Tokusatsu facts for kids

Tokusatsu is a Japanese word that means "special effects". It's used to describe television shows and movies from Japan that are full of amazing visual effects. These shows often feature superheros, huge monsters, and exciting science fiction or fantasy stories. Some of the most famous tokusatsu shows include Godzilla, Kamen Rider, and Super Sentai.

What is Tokusatsu?

Tokusatsu is a special type of Japanese entertainment. It focuses on using cool visual effects to tell exciting stories. These effects might include people in monster suits, miniature cities, or advanced computer graphics.

Heroes and Monsters

Many tokusatsu shows are about brave superheroes who fight against evil. These heroes often have special powers or cool suits. They battle giant monsters that threaten the world. The stories are usually about good versus evil, with lots of action.

Popular Tokusatsu Series

Some tokusatsu series are known all over the world.

• Godzilla: This famous monster first appeared in a movie in 1954. Godzilla is a giant dinosaur-like creature that often causes destruction.
• Kamen Rider: This series features a hero who transforms into a masked, motorcycle-riding warrior. Kamen Rider fights against strange villains. The first show aired in 1971.
• Super Sentai: This series is about a team of five (or more) heroes who wear colorful suits. They fight monsters and often combine their vehicles to form a giant robot. The first Super Sentai show was Himitsu Sentai Gorenger in 1975. This series later inspired the Power Rangers shows in other countries.
• Ultra Series: This franchise features giant alien heroes, like Ultraman, who come to Earth to fight giant monsters. The first Ultraman show aired in 1966.

How Tokusatsu is Made

In the past, tokusatsu relied a lot on "suitmation." This is where actors wear detailed costumes to play monsters or heroes. They would stomp through miniature sets that looked like real cities. Today, creators also use computer-generated imagery (CGI) to make the effects even more amazing.

Images for kids

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  Protagonists of popular tokusatsu shows from the late 1970s. From back to front, left to right: Ultraman Jonias (Ultra Series), Battle Fever J (Super Sentai), Kamen Rider Stronger and Kamen Rider V3 (Kamen Rider Series), and Spider-Man. The photo also features anime character Doraemon on the far left.

See also

In Spanish: Tokusatsu para niños