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How I grew up as a weird kid (Super Sentai and Furry)
10 years ago
So, I wanted to make a journal explaining what sort of a weird world I grew up in, and where I am coming from. People have always told me it's best to be yourself. And while that's true, sadly, many times, being yourself will be met with rejection, indifference, or being ignored from others. And it's something I've dealt with many times in my life. Even here in my time in the Furry community so far as well. Many see me as a cute lovable Charmander. But sadly, many don't ever bother to try to see me as anything beyond that. Cause I guess I come from a pretty weird background. This journal's purpose is meant to explain a big part of who exactly I am.
Anyone who knows me, knows I'm a big fan of the Super Sentai franchise. For those who don't know what Super Sentai is, it's a Japanese Tokusatsu (special effects) super hero program, starring a team of color-coded superheroes, who fight evil. Many people outside of Japan will probably be more familiar with the franchise known as Power Rangers. Basically, Power Rangers is an adaptation of Super Sentai, where they take the costumes and battle footage from it, splice it with American actors, and dub over them. Being half Japanese on my mom's side, my aunt who lives in Japan used to record episodes of Sentai back in the 90s, and send them over to me in the States, via package. Bless her.
But as much as I love Super Sentai, I think growing up with it left me as a pretty strange kid/person. Especially due to how I always had to keep quiet about it. As a kid in the 90s, I enjoyed the hell out of the good ole Super Sentai seasons. And much like video games, left a tremendous impact on me. I enjoyed color-coded heroes saving people from cool villains. The action, the suit acting, the characters, the stories, the music, the concepts. They resonated so well with me.
But it's a franchise I always had to keep quiet about. Being in the states, more people know about Power Rangers than the existence of Super Sentai. And well... I still don't feel like Power Rangers exactly did the Sentai footage justice. Nor did it properly express just how good the art of the tokusatsu genre could really be.
"But Alex! They're the exact same thing! Just different cultures!"
And that sort of assumption is what always immediately closes everyone's minds about the Super Sentai franchise. For countless years I'd try to explain it, but no one will hear it, or even consider listening. Instead it was "Why do you like this cheap corny kiddie stuff?" I had to stay pretty quiet about it when growing up in school (even from friends), to avoid humiliation (even though I had no regrets for what I enjoyed). Seemed like a complete lost cause. Even other nerd cultures like video games and anime/manga and movies would turn a blind eye towards it (and they're supposed to be my kind of people!... I guess).
Now, I perfectly acknowledge that the franchise is indeed silly. But I feel it's silly in a charming way (much like, almost any other form of media entertainment out there). And I do feel that despite that, these shows still have plenty of genuinely good merits, which make them darn good unique shows imo.
It interests me how when it comes to niche forms of genre media, people at THE VERY LEAST try to keep somewhat of an open mind for genres like B-Movies or obscure superhero comics. But when it comes to the genre of Tokusatsu (Japanese special effects), people quickly scoff at it, and do not wish to even look into it. They have their preconceived notions on the genre, and do not wish to change it, or consider changing it. Their minds are completely made up.
I have nothing against Power Rangers, and I can understand why people enjoy it. But what I find baffling is how the franchise keeps making it's way back into my life all the time. I keep running into people who want to talk about it with me. Or people who want me to acknowledge it on a daily basis. I'm a Super Sentai fan, yes. I guess people just assume that Power Rangers go hand in hand with it? Why? I didn't ask for that.
I have also run into plenty of "Well Alex, maybe the Sentai franchise in truth, isn't as good as you think it is." Holy shit, WHAT?? So... people who know zilch about the franchise, yet assume they know what it's like, are telling me I am delusional for thinking it has merits? I mean, I'm always open ears for criticism and a good interesting conversation (as much as I love Sentai, I'm actually pretty critical towards it as well). I mean, people can think whatever they want to about the Sentai franchise, and that's fine. But that sort of ignorance always bothered me, and I don't find that fine at all.
I'm a weird kid who grew up in a weird world (we all did in our own different ways). I'm glad in recent years, I've found more people who were willing to open up and listen to the weird world I had come from. They all rock! So what now? Well, the world of course won't ever change for me. I'm still a kid who had grown up and loved Sentai, yet in a world where Power Rangers is the image, and people ignore the art of tokusatsu. That probably won't ever change. What I know I must do, is to keep on persevering and compromising with everything which surrounds me. And I know there's good ole gems out there in life, no matter how buried.~
I'm really hoping I can find more my place here on FA. Despite many of the odds stacking against me. I know many here have awkward social skills, and not everyone is open. So it can be quite tricky. Would be nice to find people (friends, or even a boyfriend) who fully accept every side of me. No matter how weird I may be. Maybe I'll find that someday~
Anyone who knows me, knows I'm a big fan of the Super Sentai franchise. For those who don't know what Super Sentai is, it's a Japanese Tokusatsu (special effects) super hero program, starring a team of color-coded superheroes, who fight evil. Many people outside of Japan will probably be more familiar with the franchise known as Power Rangers. Basically, Power Rangers is an adaptation of Super Sentai, where they take the costumes and battle footage from it, splice it with American actors, and dub over them. Being half Japanese on my mom's side, my aunt who lives in Japan used to record episodes of Sentai back in the 90s, and send them over to me in the States, via package. Bless her.
But as much as I love Super Sentai, I think growing up with it left me as a pretty strange kid/person. Especially due to how I always had to keep quiet about it. As a kid in the 90s, I enjoyed the hell out of the good ole Super Sentai seasons. And much like video games, left a tremendous impact on me. I enjoyed color-coded heroes saving people from cool villains. The action, the suit acting, the characters, the stories, the music, the concepts. They resonated so well with me.
But it's a franchise I always had to keep quiet about. Being in the states, more people know about Power Rangers than the existence of Super Sentai. And well... I still don't feel like Power Rangers exactly did the Sentai footage justice. Nor did it properly express just how good the art of the tokusatsu genre could really be.
"But Alex! They're the exact same thing! Just different cultures!"
And that sort of assumption is what always immediately closes everyone's minds about the Super Sentai franchise. For countless years I'd try to explain it, but no one will hear it, or even consider listening. Instead it was "Why do you like this cheap corny kiddie stuff?" I had to stay pretty quiet about it when growing up in school (even from friends), to avoid humiliation (even though I had no regrets for what I enjoyed). Seemed like a complete lost cause. Even other nerd cultures like video games and anime/manga and movies would turn a blind eye towards it (and they're supposed to be my kind of people!... I guess).
Now, I perfectly acknowledge that the franchise is indeed silly. But I feel it's silly in a charming way (much like, almost any other form of media entertainment out there). And I do feel that despite that, these shows still have plenty of genuinely good merits, which make them darn good unique shows imo.
It interests me how when it comes to niche forms of genre media, people at THE VERY LEAST try to keep somewhat of an open mind for genres like B-Movies or obscure superhero comics. But when it comes to the genre of Tokusatsu (Japanese special effects), people quickly scoff at it, and do not wish to even look into it. They have their preconceived notions on the genre, and do not wish to change it, or consider changing it. Their minds are completely made up.
I have nothing against Power Rangers, and I can understand why people enjoy it. But what I find baffling is how the franchise keeps making it's way back into my life all the time. I keep running into people who want to talk about it with me. Or people who want me to acknowledge it on a daily basis. I'm a Super Sentai fan, yes. I guess people just assume that Power Rangers go hand in hand with it? Why? I didn't ask for that.
I have also run into plenty of "Well Alex, maybe the Sentai franchise in truth, isn't as good as you think it is." Holy shit, WHAT?? So... people who know zilch about the franchise, yet assume they know what it's like, are telling me I am delusional for thinking it has merits? I mean, I'm always open ears for criticism and a good interesting conversation (as much as I love Sentai, I'm actually pretty critical towards it as well). I mean, people can think whatever they want to about the Sentai franchise, and that's fine. But that sort of ignorance always bothered me, and I don't find that fine at all.
I'm a weird kid who grew up in a weird world (we all did in our own different ways). I'm glad in recent years, I've found more people who were willing to open up and listen to the weird world I had come from. They all rock! So what now? Well, the world of course won't ever change for me. I'm still a kid who had grown up and loved Sentai, yet in a world where Power Rangers is the image, and people ignore the art of tokusatsu. That probably won't ever change. What I know I must do, is to keep on persevering and compromising with everything which surrounds me. And I know there's good ole gems out there in life, no matter how buried.~
I'm really hoping I can find more my place here on FA. Despite many of the odds stacking against me. I know many here have awkward social skills, and not everyone is open. So it can be quite tricky. Would be nice to find people (friends, or even a boyfriend) who fully accept every side of me. No matter how weird I may be. Maybe I'll find that someday~
I also grew up with stuff like Pokemon and PS1 Platformer video games (like Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon) and stuff like that. Watching animation helped a lot too. They all helped leave an impact on me.
I think Pokemon Mystery Dungeon might've been the final element which might've done it.~
Ever since I opened up as a Furry, I've been trying to socialize a lot more. And while I've met with some nice Furs, it's been a bit tricky running into Furs who are open and accepting about who I am completely. The different aspects of me sadly tend to conflict with each other, when it comes to interacting with different people.
I mean, I know we're all on here cause we're all Furs. But when it comes to getting to know one another, does interest ever go beyond our sonas? Like I said in my journal, a lot of the times, I feel like people will see my Charmander self, but show no interest in who I really am. And well... that's weird for me, cause my Charmander self IS me. He's an extension of who I am.
Unless I am going about it all wrong? Am I supposed to ignore most other sides to me, and keep them somewhat separate from my Furry self?
Which would kinda leave me questioning... how do you fully express your Furry self, to the extent of everything else in your life? Do you have to work on trying to add layers and developing your Furry self, like he's a character?
I love being a Charmander, but I always worried that my personality wouldn't shine through, and I'd just get lost in the shuffle of Charmander-furs.
I think your personality will shine through if you stay true to yourself .