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08-18-2021, 02:25 PM | #801 |
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Hmm, I have been looking into the Zenkaiger Toys and am now wondering something: What is the core aesthetic/gimmick behind the Zenkaiger Toys and the Series as a whole. Cubes are the aesthetic of Zyuohger and the Totem Pole-styled Combinations of the Zyuohger Mecha are the gimmicks. The Gimmick of the Kiramager Mecha is that they can become rectangular Crystals and the Mecha have a crystalline aesthetic.
The Ohranger Mecha all become structures/Mythical Beasts from Mythology; SkyPhoenix is, well, a Phoenix; GranTaurus is a Bull, specifically Taurus; DashLeon is based upon the Sphinx; DoguRander/DoguLander is based upon the Dogu Statues of Jomon Era Japan; and MoaLoader is based upon the Moai/Easter Island Heads. Red Puncher is a Boxer, which Boxing has been seen in 3000 BC Egypt and was in the Olympics as far back as the 7th Century BC. And, of course, King Pyramidder is a Pyramid. The Blockers are based upon the symbols of each Sentai Ranger, so Technically, they don't fit in, but oh well. The Gimmick is the use of Helmets to give the Mecha new Forms. Meanwhile, the Magiranger Mecha are named after and based upon Mythical Beasts and Fairy Tales; MagiPhoenix, MagiGaruda, MagiFairy, and MagiMermaid are all based upon the creature in their names, MagiTaurus is based upon the Minotaur, the combination of MagiGaruda, MagiFairy, MagiMermaid, and MagiTaurus is a Dragon, Wolzard is a Dark Knight combined with the Evil Wizard Motif, Barikion is a Black Horse, Unigolon is a White Unicorn, MagiFirebird is a Firebird, and via combining MagiLion and MagiFirebird is similar to a Griffin. The Gimmick is the use of different Mecha as Chestpieces for some combinations. Kyuranger's Aesthetic is different Constellations in the sky. I won't list all of them here, but the gimmick is that you can make "Transformers Scramble City-styled" combinations. The Gimmicks of Shinkenger is that they can make new Robo Forms by giving ShinkenOh New Helmets and that you can use the Secret Disks in some of the Mecha to cause actions to occur. Lights and Sounds are the gimmicks of the Dekaranger Mecha and the aesthetics are based upon Police Vehicles. Ryusoulger's Gimmick is the way that you can create super crazy combinations and the aesthetics are extinct creatures. Use of electronic motors to cause actions to occur is Abaranger's Gimmick and the Aesthetic is Dinosaurs. Go-Onger's Gimmick is the Engine Souls, which cause Sounds to occur. The Aesthetics are Animals combined with Vehicles. Hurricanger has the gimmick of the Karakuri Balls and the Aesthetic of Animals. Goseiger's Gimmick is the Gosei Headder. Gokaiger's Gimmicks are the steering wheel on the back causing panels on the front of the Mecha to open up and the use of previous gimmicks/Mecha based upon Previous Sentai. The Use of Zyudenchi to make combinations is the main gimmick of Kyoryuger. Yada yada yada. You get the deal. I mean, most of the previous Sentai Series have a core gimmick/Aesthetic surrounding the design of the Toys. However, it almost feels as if there are two separate Gimmick lines in Zenkaiger. There is the ZenkaiOh Gimmick Line, with making two part combinations of Mecha into a Single Robo (containing Juran, Gaon, Magine, and Vroon), and then there is the TwokaiOh Gimmick Line of SD Robos combining in the way where one becomes the Head and the other one becomes one of the Arms (with Battleship CrocoDaiOh, TwokaiRicky, and TwokaiCutanner). ZenKaijuuOh is pretty much the only place where there is overlap between the Two Gimmick Lines (Giant Super Zenkaizer represents the ZenkaiOh Gimmick line and Super Twokaizer SD represents the TwokaiOh Gimmick Line). While the Previous Sentais, even those with multiple gimmicks, have all the Mecha share those multiple gimmicks among all of them and it doesn't feel like there is two different gimmick lines that just barely overlap. |
08-18-2021, 02:39 PM | #802 |
Suprise Gamma Future
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: USA
Posts: 2,852
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As an anniversary series, I think the gimmick is everything all at once. Transforming stuff, combining stuff, magic robots, beast themes, vehicle designs, you name it, if it was in a Sentai, it's probably here.
At at very abstract level I think the theme is simply robots and machines. It's right there in the name Kikai. And Gears are a very core component to machinery.
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08-18-2021, 05:48 PM | #803 |
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Quote:
As an anniversary series, I think the gimmick is everything all at once. Transforming stuff, combining stuff, magic robots, beast themes, vehicle designs, you name it, if it was in a Sentai, it's probably here.
At at very abstract level I think the theme is simply robots and machines. It's right there in the name Kikai. And Gears are a very core component to machinery. Meanwhile, I wonder whether there will be more new DX Figures/Roleplay toys than just the Zenryoku Zenkai Cannon. There has to be, as the Battle Caesar Robo hasn't appeared in the DX Toyline Yet. |
08-18-2021, 06:28 PM | #804 |
New Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 46
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I feel like any Battle Caesar Robo toys are going to p-bandai, just like the minipla.
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08-18-2021, 09:25 PM | #805 |
Stronger Than You
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: nyet
Posts: 25,333
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Zenkaiser's lack of unity is part of it's prevailing theme. The rangers joined one by one, they were all rejects in some form or another, and they don't always get along.
They're supposed to clash.
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08-18-2021, 09:34 PM | #806 |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 402
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Dx zenkaijuuoh is awesome I love it.
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08-18-2021, 09:39 PM | #807 |
Showa Girl
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 9,064
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What's Zenkaiger's aesthetic theme, huh?
Hm. Maybe this is too early to talk about only halfway into the show, and maybe it's too big an answer for the question; but about 10 episodes ago we got this line, and I decided to save a screencap of it because I figured that by the end of the show, it would do a damn good job of summing up what Zenkaiger is about; and the core at what I love about it all. It's a bit of a running thread throughout this writer's work -- people from different worlds running into each other. In Lupat this was a case of people trying to achieve their dreams and save their loved ones coming to clash with an institution (law enforcement) that in theory exists to do just that but in this instance fails to provide in ways that only Sentai powers can; and with both Zenkaiger and Zyuohger it's a much more literal case of people from different worlds crossing over and becoming a team despite their differences. When it came to Zyuohger I think the result could be very mixed at times, but when it comes to Zenkaiger I think Komura's mastered it. The Zenkaigers are a wildly varying and clashing bunch -- a fortune teller whose fortunes don't work and whose passions get flared up at the most unexpected things; a bookworm who gets distracted by every second thing; the world's stupidest yet most perceptive white ranger; a weirdo cook whose concerns consistently lie only with cute little animals; and an uncle who's competent enough trying to keep things together but mostly coming to clash with the cat guy. Throw in a band of pirates who are nominally good guys but really just do whatever they want in the most obnoxious ways possible and you've got one of the wildest, most dysfunctional bands of toku heroes I've ever seen! And yet, every time; they're able to save the day. Every time, they grow closer. Every time, this band of ragtag becomes more of a family. It's very general Sentai stuff - extremely fit for a 45th anniversary - but I can't stress enough how different these characters are from each other and how ultimately ragtag they are... and that follows through to the aesthetics. Zyuran, Gaon and Vroon share a ~general~ body shape but aside from that? When we first heard and saw leaks of this group none of us could really quite believe what was going on, because it was just so insane. We're so used to a uniform team of spandexed heroes; simple suits that are all basically the same and mostly differentiated by helmets and maybe a slight change in the pattern. But Zenkaiger? No, no; you got a dragon wizard, a funky dinosaur dude, akaranger and big one's lovechild and gokai red if he was a golden crocodile! There is little to no consistency here... and that's kinda the point! It definitely helps that they're all based on main mechas from different Sentai seasons which of course themselves had different aesthetics from each other because they're all embodying a different world on their own beyond whichever popular season they happen to look like; they're all bringing something totally unique with no connection to anything else, and so beyond a couple design conventions that apply to maybe half of them at best it's difficult to pin any one theme to any of them. The mechs being a couple of Kamen Rider Ws, a crocodile pirate ship and a goddamn Kaiju? I think that only proves my point further; none of these look alike! And then, just because someone who was added in so late works so perfectly with the themes (or, given how I'm describing this team; perhaps because he was added so late?), Stacey as a dark prince with a completely different evil ranger aesthetic who also features a mech unlike anything else in the show just adds to all this! When your own world expands, you run into all kinds of people. And they'll look nothing like you; sound nothing like you; won't have the same interests, some of them will be almost your exact opposite and have ideals and goals you can't comprehend. But at the end of the day you're all Super Sentai, you're all family; and you all understand an evil ruler when you see him and know you gotta take them down -- and at the end of the day, that's what matters.
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08-18-2021, 09:40 PM | #808 |
Showa Girl
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 9,064
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Or, y'know, here's the much shorter and easier to read version
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08-19-2021, 09:39 AM | #809 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 290
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I guess the theme/aesthetic is that they clash. I guess this is exemplified in the Sentai Gears.
Some give Powers, like Zyuoh Eagle's Wings. Some give weapons, like the Ryusoul Ken. Then there is Jetman, which replicated the Infamous Ending of the Finale Shot for Shot. Though, I wonder something. So, I am looking at the RangerWiki (hate the layout, want the original back) and have realized that there are no "Auxiliary Mecha" in Zenkaiger. Unlike the previous Sentai Series, there is no Mashin Carry, no Mashin Rolland, no Mashin Lifton, no Scissor Dial Fighter, no Blade Dial Fighter, no Paonmaru, no Surfermaru, no UFOmaru, none of those. Also, the lack of Mecha is weird, considering that it's an anniversary series on par with Gokaiger. Gokaiger has had 11 Mecha made in toy form, including the GokaiOh Components: GokaiGalleon, GokaiJet, GokaiTrailer, GokaiRacer, and GokaiMarine, GoZyuJin, and the Gokai Machines: MagiDragon, Dekamachine Patstriker, GaoLion, Karakuri Warrior Fūraimaru, and Engine Machalcon. Meanwhile, so far, there are only 9 Mecha for Zenkaiger, even that is including TwokaiRicky and TwokaiCuttanner. Will there be more Mecha as a whole? |
08-19-2021, 10:29 AM | #810 |
Veteran Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 3,525
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What kind of upgrade would you all want to see in a “Super Stacaesar”?
Following Super Zenkaiser with Zyuranger and Super Twokaiser with Timeranger! What would fit Stacey? Zyuohger? Kyoryuger? |
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