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Presenting the thread dedicated to Bandai's high-end action figure lines: S.H. Figuarts S.H. Figuarts is Bandai's answer to Kaiyodo's Revoltech and Max Factory's Figma lines, with figures that boast extreme detail and poseability, coupled with a vast array of features and accessories. The line consists mainly of Kamen Rider and Super Sentai figures, but there are also figures for anime characters from Dragon Ball, One Piece, Tiger & Bunny and Doraemon, as well as Hollywood blockbusters like Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Here's an example: Juzo Fuwa from Samurai Sentai Shinkenger (a.k.a. Deker from Power Rangers Samurai), a Tamashii Web exclusive: The line also includes S.H. Figuarts Zero which consists of non-poseable anime statues that are well-detailed. Here's Himura Kenshin from Rurouni Kenshin: D-Arts D-Arts focuses on video game characters, as well as the Digimon series. The D-Arts line was dropped after 2014, with newer video game character figures being released under the S.H. Figuarts line. Here are Rockman X (MegaMan X) and Rockman Zero (MegaMan Zero) (1st Version): S.H. MonsterArts S.H. MonsterArts is for the kaiju fan who demands a lot of detail and poseability that normal monster figures lack. Here's Godzilla: Ultra-Act Ultra-Act is for hardcore fans of the Ultraman series, as well as Tsuburaya Productions' other works. Here's Ultraman: Post your collection here.

Rather than post separate threads about newer individual series, here's the super thread for tokusatsu TV series past and present, from Super Sentai to Kamen Rider, Ultraman, and more. To begin, here's the current lineup of tokusatsu shows in Japan: Shuriken Sentai Ninninger (手裏剣戦隊ニンニンジャー) is the 39th Super Sentai series, having premiered on February 22, 2015. It is the third series to use a ninja motif (after 1994's Ninja Sentai Kakuranger and 2002's Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger). It looks so much better than Ressha Sentai ToQger, but that's not saying much. The series is scheduled to be replaced by the 40th anniversary Super Sentai series this February. Fuka-chan... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIcpISHtnLk Kamen Rider Ghost (仮面ライダーゴースト) is the 26th Kamen Rider series, having replaced Kamen Rider Drive on October 4, 2015. Attempting to capitalize on the popularity of Yo-Kai Watch, Kamen Rider Ghost uses a ghost and supernatural motif. The suit looks like leftovers from Kamen Rider Wizard and Kamen Rider Kiva. Ultraman X (ウルトラマンX（エックス）) is the 24th in Tsuburaya Productions' Ultra Series, having premiered on July 14, 2015. It is the first tokusatsu series to have a worldwide simulcast, with U.S. viewers accessing it through Crunchyroll.

Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger (特捜戦隊デカレンジャー) TV Asahi/Toei Co. Ltd., 2004 Exploited by Buena Vista Entertainment in 2005 as Power Rangers SPD Running Time: 25 minutes per episode Not Rated (Suggested TV-PG). Contains violence and mature situations. Cast Ryuji Sainei as Banban Akaza/Deka Red Tsuyoshi Hayashi as Houji Tomasu/Deka Blue Yosuke Ito as Senichi "Sen-chan" Enari/Deka Green Ayumi Kinoshita as Marika "Jasmine" Reimon/Deka Yellow Mika Kikuchi as Koume "Umeko" Kodou/Deka Pink Tomokazu Yoshida as Tekkan "Tetsu" Aira/Deka Break Tetsu Inada (Wakkein in Mobile Suit Gundam movies 1-2) as Doggie Kruger/Deka Master (voice) Mako Ishino as Swan Shiratori Ryusei Nakao (Frieza in Dragon Ball Z) as Agent Abrella (voice) Toshio Furukawa (Ataru in Urusei Yatsura, Asuma in Mobile Police Patlabor) as the Narrator "Emergency...DEKARANGER!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1MwupHAPpU Synopsis Earth's population has increased dramatically over the past few years, partially due to aliens migrating to the planet and getting jobs here. But with every case of population growth, there's always a case of unusual criminal activities. To keep alien-related crimes in check, the Special Police Department (SPD) sets up an Earth branch near Tokyo, Japan. This branch consists of the special task force Dekaranger, who can take on any alien threat with their vast array of sophisticated weapons and mecha. But the Dekarangers get the biggest surprise when loose cannon Banban Akaza is transferred out of his home planet and joins the team as Deka Red. Lowdown I've been a casual fan of Super Sentai shows ever since the 1984 classic Choudenshi Bioman. But after Saban started licensing Toei's super sentai titles and turning them into Power Rangers, I started to lose interest in the genre. Then, a couple of days ago, a fansub of this new series came out, and I decided to check it out. Wow...despite the use of CG, Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger has the elements of Super Sentai shows we all know and love: cheesy special effects, near-laughable acting, awesome fight scenes and catchy theme music. Dekaranger even mixes the genre with the alien immigration subplot inspired by Men in Black. In the first episode alone, you can easily get to like the characters, from the hot-headed Deka Red to the cute Deka Pink, who spends most of the show taking a bubble bath. The battle scenes are a complete riot, especially when Deka Red makes his Earth debut. I can't wait for the next episode, when they bring out the Dekaranger Robo. Overall, Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger is a surprisingly excellent Super Sentai show. It sure as hell beats the snoozefest called Chouseishin GranSazer. Rating: A Links Super Sentai's Official Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger Homepage (Japanese) Toei's Official Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger Homepage (Japanese) References Wikipedia

Toei and TV Asahi premiered Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger today in Japan. It celebrates 35 years of the Super Sentai franchise. For the series, the characters use a pirate motif. An interesting twist is the team's ability to use the powers of the previous 34 Super Sentai groups. I'd love to see how that plays out (at least before Haim Saban rapes and pillages this series). In the meantime, here's the preview. I don't know about you guys, but the costumes look badass. Hope the show is as good as Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger. TV Asahi's Official Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger Homepage

Ressha Sentai ToQger (烈車戦隊トッキュウジャー) TV Asahi/Toei Company Ltd., 2014-2015 To be exploited by Saban Brands within the next three years... Directed by Shojiro Nakazawa (Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger, Samurai Sentai Shinkenger) and Katsuya Watanabe (Engine Sentai Go-onger, Jyuken Sentai Gekiranger) Written by Yasuko Kobayashi (Samurai Sentai Shinkenger, Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters) Running Time: 25 minutes per episode. Not Rated (Suggested TV-PG). Contains sci-fi violence and mild language. "ToQ Change!" Cast Jun Shishon as Right/ToQ 1-go (Red) Jin Hiramaki as Tokatti/ToQ 2-go (Blue) Riria as Mio/ToQ 3-go (Yellow) Ryusei Yokohama as Hikari/ToQ 4-go (Green) Ai Moritaka as Kagura/ToQ 5-go (Pink) Tsutomu Sekine as the Conductor Kappei Yamaguchi (Ranma ½, InuYasha) as Ticket and ToQger equipment (voice) Yui Horie (Naru in Love Hina, Hitomi in Dead or Alive 3-5) as Wagon (voice) Jun Fukuyama (Luca in Macross Frontier, Lelouch in Code Geass) as Baron Nero (voice) Aya Hisakawa (Ami/Sailor Mercury in Sailor Moon, Skuld in Ah! My Goddess) as Madame Noa (voice) Haruhiko Jo (Japanese dub actor for Geoffrey Rush and Tim Curry) as General Schwartz (voice) Noriko Hidaka (Noriko in Gunbuster, Jean in Nadia of the Mysterious Seas) as Miss Glitta (voice) Synopsis Imagination is the key to all happiness, and this is generated by all children. But when the Shadow Line threatens to remove all Imagination on Earth and replace it with Darkness, five childhood friends join together as the ToQgers to protect the planet and keep Imagination running. "The Victorious Imagination! Ressha Sentai ToQger!" Lowdown Japan has a long love for trains. After all, they built the Shinkansen, the first high-speed locomotive. The train theme is no stranger to the Super Sentai series, as it's been used as a secondary motif for Kyukyu Sentai GoGoFive and Mahou Sentai Magiranger, but this year's title is all about trains. Ressha Sentai ToQger is all laughs - not only because of its slapstick comedy, but its laughably bad designs. There are so many ways to make train-themed designs, so why did Toei approve such horrible-looking costumes? It looks like they simply hot-glued toy railroad tracks on spandex outfits. And that giant robot they have. I don't care if it's part of an interchangeable toy gimmick, but ToQ Oh is the single worst giant robot design in Super Sentai history. The baddies look cool, though. Without a doubt, ToQger is a fun series to watch, but the ghastly costume designs will keep most Super Sentai fans from watching it. Rating: C- Links Toei's Official Ressha Sentai ToQger Homepage TV Asahi's Official Ressha Sentai ToQger Homepage References JEFusion

Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger (獣電戦隊キョウリュウジャー) TV Asahi/Toei Co. Ltd., 2013 To be exploited by Saban Brands in at least three years... Directed by Koichi Sakamoto (Veteran Power Rangers stunt coordinator) Written by Riku Sanjo (Kamen Rider W, MD Geist) Running Time: 25 minutes per episode Rated TV-PG for martial arts violence. "Brave In!" "Gaburincho! Gabutyra!" "Kyoryu Change! Fire!" Cast Ryo Ryusei as Daigo "King" Kiryu/Kyoryu Red Syuusuke Saito as Ian Yorkland/Kyoryu Black Yamato Kinjo as Nobuharu Udo/Kyoryu Blue Akihisa Shiono as Souji Rippukan/Kyoryu Green Ayuri Konno as Amy Yuuzuki/Kyoryu Pink Toshiyuki Morikawa (Naraku in Inuyasha, Sephiroth in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children) as Torin (voice) Takayuki Sugo (Heat Guy J, Capt. Okita in Space Battleship Yamato 2199) as Chaos (voice) Haruka Tomatsu (Mileina in Mobile Suit Gundam 00, Kinuho in A Certain Specific Railgun) as Canderrilla (voice) Satoshi Tsuruoka as Dogold (voice) Yu Mizushima (Sho/Guyver I in Guyver: Out of Control, Isamu in Hyakujuu-oh Golion) as Aigallon (voice) Ai Orikasa (Ryoko in Tenchi Muyo!, Quatre in Gundam Wing) as Luckyuro (voice) Shigeru Chiba (Sasuke in Ranma ½, Gil Berg in Dangaioh) as the Narrator and Gaburevolver voice "Vamola Mucho!" Brave 1: "Let's Go! The Red King" (でたァーッ！　まっかなキング) Millions of years after the extinction of the dinosaurs, the Deboss Army resurface and wreak havoc on civilization to prepare for the awakening of their creator, Dark Species Deboss. Standing in their way are the Kyoryugers, five brave youths gifted with the powers of the Zyudenryu ("Electric Beast Dragons") - the dinosaurs that defeated the Deboss Army during the Ice age. Lowdown After snoozing off on Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters last year, I had nearly lost faith in Super Sentai until Hikounin Sentai Akibaranger kept me entertained for a short while. Then I read that Toei was going back to basics with the Super Sentai series this year, after Go-Busters' no-nonsense approach proved to be a ratings disappointment. And so to rejuvenate toy sales, they returned to a tried-and-true motif: dinosaurs. After all, Zyuranger created the Power Rangers franchise. Despite having 90% of the episode focused just on the Red guy, Kyoryuger brings back everything we love about Super Sentai: loud costumes, flashy fight choreography, cheesy special effects and a lighthearted atmosphere. And, like the traditional Super Sentai show, Kyoryuger has a sense of goofiness in it; in this case, its use of samba and dancing while our heroes transform. Oh yeah, what about those wonderful toys? The Gaburevolver looks like a Nerf Maverick on steroids with the nifty gimmick of combining with the Gaburicalibur sword to form a more powerful cannon that's cooler than the Go-Busters' weapons. The use of dinosaur "batteries" is also an interesting gimmick that may rival those of Go-Onger, Shinkenger and Gokaiger. In short, Kyoryuger is not in the running for best Super Sentai series of all-time, but it's guaranteed to keep kids and long-time fans entertained this year. Rating: B Next time, on Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger: Brave 2: "Gaburincho! Snapping Combination" (ガブリンチョ！　カミツキがったい) Time for some giant robot action. Links TV Asahi's Official Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger Homepage Toei's Official Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger Homepage References JEFusion

Tokumei Sentai Gobusters (特命戦隊ゴーバスターズ) is the 36th Super Sentai series, premiering on February 26 on TV Asahi once Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger ends its run. The team will start as a trio: Red Buster, Blue Buster and Yellow Buster - each having a robot partner. And you can't have a Super Sentai show without mecha and loads of toys, so here's what Gobusters has to offer. There will be three main Gobuster Machines. CB-01 Gobuster Ace transforms from sports car to mechanical cheetah to robot. GT-02 Gorilla changes into a truck, while RH-03 Rabbit transforms into a helicopter. All three can combine into the giant robot Gobuster-oh. In addition, Gobusters brings back the traditional henshin bracelet format (after several seasons of cell phone changers and other devices) with the Morphin' Brace. The motif of this show is yet to be known, but earlier rumors have it tagged as either spy or bounty hunter themed. Look for the Gobusters to make a surprise appearance in Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger vs. Uchuu Keiji Gavan: The Movie this January. Tokumei Sentai Gobusters Revealed

Coming to Japanese theaters on April 21 is the largest tokusatsu spectacle in film history. Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Super Hero Taisen is the ultimate crossover between the Kamen Rider and Super Sentai franchises, featuring cast members of Kamen Rider Fourze, Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters, Kamen Rider Decade and Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger, as well as cast members from other series. Moreover, this movie will attempt to make it into the Guinness Book of World Records. With a total of 485 combatants (50 Kamen Riders, 173 Super Sentai warriors, 97 monsters and 165 foot soldiers), Toei is gunning for the "Guinness Record for Most Suit Actors in One Place". Official Site

Samurai Sentai Shinkenger (侍戦隊シンケンジャー) TV Asahi/Toei Company, Ltd., 2009-2010 Currently being exploited by Saban Brands as Power Rangers Samurai Directed by Shōjirō Nakazawa, Satoshi Morota, Noboru Takemoto, Katsuya Watanabe, Hiroyuki Kato and Takao Nagaishi Written by Yasuko Kobayashi (I My Me! Strawberry Eggs, Shakugan no Shana), Akatsuki Yamatoya and Daisuke Ishibashi Running Time: 25 minutes per episode Number of Episodes: 49 Not Rated (Suggested TV-PG). Contains martial arts violence and mild language. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZNhjokW2R8 一筆奏上! "Ippitsu Sojo!" ("One Stroke, Imperial Report!") Cast Tori Matsuzaka as Takeru Shiba/Shinken Red Hiroki Aibe as Ryunosuke Ikenami/Shinken Blue Rin Takanashi as Mako Shiraishi/Shinken Pink Shogo Suzuki as Chiaki Tani/Shinken Green Suzuka Morita as Kotoha Hanaori/Shinken Yellow Keisuke Sohma as Genta Umemori/Shinken Gold Koichi Tochika (Hyuga in Naruto, Taishi in Comic Party) as DaiGoyou (voice) Goro Ibuki as Hikoma Kusakabe Runa Natsui as Kaoru Shiba/Princess Shinken Red Kazuyuki Matsuzawa as Toshizo Tanba Rintaro Nishi as Doukoku Chimatsuri (voice) Mitsuru Karahashi (Naoya/Snake Orphnoch in Kamen Rider 555) as Juzo Fuwa Romi Park (Edward in Fullmetal Alchemist, Elena in Devil May Cry) as Usuyuki/Dayu Usukawa (voice) Cho (Jaken in InuYasha) as Hone no Shitari (voice) Ryo Horikawa (Vegeta in Dragon Ball Z, Kou in Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory) as Akumaro Sujigarano (voice) Hironori Miyata (Fuuraimaru in Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger and Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger) as the Narrator 天下御免の侍戦隊. シンケンジャー、参る!! "Tenkagomen no Samurai Sentai... Shinkenger, Mairu!!" ("The Samurai Sentai authorized by divine providence... Shinkenger, going forth!!") Synopsis For hundreds of years, the samurai of the Shiba House have protected mankind from a band of evil spirits known as the Gedoushuu. Several years after being sealed away, Doukoku Chimatsuri sends his Ayakashi and Nanashi army to once again wreak havoc on Earth, causing the combined grief and suffering of mankind to slowly raise the levels of the Sanzu River for the Gedoushuu to stage a full-scale assault on humanity. To combat this threat, Takeru Shiba, the 18th Head of the Shiba House, must assemble all of his vassals to form the Shinkengers. Lowdown Not too long after Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger got me back into Super Sentai, I decided to check out the back catalog to see what I missed after Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger. And with that, I discovered a new favorite in Samurai Sentai Shinkenger. Shinkenger takes all of the great parts of Super Sentai and mixes it with Japanese culture and epic Samurai Cinema, resulting in a show that is uniquely Japanese with its excellent array of characters from the firm leader Takeru to the extremely kawaii Kotoha-chan to the annoying yet badass Genta. No doubt that the production team worked really hard on developing this series, having researched on Japanese mythology to flesh out the show's villains and mystical elements. Originally, I was not impressed by the suit designs, but after watching a few episodes, they grew on me quickly. The Shinkenger suits take a very minimalist approach to the Super Sentai style while incorporating traditional Samurai elements at the same time. Plus, the helmet designs are based on the kanji of the members' mojikara (or the natural element of their abilities). Having them armed with Shinkenmaru katanas results in some of the most awesome sword fights you'll ever see. As for the mecha, the show has its share of overkill and clusterfrakks, but it all comes down to Shinkenoh, the Shinkengers' main unit and undoubtedly one of the most badass giant robot designs ever made. And let's not forget the music. The series has a remarkable array of BGM tracks, but they're all topped by the badass opening theme by Psychic Lover (Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger, Witchblade). In short, Samurai Sentai Shinkenger is undoubtedly one of the greatest Super Sentai titles ever made and a milestone in Japanese entertainment. It's just too bad Saban smeared all over this epic with their Power Rangers version. Rating: A- Links Super Sentai Official Samurai Sentai Shinkenger Homepage Toei's Official Samurai Sentai Shinkenger Homepage TV Asahi's Official Samurai Sentai Shinkenger Homepage References Anime News Network JEFusion