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under Kamen Rider

Melon!

The third release of the S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Gaim line from Tamashii Nations is none other than the original melon warrior – Kamen Rider Zangetsu! A general release item, this figure retailed between 4,000 and 5,000 yen depending on where you ordered it from and at the time of this gallery and review is still readily available online as well as your favorite import shops (though prices will vary).

Kamen Rider Zangetsu, for those who do not follow the show Kamen Rider Gaim (you NEED to go watch it RIGHT NOW), is the prototype suit for Takatora, one of the heads of the Yggdrasill corporation. It is the first Armored Right suit to be made and was the test suit for all the others. The suit was only used in the show for the first 12 episodes or so of Kamen Rider Gaim before Takatora took up the Energy Rider suit known as Kamen Rider Zangetsu Shin (which has it’s S.H. Figuart release later this month!). The suit does appear again in the latter part of the 30’s in the show, but you’ll have to watch it for yourself as we do not believe in spoiling major story elements in our reviews!

Check out 55 images by clicking ”Discuss on TokuNation forums!” as well as to read the full review! You can also click “Read More” to simply read the rest of the review and check out the highlight images of the gallery.

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under Godzilla

Thanks to an article at Variety.com, we have the first tentative release date for the upcoming sequel to the blockbuster hit Godzilla movie that was released earlier this year. If you remember, at San Diego Comic Con it was announced that the sequel was happening and would include a plethora of fan-favorite monsters to battle our lizard hero. But now we have a date.

Godzilla 2 is scheduled for release in June 2018. That’s quite a bit of a wait for a sequel (4 years!) but will it be worth it? Come and discuss!

under Conventions, Power Morphicon, Power Rangers

Our friends at HenshinJustice.com have landed an exclusive interview with the executive producer of the upcoming Power Rangers Dino Charge season, Judd Lynn! In the interview, Judd discusses things from how he came to become the new executive producer (replacing Jonathon Tzachor), his familiarity with the source material Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger, the skipped series Go-Busters, and of course, Koichi Sakamoto.

Click here to check out the interview! Our friends online have been searching for any and all Power Rangers Dino Charge news, and speculation has the show beginning to film in October 2014 for the first 22 episode run in early 2015. We will most likely have more concrete details once next week’s Power Morphicon happens.

Are you excited for Power Rangers Dino Charge? Join in the discussion!

under Conventions, Power Rangers, San Diego Comic Con

If you’re a fan of Transformers then I don’t need to introduce you to Marcelo Matere because chances are you’ve already seen his work or you’ve met him personally at the various Transformers conventions. But if you’re not familiar with him or his work, please allow us the pleasure of introducing you!

Marcelo Matere has been a Transformers artist for over a decade now and has been working on official Hasbro products for years. Chances are you probably own a product that has his artwork as the packaging art. I personally have known Marcelo for many, many years now and consider him a dear friend. And I know just how amazing of an artist he is when it comes to drawing robots. So when I learned that he was going to be attending San Diego Comic Con 2014 I decided to see if he would do a commission work for me – I wanted to see how amazing he could make the Dragonzord and the original Megazord look as they engage each other in battle.

I was blown away as was everyone else I showed the artwork to – including Bandai of America. Even without the use of colors and just markers he managed to capture exactly what I wanted – an epic piece of artwork depicting everyone’s two favorite zords battling it out. Check out the image by clicking the news story.

Be sure to follow Marcelo Matere and let him know how much you love his work! I think everyone in Ranger Nation will agree – this guy needs to be doing professional work for Power Rangers!

– Follow Marcelo @marcelomatere on Twitter!
– Be sure to “Like” his work at Facebook.com/MarceloMatereArt
– Visit his professional website at www.marcelomatere.com
– Check out his Deviant Art profile at MarceloMatere.DeviantArt.com

A huge special thanks to our good friend Marcelo Matere who we got to spend some time with (but not nearly enough time) at this year’s San Diego Comic Con 2014. Please be sure to give this guy tons of love!

under Kamen Rider

It’s time to shift into excitement! Kamen Rider Drive is fully revealed in this latest image from TagHobby! It’s an interesting design to say the least, but it clearly matches up with the TK-O1 Drive figure that was revealed earlier today.

Discuss what you think on our forums in the ongoing Drive Rumors & Speculations thread. We’ll be sure to update you with more and better images as they become available.

under Power Rangers

Great news Power Rangers fans! The reboot movie of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers now has a release date – and that date is July 22nd, 2016! Join in our discussion of the movie reboot and what you want to see! If you use social media, please use #PowerRangers to share your excitement! We are happy to confirm this news through Saban Brands.

under Kamen Rider

Bonjour!

Bandai is back at it again with the second release in their Premium Arms Change line! ACPB02 is none other than Kamen Rider Bravo! And today we’re here to take an in depth look at Mister Dangerous himself, in more ways than one.

As always seems to be the case with Arms Change figures Bravo is yet another home run. More than a simple repaint/remold Bravo features extensive retooling of the Baron/Gridon/Duke base body. But more importantly he comes with his brand new Durian Arms and his signature weapons the Duri Nokos! If you thought Bujin Gaim was a premium release then allow Bravo to redefine what Premium really means for Arms Change. This figure is beautifully painted and detailed, despite being from what was originally just a mass retail gimmick line. This militant pastry chef mercenary nutjob will sit proudly on a shelf with the rest of your Arms Change collection and look incredibly good while doing it.

After the jump we’ve assembled a full 80 image gallery of this wonderful figure including more than a few fun ones. Also included is as many Arms Changes as  you can make with EVERY figure in the line right now thanks to Bravo! But before you check out our selection of images by clicking “Discuss on the TokuNation Forums” be sure to look bellow for another wonderful video review by the one and only Baltmatrix! We’ll be trying to coordinate in the future to bring you more of these timed gallery & video pairings as well!

under Kamen Rider

It’s time for Let’s Watch Wednesdays once again here at TokuNation. And although we’re still steaming downing the tracks with Kamen Rider Den-O, this weeks installment brings us to the first of many Den-O Theatrical films. This week we view Kamen Rider Den-O The Movie: Ore Tanjou!

Kamen Rider Gaoh, has appeared. Intent on controlling and erasing time itself he’ll take Den-Liner & Gaoh Liner to rider God’s Line.  Hana & Ryutaro will travel to the past and encounter Ryutaro’s younger self, Sieg will return for a proper debut with Wing Form, and Yuuto will go back in time to find help. Last week we saw Yuuto & Deneb creating all kinds  hijinks, kidnapping Ryutaro from various points in time, all for the Climax Scene. Well the Scene is officially here, and the power of 4 Den-O’s will unite against Gaoh with all of time at stake! But before that we’ll have some fun with a new rider, Mini Den-O!? It’s a wild ride this week, but you can be sure there will be repercussions from this film. Next week we’ll see just what happens to Ryutaro after the Climax Scene. 

Den-O Trivia #10

Getting back to actors in this franchise, let’s take a look at this films big villain Kamen Rider Gaoh! Played by veteran actor Hiroyuki Watanabe, Gaoh’s costume is based on Den-O Sword Form but has a Crocodile motif. Something that wouldn’t turn up again in rider design until OOO BuraKaWani combo. Sadly Gaoh’s suit no longer exists physically as it was scrapped for parts to produce the Kamen Rider Yuuki suit in one of Den-O’s later films, Final Countdown.

Mr. Watanabe, having had a rather long career, was no stranger to tokusatsu before this role. He portrayed the Xig Commander Ishimuro in Ultraman Gaia, Taiga Saejima in Garo & it’s spinoff Beast of the White Night, and beyond Den-O he would go on to appear in the rebooted Karate Robo Zaborger film in 2011.

Be sure to click “Discuss on the TokuNation Forums” at the bottom of this post to join this weeks theatrical discussion!

under Kamen Rider

Thanks to a leaked photo of the upcoming toyline, we may now have our first real look at the design of Kamen Rider Drive! This TK 01 action figure (this years’ super-poseable series, the replacement for Gaim’s Arms Change) definitely matches up with early concept images and seems very similar to the on-set photos.

Speaking of which, two more photos taken during the filming of Kamen Rider Drive have surfaced online- one of which offers us a glimpse at Drive’s rival, Machin Chaser! It seems the secondary character will use  the traditional motorcycle for transportation while Drive handles the Trideron vehicle.

ALL DETAILS REGARDING KAMEN RIDER DRIVE ARE UNCONFIRMED AT THE TIME OF THIS WRITING. Feel free to join in our Ongoing Kamen Rider Drive Discussion Thread & share your thoughts about the upcoming series!

 

 

under Conventions, Power Morphicon, Power Rangers

We’re nearing show time folks! The Official Power Morphicon is less than two weeks away and they are still adding guests! While the regular Monday update was postponed until Tuesday, it was worth the wait, because fans of “Plan Xander” will be happy to hear that another fan-favorite Green Ranger is attending! Announced for the show are the following individuals:

  • Richard Brancatisano (“Xander”, Power Rangers Mystic Force Green Ranger)
  • Mark Litton (Writer for Season 1 of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, VR Troopers, and Masked Rider)
  • Larry Litton (1st Assistant Director and Director for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers)
  • Rembrandt Sabelis (“Lucky Landon” from Superhuman Samurai Syber Squad)
  • Slowfinger Cosplay (will be in Superhuman Samurai Syber Squad cosplay)

And to top it off, Power Morphicon also updated their Instagram with some comments regarding the convention’s official exclusive (pictured with this story), the Jungle Fury Wolf Ranger & Titanium Ranger Ranger Keys. Those details are as follows:

  • Price is $10 per pack
  • Limit 1 per attendee
  • Only 500 made, estimated to sell out early Saturday

So for those planning to purchase and horde keys – you’re out of luck! And for those hoping that a buddy might get them a set – time to put on your best puppy dog eyes impression and find out what it might cost you to part with this very limited exclusive.

If you’re attending the show please be sure to look for our very own Kickback from our Talkin Toku Podcast! He is attending the show with our friends TrekkieB47 and TheCinemaSlob from the Ranger Command Power Hour Podcast! They are promising a live stream sometime during the show as well as tweeting updates from the show as they happen. Stay with us as we update you with all the news and information from the show! We will also have a special announcement to make sometime before or at the show regarding TokuNation so stay tuned for that as well!