Heroes.

Afternoon

What is a hero, my dear reader? Someone who’s not exactly human or is an alien, and has special genes or supernatural powers, like the X-Men and Super Man? Someone who’s half human, half god and shines through his/her strenght or special abilities, like Achilles and Hercules? Ordinary people who became gods, because of their bravery, generosity and good deeds, like the African yoruba gods called orixás (in Portuguese)? A man or woman who has no special powers, but is very very smart and saves people’s asses, I mean, lives , like Batman and Odysseus (I love them both, must say! )? Ordinary people who get tired to be oppressed and/or see oppression and fight the power, like Zorro, Rosa Parks and Gandhi? A Brazilian single mother who feeds her kids and pays the rent with a minimum wage? A blogger who can ask so many questions without getting desperate? Whatever is your definition, we all agree on one point: heroes are special. Different, unique. They are or do something that average people are not able to do, for some reason. Real people or characters, heroes are the ones who make things happen. They transform the impossible in possible. Loved and hated, protected and persecuted, a hero is a badass. His or her deeds become immortal and he/she is an inspiration to people, especially kids. We all need heroes! They are the greatest symbol of HOPE!

So, who never had a hero, at least as a kid? Kids are small, completely new at this strange experience called life. They need heroes! I had many when I was a kid. Many when I was a teen. And still have a few ones . My mom was a hero to me. Daddy was more like a big teddy bear . I could talk about this subject for days, but let’s focus on my childhood heroes. Were they Brazilian? Nope. Japanese. Japanese??!! Yes. I spent my whole childhood surrounded by Japanese people and descendants (I use to say that I was adopted by them ), BUT, my heroes would be from Japan anyway because of tv! In the 80’s and 90’s, we had in Brazil, Japanese series about super heroes, usually five young people, three boys and two girls, in very colorful outfits (do you really think that the idea behind the Power Rangers is original?! ). But, sometimes, there was only one main hero (a guy) against the evil forces. The team of heroes is called Super Sentai and the episodes were made by a Japanese company called Toei (to know more about it, click here). My favorite Super Sentai series was Dengeki Sentai Changeman, or just Changeman, the first Super Sentai series to be on air in Brazil, in 1988 (according to wiki). A group of five young people fighting against the evil forces of Mr. Bazoo and his soldiers, including Chima (a beautiful woman who had the voice of a man! ) and Gyodai, an ugly monster (is it possible to exist a pretty monster?) who transformed normal sized monsters into giant monsters. And, when it happened, the Changeman had a special weapon to fight against them: a giant robot, a mecha. Almost every Japanese series about heroes has a mecha and giant monsters! My favorite robot has always been Daileon, from a series called Jaspion, about a boy who comes to Earth to fight the evil forces of Satan Gorth (who, for a strange reason, looked like Darth Vader … ). Daileon is beautiful and his music theme is amazing!

Changeman, from left to right: Change Phoenix (my favorite! ^^), Change Pegasus, Change Dragon, Change Griffon and Change Mermaid.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWR7LJHHMRAoKECf-1w5OzQTlxalkzwA0aRHPPvI6W_jFpkqvl5LEQ4gVOtnFMTescmpweIErLmEEcDO8ZV2QoIeIf3dGb6rWJG88BiRTJz0jk6DYEFRo3K0XC_EiBmBfPTbxIgO4qQH0/s400/1.jpg

Mecha – Change Robot

http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120124120004/powerrangers/images/9/94/ChangemanRobo.jpg

We had many Japanese series in Brazil and some of them, like Jaspion, Changeman, Jiraya, Flashman, Black Kamen Rider were a HUGE success, among kids, teens and even adults (daddy watched Jiraya with me and my bro)! I remember that I got back from school and went straight to the living room to join my brother and watch Changeman and Jiraya (a ninja against an evil ninja organization). Many people nowadays criticize those series, because they were “cheesy” and full of what I call “special deffects”, like stones made of styrofoam. Basically, all the Japanese series about super heroes had the same plot: evil forces from this planet or another plan to conquer Earth and destroy humanity. But one or more gifted heroes will never let it happen! Jiraya is different because the villains are humans and have human ambitions, connected to human crimes. It’s a very very good and intersting series, which shows a little bit of the ninja universe! I wanted to be a ninja for a while, because of this! What makes me love the Japanese series until today is the intention behind each episode. Principles like friendship, union, fraternity, loyalty, love to animals and each form of life, respect for kids and old people, maternity, paternity are there! I think that the Japanese heroes were the first ones who convinced me that it’s nice to be good! They made me believe that if I have to fight for something, I will fight for the beautiful things of this planet! They could teach me to be good, without any type of indoctrination! The bad guys were bad guys, but even them had feelings! Even them became monsters because didn’t have someone to love them. This is really something! I think that the Japanese heroes from tv were the first ones who taught me that love is all that matters!

Jiraya (I know, I couldn’t find a better pic … sorry!)

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NBz8gPzRbp4/TkU9HPQ86mI/AAAAAAAAAOA/sYZlvvUNcdQ/s400/jiraya.jpg

Takumi Tsutsui, the young actor behind Jiraya. Ah, my teen years! How many long and deep sighs because of this boy! …

My favorite series until today are Changeman, Jiraya and Black Kamen Rider (about two young boys who are used in an alien experience to become evil kings. A gem stone is put in their bellies and the original idea was that they would fight until one of them becomes the king of Gorgon, the evil force. The problem is that one boy managed to scape and decided to fight Gorgon, becoming Black Kamen Rider or Kamen Rider Black, it’s up to you!). I had a Change Phoenix mask, used to play with my friends pretending that we were the Changeman. It was very important to us to have them as heroes! Sometimes tv companies can make something good! It’s amazing to think that part of my character came from tv heroes! But, if you have the chance to watch some episodes of these series, my dear reader, you will understand! Memories are tricky (especially if they involve deep feelings), but my intention wasn’t to give precise informations about the series. I just wanted to share with you my childhood idols . They have all the qualities of a real hero. Maybe that’s why until today, a great part of my generation cries when remember them! We really cry. If I pay too much attention at the Changeman’s soundtrack, I cry like a baby! Because I was beautiful and naive and brave behind my Change Phoenix and, thanks to these Japanese guys in colorful outfits, I still believe that I can fight the evil forces, which are everywhere, including inside of me!

Black Kamen Rider ^^

What about your heroes, my dear reader? Where do they come from? What did you learn from them? My heroes are women: mom, Change Phoenix, Storm (X-Men), some women from books and stories, Oyá (African yoruba goddess). With them I learned that we, women, also can fight for what we want! We are special too! My heroes are asian, black, white, native american. A real hero touches you for who he/she is! So, Odysseus and The Count Of Monte Cristo are part of me, too. Anyways, these Japanese guys are the ones I would like to hug! Don’t think that you don’t need someone to tell you that life worth it, despite of everything. So, call your hero!

To end this post, four songs from the soundtracks of my favorite series! Brazilian people, get ready to cry, if you lived that golden age!

I’ll be back, fighting against the evil forces! Stay tuned!

Luna

 

Dengeki Sentai Changeman (Opening) – Hironobu Kageyama:

Sekai Ninja Sen Jiraya (Opening Theme) – Akira Kushida:

Kamen Rider Black (Opening Theme) – Tetsuo Kurata, the actor behind the hero! Awww! <3

Flashman (Opening Theme) – I didn’t mention this series, because I didn’t watch it. But this video is here, because of my brother, who liked the Flashman (another Super Sentai). If someone knows who’s the singer, please, tell me! I couldn’t find this information!