Review: Ninja Sentai Kakuranger

Hi everyone! I should confess something to all!

Since I have begin to see my third Super Sentai serie, I doubt about which is my favourite. Gokaiger got one development and tribute component that I love, Liveman/Bioman is pure nostalgic pleasure, that the 35th anniversary pirate series did it too... but then I was going to see Kakuranger. Liveman was not adapted like Power Rangers on the west 'cause that serie was before that, and Gokaiger was but i couldn't see any of that because it's about half year. Kakuranger, that is about Ninjas, it was freely adapted or (mostly reforged) like one of the last Zordon's Era seasons of Power Ranger, the last that I saw when i was a kid. But it didn't seem anything like the original...

I stop reviewing to tell you that the adaptation between Power Ranger/Super sentai had to treat with heavey differences: every season is a different series with different actors and different characters (with continuity and one same universe). That thing was made on Power rangers, seasons after, with the problems with actors badly changed on mid seasons and so on. They took the ninja concepts and the giant robots fights, nothing more, until we met the Alien Rangers (their American versions), but like one group of allies of the first Ranger team.

I like very much Ninja Sentai Kakuranger, but I know that is very Japanese, to much to be easily westernized (but Shinkenger/PR Samurai demostrated that could be made recently, and Hurricanger/PR Ninja Storm just the same before). That is one of her more unique traits. I explain you the story, that began hundred of years before our heroic group. During Warring States period, the youkais (mythical and folklore creatures from Japan; tricksters, demons and ogres and all that) abused of their black sorcery to torment the people, and the most famous Lengendary Ninjas united to fight them, then they won on the last moment and they warded their youki powers forever, inhibiting their worst tricks never more. Hundreds of year after, indeed, the last heirs of that 5 heroes (Sarutobi and Jiraiya between them included; and with all the costume/super suit and giant robot, they adapted better that myths than Naruto...), they are scattered and they are unfamiliar about their heirloom and history, three of them are 90's Japanese punks/chavs and rather yokel too. So much bumpkin they are, than two of them are tricked by a kappa to set loose all the youki, and since then they begin their journey to battle the wicked youkai.

The characters are, in order of appearance, the next: first we met the Announcer, one old perv man than break the fourth wall to explain the origin about the youkai, the Kakuranger powers and to make absurd puns (sadly, he didn't appear after the middle of the season and when the serie got serious, except on one Xmas special); after that we met Saizou (Ninja Blue) and Sasuke (Ninja Red), two friends something paupers and punks, that prove to be Ninja descendants, Sasuke became one of stronger Kakuranger (he is the red but not the leader indeed) and he is the most disposed and Saizo more endearing; the strange Sandayou helps then at first, one old sevant and shinobi ever knowing more than others about everything; and after him, we met Tsurihime (Ninja White), the most learned ninja and powerfull at first, being the heir of her clan secrets (and some preppy), the only woman but the competent leader, some rarity female sentai member against the perennial girly pink members of other series; after her we met Seikai (Ninja Yelllow), the slackerest slacker from all the slackers, womanizer and greedy for food, but he amends his ways and learn to self sacrifice and effort against his gluttony; and to complete the group, Jiraiya (Ninja Black), descendant of the frog/toad mystic and American Japanese, who at first talked all in english, and he is one lone and enthusiastic hero, too much enthusiastic and lone rider sometimes. After that We met Tsurihime's father, but specially the sixth member, not human or not entirelly human, Ninjaman, voiced by the same actor than Djando/Bon Clay/Franky on One Piece. After him, there are youkais...

During a third of the serie or almost, there are not a great evil leader or great evil organization. The youkais are all the supernatural creatures, and now with their returned powers, they search or well proceeding with his traditiona behaviour (eating kids, charming and trick humans, vengeance, eating kids, cursing, eating kids and people in general, and yes, they like eating kids very much, after all, they are folk and faerie tale monsters and ogres) or adapting to modern times (to be famous like TV celebs, to regain his dignity, to found a family, to marry, to be free...). And to get that, they will use their powers, that include to use the boosted youki with human hatred to become giants. Yes friends! Before to be totally defeated or to fight against the Kakuranger, they grow at will, they are clever!. The first recurrent villain (after one youkai evil scientific) is Prince Junior, one Gashadokuro, big bad guy heir and Japanese punk singer in his human form, that decides to lead the youkai to take over the world. But his father proves to be one douchebag, but he follow the plan to take over the world, the terrifying Lord Daimaoh (Hell Lord, not based on any real youkai). There are some good youkais, but they have issues (sometimes you feel about them, more than with some humans, this taxi driver was one pedofile after all...). Other thing, most of the monsters got an human form and identity, but some odd, than they use regular life, hidden from the Kakuranger (i suppose from other monster hunters and exorcists, in the time when their powes were banished; i imagine, they got some simple glamour or illusion powers). Seeing take off the disguise is very funny, i love their dance...

Kakuranger is maybe one extremely classical serie, but at same time got pretty different things form other Super Sentai series, things than that never got, it's a rara avis. There are just one girl on the group, but she is not pink and she is the team leader, after this serie the next put again two girls (yellow and pink), but no other until recent times got one female leader (until Gekiranger and Shinkenger,  indeed). The monster are really independents, they are living and self-awareness creatures, not just ramping week monsters, they spend their time on more than just destroying, but partly that is one part of their natures, and on others the sorrow to be powerless (or other parts) have changed to wicked, or one of the few times than the monsters are inspired by another source at least, with two monsters at the last episodes and the foot soldier or Dorodoro, and of course; I love folklore and myths around the world! They have Ninja and Sentai paraphernalia, weapons and stuff; just great to make Merchandising with all of that. Their giant robots are Summoning and other Ninja techniques about to change or control of shape or spiritual beings, and their beast shaped vehicules are got very after in the serie (and is clearer the reason to the black member got one frog, again part of Jiraiya's myth). It's goofy, cheap and shoddy, but at same time, I can see many work and impudence, so I can only recommend see this serie to you...

It's so, I liked so much. That kind of fun, one great no so guilty pleasure, that is so bad that is great. If you want, let's sear for it on Internet or DVDs on some place (It's ot all up loaded,and not all their movies, but grat part of them, again.) Very soon more things, from your friend and cyber neighbor Mario. Shinpo/Smoke Bomb!  [Spanish Version Here]