The True Inspiration Behind Power Rangers: From Goranger to Zyuranger

When it comes to the history of superhero-themed TV shows, many people automatically think of Power Rangers and its huge fanbase. However, the truth is that Power Rangers were actually inspired by the Japanese Super Sentai series. Super Sentai originated in Japan in 1975 and was indirectly inspired by the Kamen Rider series, created by Shotaro Ishinomori. Let's dive into the fascinating origins of these shows and the intertwined history of Power Rangers and Super Sentai.

Understanding Super Sentai and Kamen Rider

Super Sentai is a superhero series in the tokusatsu (special effects) genre that features a team of superheroes who transform using a transformation device called a henshin to battle with various rubber suit monsters. The concept of the team transforming into heroes to fight monsters is indeed similar to Kamen Rider, but Super Sentai takes things to the next level by featuring 5 or 6 heroes instead of just one.

Kamen Rider was created by Shotaro Ishinomori in 1971, and it introduced the world to the concept of a superhero transforming into a grasshopper-like character to fight hordes of foot-soldiers and rubber suit monsters. Super Sentai expanded on this idea, introducing the concept of using robots and other advanced technology in the fight against these monsters.

Origins of Power Rangers

Power Rangers is often mistaken as a direct spin-off or copycat of Super Sentai. However, it's important to note that Power Rangers was actually the third attempt to create an American version of Super Sentai. The first two attempts were unsuccessful. In the early 1980s, Stan Lee tried to adapt a Sentai show called Sun Vulcan, but it failed to catch on. Later, Haim Saban, who had previously succeeded with the Power Rangers franchise, attempted to start the series with a Sentai show called Bioman. However, that also failed to materialize.

It wasn't until Saban acquired the rights to Zyuranger (Dinosaur Z-Force) in the 1990s that the Power Rangers franchise found its footing. Saban pitched Zyuranger to the President of Fox Kids, and the series became the starting point for the Power Rangers franchise as we know it today.

How Haim Saban Used Sentai to Create Power Rangers

Haim Saban, the creator of Power Rangers, had a chance encounter with a Super Sentai series in the 1980s when he was in Japan. It's believed that the series he saw was Bioman. Saban recognized the potential of the Super Sentai format and decided to adapt it for American audiences. This decision paved the way for the success of the Power Rangers franchise.

Although Power Rangers was inspired by Super Sentai, it's important to note that it's not a direct copycat. Several elements of the show were adapted to fit the American market, including the introduction of new elements such as the battlizers. The concept of battlizers was introduced in Power Rangers in Space, making it one of the few exceptions to the overall influence of Super Sentai on Power Rangers.

The Tokusatsu Genre and Its Influence

Tokusatsu is a Japanese term for special effects shows, which includes Super Sentai, Kamen Rider, and other similar franchises. These shows share a common theme and genre, making them part of a larger family of tokusatsu. Just as Spider-Man and Superman share common traits like super strength and enhanced senses, the Japanese tokusatsu series share common themes and plot devices. This doesn't make them copycats; it simply means they are part of the same genre and share similar inspirations.

Several other tokusatsu series have influenced other shows in their respective regions. For example, Masked Rider Big Bad Beetleborgs and VR Troopers are also part of the tokusatsu family and have shared elements with Power Rangers and other tokusatsu series.

Super Sentai and Power Rangers represent a significant chapter in the history of superhero TV shows. Through the eyes of Haim Saban and others, the concept of these series has evolved and taken on new forms, leaving a lasting impact on the world of entertainment.