Right off the bat, Go! Go! Loser Ranger! hooks you with its fascinating premise. What if the evil villains from a classic Super Sentai/Power Rangers show were the protagonists? This fresh spin immediately grabs your attention, especially if you grew up watching those iconic superhero team shows.
The setup is that the evil “Villainous Army” was actually defeated years ago by the heroic “Dragon Keepers.” But rather than being vanquished, the villains have been subjugated, forced to constantly “lose” staged battles against the Keepers for the entertainment of the public. One disgruntled former villain, known only as D, decides to infiltrate and destroy the Keepers from within.
A Masterful Subversion of Tropes
What makes the premise so brilliant is how it takes classic Super Sentai tropes and warps them into something darker and more insidious. The cyclical “monster of the week” formula is reimagined as a dystopian farce, manufacturing fake threats to maintain the Keepers’ public image and power.
The Keepers themselves are fascinating villains, having weaponized the very iconography of superheroes to disguise their authoritarian control. Their omnipresent branding and merciless exploitation of the “evil” Villainous Army make for a compelling critique of capitalism and fascism wrapped in a colorful exterior.
Gripping Story and Characters
The world-building and social commentary wouldn’t work without an engaging story and compelling characters. Undoubtedly, Go! Go! Loser Ranger! delivers on both fronts. The plight of protagonist D and his fellow downtrodden villains cultivates real pathos amid the over-the-top action.
Moreover, many reviews praise the strong characterization achieved through deft writing and visual storytelling. Standout roles like the inscrutable Suzukiri and her alien features tease deeper mysteries. The anime balances emotional investment with biting humor and bone-crunching battles.
Top-Notch Animation and Direction
To bring this dark Super Sentai tale to life, the animation quality is unsurprisingly impressive. Multiple reviews rave about the slick directing tricks and frequent sakuga (masterful animation sequences). Heated clashes between D and the Keepers absolutely crackle with kinetic energy and impact.
The sheer vibrancy and dynamism elevates Go! Go! Loser Ranger! beyond a mere subversive curiosity into a genuinely engaging spectacle.
Some Areas for Improvement
A few reviews criticized the pacing inconsistency. While the showdowns were high-energy, backstories bogged them down. And the sheer level of chaos in the fight scenes, while visually stunning, can render the action confusing to follow.
Furthermore, a few reviewers felt certain supporting characters were a bit underbaked and that the overall world could use a bit more fleshing out beyond the core Dragon Keepers/Villainous Army dynamic. However, these are relatively minor quibbles for such an otherwise engrossing, brazenly unique anime.
The Verdict: A Must-Watch for Sentai Fans
In the end, ‘Go! Go! Loser Ranger!’ looks to be not just a good show but a genuinely great one, especially if you have any affection for the classic Super Sentai formula it’s deconstructing. By filtering an inventive story through such an irresistible postmodern lens, the anime delivers a gnarly mixture of hyper-stylish action, pointed sociopolitical commentary, and sincere emotional resonance.
The evil Power Rangers premise that many fans have fantasized about for years is finally realized, and executed at the highest level. Bolstered by stunning animation and visual direction, Go! Go! Loser Ranger! shapes up to be one of the must-see hits of the season, if not the entire year. Sentai fans would be remiss not to check out this delightfully incredible fever dream of a show.
