Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger (2004–2005) User Reviews

Simply Amazing

[back_blast · 9/10 · 15 December 2006]

I'll admit, having watched Power Rangers for a long time and not realizing its' Japanese origins, I was slightly curious to find out exactly why the two were compared and the fans split into the infamous "PR Snobs" and "Sentai Snobs". I chose Dekaranger as my first Sentai show to watch since I was very familiar with the americanized version and I thought I would be able to look at it better that way...

I was simple blown away.

Dekaranger has EVERYTHING! It's funny, sweet, has lots of action, drama. No two episodes were exactly alike and it was nowhere as cheesy as it's Americanized counterpart. While Power Rangers used a lot of the same story lines I found myself enjoying the Dekarangers characters more. While I couldn't bring myself to like Jack of PR, I LOVED Ban...and all of the team.

While I still like Power Rangers, Dekaranger is MUCH MUCH better and more fun to watch and I strongly recommend it, especially if you are not a normal fan of Sentai. After this show, you will fall in love with it.

The Very Best of the Super Sentai Series !!!!

[ebiros2 · 8/10 · 5 October 2011]

Great casting, over the top action, and incredible sense of humor rounds up this very fine series that was made for kids, but has many adult fans.

In the near future, where space travel has become common, earth is faced with criminals from outer space. In order to deal with these criminals, Special Police Dekaranger (SPD) was formed.

There're more regular super heroes in this series, than other Sentai Series drama. There's the usual core five team members consisting of Deka Red (Ryuji Sainei), Deka Blue (Tsuyoshi Hayashi), Deka Green (Yosuke Ito), Deka Yellow (Ayumi Kinoshita), and Deka Pink (Mika Kikuchi). Add to this, the white colored Deka Break (Yuichi Yoshida), and Captain Doggie Kruger turned Deka Master (Tetsu Inada) that joins the battle, and Shratori Swan aka Deaka Swan (Mako Ishino) that takes care of gadgets Deka Rangers uses.

There's something different about this series from all the other Sentai Series. Production is far more elaborate, and more than few of the actors are A list or have gone on to become A list actors since this series. Action is bigger, and special effects that didn't rely too much on CG made the action look even wilder. This series also has one of the best props, and the best designed bad guys costume. None of the bad guys looks really evil. They look like wanna be scary guys, but instead looks kind of humorous. The humor is built into the costume, and you have to see it to appreciate how funny and awesome some of these characters looks.

This excellent series won the 2006 Japanese Nebula award in media division which was the first for Sentai Series drama, and third for sci-fi drama series after "Ultraman Tiga" and "Kamen Rider Kuga".

Fantastic sci-fi series that defies imagination in many ways. Highly recommended along with "Dekaranger The Movie" , and two other made for video specials co-starring Abaranger, and Magiranger.

Great show

[mark2v · 8/10 · 23 June 2006]

Ever since Disney got the rights to Power Rangers they forgot the art of storytelling let alone adaptation. This is where the original came from in SPD. Great vast number of individual characters. Ban the fireball, Hoji the professional, Sen-chan the thinker, Jasmin the calm ESPer, and Umeko the perky one. They are later joined by Tetsu the one with the gold badge. The story are well done. They have their fare share of series and comedic episodes. The actors are way more into their characters when compared to their SPD counterparts. It is a great series. If you like Power Rangers and saw SPD. You should not miss how it was rightfully done in Dekaranger.

One of the best Sentai shows ever!

[luifamily · 12 March 2005]

As a person who has viewed the entire Super Sentai series since its inception in 1975, DEKA-RANGER stands as one of the best shows of the sub-genre. From the sharp opening theme song to the charismatic Doggy Kruger (Deka-Master) to the insidious Agent Abrela, this show hits all cylinders in terms of music, acting, storyline, and visual SFX. The fact that the main 5 are top-notch actors helps, along with a great supporting cast, and practical usage of the mecha (giant robots) in the series without going into overkill. For the male fans of the series, the two actresses (Kinoshita Ayumi as Jasmine / Deka-Yellow and Kikuchi Mika as Umeko / Deka-Pink) are quite striking looking and for new starlets, are able to hold their own in scenes requiring skills other than their obvious physical beauty. Forget the Americanized POWER RANGERS S.P.D.--DEKA-RANGER will blow it away.

28th Run in the Super Sentai

[cyber_ranger · 10/10 · 12 August 2006]

'Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger' is the 28th story to the long-running action-adventure Super Sentai series. The title literally translates into 'Investigation Squadron Detective Ranger', and was later reincarnated into what most Americans know it as 'Power Rangers Space Patrol Delta (SPD)]'. Like every other Sentai, Dekaranger consists of heroes and heroines in multi-colored uniforms who fight evil for the sake of justice and peace. 'Deka', being Japanese for 'detective' is also Latin, which means 'ten'. So to say, there are 10 main Dekarangers featured. Of the ten, they include the following; Akaza Banban, who goes by the name of 'Ban'. Ban takes his role as Dekared, the leader. Ban is actually the second Dekared Dekaranger, being transfered to the position from another planet. He's 22 years old and his self-sung theme is called 'BANG! BANG!' Tomasu Houji, who goes by the name of 'Hoji'. Hoji takes his role as Dekablue, the second-in-command. He was the original leader to begin with, and occasionally butts heads with Ban. He's 21 years old and his self-sung theme is called 'Blue is the Sky'.

Enari Senichi, who goes by the name of 'Sen-chan'. Sen-chan takes his role as Dekagreen. He's eccentric yet claustrophobic, and places himself in a handstand for his 'thinking pose'. He's 19 years old, and his self-sung theme is called 'Railway to Happiness'.

Reimon Marika, who goes by the name of 'Jasmine'. Jasmine's role is Dekayellow. Out of uniform, she has a psychic ability to read the memories of others. She's 19 years old, and her self-sung theme is called 'Hard Rain Never Stops'.

Kodou Koume, who goes by the name of 'Umeko'. Umeko's happily-places role is Dekapink. She's tiny, but is seen cute and is extremely hyper most of the time. She grows to have strong feelings for Sen-chan, and has a passion for bubble baths and rubber duckies. She's 20 years old, and her self-sung theme is called 'Believe in the Present'.

Aira Tekkan, who goes by the name of 'Tetsu'. Tetsu has a special role as Dekabreak. He had special SPD (Special Police Dekaranger) training since he was young, after being taken in when his parents were accidentally killed by an Alienizer. Like Hoji, he occasionally butts heads with Ban, but the two seem more like brothers than rivals. His actual age is unknown, but I gotta say I'm thinking around 20 or 21. He has a special weapon known as a Bracethrottle on his left arm-to-hand, allowing him special attacks in various forms. His self-sung theme is called '"TETSU" no Ishe De (TETSU With a Will of Steel!)".

Dogi Kruger, who is called 'Boss' by the Dekarangers. Dogi's role is known as Dekamaster. Dogi's literally a dog, from the planet Anubis, and is in charge of the SPD Base. He has feelings for Swan, and it can be obvious at many points. He wields the mighty D-Sword Vega, and his actual age is unknown as well. His theme is called 'Dekamaster Never STOP'.

Shiritora Swan, who is called 'Swan' or 'Swan-san' by the Dekarangers. She's the technical master in the Dekabase, and built everything - the suits, mechas, and weapons. Her Dekaranger role is known as Dekaswan. She isn't seen too common, and I think seen only twice in the series. Her age is unknown as well, and her theme is called 'Mother Universe'.

Lisa Teagle, who's role as a Dekaranger is known as Dekabright. She came to the Dekarangers and helped train Tetsu to not get emotionally attached to anything.

And finally; Utahime Marigold, who's known as 'Marie'. Also known as Dekagold. She's only seen in the Dekaranger Movie: Full Action Blast. She becomes attached to Ban, and he does the same with her. She has the ability to stop time, and her age is unknown as well.

In Power Rangers SPD, the Dekarangers are reincarnated (in order) to: SPD Red, SPD Blue, SPD Green, SPD Yellow, SPD Pink, SPD Omega, SPD Shadow Ranger, SPD Kat Ranger, SPD Nova, and Dekagold was never seen in Space Patrol Delta. The 'Alienizers' in Dekaranger were never directly reincarnated into SPD, either. The Alienizers are various villains and criminals from other planets, taken care of by the Dekarangers. Their henshin calls come out as "Emergency! Dekaranger/Dekabreak/Dekamaster/Dekaswan/Dekabright! The Dekarangers eventually meet up with two other Sentai teams; Bakuryuu Sentai Abaranger (previous team) and Mahou Sentai Magiranger (following team).

I personally am a huge fan of the Dekarangers. This particular storyline is humorous and exciting, and seems to put more of an effort into it than most of the other Sentai stories. They don't make the Dekarangers seem too strong or too easy to get either. (In other words, they aren't the strongest and they're not the weakest.) For example, one Dekaranger is taken hostage early in the episodes. Another Dekaranger's body is possessed by an Alienizer in another early episode.

Dekaranger is, in my opinion, one of the absolute best of the Super Sentai. It's thrilling, funny, and you always want to see more. Great introduction to the awesome adventure that is the Super Sentai.

Two thumbs up to you if you succeed to read all that and live :D

Not exactly my favorite sentai series, but I can see why people like it!

[xgray-03873 · 8/10 · 6 March 2017]

I'm not much of a fan of Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger, although, I can see why other people would feel more invested in watching this show.

But, I will say this. At least the ranger suits and the SPD uniforms look nice. The music is actually pretty good, loved the movies, "Full-Blast Action" and "Dekaranger: 10 Years After!" and I'm hoping to see what the team-up movie, "Space Sheriff Gavan vs. Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger" has in store for us.

Now for the characters.... The only characters that I do like the most are Senichi "Sen-chan" Enari, Tekkan "Tetsu" Aira and Doggie Kruger. But, unfortunately, I can't really say any nice things to say about the character of Swan Shiratori (Deka Swan) and here's why....she's a freakin' stereotypical damsel-in-distress. Aka, the "Nell Fenwick from Dudley Do-Right" of this show, and I honestly do not give a damn about this character at all. Everyone else....they're okay. Just not that spectacular, in my opinion.

Favorite episodes: -Episode 31: Princess Training -Episode 32: Discipline March -Episode 33: SWAT Mode On -Episode 37: Hard Boiled License -Episode 38: Cycling Bomb -Episode 40: Gold Badge Education -Episode 41: Trick Room

Overall, I thought was an enjoyable show, but not something that I would want to add to my personal collection of sentai shows. But, the movie, "Full-Blast Action" and "Dekaranger: 10 Years After!" are the best ones.

8 out of 10.

MY CHILDHOOD POWERRANGERS!

[quanggamer · 10/10 · 28 August 2021]

Yes! I watched then since I was 7! Now I'm 20!. Once upon a time Dekarangers suddenly popped on my facebook page and I just simply watched it, and WOW! After rewatching the deka fighting scene my childhood memories starts to flooded into my head and made me wants to watch dekarangers again!

Actually entirely fabulous.

[effgeevee · 14 December 2005]

This movie is a thirty-eight (or nine. The director says both) minute ball of crime-fighting, love-finding, justice-promoting spandex-wearing marvelousness.

The Special Police Dekarangers are (obviously) a team of law-enforcers. They are lead by Doggy Kruger, an 'Anuboid'(read: guy with a blue dog's head), and all have charming "type" personalities, and save the world/other worlds from evil alien criminals. This is the series that became Power Rangers SPD. It is MUCH BETTER.

In this movie Ban(n), the leader and Deka Red, meets and falls in love with Marie who sings in an alien-filled club where he is staking out villains. The sequence where he spots her and she sings for him is adorable. Seriously adorable. He picks up a drink and swallows it all down, he's terribly nervous, he jitters - he's like a basement nerd who's never seen a girl before. If it were done in an American movie, it would be horrible. Ashton Kutcher would crucify this scene. But Ryuuji Sainei just makes it incredibly endearing.

So she turns out to be a SPD ranger from another planet which has been infected with a virus that turns everyone into robots and the earth rangers decide to help her fight the villains. Of course! And the fight for justice ensues. Also a two-girls-in-a-bath scene.

(You don't SEE anything, and they just sit there. It isn't the rude sort of bathing.) I really do think that Mr Sainei is a good actor. His character is quite extreme of emotions and there are three really showcase moments for this. One is the afore-mentioned meeting, one is a how-could-you-betray-me/us/the world anguished anger scene, and one involves the line, "if you die, I won't forgive you". Bann is brilliant! The rest of the characters don't really get that much screen time in Tokusou sentai Dekarenjâ, but what you do see is enough. THEY ARE ALL AWESOME. This is my considered opinion.

As well as all this, there is are two nice, sparks filled, expected Sentai/Power Rangers battle scene. Both Human-sized and Giant Mecha involving. Actually one of these included the only moment I found fault with - can two people really stand six feet away from each other firing a gun from each had and *keep missing*? Deka Yellow and Deka Pink team up to fight one of three monsters and I think they work well together - it's a nice nod to how police have partners as well as their having some cool moves.

It all ends fairly happily, of course, with play-fighting and holding hands and a romantic time-stop (writing this reminds me of another moment in the die and I won't forgive you scene. I won't spoil it, just because. But it is lovely.). And then come the credits.

The credits alone are worth seeing this movie for.

All films should end with the cast doing that.

Entirely fabulous.

Great television show and also a great movie

[Captain_Monkey_II_of_Albania · 1 March 2005]

The best show that I have ever seen - it is full of romance, action, adventure and thrills.

Tokusou sentai Dekaranger follows the adventures of the earth branch of the Special Police Dekaranger task force and their mission to combat the threat of hostile Alienizers.

I was surprised that Dekaranger the Movie was not nominated for the best picture or best foreign language film - a big oversight by the Academy in my opinion, especially when compared to the winners in these categories.

I recommend this series and the movie to everyone who is super cool.

The most recent Japanese sentai series has the usual thrills

[BrianDanaCamp · 27 March 2005]

"Dekaranger" is the 2004 entry in Japan's long-running series of "sentai" action-adventure programs highlighting the exploits of various teams of "Rangers" in color-coded costumes. I watched four episodes of "Dekaranger" after watching the season opener for "Power Rangers S. P. D.," the American counterpart of "Dekaranger." Interestingly, the characters in "S. P. D." are considerably older than their Japanese equivalents, who all seem quite young. Dekaranger's Pink Ranger is quite short (under five feet) and looks and behaves as if she was 14 or 15, while the others all have a late-teen vibe about them. (The ages given for their characters on one website are considerably older than they look and behave.) They squabble amongst themselves, much more than usual for a sentai team, which makes them a little different and, in fact, a little refreshing. It helps that Pink Ranger, Umeko (played by Mika Kikuchi), is so darned cute and perky, and that Yellow Ranger, Jasmine (played by Ayumi Kinoshita), is so pretty. Green Ranger is the quiet, serious no-nonsense one, Red Ranger is the wild, irresponsible, individualistic one and Blue Ranger is the one who fights with Red Ranger the most. (This relationship is echoed in "S. P. D.")

There's a lot of good action in the episodes I watched, including lots of battles with aliens and robot henchmen. There's a rousing Zord battle reminiscent of the Zord action in "Go Go Five" (also reviewed on this site) and its U. S. counterpart, "Lightspeed Rescue," and several good martial arts battles and stunts. There's a clever bit in ep. 4 where an alien opponent sends the combatants teleporting all over Tokyo, so Red and Blue Rangers find themselves fighting the alien in an empty speeding commuter train one minute and then on the back of a truck immediately thereafter. What I've always liked about sentai series is the frequency of on-location battles as characters in outlandish costumes go at each other in dramatic locales and sprawling public spaces. It gives a sense of believability and immediacy to the otherwise preposterous (but highly enjoyable) goings-on.

A horrible mix of comedy and utter crap.

[televizzle · 24 November 2004]

Words can't describe how bad this show is. It has absolutely no plot (as of this writing the series is about to end and all they seem to be doing is introducing new toys...I mean characters). The cast is supposed to be made up of elite cops who tend to goof off and be pretty instead of trying to act.

It's convoluted junk. The acting is bad. The characters are lame. The designs are horrid. The action is weak. And since a show about the planet's most elite and finest cops happens to be a comedy in this case, the comedy is unfunny. To enjoy this heap of waste would most likely require a lobotomy.