Tokusatsu (sometimes just called "Toku") is the Japanese word for special effects and often used to classify Japanese sci-fi/fantasy TV/movie productions. Those productions include:

• Daikaijū (Giant Monsters) - Such as Godzilla and Gamera
• Kyodai (Giant Heroes) - Such as Ultraman
• Sentai (Task Force) - Such as Kyōryū Sentai Jū Ranger and its americanized version Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
• Metal Heroes - Which can be considered as having three sub-categories: "Space Sheriffs", "Cyborg Heroes", and "Rescue Heroes"

Metal Heroes (specifically Space Sheriffs) became a basis for the RoboCop movies. Toho and Daiei are well known companies in the Daikaiju category of tokusatsu. Tsuburaya is the company associated with Ultraman, while Toei is responsible for Sentai series, Metal Heroes and the Kamen Rider series.

Some consider another category called Henshin Heroes (transforming heroes), which are shows featuring heroes that transform. What makes this category distinct is that Henshin Heroes are not under the Toei brand. The most notable one is perhaps Toho's Seishin (Star God) series, which began in 2003 with Chōseishin Granseiza (Ultra Star God-Grand Star Emperor) and continues in 2004 with Genseishin Justriser (Phantom Star God-Justice Riser). The seishin series is Toho's attempt at competing with Toei's Sentai series.

One last category is the Heroine Tokusatsu, which consists of a fighting team composed by females, or an individual female. Examples include Vanny Knights, Dimensional Detective Wecker, and the new live-action version of Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon.

External link

• Dans l'univers de la SF japonaise... (http://usfjaponaise.free.fr/) - French fansite with photos of several Tokusatsu series
• Henshin Hall of Fame (http://incolor.inetnebr.com/stuart/henshin/index.htm) - Large information source about Tokusatsu, focused mainly on the Henshin Heroes genre

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