A Public Service Announcement from DC...

I like to watch kids shows because you know you're going to be getting something optimistic and heroic in a way that adult stuff will rarely ever be. I think people get angry at the suggestion that kid shows should be more "adult" (adult = bloodgrimdarkmoody) because they're afraid of losing that.

Because see, we did lose that in Western Superhero comics, and a lot of people still aren't happy about it. A lot of people came to Super Sentai and Kamen Rider looking for what they lost in the comics of their childhood and they don't want to see the same things happen again.

I think you can tell a good, serious story for kids. But there are certain elements that you will always lose when you forget that kids should be your primary audience.

Black Fang said:

Why are there fans so adamant in calling these shows as "kids' stuff" and get into a fit whenever anyone tries to say otherwise? I don't understand the mentality.

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Because they are kids/family shows. I mean if you want to get into a 100 page debate about why they aren't, I think you are going to be alone in that. Maybe I am wrong.

They are for kids. That is a fact. There are certain toku's that are not for kids such as Garo, but they make it clear what those are.

Why do you have such a problem with these being kids shows? Are you embarrassed that you watch shows for kids?

Aoi Kurenai said:

Because, at least in modern form, the are kids shows. Why is that such a bad thing? There are plenty of good kids shows that can dive into deep themes and be very well respected.

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Aoiblue said:

You'd be denying it if it wasn't. I mean, yeah, it's lame when you use it as an excuse for a discussion. But it's true, these are kid shows.

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It's not really being a kids' show that's the bad thing. It's that people use the "kids' show" thing as a way to somehow discredit the whole genre. When someone calls something "kids' stuff", what's the first thing to come to mind? Usually it's not "Oh that's cool I want to check it out". The fact is, "kids' show" has a bad connotation to it. And toku already has a less-than-respectful attitude toward it by people outside the fandom (some of whom we all try to share our like of toku with) because of the "PR the kiddy show" association. So why add to it?

People here always assume that when you're against toku being called "kids' shows", you're saying that they're not. Who here is arguing that kids aren't a target audience? I don't see anyone doing that.

I seriously doubt that people that would enjoy toku would think "kids show" would be a bad label.

Black Fang said:

It's not really being a kids' show that's the bad thing. It's that people use the "kids' show" thing as a way to somehow discredit the whole genre.

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But nobody said that. No one's even insinuating that. Nobody would even be here talking about that if we meant that.

Black Fang said:

The fact is, "kids' show" has a bad connotation to it.

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To some, so does "cartoon." That doesn't stop anybody from liking them.

And I'm just as against people throwing "it's a kids show" at you in an argument to discredit the genre.

But this topic was created because -- seriously, there were people who tried to tell me on the HJU facebook page that KR and SS were adult shows. So yes, there were people trying to make that argument. And having an argument on FB is pointless so I decided to make it a conversation on the board.

Their argument was something along the lines of them having "serious drama" and "fistacuffs". Also pointing out villains threatening children. Except they seem to overlook why those kids were on the show (and are usually in about 1 out of every 5 episodes) in the first place -- to represent the target audience/be able to "see themselves" in the show.

Drakkhenden said:

I seriously doubt that people that would enjoy toku would think "kids show" would be a bad label.

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Take any other kids' show and try to get someone you know into it, and right off the bat say it's a kids' show that elementary school kids watch. What do you think might happen?

Do I go around telling my friends that toku is adult programming? No. I always say they're superhero shows. Superheroes are for everyone, young and old. That's all.

Dami-chan said:

Because I'm tired of arguing with 12 year olds on the HJU facebook page.

Kamen Rider and Super Sentai are and have always been children's shows and 30 minute toy commericals. Stop fooling yourself into thinking they are anything else.

What pisses me off the most is to use your argument that they are not to bash Power Rangers for "making sentai into a kids show".

They are all children's programming!

Just because the Japanese have a higher tolerance for what they will allow their children to watch does not change this fact.

I do not know who Pierre Daniels, Kisuke D. Nara or 'Chopper Gundam' are on the board but I invite you to explain (not in text or 1337 style typing) your argument against it being a kids show.

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Quoted for truth.

What about Ultraman? Ultraman along with godzilla always seemed to be the least concerned about marketing.

Edit: I dunno about you guys but what makes me watch toku is the fact that they have cool costumes and fight. Being a big mech anime fan its only natural this stuff would appeal to me. Thought I do take toku less seriously as a form of entertainment than anything else. Sentai being the first, since its more action then anything. Kamen rider I'm good with and Ultra I like the most. But with time as usual with nearly everything being put out in this day in age, quality is down.

Dami-chan said:

But this topic was created because -- seriously, there were people who tried to tell me on the HJU facebook page that KR and SS were adult shows. So yes, there were people trying to make that argument. And having an argument on FB is pointless so I decided to make it a conversation on the board.

Their argument was something along the lines of them having "serious drama" and "fistacuffs". Also pointing out villains threatening children. Except they seem to overlook why those kids were on the show (and are usually in about 1 out of every 5 episodes) in the first place -- to represent the target audience/be able to "see themselves" in the show.

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Now see, those are just dumb arguments. If anyone is "embarrassed" to be watching toku, I'd say it's them.

Black Fang said:

Take any other kids' show and try to get someone you know into it, and right off the bat say it's a kids' show that elementary school kids watch. What do you think might happen?

Do I go around telling my friends that toku is adult programming? No. I always say they're superhero shows. Superheroes are for everyone, young and old. That's all.

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Saying superhero shows are for everyone young and old is a matter of opinion and the person you are talking to. I mean take the super hero movie Darkman. That is not for kids IMO.