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===The Power Rangers===
===The Power Rangers===
{{main|List of Power Rangers|List of Power Rangers characters}}
{{main|List of Power Rangers|List of Power Rangers characters}}
A Power Ranger is a [[fiction]]al individual who "[[henshin|morphs]]" from an ordinary person into a powerful [[superhero]]. He or she generally wears a color-coded battle suit (usually made of [[spandex]] or other skin-tight material) and a helmet with an [[Opacity (optics)|opaque]] [[visor]].<ref>{{cite episode |title=Day of the Dumpster |episodelink=Day of the Dumpster |series=Mighty Morphin Power Rangers |serieslink=Mighty Morphin Power Rangers |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] |airdate=1993-08-28 |season=1 |number=1}}</ref> In many cases, the helmet serves to protect his or her [[secret identity]]. In some cases, more powerful Rangers may have extra shielding on their suits to protect them from strong blows.
Each [[fiction]]al Power Ranger figure "[[henshin|morphs]]" from an ordinary person into a powerful [[superhero]]. He or she generally wears a color-coded battle suit (usually made of [[spandex]] or other skin-tight material) and a helmet with an [[Opacity (optics)|opaque]] [[visor]].<ref>{{cite episode |title=Day of the Dumpster |episodelink=Day of the Dumpster |series=Mighty Morphin Power Rangers |serieslink=Mighty Morphin Power Rangers |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] |airdate=1993-08-28 |season=1 |number=1}}</ref> In many cases, the helmet serves to protect his or her [[secret identity]]. In some cases, more powerful Rangers may have extra shielding on their suits to protect them from strong blows.


A morphed Ranger generally possesses superhuman strength, durability, and ability in hand-to-hand combat. Starting with the Disney series, unmorphed Rangers usually possess superhuman abilities such as [[super-speed]] or [[invisibility]], attributes somewhat related to their Ranger abilities.<ref>[[Power Rangers: Dino Thunder]], [[Power Rangers: S.P.D.]], [[Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive]], [[Power Rangers: Jungle Fury]]</ref>
A morphed Ranger generally possesses superhuman strength, durability, and ability in hand-to-hand combat. Starting with the Disney series, unmorphed Rangers usually possess superhuman abilities such as [[super-speed]] or [[invisibility]], attributes somewhat related to their Ranger abilities.<ref>[[Power Rangers: Dino Thunder]], [[Power Rangers: S.P.D.]], [[Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive]], [[Power Rangers: Jungle Fury]]</ref>
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Each team of Power Rangers, with a few exceptions, obeys a general set of conventions, outlined at the beginning of ''[[Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]]'' and implied, though not stated explicitly, throughout many of the other incarnations. Thus the Power Rangers may not use their Ranger powers for personal gain or for escalating a fight (which explains why the Rangers do not simply crush the small monsters by means of their Megazord). Nor may the Power Rangers disclose their identities to the general public, barring extenuating circumstances - although public servants (rescue squad, police officers, etc.) appearing as Rangers disregarded this convention in ''[[Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue]]'', ''[[Power Rangers: S.P.D.]]'', ''[[Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive]]'' and ''[[Power Rangers: RPM]]''. The penalty for disobeying these rules, at least in ''[[Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]]'', would be the loss of their power.
Each team of Power Rangers, with a few exceptions, obeys a general set of conventions, outlined at the beginning of ''[[Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]]'' and implied, though not stated explicitly, throughout many of the other incarnations. Thus the Power Rangers may not use their Ranger powers for personal gain or for escalating a fight (which explains why the Rangers do not simply crush the small monsters by means of their Megazord). Nor may the Power Rangers disclose their identities to the general public, barring extenuating circumstances - although public servants (rescue squad, police officers, etc.) appearing as Rangers disregarded this convention in ''[[Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue]]'', ''[[Power Rangers: S.P.D.]]'', ''[[Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive]]'' and ''[[Power Rangers: RPM]]''. The penalty for disobeying these rules, at least in ''[[Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]]'', would be the loss of their power.


The Power Rangers have a somewhat standardized arsenal: each Ranger generally carries a weapon such as a [[laser gun]] and/or a [[sword]]. Each Ranger also has a secondary set of [[weapon]]s that can often combine to form a larger weapon (usually a [[cannon]]). As the series progresses, one or more of the Rangers will usually receive [[motorcycle]]s for long-distance travel, as well as individual [[Zord]]s. In many series, a Ranger is also given additional Zords or weapons. In some cases, one Ranger may receive something that other Rangers may not have; an example of this is the [[Battlizer]] given to the Red Ranger of each series since ''[[Power Rangers in Space]]'' (up through ''[[Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive|Operation Overdrive]]''). Although much of the arsenal can also be found in the originating Super Sentai Series, there are usually some that are original to the American productions. In one instance, an original Power Ranger, the [[Lightspeed Rescue Power Rangers#Ryan Mitchell|Titanium Ranger]], was created especially for ''Lightspeed Rescue'' to add a sixth Power Ranger to the series.
The Power Rangers have a somewhat standardized arsenal: each Ranger generally carries a weapon such as a [[laser gun]] and/or a [[sword]]. Each Ranger also has a secondary set of [[weapon]]s that can often combine to form a larger weapon (usually a [[cannon]]). As the series progresses, one or more of the Rangers will usually receive [[motorcycle]]s for long-distance travel, as well as individual [[Zord]]s. In many series, a Ranger is also given{{whom}}<!-- where do these things come from? --> additional Zords or weapons. In some cases, one Ranger may receive something that other Rangers may not have; an example of this is the [[Battlizer]] given to the Red Ranger of each series since ''[[Power Rangers in Space]]'' (up through ''[[Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive|Operation Overdrive]]''). Although much of the arsenal can also be found in the originating Super Sentai Series, there are usually some that are original to the American productions. In one instance, an original Power Ranger, the [[Lightspeed Rescue Power Rangers#Ryan Mitchell|Titanium Ranger]], was created especially for ''Lightspeed Rescue'' to add a sixth Power Ranger to the series.


The series from the original ''[[Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]]'' (MMPR) through ''In Space'' followed a [[story arc]], with a gradually changing cast and characters over six years (such as [[Jason Lee Scott|Jason]], [[Zack Taylor|Zack]], [[Trini Kwan|Trini]], and [[Kimberly Hart|Kimberly]] leaving in ''MMPR'' or [[Tommy Oliver|Tommy]], [[Adam Park|Adam]], [[Tanya Sloan|Tanya]], and [[Katherine Hillard|Kat]] leaving in ''[[Power Rangers: Turbo|Turbo]]''). Although ''[[Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy|Lost Galaxy]]'' had ties with the previous story arc, it and the series that followed generally followed a self-contained [[storyline]], independent of previous ''Power Rangers'' series. Also beginning with ''Lost Galaxy'', an episode (or two) were dedicated to a [[fictional crossover|crossover]] with the most recent previous series. The two anniversary series ''[[Power Rangers: Wild Force|Wild Force]]'' (#10) and ''Operation Overdrive'' (#15) featured crossovers with characters from multiple series: ''Wild Force''{{'}}s "[[Forever Red]]" episode featured all [[Red Ranger]]s of the first ten seasons (minus [[Rocky DeSantos|Rocky]]) and ''Operation Overdrive''{{'}}s "[[Once a Ranger]]" featured Power Rangers from the four previous series and Adam from ''MMPR''. ''[[Power Rangers: Ninja Storm|Ninja Storm]]'', ''[[Power Rangers: Mystic Force|Mystic Force]]'', ''[[Power Rangers: Jungle Fury|Jungle Fury]]'', and ''[[Power Rangers: RPM|RPM]]'' did not feature any crossover episodes (''[[Power Rangers: Dino Thunder|Dino Thunder]]'' featured a crossover with ''Ninja Storm'' and characters from both ''Ninja Storm'' and ''Mystic Force'' appear in "Once a Ranger"). At the end of a series, the Power Rangers usually sacrifice their weapons, Zords, or powers in order to defeat the lead villain they had fought during the series. Should the villain ever return (such as in a crossover episode during the following series), the Rangers are able to access their powers one final time.
The series from the original ''[[Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]]'' (MMPR) through ''In Space'' followed a [[story arc]], with a gradually changing cast and characters over six years (such as [[Jason Lee Scott|Jason]], [[Zack Taylor|Zack]], [[Trini Kwan|Trini]], and [[Kimberly Hart|Kimberly]] leaving in ''MMPR'' or [[Tommy Oliver|Tommy]], [[Adam Park|Adam]], [[Tanya Sloan|Tanya]], and [[Katherine Hillard|Kat]] leaving in ''[[Power Rangers: Turbo|Turbo]]''). Although ''[[Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy|Lost Galaxy]]'' had ties with the previous story arc, it and the series that followed generally followed a self-contained [[storyline]], independent of previous ''Power Rangers'' series. Also beginning with ''Lost Galaxy'', an episode (or two) were dedicated{{whom}}<!-- who did the dedicating? --> to a [[fictional crossover|crossover]] with the most recent previous series. The two anniversary series ''[[Power Rangers: Wild Force|Wild Force]]'' (#10) and ''Operation Overdrive'' (#15) featured crossovers with characters from multiple series: ''Wild Force''{{'}}s "[[Forever Red]]" episode featured all [[Red Ranger]]s of the first ten seasons (minus [[Rocky DeSantos|Rocky]]) and ''Operation Overdrive''{{'}}s "[[Once a Ranger]]" featured Power Rangers from the four previous series and Adam from ''MMPR''. ''[[Power Rangers: Ninja Storm|Ninja Storm]]'', ''[[Power Rangers: Mystic Force|Mystic Force]]'', ''[[Power Rangers: Jungle Fury|Jungle Fury]]'', and ''[[Power Rangers: RPM|RPM]]'' did not feature any crossover episodes (''[[Power Rangers: Dino Thunder|Dino Thunder]]'' featured a crossover with ''Ninja Storm'' and characters from both ''Ninja Storm'' and ''Mystic Force'' appear in "Once a Ranger"). At the end of a series, the Power Rangers usually sacrifice their weapons, Zords, or powers in order to defeat the lead villain they had fought during the series. Should the villain ever return (such as in a crossover episode during the following series), the Rangers are able to access their powers one final time.


===Ranger colors===
===Ranger colors===
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[[File:Power rangers.png|thumb|left|250px|The Saban Entertainment run of the franchise —beginning with ''[[Power Rangers in Space]]'' — used this version of the ''Power Rangers'' logo]]
[[File:Power rangers.png|thumb|left|250px|The Saban Entertainment run of the franchise —beginning with ''[[Power Rangers in Space]]'' — used this version of the ''Power Rangers'' logo]]


[[Saban Entertainment]] distributed the ''Power Rangers'' series from 1993 until the end of 2001, and Fox broadcast it until the [[autumn|fall]] of 2002. [[The Walt Disney Company]] purchased the franchise as a part of a buyout that took place in 2001.<ref name="HaimSaban">{{cite web|url=http://www.saban.com/html/team/saban.html|title=Haim Saban|work=Saban|accessdate=2009-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.saban.com/html/press/010723.html|title=News Corp. and Haim Saban Reach Agreement to Sell Fox Family Worldwide to Disney for $5.3 Billion|date=July 23, 2001|work=saban|accessdate=2009-02-23}}</ref><ref name=buyout>{{cite news |url=http://money.cnn.com/2001/07/23/deals/fox_disney/ |title=Disney buys Fox Family for $3B |date=2001-07-23 |accessdate=2007-09-21 |work=CNNfn |publisher=www.money.cnn.com}}</ref><ref name="MMPR2010"/> This resulted in Fox Family Worldwide becoming [[ABC Family Worldwide Inc.]]<ref name=buyout/> This buyout also saw Saban Entertainment becoming BVS Entertainment, from [[News Corporation]], Fox's parent company, and [[Haim Saban]].<ref name=buyout/> The show continued to air on Fox until the company replaced its [[Fox Kids]] package with "FoxBox" in the United States. Since September 2002, all ''Power Rangers'' shows have aired on various Disney-owned networks ([[ABC Kids (US)|ABC Kids]], [[Toon Disney]] and [[Jetix]] channels worldwide).<ref name="MMPR2010"/> ABC Family, another Disney-owned network, also used to air ''Power Rangers'' until it did away with its Jetix timeslot after August 31, 2006. On February 12, 2009, Toon Disney ended in the wake of [[Disney XD (United States)|Disney XD]], ending cable airings of ''Power Rangers'' in certain areas of the United States. Several ABC affiliate broadcasting groups, most notably [[Hearst-Argyle Television]] and [[Allbritton Communications Company|Allbritton]],{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} have declined to air most of the ''Power Rangers'' series since 2006 due to the lack of FCC-compliant [[E/I|educational and informational content]] in the programs.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/lights_out_for_power_rangers_mwqE73QZJZJ4OLgEsS0vMP |title=Lights out for 'Power Rangers'|date=March 10, 2009|work=New York Post|accessdate=2009-10-08}}</ref>
[[Saban Entertainment]] distributed the ''Power Rangers'' series from 1993 until the end of 2001, and Fox broadcast it until the [[autumn|fall]] of 2002. [[The Walt Disney Company]] purchased the franchise as a part of a buyout that took place in 2001.<ref name="HaimSaban">{{cite web|url=http://www.saban.com/html/team/saban.html|title=Haim Saban|work=Saban|accessdate=2009-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.saban.com/html/press/010723.html|title=News Corp. and Haim Saban Reach Agreement to Sell Fox Family Worldwide to Disney for $5.3 Billion|date=July 23, 2001|work=saban|accessdate=2009-02-23}}</ref><ref name=buyout>{{cite news |url=http://money.cnn.com/2001/07/23/deals/fox_disney/ |title=Disney buys Fox Family for $3B |date=2001-07-23 |accessdate=2007-09-21 |work=CNNfn |publisher=www.money.cnn.com}}</ref><ref name="MMPR2010"/> This resulted in Fox Family Worldwide becoming [[ABC Family Worldwide Inc.]]<ref name=buyout/> This buyout also saw Saban Entertainment becoming BVS Entertainment, from [[News Corporation]], Fox's parent company, and [[Haim Saban]].<ref name=buyout/> The show continued to air on Fox until the company replaced its [[Fox Kids]] package with "FoxBox" in the United States. Since September 2002, all ''Power Rangers'' shows have aired on various Disney-owned networks ([[ABC Kids (US)|ABC Kids]], [[Toon Disney]] and [[Jetix]] channels worldwide).<ref name="MMPR2010"/> ABC Family, another Disney-owned network, also used to air ''Power Rangers'' until it did away with its Jetix timeslot after August 31, 2006. On February 12, 2009, Toon Disney ended in the wake of [[Disney XD (United States)|Disney XD]], ending cable airings of ''Power Rangers'' in certain areas{{which?}} of the United States. Several ABC affiliate broadcasting groups, most notably [[Hearst-Argyle Television]] and [[Allbritton Communications Company|Allbritton]],{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} have declined to air most of the ''Power Rangers'' series since 2006 due to the lack of FCC-compliant [[E/I|educational and informational content]] in the programs.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/lights_out_for_power_rangers_mwqE73QZJZJ4OLgEsS0vMP |title=Lights out for 'Power Rangers'|date=March 10, 2009|work=New York Post|accessdate=2009-10-08}}</ref>


An article in ''[[The New Zealand Herald]]'' published on March 7, 2009 identified ''RPM'' as the last season of the ''Power Rangers'' run. Production manager Sally Campbell stated in an interview, "...at this stage we will not be shooting another season."<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10560372 |title='Power Rangers' defeated|date=March 6, 2009|last=Eriksen|first=Alanah May|work=The New Zealand Herald|accessdate=2009-03-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/item_mwqE73QZJZJ4OLgEsS0vMP|title=LIGHTS OUT FOR 'POWER RANGERS'|date=2009-03-10|work=[[New York Post]]|accessdate=2009-11-24}}</ref> A September 1, 2009, revision to ''[[Disney A to Z: The Official Encyclopedia]]'' by Disney's head archivist [[Dave Smith (archivist)|Dave Smith]] states that "production of new episodes [of ''Power Rangers''] ceased in 2009".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://adisney.go.com/vault/supplement.pdf|title=Supplement to Disney A to Z: The Official Encyclopedia|accessdate=2009-09-26|date=2009-09-01|format=pdf | page=87}}</ref> On October 1, 2009, Bandai released a press release that Disney would re-broadcast ''[[Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]]'' starting in January 2010 on [[ABC Kids (US)|ABC Kids]]. A new toy line will accompany the series and will appear in stores by the end of 2009.<ref name="Bandai MMPR">{{cite web|url=http://www.bandai.com/blog/press-release/mighty-morphin|title=PRESS RELEASE: Bandai America Powers Up Like It&#8217;s 1993; Brings Back Mighty Morphin Power Rangers in New Toy Line {{!}} Bandai America|date=2009-10-01|accessdate=2009-10-02}}</ref><ref name="businesswire">{{cite web|url=http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20091001006376&newsLang=en|title=CORRECTING and REPLACING PHOTOS Bandai America Powers up Like It’s 1993; Brings Back Mighty Morphin Power Rangers in New Toy Line|accessdate=2009-10-01|date=2009-10-01}}
An article in ''[[The New Zealand Herald]]'' published on March 7, 2009 identified ''RPM'' as the last season of the ''Power Rangers'' run. Production manager Sally Campbell stated in an interview, "...at this stage we will not be shooting another season."<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10560372 |title='Power Rangers' defeated|date=March 6, 2009|last=Eriksen|first=Alanah May|work=The New Zealand Herald|accessdate=2009-03-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/item_mwqE73QZJZJ4OLgEsS0vMP|title=LIGHTS OUT FOR 'POWER RANGERS'|date=2009-03-10|work=[[New York Post]]|accessdate=2009-11-24}}</ref> A September 1, 2009, revision to ''[[Disney A to Z: The Official Encyclopedia]]'' by Disney's head archivist [[Dave Smith (archivist)|Dave Smith]] states that "production of new episodes [of ''Power Rangers''] ceased in 2009".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://adisney.go.com/vault/supplement.pdf|title=Supplement to Disney A to Z: The Official Encyclopedia|accessdate=2009-09-26|date=2009-09-01|format=pdf | page=87}}</ref> On October 1, 2009, Bandai released a press release that Disney would re-broadcast ''[[Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]]'' starting in January 2010 on [[ABC Kids (US)|ABC Kids]]. A new toy line will accompany the series and will appear in stores by the end of 2009.<ref name="Bandai MMPR">{{cite web|url=http://www.bandai.com/blog/press-release/mighty-morphin|title=PRESS RELEASE: Bandai America Powers Up Like It&#8217;s 1993; Brings Back Mighty Morphin Power Rangers in New Toy Line {{!}} Bandai America|date=2009-10-01|accessdate=2009-10-02}}</ref><ref name="businesswire">{{cite web|url=http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20091001006376&newsLang=en|title=CORRECTING and REPLACING PHOTOS Bandai America Powers up Like It’s 1993; Brings Back Mighty Morphin Power Rangers in New Toy Line|accessdate=2009-10-01|date=2009-10-01}}
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==Power Morphicon==
==Power Morphicon==
The Power Morphicon,the first Power Rangers Convention, took place in [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]] in 2007. It celebrated fifteen years of ''Power Rangers'' on the air at the time, from ''Mighty Morphin Power Rangers'' (1993) to ''Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive'' (2007). A second convention is planned to take place from August 27 to 29, 2010, in Los Angeles, celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of the release of ''Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://officialpowermorphicon.com/|title=The OFFICIAL website of Power Morphicon|accessdate=2009-07-18}}</ref>
The Power Morphicon,the first Power Rangers Convention, took place in [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]] in 2007. It celebrated fifteen years of ''Power Rangers'' on the air at the time, from ''Mighty Morphin Power Rangers'' (1993) to ''Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive'' (2007). A second convention is planned{{whom}}<!-- who wants to do this? It won't happen by itself, will it?--> to take place from August 27 to 29, 2010, in Los Angeles, celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of the release of ''Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://officialpowermorphicon.com/|title=The OFFICIAL website of Power Morphicon|accessdate=2009-07-18}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 06:37, 14 May 2010

Power Rangers
File:Power rangers logo.png
Created byHaim Saban[1]
Original workMighty Morphin Power Rangers
Print publications
ComicsMighty Morphin Power Rangers
Films and television
Film(s)Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie
Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie
Television seriesSee below
Theatrical presentations
Play(s)Mighty Morphin Power Rangers World Tour Live on Stage
Games
TraditionalPower Rangers Collectible Card Game
Video game(s)Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Fighting Edition
Power Rangers: Super Legends
Audio
Soundtrack(s)Mighty Morphin Power Rangers The Album: A Rock Adventure
Original music"Go Go Power Rangers"
"Power Rangers: The Official Single"

Power Rangers is a long-running American entertainment and merchandising franchise built around a live action children's television series featuring teams of costumed heroes. First produced by Saban Entertainment and later by BVS Entertainment, the series took its initial premise and much of its footage from the Japanese tokusatsu Super Sentai franchise. Its first entry, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, debuted on August 28, 1993, and helped launch the Fox Kids programming block of the 1990s, during which it catapulted into popular culture along with a line of action figures and other toys by Bandai.[2] Despite initial criticism for its action violence targeted for children, the franchise has continued, and as of 2009 the show consists of 17 television seasons, 15 different series, and two theatrical films. The last new series, Power Rangers: RPM, ended on December 26, 2009. In 2010, the original series was rebroadcast in lieu of a new series utilizing footage from the 2009 Super Sentai television series.[3][4] On May 12, 2010, it was announced that Saban bought back the rights to the franchise and has plans to premiere the 18th season with 20 new episodes on the Nickelodeon network.[5]

Premise

The Power Rangers

Main articles: List of Power Rangers and List of Power Rangers characters

Each fictional Power Ranger figure "morphs" from an ordinary person into a powerful superhero. He or she generally wears a color-coded battle suit (usually made of spandex or other skin-tight material) and a helmet with an opaque visor.[6] In many cases, the helmet serves to protect his or her secret identity. In some cases, more powerful Rangers may have extra shielding on their suits to protect them from strong blows.

A morphed Ranger generally possesses superhuman strength, durability, and ability in hand-to-hand combat. Starting with the Disney series, unmorphed Rangers usually possess superhuman abilities such as super-speed or invisibility, attributes somewhat related to their Ranger abilities.[7]

Rangers appear to retain their original physiology beneath their suits when in morphed form: viewers have seen Rangers' helmets removed or broken on numerous occasions,[8] revealing his or her natural form underneath.[9] Helmets aside, the Rangers don or remove suits nearly instantaneously - with a glow of light or some other effect. Rangers can also be "de-morphed" involuntarily when suffering significant physical damage.

Rangers regularly operate in teams of five, with a special sixth Ranger frequently joining the team part way into the series.[10] More recently a core team of three will later expand to include additional Rangers. Each Ranger's suit and energy spectrum will match a specific color, with red, yellow, and blue joined by some combination of pink, green, black, or white. Rangers may take their names fom their respective colors (Red Ranger, Blue Ranger, etc.) but sometimes also use numbers or other names. There is usually no more than one Ranger of a given color on a team, but exceptions of this rule are generally given alternate names (in Time Force, there were two Rangers with red-colored costumes; the first was the Red Time Force Ranger, the second was the Quantum Ranger). Each team's costumes are nearly identical aside from color and helmet design (most notably the shape of the opaque visor) and perhaps a numerical designation. Any additional Rangers will regularly have additional costume modifications, usually some form of altered suit design and/or armor.

Each team of Power Rangers, with a few exceptions, obeys a general set of conventions, outlined at the beginning of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and implied, though not stated explicitly, throughout many of the other incarnations. Thus the Power Rangers may not use their Ranger powers for personal gain or for escalating a fight (which explains why the Rangers do not simply crush the small monsters by means of their Megazord). Nor may the Power Rangers disclose their identities to the general public, barring extenuating circumstances - although public servants (rescue squad, police officers, etc.) appearing as Rangers disregarded this convention in Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue, Power Rangers: S.P.D., Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive and Power Rangers: RPM. The penalty for disobeying these rules, at least in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, would be the loss of their power.

The Power Rangers have a somewhat standardized arsenal: each Ranger generally carries a weapon such as a laser gun and/or a sword. Each Ranger also has a secondary set of weapons that can often combine to form a larger weapon (usually a cannon). As the series progresses, one or more of the Rangers will usually receive motorcycles for long-distance travel, as well as individual Zords. In many series, a Ranger is also given[according to whom?] additional Zords or weapons. In some cases, one Ranger may receive something that other Rangers may not have; an example of this is the Battlizer given to the Red Ranger of each series since Power Rangers in Space (up through Operation Overdrive). Although much of the arsenal can also be found in the originating Super Sentai Series, there are usually some that are original to the American productions. In one instance, an original Power Ranger, the Titanium Ranger, was created especially for Lightspeed Rescue to add a sixth Power Ranger to the series.

The series from the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (MMPR) through In Space followed a story arc, with a gradually changing cast and characters over six years (such as Jason, Zack, Trini, and Kimberly leaving in MMPR or Tommy, Adam, Tanya, and Kat leaving in Turbo). Although Lost Galaxy had ties with the previous story arc, it and the series that followed generally followed a self-contained storyline, independent of previous Power Rangers series. Also beginning with Lost Galaxy, an episode (or two) were dedicated[according to whom?] to a crossover with the most recent previous series. The two anniversary series Wild Force (#10) and Operation Overdrive (#15) featured crossovers with characters from multiple series: Wild Force's "Forever Red" episode featured all Red Rangers of the first ten seasons (minus Rocky) and Operation Overdrive's "Once a Ranger" featured Power Rangers from the four previous series and Adam from MMPR. Ninja Storm, Mystic Force, Jungle Fury, and RPM did not feature any crossover episodes (Dino Thunder featured a crossover with Ninja Storm and characters from both Ninja Storm and Mystic Force appear in "Once a Ranger"). At the end of a series, the Power Rangers usually sacrifice their weapons, Zords, or powers in order to defeat the lead villain they had fought during the series. Should the villain ever return (such as in a crossover episode during the following series), the Rangers are able to access their powers one final time.

Ranger colors

As in the Super Sentai Series that provided the basis of the Power Rangers series, the color palette of a Power Ranger team has varied over the years. Only Red, Blue and Yellow appear in every Ranger team. The most common color that does not appear every year is Pink, followed by Green, Black, and White. Other colors and designations also appear throughout the series, such as metallic colors, violet, and "Shadow", as well as protagonists who have powers and costumes similar to those of the Rangers but are not called "Power Rangers", such as the Blue Senturion and Koragg the Knight Wolf.

The Rangers' color designations influence their wardrobe throughout the series: their civilian clothing often features the same color as their Ranger color. A joke highlighted this correlation in Dino Thunder when Tommy Oliver (a former Green Ranger, White Ranger, and Red Ranger) became the new Black Ranger; he said that he had to go shopping because he did not own enough black-colored clothing.

Production

Adapting the Super Sentai Series

The series that began the franchise, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (an American adaptation of the 1992 Japanese Super Sentai Series, Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger), began broadcasting as part of the Fox Kids block of programing that aired on the Fox network. It lasted for three seasons (from 1993 to 1995).[11]

Rather than making an English dub or translation of the Japanese footage, Power Rangers programs consist of scenes featuring English-speaking actors (either from the United States, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand) spliced with scenes featuring either Japanese actors dubbed into English or the action scenes from the Super Sentai Series featuring the Rangers fighting monsters or the giant robot (Zord and Megazord) battles with English dubbing. In some series, original fight scenes are filmed to incorporate characters or items unique to the Power Rangers production. Like many of Saban Entertainment's previous ventures in localizing Japanese television for a Western audience, the plot, character names, and other names usually differ greatly from the source footage.

Broadcast history

File:Power rangers.png
The Saban Entertainment run of the franchise —beginning with Power Rangers in Space — used this version of the Power Rangers logo

Saban Entertainment distributed the Power Rangers series from 1993 until the end of 2001, and Fox broadcast it until the fall of 2002. The Walt Disney Company purchased the franchise as a part of a buyout that took place in 2001.[1][12][13][11] This resulted in Fox Family Worldwide becoming ABC Family Worldwide Inc.[13] This buyout also saw Saban Entertainment becoming BVS Entertainment, from News Corporation, Fox's parent company, and Haim Saban.[13] The show continued to air on Fox until the company replaced its Fox Kids package with "FoxBox" in the United States. Since September 2002, all Power Rangers shows have aired on various Disney-owned networks (ABC Kids, Toon Disney and Jetix channels worldwide).[11] ABC Family, another Disney-owned network, also used to air Power Rangers until it did away with its Jetix timeslot after August 31, 2006. On February 12, 2009, Toon Disney ended in the wake of Disney XD, ending cable airings of Power Rangers in certain areas[which?] of the United States. Several ABC affiliate broadcasting groups, most notably Hearst-Argyle Television and Allbritton,[citation needed] have declined to air most of the Power Rangers series since 2006 due to the lack of FCC-compliant educational and informational content in the programs.[14]

An article in The New Zealand Herald published on March 7, 2009 identified RPM as the last season of the Power Rangers run. Production manager Sally Campbell stated in an interview, "...at this stage we will not be shooting another season."[15][16] A September 1, 2009, revision to Disney A to Z: The Official Encyclopedia by Disney's head archivist Dave Smith states that "production of new episodes [of Power Rangers] ceased in 2009".[17] On October 1, 2009, Bandai released a press release that Disney would re-broadcast Mighty Morphin Power Rangers starting in January 2010 on ABC Kids. A new toy line will accompany the series and will appear in stores by the end of 2009.[3][4][11]

In mid-2010, Haim Saban's Saban Brands bought the Power Rangers franchise back from Disney and will air a new eighteenth season of Power Rangers on Nickelodeon in Spring 2011[5] with the previous 700 episodes being rerun on Nicktoons.[18][19] It was also announced that Saban plans to make a new Power Rangers movie.[20]

Television series

Main article: List of Power Rangers episodes

Distribution

International airings

Power Rangers has long had success in international markets and still airs in many countries today, with the exception of New Zealand, where the series filming takes place as of 2009. As of 2006, Power Rangers aired at least 65 times a week in more than 40 worldwide markets.[21] Many markets carry or have carried the series on their respective Fox or later Jetix/Disney XD channels or have syndicated the program on regional children's channels or blocks, either dubbed into the local language or broadcast in the original English. In Japan, all Power Rangers shows and movies are dubbed into Japanese for television and video with the voice actors often pulled from past Super Sentai casts, leading to the English-dubbed action sequences being "re-dubbed" or "restored" back to Japanese as well.[citation needed] Bandai of Korea dubs the original Super Sentai series from Japanese into Korean and airs it as Power Rangers on JEI TV in South Korea and has so far had Dino Thunder[22], S.P.D.[23], Magic Force, Treasure Force, Wild Spirit, and Engine Force.[24]

Home media

As of October 2009, 33 DVD releases of Power Rangers have existed in the United States, namely:

Internationally, additional DVD releases have occurred (such as Lightspeed Rescue, Time Force and Wild Force in Germany) and as free DVDs attached to the Jetix magazine, published in the UK. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Season 1, Season 2, and Season 3, Power Rangers Zeo, Power Rangers Turbo, and Power Rangers In Space have been released in Germany as well, with Power Rangers Lost Galaxy due out in June 2009.[32][33][34][35][36][37][38] Additionally, Ninja Storm, Dino Thunder, S.P.D., Mystic Force, and Operation Overdrive saw complete boxset releases in the UK.[39][40][41][42][43] In France, Mighty Morphin Season 1 and Season 2 have been released in their entirety in 5 episode DVD volumes, and the first 25 episodes of Season 3 were released in May 2008.[44] In Italy, Mighty Morphin, Zeo, Dino Thunder and S.P.D. have appeared in their entirety. Zeo and S.P.D. were made available as commercial DVDs, while Mighty Morphin and Dino Thunder were issued as bi-weekly volumes at newsstands.

Online distribution

The iTunes Store previously made Power Rangers episodes available: part of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, all of Power Rangers: S.P.D., and the first 26 episodes of Power Rangers: Mystic Force. As of July 2009, Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie is the only Power Rangers selection available via the iTunes store.

Masked Rider

Main article: Masked Rider (TV series)

Saban's Masked Rider is an American adaptation of the final series in the Shōwa period run of the Kamen Rider Series Kamen Rider Black RX. The character of Dex the Masked Rider, was introduced in a three-part story arc of MMPR. When the series premiered in 1995, any fictional connection to the Power Rangers was severed, making it an indirect spin-off of MMPR.

Motion pictures

Teaser poster for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie

The Power Rangers series has also generated two theatrical films, both distributed by 20th Century Fox. As of 2009, Fox's home entertainment division, long after Fox's parent company News Corporation and Haim Saban sold Fox Family (currently ABC Family), including Saban Entertainment and the Power Rangers franchise, to the Walt Disney Company, still maintains worldwide home-entertainment rights to both of these Power Rangers films.

Film Release date Box office revenue Director
United States Foreign Total
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie[45] June 30, 1995 $38,187,431 $28,245,763 $66,433,194 Bryan Spicer
Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie[46] March 28, 1997 $8,363,899 $1,251,941 $9,615,840 David Winning

Power Morphicon

The Power Morphicon,the first Power Rangers Convention, took place in Los Angeles in 2007. It celebrated fifteen years of Power Rangers on the air at the time, from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993) to Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive (2007). A second convention is planned[according to whom?] to take place from August 27 to 29, 2010, in Los Angeles, celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of the release of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie.[47]

See also

Characters

References

  1. ^ a b "Haim Saban". Saban. Retrieved 2009-02-23.
  2. ^ "BANDAI Co.,Ltd | Global Development". Retrieved 2010-02-07.
  3. ^ a b "PRESS RELEASE: Bandai America Powers Up Like It’s 1993; Brings Back Mighty Morphin Power Rangers in New Toy Line | Bandai America". 2009-10-01. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
  4. ^ a b "CORRECTING and REPLACING PHOTOS Bandai America Powers up Like It's 1993; Brings Back Mighty Morphin Power Rangers in New Toy Line". 2009-10-01. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
  5. ^ a b "Saban re-acquires rights to 'Rangers' - Entertainment News, TV News, Media - Variety". 2010-05-12. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
  6. ^ "Day of the Dumpster". Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Season 1. Episode 1. 1993-08-28. Fox. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ Power Rangers: Dino Thunder, Power Rangers: S.P.D., Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive, Power Rangers: Jungle Fury
  8. ^ Tommy Oliver removed his White Ranger helmet in the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers episode "White Light"; Leo Corbett, the Red Ranger in Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy, had his visor smashed in "Journey's End".
  9. ^ Exceptions to this rule include: Justin, the Blue Turbo Ranger, aged in his early teens, had the body of an adult when morphed; Anubis "Doggie" Cruger, the S.P.D. Shadow Ranger, has a muzzle that seems to disappear beneath the helmet; and Daggeron, the Solaris Knight, transforms into his Ancient Mystic Mode while in the process of morphing.
  10. ^ This modus operandi applied from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers through to Power Rangers: Wild Force.
  11. ^ a b c d "The original 'Power Rangers' return in 2010". Kung Fu Cinema. Retrieved 2009-10-11.
  12. ^ "News Corp. and Haim Saban Reach Agreement to Sell Fox Family Worldwide to Disney for $5.3 Billion". saban. July 23, 2001. Retrieved 2009-02-23.
  13. ^ a b c "Disney buys Fox Family for $3B". CNNfn. www.money.cnn.com. 2001-07-23. Retrieved 2007-09-21.
  14. ^ "Lights out for 'Power Rangers'". New York Post. March 10, 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
  15. ^ Eriksen, Alanah May (March 6, 2009). "'Power Rangers' defeated". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2009-03-07.
  16. ^ "LIGHTS OUT FOR 'POWER RANGERS'". New York Post. 2009-03-10. Retrieved 2009-11-24.
  17. ^ "Supplement to Disney A to Z: The Official Encyclopedia" (pdf). 2009-09-01. p. 87. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
  18. ^ "Saban Capital Group Acquires Power Rangers from The Walt Disney Company « The Toy Book". 2010-05-12. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
  19. ^ "SABAN BRINGS "POWER RANGERS" FRANCHISE TO NICKELODEON" (Press release). Viacom. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
  20. ^ "Mogul Saban buys back Power Rangers from Disney". Google News. The Associated Press. May 12, 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  21. ^ "Disney Shows Muscle with Boys Properties" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  22. ^ "파워레인저". Retrieved 2007-08-05.
  23. ^ "파워레인저 S.P.D." Retrieved 2007-08-05.
  24. ^ ":: 파워레인저 매직포스 ::". Retrieved 2007-08-05.
  25. ^ "Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive - First 2 Volumes of 'Complete Series' DVDs Planned @ TVShowsOnDVD.com". Retrieved 2007-06-24.
  26. ^ "Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive - Box Art, Date, Price & Extras for Volume 3: Blue Sapphire DVD @ TVShowsOnDVD.com". Retrieved 2007-08-25.
  27. ^ "Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive - Finish the Adventure in February: Final Two Volumes Kick Into Overdrive @ TVShowsOnDVD.com". Retrieved 2007-11-10.
  28. ^ "Power Rangers Jungle Fury - Disney Announces Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 DVDs for Jungle Fury @ TVShowsOnDVD.com". 2008-09-13. Retrieved 2008-09-13.
  29. ^ "Power Rangers RPM, Vol. 2: Race for Corinth @ Amazon.com". Retrieved 2009-07-16.
  30. ^ "Power Rangers R.P.M. - Disney Store's Promo Disc Says Volumes 3 and 4 'Coming Soon'". Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  31. ^ "Power Rangers R.P.M. - Disney Store's Promo Disc Says Volumes 3 and 4 'Coming Soon'". Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  32. ^ "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Season 1 @ Amazon.de". Retrieved 2008-02-13.
  33. ^ "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Season 2 @ Amazon.de". Retrieved 2008-02-13.
  34. ^ "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Season 3 @ Amazon.de". Retrieved 2008-02-13.
  35. ^ "Power Rangers Zeo @ Amazon.de". Retrieved 2008-05-31.
  36. ^ "Power Rangers Turbo @ Amazon.de". Retrieved 2008-08-01.
  37. ^ "Power Rangers In Space @ Amazon.de". Retrieved 2009-05-05.
  38. ^ "Power Rangers Lost Galaxy @ Amazon.de". Retrieved 2009-05-12.
  39. ^ "Power Rangers Ninja Storm @ Amazon.co.uk". Retrieved 2008-08-01.
  40. ^ "Power Rangers Dino Thunder @ Amazon.co.uk". Retrieved 2008-08-01.
  41. ^ "Power Rangers S.P.D. @ Amazon.co.uk". Retrieved 2008-08-01.
  42. ^ "Power Rangers Mystic Force @ Amazon.co.uk". Retrieved 2008-08-01.
  43. ^ "Power Rangers Operation Overdrive @ Amazon.co.uk". Retrieved 2008-08-01.
  44. ^ "Power Rangers Mighty Morphin - Volume 28 @ lcj-editions.com". Retrieved 2008-08-01.
  45. ^ "Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers (1995)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2009-05-05. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  46. ^ "Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie (1997)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2009-10-18. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  47. ^ "The OFFICIAL website of Power Morphicon". Retrieved 2009-07-18.
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