Why haven't Metal Hero returning to TV????

[Tiger]

And the last two Metal Hero installments were so forgettable I tend to treat Juukou B-Fighter and B-Fighter Kabuto as the last Metal Hero series.

... And nobody noticed that Hyper Kabuto totally resembled Super Blue Beet?

The guy who did the suits for B-Fighter did the suits for Kamen rider Kabuto IIRC.

 

[Tokuboy]

Plus, the Heisei Rider series are basically the new Metal Heroes.

With Double, we get a MH/classic KR hybrid Rider (Double) and a more MH-like Rider (Accel).

 

[Scissors]

Sometimes I wonder, was it really that bad that the shows got cancelled? I mean, during the run of Robotack and Kabutack, the franchise had already reached a lower point, and I don't think that Toei would have changed the route that they were going.

People have to remember, that even if the franchise was alive today, we would NEVER have gotten anything like Metalder or Janperson.
What we would have gotten today, would have been Robotack/Kabutack, 10 times more kiddified and 10 times more toy-centered.

Honestly, aren't you happy that the franchise was allowed to die with some dignity?

 

[Tokuboy]

Precisely. Robotack and Kabutack were only a few bits off from being a travesty to the Space Sheriffs.

 

[Aoi Kurenai]

In fact, if I am not mistaken, Ryuki was originally supposed to be a "real" Metal Hero show.

Pretty much, it seems like 90% of the original idea for that Metal Hero revival made it into Ryuki itself.

I'd love to see Metal Heroes return, they always did have a rather unique aesthetic that I honestly don't think the current Kamen Riders imitate...well maybe the whole G line in Agito, DiEnd, and G Den-O, but otherwise, I think the Kamen Rider designs since Kuuga are more Kamen Rider than people think and not thinly veiled imitations of a dead franchise. It just always seemed to me that, for the most part, the Metal Hero aesthetic was defined by the fact that every piece of the suit was intended to look metal, not the case in the current Kamen Rider line. In fact, I'd say the shows from Kuuga to Kiva were closer linked to the original design of the first Kamen Rider in the sense that it's basically chest armor, spiffy boots and a spandex or leather under armor. (though Heisei Riders also have the knee guards)

As for the franchise dying with dignity...have any of you actually seen either Robotack or Kabutack? Or are you just going on the designs? It's a lighter incarnation of the franchise, obviously, but the shows were very heartfelt and were the type of feel good shows that I think there should be more of in this day and age. The shows had fun characters, interesting fights, colorful plots, and rather unique ideas. I'd love for either one of them to subbed (though I'm partial towards Robotack) so more people can see just how awesome they are.

If Metal Heroes could return, I'd like for it to be something different than what we've seen, no Space Sheriff stuff off the bat or a third entry into the B-Fighter line, but a nice, strong stand alone series that can really show the strengths of the franchise.

...buuuut after how badly Metal Hero Spirits bombed, I doubt we'll get one, though it would be neat, Toei does want to make money forever.

 

[NeonZ]

Look at Ryuki, Faiz, Blade, Kabuto and Den-O.
Look at G3, Ixa, Accel etc.
They ARE Metal Heroes. They are just called "Kamen Rider".
In fact, if I am not mistaken, Ryuki was originally supposed to be a "real" Metal Hero show.

I REALLY disagree with that idea. Even Ryuuki, although originally intended to be a metal hero show, has quite a few Rider trademarks. It's basically a red suit with white chest armor (which is even molded after a human chest), white gloves, white boots and a helmet with bug eyes. The way Ryuuki ended up, Ryuuki itself, at least, is clearly a Kamen Rider design. Just look at the Ryuuki/ZX match up in Decade.

Just because the suits have some mechanical design elements it doesn't mean they're disguised metal heroes. Mechanical elements have always been present in the Rider designs, ever since the first series, just look at the helmet. Extending that to the other parts of the suit is just a matter of uniformity. Even later Showa Riders, like Super-1 (with some of its gloves) and ZX seemed to be going in the direction of mechanical designs.

That direction changed with Black, when they went with that "organic shell" look which was used in the 90s, but Kuuga and Agito dumped that, returning to the suit + armor pieces (and they also used a Sentai-like spandex for the undersuit which bothers me even today). The later series gave the armor pieces a mechanical look, rather than just keeping them like plain molded pieces, but that doesn't mean that they're suddenly not Rider-like.

 

[ryuuseipro]

I REALLY disagree with that idea. Even Ryuuki, although originally intended to be a metal hero show, has quite a few Rider trademarks. It's basically a red suit with white chest armor (which is even molded after a human chest), white gloves, white boots and a helmet with bug eyes. The way Ryuuki ended up, Ryuuki itself, at least, is clearly a Kamen Rider design. Just look at the Ryuuki/ZX match up in Decade.

Just because the suits have some mechanical design elements it doesn't mean they're disguised metal heroes. Mechanical elements have always been present in the Rider designs, ever since the first series, just look at the helmet. Extending that to the other parts of the suit is just a matter of uniformity. Even later Showa Riders, like Super-1 (with some of its gloves) and ZX seemed to be going in the direction of mechanical designs.

That direction changed with Black, when they went with that "organic shell" look which was used in the 90s, but Kuuga and Agito dumped that, returning to the suit + armor pieces (and they also used a Sentai-like spandex for the undersuit which bothers me even today). The later series gave the armor pieces a mechanical look, rather than just keeping them like plain molded pieces, but that doesn't mean that they're suddenly not Rider-like.

I disagree. Kuuga and Agito were the last ones I considered to be Masked Riders (this goes especially for G3, Gills, and Another Agito). Kuuga's armor was very minimal, in the same manner as Masked Rider Stronger. Agito was a bit more bulky, in the same manner as Black RX. (He didn't need to be, but there it is.)

As talky and slow-paced as Masked Rider Kuuga and Masked Rider Agito were (they were aimed at an older audience), at least they tried to keep everything that was so great about the original Masked Riders (the characterization, action, story, drama, atmosphere, etc.), much in the same way the VS and Millennium Godzilla films tried to be reminders of the Showa Series. A fanservice. Even the newer Ultramen since Tiga felt like Ultramen. They felt more like Masked Rider than anything else that followed, because they were always supposed to be Masked Rider.

(Masked Rider W's design is closer to what I want.)

If I wanted newer streamlined Masked Riders, I'd prefer the "organic shell" Riders, as they still kept everything that was great about the older Riders in the first place (and feels more like the insect-types that Ishinomori had always envisioned). They allowed a slim & sleek Spider-Man-like flexibility (considering most of the older Riders never used weapons). Most of today's "Riders" are more like RoboCop in comparison.

 

[KingRanger]

Ryuki wasn't even going to be a Kamen Rider series from the start. They only decided later to make it a KR series to cash in on the success of Agito and Kuuga.

 

[Sentaifan'07 Xman]

Frankly there is no reason for it to exist anymore. Whether by design or happenstance Metal Heroes was a replacement for Kamen Rider, except with Toei in complete control. Unlike with Kamen Rider that required the involvement and approval of Ishinomori with Metal Heroes they could with it as they pleased. But now with Ishinomori gone there is no real impedance and Kamen Rider has better brand recognition anyway so Metal Heroes no longer serve a purpose.

Dang!:shakefist

 

[Forever Knight]

Heisei Kamen Rider has been a KR/Metal Hero hybrid the minute G3-X appeared in Agito and then it went full blown when Ryuki began. There is no need to restart Metal Heroes even thought I would KILL for a 4th installment of the Space Sheriffs and a true 3rd installment of B-Fighter.

The guy who did the suits for B-Fighter did the suits for Kamen rider Kabuto IIRC.

Kamen Rider Kabuto itself was a tribute to B-Fighter Kabuto in terms of the character motifs. I still believe during that anniversary for KR, Toei was also celebrating the end of Metal Heroes by doing it.

Yes, I don't care what anyone says... B-F Kabuto was the final Metal Heroes.

Plus, the Heisei Rider series are basically the new Metal Heroes.

With Double, we get a MH/classic KR hybrid Rider (Double) and a more MH-like Rider (Accel).

Exacally.

Precisely. Robotack and Kabutack were only a few bits off from being a travesty to the Space Sheriffs.

I made the mistake of buying Kabutack & Robotack last summer.... 10 episodes in and I couldn't take anymore.