Hasbro's Power Rangers era and General Tokusatsu discussion

[DigificWriter]

Power Rangers has previously proven that it doesn't need to be reliant on Sentai to work (see both MMPR-related films), so even if Hasbro ends the franchise's association with Toei, I'm not convinced as of yet that it means that the existing Multiversal continuity of the property is going to be abandoned following the conclusion of Dino Fury.

 

[Christopher]

Saber 7: Man, a lot of arty directorial touches here, particularly the surreal, disorienting stuff on the route to Avalon. Storywise, I still feel there's too much stuff happening at once, too many plotlines being rushed through at the same time, and too many characters to keep track of. I mean, it took them only seven episodes to do an arc about finding Avalon and the powers of King Arthur. You'd think something that big would be a quest for later in the season. (And yes, it's bigger in the West than in Japan, but the show is heavily built around Western fairy tales and myths, so I'm accounting for that.)

But I do like it that Touma solves problems through research and deduction. Though he kind of lost his focus there when he got to Avalon and was just shouting rather than thinking.

Mei is starting to get a bit annoying. She's just too hyper and over-the-top all the time. In any case, they seem to be setting up a romance between her and Rintaro. I'm not sure I feel there's any chemistry there.

 

[JD]

If the new stuff does replace the current shows, would that have any impact on Super Sentai? Would losing whatever money they get for the footage used in the Power Rangers shows hurt them much?

 

[Christopher]

If the new stuff does replace the current shows, would that have any impact on Super Sentai? Would losing whatever money they get for the footage used in the Power Rangers shows hurt them much?

I don't think it'd be a dealbreaker. Super Sentai got by just fine for 18 years before Power Rangers. And Kamen Rider's been doing fine for the past 21 consecutive years with only one US adaptation. I expect they could manage.

They do release localized versions of their shows in other countries, like Korea. The Korean dub of Kyoryuger, called Power Rangers Dino Force, actually had an original 12-episode Korean-made sequel season called Dino Force Brave, written by Ninninger's head writer and directed by Power Rangers stunt coordinator and Sentai/Kamen Rider director Koichi Sakamoto.

 

[Samurai8472]

Think of it like a divorce. Sentai will get by just fine(even though ratings have been declining) Hasbro will be able to do what they want without being hampered by footage and toys already designed

If this actually comes to pass(or is true) each side can reap the benefits. Maybe Sentai can do a deep rooted Japanese based season that they couldn't otherwise do because they had America to think about.

I don't think Sentai has given much thought to the American counterpart but it would be funny to see a strong Japanese season as soon as the split is complete.

 

[Christopher]

If this actually comes to pass(or is true) each side can reap the benefits. Maybe Sentai can do a deep rooted Japanese based season that they couldn't otherwise do because they had America to think about.

I dunno, they've already done that a few times during the Power Rangers era -- Kakuranger, Hurricaneger, Shinkenger, Ninninger. They've never shied away from a heavily Japanese approach. (Or some other non-Western approach, as with the very Hong Kong/wuxia-influenced Gekiranger.) After all, the PR adaptations often change the story and concepts almost beyond recognition anyway, as with Kakuranger/MMPR3 or Ninninger/Ninja Steel. Although possibly the most Japanese season of all, Shinkenger, was adapted almost verbatim into Power Rangers Samurai, which was bizarre.

 

[Shaka Zulu]

Think of it like a divorce. Sentai will get by just fine(even though ratings have been declining) Hasbro will be able to do what they want without being hampered by footage and toys already designed

If this actually comes to pass(or is true) each side can reap the benefits. Maybe Sentai can do a deep rooted Japanese based season that they couldn't otherwise do because they had America to think about.

I don't think Sentai has given much thought to the American counterpart but it would be funny to see a strong Japanese season as soon as the split is complete.

I'm surprised that with the superior FX companies that exist in the United States, that Hasbro Studios couldn't call on them to do the FX for a Power Rangers show, instead of having to always use Japanese footage from the original programs (and the recent Power Rangers movie didn't have Japanese footage, but domestic FX provided by a domestic FX company.)

 

[DigificWriter]

I have a question for people: should I watch the Beast Morphers holiday specials?

 

[Christopher]

To ShakaZulu: The whole reason Power Rangers was created was to save money by recycling stock FX footage from Japan instead of having to pay for new footage. At the time, Saban mainly trafficked in redubbed anime shows, and the goal with MMPR was to produce something quick and cheap; nobody expected it to take off the way it did. And the reason it's remained in production for more than a quarter-century is because it continues to be cheap to make due to the reliance on stock footage and pre-existing costumes and props (as well as non-union actors, which is part of why they start over every year with a new cast). A fully original show would've been cancelled long ago once the ratings fell too much to justify the cost, but because PR is so much cheaper to make, it can keep going even with low ratings.

Hasbro certainly could make a wholly original show with newly made FX footage, and it sounds like that's what they're going to be doing with this reboot. But it will cost more, and that means it won't be able to survive falling ratings as well as the existing franchise has. It may get a new lease on life for a few seasons and then fade out, like most series/franchises do.


To DFW: I've only seen the first Beast Morphers Halloween clip episode so far, but it was better than the past few seasons' holiday clip shows.

 

[JD]

So do they import costumes and stuff from Japan for new footage or recreate them?
I know at least with MMPR would show their actors in the suits without helmets, so they were definitely wearing them.

 

[Christopher]

So do they import costumes and stuff from Japan for new footage or recreate them?

Both, I think. The monster and robot costumes are shipped over, but they did have at least some duplicate Ranger costumes -- in some early seasons you can see a difference in the materials between the stock and original footage (which were easy to tell apart back then since the Sentai footage was on a grainier film stock).

For Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie, they created new, bigger-budget animatronic versions of the main recurring monster suits which were then used in Power Rangers Turbo on TV, and there was a pretty obvious difference between them and the suits from the reused Carranger footage.

There are a few cases where the monster suits were modified for US use. For instance, the main female villain in Magiranger, Vancuria, had a design considered too sexy for an American kids' show, molded to look like a seminude female torso, so the American version, Necrolai, was given more modest attire, and they generally avoided using Sentai footage of her. Similarly, the monster form of Mele in Gekiranger had breast cups painted to look like chameleon eyes, with the pupils suggesting nipples, so her Jungle Fury counterpart Camille had the breast cups painted solid green.

 

[Samurai8472]

Kiramager episode 28

Following "Kamen Rider Saber" it's a two for one sale on white void rooms as Kiramager starts the episode with Jyuru in an all white room.

So a legendary stone is depressed so Jyuruu and Shigeru have to cheer it up. I was almost expecting Hiden Aruto level of standup

Sayo just casually getting closer to Yodonna was funny

I did like the camera work when the Rangers were getting Yodonna's iPad back, and the giant MotW design is pretty cool this time around. Some Toho-esque kaiju work going on with its design.

 

[Christopher]

Kiramager episode 28

Decent episode, though it's part 1 of a 2-parter. Interesting how they built the story around the real-life research into projection mapping as a form of "invisibility cloak," something that's been in the news from time to time and largely coming out of Japan, I think.

So a legendary stone is depressed so Jyuruu and Shigeru have to cheer it up. I was almost expecting Hiden Aruto level of standup

It was cute that they were sort of poking fun at the trope of the roll call taking forever while someone's in imminent danger. Still, not only was it lame on purpose, but Japanese stand-up comedy is definitely an acquired taste.

Sayo just casually getting closer to Yodonna was funny

Yeah, that was the funniest moment. Sayo is a lot like Jasmine from Arakawa's earlier Dekaranger, the same cool wit and dry, subtle humor that doesn't always come through well in the subtitles. Once or twice I've even noticed her giving the monsters cute nicknames like Jasmine did.

I did like the camera work when the Rangers were getting Yodonna's iPad back,

They were going for an Arrow or Daredevil-style single-take continuous fight scene lasting well over a minute, and they did it pretty well. Although there were a few concealed cuts I spotted when rewatching it -- first when they engaged their power-up mode (with Yellow changing on-camera), then when the camera smashed through a stack of boxes, then when Silver went through the window to outside. Still, despite those, it was an impressively choreographed and executed sequence.

 

[Danlav05]

New announcement:

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/h...om-im-not-okay-with-this-co-creator-exclusive

Hasbro is "rebooting" Power Rangers as an interconnected film, TV, and multimedia universe, headed up by Jonathan Entwistle. That would seem to suggest that the current TV continuity will be coming to an end.

Too bad -- I've found it interesting how Beast Morphers has tied into the history of PR, with the concept of the Morphin Grid being central to its narrative and with the villain turning out to have links to a past PR villain. And it looks like Dino Fury will be continuing to tie into that mythos, delving into the origins of the Grid. It'll be too bad if that gets erased in a reboot. Also, I gather the current comics continuity is pretty well-received, but it sounds like the reboot will encompass all media.

This is very unlike Super Sentai, where pretty much every season is a reboot, except they still pretend to share a universe when it's convenient.

I am excited.

The Comics have proved that Power Rangers can be so much more than the annual TV series. We're a niche fandom compared to Marvel or DC, Power Rangers can be so much more.

People outside this fandom only seem to know MMPR, Tommy & Kimberly - that's what people remember. The Illuminerdi has been spot on so far, the days of Sentai daptations are ending, I hope Dino Fury will be a great send off.

For a long time I've wanted a 'grown up' Power Rangers show akin to the Arrowverse, so no gore and cussing. There are people in the age group who vaguely remember the show. Look at Batman - it went in 20 years from the campy Adam West show to a box office smash with the dark Michael Keaton movie.

eOne has basically given Entwhistle the same role Alex Kurtzman has on Star Trek - overseeing what sounds like numerous projects?

I still think we'll get an animated MMPR reboot as the replacement 'kids' show' - it's what gets outsiders in.

 

[Christopher]

People outside this fandom only seem to know MMPR, Tommy & Kimberly - that's what people remember.

Which has always kind of bugged me. I mean, MMPR had a terrific cast, but it was inferior to many later seasons in writing and production values. The peak years came later with in Space, Lost Galaxy, Lightspeed Rescue, and Time Force, with later high points like Jungle Fury and RPM.

Besides, it's just strange -- over more than a quarter century watching Power Rangers and Super Sentai, I've gotten used to them starting over every year with a new series and cast. So it's weird to see a single past incarnation clung to and revived. Although, to be fair, SS has done a number of "10 Years Later" reunion movies and the like for its more popular casts.

 

[Danlav05]

Which has always kind of bugged me. I mean, MMPR had a terrific cast, but it was inferior to many later seasons in writing and production values. The peak years came later with in Space, Lost Galaxy, Lightspeed Rescue, and Time Force, with later high points like Jungle Fury and RPM.

Besides, it's just strange -- over more than a quarter century watching Power Rangers and Super Sentai, I've gotten used to them starting over every year with a new series and cast. So it's weird to see a single past incarnation clung to and revived. Although, to be fair, SS has done a number of "10 Years Later" reunion movies and the like for its more popular casts.

It is an odd one. Personally my 'comfort seasons are MMPR and moreso Zeo, but I particularly love Space (yes it is linked heavily with previous seasons as the end of the Zordon era), Time Force and Dino Thunder.

I started watching as a kid around 94 when it became popular here in the UK and stayed on until around Lost Galaxy, leaving the fandom until around the time Saban bought it back from Disney (to think it could be part of the MCU!), even so I haven't watched every episode of the seasons, I have mostly been following the comics since 2016. I have of couse gone back and watched chunks of what I missed.

In Space would be great as a one-off movie - four astronauts go of course then they're found by the Astro Megaship then they get powers and go off on an adventure. So would most seasons after.

 

[JD]

Both, I think. The monster and robot costumes are shipped over, but they did have at least some duplicate Ranger costumes -- in some early seasons you can see a difference in the materials between the stock and original footage (which were easy to tell apart back then since the Sentai footage was on a grainier film stock).

For Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie, they created new, bigger-budget animatronic versions of the main recurring monster suits which were then used in Power Rangers Turbo on TV, and there was a pretty obvious difference between them and the suits from the reused Carranger footage.

There are a few cases where the monster suits were modified for US use. For instance, the main female villain in Magiranger, Vancuria, had a design considered too sexy for an American kids' show, molded to look like a seminude female torso, so the American version, Necrolai, was given more modest attire, and they generally avoided using Sentai footage of her. Similarly, the monster form of Mele in Gekiranger had breast cups painted to look like chameleon eyes, with the pupils suggesting nipples, so her Jungle Fury counterpart Camille had the breast cups painted solid green.

OK.

I am excited.

The Comics have proved that Power Rangers can be so much more than the annual TV series. We're a niche fandom compared to Marvel or DC, Power Rangers can be so much more.

People outside this fandom only seem to know MMPR, Tommy & Kimberly - that's what people remember. The Illuminerdi has been spot on so far, the days of Sentai daptations are ending, I hope Dino Fury will be a great send off.

For a long time I've wanted a 'grown up' Power Rangers show akin to the Arrowverse, so no gore and cussing. There are people in the age group who vaguely remember the show. Look at Batman - it went in 20 years from the campy Adam West show to a box office smash with the dark Michael Keaton movie.

They kind of tried to do that a little with the last movie. This is a franchise that could be done in a lot of different styles.

 

[Christopher]

On the theme of a "grown-up" version of Power Rangers, it's interesting that in Japan, they've done a few adult reboots of Kamen Rider -- the theatrical reboot Shin Kamen Rider from the early '90s, the movies Kamen Rider The First and The Second, the Kamen Rider Amazons TV series for Amazon Prime a few years ago -- but the only "mature" version of Sentai I'm aware of is the spoof series Akibaranger (from the same head writer as Kiramager). They've never done a serious adult version, as far as I know. It would be unexpected if America beat them to it.

 

[Samurai8472]

New character will show up in Saber

Mysterious messenger Reika Kamishiro who comes from the “Southern Base” and intends to analyze Saber’s power for purpose unknown. Portrayed by model Angela Mei.

More women in the show the better.

 

[DigificWriter]

I ended up having to dive into the middle of Season 2 with the episode Intruder Alert because of YouTube TV's On-Demand library only listing four episodes at a time (meaning that with every new episode that airs, I lose the chance to watch some of the previous episodes even with the show added to my DVR library), and it's interesting, if weird, to watch the show without the context of what happened previously to where I leapt in.

Evox having a body is cool, and even if I weren't already aware of future revelations about him, it would be hard not to notice the similarities between said body and the bodies that the Venjix Virus used in RPM, which only reinforces my opinion that Beast Morphers is a retelling of RPM rather than the sequel to RPM that it's described as.