Do you like anime? Do you like video games? Do you like comics, or superheroes, or kaiju, or super robots, or wrestling, or or or…
The point is: if you like any of those things you would very likely enjoy a Tokusatsu show. “But J, what on earth is Tokusatsu?” The answer is pretty simple! Tokusatsu refers to Japanese media that focuses on the use of special effects. The term is a wide umbrella that has adapted from its humble live-action roots to include other mediums like animated series, and some are part of long standing franchises like Ultraman, Godzilla and more. One of the biggest giveaways that something could be called Tokusatsu is when there is a character that’s pretty clearly a guy in a costume. Highly popular examples include the aforementioned Kamen Rider, Godzilla, Ultraman. Though there are even more series like Super Sentai—localized as Power Rangers for the American audience—and beyond.
Here’s the thing, people can be dismissive of the genre for a variety of reasons. “It’s not realistic,” or “It seems childish!” These arguments are boring! There is certainly a time and place for enjoying gritty or grounded media. Tokusatsu is for hype moments and aura. It’s all about the flare! The stories within that casing can be as frivolous or serious as necessary when the time comes. In fact, that often showcases the skill of a good writer and production team!
Tokusatsu relies on the suspension of disbelief. There are so many forms of media that—at a base level—expect the participating audience to understand that they’ll need to believe in the unbelievable. From Tolkien’s fantasy epics or Frank Herbert’s galaxy-spanning Dune franchise; the audience has to choose to believe in the worlds they’re presented regardless of their own reality. It’s akin to kayfabe in wrestling. We all understand that Kamen Rider is just doing a flip over a camera, but we can choose to believe he’s flying through the air before kicking the bad guy into oblivion. And in this case oblivion is when the bad guy explodes a bunch and fireworks go off. Sometimes shows can even poke fun at that line between their reality and ours and wink to the audience, which is fun to be a part of!
Tokusatsu is something that thrives on imagination and enjoying the media, even if it’s silly! The range can be anything from Shin Godzilla leveling a city, to 2025’s “No.1 Sentai Gozyuger” landing a Street Fighter style combo string on a villain and getting a dedicated “Victory” splash screen. With all that said, I think Tokusatsu is something that deserves all the love in the world. Tokusatsu shows and movies are flashy and full of over the top moments, and that’s exactly what makes them so fantastic.
Do you have a favorite Tokusatsu show or movie? Do you think Tokusatsu is too over-the-top? Let us know over on the Boss Rush Network’s Discord!
Featured Image: Tamashii Nations
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