›

Japanese Live-Action Special Effect Shows and Movies

ChastMastrChastMastr Shipmate
in Heaven
I was going to call this thread “Tokusatsu,” but then remembered that we’re not supposed to use non-English stuff (unless translated), so I translated it for the title. The Japanese word translates to “special effects,” but is used to refer to TV shows and movies that use a lot of special effects—giant monster (kaiju) movies like Godzilla, shows like Ultraman and Kamen Rider, and a franchise of shows going back to the 1970s that everyone has heard of without knowing it: Super Sentai, brought to the US and changed a lot into Power Rangers. (I prefer the Japanese originals—the US version basically uses the fight scenes and crafts very different stories, premises, and characters around them.)

I love tokusatsu. I’m currently working my way through all of the Toho giant monster movies (currently up to 1972’s Godzilla vs. Gigan) plus Gamera, the latest Ultraman series (Ultraman Blazar), the current Super Sentai (Boonboomger, which is car-themed), not so much the current Kamen Rider but interested in the upcoming one…

Anyone else?

Comments

  • MiliMili Shipmate
    I watched a lot of the 1970s show Monkey, also known as Monkey Magic, as a child. I loved the flying cloud and characters transforming into monsters or other people. I rewatched a few episodes as an adult, but didn't want to ruin the magic.
  • Gill HGill H Shipmate
    I have a feeling Monkey wasn’t shown in the US? I remember watching it in the UK. They showed it again in the early 90s here. Fun to watch!
  • The RogueThe Rogue Shipmate
    Monkey is on Britbox and ITVx.
  • The_RivThe_Riv Shipmate
    I remember loving Ultra Man as a child.
  • NicoleMRNicoleMR Shipmate
    Always loved giant monster movies as a child, not so much now.
  • HedgehogHedgehog Shipmate
    Recently I have been watching (on Tubi) episodes of the 1974 TV series Zatoichi, but I am not sure whether you would consider the adventures of the blind swordsman as having a lot of special effects. There is some trick photography and sound illusions to create the impression of the great speed of his swordplay, but otherwise it is pretty much a period drama.
  • ChastMastrChastMastr Shipmate
    Zatoichi isn’t tokusatsu, I think. I do need to check it out, regardless.
Sign In or Register to comment.