Sentai Figuarts

I can’t post the second question you sent, but I answer it all here: I know the rumor that you’re referring to. I believe it started on the S.H. Figuarts Indonesia Facebook group and listed a “MegaRed + Cyber Slider” way back in January of this year. I remember reading members of Tokunation and/or Rangerboard talking about and debunking the rumor months later, since most of the other proposed releases on that list didn’t end up actually being solicited/coming out (a few have since been solicited, but don’t match up to the dates on that list.) All that and the rumor listed MegaRed as a September release, which is impossible at this point (it would have needed to be solicited in April/May to actually come out next month.) It’s a bummer, especially since Megaranger is one of my favorite Sentai series. It would be a real treat to see the team get the SHF treatment, but I’m not holding my breath.

It could happen. I don’t generally condone bootlegging, but I’m sure it would help out some latecomers and customizers out. I don’t think the bootleggers would go beyond Zyuranger/MMPR if they did. There is a long tradition of Power Rangers bootlegs (we’ve seen all these terrible/interesting/hilarious toys over the years.)

It would be interesting (and this is hypothetical, no condoning here, no sir!) if a company like Datong or Jacksdo (that produce higher quality bootlegs) decided to produce some of the missing characters from incomplete teams and make “new” figures (much like Jacksdo’s Saiyan Armor Trunks.) The male Dairangers, DekaBreak, and remaining/Spirit Kyoryugers would just need new heads and paint. And with some new heads and some retooling on existing bodies, they could could have a decent set of whatever other team or Ranger they’d like to try out. (But they shouldn’t do that because it’s bad!)

I think that there’s a pretty low chance that any of the teams you mentioned will see any more Figuarts releases. Bandai only sees dollar signs in the mecha, gimmick and roleplay toys for the Sentai franchise. ToQger was sold a ton of merchandise, warranting three pricey Artisan releases (one of them being a set of train tracks!), but Sentai Figuarts sales weren’t enough to convince Bandai to release even ToQ-1 to test the waters. Sadly, finishing off a bunch of teams whose previous releases clearly didn’t sell enough to warrant the rest is probably low on their priority of releases.

The 40th Anniversary is also probably not enough in itself to push Tamashii Nations to release more Sentai SHFs, BUT if they decided to do another season of Akibaranger to coincide with the big 40 year celebration, we might get treated to some new teams. If we’re really lucky, there’d be a very meta episode where Nobou realizes that the Sentai Heroes the Akibarangers meet end up getting S.H.Figuarts and decides to “run into/find” the characters that will complete his unfinished collection of teams.