Finally after 8 years!! France Five Episode 5!!

So yeah after a 8 years hiatus they finally released episode 5 and I loved it! Its good to see the crew back this show has been interesting since the start. My French sucks but I could understand most of it. Non the less I'll try to keep stuff mostly spoiler free :3

Even though it was filled with stereotypes. I liked this episode, Especially how it introduces new characters who are not only interesting but also powerful.

http://www.francefive.com/

 And the end twist was AWESOME even though I already spoiled myself by going to a website of one of the prop makers. The last episode will be Episode 6 which hasn't got an release date yet.

As you know this is an epic year for Tokusatsu,  Not only do we finally get a new episode of this ''Hikonin Sentai'' But also a EX series by Toei called Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger. Of course this is old news because we're sadly almost done with this 12 episode long show. And it just got so awesome that I want to put it on this blog... But because the subs aint out just yet: SPOILERS

Sad to see it go really. I'd really want to see a movie of this, Maybe with some actors doing a cameo. Maybe some Power Ranger references thrown it to it? :D Speaking of movies at least another Hikonin Sentai is getting a movie, This isn't news either but I don't care Imma post them all!!

Eito Ranger is supposed to be a comedy but this is looking great. Hopefully it doesn't disappoint. Though seeing how this is  Kanaji8 I doubt that is going to happen, all good actors who played in drama's I liked, and I have to admit that I like their music too. Not all but some of their songs are cool. Also is it just me or is this plot allot like Voicelugger? Eito Ranger is about a veteran hero gathering new heroes to aid him... O well at least they'll do Ishinomori justice :D BTW Speaking of Hikonin Sentai and comedy, The people who made Aikoku Sentai Dai-Nihon are also bringing out something new. A series... THAT ISN'T DAI-NIHON!?!

EA's Rock doesn't look like something I'd like. But then again its Gainax so its bound to be funny and wacky and borderline offensive just because we expect them to... But why make a new show? You should have gone all out and just make a sequel to the 1 episode you released so long ago. You don't even need to bring back the same actors since age is a factor... I guess I'll give it a try, after all we haven't heard anything about it since Gekidan's article on Jefusion.

Fan-Fic Laziness: Void & Shinigami

First of all I made two similiar characters first. One was Shinigami_Rider who was an ever evolving freak of nature from a bug like race. Who made him to explore space since they died as soon as they hit their out atmosphere. Sooner or later this bug like creature was meant to evolve in to a cross between a Lovecraftian horror and a Kamen Rider.... Who could mimic the powers of other Riders (even though they are fictional in that universe too) with the help of shadows and his own being as well as having god-like powers at the same time. The other was Void who was meant to be your average Toku Hero with powers similar to lets say... Green Lantern? No, even better yet his son Obsidian! And also Marvel's The Spot. He could transform with the help of a black brace and it gives him what seems to be a leather suit. His powers are to be able to mould objects from the blackness of his suit. And travel through shadows like the Spot did with his black holes. And has further powers similar to Danny Phantom like becoming intangible/shape shifting . But instead of his powers being powered by shadows his powers are actually powered by the light that lines them out. I have thought about continuing both but the Void story did kind of bore me and the Shinigami_Rider still need all those grammar fixes...... And I don't feel like fixing up something soooo long.

Any way Shinigami_Rider will get some new material someday. But Void will get a whole new storyline And maybe fix on his powers. I dunno... I always felt like I made him to powerful yet to weak....

Almost Sentai: Thai Squadron Sport Ranger

Hello Let me introduce an blog series that I recently made called Almost Sentai. This first blog is actually meant to be the third. The first two where about France Five and Bettaranger. While initially I thought I made the first okay in hinesight its a bit rushed and now that I actually got subs to watch I think I can do better. And the other.... Well safe to say I posted the blog about Bettaranger on the same damn day I found out about it. And guess what? I learned NOTHING more about since it then! So of course this is the best blog to start with:

The first season of this Thai Sentai aired in Thailand for 16 episodes between  6-8-2006 and 29-11-2006. As this was supposed to be a Thai independent Super Sentai series it had to have a theme to the show that non of the official series had. So they went with sports. This works... Kinda...

Before Episode 1:

Once there was a alien tribe called Star Hunter that traveled through space conquering many planets by stealing life-force from the beings that lived on them with a very powerful item called the King Medal. But the medal wasn't strong enough to absorb all the energy and seeing how they wanted to rule all the dimensions, they made another medal called the Knight Medal. They conquered allot of planets by taking the life-force with the medals. They set their eyes on Earth. But they believed themselves to be so powerful that they weren't prepared when a war on the planet caused bullets and anti-aircraft missiles to hit their ship on its way through the atmosphere. The ship exploded over Alaska and the medals where lost. The tribe decided to retreat for now and make new medals. Some time later the medals where found and taken by two Earth scientists. Doctor Earth took the medal that was broken in to 5 pieces and Doctor Heart took the medal that was still whole. One day their lab exploded and the medal under Heart's protection disappeared. After this even Doctor Earth noticed that the medal made monsters. So he researched his broken medal and made a ''Sport''detector machine that that can control the 5 pieces of his medal and use 5 henshin devices to apply that energy to 5 special suits that where designed to bring out the special attributes of each of the 5 pieces. He then created the SSS organization and an A.I called Darling that helps the future team. As Zordon and Alpha searched for 5 teenagers with attitude so did Doctor Earth. He needed each member of the team to be very talented at a sport that would bring out the best out of the 5 suits and their respective pieces of the medal. These where: Boxing, Tennis, Soccer, Swimming, and Gymnastics. Luckily he found 4 willing youngsters to fight the monsters but couldn't find a boxer for the final suit.

Episode 1:

Rocket Punch!!

The episode starts out with a shady guy with sunglasses making fun of a Muay Thai boxer in his locker room about losing a match. The boxer is about to punch him but the shady dude promises him power just when he promises the boxer power. He then proceeds to shove a ball of light in to the head of said boxer. Who then curls up screaming in pain and changes in to a volcano-type Kaijin. The newly born kaijin feels the raw power given to him and then proceeds to beat-up and scare the other sportsmen who just happen to walk in after he changed. We then switch to our protagonist of this episode who is asked by an tourist to make a photo of him. And then the Kaijin turns up who of course scares everybody around just by being there. He is quickly met by a guy in a weird yellow uniform who begins to fight him. The yellow stranger says he is going to stop the monster to his wrist watch and proceeds to transform in to Soccer Yellow. Soccer Yellow puts up a valiant fight but alone he can't exactly keep up with the volcano Kaijin. The guy who was mentioned earlier catches yellow and challenges the walking volcano only to have and Mr Satan vs Perfect Cell effect and promptly getting his ass handed to him. The monster mentions that the protagonist was the one who knocked him out in the Muay Thai match and says this is payback for earlier. Suddenly a pink ribbon wraps around the Kaijin's arm to stop him from punching his rival.Turns out the 3 other Sport Rangers have arrived and the 4 combine their powers to temporarily scare away the kaijin. they decide to take the boxer with him to their base and we turn to the evil organization of this season. Who consist of the shady dealer, two glowing KKK-like henchmen and a Great Leader-type eye on the wall. The eye asks the dealer if all goes to plan. The dealer tells him he made a kajin and the red KKK guy congrats him on the plan in process. We turn to the SSS Building which shows the SSS to stand for Sport Searching School. As the unmorphed Sport Rangers watch over the knocked out boxer. Who gets a red morpher apparently to save his live (or something like that) . He wakes up and show to still have some pain. Swimming Blue tells him not to stand up so fast. He asks where he is and Yellow tells him that they saved him and that he is in the SSS building. The Sport Rangers do the wrong thing and rush him in the plot of the series. Telling him that they fight those monsters as Sport Rangers and that they gave him a morpher making him Boxing Red. He apparently takes it in stride and they turn their attention to a screen where the A.I called Darling shows up.

Blah Blah Blah I'm annoying Blah Blah Blah Mister Voice is better Blah Blah Blah

Darling tells ALL of the story and bores them to death. Doctor Earth (who is in a black and silver uniform) says that that he should stay inside and heal his wound for now. Somewhere outside the Volcano guy starts attacking people no doubt searching for Boxing Red. The team gets an alert and movie out. The four change first meet up with the monster who does what I think is a Muay Thai ceremonial pray... That or a lullaby... I dunno... The 4 battle the Puddy troopers of this season and the kaijin but get owned at each turn. At the base Boxing Red can't stand by any more and tells Earth that he's joining the fight. Outside Volcano guy says the lost and Soccer Yellow says that he shouldn't be so sure of that. Turns out red is behind the building and challenges the monster.  He transforms an jumps off the building. He easily fights off the putty's and attacks the Kaijin with his special attack: Flying Fists! Red joins the team and they retreat for now. In the villains lair the leader finds out that its now a 5 membered team. He tells the shady guy to work harder and one of the glowing henchmen goes to the now humanized monster and tells him that to keep his power he needs to kill the Sport Rangers.

The Rest Of The Series:

The other 15 episodes are mostly regular monster of the week episodes. They get a mecha around 7 or 9 called the Spirit Robo who is awesome and super detailed. The shady guy turns in to a White Sport Ranger-like villain towards the end of the series but sadly it didn't turn in to a Green/Dragon Ranger-like plot. And in the last episode the series takes a dark turn as 3 of the 5 Sport Rangers sacrifice their lives to stop Doctor Heart who turned out to be the leader of said organization.

Spirit Robo in HQ. Photo taken by someone who worked on the set

Season Two:

Season two has mostly a new cast with only Swimming Blue and Gymnastic Pink returning. And the villains of this season is the Hunter Tribe who have returned to conquer the planet and retake the medals. Apparently there was also a movie made but I couldn't find much more info. In season 2 The Shady Guy comes back and acts as the 6th Sport Ranger. something something White. Also it turns out that Thai law is keeping the series in the homeland So there's little to no chance of seeing this subbed any time soon. The only episode I found that was downloadable was just a 254x345 season 1 episode. Really small and not worth the trouble.


The Sentai:

Team 1

Team 2

Ace Boxing Red 1: The most talented SR. A typical Red Ranger who can deliver a strong knockout punch 

Ice Boxing Red 2: Replaced Ace after he died

Yu Swimming Blue: The big sister of the group. She returned for season 2Up Soccer Yellow: A sincere guy but a hothead when it comes to small tasks

Ball Soccer Yellow 2: Replaced Up when he died

New Tennis Green 1: He is the Urataros of the group. No seriously.

Tech Tennis Green 2: Replaced New when he died.

May Gymnastic Pink: The goody good girl of the group, loves shopping as much as Blue does (a new actress replaced the original but the character was kept)  

The Shady Guy: He was first a villain but later turned in to Basketball White.

Earth:  The mentor of the group who made all the Sport Ranger equipment.

My Opinion And That Of Others Too:  

I watched the raws on Youtube. There are NO dvd encodes floating the net sadly. So I don't see this subbed any time soon. From what I saw (Not heard since I don't know Thai) its pretty good. It was keeping it more to the dark plots of Sentai rather then the lighter side of some Power Ranger episodes. And it didn't have that big of a budget, but what they did with it looked really great. Love the morphers, the suits, and especially the mecha. I am really sad that no one uploaded the encodes from outside of Thailand. I would really like to see it subbed. Though then again I can do without the ear raping Darling who is totally a Mister Voice rip-off btw! Anyway I did see some toys photo's on-line by chance but I found nothing really marketed. This makes me sad because I would really like one of those morphers xD. The opinions of others are mixed from what I saw on Youtube and several English speaking forums these past few years. Some Thai fans argue that the designs are cool but the actors are sub-par. I don't think that's the case. But then again I don't know that since I don't know Thai. The other common complaint is some scene transitions are really badly done. And I think I don't like those either.

FLYING PUUUUUUUUUUUUUNCH!

Sequel?
Earlier I posted a blog about a series introduced to Thailand via a press conference a year ago. I think its supposed to be a sequel. But I don't know for sure. For the longest time this series was along with Jushi Sentai France Five the only true foreign Sentai production around. (Power rangers doesn't count as they are adaptations!) and I'm glad that's changing. :D
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Editor's Note: I think that I did pretty well even though I don't know Thai. This just shows how far one can come to when doing a little research :)

Almost Sentai: New Thai Sentai = Betta Ranger?

I came by this when searching for Armor Hero XT toy reviews (specifically the Hero Build sets) on Youtube:

This fish/flag themed series seems to be important enough to have a press release. It looks cool, I always wanted an all fish themed Sentai. To bad that like its predecessor Sport Ranger season 2 this would probably never leave Thailand xD

http://bit.ly/q2WTg2
Also yes I already posted this on HJU.... I always wanted to post a thread in that section xD

Almost Sentai: Toku Again: Still Waiting for.....

Originally posted on 16-9-2009
I am still waiting for two of the best non Japanese Sentai adaptations. I now have little hope of ever seeing the both of them any time soon. :(  
Jūshi Sentai France Five Episode 5 Fin. 

Before the Power Rangers landslide started for France they had 3 dubbed Sentai adaptations called the Bioman trilogy which consisted out of Bioman (of course), Maskman, and Liveman, (don't ask me why they didn't do Changeman or Flashman I'm still guessing that myself). Anyway just as you'd expect from a Sentai adaptation it was vastly popular and many French people still have fond nostalgic memories of their favorite old series. So in 2000 the low budget team of Buki X-1 Productions (Now X4 or X5 what ever) decided to make an  independent series with an equally low budget called Juushi Sentai France Five, which is largely based on the Bioman Trilogy, But also an old spoof fan film of Sentai made in 1982 by Daicon (which went on to become Gainax) called Aikoku Sentai Dainihon. Here's a video that compares those two franchises:

A Little Story By Wikipedia:  
Glou Man Chou, ruler of the empire Lexos, desires to conquer planet Earth. However, the Eiffel Tower generates a barrier around the planet that keeps him from sending his armies en masse. Glou Man Chou sends his warriors and monsters to Earth in order to destroy the tower and enable a full scale invasion, but they are opposed by the France Five.  In the fourth episode the shield is disabled and Lexos's army is shown prepared to invade the planet. 
 

There are six Rangers all based on things that make France great.
Antoine Deschaumes/Red Fromage (Cheese)
Thierry Durand/Black Beaujolais  (Whine)
Albert Dumas/Blue Accordéon (Accordion)
Jean Pétri/Yellow Baguette (Bread Stick)
Catherine Fontaine/Pink à la Mode (Fashion)
Aramis Leclair/Silver Mousquetaire  ( Musketeer)  (obviously based on X1 Mask them both being a 6th ranger and part of an original team and all)

Most of them fight in the French boxing style of Savant but Pink also uses Ballet. The mecha aren't made in Power Ranger levels you'd be used too. Its not a five piece mecha but an two piece mecha (Like Bio Robo the last main 2 piece mecha of the showa era) and the vehicles obviously look like they stole them from a child's art project. The transformation is stop motion and the finishing result is a guy in a cardboard Armour rather then high tech foam. Silver's personal mecha is a giant metal chicken which ain't that weird since Holland has its lion, America has its Eagle and France has its chicken nothing wrong with that little bit of originality IMO :)

My feel for this series
The first ep may have looked awful but I loved it all the same despite the awkwardly looking suits. The reason I liked it so much is mainly because of the decent storyline and the fact that it actually feels like I'm looking at an Showa Sentai series. After that 3 new more appealing episodes came out with some setbacks and cheese... lots of cheese... Until the fourth episode in 2004 which still has me sitting on the edge of my seat because it ended in a damn ~cliffhanger!!~(try to add an French accent to that :P). Which would eventually end in the last and finale episode of which the trailer suggests that its absolutely gonna ROCK!!!!. The only problem is that Buki X-1 (or rather X-4 by now)  is having problems with their cast since the most of them are busy with their own tv shows. So now I've waited 5 FRIGGIN years and counting!!!! Still wanna know why? just check the episode 5 trailer out.

 

Its damn awesome! and that pisses me off!! I don't wanna wait anymore V_V (I also wanna add that Antoine/ Red Fromage is more awesome then Jason, Rocky and Tommy put together despite his power being Cheese, simply because he reminds more of an actual old school Sentai leader :P)
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Editor's note: Lots has happened since I first posted this. It turns out that France did get Changeman and Flashman, but they weren't part of the Bioman trilogy. And recently Hikari Senshi fansubs released the first 3 episodes subbed here: Link. They are low quality but that's all the encodes they could find. The 4th is on hold due to a lack of French translators. And we did have some news on Episode 5, it turns out one of the designers posted a few pictures of upgrades for the team and a new Gransazer-quality mecha. Sadly that same designer has removed them from his site and there's no further news. Guess we still have to wait for that final reveal (preferable before the whole cast dies of old age)