[TokuKnight89]

With a thread for thoughts on the Riders, it seemed like the time for one about Sentai.

It's no great surprise that Ishinomori was responsible for Kamen Rider, but what about his role in bringing forth the first Sentai (or the one we consider to be first): Himitsu Sentai Gorenger!?

In the Rider thread, it's noted that most if not all of the Showa Riders are those who fight fascists and authority. In Goranger, the team is part of authority by being part of the defense group EAGLE, which is surprising in that Shocker was symbolized with an eagle!

There have been other defense and military groups in Sentai, like the Earth Defense Force of Changeman and U.A.O.H. in Ohranger. However, there have also been the rogues and rebels who fight vast and powerful factions who maintain a stranglehold on the peace of the universe. Gokaiger VS. Zangyack or Kyuranger VS. Jark Matter to name some noteworthy examples.

Part of the detail regarding Goranger is that it was billed as Kamen Rider but with five of them. I have seen some information that suggests that the conception phase of what became Stronger considered the idea of Five Riders, but it was too different for the time, hence why we ended-up with Stronger and Goranger. Of note, the Go-Riders were apparently the realization of this originally-unrealized concept (years after the fact, of course).

Perhaps one of the main question that all this comes down to is: What were Ishinomori's thoughts on Gorenger and Sentai at large?

Perhaps there are other, more pressing questions. Perhaps someone's response isn't even a question as opposed to just being a conclusion one came to.

What are your thoughts on Sentai?

[SengalBoy]

I have always wondered what constitutes as an 'Extra Hero'. It would make sense for the likes of DekaMaster and Princess ShinkenRed as they are after the proper 6th Ranger (even though DekaMaster came before DekaBreak but whatever). And for Signalman because he looks nothing like the Carrangers.

But what about the likes of Ninjaman and BullBlack? They pretty much served the role of the 6th Rangers, especially BullBlack, why not just call him a 6th Ranger as well? Yes, their designs are different from the core 5, but the same can be said to MagiShine and AbareKiller.

[TokuKnight89]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SengalBoy

I have always wondered what constitutes as an 'Extra Hero'. It would make sense for the likes of DekaMaster and Princess ShinkenRed as they are after the proper 6th Ranger (even though DekaMaster came before DekaBreak but whatever). And for Signalman because he looks nothing like the Carrangers.

But what about the likes of Ninjaman and BullBlack? They pretty much served the role of the 6th Rangers, especially BullBlack, why not just call him a 6th Ranger as well? Yes, their designs are different from the core 5, but the same can be said to MagiShine and AbareKiller.

Both 'Sixth Hero' and 'Extra Hero' have come to mean something different as opposed to carrying either designation based on literal numerical value.

AbareKiller isn't exactly a sixth Ranger, but he maintains that status. Remember, AbareRed had the AbareMax form and then there was the ally who became AbarePink...briefly!

MagiShine has a Ranger form, but he also has a Sky Saint form as opposed to the main MagiRanger who call upon the power of the Sky Saints to transform.

BullBlack is an Extra Hero, but he handles the role of sixth Ranger. Remember, Gingaman was something of a callback to '80s Sentai and the "-man" suffix. I view the BullBlack role as taking the Extra Hero status instead of sixth Ranger cause the sixth wasn't a thing until Zyuranger in the '90s (with exceptions such as X-1 Mask in Maskman). Also, BullBlack actually left the team to work as a hired hand (he was forced, yes, but still). And third, the OG BullBlack was an anti-hero with his own agenda until Red's brother took over the role.

The 'Extra Hero' thing, and who was one, is something that got a near-clear definition in Gokaiger. Most of them are Armored Heroes, with exceptions like Princess ShinkenRed, as she is a Red Ranger who is also the seventh Ranger of Shinkenger. Even DekaMaster, DekaSwan, and MagiMother have armor of some kind. Pretty obvious that many of the Rangers from Kyoryuger would also be considered 'Extra Heroes' like Princess ShinkenRed.

Based on all this, I think the best answer is this:

- Sixth Ranger: Any Ranger who is revealed as a literal sixth Ranger or who joins the team as a sixth Ranger and is on near or equal footing as the rest of the team and who's suit is made of spandex (from a real-world perspective) like the rest of the team. Such characters are always next to the team, have their own focus episodes, and their own individual Mecha which will usually but not always combine with the main team Mecha. In situations in which there is no sixth Ranger but a sixth Member, then that Hero will likely serve as a substitute or the powers of that Hero will be used by someone new who will serves as a substitute.

- Extra Hero: Any Hero or Ranger who has a different form than the team and who serves a different function than any one member of the main team. Most who qualify have a form which is predominately armored, but exceptions exist. This Hero may also have a power-set which is NOT necessarily the same as the power-set of the main team. The abilities and/or Mecha of such a Hero will likely be very different from an actual Ranger as many who have a Mecha will probably NOT combine with the team Mecha and many such Heroes will have the ability to enlarge at will. Such a Hero will likely have different origins and agendas than the main team and occasionally butt heads with that team. Such a Hero will also be introduced much later in the conflict, though exceptions exist. In rare instances, such a Hero could be introduced early as a villain and then be reformed later.

[Sunred]

The proper Japanese terms are tsuika senshi and bangai senshi. Tsuika senshi is what people refer to as the sixth ranger with Dragon Ranger being the most famous. Tsuika senshis are those that are added to the main roster and with a few exceptions become a regular household despite their late bird status.
Bangai senshi are the extra heroes that are usually anomalies with Ninjaman being the most famous. They are either aesthetically far more unique than the main roster while a tsuika senshi maintains key elements such as Wolzard Fire, Kurojishi Lio. Some of them are one-shots such as Deka Gold, Midoninger, Gosei Green,etc. Some may be a brief replacement or a facsimile such as Shinken Red/Kaoru Shiba or the two Akaningers respectively. Others could also be variants such as Zyuoh Bird.
Of course, we do have a few exceptions here and there, such as Time Fire, who is officially a tsuika senshi for the Timerangers despite being red as well and can easily be categorized as a bangai senshi. In the case of Kyoryuger, Uchi/Kyoryu Gold is the sole tsuika senshi of the team while Cyan, Gray, Violet, and Silver are Bangai. As for X-1 Mask, because he is a one-shot and also not being recognized as the first official tsuika senshi, it is technically a bangai senshi.
In the case of teams that start off as trios such as Liveman, Hurricanger, Abaranger, Gekiranger, and Go-Busters, they tend to include the fourth and fifth as regular members with the only exception being Abaranger. Abaranger includes Abare Black as the fourth regular while Abare Killer is considered the tsuika senshi.

And thank you TokuKnight89 for making this thread. It had to be done.

[tomos]

I kind of tend to think mainly in terms of whether or not they're a person that transforms, that might be wrong but for me there's always something off for me in tokusatsu when it is just a suit.

[Androzani84]

One thing I found on twitter that seemed interesting. Someone calculated how balanced the cast of each season is based on the number of warriors, how many focus episodes they get (for the purposes of this, episodes with equal screen time for two chapters are counted as one for each, but ones that either don’t focus on a particular character or focus on a villain/side character are excluded) in a season with their length of episodes. I’ll post the results from most balanced to least, complete with number of heroes.

1. Goggle V (5 heroes, 50 episodes)
2. Goseiger (6 heroes, 50 episodes)
3. GoGoV (5 heroes, 50 episodes)
4. Gingaman (6 heroes, 50 episodes)
5. Gokaiger (6 heroes, 51 episodes)
6. Go-onger (7 heroes, 50 episodes)
7. Turboranger (5 heroes, 51 episodes)
8. Denziman (5 heroes, 51 episodes)
9. Kakuranger (6 heroes, 53 episodes)
10. Sun Vulcan (4 heroes, 50 episodes)
11. Ohranger (6 heroes, 48 episodes)
12. Hurricaneger (6 heroes, 51 episodes)
13. Fiveman (5 heroes, 48 episodes)
14. LuPat (7 heroes, 51 episodes)
15. Liveman (5 heroes, 49 episodes)
16. Dekaranger (7 heroes, 50 episodes)
17. Gaoranger (6 heroes, 51 episodes)
18. Changeman (5 heroes, 55 episodes)
19. Timeranger (6 heroes, 51 episodes)
20. Gorenger (6 heroes, 84 episodes)
21. Flashman (5 heroes, 50 episodes)
22. Carranger (6 heroes, 48 episodes)
23. Battle Fever (7 heroes, 51 episodes)
24. Megaranger (6 heroes, 51 episodes)
25. Boukenger (7 heroes, 49 episodes)
26. Bioman (6 heroes, 51 episodes)
27. Dynaman (5 heroes, 51 episodes)
28. Abaranger (5 heroes, 50 episodes)
29. Go-Busters (5 heroes, 50 episodes)
30. Magiranger (8 heroes, 49 episodes)
31. Ninninger (6 heroes, 47 episodes)
32. Shinkenger (7 heroes, 49 episode)
33. JAKQ (5 heroes, 35 episodes)
34. Zyuohger (7 heroes, 48 episodes)
35. Dairanger (6 heroes, 50 episodes)
36. Maskman (5 heroes, 51 episodes)
37. Zyuranger (6 heroes, 50 episodes)
38. ToQger (6 heroes, 47 episodes)
39. Gekiranger (5 heroes, 49 episodes)
40. Ryusoulger (7 heroes, 48 episodes)
41. Kyuranger (12 heroes, 48 episodes)
42. Jetman (5 heroes, 51 episodes)
43. Kyoryuger (10 heroes, 48 episodes).

[SengalBoy]

So basically from what I've gathered, Ninjaman and BullBlack wasn't considered a 6th Ranger but instead an Extra Hero is because they are far more armored than the usual Ranger and even the typical 6th Ranger. That makes sense actually.

And I guess when it comes to MagiShine (and even GoseiKnight), while he is more armored and different than the typical MagiRanger, they just had him as the 6th Ranger since MagiMother and Wolzard already filled the quota of Extra Hero, and because 6th Rangers are more popular.

[Sevenlima]

I thought that Shinkenger would have Kakuranger-like mechas.

[Sunred]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SengalBoy

So basically from what I've gathered, Ninjaman and BullBlack wasn't considered a 6th Ranger but instead an Extra Hero is because they are far more armored than the usual Ranger and even the typical 6th Ranger. That makes sense actually.

To expand on this, it has more to do with how much do they deviate from the core roster + tsuika overall as well as how common are they. Cause while most are armored like you have pointed out, there are also others such as Kyoryu Cyan, Gray, Violet, and Silver, ToQ7, Midoninger, and Zyuoh Bird to name a few who are less-armored and either one-shots or make less frequent appearances as rangers despite regular cast status such as Doggie and Torin.

[Galador]

Does anyone suppose there is a real reason why GekiChopper isn't considered a Sixth Ranger for Gekiranger?

My assumption is that Rio & Mele's redemption arc was the same as AbareKiller (who is a Sixth) and so if AbareKiller could be called a Sixth then Rio & Mele can be a joint Sixth duo for the Gekirangers. But since they weren't rangers they got shuffled into the Bangai Hero category with fellow de facto Sixths Signalman and Black Knight.

A common excuse I've heard is this "divide by five" for Gokai Silver Gold Mode (or indeed the Extra Rangers and Bangai Heroes), but I'm not certain about it and I don't know if there's any substance to this claim.

Like neither Abaranger, Go-Busters or Gekiranger have six rangers in their roster, but AbareKiller and Beet & Stag Buster are Sixths while GekiChopper isn't, but then Gekiranger is the only one of the three to have other outlier heroes beyond the five rangers.