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under Super Sentai, TokuNation, TokuNation Site Updates, TokuNation Spotlights

“Gattai! Live Dimension!”

Since Super Minipla began in mid-2016, it’s blossomed into quite the heavy hitting toyline. Setting itself apart from Bandai’s normal Minipla toyline, Super manages to recreate giant robots (of the live action and animated varieties) in fantastic form. In many cases these new models are incredible cost-effective alternatives to long gone and expensive DX toys. So far that’s been illustrated best by today’s subject, Super Minipla Live Robo!

Choujuu Sentai Liveman was the 2nd sentai announced for this line after Zyuranger, and if collector reaction is any indicator then Bandai needs to focus on more pre-zyu series. Super Minipla Live Robo is one excellent set. Thanks to the new and innovative design methods used for this line over standard Minipla, we get 3 fully functional vehicles in Sky Land & Aqua Machines. We also get an intricate transformation with minimal parts removal that results in a functional highly poseable robot armed with it’s trademark Super Beast Sword & Live Shield. Even if model kits aren’t your thing, this set definitely will be.

We’ve assembled a MASSIVE 150+ image gallery of Live Robo as well as a full 5 part review. Each post in the gallery thread focuses on another piece of the set culminating in Live Robo at the end. Catch the whole thing by clicking “Discuss on the TokuNation Forums” at the bottom of this post. We’ll be back soon with another brand new gallery from Pacific Rim Uprising!

under Power Rangers

Earlier this year we reported that Hasbro, Inc would be taking over as the main producer of Power Rangers toys. But it seems Hasbro’s interest in the brand did not stop at just merchandising.

In a special deal announced today, Hasbro has purchased the Power Rangers brand from Saban Properties LLC for a reputed $522 MILLION! This deal includes a number of Saban Brands’ other

Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner remarks on the purchase- “Power Rangers is an iconic brand built on a heritage of great storytelling and merchandising with tremendous upside potential when fully executed across Hasbro’s Brand Blueprint. Shortly after entering into our licensing arrangement, it became clear that now was the time to begin investing in unlocking Power Rangers’ full potential. We see significant opportunity for Power Rangers across our entire Brand Blueprint, including toys and games, consumer products, digital gaming and entertainment, as well as geographically throughout our global retail footprint.”

Meanwhile, Saban Brands’ founder Haim Saban will remain on-hand in a consulting role overseeing Hasbro’s efforts with Power Rangers for the time being. Saban adds- “25 years after launching Power Rangers, I believe the future for this brand has never been greater. Hasbro’s leadership in innovation, storytelling and brand stewardship make it the perfect company to further develop the global reach and appeal of the Power Rangers property. I look forward to working with Brian and the team in the years to come.”

The first Hasbro-centric series, Power Rangers Beast Morphers remains on track for a 2019 release.

Definitely an exciting new development for Power Rangers fans! Stay tuned to TokuNation as we keep you up to date on this remarkable new change in Power Rangers history!

under Power Rangers

Attention all mobile device gamers! The Power Rangers RPG mobile game, now known as Power Rangers All Stars, has officially launched! Currently available for Android users (at the time of this story the iOS version is still in maintenance) the game can be downloaded via a direct link on the Power Rangers All Stars Facebook page.

This mobile RPG game developed by Nexon Mobile has you hopping through time and space with the Power Rangers RPM characters as you discover how evil villains from all over time are rampaging in the wrong time lines. Featuring characters from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Power Rangers Wild Force, Power Rangers SPD, Power Rangers Mystic Force, Power Rangers Operation Overdrive, Power Rangers Megaforce, Power Rangers Super Megaforce, and Power Rangers Dino Charge. Complete missions, obtain powerful items to power up your characters, and use crystals to summon new Rangers to join a team YOU create! Also available is player vs player modes and, in the near future, the ability to bring a friend’s character in to battle with you.

In case you missed it we did a large first impressions review from their closed beta earlier this year. Click here to check out that first impressions review!

Thanks to @SoddersLiger on Twitter for the heads up on this story which started as “check it out in Australia” to “it’s out everywhere” in the span of 30 minutes.

NOTE: Users in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines are currently able to log in to servers to play. Reports of UK players unable to play at the moment.

under Kamen Rider, TokuNation, TokuNation Site Updates, TokuNation Spotlights

“Proceeding with Level 100.”

Hiiro Kagami is the prodigy surgeon who can cut anything. Foil & ally to Kamen Rider Ex-Aid throughout the series’ run, Hiiro would eventually be forced into the service of Masamune Dan. With the hope of reviving his beloved Saki, Hiiro is forced to fight his allies and take on the power of his Game World self. Created from the data of True Brave, Hiro will have the legendary Taddle Legacy Gashat bestowed upon him, catapulting him to Level 100! Though Saki may be gone, Hiro will never give up hope that one day he can restore her and all those lost to the Bugster Virus. This is S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Brave Legacy Gamer Level 100!

Brave Level 100 is another hotly anticipated release from Kamen Rider Ex-Aid. And it’s also an odd one. Bandai has skipped right past Hiiro’s Level 50 form for this Level 100 release. Maybe one day they’ll go back to it? For the most part this figure is one we’re intimately familiar with thanks to the Level 2 & Level 5 Brave releases, but the new regal Legacy Gamer armor and cape parts are really interesting new additions to this otherwise fantastic mold. Adding to this we finally have a properly complete version of the Exploding/Freezing Gashacon Sword as well!

We’ve attached our full 60+ image gallery of Brave Level 100 to this post but you can also read our full review by clicking “Discuss on the TokuNation Forums” at the bottom of this post. We’ll be back soon with more new galleries from Kamen Rider Kabuto and Choujuu Sentai Liveman!

under General Tokusatsu News, TokuNation, TokuNation Site Updates, TokuNation Spotlights

“What do we do?!”

“We fight!”

We’re rolling out the PPDC’s  final two Jeagers in one double sized gallery today. Guardian Bravo embodies the bulky power of it’s predecessors and improves on the Gipsy series’ chain sword with it’s own unique weapon. Saber Athena meanwhile is the newest and fastest Jaeger in the fleet/ Built for agility and finesse, Athena is a remarkable close range fighter. Can these two next gen titans turn the tide of the war? We’ll see with their Robot Spirits figures!

Both of these figures really stand out in the line. Guardian Bravo features a far brighter color scheme than any of the other Jaegers, and Saber Athena features vastly improved articulation and really unique proportions compared to the others. Bravo also comes with it’s signature Arc-16 Elec Whips while Athena comes with both of the Ionic Twin Blades as well as the larger Ionic Sword. For the last two figure we have to handle in this line (for now) they really are great ones to finish it on.

We’ve got a full 80 image gallery of this pair (split across 3 posts) that you can see by clicking “Discuss on the TokuNation Forums” at the bottom of this post. Our next gallery after this will focus on the valiant knight Kamen Rider Brave Level 100!

under Power Rangers

The Power Rangers fan community was rocked last month when the mega-event known as Shattered Grid literally shattered our expectations. And that was just the first issue of BOOM! Studios‘ Power Rangers comic event. So what happens in the SECOND issue of the Shattered Grid event? Quite a bit actually! It’s time for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 026!

The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers are grieving over their tremendous loss from the previous issue. Unfortunately for our heroes there is no time to reflect – Lord Drakkon is on the move and this time he has the Power Rangers Samurai in his sights! But what can the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers do to help the Power Rangers Samurai? Find out in our full spoiler-filled review by clicking “Read More”!

Again – major spoilers ahead! Read at your own risk!

[Read more…]

under General Tokusatsu News, TokuNation, TokuNation Site Updates, TokuNation Spotlights

“We’re gonna need more pilots.”

“We have ’em.”

With a new apocalypse on the horizon in desperate need of cancelling, a new batch of pilots ready to make a difference, and hopefully a little bit of luck, the next generation of Jaegers are ready to roll out! While today’s subjects aren’t quite the latest models, they pack more than enough brute force to fight some Kaiju. Leading into Pacific Rim Uprising’s finale the mighty Titan Redeemer & Bracer Phoenix helped to shape Earth’s final defense. Now let’s see how these two latest Robot Spirits from Tamashii Nations fare in a double sized gallery!

In a sense, Titan Redeemer & Bracer Phoenix are some of the most traditional designs in this film, and I find that really charming about them. Big bulky brutes that are ready to knock out some Kaiju. They may not have all the bells and whistles of other Jaegers like Gipsy Avenger, but these big guys along with their tiny included buddy Scrapper Jaeger are ready to cancel the 2nd apocalypse. Luckily for Earth kit-bashing is still popular in the future as well. So for the Final Battle we got to see a special combination of these two. And despite it not being a documented or even intended feature, these figures CAN pull it off! See the end of this gallery for a special look at Bracer Phoenix Final Battle Version!

Check out just over 60 images of this pair by clicking “Discuss on the TokuNation Forums” at the bottom of this post. We have a full breakdown of both figures and their accessories, as well as an explanation of how to your own Final Battle Bracer Phoenix. We’ll be back soon with more brand new galleries from Pacific Rim Uprising as well as Kamen Riders Kabuto & Ex-Aid!

under Ultraman

The new Ultraman series is finally here! Toy scans have been circulating around the web and we now have our first look at the new Ultra hero series: Ultraman R/B! Here’s all the info we’ve been able to collect via Twitter and Rangerboard

Ultraman R/B will feature two Ultramen: Ultraman Rosso and Ultraman Blu. To transform, they use the DX Rube Gyro along with Transformation Crystals which will be the series collectible gimmick. Rosso and Bull will have elemental crystals based on powers from past Ultramen:

Rosso Aqua based on Ginga
Rosso Wind Based on Tiga

Rosso Ground based on Victory

Ultraman Blu Flame and Blu Wind are based on Tiga’s powers

and Ultraman Blu Ground is based on Victory.

Their enemy is Ultraman Orb Dark who uses the Orb Ring Neo and Girujyobon Crystal to transform. Ultraman R/B will premiere on July 7th, and while the plot and cast are still currently unknown but we’ll be sure to bring you more up to date info as it becomes available.

under General Tokusatsu News, TokuNation, TokuNation Site Updates, TokuNation Spotlights

“Be advised, we have a rogue Jaeger.”

In the years’ long war against the Precursors & their weapons of mass destruction, the Kaiju, the Pan Pacific Defense Corps has continued to develop newer and better Jaegers. And while a Drone program is also under development by Shao Industries to eventually replace the PPDC & it’s pilots, the occasional rogue element does arise. Enter: Obsidian Fury. A mysterious Jaeger which rose from the ocean to battle Gipsy Avenger. Equipped with advanced weaponry and capable of entirely inhuman movement, this monstrous mech is a force for our heroes to reckon with. Can Jake & Nate uncover the secret truth of Obsidian Fury? You’ll have to watch Pacific Rim Uprising to find out!

Robot Spirits Obsidian Fury is one of several more entries in the Uprising line from Tamashii Nations, and it actually winds up being our only villain so far. A really quite alien design, Obsidian is a menacing Jaeger with some great glowing light piping in it’s head and a couple of bright neon orange Plasma Chainsaws to really sell its look. One of the more articulated figures in the line, Obsidian Fury is every bit as poseable, bestial, & alien as it’s  background would imply.

You can check out our full 60 image gallery of Obsidian Fury by clicking “Discuss on the TokuNation Forums” at the bottom of this post. We’ll also be doubling up on our other upcoming Pacific Rim galleries in the near future, 2 Jeagers at a time!  Titan Redeemer & Bracer Phoenix and Saber Athena & Guardian Bravo.

under Power Rangers, Super Sentai

Those of you who have followed TokuNation.com over the years are aware of our love not only for toys and collectibles but the desire to get to know more about what goes in to making them happen. That love allowed us the opportunity to get to know, on personal levels, some of the individuals at Bandai America who were working on the Power Rangers brand. One such individual was Gregory Mitchell, who first joined the Power Rangers team in 2013 and started making his mark on the property with Power Rangers Super Megaforce. He would finish his tenure with Bandai America as the Senior Director of Marketing for Power Rangers and oversee Power Rangers Dino Charge, Power Rangers Dino Supercharge, the Power Rangers Movie, and Power Rangers Ninja Steel.

Gregory Mitchell left Bandai America and Power Rangers in October of 2016 to join Alpha Group, a Chinese based company that was in the infant stages of growing their presence in the US markets and territories. Since joining the team, he has played a pivotal part in the acquisition of master toy licenses for various properties, including the multi-billion dollar global property that is Spongebob Squarepants. Fans of tokusatsu will recognize the name Alpha Group as the same company in China that produced the Armor Hero tokusatsu series.

He was kind enough to sit down with us for two hours and discuss a number of topics relating to the Power Rangers brand, both from his time there and from his position now looking at things as an outsider. In our exclusive interview, Gregory discusses how the process of a Super Sentai season becoming a Power Rangers season happens; the inside scoop on Legacy toys quality control issues; Legacy Shogun Megazord; an abandoned Super Sentai series that was planned before Lupinranger vs Patranger; and a handful of stories and favorite memories that you may have missed over the years.

The full interview is available in podcast form from Talkin Toku. You can listen to it in the player below or download it by clicking here.

The entire interview is also uploaded in to 9 total videos on our YouTube Channel. The first piece, a preview we released a couple of weeks ago, is shown here on the front page. All 8 follow up segments are included with this story and can be found by clicking “Read More”.

Again, please click “Read More” to see the other 8 YouTube videos!

[Read more…]