http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubKKwhNC3Mg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkC2ua4FRqQ
For most people, O's is written OOO,
when it should be written: O
O O
After all, Yasuko Kobayashi's previous work was on the Yu-gi-oh movie, where a pyramid was a key aspect of the episode. The pyramid is significant because of the ancient human belief in the strength of the number 3: the Holy Trinity, being a great example in Christianity and the Pyramid in Egyptian mythology/Ancient religion.
3 is also the holy number for the Kamen Rider Series at the time,
coming after Decade, the 10 in 1, Rider,
and W, the 2 in 1 Rider.
OOO forms his powers from 3 different (or SPOILER ALERT:
same) animal pieces to become a more powerful being.
OOO the show and the character also forms many triangular relationships.
The most obvious being Hina-Eiji-Ankh and their friendship.
The less obvious becoming Eiji-Kougami-Dr.Maki
There's also the Rider relationship of OOO-Birth-Birth Prototype.
The beginning of OOO happens for two reasons:
1) The Greed become unleashed.
2) Because Kougami gives Eiji the OOO driver.
Kougami chooses OOO and researches OOO as part of an obsession he has with that kind of power.
Dr. Maki has the same obsession, but instead uses it for evil, because of a mental illness he's developed from the past.
Both Eiji and Dr. Maki eventually have an arc regarding purple OOO medals, turning Dr. Maki into a parallel character, and foil for Eiji, or making them two parts of the same coin. Eiji has no desire for OOO at all and only uses it as a method to save other people, while Maki is obsessed with OOO and wants to use it to destroy the world, reaching an end.
Eiji comes from a war-filled Africa, much like Birth, and wants to save people. He
Dr. Maki
vs Kougami
Toei is the good Lockheed Martin
Gorangers and cyborg 009 got their powers from black ghost and I believe dr. Maki once worked for kougami unless I'm mistaken. 48 I was afraid of what would happen after kougami gave him the lost powers
The terrible humor in the beginning
to the tolerable humor in the end
Maki gave birth in attempt to get OOO.
So there is that war corporations can spawn evil considering he became the big bad
Yeah it's interesting in that he creates a black ghost
And more suspenseful is that you don't even see how!
The strength of Ankh's character in the beginning
to the strength of Eiji's plot in the end.
Is Ankh child missing Ankh arm or the other way around?
The Ankh child is also a literal representation of Ankh trying to remove his dark past.
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
My Top 5 favorite Yasuko Kobayashi Toku (2014)
5 ToQger:
There's a lot of subtext to the shows regarding Kubrickian themes of war, and lust, much like Space Dandy, Dr. Strangelove and A Clockwork Orange.
Light vs Dark is downplayed so much to really appeal to kids.
4 Ryuki
This was a real historic game changer for Toei. Out with the more conventional monsters of the week, and in with the Kamen Rider enemies instead. We'd see it again in larger Kamen Rider shows such as Kabuto and Gaim again.
There's a lot of subliminal themes in the show, but I don't why. Even in comparison to ToQger, it seemed a bit lightly scripted for the given narrative. Why does everybody hate Asakura if he doesn't really kill people? Why is Zolda a good guy in the end? (Maybe I'm missing something.)
It really does come full force as a Shotaro Ishinomori themed Kamen Rider though if you really pay attention.
3 Time Ranger
So many good moments.
2 OOO
I really like a lot of things about this screenplay, such as the Dr. Maki-Eiji parallel.
The first half's narrative is a bit of a turnoff, but if you give it some patience, you'll get a great payoff.
1 Shinkenger
It's a well written character's drama in a supposed hero's journey which is really more of a criticism of Japan's old customs.
There's a lot of subtext to the shows regarding Kubrickian themes of war, and lust, much like Space Dandy, Dr. Strangelove and A Clockwork Orange.
Light vs Dark is downplayed so much to really appeal to kids.
4 Ryuki
This was a real historic game changer for Toei. Out with the more conventional monsters of the week, and in with the Kamen Rider enemies instead. We'd see it again in larger Kamen Rider shows such as Kabuto and Gaim again.
There's a lot of subliminal themes in the show, but I don't why. Even in comparison to ToQger, it seemed a bit lightly scripted for the given narrative. Why does everybody hate Asakura if he doesn't really kill people? Why is Zolda a good guy in the end? (Maybe I'm missing something.)
It really does come full force as a Shotaro Ishinomori themed Kamen Rider though if you really pay attention.
3 Time Ranger
- This was her really breakout moment in tokusatsu.
- The non-Red leader,
- The Red Sixth Ranger,
- The Y2K theme present in Ryuki and Gobuster.
So many good moments.
2 OOO
I really like a lot of things about this screenplay, such as the Dr. Maki-Eiji parallel.
The first half's narrative is a bit of a turnoff, but if you give it some patience, you'll get a great payoff.
1 Shinkenger
It's a well written character's drama in a supposed hero's journey which is really more of a criticism of Japan's old customs.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Yasuko Kobayashi Month: Kamen Rider OOO Episode 5 Analysis
This analysis will be brief as there was only really one scene I liked in this essentially two part episode.
The episode really gets you thinking about the characters. Everyone except regretably OOO is a little dark, creating Greed that is essentially destroying the city. The female Greed's friend that buy so much that you find on later on in the episode. In addition, Ankh is a dark pharoahish character, while Mr. Cake Kougami is essentially a big corporate guy: two big powerful Illuminati-ish figures.
You hear me say a lot about the Illuminati and I'm a 99%er, etc.. However, this episode's approach to explaining the rich is a little bit too diluted. Rich people buying cheap products and their expendability.
Sure, we probably wouldn't see Shotaro Ishinomori writing pro-1% shows when he was taking over, and it's a little fishy that a company like Bandai/Toei would write something like this, but we still have to examine in the series what exactly is Kougami and Ankh's ideals, as well as hidden subtexts in the show the writers/directors might've gotten away with prior to the executives stopping the auteur from acting further.
"It's a cheap product. Maybe it suits you better."
Furthermore it seems like it is actually the female protagonist's friends who are discriminating, albeit it may be a bit of spirituality, environmentalism or Shintoism that was brought up in their culture that taught them not to waste and that everything has a use.
"Why can't she live in a rich school?"
It is sort of discriminatory and stereotyping to analyze the person rich, so she can do anything rather than analyzing habits she may have gained that are later analyzed in the episode. Sure, they're not worth while, but the lesson is still to be learned there.
It is possible that she just grew up the wrong way.
Heck, many non-rich people buy things that they do not need in the US only to throw it away. The US is a major consumer based economy, where everybody buys things they don't need.
Also, OOO needs underwear and candy. OOO Japan!
The episode really gets you thinking about the characters. Everyone except regretably OOO is a little dark, creating Greed that is essentially destroying the city. The female Greed's friend that buy so much that you find on later on in the episode. In addition, Ankh is a dark pharoahish character, while Mr. Cake Kougami is essentially a big corporate guy: two big powerful Illuminati-ish figures.
You hear me say a lot about the Illuminati and I'm a 99%er, etc.. However, this episode's approach to explaining the rich is a little bit too diluted. Rich people buying cheap products and their expendability.
Sure, we probably wouldn't see Shotaro Ishinomori writing pro-1% shows when he was taking over, and it's a little fishy that a company like Bandai/Toei would write something like this, but we still have to examine in the series what exactly is Kougami and Ankh's ideals, as well as hidden subtexts in the show the writers/directors might've gotten away with prior to the executives stopping the auteur from acting further.
"It's a cheap product. Maybe it suits you better."
Furthermore it seems like it is actually the female protagonist's friends who are discriminating, albeit it may be a bit of spirituality, environmentalism or Shintoism that was brought up in their culture that taught them not to waste and that everything has a use.
"Why can't she live in a rich school?"
It is sort of discriminatory and stereotyping to analyze the person rich, so she can do anything rather than analyzing habits she may have gained that are later analyzed in the episode. Sure, they're not worth while, but the lesson is still to be learned there.
It is possible that she just grew up the wrong way.
Heck, many non-rich people buy things that they do not need in the US only to throw it away. The US is a major consumer based economy, where everybody buys things they don't need.
Also, OOO needs underwear and candy. OOO Japan!
Yasuko Kobayashi Month: Powerful Pinks
In Super Sentai, Pink has been associated with good feminine role model in Yasuko Kobayashi's works.
Ginga Pink's been dubbed strong and is more powerful than her yellow counterpart.
TimePink is the leader of Mirai Sentai Timeranger.
Bouken Pink is the militaristic loyal one of GoGo Sentai Boukenger
Shinken Pink, is one of the more powerful Samurai Sentai Shinkenger with a sword.
ToQ Pink is the uber powered Ressha Sentai ToQger thanks to her imagination
All 5 besides ToQ Pink have had an attraction with the Red counterpart, albeit we haven't gotten that far with ToQger yet.
Flower Warrior Saya has an admiration for Hyuuga.
Much like that is similar to that of BoukenPink to BoukenRed, leading her to both Pinks to becoming more powerful.
Shinken Pink marries Shinken Red in an episode!
On a side note, it's a little coincidental that Kobayashi decides to make Tsukasa/Kamen Rider Decade into Kamen Rider Den-O during their crossover episode, considering that Decade's the first Pink Rider.
Ginga Pink's been dubbed strong and is more powerful than her yellow counterpart.
TimePink is the leader of Mirai Sentai Timeranger.
Bouken Pink is the militaristic loyal one of GoGo Sentai Boukenger
Shinken Pink, is one of the more powerful Samurai Sentai Shinkenger with a sword.
ToQ Pink is the uber powered Ressha Sentai ToQger thanks to her imagination
All 5 besides ToQ Pink have had an attraction with the Red counterpart, albeit we haven't gotten that far with ToQger yet.
Flower Warrior Saya has an admiration for Hyuuga.
Much like that is similar to that of BoukenPink to BoukenRed, leading her to both Pinks to becoming more powerful.
Shinken Pink marries Shinken Red in an episode!
On a side note, it's a little coincidental that Kobayashi decides to make Tsukasa/Kamen Rider Decade into Kamen Rider Den-O during their crossover episode, considering that Decade's the first Pink Rider.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Yasuko Kobayashi month: Reason to watch OOO: Abarenbo Shogun teamup
During the same year OOO premiered, Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger had a teamup of all 199 Super Sentai characters.
I DON'T GIVE A SHIT!
Abarenbo Shogun is the shit.
I grew up watching this on the NJ NHK programming block on weekends. The plot's were pretty standard Showa stuff, but with great actors and choreography. Not really cheesy like Adam West Batman, although it had the great stunt choreography involved.
And then, they make it cheesy anyway.
And then, Eiji from OOO, does every single OOO combination while fighting a friggin CGI dragon.
Take that, Lord of the Rings. This is friggin awesome. Watch this teamup! It's great!
I DON'T GIVE A SHIT!
Abarenbo Shogun is the shit.
I grew up watching this on the NJ NHK programming block on weekends. The plot's were pretty standard Showa stuff, but with great actors and choreography. Not really cheesy like Adam West Batman, although it had the great stunt choreography involved.
And then, they make it cheesy anyway.
And then, Eiji from OOO, does every single OOO combination while fighting a friggin CGI dragon.
Take that, Lord of the Rings. This is friggin awesome. Watch this teamup! It's great!
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Power Rangers Zeo "It Came From Angel Grove" is actually a predecessor to Kamen Rider Decade and other stuff
Let's start with some asides,
This episode was a lot of fun, with tons of extras and production stages, replicated again for when they are shown when Adam watches It Came From Hackensack.
It's hilarious when the werewolf jumps in the bush.
From what you know of It Came From Hackensack is that it is an ensemble movie monster episode. There's no reference to the Jason David Frankenstein monster in Mighty Morphin, yet it is interesting how he becomes a vampire monster this episode.
And they convert back to color when encounter the Wizard of Oz, just like in Victor Fleming's 1939 film, the inspiration for Zordon.
And he wakes up as if they were all there like in the Wizard of Oz.
Also, in 1939, they would consider the Wizard of Oz a horror film, just because it had a witch in it, albeit witches weren't that popular in horror films, notably in the Michael Myers lacking, Halloween 3: Season of the Witch.
The episode uses characters based on characters in the show, to create a dream-like logic.
Tomecula is obviously named after Tommy,
Cat is a black cat or Valencia, like her villainous persona in the 3rd season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, possibly named after a Australian area island.
Rocky is Lord Henry/Harry, like his Blue Ninja Ranger Power self, a wolf.
Tanya is the Bride of Hackensack.
Billy is Baron von Hackensack
Lt. Stone the Burgermeister
Bulkenhotep
Zordonicus and Zordon
Destroying Zordon and the Earth
Adam's potential for evil.
They are either acknowledged as two different characters or some sort of Invasion of the Body Snatchers conspiracy, much like the AR Riders.
This episode was a lot of fun, with tons of extras and production stages, replicated again for when they are shown when Adam watches It Came From Hackensack.
It's hilarious when the werewolf jumps in the bush.
From what you know of It Came From Hackensack is that it is an ensemble movie monster episode. There's no reference to the Jason David Frankenstein monster in Mighty Morphin, yet it is interesting how he becomes a vampire monster this episode.
And they convert back to color when encounter the Wizard of Oz, just like in Victor Fleming's 1939 film, the inspiration for Zordon.
And he wakes up as if they were all there like in the Wizard of Oz.
Also, in 1939, they would consider the Wizard of Oz a horror film, just because it had a witch in it, albeit witches weren't that popular in horror films, notably in the Michael Myers lacking, Halloween 3: Season of the Witch.
The episode uses characters based on characters in the show, to create a dream-like logic.
Tomecula is obviously named after Tommy,
Cat is a black cat or Valencia, like her villainous persona in the 3rd season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, possibly named after a Australian area island.
Rocky is Lord Henry/Harry, like his Blue Ninja Ranger Power self, a wolf.
Tanya is the Bride of Hackensack.
Billy is Baron von Hackensack
Lt. Stone the Burgermeister
Bulkenhotep
Zordonicus and Zordon
Destroying Zordon and the Earth
Adam's potential for evil.
They are either acknowledged as two different characters or some sort of Invasion of the Body Snatchers conspiracy, much like the AR Riders.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers "Life's a Masquerade" Moments
Since it's Halloween season, I'd decide to share with you my favorite moments from a Mighty Morphin Power Rangers' "Life's a Masquerade."
I really like the soundtrack. It's classic 80s horror, in addition to orchestral. This episode should have its own soundtrack.
Billy predicts that the Frankenstein Monster is Tommy.
Yeah, Billy, you smart alec, it's not Tommy.
They really needed red eyes for the Frankenstein Monster.
The clown architecture at Ernie's is very interesting.
The super putty is interesting too.
Zordon you dumb moment:
He lets Tommy get captured by putties in plain sight.
Followed by Rita dumb moment:
Letting the putties not distract Tommy more as the Rangers are almost defeated by the Frankenstein Monster.
Followed by another Zordon smart alec moment:
Zordon knows that Tommy's done fighting the putties, so he doesn't contact him till after he's done holding them off, knowing that Tommy and the Rangers are in trouble!
I really like the soundtrack. It's classic 80s horror, in addition to orchestral. This episode should have its own soundtrack.
Billy predicts that the Frankenstein Monster is Tommy.
Yeah, Billy, you smart alec, it's not Tommy.
They really needed red eyes for the Frankenstein Monster.
The clown architecture at Ernie's is very interesting.
The super putty is interesting too.
Zordon you dumb moment:
He lets Tommy get captured by putties in plain sight.
Followed by Rita dumb moment:
Letting the putties not distract Tommy more as the Rangers are almost defeated by the Frankenstein Monster.
Followed by another Zordon smart alec moment:
Zordon knows that Tommy's done fighting the putties, so he doesn't contact him till after he's done holding them off, knowing that Tommy and the Rangers are in trouble!
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