Ryuta Tasaki, who is currently directing Avataro Sentai Donbrothers, shares his thoughts about the future of Super Sentai.
Ryuta Tasaki has directed many of Toei’s tokusatsu series. In a recent interview, he was asked about the future of the franchise. Here’s what he had to say.
You once said that Ultraman is high quality candy packed into a pretty box. But Kamen Rider is cheap candy full of artificial flavors and coloring agents. But what about Super Sentai?
I did say that didn’t I? (laughs). I think maybe instead of “Rider”, I should say “Toei Hero”. Tsuburaya’s Ultraman are all sophisticated and organized. But Toei Heroes are disorderly. For example, in Donbrothers, many comment on how the CG characters Kijibrother and Inubrother are so fake looking. Some also say the latter is too tiny. But I think kids will enjoy that stimulating aspect even if it is a bit chaotic. I make these shows with that in mind.
I think those “cheap candies” are popular overseas as well. The other year in the Super Sentai Heroine edition of Weekly Playboy, Koichi Sakamoto, former director of Power Rangers, touched upon it. Back then, people in America criticized the Super Sentai poses, saying things like “why don’t they (the monsters) attack while they’re transforming?” Children on the other hand had a blast and thought it was cool.
That’s true. Speaking of which, in Avengers: Endgame (2019), Captain America yells “Avengers assemble!” and then he and his team engage in an all-out-battle. I could feel the Sentai DNA alive in that moment.
I agree.
I believe that a lot of American creators grew up watching Power Rangers when it was big, around 1992 or 1993. Although, when it first aired, many people wondered what the fun was in watching people in full on tights (laughs). Nowadays, there aren’t many movies where people put on full on spandex.
Why do you think the Super Sentai series has lasted this long?
One is that we have established a business model in partnership with a toy manufacturer. The other is because of our female character. More female Riders have appeared in the past few years. I feel like the scope of women fighting on the frontline is bigger than we imagined. In the future, I believe we can expect to see characters who aren’t defined by their gender and whose identity lies on a wider scope.
What do you mean?
For example, in the CW Drama Batwoman, the main character is a lesbian. And there are many bisexual heroes in America. What happens in America influences Japan. Maybe one day, we’ll have an LGBTQ member in Super Sentai. Of course, it all depends on how our society changes.
Lastly, who is your favorite heroine?
My favorite? There’s too many to choose (laughs). But if we’re talking recent shows, I’d say it’s Zenkaiger‘s Hinamin (a nickname for Hinami Mori who portrays Flint). There’s no one else who loved that show more than her. When the series wrapped up, she bawled her eyes out.
Doesn’t everyone cry?
Not the way she did (laughs). But that’s important. One’s feelings for the show are channeled into their performance. I thought it was wonderful when I watched her. I want to continue creating shows that are loved by the actresses.
Source: Weekly Playboy No. 14 4/4
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