Shout Factory announces Super Sentai DVD continuation & Kamen Rider Kuuga Blu-ray

Shout Factory has announced the Blu-ray release of Kamen Rider Kuuga and the DVD continuation of the Super Sentai series, starting with Fiveman. The Sentai releases had previously stopped when Hasbro obtained the rights to the Power Rangers brand, but now the releases continue starting with Chikyuu Sentai Fiveman. The 14th Sentai release will also be joined by the 10th installment of the Kamen Rider Series, which started the Heisei period of Riders. Both releases were revealed at the 2022 Anime Expo, with the release date revealed for this year. 

Chikyuu Sentai Fiveman is an early Super Sentai series that Power Rangers didn’t adapt as a TV series. The show was originally released in 1990 and aired 48 episodes before Choujin Sentai Jetman began in the following year. Although Power Rangers only adapted shows from 16^th Sentai, Zyuranger, the 5 rangers in Fiveman have been seen in Power Rangers Super Megaforce and adapted in the comics as the Supersonic Rangers, for the origins of Psycho Green. This adaptation also included a Green 6^th Ranger, which was a Power Rangers exclusive character created for the evil Ranger’s story.

Shout Factory began releasing Super Sentai shows, with English subtitles, during 2015 and started with the season that started Power Rangers, Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger. The 16^th Sentai was then followed by other Super Sentai DVD releases until Hasbro purchased the Power Rangers Franchise from Saban. Here are the other Super Sentai seasons that were released as Complete Series DVDs. 

As for Kamen Rider, Kamen Rider Kuuga started a new era for the franchise as the Heisei Riders began their run. It was the first standalone Rider TV series, since Kamen Rider Black RX, and the first series of the revived run. As the first of the Rider in the era, Kamen Rider Kuuga has been seen in many anniversary events that followed, including a major character in the Heisei 10^th anniversary season, Kamen Rider Decade. The show was first aired in Japan in the year 2000 and aired alongside Mirai Sentai Timeranger for the Superhero Time slot on TV Asahi. The show was never adapted outside of Japan, however, the Rider has been given various product releases after the series ended. This includes the Henshin Belt released within the Complete Selection Modification line and the recently revealed, Complete Style Gigantic line, which includes Kuuga’s Titan Sword. Shout Factory has only released one Kamen Rider series before, which was Kamen Rider Zero-One on Blu-ray at the beginning of the year. This was the 30th series in the franchise, the first series in the Reiwa period, and was released in 2019, meaning it was a recent installment. 

Fans relieved with continuation of Super Sentai releases 

The 14^th Sentai, Chikyuu Sentai Fiveman, is the latest Complete Series DVD that continues the Super Sentai series availability in the west. The DVD releases include official English subtitles, which were only available by fan-subbed content in the past. All 48 episodes are included in the 7 DVD disc set but will only be available in the US and Canada. Here are the images released for the Ckikuu Sentai Fiveman: Complete series DVD.

Fiveman Synopsis 

See where the worldwide phenomenon began with the original Japanese series that inspired the Power Rangers franchise! 

Twenty years after their planet was attacked by the brutal Zone Empire, the five Hoshikawa children, who escaped and were raised on Earth, must prepare for a brand-new war. This time, though, they’re ready … having developed the powerful Fiveman technology that will help them defend Earth from the same empire that conquered their home world. 

Many fans are going to be extremely delighted and grateful that the DVD releases of Super Sentai will continue. The concern is that they would discontinue before fans could see the release of more recent, and fan-favoured Sentai series, such as Gokaiger and Kirameiger, which were never officially released. The copyright seen at the booth at the Anime Expo suggests that, Shout Factory has a direct contract with Toei, which will ensure the releases for the future if the demand continues. Considering the pattern of releases, it’s possible that Abaranger will be next, as it follows after 26^th Sentai, Hurricaneger, which was previously released but the next Sentai DVD has yet to be confirmed.  

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Shout Factory Kamen Rider Kuuga Kicks into North America with Complete Series Blu-ray 

The Blu-ray release of Kamen Rider Kuuga allows fans to obtain the renowned Rider series, with official English subtitles. The Complete Series includes all 49 episodes of the show and even includes optional subtitles for the Grongi, who are the antagonists of the series. The Blu-ray will also come with an exclusive 18″x24″ rolled poster (while supplies last) if ordered through the Shout Factory website. Here are the images of the Blu-ray release and limited-run poster.

Kamen Rider Kuuga Synopsis

Kamen Rider Kuuga is the first installment in the franchise’s televised run in the Heisei Era. When a group of archaeologists uncovers the tomb of a legendary warrior, they unearth Kuuga’s belt, accidentally releasing an ancient race of monsters called the Grongi, bent on destroying humanity. Enter Yusuke Godai, a guy-next-door type, who learns he is telepathically linked to the mysterious stone belt. With its power, he transforms into the legendary warrior known as Kuuga, humanity’s only defense against the murderous Grongi monsters. 

This release could not come at a better time as a Manga release was only recently announced for Kamen Rider Kuuga. The Complete Style Gigantic Titan Sword is also going to be increasing in demand once fans obtain the full series. The popularity of the Kamen Rider Zero-One release proved that there is high demand for the Kamen Rider franchise in the west, which had previously attempted to adapt specific shows. It will be curious to see what Rider series will be released next on Blu-ray as the Super Sentai DVDs released jump between before and after Zyuranger. 

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Chikyuu Sentai Fiveman: Complete Series DVD will be released on September 6^th and will be available through Shout! Factory directly. Pre-orders are currently open for the release and can be purchased through the following link. The show will not be on Shout! Factory TV upon release.

Kamen Rider Kuuga: The Complete Series Blu-ray is also available now to pre-order now and will be released on September the 20^th. It will be available from various retailers but if you want the exclusive poster, pre-order on Shout! Factory before stock runs out by using this link. The complete series will be available on Shout! Factory TV upon release for viewers to stream.

What do you think of these releases from Shout Factory? Are you glad that the Super Sentai DVD releases are continuing? Will you be getting the Fiveman DVD and Kamen Rider Kuuga Blu-ray? Let us know on social media, or in the comments below, and keep following us on Twitter or Facebook for more Tokusatsu news. 

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