Samurai Sentai Shinkenger/Headscratchers: Difference between revisions

 

* Somewhat minor, but don't some of the Origami match different elements better? For example, monkey's are more associated with trees than earth, while bears tend to be more ground oriented. Similarly, while eastern dragons are occasionally associated with water, it seems like a heaven-elemental dragon and a water-elemental turtle would make more sense.

** And as for bears and monkeys; the monkey represents Kotoha's [[The Ditz|Ditziness]] while Chiaki's Bear represents his agressivity and individualist personality. Also, there's a [[Ninja Sentai Kakuranger|Yellow bear]] and a [[Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger|Green Monkey]] in sentai already.

*** I agree with the first part (though they could have pulled a first with a female green), but as for the second, a red lion ain't exactly the most [[Seijuu Sentai Gingaman|original]] [[Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger|concept.]]

*** As for the lord-vassal relationship in modern times, my overview of the series tells me something: Shinkenger is a theatrical character-based drama which: (1) takes the [[Super Sentai]] formula; (2) uses the modern environment/setting only as part of the ''stage prop''. What I mean by (2) is that whether it's 21-century-modern or 20th-century-modern wouldn't have made a lot of differences because the series largely didn't comment on the modern age; on the other hand, by using the modern setting, it broadens the range of character perspectives available, Chiaki being the one who gets used most in this aspect, from being lax and free-spirited (Major character trait) to hanging out with his friends or playing Tekken (Minor character trait). If you wanna count other things, Jii's motorbike could have been a horse if set in the previous century, but just using readily-available items is a cost-effective decision for a TV series. Additionally, taking from (1), it's a Sentai series, so it pretty much has to follow the Sentai formula<ref>Though Kobayashi, being herself, managed to throw in a lot of fresh ideas normally not seen in SS by default.</ref>, which includes the idea that each SS series takes place in the same year they are aired in; plus, the sudden setting change would have alienated some core viewers, if [[Kamen Rider Ryuki]] was any indication. To summarize, the lord-vassal relationship can be taken as a more personal spin on the employer-employee relationship; started as "business" and slowly warmed up into "camaraderie". Chiaki's rebelliousness causes some tension because the team is also a combat force at the same time; insubordination can potentially bring harm to the whole group. Working together also happens to be a staple SS aesop. So... these are my takes on the topics, for the very least. Hope these help. -- Infinix

**** They very much do, thank you all. My understand as to why it's important is well-understood now. My next question in regards to Mojikara and brush strokes for these characters is quite simple then; why is drawing in these ways important? What is the point to drawing it in just that way every single time? Anyone who knows japanese kanji, can you give me a reason for that? That always confused me. I mean, we have so many ways to draw a letter or number, sure, but we don't subscribe to the same way and the same way of drawing it. And on that same note, to what purpose does it actually have in terms of being a Samurai?

****** It's all to do with the Japanese way of thinking. It's about how you do it, not just the end result. Tea ceremonies aren't about quenching thirst so much as the actions of perfectly completing each stage of making and drinking the tea. Kanji are the same; a perfect piece of calligraphy isn't just one with a pleasant final character, but one where each stroke is done with absolute commitment by the person writing it. Sure, when you're drawing kanji with a biro, there's little visible difference between a kanji drawn with perfect stroke order and one drawn any which way, but when you're using a shodo brush, it's very visible because the lines taper. It actually takes a huge amount of practice and concentration to do good Japanese calligraphy. The stroke order is designed to create kanji with beautiful shape and flow. Chiaki's wrongly ordered kanji doesn't look elegant, and also his lack of concentration hampers his ability to bring out the magic inherent in the character. How this relates to being a Samurai is all to do with discipline, concentration and respect. Shodo is a traditional artform Samurai practised, and many of the skills such as focus and coordination are very closely linked to martial arts.

** From what I can remember, anything related to Samurai is taboo in Korea. However, seeing as the Decade episode prior to the Shinkenger crossover episodes shown that the Shinkenger World was the Hikari Studio's next destination, they couldn't have skipped those episodes. Two episodes with samurai rather than forty-eight would have sounded pretty good to them.