Tokusatsu, how they differ from sentai/kamen rider Options

[johnny]

OK, my experience in Japan Hero stuff is Ultraman, Sentai and Kamen Rider (as well as Godzilla).

I would use the term Tokusatsu to describe these shows, but browsing this site, Tokusatsu is listed separately from Sentai etc.

From what I've gathered, Tokusatsu means "special effects" or something close but how do shows like Justirisers, Grand Seizar etc differ from what I talked about before?

[Jeff]

The reason Sentai, KR, Metal Heroes, etc are listed separately from tokusatsu is because they are big enough or popular enough subsets of tokusatsu to merit their own sections (IMO).

The 100% right way to list them all would be under tokusatsu though (including Godzilla) as they are all subsets of it.

Hope that helps.

Jeff

[johnny]

The reason Sentai, KR, Metal Heroes, etc are listed separately from tokusatsu is because they are big enough or popular enough subsets of tokusatsu to merit their own sections (IMO).

The 100% right way to list them all would be under tokusatsu though (including Godzilla) as they are all subsets of it.

Hope that helps.

Jeff

Ahhhh. Yeah that makes sense actually.

Thanks for that.

[ShadowRider]

Here's some info on "Tokusatsu" that August Ragone posted on th GK forums not too long ago. It really does clear the confusion a lot of people have on the subject.

...the word "Tokusatsu" was coined at Toho during the 1950s, which was an abbreviation of "Tokugi Satsuei" or "Special Photography." Because of Toho's pioneer filmmaker, Eiji Tsuburaya, a whole industry was born -- "Tokusatsu" or "Special Visual Effects Photography."

"Tokusatsu" has come, in recent history, to represent all things live-action, containing heavy special visual effects techniques, so there are some sub-categories, such as "Tokusatsu Heroes." When one is referring to Toei's hero shows, they are usually designated "Toei Tokusatsu Heroes," Toho's monster movies are usually referred to as "Toho Kaiju Eiga" (Toho Monster Movies), but the blanket is "Toho Tokusatsu Eiga" (Toho Special Visual Effects Films), which covers everything from Disaster Films to Monster Movies... and so on.

For our purposes, on GK, when we talk about Japanese Superheroes, we are talking about "Tokusatsu Heroes" in general... "Toei Tokusatsu Heroes"... "P-Productions Tokusatsu Heroes"... etc.

[Justice 861]

The Sub Categories of Tokusatsu...

Sentai
Kamen Rider
Daikaiju (Godzilla & Gamera)
Kyodai (mostly Ultraman)
Heroines (Sailor Moon, Wecker, Vanny Knights)

...Metal Heroes...has another categoriy within itself...

Space Sheriffs (Shaider, Sharivan, Gavan)
Rescue Mission (Winspector, Solbrain, Exceedraft)

...probably the most recent category was Seishin (Gransazer & Justriser)...although Seishin is pretty much Toho's response to Sentai...that and Godzilla is getting a well deserved rest.

[ZoneFighter]

There were group shows before Sentai and after Sentai, Toho's new shows should be classified with them. Some examples (I've propably missed others):

Dengeki Sutorada-5 [Electric Strada-5] 1974 (before Goranger in 1975)
Akumaizer 3 (1975-1976)
Ninja Kyaputer [Ninja Captor] (1976-1977)
Chôjin Bibyun (1976-1977)
Enban Senso - Bankid (1976-1977) - TOHO
Kyoryu Sentai Koseidon [Dinosaur Task Force Koseidon] (1978)
(despite having sentai in the title is not a sentai,more a science fiction adventure than super hero show though 1 guy does wear a special costume )
Boisuraggâ [Voiceslugger] (1999)

There's another sub category you missed.

chanbara (sword fighting) tokusatsu
Kamen no Ninja Akakage (1967-1968)
Kaiketsu Lion Maru (1972-1973)
Henshin Ninja Arashi (1972-1973)
Fuun Lion Maru (1973)
Shiro Shishi Kamen [White Lion Mask] (1973)

All set in feudal Japan, period of the samurai and ninja, but still featuring heroes and monsters with special powers. There may be more, these are the ones I know of. Henshin Ninja Arashi is esentially Kamen Rider but on a horse instead of a motorycle. Even has same music by same man.

[Added]
I'd put the Ultras in their own class, seperate from other kyodai (Magma Teshi, Spectreman, Mirrorman, Meteor Man Zone, Fireman, Jumborag Ace, Megoloman, etc) simply because there are so many Ultras.

I forgot, there were also the family oriented robot series like Ganbare Robocon, which was Toei's longest running Tokusatsu series at 118 episodes (beating out Kamen Rider's 98 and Himitsu Sentai Goranger's 84).