausted. She explains that she couldn?t gather the Anaroids in one place, because they?re difficult to control, her attempt to skip her part of the roll call annoyed Umeko (whose roll call makes no sense without Jasmine?s) to the point they did it again, and calling in Boss to help in the fight was out of the question, since he was on vacation in Miami. They then decide to go with a different course of action: do household chores IN battle. As if on cue, Houka?s brother Tsubasa calls her into battle with an Infershia remnant.



As Houka returns (and the customers and staff still seem unusually nonplussed by the women on the nearby table transforming into superheroes, running off and then coming back) and describes what happened. Her attempt to use the explosion behind them to cook ended up burning the food (as Jasmine points out, they use napalm, it?s to be expect) while her using MagiKing to iron her husband?s shirt ended up getting it covered in monster guts (Don?t the monsters exploded upon defeat?). As Nanami feels depressed that they?re even more tired than before, they sense the arrival of the Machine Ninsects. Deciding to simply do what they?ve always done, because it?s worked for them before, the three transform and run into battle.



But since there?s no budget or time, we cut to the Hero Mamas having already defeated the Machine Ninsect invasion and Demost preparing his next plan (with the narrator reminding us to watch Uchuu Sentai Kyuranger vs Space Squad to see what that?s all about). The three Hero Mamas return to the daycare, where Hiroto points out that not only do they look even MORE tired, but they?re late as well (it?s almost sundown). But their three kids tell them that they sparkle to them, and that?s what really matters.



Final thoughts: This is just a short comedy fluff piece, with not much going on (literally, when it?s not the three characters talking in a cafe, or weird jump cuts to them doing flashy poses, it?s Demost standing there and making hand gestures). But I do like that the main gag is a threat that they don?t have the time or budget to adequately depict. Though I have to say, I?m not sure this is better or worse with the subs.

[Androzani84]

Dai Fukatsu! Fukushū Bōma!

Which is my fancy way of saying that, with the 20 Years movie incoming, the Hurricaneger thread is back in business, starting with?

Avataro Sentai Donbrothers meets Hurricaneger

And, as it?s a crossover, and if you don?t know anything about Hurricaneger, then what are you doing here?, I have to explain to you about the Donbrothers (in a more detailed fashion than the previous time I did so)

?Once upon this year, in a land somewhere out there? lived 4 companions and one Avataro.?

A man called Jin Momoi finds a baby inside a peach-shaped capsule whom he names Taro and raises. 21 years later, mysterious monsters called the Hitotsuki begin appearing when humans overcome with their inner desires are taken over by spirits infused with powers related to the Super Sentai from the past. Taro, and four other individuals selected by Jin; Shinichi Saruhara, a smart but eccentric young man, Haruka Kito, a high schooler manga artist, Tsubasa Inuzuka, a wanted fugitive, and Tsuyoshi Kijino, an ordinary salaryman begin fighting the Hitotsuki and saving their hosts as the Donbrothers. They are later joined by Jiro Momotani, who was also found in a capsule as a baby and raised in a rural area, and aspires to become a hero.

Also standing in their way are the Noto, elusive and ruthless individuals from a higher plane who stop the Hitotsuki by sealing their hosts in another dimension to kill them, unlike the Donbrothers who use their powers to rescue them, and the Juto, strange and powerful creatures who are a threat to both humans and the Noto. The Donbrothers also count on the secret help of Kaito Goshikida, the owner of the coffee shop Donbura who transforms into Zenkaizer Black.

Taro Momoi/Don Momotaro: A survivor of the Don Clan. Taro was found by Jin Momoi inside a peach-shaped capsule that floated to shore after exiting a portal from Ideon when he was just a baby. In his childhood, he was excellent at everything and always eager to help people do things correctly, but this goodwill became so intrusive that the neighbors organized a rally against him, although he did not realize that he was hated until everyone in the neighborhood left. During his birthdays, he would often celebrate alone with his foster father as none of the neighbors wanted to come to his party when invited. A happier moment was when he would make onigiri for Jin to take with him for his lunch before he headed off to work. Another sad moment in his childhood was during one summer when his pet beetle Gii flew out a window and never returned, upsetting Taro since he had no real friends and treasured Gii as the closest thing to one. Taro lives alone and works as a delivery man at Shirokuma Express, the employees of which tend to exploit his bluntness when gambling for portions in the company lunch breaks. He also fights against the Noto and Hitotsuki as Don Momotaro. Taro is young man who is incapable of lying and capable of living on his own after his foster father vanished. He also can do any kind of work, like cleaning, cooking, making rice-balls etc. As his regular self, he is cheery and generally well-mannered, though his tendency to be brutally honest often leaves him in situations where the favor is usually against him or annoys people to the point that they hate being around him. Unhelpful to those who meet him, Taro's form of giving advice is simply stating out what someone does wrong before performing the corresponding act in what he deems to be the right way, typically worsening any relationships he has with other people. Additionally, his comments are usually made without consideration of someone's feelings, which normally results in him angering others unintentionally. His honesty extends to how he views the world, seeing lying as wrong and even if the intent is for good reasons, the liar is masking a false truth and true words come directly from the heart, though a brief conversation with Sonoi later made him slightly loosen up to deception. Unlike his superhero persona, Taro hates fighting to the point he will never directly hit a person even if provoked. Despite his friendly disposition, Taro?s childhood has affected him negatively as he doesn?t know what true happiness is. His compulsory need to help others and make them happy is, in his own words, a way to understand the emotion itself since he is lonely. He also seems to dislike his birthday, as it serves as a constant reminder of his loneliness. As Don Momotaro, however, he undergoes a drastic personality change. Compared to his civilian identity, Don Momotaro is far more boisterous and jolly, often seeing every battle as a type of festival under an air of confidence, and can also be a bit unpredictable and eccentric. Earlier, he wildly attacked his team as a test of their combat skills and training, especially if he felt that they were holding him back in battle. After fighting against Chikyuuki, however, he has since stopped his wild training spree after his teammates' combat experience developed and they began working together more cohesively. However, it's implied that his Don Momotaro persona is merely a front on his behalf, as while his heroic nature is retained, he will usually drop his jolly self back to his Taro personality when things have gotten serious, such as facing honorable or powerful opponents, or when he strongly opposes those who crossed the line of killing anyone, regardless of whether they are innocent or bad people. While not in serious situations, he briefly retains his Taro persona while in his ranger form upon being teleported into battle before returning back to his jolly self, as seen when Taro is momentarily distracted from making delivery services during his battle against Kijino?s boss.
Haruka Kito/OniSister: Haruka is a high school student at Tsunokaku High School and aspiring manga artist who wrote First Love Hero. She lives in an apartment building called Grand Residence Fukuwauchi with her aunt, Yuriko Kito, who works as a detective. She originally was meant to receive a manga award for her work, but after she became OniSister, Haruka was accused of plagiarism and had her reputation ruined. As the youngest of the team, Haruka can be a bit childish at times, sometimes having fits if she is bored upset or frustrated. She also was, at first, hesitant to be a hero due to the fear and anxiety of witnessing monster attacks. She also has a bad temperament if something pushes her to her limits, her fury being able to terrify others into just avoiding upsetting her further through being submissive. She is also shown to be jealous of other young women if they possess qualities she doesn?t have. Despite this, Haruka can also be helpful and kind to her friends. At the later end of the show, Haruka gains her driver?s license, despite being a terrible driver who can only drive properly in reverse gear and recklessly speeds on the road when going forward. Aside from her skills as a manga artist, Haruka is athletic as she is seen jogging and using a bicycle. Her social life has been somewhat ruined by the misfortune effects of being a Donbrother as her classmates all now call her ?plagiarist? instead of by name and her love life has come crashing down as her seemingly dubious reputation forced her boyfriend to dump her at the behest of his mother.

Since Donbrothers isn?t over yet, I?ll reserve judgement on the overall product (though I am leaning very positively)

In terms of crew, this special is written by Shunito Nishi, whose one previous Tokusatsu credit was Kamen Rider Revice: Birth of Chimera (which I felt was average at best, but still better than the movie it led into) and directed by Kenshin Tanimoto, who seems to be a new guy to this business. So, with all of that said, on with the review.

We start with Haruka, once again, struggling for inspiration to create something original.



And then she gets interrupted by what she thinks is a customer? but is actually a group of MAGErappas. (Not MEGArappas, I mean, who would make such a stupid mistake?)



And then, as if to make things even crazier, a certain ninja shows up.



Yosuke: The clouds part, the sky rages??



A fight then breaks out inside Cafe Donbura, over a blue stone the Magerappas are safeguarding.



Eventually, Yosuke initiates that old favourite Chou Ninpo: Kage no Mai (which allows the director to have the cafe wrecked without actually showing any of the destruction)





Eventually, Haruka gets so annoyed, she disperses the screen (no really, it?s that kind of show).



The Magerappas get away with the stone as Nanami and Kouta arrive on the scene.



But, they don?t get a chance to leave, since they find an angry teenage waitress in their way.



Cue the title



Sure enough, a few minutes later, the three Hayate Ninjas are cleaning up the place (some things never change, I guess), much to Kouta?s chagrin.



Meanwhile, Haruka has calmed down and is now observing the three.



Seizing a chance for some inspiration, Haruka decides to get their story.



While Yosuke and Kouta are in no hurry to get interviewed by someone who was a glint in the postman?s eye when they saved the world, Nanami is a bit smarter about this.



And so, she and Kouta fill Haruka in on her basics of their story (to which I?m gonna hyperlink you to my relevant reviews.)


Their first battle with the Jakanja (which appears twice)

Senpuujin?s debut

The Kuroko-bots wiping people?s memories

Yosuke attacks Kirikirimaishi, before the Kasumi Bros appear and transform into the Gouraigers

Shurikenger enters in Tenkuujin

Shurikenger battles Sandaaru in Fire Mode

Shurikenger dies

And finally, The heroes destroy the Evil Will.

And why is their story now continuing, despite all their enemies being dead? Yosuke explains that Jakanja isn?t done yet.



These would be the Reverse Seven Spears, Aunja and Oi-Randa, with the blue orb being the Time Stone they need for their plan.



But by this point, Haruka doesn?t care. She?s too busy fantasising about her next manga, a Shoujo story about ninjas in a high school (no wonder she got accused of plagiarism)





Yosuke and the others react accordingly.



And then they get a call on their Hurricane Gyros? from a voice that?s way too young to be Oboro?s.



As Yosuke asks who this is, she gets annoyed.



(As in, the character who was in the cast reveals, but not in the synopsis. Meanwhile, Oi-Randa was in the synopsis, yet all we?ve seen of her is a silhouette and an eye. Hmmm)

Moeru informs the three that she?s located the Magerappas that stole the Time Stone, to which Haruka offers to join them in the fight. When they give the usual ?Its too dangerous? speech, she shows that she?s perfectly equipped for danger in the most straightforward and literal way.

And on top of a building, the lead Magerappa presents his prize to Aunja.



He then obliquely hints as to what he and Oi-Randa are up to (they have to leave some surprises for the movie. All we know is that it involves travelling through time to steal a Heaven Stone from a Princess in the Edo Era)



But then the Hurricanegers show up to rain on his parade, Shinobi Changing to fight his group of Magerappas.





Haruka, instead of fighting, is instead taking notes (let no crisis go to waste, I guess)



The fight then begins. And due to the budget being lower than your standard episode (and that?s saying something), the only technique we see any of them pull off is Kouta?s Chou Ninpo: Mai Jishi (which is easy to pull off if you have two HurricaneYellow suits)



And then, Taro appears in order to join the fun?



Though Haruka wishes he hadn?t.



After a few minutes of sword fighting, Taro is sufficiently impressed enough to ask Yosuke to join him in matri- er, I mean, as a companion.



But Yosuke isn?t interested.



And Aunja uses this argument as his chance to kill Yosuke.



Haruka comes out of hiding to mourn his death? only to realise he swapped out with a decoy at the last second.



Taro then takes this opportunity to do a combination attack with the Hurricanegers to finish off Aunja.









But they soon discover that they only destroyed another decoy.



The real Aunja then appears as a spirit to brag about their plan to go back in time 200 years and collect the Heaven Stone to combine it with the Time Stone, all for the sake of Oi-Randa.



As Nanami gets confused by that name, we get another silhouette of Oi-Randa.



Everyone starts feeling despondent, since they can?t do anything if Aunja manages to go back in time. But then Moeru?s voice speaks up.





Moeru explains that she and Oboro have invented a time travel system, and that the Gouraigers are waiting at the base for the main three to show up so they can use it.



Taro then tries to do his usual ?attack while their guard is down? schtick, only for Yosuke to reveal his guard is always up.



As the Hurricanegers say their goodbyes and leave, Haruka?s come up with an idea for a tragic romance shoujo manga about ninjas (I can see why her mangaka career failed to take off again)





Moeru takes that as a chance to introduce a friend of hers, before putting sunglasses on.



Huh? What am I doing here? What was I reviewing again? (Or in other words, don?t worry about how the hell this is meant to fit into Donbrothers. Hugh I wonder how they?ll do that for the Abaranger crossover that?s coming soon, since they had no such memory wiping facilities)



Haruka walks into work, once again, struggling for inspiration to create something original.



It then ends with her horrified to find the place was wrecked seemingly while she was out (oh the irony).





Final thoughts: Overall a little harmless fun that exists purely to develop hype for the movie. If I?m honest, it works better at this than Birth of Chimera, and while fairly new, both writer and director really brought their a-game to this.

Next time: They?re back, after 20 Years.

[Androzani84]

And we?re back with another instalment for this thread right now.

Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger de gozaru! Shushutto 20th Anniversary!

No need to introduce any members of the cast. And our writer this time is Keiko Tani, who hasn?t written any other Tokusatsu (as far as I can dig up, she?s mostly known for jidaigeki, or period dramas, which should indicate where we?re going), so let?s get on with the review.

We?re starting things off with a cut back in time.


(That?s 1803, for those unfamiliar with Japanese dating)

We then have a Hayate style Ninja, Nami, spying a mansion her allies are about to break into.



Her allies, Younosuke and Koutaro (evidently, their families aren?t very creative with naming) are inside, about to steal a Golden Stamp (some South American cult think it can reawaken their god)





But no sooner have they gotten out of the house do the pair discover that Nami has been taken hostage by their Ikazuchi style using rivals, Ikkaku and Ikki (goddamnit, I was joking about the Revice connection). (Also, is the gene pool in Kyoto that shallow?)



Despite Nami begging her friends to leave her and complete the mission, Koutaro hands over the Golden Stamp to the Ikazuchi Bros to save her life.



And to rub salt in the wound, the Ikazuchi Bros rub salt in the wound.





20 years after this?



Mugensai, the trio?s Sensei who resembles the Mugensai of today times, talks about how badly things went for his students after that incident to their feudal Lord (played by the guy who voiced Shurikenger)





It then turns out that he?s asking said Lord to give his students another chance, to which the man is worried.



Cue titles.



We see Koutaro in the midst of helping a child learn to pee (Well, I guess that?s what having a more adult audience allows you to do. Could be worse, I suppose), evidently because he can?t stand those dirty indoor things.



He soon gets joined by Nami, who is apparently a travelling minstrel (her song is a shamisen cover of Shinobi Koi. Try not to think too much about it).



She tries presenting the kid with a spinning paper fan (well it is the 1800s), which is promptly sucked away by the wind? and caught by Younosuke.



And despite working as a guard for the Emperor?s armoury, his friends take the time to lightly rib him (I guess some things just run in the family).





Now that they?ve caught up on civilian gossip, it?s to business.



Koutaro then ushers the kid out of the plot, before everyone departs.



Once they reach the armoury that was broken into, Koutaro?s acute nose picks up a clue as to the culprit.



Soon enough, a warp in space opens.



And out comes a geisha, accompanied by the spider guy from that Donbrothers special and some Magerappas in period clothes.





The woman then takes out a yellow version of the Time Stone from said Donbrothers special (identified as the ?Warp Stone?) and uses it to change into a more alien/revue hybrid look (fittingly, the actress Hana Hizuki, who played the role, is a former revue actress).



And then spider-guy confirms what we who have seen the Donbrothers special have guessed already: this lady is Oiranda.



The two surviving guard try to fight off the Jakanja remnants, but one of them is knocked out quickly, while the other gets captured.



Oiranda then asks the awake guard for the location of the Sky Stone. When he doesn?t say anything, she kills him and asks the same question of his recovering ally, with more context added.



With a little persuasion, the man tells her what he knows? and then dies from having his brain scraped.



Oiranda?s party then departs, but not before she drops a hint as to her plan.



The three then decide to report to Mugensai, with Younosuke failing to eat his own words.



And when they get there, it turns out that Mugensai knows exactly who Teruhime is.



Sure enough, the Lord explains that she?s in town on family business.



And unfortunately, because things can never be simple, she?s already left the castle.



And there?s more bad news, along with some good news. The bad news is, she has the Sky Stone in her hairpin. The good news is that her guards were Ninjas sent by the Shogun himself. And because the casting budget isn?t huge, Nami is genre savvy enough to expect some old friends.



As it turns out, they are (Who?da thunk it?), and Teruhime is less than pleased with their lack of appreciation for Kabuki theatre.



The two try to get her to ignore them, but Teruhime ain?t having it.





They then get pulled away by the arrival of the Hayate trio, who aren?t happy with the reunion.



Fortunately, Younosuke is professional enough to deliver the message as dictated. But unfortunately, Ikkaku isn?t professional enough to believe there?ll be any issues.



As if to prove him wrong, Oiranda arrives and murders the actor Teruhime was fawning over.



The two villains then perform an introduction.

Oiranda: More cruel and dark than the Seven Dark Spears. I am the Third Spear of the Hidden Seven Spears! Oiranda!

Aunja: I am the greatest bodyguard in the Galaxy. I am the Fourth Spear of the Hidden Seven Spears! Aunja!

Oiranda then spots her prize among the crowd.



The Ikazuchi Bros then try taking down Aunja, but their regular ninja weapons are useless against an alien.



And then Teruhime ends up a hostage of Oiranda.





But Teruhime is smart enough to swallow the jewel so that no-one can take it.



Before Aunja can vivisect her to recover the Sky Stone, the Gouraigers appear to transport Teruhime to the side. (It only too about 20 minutes for the people you?re here to see to show up)



Ikkou: I face the darkness, I slash the darkness.

Isshu: I face the light, I slash the light.

Both: Denkousekka Gouraiger, revealed!



Oiranda is annoyed?



And to add to this, the Hurricanegers show up.



Yousuke: Unknown to the people?

Nanami: Unknown to the world?

Kouta: We become shadows to strike at evil.

Yosuke: Ninpuu Sentai?

All:

Yousuke: Has arrived!

And then we get some comments on the whole ?Identical Grandson? trope being in play.







And then a fight breaks out with the jidaigeki Magerappas.



And we get some old moves brought out for the first time in a long while.



They then go straight for the Victory Gadget.



But they both survive, and Oiranda counters by bringing out the Blast Stone.





Overwhelmed, The ninjas go for the by now standard Kage no Mai (Come on, did you think they?d get a 40-something year old woman to do her own stunts?)?



Everyone of the heroes then beats a hasty withdrawal. But Aunja has a lock on them with his Uchuu Ninpo: Kumori Manaku.



At a convenient hut that doesn?t need to be on location, the modern day heroes show off the 2002 DX toyline to their ancestors.





But Younosuke is more interested in the Hurricane Gyro (a Memorial version of which is due out soon, as of this typing).




And Kouta gets the wrong idea about his ancestor.



It turns out that it is romance related, but not in the way your dirty minds are probably thinking.



As Nanami assures Nami that she probably will get married, even if her descendants don?t know who to (to be honest, do you know much about your ancestors from 200 years ago?), Teruhime decides to ask what we?re probably all thinking.



To answer her question, Yousuke takes out a black ball with a hologram emitter.



And the ancestors get the wrong idea, due to Hamster Headmaster photobombing the camera.



But then Oboro takes him away to carry out a formal conversation.



After introducing herself as the Hayate style?s No. 1 genius scientist, Oboro introduces her assistant, Kirara from the Donbrothers special.



She then gives a fairly bragging intro as well (She clearly studied with the master)



While Ikkaku is shocked by the sight of a woman in pants, Ikki likes what he see a lot (cue feminists incessantly booing).



Oboro then clarifies for the maybe 3 people still in doubt that, yes, this is a time travel flick.



We then get an excuse to cut back on the body doubles and split screen.



Namely, they only have an hour in the past. And even then, they?ve lost time due to bugs developed through actually travelling through time.





This then provides an excuse for the requisite updated transformation scene.

Hurricanegers: Ninpuu! Shinobi Change!

Gouraigers: Jinrai! Shinobi Change!





Younosuke tries to take a turn Shinobi Changing, but Yousuke has to remind him of the warning they were just given (I see that the family brain cell was grown over the years). Getting back to the main plot, the modern heroes request the the Princess hand over the Sky Stone, much to her shock.



Kirara and Oboro then explain the history of the 4 stones.



These are the Warp Stone, with the power of teleportation, the Time Stone, with the power to pass through time, the Blast Stone, with the power to shoot fire, and the Sky Stone, which functions as a keystone. And then if you weren?t sure whether the writer and director had seen Infinity War, well?





The stones are the target of two of the Hidden Seven Spears, which leads to this retcon (which seems to confirm that Vs Gaoranger is canon to this movie).



(This just leaves me with two questions. 1) Were the other Hurricaneger part of the Hidden Spears? Because with the Space Monkeys and Iga, it would make seven. And 2) If 10YA is canon to this, then where the hell is Tenkai?)

And the reason they had to steal the Time Stone and create this mess is because the Sky Stone no longer exists in 2023.



The rumination over what Oiranda wishes for end quickly when the whole ?Lover?s Suicide? comment from earlier gets brought up.



To stop the end of the world, they need to destroy the Sky Stone so the others won?t be able to pool their energies. When asked where it is, the ancestors are entirely honest.



So Yousuke comes up with what is the best solution to that. It is also the worst solution.



Kirara sums up how that is seriously the best solution.



Not wanting to do it, the Princess feigns illness and runs out of the cabin.





(Bitch, if you have a better solution, let?s hear it then)

But as you?d expect, Aunja captures her almost instantly.



And of course, it?s at this point that Nanami and Nami notice that Teruhime has gone. (Resulting in the strangest case of overdubbing I?ve ever seen)



Finding evidence that the princess was kidnapped, Ikkaku makes it clear that he blames Ikki for the whole thing (These guys are basically their modern day descendants if they never had any character development, let?s not kid ourselves).



Cue an argument with the Hayate Ninjas over how the Ikazuchi Bros don?t value the lives of their allies. (Which is basically half the message of this movie: emotionism versus stoicism)



The modern day Ninjas try to break them up, only for the time travel app to send a push notification.



They have so little time the (apparently corporate branded, since it looks like a Shinobi Medal) time portal opens.



Using their last minute in the past, the Hurricanegers and Gouraigers give their ancestors some much needed advice: Put aside your differences to save the world.











Having said their peace, the modern protagonists exit the action and return to 2023 (or Reiwa Year 5, to keep with this movie?s use of the Imperial dating system)



Taking the advice from the future to heart, the Ancestors come up with a plan to detect Oiranda to thwart her plan.



As they decide this, Oiranda reappears with Teruhime in the middle of Edo (what is now modern-day Tokyo. It wasn?t the capital of Japan back then), scaring everyone off.



She then threatens to brutally tear the Sky Stone out of Teruhime?s stomach? only to harmlessly remove it with the Warp Stone instead.





Teruhime faints at the sight? reawakening later to find Oiranda using the 4 stones for a ritual, while chanting a spell. (What have the heroes been up to in that time? God knows)

Oiranda: Akashi au gu ni kara ishi kara parasen kau. (?Buy para-rays from a doctor with appropriate equipment??)





As the 4 jewels fly up and create a vortex, the heroes arrive.



While Ikkaku and Ikki decide to escort the princess back to the castle, the Hayate trio note that it?s up to them to stop Oiranda from destroying the world wih her ?Lover?s Suicide?.



And Aunja steps up to stop them.



The trio throw away their clothes to reveal their ninja outfits, as battle commences.



Back in the present, the Hurricanegers and Gouraigers return to the new Ninja Base. (And it becomes clear that the actors weren?t available for these scenes during filming)



And unfortunately, the time travel app overloaded, so they can?t sent them back to join the battle. But Kirara has an idea.



We then get a meaningful view of a modified Hurricane Gyro with a unique Shinobi Medal (buy the toys).



Back in the past, Oiranda reveals that her lover was none other than Tau Zant. (How did that relationship work? Actually, I don?t want to know)





She fell in love with him for saving her from the life of being a prostitute (and she was only the 3rd Hidden Spear? I?m thinking that she wasn?t as important as she thinks she is), and she was distraught when he died.





Believing that no-one can understand her pain, Oiranda plans to destroy the whole planet in her Lover?s Suicide so she can reunite with Tau Zant in Hell. (But wouldn?t destroying the planet 180 years before he died just undo the death? I?m not sure she?s thought this through)

It?s at this point that the Ikazuchi Bros return, wielding a frickin cannon. (Ok, this is now the most awesome scene in this movie)



It turns out that the pair left her to cover the rest of the way on foot, so they could help the Hayate Trio.



Younosuke is surprised they listened to her.



After Ikkaku meekly implies that the three have rubbed off on him, the 5 stand together for the first time against Oiranda?s mad scheme.



And to raise the stakes, the Princess returns to the castle to request aid, only for the Lord to tell her they can?t send any.



The heroes quickly come up with and execute a plan: grab one of the 4 stones so the ritual can?t be completed. And luckily enough, they grabbed the Sky Stone.



A several minutes long game of keep away ensues.



But in the end, Oiranda recovers the gem thanks to Aunja?s Uchuu Ninpo: Kumo no Mai (which does not give its victim a spider tattoo that gradually kills them) and proceeds with the ritual.



But to even the playing field, Oboro and Kirara teleport the new model Hurricane Gyro (buy the toys) to Younosuke, for him to use. (That?s what him expressing interest in using the Hurrcane Gyro earlier set up.)



Putting it on transforms the Shinobi Medal to better match the toy, as Younosuke Shinobi Changes.



Younosuke: Yo, yo, yo! Let those of you far away hear this! Come close and take a look! I am? crossing time? crossing fate? The hearts of these warriors have become one! Shippu! Jinrai!



He then demonstrates his power by wiping out the Magerappas with Chou Ninpo: Oedo Shippu Zan.



Aunja then decides to run in, bragging of his invincibility ?That my friend is a death flag)



But it does.



Younosuke then finishes him off with Chou Ninpo: Oedo Hurricane.



His has the secondary effect of destroying the Sky Stone, rendering Oiranda?s planet wide Lover?s Suicide impossible (and neatly wrapping up a time loop regarding its destruction). This just makes her mad enough to don a mask (allowing the suit actress for Hurricane Blue to get paid for another role).



Putting the mask on causes her to transform into a giant CGI spider (ok two things here. 1) it still looks better than Hibiki?s giant spider and 2) I think I answered my own question regarding her love life with Tau Zant).





After a brief scuffle, Younosuke defeats her with the combined powers of all the modern day Ninjas. Even Shurikenger.

Younosuke: Shippu! Jinrai! Tenkuu! Chou-Nin-Ken!





With Oiranda gone, the 3 remaining stones then scatter throughout space (so does that mean there are two versions of those three stones now?) and the Oedo Gyro returns to the future (or disintegrates. It?s not clear which)



And in one last cut to the present, Kirara explains that simply bringing the Time Stone to Earth fixed any and all paradoxes preemptively.



And at the castle, the alliy character see the sky return to normal and celebrate.



And in case you?re not convince the Lord is Shurikenger?s actor, he does the Fire Mode transformation? with his jacket.



And we end with the Hayate Trio and Ikazuchi Bros making peace and deciding to become allies. (But given that their schools were still bitter enemies by 2002/Heisei Year 14, this won?t last past their lifetimes)



Final thoughts: While there were some things I would?ve liked out of this (like a bit more involvement from the modern heroes), the film itself is overall solid and more internally consistent that 10YA (admittedly, most of my confusion over that came from a bad sub, but regardless). I?d definitely recommend this to fans of Hurricaneger, or Sentai in general.