Monday, September 2, 2013

A Guide to Power Rangers and Super Sentai Footage for the Layperson

I decided to make a guide for the layperson or any fans who didn't know about what Super Sentai or any other footage was used for Power Rangers.

 Power Rangers Season One (1993-1994)
Episodes One ("Day of the Dumpster") to Episodes 44 ("Lions and Blizzards") - Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger (1992) for fighting footage, zord footage and villain footage. "Zyu 1.5" is footage that was exclusively made of Rita, Goldar and the other minions in her palace. The term "Zyu 1.5" has been coined by old pal SirStack of Morphylogengy and fellow Power Force member John Green of grnrngr.com. Very little American footage was made for these episode, mostly the Rangers in the Command Center, walking or standing around outside.

Episodes 45-46 ("To Flea or Not to Flea"), 48-60 ("Oyster Stew") uses footage which fans refer to as "Zyu 2" and rumor is Toei called it "Power Rangers 2." It is footage Saban ordered from Toei that did not appear in Zyuranger was made only for Power Rangers and had the Rangers had characteristics of the American Rangers more than the Zyuranger. This was just fighting footage and zord footage. That I know of, this does not include Rita's palace. Footage from Zyuranger and Zyu 1.5 was reused for Rita's palace. Monster suits were sent to America and were used more for these episodes. "Crystal of Nightmares" Episode 47 used past footage.


 Power Rangers Season Two (1994-1995)
Lord Zedd and his palace was American footage. Episodes 61 ("The Mutiny Part 1") to 73 ("Green No More Part 2") used "Zyu 2" footage for fighting footage and zord footage. The original Putties and original Megazord and Dino Zords were removed and spliced in with American footage of the Z-Putties and the Dairanger footage of the Thunderzords. Dragonzord footage from Zyu 2 was used. Thunderzords, monsters, White Ranger and other elements were used from Gosei Sentai Dairanger (1993).

From Episodes 74 ("Missing Green") to Episode 112 ("Blue Ranger Gone Bad") used Dairanger footage for monster footage and zord footage. They didn't have much Dairanger monster suits so a lot of the footage was little splicing from Dairanger or if they did have the suit, they made their own American fighting footage. "Best Man for the Job" used new American footage of the Tigerzord fighting the Thunder Megazord. Some episodes reused Zyuranger or Zyu 2 monsters and repainted or redecorated them. Some episodes like "The Wedding Part 1, 2 & 3" and "Return of the Green Rangers Part 1, 2 & 3" were shot in Australia. Only White Ranger in his cockpit was used from Dairanger. New cockpit footage for the Thunder Megazord was created and individual cockpits were cut out to exclude the Dairanger.

One shot of the magic theater in "The Wedding Part 1, 2 & 3" were used from Ninja Sentai Kakuranger Episode 35. Kakuranger would not fully be used until Season 3. 


 Season Three (1995-1996)
All of Season Three used footage from Ninja Sentai Kakuranger (1994). The Power Rangers gained Ninja Coins and became Ninja Rangers, which was American footage. Ninjor, Rito and Master Vile from Kakuranger and their costumes were used for American footage. Dairanger footage was still used for Serpentera. The Tengas were American footage and there was much more original fighting footage and Megazord fighting in Season three. By the way, the three-parter "A Friend in Need" was mostly American footage as the Rangers meet Masked Rider, the episodes actually use Kamen Rider Black RX footage as that was the source of Masked Rider. The monster Repellator was a green repaint of blue monster Silverhorns from Dairanger and the Megazord fight was American.

Ninja Megazord was the first Megazord introduced in Power Rangers but in Kakuranger, it was the second, Shogun Megazord was the first. So episodes 116 ("Ninja Quest") to 130 ("Changing of the Zords") was footage of Kakuranger Episodes 36 to 47.

Shogun Megazord was first introduced in Episode 130 and was used until Episode 155 ("Hogday Afternoon") using Kakuranger footage from Episode 3 to 23 or so.

Episodes 148 ("Alien Rangers of Aquitar) to Episode 155 ("Hogday Afternoon") uses fighting footage of the Kakurangers themselves as Aquitar Ranger. The majority of the footage featured the Battle Borgs, one instance of original American footage of the Battle Borgs happened. 


Power Rangers Zeo (1996)
Japanese footage was from Choriki Sentai Ohranger (1995) as always, the fighting footage and zord footage. ALL villain footage in villain headquarters was from Ohranger. No American footage was produced in their headquarters. Some American fighting footage was made. Very few American Megazord footage was made, the most notable was in the last episode with the Zeo Rangers fighting King Mondo. The majority of American footage in monster suits was Rita, Zedd, Goldar and Rito.



Power Rangers Turbo (1997)
Japanese footage was from Carranger (1996).  Mostly only the monster and zord footage and some henchmen footage was used. The main villain was American and so was her headquarters, the footsoliders Pirnahtrons were American so the Rangers fighting them was American. Later Divatox moved to a Space Base, which the exterior was Japanese but the interior was American. The movie Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie was completely American. Footage from Carranger were not used was Rangers fighting the footsoldiers, goofier footage of the monsters and the villain headquarters.


Power Rangers in Space (1998)
Japanese footage from Denji Sentai Megaranger (1997). Astronema and Dark Specter were American creations, the interior of the Dark Fortress was american but the outside was Japanese. Ecliptor fighting footage and zord footage was from Megaranger. The footsoliders were American so the show was majority American as they were flying through space. Megaranger was not set in space, a lot of Astro Megaship as a moel against green screen was American. Footage not used from Megaranger was the Rangers fighting footsoliders (although the Craterites were used in "The Craterite Invasion") and the villains in their headquarters.


Power Rangers Lost Galaxy (1999)
Japanese footage was from Gingaman (1998). Captain Mutiny was the main villain in Gingaman and he and his henchmen were used halfway through Lost Galaxy. Trakeena, her father Scorpio, Stingwingers and the Scropion Stinger were American footage. Terra Ventura, Jet Jammers, Galaxy Cycles, Battlizer and space footage was American. Some new American Megazord footage was made, mostly for space battles. The first half of the series was majority American footage, save for the Megazord battles and quick scenes of the Rangers versus the monster.


Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue (2000)
Japanese footage from Go Go Five (1999). There was no American-only villain, the majority of the villain headquarters was from Japanese footage. Some footage was American, to include Jennifer Yen as Vypra and instances with Ryan or the Rangers at the end of the series. Fighting footage with henchmen, monsters and megazord footage was Japanese. Titanium Ranger was the first American-made Ranger and was exclusively American as there was no sixth Ranger in Go Go Five. All footage of him fighting Batlings or monsters or villains was American made. His megazord Max Solarzord was a un-manned robo in Go Go Five named Liner Boy. Vypra had the same outfit as the Japanese actress and was Asian in order to not be noticed when Japanese footage of her counterpart was used from behind or the side.


Power Rangers Time Force  (2001)
Japanese footage was from Mirai Sentai Timeranger (2000). Ransik was American villain and the interior headquarter was American but exterior Japanese. Majority footage was Japanese but with some American footage here and there to include the American actors or serve the storyline. All Megazord footage was Japanese, some cockpit footage was American. Nadira had the same outfit as the Japanese actress in order to not be noticed when Japanese footage of her counterpart was used from behind or the side.

Power Rangers Wild Force (2002)
Japanese footage from Gaoranger (2001). American villain was Master Org, some interior footage was American and some was Japanese. Toxica had the same outfit as the Japanese actress and was Asian in order to not be noticed when Japanese footage of her counterpart was used from behind or the side. Fighting footage and Megazord footage was Japanese. Episodes "Forever Red" and "Reinforcements from the Future" were completely American.

Power Rangers Ninja Storm (2003)
Japanese footage was from Ninpou Sentai Hurricanger (2002). This was the first series shot in New Zealand but I will continue say 'American footage' in order to not cause confusion and anyway the producers are American and the show doesn't air in New Zealand. Fighting and Zord footage was Japanese. The villain Lothor was American so the headquarters footage was American. Kapri and Marah had the same outfit as the Japanese actress in order to not be noticed when Japanese footage of their counterparts was used from behind or the side. Some new footage of Battlizer, new vehicles and gadgets were made.


Power Rangers Dino Thunder (2004)
Japanese footage was from Abaranger (2003). The villains Mesogog, Elsa, and Tyrannodrones were not Japanese, only Zeltrax was Japanese, the villain headquarters was new. Majority of Japanese footage was used was Megazords, zords and fighting footage with monsters. The dream sequence from "Fighting Spirit" was new. Footage not used was main villains from Abaranger, villain headquarters and some fighting with footsoliders until Triptoids were eventually used. Some new footage of Battlizer, new vehicles and gadgets were made.


Power Rangers SPD (2005)
Japanese footage was from Dekaranger (2004). The villains Grumm and Mora were not Japanese, the villain headquarters was new. Majority of Japanese footage was used were fighting footage and Megazord battles. New footage included A-Squad, Boom as Orange Ranger, Battlizers and other new gadgets. Broodwing was the main villain in Dekaranger. Like Ninja Storm's ninja stars, their bullets from Dekaranger were changed to lasers.


Power Rangers Mystic Force (2006)
Mahou Sentai Magiranger (2005) was were the Japanese footage was from. The bad guys were completely from japanese footage but Disney still shot new footage in the costumes, with no new villain. But they did have some new characters like Leelee. The majority of useful footage of Magiranger was used like fighting, footsoliders, monsters and villains. New footage included Battlizer and other re-shootings. 
 Power Rangers Operation Overdrive (2007)
Japanese footage from Gougou Sentai Boukenger (2006). Flurious and Miratrix were new and there was no real headquarters for most villains so new ones were created. Fighting footage, monsters, villains and zords were from Boukenger. New footage was Battlizer and new gadgets. "Once A Ranger" was mostly American footage except the giant monster. This season used more superimposing American actors in front of Japanese footage.

 Power Rangers Jungle Fury (2008)
Footage was from Jyuken Sentai Gekiranger (2007). New footage included the red motorcycle and Spirit Rangers. Dai Shi the evil spirit was created but Jarrod and his power-up form had counterparts in Gekiranger. A similar set was used to the one in the Japanese footage, some of the Japanese footage was used combined with new footage. The fighting scenes, footsoliders, monsters and zords were used. Footage not used was the majority of the Gekiranger's animal-like mentors the Kensei, who were only used for the last episode. Like Elsa, Mora and Miratrix, Camile had her own villain costume that did not match the Japanese villainess but her power-up form was the same as in Gekiranger, save for different chest plate.

Power Rangers RPM (2009)
Footage from Engine Sentai Go-Onger (2008). RPM arguably used less Sentai footage than any other Power Rangers series. They used very little of the Megazord footage, they re-shot scenes of the Rangers entering the Engine Cells in the zords and cut out the majority of the zords talking. In Go-Onger, the zords talked. Venjix was an American-made concept but the costumes he entered was from Go-Onger. They used a new villain headquarters so the Go-Onger villain HQ was not used.

 Power Rangers Samurai/Super Samurai (2011-2012)
Footage from Samurai Sentai Shinkenger (2009). Because of the year gap between RPM and Samurai of the Saban acquisition from Disney and the 2 year gap between Samurai and Megaforce, there is 3 years difference between Power Rangers and Super Sentai, other than the usual one year. Fighting footage with Moogers, monsters, villains, Megazords and the villains headquarters was from Shinkenger. The megazord cockpits were not used, cockpit footage was reshot with a new set. Mega mode, Super Mega mode, Mega Shark Attack Mode and Shogun mode are new obviously. In the first season, the majority of the Japanese footage was used, only some new footage of the Rangers morphing, talking to the monsters or moogers was shot. In Super Samurai, they made new footage of Super mode to coincide with changes. They mix and matched Megazords and monsters as well. They moved around footage of the villains in the ship and Dayu and Deker outside from episodes not used into other episodes.


Power Rangers Megaforce (2013)
Footage from Tensou Sentai Goseiger (2010). Majority of Goseiger footage is being used, from fighting Loogies, monsters, Power Cards, Megazord battles and villain headquarters. Some new footage of the teens fighting the Loogies and monsters here and there. No new American villain, no new powerups, no Battlizer. Datas, a robot resembling an Arcade game has been removed from Megazord fighting footage and not used at all. A green Ostrich Mystic Runner and the Mythical Dragon Brothers have also been removed and not used, creating some inconsistency in the footage.
The series begins with Legacy War from Pirate Sentai Gokaiger (2011) used as a dream and again in a couple other episodes. Some New Zealand footage was shot for one scene. Gokaiger footage will be used more for Super Megaforce. I will update this next year.

1 comment:

SunnyC247 said...

Nice guide.
"Missing Green" was episode 74, not 47.