The Demo Site

originally posted February 12, 2006

By Victor Ong


Earlier this week, I gave you Part One as an insight into the barrenness that so characterized the Tokusatsu landscape in Johor Bahru and Singapore. But that was 2 years ago.

Of late, there have been some exciting developments. The acquisition of Saban Entertainment by media giant Disney interrupted the Saban half of Power Rangers Wild Force with more color, more Matrix-like action and an apparent increase in the number of Power Animals, the latter of which is a 100% Toei contribution, but nonetheless served to heighten the hype and fuel the interest – the dormant fan-base responded. This fan-base included kids who had outgrown MMPR a decade ago, and a new generation of children fed Disney’s maiden version of Power Rangers.

Wild Force is Disney’s MMPR – it brought back on-screen a lame campiness that felt strangely nostalgic. It also had a lot of crayon-and-pastel colors found lacking in some of Saban’s later productions.

Wild Force toys trickled into Toys ‘R’ Us as usual, but as viewership increased and ratings soared, more toys were imported and my eye could not miss the advertisement boards plastered on walls or suspended from ceilings in an extravagant manner. Departmental stores, like Parkson Grand and Carrefour, took up the challenge, jumping into the bandwagon with a wider variety of Power Rangers toys from seasons old and new, at competitive prices. Adding to this logistical nightmare was a flashflood of Kamen Rider Agito, 555 and later Ryuki merchandise, while Ultraman figurines were relocated from dark corners to brightly-lit shelves. These are observations of the naked eye, and my, wasn’t I elated!

These unprecedented changes were followed closely by premiere telecasts and repeat telecasts of TV shows all across the Tokusatsu genre. The remaining part of Power Rangers Wild Force (“Pasukan Liar Power Rangers”) was subtitled in Malay, and for the first time in 5 years, Berjaya HVN released episodes that were free of the unpleasantries I mentioned in Part One. Many companies signed on to take advantage of this growing phenomenon, and soon, TV tie-in products were released. Only the blind and uninformed would miss the colorful Wild Force lunchboxes, pencases, school bags, satchels, stationery, posters and bicycles.

But I must be prudent. I must not overrate this phenomenon. It’s something new, yes, but it is not taking the nation by storm or anything. Only Ninja Storm can take the nation by storm.

2005 welcomed Ninja Storm with open arms. With Seiyu, Sogo, Takashimaya and other departmental stores (where parents frequent) lining up their toy displays with the latest Bandai action figures, Singaporeans must’ve noticed something. It’s an undeniable fact: the Power Rangers are back. And this time, with something called “Super Sentai” in tow. Dog-faced Dekarangers are on display with plasticky Storm Megazords. Japanese Power Rangers……weird!

Today, Power Rangers Dino Thunder is airing simultaneously on Malaysia’s TV2 and Singapore’s Mediacorp TV12 (a.k.a. Kids Central). IMMG, Singapore’s sole licensee for Yu-Gi-Oh!, Crush Gear Turbo and Kamen Rider, is releasing Dino Thunder VCDs every month, while toy shops, big and small, are inviting a greater Power Ranger/Super Sentai presence. A little over a month ago, my brother and I, among other shoppers, had the pleasure of watching a full episode of Hurricanger in Sogo’s toy department. That, in addition to everything relevant that’s happening around me, convinces me enough to say that the Sentai presence is as significant as that of the Gransazers, here in Johor Bahru and even more so in Singapore.

The Power Rangers are regaining a foothold in this part of the world. Only God knows what SPD will do come January 2007.

It’s catchin’ on in this town! Witness the birth of Singapore’s 1st Tokusatsu superhero! Visit Project Leo http://www.projectleo.blogspot.com/ for more details. bruary 12, 2006