differentiating tokusatsu from mainstream media

[Shoichi]

a question thrown to me by my lecturer, when i told him that i was doing tokusatsu for my presentation and written assignment.

i'd really appreciate it if anyone could share their opinions about this topic. :thumbs:

 

[Solid Snake]

Tokusatsu just means special effects shows or movies. But Tokusatsu as we call it here is more like tokusatsu heroes or Henshin heroes. So it depends which one you're after.

Tokusatsu: simple, a show or movie with special effects. It vaguely resembles Sci Fi in the west.

Tokusatsu Heroes: we all know this, heroes who fight to protect humanity (or something else) against a threat.

You could even add an extra category:

Henshin heroes: same as toku heroes but they have to henshin. some toku heroes don't transform so you could probably exclude them from this category.

 

[August]

The word "Tokusatsu" was coined at Toho during the 1950s, which was contraction of "Tokugi Satsuei" or "Special Photography." Because of Toho's pioneer filmmaker, Eiji Tsuburaya, a whole industry was born -- "Tokusatsu" or "Special Visual Effects Photography."

Recently, "Tokusatsu" has come to represent all things live-action, containing heavy special visual effects techniques, so there are some sub-categories, such as "Tokusatsu Heroes." When one is referring to Toei's hero shows, they are usually designated "Toei Tokusatsu Heroes," Toho's monster movies are usually referred to as "Toho Kaiju Eiga" (Toho Monster Movies), but the blanket is "Toho Tokusatsu Eiga" (Toho Special Visual Effects Films). But, when used as a genre term, it still includes movies with miniature work and other visual effects that do not feature monsters or superheroes, which covers everything from Disaster Films to War Movies and so on.

 

[DarkWolf]

^That was a very aptly put definition, August! You certainly know your stuff. :thumbs:

 

[Shoichi]

thanks guys, especially August and S.S.

i'd probably delve into the henshin heroes segment a bit more since that's what i'm better at.

 

[August]

You're welcome! :anime:

^That was a very aptly put definition, August! You certainly know your stuff. :thumbs:

Thanks! Thanks why I was selected by Tsuburaya Productions to write the first biography of visual effects pioneer, Eiji Tsuburaya, ever outside of Japan. After all, he is the father of tokusatsu.