Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger
"Unknown to the people,
Unknown to the world,
Striking at evil from the midst of shadows!"
Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger!
The super sentai for 2002, Hurricaneger does not boast the most impressive or enticing of premises; three young people are at the bottom rung of the Hayate Ninja School, but when the evil Jakanja Space Ninjas arrive and kill all the other students, their mentors have no choice but to make them into the legendary Hurricanegers so that someone can defend the Earth. However, the devil is in the details, so how do those details add up this time around?
The first thing I want to say is that all the characters are likeable and have very good chemistry going on, creating strong team cohesion. In particular, Kouta/Hurricane Yellow works as a physical therapist as his day job when not fighting evil space ninjas, and I like that, it's a very different from usual career for someone from this sort of show to have. In addition to the three hurricanegers, there are also the two Gouraigers, who are from the rival Ikazuchi ninja school, which was also destroyed by the Jakanja. They're kind of assholes and spend ten episodes or so beating the ever-living crap out of our heroes before being humbled and joining the side of good, though they do remain aloof and apart from the main team for the most part. Finally, there is Shurikenger, whose schtick is that whenever he's not in his suit, he's disguised as someone else with the added bonus that these guises are played by people who were in previous Super Sentai series' and they'll even do the posing from their respective shows when turning into Hurricaneger. Also, his voice is provided by the guy who did Manjoume from Yugioh GX, and so I keep imagining him repeatedly challenging Yosuke/Hurricane Red, who is kind of an idiot, to card games, and losing every single time. It's a very weird thing to be thinking when he doesn't even use cards or card-like items at all.
Fight scenes take full advantage of the ninja motif and are always creative and unique, making them a lot of fun to watch. The main mech, SeppunJin, is normally bulky but can "hurri-up" for a much slimmer super mode for up to sixty seconds at a time. The mechs also make extensive use of "Karakuri Balls", which are obviously pokemon inspired and used to summon animal themed weapons, and this actually ends up being an important plot point, which is kind of nice.
The story is also very well put together, well paced and the status-quo changes just often enough so that there is one but not so much that things get stale or repetitive. The overall tone is balanced, allowing the show to make use of both silly comedy episodes and intense dramatic episodes with equal ease, neither side feeling out of place. Jokes are made but not too often, angst is felt but not too deeply. The main theme of the series is people growing up and coming together to a common goal, and this theme is executed well. Finally, the final battle is one of the more interesting and unique final battles that Super Sentai has to offer.
On the downside though, the show constantly alludes to the villains ultimate goals without building it up, just referring to "That" over and over and over again, so by the time you do find out what "that" is, it's a bit sudden. Also, episode 26 teases at a relationship between Nanami/HurricaneBlue and Isshou/Kuwaga Raiger, but nothing comes of it. That disappoints me.
So on the whole, its a very good show, one that should not be overlooked and overshadowed.
Unknown to the world,
Striking at evil from the midst of shadows!"
Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger!
The super sentai for 2002, Hurricaneger does not boast the most impressive or enticing of premises; three young people are at the bottom rung of the Hayate Ninja School, but when the evil Jakanja Space Ninjas arrive and kill all the other students, their mentors have no choice but to make them into the legendary Hurricanegers so that someone can defend the Earth. However, the devil is in the details, so how do those details add up this time around?
The first thing I want to say is that all the characters are likeable and have very good chemistry going on, creating strong team cohesion. In particular, Kouta/Hurricane Yellow works as a physical therapist as his day job when not fighting evil space ninjas, and I like that, it's a very different from usual career for someone from this sort of show to have. In addition to the three hurricanegers, there are also the two Gouraigers, who are from the rival Ikazuchi ninja school, which was also destroyed by the Jakanja. They're kind of assholes and spend ten episodes or so beating the ever-living crap out of our heroes before being humbled and joining the side of good, though they do remain aloof and apart from the main team for the most part. Finally, there is Shurikenger, whose schtick is that whenever he's not in his suit, he's disguised as someone else with the added bonus that these guises are played by people who were in previous Super Sentai series' and they'll even do the posing from their respective shows when turning into Hurricaneger. Also, his voice is provided by the guy who did Manjoume from Yugioh GX, and so I keep imagining him repeatedly challenging Yosuke/Hurricane Red, who is kind of an idiot, to card games, and losing every single time. It's a very weird thing to be thinking when he doesn't even use cards or card-like items at all.
Fight scenes take full advantage of the ninja motif and are always creative and unique, making them a lot of fun to watch. The main mech, SeppunJin, is normally bulky but can "hurri-up" for a much slimmer super mode for up to sixty seconds at a time. The mechs also make extensive use of "Karakuri Balls", which are obviously pokemon inspired and used to summon animal themed weapons, and this actually ends up being an important plot point, which is kind of nice.
The story is also very well put together, well paced and the status-quo changes just often enough so that there is one but not so much that things get stale or repetitive. The overall tone is balanced, allowing the show to make use of both silly comedy episodes and intense dramatic episodes with equal ease, neither side feeling out of place. Jokes are made but not too often, angst is felt but not too deeply. The main theme of the series is people growing up and coming together to a common goal, and this theme is executed well. Finally, the final battle is one of the more interesting and unique final battles that Super Sentai has to offer.
On the downside though, the show constantly alludes to the villains ultimate goals without building it up, just referring to "That" over and over and over again, so by the time you do find out what "that" is, it's a bit sudden. Also, episode 26 teases at a relationship between Nanami/HurricaneBlue and Isshou/Kuwaga Raiger, but nothing comes of it. That disappoints me.
So on the whole, its a very good show, one that should not be overlooked and overshadowed.