History Main / Toku

Like JidaiGeki or Anime, Toku is one of those terms that means slightly different things in Japan and the West. While Westerners use it to refer almost exclusively to the Japanese superhero shows, in Japan it simply refers to any live-action production which makes extensive use of special effects. This means that, to the Japanese, things like ''Series/{{Smallville}}'', ''Series/StargateSG1'', ''Series/DoctorWho'', ''Series/KnightRider'', ''Series/RedDwarf'', or even ''Film/JamesBond'' count as Toku. This list also includes shows that use puppetry, like Gerry Anderson's {{UsefulNotes/Supermarionation}} series ''Series/{{Thunderbirds}}'' and ''{{Series/Terrahawks}}'', and even ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndFriends''. Far and away, the [[TropeCodifier most popular early example]] of Toku is the ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' film franchise, which exemplifies many of the genre's tropes: PeopleInRubberSuits smashing scale model cities, and an abundance of {{squib}}s.

* ''Series/StarFleet'' - An example of when the Japanese attempt to imitate {{UsefulNotes/Supermarionation}} techniques

See the [[UsefulNotes/{{Tokusatsu}} Useful Notes page]] for more information on the history of Toku and its special effects methods.

* ''Astro Boy'' (''Tetsuwan Atomu/Mighty Atom'') - The first adaptation of ''Manga/AstroBoy'' from 1959.

* ''Captain Ultra'' - A loose 24 episode live-action adaption of the ''Captain Future'' stories, made as filler before [=UltraSeven=] was ready to broadcast.

* ''Choukou Senshi Changerion'' - a Toei produced non Metal Hero series that aired on TV Tokyo with merch made by Creator/{{SEGA}}.

* ''Chousoku Parahero Gundeen'' - A 3-episode series where the main hero is disabled.

* ''Demon Hunter Mitsurugi'' - an early-70s [[/index]]JidaiGeki series, about a trio of {{Ninja}}s who fight off alien invaders by [[FusionDance fusing]] into a giant warrior. Notable for using StopMotion puppetry to create its {{Kaiju}}, rather than the standard PeopleInRubberSuits.[[index]]
* ''Den Ace'' - A series of shorts parodying ''Series/{{Ultraman}}''

* ''Series/DennouKeisatsuCybercop'' - Toho's late-[[TheEighties 80s]] entry in the genre. Essentially a mix between ''Series/MetalHeroes'' and ''Franchise/SuperSentai''.

* ''Manga/GekikouKamen'' - An homage-filled ''manga'' that hypothesizes what could happen if Toku [[{{Cosplay}} cosplayers]] tried to make their media heroes [[{{LARP}} real]].

* ''Series/GoGodman'' and its sequel series ''Sandbox/GoGreenman'' - Two of the first Giant Hero series not related to the ''Franchise/UltraSeries''. Also created by Toho with a few Godzilla monsters appearing.

* ''Series/TheHighSchoolHeroes'' - A drama miniseries by [[Creator/ToeiCompany Toei]] that is an homage to ''Series/HimitsuSentaiGoranger''
* ''Series/HikoninSentaiAkibaranger'' - A ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' parody series made by [[Creator/ToeiCompany Toei]].

* ''Jungle Prince'' - A Japanese ''Franchise/{{Tarzan}}'', this show ran for 26 episodes in 1970 and was one of the last toku series produced in black-and-white. It is currently presumed missing.

* ''Kankyou Choujin Ecogainder'' - A series by Japan's Ministry of the Environment and Japanese pay TV channel Kids Station to teach kids [[/index]]{{Green Aesop}}s.[[index]] Later gained a sequel called ''Kankyou Choujin Ecogainder 0-X.''

* ''Majin Bander'' ran for 13 episodes in 1969. Only three episodes are known to have survived.
* ''/Majin Garon'' - The 1971 adaptation of Creator/OsamuTezuka's manga is believed to be lost.

** ''Message From Space: Galactic Wars'' - a TV series spinoff of the latter, starring a younger Hiroyuki Sanada as one of the show's leads.

* ''Ogon Bat'' - 1966 film adaptation of the comic book hero.

* ''Sasuraido'' - A series about a sword that can grant powers to certain people, but misfortune to others.
* ''Secrets Of Piron'' - Ran for 39 episodes from 1960-61 and is currently presumed missing.

* ''Series/SpiderManJapan'' - A Japanese adaptation of [[Creator/MarvelComics Marvel Comics']] ComicBook/SpiderMan and notable for being the spiritual predecessor to ''Super Sentai''[='=]s HumongousMecha elements.

* ''Series/SuperRobotRedBaron'' - An early-[[TheSeventies 70s]] example of {{Mecha}} in toku, intentionally done in the style of ''Anime/MazingerZ''. Its popularity later resulted in a few successor series and a 90s anime revival.

* ''UFO Daisensou: Tatakae! Red Tiger'' - Broadcast from 1978 to 79, only five episodes of this 39 episode series are known to have survived.

* ''Battle Strike Team'' - China's answer to ''Franchise/SuperSentai'', made alongside ''Series/ArmorHero''. Mainly choreographed by Sentai veterans

* ''Series/LegendHeroes'' - A Korean Toku produced by Moon Watcher and Synergy Media that adapts various elements of ''Literature/RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms'' into a ''Series/KamenRiderGaim'' {{Expy}} that adds in ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' mech combat, too. Had quite the following when it first aired, but sort of faded off as time went on. Officially available with subs on Website/YouTube.

* ''[[Film/TransformersFilmSeries Transformers]]'' film series, based off [[Franchise/{{Transformers}} the toyline of the same name]].

* Creator/TakashiNagasako ([[Series/GekisouSentaiCarranger Grotch]], [[Series/BakuryuuSentaiAbaranger Tyranno]] and various [[Main/MonsterOfTheWeek Monsters of the Weeks]] in various Super Sentais)

* Creator/KazuyaNakai ([[Series/TokusouSentaiDekaranger Igaroid]], Series/UltramanMax, [[Series/EngineSentaiGoOnger Land Pollution Vice-Minister Hiramechimedes/Detaramedes/Urameshimedes]], [[SEries/UchuSentaiKyuranger Garu/Ookami Blue]])

* Creator/RyotaroOkiayu (A MonsterOfTheWeek in ''Series/MiraiSentaiTimeranger'' and ''Series/KaitouSentaiLupinrangerVsKeisatsuSentaiPatranger'', [[Series/MahouSentaiMagiranger Hades Warrior God Cyclops]], [[Series/ShurikenSentaiNinninger Mangetsu Kibaoni]])h his human disguise)

* ''Film/Zeiram''

* ''Series/MetalHeroes'' - And by extension, its Philippine spin-off ''Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan'', which was not really positively liked by fans. (In fact the ''Shaider Next Generation'' DTV doesn't make the said spinoff canon)

* ''Series/TheAquabatsSuperShow'' - Not quite in this genre, but takes a lot from it, mixed with the campy aesthetics of old Creator/SidAndMartyKrofftProductions shows.

* ''Series/SportRanger'' - A Thai production created in the same vein as Franchise/SuperSentai.
* ''Film/StarKid'' - Taking a lot of inspiration from Manga/{{Guyver}} and Series/{{Kikaider}}, this 1997 film is a rare, non-Saban original American take on the genre. Fortunately, it has since been VindicatedByCable after it flopped at the box office.

''Franchise/SuperSentai'', ''Series/MetalHeroes'' and ''Franchise/KamenRider'' franchises on this list were adapted, with varying degrees of success, by Creator/SabanEntertainment to produce the U.S. series ''Franchise/PowerRangers'', ''Series/VRTroopers'', ''Series/BigBadBeetleborgs'' and ''Series/MaskedRider''. ''Series/KamenRiderRyuki'' was later adapted into ''Series/KamenRiderDragonKnight''. As for the original Japanese shows, [[NoExportForYou good luck finding official releases outside of Asia....]] At least, for the more ''recent'' shows from the 90s onward. The older ones, on the other hand, are shown on the Creator/PlutoTV channel [=TokuShoutTsu=] (for the things licensed by Shout! Factory) and the [[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7pddu3yyzkzFEiXfQLex3w Toei Tokuworld Official]] [=YouTube=] channel as of early 2020.

Most of the examples of Toku series are actually [[SeriesFranchise franchises]] of the {{Sentai}} and HenshinHero variety, producing many separate but related series.

* ''Warning From Space''