Toei Tokusatsu World Official Has Launched on YouTube!
Fans of classic "TOKUSATSU" can now get their throwback-fixes with the launch of a new "Toei Tokusatsu World Official" YouTube channel - created by TOEI themselves, offering nostalgic TOKUSATSU shows from the 1960s up to the 1990s, and quite frankly perfect with the current #StayAtHome worldwide situation, and a very welcomed opportunity!
AND not just Tokusatsu-shows, as there are tons of anime titles as well, including VOLTES V & GOD SIGMA (shown here), COMBATTLER V, DAIMOS and DALTANIOUS etc - and all first episodes has descriptions of the series too, so you can get (re)aquainted!
ALSO, note that these might not be available in all countries, and I just found out, they are not available for viewing in Japan?!
As of their April 6th launch, Episodes 1 and 2 of all 70 shows (with English subtitles) has since been made available free to watch online, with more scheduled to be aired - Check out the scheduled releases of other shows (Info via toei.co.jp) ... and I appreciate it that they are not "encouraging" binging here LOL
Monday April 13, 2020:
- Episode 3 and 4 of NATIONAL KID (to be updated on Mondays)
Tuesday April 14, 2020:
- Episode 3 and 4 of SUKI SUKI MAJO SENSEI (to be updated on Tuesdays)
Wednesday April 15, 2020:
- Episode 3 and 4 of ROBOT 8-CHAN (to be updated on Wednesdays)
Thursday April 16, 2020:
- Episode 3 and 4 of SPACE COP GAVAN (to be updated on Thursdays)
Friday April 17, 2020:
- Episode 3 and 4 of JASPION (to be updated on Fridays)
- Episode 3 and 4 of HARD GUMI (to be updated on Fridays)
Saturday April 18, 2020:
- Episode 3 and 4 of MAGICAL GIRL CHUKANA PAIPAI (to be updated on Saturdays)
- Episode 3 and 4 of WINSPECTOR (to be updated on Saturdays)
Sunday April 19, 2020:
- Episode 3 and 4 of COMBATTLER V (to be updated on Sundays)
- Episode 3 and 4 of GORENGER (to be updated on Sundays)
WHAT IS "TOEI TOKUSATSU WORLD OFFICIAL"?: "This official Toei YouTube channel will have a lineup of various shows, including “NATIONAL KID” (1960), Super Sentai Series such as “GORENGER”(1975), Metal Hero Series including “SPACE COP GAVAN”(1982), and robot anime such as “VOLTES V”(1977). We will update daily to share TOEI’s TOKUSATSU with the world. At launch, we will have the first two episodes of all 70 shows available with English subtitles! Further episodes will be available in Japanese for now, but there could be frequent updates. We plan on making a public call for subtitles in any language."
WHAT IS "TOKUSATSU"?: "Simply translated, it means SFX, or special effects, but Japan’s “TOKUSATSU” is something different. It is its own genre in Japan, known for a filming technique that makes use of miniatures, costumes, CG, and special effects. One characteristic of the TOEI TOKUSATSU series is the heroes are life-sized.
TOEI started making TOKUSATSU in the 1950s, and has since created shows that widely vary in genre and style. Some especially popular series include Kamen Rider (a.k.a. Masked Rider) and Super Sentai, first created in 1971 and 1975 respectively, and they continue to this day. The genre has since seen success outside of Japan as well. The 1992 series “ZYURANGER” was remade in America as “Power Rangers”, which became a hit there, and continues to the present. Nowadays, “TOKUSATSU” is a word that is understood all over the world! The series uploaded to this channel created the foundation of TOEI’s TOKUSATSU culture.
From the strange world view of the TOEI Fushigi Comedy Series (TOEI Mysterious Comedy Series), to the heroes of the Metal Hero Series and more, we hope you enjoy the variety of TOKUSATSU culture."
GOD SIGMA: "Nostradams foretold that the earth would come to an end in 1999. Some unforeseen disaster might occur in 1982 when most of the planets in space would line crosswise. What would the twenty-first century be like after passing through these years ? At the end of the twentieth century, a bunch of young men give up living on the finite earth and fly up to the infinite space. They find a second earth. The second generation born of them are the heroes of this story."
I don't know about you folks, but if all these help create a new demand for classic Tokusatsu Toys, especially in this current era where "toy-production" might be a bit of a crunch, well ... not to mention "custom toys" of these characters? Hhhhmmmm
