Samurai Sentai Shinkenger Returns: Special Act

Samurai Sentai Shinkenger Returns: Special Act is a V-Cinema release based on the 33rd entry in the Super Sentai Series, Samurai Sentai Shinkenger. It was released on DVD for rental on June 11, 2010, followed by its retail release on June 21, 2010. An original soundtrack composed by Hiroshi Takaki was released on April 28, 2010. The CD also includes karaoke versions of insert songs from the main series. Footage from the V-Cinema was later used in the Power Rangers Super Samurai Halloween episode Trickster Treat.

The story begins with the Shinkengers defeating the Ayakashi Demebakuto. When he enters his second life, Demebakuto traps the Shinkengers inside mirrors and sends them through a series of strange dimensions based on different film genres. His intention is to make them suffer for his amusement before finally killing them.

The first world places the Shinkengers inside the jidaigeki “Lord’s Log of Notable Events”, where they battle a group of samurai. The setting then changes into the Western “Wild Grip”, featuring a showdown between Genta and Ginshirō, the owner of the rival Silver Zushi sushi stand, over whose food is better. The group is next thrown into the police drama “Passionate Version”, where the vassals become police officers while Takeru is held hostage. As these strange situations continue, the Shinkengers gradually begin to realize that something is wrong.

Before they can fully recover their memories, Ji’s voice echoes around them and the setting changes again. They enter a high school romantic comedy in which Kotoha disguises herself as a boy to be with a male Mako, while the male Shinkengers are girls pretending to be boys. Just as their memories begin returning once more, they are transported into a jungle film.

There, the animal-themed “Forest Animal Sentai Shinkenger” protects forest creatures from members of the Nanashi Company. Shinken Blue leads the team as Super Shinken Blue, until Ryunosuke suddenly remembers that he is not actually the leader of the Shinkengers.

The group finally recalls its battle against Demebakuto and begins to understand what is happening. Demebakuto immediately sends them into another scenario, Song, where Mako appears as an idol and the other Shinkengers serve as her backup dancers. When they start remembering again, a Nanashi attacks and the setting changes to Disappear in Space, where the team fights alien versions of the Nanashi aboard a spaceship.

As the Shinkengers remain behind one by one to hold off the enemies, Takeru recognizes a connection involving spinning objects throughout the different movie worlds. He realizes that these objects are part of the illusion and has everyone destroy a spinning light.

The Shinkengers awaken and find themselves facing Demebakuto again. They defeat him once more, but when he grows to giant size, he becomes far larger than even Ika-ShinkenOh and easily toys with them. Unable to overcome him, the team eventually realizes that they still have not escaped the dream. They identify another object maintaining the illusion and destroy a fan.

Finally returning to reality, the Shinkengers hear Jii explain what actually happened during their original battle before Demebakuto captured them with his Enveloping Hands. With Super Shinken Red leading the attack, the team traps Demebakuto inside his own illusion and forms DaiKai ShinkenOh to defeat him.

After the battle, the samurai thank Jii for rescuing them and describe the bizarre experiences they had inside the various movie dimensions. Takeru, however, is annoyed by all the embarrassing roles he was given during the illusions. With the crisis over, the group returns to the mansion.