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under TokuNation, TokuNation Site Updates

We’re just about to finish the holiday season for the year 2013 and your friends at Talkin Toku at the Nation are bringing you some end-of-the-year Holiday cheer! Please join Kickback, Den-O, and Sentai Tamashii in the last episode of 2013! Taking the show away from where we’ve been, this show primarily focuses on TOYS. Find out what the guys think the Best Toy of 2013 is, what the Worst Toy of 2013 is, the most anticipated toys of 2014, and what our, as well as your favorite toku companies, New Year’s Resolutions are and should be.

And of course, the mystery of why this episode is featuring an image of White Castle. Please take a listen and participate – post in the discussion thread, or send us an email at podcast@tokunation.com to ask us questions and we’ll read them live on the air!

LibSyn Link:
Our LibSyn page for the show!

iTunes Link:
A link to our iTunes page (or just search “Tokunation” on iTunes)

Direct download link:
Click here to download the .MP3 of the show!
Size – 71.0MB
Length – 1:17:37 (one hour, seventeen minutes, thirty-seven seconds)

Please take part in the discussion thread. Look for Episode 004 to release in January, 2014! Thank you for your support and we’ll see you soon!

under Power Rangers, Super Sentai

For the Power Rangers fans who have looked at, dissected, analyzed, and maybe even obsessed over the era that is known as “the final episodes of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers season 1 and the first handful from season 2″, this is, honestly, akin to finding the Holy Grail. For those of you who do not follow Power Rangers that closely, you’re probably wondering what the heck “zyu2” means. Well, let’s get in to that real quick.

When Mighty Morphin Power Rangers first hit the airwaves, no one expected it to become the huge pop-culture phenomenon – not Fox, not Saban, and not TOEI. The thing was it DID become the huge major success that has lasted 20 years now. Now for a bit of a history lesson.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers was an adaption of Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger. The Sentai show lasted 50 some episodes, and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers took just about every usable piece of footage they could from its Sentai counterpart. And that’s when the unthinkable happened – there was no more Zyuranger footage to use – and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers had become the biggest toy line and kids show of the 1990’s. Frankly, Saban couldn’t afford to let the show end. It was at that time that Saban reached out to TOEI (the creators of the Super Sentai franchise) and they struck a deal – new footage would be filmed by TOEI for use in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Saban then negotiated the rights for use of Gosei Sentai Dairanger, which result in both the Thunderzords and the White Ranger, as well as all the monsters.

That footage that TOEI created became known to the fandom as Zyu2 – short for Zyuranger 2 – and for years fans have speculated on a literal frame-by-frame analysis. See, there’s a number of monsters from the Zyu2 period that were filmed fighting the original Megazord and Dragonzord, but Saban introduced the Thunderzords early (yay toy sales!), meaning a handful of monsters at the tail-end of the Zyu2 footage had cut/paste battles (ie: you see the Thunder Megazord throw a punch, then cut to the monster who sparks and falls back). The editing was sloppy and at times you can easily make out the original Megazord in the battle when the Thunder Megazord is what the show is intending you to think is fighting the monster. Or in some cases, the monster didn’t grow to super-size to fight the Megazords, which was almost a 100% certainty in the show.

And an announcement came from GrnRngr of GrnRngr.com that he has come in to possession of never-before-seen Zyu2 footage and will release it via his website soon. To prove his point, he released a short video clip show-casing the Bloom of Doom and Invenusable Flytrap growing for a Megazord battle – something they didn’t do in the actual episodes. The footage is in forms of episode blocks, and he states that for each block, there is anywhere from 20% to 50% brand new footage that has never been seen. This could be anything from fight scenes with the Power Rangers to Megazord battles with the Dino Zords and Dragonzord that was cut out in favor of copy/pasting Thunder Megazord footage.

It’s kind of a big deal for the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers fans. You have to see it to believe it – click here to check out the GrnRngr.com teaser! So what do you think? Are you excited about this never before seen footage? Do you care? As GrnRngr.com updates the fandom on the Zyu2 footage, we will feature his updates. Until then, check out his site – it is an excellent resource for toys and Zyu2 and Zyu 1.5 footage.

under Power Rangers, TokuNation, TokuNation Spotlights

The celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Power Rangers continues! The users of the TokuNation forums listed their Top 10 Power Rangers and we compiled all their nominations in to a giant list and picked the Top 20, and now, we present to you the TokuNation Users’ Top 20 Power Rangers of All Time! And as we get closer to #1, it shouldn’t be surprising to see more of the original cast make their presence felt. With that, TokuNation users have voted David Yost, who played Billy Cranston the Blue Ranger in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, as the 6th Best Power Ranger of All Time!

Billy started off as, honestly, a really big nerd. He had the super thick glasses, the rather cowardice persona (especially in battle), and spoke using really big, giant words. As the show and his character progressed, he would lose the glasses, lose the suspenders, and become quite an accomplished martial artist in the show (he even had more love interests than Zack, Jason, Rocky, or Adam). He created the communicators, allowing the Power Rangers to stay in touch with Zordon. He created the Rad Bug as a means to travel great distances when teleportation wasn’t available (whatever happened to that anyway?).

During the third season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, the evil Master Vile turned back time causing our heroes to become children. No longer able to morph in to battle, Billy figures out a way to use the Ninja Power Coins to revert the Rangers back to their adult selves. But before he can use the technique on anyone other than himself, the villains manage to destroy the coins, leaving the Power Rangers without any power (and they were still children). The only other way to save the world was to go back through time and recollect the pieces of the Zeo Crystal, which was shattered and sent through time and space to keep Lord Zedd from using the power for his own purposes. With the help of Billy and the Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers of Aquatar, the Zeo Crystal was reunited and the Power Rangers Zeo were born.

However, Billy chose to take on a mentor role, giving his crystal (that’s the quote!) to Tanya, who became Zeo Ranger II, Yellow. When the mysterious Gold Ranger appeared, the others suspected that Billy may actually be him. Much to the disdain of kids everywhere, despite all the obvious hints that it was, the Gold Ranger turned out to be an alien, and eventually the powers went to Jason, the original Mighty Morphin Red Ranger. The after-effects of the “turn you back in to an adult” experiment that Billy did ended up backfiring, as he began to age uncontrollably. Special water was brought from Aquatar to try and stop the process, but it wasn’t enough … he would have to go back to Aquatar for treatment. After he got there, he announced he had fallen in love, and was not returning. And thus, the Age of Billy came to an end.

David Yost is the actor who played Billy Cranston. He was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa (Iowa natives represent!) and landed his first major role in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. For many years fans speculated why David Yost left Power Rangers Zeo as the final two episodes with him had his character played by an old man and a horrible voice dub with static, previously-recorded footage in the final scene. In 2012, David Yost broke his silence with an interview stating that he was gay and that he left the show because of the constant harassment from the production staff nearly drove him to be suicidal. A former production member of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Power Rangers Zeo chimed in very briefly that David was selfish and left the show after not being offered “Power Ranger money” for a non-Power Ranger role, which his character had developed in to. Whatever the case may be, the Power Rangers franchise lost a great piece the day David Yost left the show. David has gotten in to production, with his last big project being a segment producer on the show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

David Yost was offered a chance to return for the anniversary episode of Power Rangers Super Megaforce, but declined citing the non-personal invitation (the letter started “Dear Power Ranger”) as well as horrible grammar throughout. A later statement hinted that a number of individuals involved with the show when he left were back with the show again, leading to the assumption that he had no desire to reunite with those that tormented him in his youth.

For those wanting to see David Yost in 2014, there’s good news – he’s on the convention road! You can see him, as well as the entire cast of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (exceptions being Thuy Trang -RIP-, and Jason Geiger/Austin St. John) at the next Lexington Comic Con. You can also see him at this summer’s Denver Comic Con, appearing with Walter Jones and Jason David Frank. TokuNation will be at both those shows – so we’ll see you there!

What are your thoughts on David Yost’s placement in our Top 20 Power Rangers of All Time? Should he be higher? Lower? Or is he right where he should be? Post your thoughts! And stay tuned for the next announcement on our placement, coming sooner than you think!!

under Power Rangers

For those of you with disposable cash or gift cards from Christmas, great/sad news – Power Rangers Super Megaforce toys have been spotted around the country at WalMart stores! Our own uchihabro shared an image that he took at a local Walmart where he found the basic sized Super Mega Saber and Super Mega Blaster, along with the Battle Action figures released in the initial Toys’R’Us pallet.

Also, our friend @Morphin_K on Twitter found the first batch of auxiliary zords – the Red Zeo Racer, the Delta Runner Zord and the Magi Dragon Zord – at his local WalMart. It’s time to unlock the power and go buy some Super Megaforce toys!

Have you found new toys in your area? Let your fellow fans know by posting in our Sightings forum! The forum is listed by state in alphabetical order, making it easier for you to quickly browse the area you live in and to connect with other local fans as well as sharing pictures of what you found! In the past, at our sister site TFW2005.COM, the same system helped thousands of Transformers fans get hard to find figures and even set up local meet and greets that have been running for years and years now. Check it out!

under Super Sentai

Our very own MoonBaseTom is back with yet another gallery of the popular Mini Pla figures from the Super Sentai toy lines! This time he’s bringing us, from Tensou Sentai Goseiger, a Mini Pla Gosei Ground gallery! The joy of these Mini Pla toys is that they retain the same transformation and gimmicks seen in the larger DX Mecha, but feature more articulation. There’s so much to this particular Mini Pla that it’s borderline crazy – the Groundian Headder even changes in to an itty-bitty Gosei Knight!

To see all 17 images in this amazing gallery, please click here or on the ”Discuss on the Tokunation forums” link on the bottom right of this news post. What do you think? How many galleries do we have to throw at you before you become a fan of Mini Pla toys?

under Power Rangers, TokuNation, TokuNation Spotlights

To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Power Rangers franchise, we here at TokuNation asked our members earlier this year to rank their Top 10 Power Rangers. In doing so, we took the compiled list of every single nomination, where they were ranked in each user’s list, and compiled all that information in to a master “Top 20 Power Rangers” list. As we wind down to the end of the calendar year, we’re revealing the remaining spots on our Top 20 Power Rangers of All Time list, created by the TokuNation fan base!

With that said, our next entrant in to the Top 20 was a bit of a surprise for me personally – I loved the character but was actually quite shocked to see him rank up as high as he did when all was said and done, beating out a vast majority of the more veteran and, because we’re nostalgic, maybe some more of the fan-loved characters from the original Saban era. Either way, I like it! The users of TokuNation have voted Milo Cawthorne, who played Ziggy Grover the Green Ranger from Power Rangers RPM as the 7th Best Power Ranger of All Time.

When the computer virus known as Venjix took over the computer systems and amassed an army to wipe out humanity, Ziggy Grover found himself inside the domed city of Corinth, humanity’s last stand. But when we first meet Ziggy, he’s alone in the wasteland and hitches a ride with Dillon back to Corinth. The mystery of why Ziggy was alone in the wasteland would play itself out later in the series. Not originally a Ranger, Ziggy is more of an ambassador of the Power Rangers, brought along as part of a deal that Dillon made to become the Black Ranger. When a mysterious woman auditions to become the Green Ranger, Ziggy volunteers to grab the morpher from Dr. K and bring it to the others. However the woman is actually Tenaya 7, an evil machine created by Venjix in hopes of infiltrating and destroying the Power Rangers from within. With Tenaya about to take the morpher, Ziggy does the only thing he can think of to keep the power out of the hands of evil – he bonds with the morpher, instantly morphing and permanently becoming the Green Power Ranger.

As the Green Ranger, Ziggy would continue his growth as a Power Ranger and as a vital member of the team. His crush on Dr. K, the mentor of the series, helps bring humor and lighthearted fun to what is actually quite a dreary story line (the end of the world, humanity on its last ropes, etc.). The character would continue to grow as we learn why he was outside of Corinth, and of course, the infamous episode where Ziggy hosts a behind-the-scenes look at filming Power Rangers RPM, albeit doing so completely in character.

The character known as Ziggy Grover is played by Milo Cawthorne, who was born in Whangarei, New Zealand. Having a love for the stage and acting, Milo performed in many local productions in his home town and managed to land roles on various children’s shows throughout his younger days. He even managed to perform at the Globe Theatre in London as part of the Young Shakespeare Company. Not being able to land anything steady, Milo delivered pizzas until he got his role in Power Rangers RPM. In 2011, Milo moved to the United States to further his acting careers. Milo has starred in smaller short films since his time on Power Rangers RPM. Earlier this year, Milo Cawthorne and Olivia Tennet (the actress who played Dr. K in Power Rangers RPM) finally tied the knot, making them the first on-screen/off-screen Power Rangers couple. For those curious, it has been stated that their relationship began prior to Power Rangers RPM, which probably makes the back-and-forth between Ziggy and Dr. K so natural on the show.

So there you have it! What do you think of this result? Let us know! We have some catching up to do, so expect a couple of entries to be revealed a day so we’re caught up before the year ends! Stay tuned late tonight/early tomorrow to see who our users voted as the 6th Best Power Ranger of All Time is!

under Power Rangers

As our faithful Power Rangers fans know by now – one of the features that come with the Power Rangers Super Megaforce Ranger Keys is a symbol to scan with your Key Scanner App, which then allows you to morph in to that Power Ranger as well as unlock an image or sound through the app. An update went out to the app (available on both Android and iPhones) on Christmas day and our very own raz checked out the installation file … and discovered the entire list of Ranger Keys currently installed on the app.

Rather than post every single Ranger Key that is included in the app, it’ll be easier to list the ones that do NOT have any type of listing in this file. That does NOT mean they aren’t getting a key … it just means the information isn’t in the file. But I will admit it doesn’t look promising … because just about every other Power Ranger is listed. So the following characters ARE NOT LISTED IN THE APPLICATION. This would lean one to assume that they are NOT receiving the Ranger Key treatment. But we cannot confirm that 100% at this time.

NOT GETTING A KEY?
– Auric the Conqueror (Power Rangers Zeo)
– Phantom Ranger (Power Rangers Turbo)
– Blue Senturion (Power Rangers Turbo but has art assets in the app)
– Magna Defender (Power Rangers Lost Galaxy but has art assets in the app)
– Kat Ranger (Power Rangers S.P.D.)
– Nova Ranger (Power Rangers S.P.D.)
– Sentinel Knight (Power Rangers Operation Overdrive)
– Shark Spirit Ranger (Power Rangers Jungle Fury)
– Elephant Spirit Ranger (Power Rangers Jungle Fury)
– Bat Spirit Ranger (Power Rangers Jungle Fury)

However, if you recall, our friend Fury Diamond ripped the entire art assets out of this application when it first released. If you browse through those images, you’ll see that both Blue Senturion as well as Magna Defender have art assets, but no artwork for an actual key asset. What does that mean? Hard to say. But it would appear that we are getting closer to saying that at least a solid majority of the names we listed above are NOT getting keys (Blue Senturion and Magna Defender looking to still be possible). On the plus side … Titanium Ranger looks to be getting a key!

Chime in with your thoughts in our on-going discussion. Big thanks to raz for the heads up!

under Kamen Rider

Thanks to a toy listing from a Japanese store, we have our first images of the upcoming Arms Change Kamen Rider Gridon with Dandeliner set releasing in January 2014! Click the story title to check out all the images!

Have you pre-ordered Kamen Rider Gridon yet? And how do you think he will compare to some of the more popular characters already in the Arms Change line, like Kamen Rider Baron and Kamen Rider Zangetsu? Share your thoughts!!

under Super Sentai

This is by no means a new gallery (Den-O actually did this back on New Year’s Day to start off 2013), but we thought it was fitting today to bring up this gallery and share it with you again. When Ikari Gai – aka Gokai Silver – learned that he had the power to change and combine his Ranger Keys if he concentrated enough, he decided to combine the keys of Captain Marvelous and Doc to create Gokai Christmas, a half-red and half-green Gokaiger!

Click here to check out the gallery! Don’t forget to let us know what you got for Christmas this year! You can find that on-going discussion thread by clicking here! Once again, Merry Christmas to all those celebrating today!

under TokuNation

It always feels like the holidays are right around the corner every single year.  And then, as fast as they appear, they are gone, and we either eagerly await or dreadfully anticipate their arrival the following year.  This time of the year allows us to give pause from the chaotic and hectic lives that we all live to celebrate the meaning of these holidays – to be thankful, to love and cherish our loved ones, and the lifelong lesson that it is better to give than to receive.  So as we all sit and enjoy the gifts we have received and the looks of joy on the faces of those we have given to, I ask all of you who are willing and capable to join me in a tradition I have embraced for many years now, multiple times a year.

I personally have donated to the Children’s Miracle Network for many years. I am ashamed to admit that it took me as long as it did for me to start donating, but once you see these kids receive a gift, or get that treatment they need to survive, or the medicine they need to feel better, and then see the joy on their faces … it melts your heart. If you are willing or capable to make any donation, click here to make a donation to a Children’s Miracle Network hospital (Credit Card or PayPal). Unfortunately, I have nothing to give away or entice you to make a donation. Having seen the miracles made possible from donations in the past, I can only tell you that what you give DOES make a difference.

Seeing as we are a fan community centered around giant robots, lizards, cool weapons, and guys in spandex – as well as all the toys from those same things, we want to see what YOU got this holiday season! Click here to share your Christmas hauls! Share with us your pictures and what your favorite gift received this year was!

And on behalf of our amazing staff here at TokuNation.com – from the administrators, the moderators, our picture guys, and the guys that bring you the news every single day – please have a very safe and a very Merry Christmas. Enjoy this time with your loved ones! Thanks to ShoguN86 on deviantART for the picture we added text to!