Welcome to another round of Let’s Watch Wednesdays at Tokunation.com! This week we discuss episodes 7-9 of the following series:
Will Philip and Shotaro resort to….breakdance fighting in an effort to unravel the mystery behind the “heaven’s tornado”? Also..hey where did their gaia memories go? Click on the above links to join the respective discussions!
Welcome to another round(which is admittedly late, sorry!) of Let’s Watch Wednesdays at Tokunation.com! Since 5 episodes may be a bit much(taking work, real life stuff and what not that take up your time), we have decided to go with a 3 episode format. However as with most Tokusatsu series it does not take long to long into an interesting story arc!
Does the Jetman team have what it takes to destroy Vyram?
Discuss Chojin Sentai Jetman episodes 4-6 here!
During episode 3 of the double person/1 detective series Kamen Rider W, Shotaro and Philip came across the Million Colloseo. Towards the end, Philip freezes up and has flashbacks with Shotaro becoming an inadvertent witness!
With 1/2 of the Cyclone Joker trio “frozen”, things aren’t getting any easier as the Sonozaki family gains a new member who intends to make them proud! Which gaia memories and Dopants will Shotaro and Philip run into next?
Discuss Kamen Rider W episodes 4-6 here!
Tamashii Nations has released their official images for SH Figuarts Kamen Rider Ryuki Survive, announced late last month as a December release. Included are the Advent Deck, Drag Visor Zwei, sword vent attachment, swappable hands and a personalized display stand. Price is ¥3,675.
More images of the newest figure of Kido Shinji‘s Survive mode after the jump!
Now on endcaps at Toys R Us stores are exclusive Mega Bloks Super Samurai Battle Packs! Each battle pack contains 4 mini-figures, 1 of which is molded in translucent plastic. Also included are bricks to construct a display. There are 2 sets:
Mega Bloks Power Rangers Super Samurai Battle Pack I
The Power Rangers Super Samurai Mini Collectible Plush “figures” have been sighted at Toys R Us. Each figure retails for $3.99. Not necessarily action figures, they are still something to collect nonetheless(if you’re into that kind of thing).
Click the thumbnail for a closer look.
JEFusion has posted a scan from the latest issue of Hyper Hobby revealing the Winger WizarDragon from Kamen Rider Wizard! So what is the Winger Wizardragon? Well it has something to do with Haruto Souma….
….Haruto is keeping a Phantom inside his body, the WizarDragon! When combined with his motorcycle, it will become the 7.82m beast, Winger WizarDragon.A Phantom was born through the “Gate” from the human despair, starting from the spirit world then devour the host and making appearance to the reality world. After that they copy the host’s appearance.
Click the thumbnail to take a closer look at the winged phantom!
Thanks to IDW Publishing we have a preview for Godzilla #4, scheduled for release at a comic store near you tomorrow!
Godzilla #4
Unable to take down Titanosaurus on their own, Boxer and the Monster Kill Crew decide to fight monster with monster! After luring Rodan to the battlefield, the Crew is hoping for a two-for-one score. But in a world of kaiju, things seldom go as planned! Plus, the Crew starts to ask the big question: Why are the monsters reappearing now? They might not like the answer!
Read on to preview this issue!
Speaking of Kamen Rider Fourze…..The Daily Yomiuri has interviewed Sota Fukushi, who plays Gentaro Kisaragi AKA Kamen Rider Fourze himself! It turns out a talent agency discovered Fukushi through his photos in a hair magazine. If that wasn’t a surprise, it also turns out that prior to auditioning, Fukushi had never watched a Kamen Rider show before!
Nonetheless, he was still able to impress producer Hideaki Tsukuda:
Hideaki Tsukada, a producer at Toei Co., the company behind the TV show and film, was present at the audition. “Fukushi isn’t a calculating person when it comes to his appearance. His manner of expressing himself directly was very attractive. His brilliant smile fit my image of Kisaragi,” Tsukada said.
Though Fukushi had never watched Kamen Rider series before, it turns out, his parents did!
When Fukushi told his parents about passing the audition, they were even happier than he expected. His mother said, “I can strike the [original] Kamen Rider pose,” and then did so. Kamen Rider was the first installment of the series, airing in 1971. Fukushi’s father, a Kamen Rider fan, was thrilled, saying, “This is really excellent.”His parents’ reactions reminded Fukushi that Kamen Rider is a popular series that has lasted more than 40 years.
“It was a privilege to become a character my parents have followed. I vowed to portray a Rider who can encourage all viewers,” he said.
The article also mentions that Fukushi cannot seriously get angry while performing, which admittedly troubles him a little. With Kamen Rider Fourze wrapping up soon, what do you think of Fukushi, did he live up to his 1st role as a Kamen Rider well?
The Asahi Shimbun has posted a a series of articles which focuses on none other than Tokusatsu! While the title of the series is “Where are Ultraman and Godzilla?”, the 2nd article(posted today) is actually about how Tokusatsu toys ensure a steady stream of revenue for their respective series. Toy sales are a vital reason for the Tokusatsu genre to have lasted for 45 years:
Explaining the company’s 45-year history in the genre, Toei’s senior managing director, Takeyuki Suzuki, said: “It’s because we have a business model in which royalties from toy sales are plowed back into production funds.For example, a toy belt modeled after the one worn by Kamen Rider Fourze, which the protagonist uses to transform himself into a masked crusader, is a hot-selling item. Priced at 6,825 yen ($87), sales are expected to reach 800,000 units.
And then there are all sorts of “Astroswitch” gadgets that can be inserted into the belt. Sales of these products have already topped 30 million units.
Each year, the market is flooded with 6,000 related items–books, fashion accessories and so on–aimed at children.
Interestingly enough, the article also states that Toei spends about 7 months(or more) to develop character settings and designs for the action hero. In addition, a new robot is introduced in 3 month intervals after the show airs.
Also mentioned is the fact that Toei wanted Heisei rider series to have riders that “looked cooler than the fathers of the children who watch the shows”. It’s not just dads that Toei is targeting as moms come into play too:
The company also realized it would have more luck promoting the toys if the shows drew good viewer ratings from the children’s mothers. After all, it is the mothers who hold the purse strings.
Who would’ve thought?
It also turns out that tokusatsu series and films are Toei’s mainstay revenue source:
The bottom line is all about whether the profits from toy sales and other merchandise can cover pricey the production costs for tokusatsu special effects, such as miniature sets and costumes.
Speaking of miniature sets/props, they do contribute a special “something” to Toku series:
“To be honest, it is a bit of a luxury being able to create miniature sets and props because it requires so many staff members and hours and hours to shoot scenes,” Suzuki said. “But creating scenes that appear to really exist is what gives tokusatsu that special something. And that is very important.”Tokusatsu director Hiroshi Butsuda put it this way: “Think of when children are having fun crashing toy blocks. I think scenes where miniature towns are destroyed will always attract people.”
From crashing toy blocks as a child, to crushing miniature sets and props on the set of any given Toku series, the circle of life is renewed so to speak!
Figure Oh #175 has revealed the 1st 4 episode titles for the upcoming Kamen Rider Wizard! Also listed are the premiere dates and a summary for the 1st episode!
Kamen Rider Wizard Episode 1: The Wizard Ring – 09/02
Screenplay: Tsuyoshi Kida / Director: Shojiro Nakazawa
Kamen Rider Wizard Episode 2: I Want to be a Wizard – 09/09
Screenplay: Tsuyoshi Kida, Junko Komura / Director: Shojiro Nakazawa
Kamen Rider Wizard Episode 3: Transform! Live Broadcast – 09/16
Screenplay: Tsuyoshi Kida, Junko Komura / Director: Shojiro Nakazawa
Kamen Rider Wizard Episode 4: N/A – 09/23
Screenplay: Tsuyoshi Kida / Director: Satoshi Morota