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"A Tokusatsu Hero Otaku Saves The World!?" The live-action TV drama series Wingman is set to premiere on TV Tokyo's "DramaTues!" midnight programming block on October 22, 2024. Renowned tokusatsu director Koichi Sakamoto serves as the director and action director of the series. As Katsura's first serialized work, Wingman ran in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine from 1983 to 1985. The manga's style, heavily influenced by the tokusatsu heroes of the 1980s, was adapted into TV anime and video games. The new live-action drama is made in commemoration of the manga's 40th anniversary. The TV anime adaptation was produced by Toei Animation under the title Yume Senshi Wingman ("Dream Warrior Wingman"), which aired for 47 episodes from 1984 to 1985. Cast: Kenta Hirono played by Maito Fujioka Aoi Yume played by Konatsu Kato Miku Ogawa played by Himena Kikuchi Kumiko Fuzawa played by Hiyori Katada Momoko Morimoto played by Amane Uehara Tomoo Fukumoto played by Jotaro Sakagami played by Yuno Ohara Kurotsu played by Ui Mihara Tatsuo Saito played by Haruki Tachibana https://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/wingman/ https://x.com/tx_wingman

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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

Gekijouban Kamen Rider 555: Paradise Lost ( 劇場版仮面ライダー555<ファイズ> 『パラダイス・ロスト』 ) Ishimori Productions/Asatsu DK/TV Asahi/Bandai Visual/Toei Co. Ltd., 2003 Not available in the U.S. Directed by Ryuta Tasaki (Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Kamen Rider Ryuki) Based on Kamen Rider by the late Shotaro Ishinomori (1938-1998) (Cyborg 009, Android Kikaider)Running Time: 81 minutes Not Rated (Suggested TV-14). Contains graphic violence. Cast Kento Handa as Takumi Inui/Kamen Rider 555 Faiz/Wolf Orphenoch Masayuki Izumi (1980-2015) as Yuji Kiba/Horse Orphenoch/Kamen Rider 000 Orga Yuria Haga as Mari Sonoda Peter Ho as Leo/Kamen Rider 315 Psyga Ken Mizorogi as Keitaro Kikuchi Yoshika Kato as Yuka Osada/Crane Orphenoch Mitsuru Karahashi as Naoya Kaido/Snake Orphenoch Kohei Murakami as Masato Kusaka/Kamen Rider 913 Kaixa Katsuyuki Murai as Kyouji Murakami Hitomi Kurihara as SMART Lady Mei Kurokawa as Mina Mokomichi Hayami as Mizuhara Synopsis In the near future, the world is ruled by the Smart Brain Corporation and its genetic creations known as Orphenochs, and the once prominent human race is nearing extinction. Takumi Inui (a.k.a. Kamen Rider Faiz), was once regarded as the savior of mankind until he was captured by Smart Brain's Riotroopers and presumed dead. Since then, human rebel groups have staged attacks on Smart Brain's complex in an attempt to steal the top-secret "King Belt," but with no success. Kiba, Kaido and Osada - three Orphenochs who sympathize the human race, attempt to ease the tension between both races, but their peace meeting is interrupted by Smart Brain's troops and their newest warrior Kamen Rider Psyga. Takumi, who had lived in secrecy over the past few years, regains his memory and once again becomes Kamen Rider Faiz to settle a score with Smart Brain once and for all. Lowdown If you're expecting a continuation of the Kamen Rider 555 series, you will be disappointed, as it has nothing to do with that continuity. Kamen Rider 555: Paradise Lost is an alternate retelling in the same way we compare the Escaflowne movie to the TV series. Paradise Lost has a much darker atmosphere than its TV counterpart. It's also more action-packed and more dramatic. All the major characters of the TV series are here; most of them with the same characteristics - Mari still cuts hair, Takumi still can't stand hot drinks, and SMART Lady is as kawaii as ever. Other regular characters have undergone changes that are rather disturbing - Murakami, the evil Smart Brain executive, has been reduced to a head in a glass jar. Unfortunately, many of the series' characters have been reduced to rather minor roles. Kusaka/Kamen Rider Kaixa only has five minutes of air time before he gets killed by Leo/Kamen Rider Psyga (played by American-born Hong Kong actor/singer Peter Ho, who speaks English throughout the entire film). Kamen Rider Delta is nowhere to be seen in the movie at all. The CG special effects are several steps above those seen in the TV series, but many elements still look fake and cheesy, especially when Faiz and his transforming bike Autovajin battle the massive Elasmotherium Orphenoch in the Smart Brain Super Arena. On the other hand, the new Rider designs are nothing short of awesome - especially Orga and Faiz Blaster Form. In short, Kamen Rider 555: Paradise Lost is loads of fun for fans of tokusatsu. Even the Ishinomori purists who refuse to watch the current generation Kamen Rider titles should check this film out. Rating: B+ Reference Anime News Network

Garo (牙狼) TV Tokyo/Project Garo/Bandai Visual, 2005-2006 How come no one's licensed this yet? Created and directed by Keita Amemiya (Onimusha 2-3, Kamen Rider ZO) Running Time: 25 minutes per episode Not Rated (Suggested TV-MA). Contains graphic violence, nudity and strong language. "Where there is light, shadows lurk and fear reigns. Yet by the blade of knights, mankind was given hope." Cast Hiroki Konishi as Kouga Saejima/Garo the Golden Knight Mika Hijii (Rin in AvN: Alien vs. Ninja, Namiko in Ninja) as Kaoru Mitsuki Ray Fujita (Kitazaki/Dragon Orphnoch in Kamen Rider 555) as Rei Suzumura/Zero the Silver Fanged Knight Hironobu Kageyama (veteran anime and tokusatsu singer) as Madou Ring Zaruba (voice) Ai Orikasa (Ryoko in Tenchi Muyo!, Quatre in Gundam Wing) as Madou Necklace Silva (voice) Yukijiro Hotaru as Gonza Kurahashi Masaki Kyomoto as Karune Ryuzaki Keaki Watanabe as Keiru; Fumiko Inoue as Keiru (voice) Anri Okamoto as Beru; Machiko Kawana as Beru (voice) Yukina Kashiwa as Rose; Akemi Sato as Rose (voice) Kimika Yoshino as Gulm Mark Musashi as Kodama Mina Fukui (Ran Uzaki/Geki Yellow in Jyuken Sentai Gekiranger) as Asami Shinohara Alisa Durbrow (Mio Kuroki in Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon) as Shizuka "There are demonic beasts called Horrors that live in the darkness. This is a story about a Makai Knight who hunts down the Horrors. You better not avert your eyes." Synopsis Kouga Saejima is a Makai Knight who, as Garo, protects mankind against demonic manifestations called "Horrors". One night, while battling a Horror, a young artist named Kaoru Mitsuki has the Horror's blood spilled on her. Under the Makai Knight's code of honor, anyone tainted with the blood of a Horror must be taken down, or they will suffer a painful death within 100 days. However, rather than kill her immediately, he spares her life to use her as bait to lure other Horrors and search for a way to purify her before her time runs out. Lowdown Garo is a major departure from the usual tokusatsu shows you're used to. It's not as flamboyant as the Super Sentai series, or as mainstream as the Kamen Rider series. Instead, it's dark. Really dark. You have your silent, anti-hero protagonist who means business when he pulls out his sword. He also has a talking ring that gives him a Vampire Hunter D vibe. And if that's not enough, he magically puts on what may be the most badass knight armor ever designed. The Horrors here are not your typical kaijin from other shows. They don't simply take over a host body and leave it when defeated nor do they kidnap people and keep them alive; instead, any victim they take is dead, and they tear their host bodies apart when they battle Garo. Definitely not family entertainment. Initially, Kouga has no care about humans - especially Kaoru, but as the series progresses, he slowly develops some sort of relationship with her while struggling to hide the truth on why he has kept her alive. Then, in episode 6, we are introduced to Rei Suzumura, who is also a Makai Knight named Zero. He enters the scene as a fierce rival of Kouga, but he apparently has a personal vendetta with Garo and is often tempted to take Kaoru's life. Despite running at a considerably lower budget than Toei's TV shows, Garo makes up for the cheap CG effects with some of the best fight choreography and swordplay ever filmed for a TV series. The intense fights are further enhanced by the excellent music by JAM Project. Just watch the music video above. To summarize, Garo proves that you don't need a Toei budget to produce a badass tokusatsu series. I should've picked this up when it came out seven years ago, but now that I have this on my watchlist, I got a lot of catching up to do. And that S.H. Figuarts Garo is just too sweet. Rating: A- Links Official Garo Homepage TV Tokyo's Official Garo Homepage References JEFusion

Mmm... Nao Nagasawa... Minami Tsukui... Saaya... Rebellions Official Facebook Page

Travelers: Jigen Keisatsu (トラベラーズ 次元警察) is an upcoming low-budget Japanese sci-fi film starring three of the hottest tokusatsu actresses: Nao Nagasawa (Nanami Nono/Hurricane Blue in Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger) as Ai Ayumi Kinoshita (Marika "Jasmine" Reimon/Deka Yellow in Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger) as Yui Yuko Takayama (Rinko Daimon in Kamen Rider Wizard) as Haruka Not much is known about this film, but it hits theaters in Japan on April 13. Official Site

Bishojo Senshi Sailor Moon ( 美少女戦士セーラームーン ) CBC/CAZBE/Dentsu/TBS/Toei Co. Ltd/Bandai Visual, 2003-2004 As if this will ever see a U.S. release... Directed by Ryuta Tazaki (Kamen Rider 555) Based on the bestselling manga by Naoko Takeuchi Running Time: 25 minutes per episode Not Rated (Suggested TV-PG). Contains some violence and mild language. Cast Miyuu Sawai as Usagi Tsukino/Sailor Moon/Princess Serenity Rika Izumi (formerly Chisaki Hama) as Ami Mizuno/Sailor Mercury Keiko Kitagawa as Rei Hino/Sailor Mars Mew Azama as Makoto Kino/Sailor Jupiter Ayaka Komatsu as Minako Aino/Sailor Venus/Sailor V Jouji Shibue as Mamoru Chiba/Tuxedo Kamen/Prince Endymion Keiko Han (Lalah in Mobile Suit Gundam) as Luna (reprising her original anime role) Rina Koike as Sailor Luna Kappei Yamaguchi (Ranma 1/2, Inu-Yasha) as Artemis Aya Sugimoto as Queen Beryl Hiroyuki Matsumoto as Nephrite Jun Masuo as Jadeite Yoshito Endou as Zoicite Akira Kubodera as Kunzite Chieko Kawabe as Naru Osaka Masaya Kikawada as Motoki Furuhata Kaori Moriwaka as Ikuko Tsukino Naoki Takeshi as Shingo Tsukino Moeco Matsushita as Hina Kusaka Alisa Yuriko Durbrow as Mio Kuroki "Moon Prism Power...Make-Up!" Synopsis Middle school student Usagi Tsukino is having her typical late run for school when a plush cat doll named Luna falls out of the sky and lands on her face. That night, she is revisited by Luna, who tells her that she is one of the Sailor Guardians. Using her special makeup, Usagi transforms herself into Sailor Moon, champion of love and justice. With the aid of her new friends Ami Mizuno (Sailor Mercury), Rei Hino (Sailor Mars) and Makoto Kino (Sailor Jupiter), along with idol singer/vigilante-at-night Minako Aino (Sailor Venus, a.k.a. Sailor V) and the mysterious masked man known as Tuxedo Kamen, Sailor Moon strives to find the Moon Princess and the Mystical Silver Crystal, and protect them from Queen Beryl and the Dark Kingdom. Lowdown In a time where anime fans fear the possibility of their favorite titles going live-action, this comes to a surprise. I expected this live-action adaptation of the popular Sailor Moon manga and anime series to bomb big-time, but I was wrong. Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon features some of the most kawaii actresses in Japanese TV today, and they do a very impressive job with their roles. The special effects are mostly computer-generated. Since the production team opted to make Luna a plush doll instead of a real cat, it's a lot easier for the CG animators to render her. Sure, the movements may look a bit cheesy, but it's better than the stuffed animal pretending to be a real cat in Sabrina the Teen Witch. The senshi transformation sequences are pretty average - minimal camera work and a lot of CG effects. Despite not having the official anthem "Moonlight Densetsu," the new series has an equally catchy theme in the form of "Kirari Sailor Dream," written by creator Naoko Takeuchi and performed by Sae. The BGM is standard J-Pop/orchestra that's equal to the anime's soundtrack. Overall, I'm very impressed with the franchise's transition from manga to anime to live-action. I definitely will be following this series on a regular basis. Rating: B+ Special thanks to #TV-Nihon for making this review possible. Links Toei's Official Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Homepage (Japanese) CBC's Official Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Homepage (Japanese) Reference Anime News Network Wikipedia