It is a super hero tv show for children. The name comes from the japanese word sentai which means fighting squadron. The premise is that a group of three, five, six or more warriors fight against an evil organization, family, race, invaders from other time or dimention, which seek world or universe dominatior or inmortality at the expense of the lives from humanity.
The word tokusatsu, means special effects. So in essense super sentai is a genre belonging to japanese tv drama which uses computer generated effects and so on to recreate technological, futuristic or fantasy weapons, like robots, guns, swords, etc to fight the evil.
Unlike its American counterpart, Power Rangers. Super Sentai series is more mature and dark. Some heroes have to deal with losing a friend, a relative, coping with a disease. But it can also involve falling in love and getting married. There are also character deaths, but it is not very often. And this typically happens are someone who offers sacrifice for saving the team. In recent years this trend has kind of softened and it become more happier. Although from time to time there are such episodes. The current one Don Brothers is kind of well balanced in this though.
The wikipedia entry explains all of this well.
A while ago I was looking for a Taiwan based fandom for this, but what I found was just this.
This appears to be a live show from Gekiranger (2007) done some years ago. It appears to be that since that team had heavily influenced by Chinese motif might be the reason why it was popular.
This one is a little bit more recent from Kyoryuger (2013). Again it is a live show.
Both seasons are fantasy ones. I am not much fan of those. I’m all for technology ones.
The current one Don Brothers (2022) has the virtual reality motif and it is kind of a homage to previous seasons and it is good. So far I like its ending theme.
The funny thing about this is that in Japan there is an AV studio called GIGA which makes their own adult versions of these and also non adult ones.
Their most recent was Season 2 Wakusaver. I’ve seen it and it was good, it reminded me of the older sentais of the 80s and 90s.
Wakusaver did used AV actress for the role of Pink Earth (Nonoka Satou) and Rajura (Yui Tenma) who voiced also the Purapinu. Which isn’t that far from Super Sentai which also used former AV actresses in villain roles in the past, like Beauty Zonnete from Carranger (Rika Nanase), Shibolena from Megaranger (Asami Jo) and Kegalesia from Go Onger (Nao Oikawa) who also happens to enjoy playing Mah jong. Its also noteworthy that Malshina from the unnoficial parody Akibaranger was played by Honoka.
If I recall correctly in Season 2 Episode 10 there is even a blurred scene in Akibaranger where she is seen having an intercourse with General Tsu below the bed covers. The scene was made as a parody as during the pillow talk different tropes from previous sceasons were discussed.
All of this tells you that in Sentai there is room for very flexibility roles.
I remember a while ago I wanted to try the Go Busters dance, but I am not that good with choreography. It just happens that when I watch them doing it I just smile.
Like their crossovers with their respective teams.
Special operations Go Busters vs Gokaiger (2013)
Electrobeast squad Kyoryuger vs Go Busters (2014)
But again, I’d like to know if there is some Taiwanese fandom out there or if it is numerous. Given it has tons of toys and stuff I guess but I don’t know.
