Batang 90's: These Cartoon Series Will Make You Feel Nostalgic

Children of the late 80's and early 90's like me had an awesome childhood experience! We played luksong tinik, shatong, patintero and luthang to name a few which many millennial kids might not be familiar with. Apart from that, Batang 90's (90's kids) has enjoyed a lot of varied cartoon series that defined our 90s childhood.

Let's take a break on our work and read a topic that holds a lot of value for us, our childhood.

Here are some of the tokusatsu, super sentai and kamen rider series that a Batang 90's will never EVER forget.

• Hikari Sentai Maskman (Light Squadron Maskman/ Laser Squadron Maskman)

Photo courtesy| http://dougakan.net

Laser Squadron Maskman was a massive part of my childhood and would probably be my favorite super sentai of all time.

The show was distributed internationally, where it achieved great popularity in countries such as the Philippines, France and Brazil. In the Philippine, the dub was released as Laser Squadron Maskman, the French dub as Bioman 2: Maskman and the South Korean dub as Light Warrior Maskman.

Photo courtesy| listal.com

The series was aired in ABS CBN from 1988 to 1989 and IBC 13 from 1989 all the way up to 1998. It was one of the highest rated programs in the Philippines.

The five heroes were basically martial artists with Takeru (Michael Joe) a karate champion, Kenta (Lenard) specializes in Kubodo, Akira (Adrian/ Haedrian) is a straight sword expert, Haruka (Eloisa) uses ninjutsu while Momoko (Mary Rose) is a tai-chi-chuan expert. In Episode 39, X1 Mask, the first choice of Captain Zugata to be Maskman saves the team from the attacks of the Tube Empire.

Episode 39: Revival! The Mysterious X1 Mask • Photo courtesy| powerrangers.wikia.com

This sentai was originally going to be named Fiveman.

I believed the depth of the story of sentais such as Maskman is one of the many reasons why power rangers will never matched super sentais.

Momoko in Episode 22; Akira in Episode 25; Akira became an underground empire swordsman; Okelampa

Each of the main characters were given exposure in every episode. Do you still remember Episode 25: Akira's Lover? A very touching episode showing how Akira loves her mother. How about Episode 22: A Trap: The Sinking Giant Robo where Momoko's pride as a kenpo teacher was tested by a powerful opponent set up by Anagmas as part of the scheme to defeat Maskman and Great Five. How about Episodes 43 and 44 where Akira loses his eyesight and became an underground empire swordsman? And of course, we'll never forget the energy beast, Okelampa?

But, if there's one thing that the Batang 90's will never forget, it would be the Maskman transformation.

Photo courtesy| http://ukiyaseed.weebly.com

Batang 90's would probably remember the tagalized opening and closing theme of Maskman which was performed by singer Norman Caraan of the Boyfriends band. A lot of people thought that it was Tito, Vic and Joey (TVJ) sang the opening and closing of Maskman but it was actually Caraan.

It is interesting to note that Kuya Kim Atienza, the host of Matanglawin, provided the voice of Michael Joe (Red Mask) and Dargan (Baraba). He's also the voice of Ultraman Ace and Magmaman!

Photo courtesy| listal.com

And also, Ryosuke Kaizu who played Michael Joe (Red Mask) was married to a Filipino woman named Georgette Anne Inaba.

Let's relive our childhood by watching the complete episode of Maskman HERE and let's simultaneously shout, auramask!

*****

• Uchuu Keiji Shaider (Space Sheriff Shaider)

Annie and Dai Sawamura of Space Sheriff Shaider, Photo courtesy: yumiko_odahara

Who would forget Space Sheriff Shaider, the last of the Space Sheriff Series after Space Sheriff Gavan and Space Sheriff Sharivan. It was first aired in ABS CBN from 1988 to 1991 and later at IBC from 1992 to 1994 and last 2003 to 2005 it was also shown in GMA Network.

According to metalheroes.wikia.com, Shaider is the first tokusatsu show to be dubbed in Tagalog. For the Tagalog dub, Dai Sawamura was renamed Alexis, The Strange Dimension became known as the Time-Space Warp, and they even call Shaider a Pulis Pangkalawakan (Space Cop). In 2007, GMA Network produced a loose sequel with Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan. It was met with mixed reception from fans.

Whenever Shaider summons Vavilos (Babylos), I am one of those who wished that he will command it to become a giant robot (Vavilos Robot) instead of a giant gun (Big Magnum).

I still remember when Alexis' became overconfident and the laser blade malfunctioned and he needs to slice the waterfall. And when Annie was thrown in the sea.

Photo courtesy| tokupinoy.blogspot.com

Moreover, we'll never forget Shinkan Poe ( aka Babaylang Ida in the Philippine TV series) whenever (s)he say Time Space Warp, ngayon din!

And of course, the shigi shigi dance ritual where I am totally scared when I was a kid.

Sadly, Hiroshi Tsuburaya who portrayed Dai Sawamura (Alexis) died of liver cancer on Luly 24, 2001 due to alcoholism developed through the years. He was 37 years old then.

*****

• Kamen Rider Black (Masked Rider Black)

Photo courtesy| weibo.com/tokumaru

Masked Rider Black was shown in IBC 13 during the 90's every saturday afternoon back-to-back with Turboranger. Minami Kotaro (aka Robert Akizuki) was considered crush ng bayan during those times.

The pilot episode of Masked Rider Black was remarkable. Taking into consideration the time when it was produced (1987), the visual effects were breathtaking.

The three high priests, Darom, Baraom and Bishium holds the heaven, ocean and earth stones. These priests undergone transformation and became Grand Mutants.

I still remember this episode when Masked Rider Black died and a mutant help reviving him by using something that has been handed down in Whale Creatures tribe.

Photo courtesy| www.mbok.jp

A lot of kids always imitate Kotaro's pose whenever he's about to shout Rider Change (Henshin)! We will never forget his finishing attacks, the rider punch and rider kick! These attacks would end with the monster exploding, and are powerful enough that as the series goes on they become strong enough to kill multiple enemies.