What COUNTS as Tokusatsu?

It's not "a" tokusatsu, just "tokusatsu."

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Edited by FerbusG
Written by Haisei

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[BaronSenki]

Nowadays, Tokusatsu is specifically associated with the Henshin Hero (Kamen Rider & Sentai), Kaiju Eiga (Godzilla), or a mix-between both mediums (Ultraman).

While the common definition of "tokusatsu" is geared towards live-action shows using “special effects", it's more of so evolved from just that surface term. Toku underwent an evolution as it had implemented VFX and CGI. Sure there are some toku that are not the typical Henshin Hero or Kaiju Eiga, like the 90’s Toei Fushigi Comedy series, but it retains that same style that is familiar to most tokusatsu.

Tokusatsu is a term that has a slightly different meaning in Japan compared to the West. Westerners use it to refer almost exclusively to Japanese superhero shows, while in Japan it simply refers to any live-action productions that make heavy use of special effects. If there are some people who consider Dr. Who, Star Wars, RoboCop as tokusatsu… they certainly fits the literal definition of "a special effects work”.

However, this cannot be said for Marvel and DC movies which do not emulate the style of tokusatsu. I think that’s the key thing, STYLE. It's whether the creators are following the style of a tokusatsu. Films like Pacific Rim has practically emulated the style of Kaiju Eiga.

That's why the more I realize, the tokusatsu as a term itself only an umbrella nickname associated to the Henshin Hero and Kaiju Eiga genres. Tokusatsu really defines the Japanese content and its particular style, but there are a lot of crossing over, and there are a lot of equally good content from around the world.

[tylerpreston]

Doctor Who technically does count as tokusatsu. The same could be said about Gerry Anderson's shows like Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, and UFO.

[ManabinguGinga]

Honestly? Big Time Rush is my favorite Tokusatsu. Bandana Man and the super squad was incredible. 👏🏼 Thumbs up if you too stan the BTR toku!💞

[TsukiCondor]

I think it's like the "anime' definition. In the west we see only Japanese animation being "anime". But to a Japanese view point "anime" means anything animated.

[Marvin.]

if we're going by the bases, its safe to say the following shows ARE toku:

-Batman (1966)
-Wonder Woman (1975)
-The incredible Hulk (1978)
-The amazing spiderman (1976) (do not confuse with SUPAIDAMAN)
-Superboy (1988)
-Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993)
-Nightman (1997)
-Disney's Aaron Stone (2009)

and im sure theres a lot more shows like those out there that fit all the basic Toku trope bills.

[emeraldmoon]

Tokusatsu basically refers to any TV show or movie that heavily uses special effects. Hence, that's why certain Western TV shows or movies such as Star Wars, Star Trek and Doctor Who are considered as Tokusatsu shows.

[satan]

i think it being low budget is essential to making it feel like toku. Doctor who definetly feels toku in places because of this

[julianchan]

Actually, I've heard of this term called "ANIMATED Tokusatsu", which are animated versions of Tokusatsu shows, which are kind of rare. Including the Chinese Shen Shou Jin Gang (Celestial Warriors), the Korean Miniforce, and yes, SSSS. Gridman. The genre of Tokusatsu is broadening for some reason. I first heard of animated toku from fandoms.

[cydrixar]

People will be wondering what parallel universe they stepped into where marcosatsu uploads content consistently.

[OneShotHenshin]

Tokusatsu = Special Filming
not necessary mean only practical special effects or henshin hero / Kaiju shows / movie

[vilmundurgunnarsson]

The similarities between Kamen Rider and Doctor Who don’t end there.

Christopher Eccleston and Joe Odagiri, both the leads of their franchises 00s reboots have refuse to reprise their roles on screen to this day

[jamcalx]

Knightrider is 80s American Tokusatsu, being KR Drive without the belt, suit, and monster.

[acubewithadhat]

I love the 1 second of furbus in the start and end of this video

[Marcosatsu]

Woah, a whole week of videos in a row? This wouldn't have been possible without the help of my team!!

[mafirasyaharani]

Doctor Who used to be very Tokusatsu back in 70s, specifically in Third Doctor era, with more actions and recurring nemesis (The Master). That's pretty interesting for me

[XenoRider]

Overall a pretty great video, but I'm kind of sad that you did not address the argument that tokusatsu is in fact a loanword, because for me that's one of the most important parts:

Tokusatsu might apply to any live-action media with (practical) special effects IN JAPAN, mostly because it literally is just the Japanese word for "special filming". But in other languages, it is a loanword that specifically became a loanword to be able to refer to a certain subset of special effects shows, aka the Japanese variety, when those became popular outside Japan with the whole kaiju boom
This happens a lot in languages, most famously the terms manga and anime.
If you go to the English wikipedia page for manga and then go to the language tab and switch to Japanese, it will bring you to the Japanese page for "Japanese manga", the article of which will mention it as a subset of all manga.
All manga in the west is manga in Japanese, but not all manga in Japanese is manga in the west.
Calling The Adventures of Tintin a manga is ridiculous in the west, even though the Japanese wikipedia article literally calls it a manga. Same goes for the good old "Family Guy is my favorite anime" joke.
A bento is just a portable lunch in Japan, but outside of Japan, it will specifically refer to certain Japanese dishes popular for lunch, even though just bringing some homemade sandwiches and some fruit to work for lunch could constitute as bento in Japan.

Personally, I feel that using terms too broadly dilutes their meaning and is counterintuitive to why they were adopted in the first place. I don't feel like there's a single scenario where referring to Doctor Who as tokusatsu is beneficial, it only serves to confuse outsiders and newcomers.

For me, to be tokusatsu, media has to:
- be live-action
- use practical special effects (full CGI endresults might also qualify, kind of a case by case thing)
- be Japanese, or if not Japanese, (attempt to) emulate the somewhat hard to define "flavor" Japanese liveaction media has (tropes, designs, choice of practical effects, ...)

Armor Hero, Legend Heroes and Bima Satria Garuda are tokusatsu. Power Rangers is toku. I haven't seen it, but given the influence of Power Rangers and the very henshin hero-ish transformations, I'm sure Mystic Knights Of Tir Na Nog could qualify
Doctor Who, nor The Flash, nor the MCU are tokusatsu. Anime will never be tokusatsu even if it's a direct, frame-by-frame recreation of a toku show, the same way that Black Panther 2 is a superhero movie and not a superhero comic.
Toku-inspired anime is ofcourse a very real thing, though ofcourse there we still have to be aware that a lot of toku tropes are also just Japanese media tropes in general. Gatchaman were a sentai years before Goranger first aired, and the first superhero ever even originated in Japan on paper theaters (Oogon Bat) decades before the first tokusatsu hero show.

Those are just my opinions ofcourse and everyone can feel free to disagree or call anything by whatever name they choose :)

Anyway, huge rant over,
Keep up the good work Marcosatsu!

[tokubirds]

UniKitty is a Magical Girl while Doctor Who is a Tokusatsu.

[doctoc]

Imagine a cross over between the Doctor with Kamen Riders and meeting characters like Decade and Ohma Zi-O

[dynaman]

And just like that I want Marcosatsu to do a retrospective video on Miraculous Ladybug.

[silvertheduelistpilotofata]

"Doctor Who is Tokusatsu" I don't know how I feel about that, next thing you know, I'm gonna the think about Decade's music during David Tennant's era