Tokusatsu

Tokusatsu (??) (sometimes just called "Toku") is the Japanese term for special effects and often used to classify Japanese live-action sci-fi/fantasy/horror movie/TV productions.

Popular Tokusatsu Subgenres

• Daikaijū (大怪獣) (Giant Monsters) Examples:
• Godzilla (1954)
• Rodan (1956)
• Varan the Unbelievable (1958)
• Mothra (1961)
• Gamera (1965)
• Gappa the Triphibian Monster (1967)
• Kaijin (怪人) (Mutants - literally "Strange Man") Examples:
• The Rainbow Man (1949) (Japan's first modern science fiction movie)
• The Invisible Man Appears (1949)
• The Human Vapor (1960)
• Secret of the Telegian (1960)
• The Manster (1962) US co-production
• Matango (1963)
• Body Snatcher from Hell (1968)
• Science Fiction Movies (SF映画) (Some of these films may even contain the aforementioned daikaijū or kaijin)
• The Mysterians (1957)
• Battle in Outer Space (1959)
• Atragon (1963)
• Submersion of Japan (1973)
• Kurosufaia (AKA: Pyrokinesis) (2000)
• Fantasy Movies (ファンタジー映画) Examples:
• The Three Treasures (1959)
• Daimajin (1966)
• The Magic Serpent (1966)
• Onmyoji (2001).
• Yokai Eiga (妖怪映画) (Ghost Movies) Examples:
• Kwaidan (1965)
• ' (1968)
• Ultra Series (????????) - One of the most enduring SF/superhero genres in Japan. The three most famous examples:
• Ultra Q (1966)
• Ultraman (1966)
• Ultra Seven (1967)
• Kyodai Hero (巨大ヒーロー) (Giant Heroes) Popularized by the success of Ultraman. Examples:
• Ambassador Magma (1966) (AKA: The Space Giants) The first color superhero show in Japan.
• Spectreman (1971) The first superhero series of the 70s.
• Mirrorman (1971) Tsuburaya Productions first non-Ultra superhero. this was the latter of which became a nickname of Japanese lewd economist Kazuhide Uekusa.
• Iron King (1972)
• Giant Robot (巨大ロボット) - Just like the aforementioned Giant Hero shows, only the heroes are giant robots. Examples:
• Giant Robo (1967) (AKA: Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot)
• Jumborg Ace (1973) Can also fit in the Giant Hero genre.
• Super Robot Red Baron (1973)
• Super Robot Mach Baron (1974)
• Giant Ironman 1-7 (1977)
• Kamen Rider Series (??????????) - The other most enduring superhero genre in Japan, featuring the Kamen Riders. Example:
• Kamen Rider (1971)
• Kamen Rider V3 (1973)
• Henshin Hero (変身ヒーロー) (Transforming Hero) - Popularized by the success of Kamen Rider. Notable examples:
• Kikaider (1972) (AKA: Kikaida)
• Inazuman (1973)
• Robot Detective (1973)
• Swift Hero Zubat (1977)
• Sentai (戦隊) (Task Force, or literally, Fighting Team) - A popular offshoot of the Henshin Hero genre. This is the five-hero team series, such as Dinosaur Task Force Zyuranger (1992) and its americanized version Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Also called the "Super Sentai" Series, on account of the heroes having a giant robot (since 1979). Other shows include:
• Secret Task Force Goranger (1975) The first of the shows
• Metal Heroes (メタルヒーロー) - Series with metallic armor-plated superheroes. This can be considered as having three sub-categories:
• "Space Sheriffs"
• "Cyborg Heroes"
• "Rescue Heroes"
• Chouseishin Series (???????) - Toho's answer to both the Sentai Series and Metal Hero Series.
• Super Star God Gransazer (2003)
• Illusion Star God Justiriser (2004)
• Super Star Fleet Sazer X (2005)
• Tokusatsu Superheroes (特撮ヒーロー) (These are not genre specific, but are very similar to many of the above-mentioned superhero genres) Examples:
• Super Giant (1957) (AKA: Starman) Japan's first modern celluloid superhero
• Moonlight Mask (1958) Japan's first TV superhero
• Planet Prince (1958) (AKA: Prince of Space)
• 7-Color Mask (1959) Toei's first TV superhero series
• Masked Ninja Red Shadow (1967)
• Swift Hero Lion Maru (1972)
• Warrior of Love, Rainbowman (1972)
• Meteor Man Zone (1973) Combines both henshin and kyodai superhero elements
• Electroid Zaborger (1974)
• Tokusatsu Heroines (特撮ヒロイン) Of course, live-action Japanese superhero shows are not all guys! Pretty girls get into the act, too. Some of these shows are harmless (yet still action-packed) family fare, some are straight-ahead action shows, and others border on the erotic. Some of the most notable superheroine shows in Japan include:
• We Love You, We Love You, Witch Teacher! (1971) Features the superheroine "Andro-Mask"
• Sukeban Deka (1985)
• Masked Angel Rosetta (1998)
• Dimensional Police Wecker D-02 (2002)
• Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (2003)
• Children's Shows - These shows for children are more lighthearted and comical, even adventurous. The title characters of the shows are usually cute & cuddly types, including:
• Monster Booska (1966)
• Good Luck, Robocon! (1974)

Of course, many times, the lines have blurred. Many of these movies & TV shows use many or all elements of this genre. Some sci-fi/horror movies like Demon Heaven Ghost Hero (1988), for example, has elements of ancient Japanese horror tales and high-tech superheroes (it features a ravaging undead shogun and a synthetic "virtual reality" man). The 1966 TV series Ambassador Magma incorporated no less than 8 of the above elements, featuring a giant metallic human/mutant hero team capable of transforming into rockets to battle giant space monsters. Even monster movies feature superheroes (like in the film Godzilla vs Megalon (1973)).

Related Topics:
Demon Heaven Ghost Hero - 1966 - Ambassador Magma - Godzilla vs Megalon

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