| Mighty Morphin Power Rangers | |
|---|---|
  Top: Opening title card Bottom: New logo created for the 2010 re-version |
|
| Format | Action-Adventure |
| Created by | Haim Saban[1] Shuki Levy |
| Starring | Austin St. John (93-94) Thuy Trang (93-94) Walter Emanuel Jones (93-94) Amy Jo Johnson (93-95) David Yost (93-95) Jason David Frank (93-95) Johnny Yong Bosch (94-95) Karan Ashley (94-95) Steve Cardenas (94-95) Catherine Sutherland (95) Paul Schrier (93-95) Jason Narvy (93-95) David Fielding (93) |
| Theme music composer | Saban Records[2] |
| Opening theme | "Go Go Power Rangers" |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| No. of episodes | 145 (List of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Haim Saban Shuki Levy James Simone (Re-version) |
| Producer(s) | Ronnie Hadar Jonathan Tzachor Dan Evans III (Re-version) |
| Running time | 22 minutes (without commercials) |
| Production company(s) | Saban Entertainment |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Fox (Fox Kids) ABC (ABC Kids) (Re-version) |
| Picture format | 480i (SDTV) |
| Original run | August 28, 1993 – November 27, 1995 |
| Status | Re-version in 2010 |
| Chronology | |
| Followed by | Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers |
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (abbreviated as MMPR) is an American live-action children's television series, based on the 16th installment of the Japanese Super Sentai franchise, Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger. Both the show and its related merchandise saw unbridled overnight success, catapulting into pop culture in mere months.[3][4] Under the original name Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, the series ran from 1993 to 1995 and spawned a feature film, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie.
The second and third seasons drew on footage and elements from the Super Sentai series Gosei Sentai Dairanger and Ninja Sentai Kakuranger respectively, though the Zyuranger costumes were still used for the five main Rangers and several regular villains. Only the mecha and the Kiba Ranger costume (worn by the White Ranger) were retained from Dairanger for the second season, while only the mecha from Kakuranger were featured in the third season; however the five Kakuranger costumes were later used for the title characters of the mini-series, Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers. The series was produced by MMPR Productions, distributed by Saban Entertainment, and aired on Fox Kids. The show's merchandise was produced and distributed by Bandai Entertainment.
In 1996, the series was rebranded as the Power Rangers franchise; renaming the series every year after and using costumes, props, and footage from subsequent Super Sentai series, as well as changing the cast and storyline. While an overarching storyline would continue until Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy, subsequent series after MMPR are not sequels or spin-offs in the traditional sense.
In 2010, a re-version of MMPR, with a new logo, comic book-referenced graphics, and extra alternative special effects, began airing on ABC Kids, and Bandai produced brand new toys to coincide with the series.[5][6][7] Initially, the original logo of the show continued to be used on-air in advertisements.
Contents |
The series takes place in the fictional town of Angel Grove, California. On an exploratory mission, two unwitting astronauts discover an extraterrestrial container (referred to as a dumpster as a result of its stench) and breach the unit, inadvertently releasing the evil alien witch Rita Repulsa from 10,000 years of confinement. Upon her release, she and her army of evil space aliens set their sights on conquering the nearest planet: Earth. When the wise sage Zordon becomes aware of the release of the evil witch he was responsible for capturing so long ago, he orders his robotic assistant Alpha 5 to find five "teenagers with attitude" to defend the Earth from Rita's attacks. The five teens chosen are Jason Lee Scott, Kimberly Hart, Zack Taylor, Trini Kwan and Billy Cranston. Zordon gives them the ability to morph into the Power Rangers, providing them with an arsenal of weapons at their disposal as well as colossal assault machines called Zords, which can combine into the mighty Megazord.[8]
The series begins with five teenagers combating Rita and her seemingly endless array of monsters, however, consecutive failures lead Rita to adopt a new method for conquering Earth and destroying the Power Rangers: by attacking them with one of their own. In possession of a special Green Ranger power, Rita kidnaps and brainwashes a local teen whose fighting skills prove to equal that of Jason's in a martial arts contest held in Angel Grove. The new teen, Tommy Oliver, passes Rita's tests, becoming the Green Ranger. Entrusted with Rita's Sword of Darkness, source for the continuance of the evil spell he has fallen victim to, Tommy comes dangerously close to defeating the Power Rangers, especially when Rita causes a Solar Eclipse that temporarily drains the power of the Rangers' Megazord. However, the Green Ranger is ultimately overcome, and the Sword of Darkness is destroyed by Jason. Now free from Rita's spell, Tommy chooses to use his Green Ranger powers to assist the other Rangers in defeating the evil that gave them to him in the first place. His Zord, the Dragonzord, retains the power to join the other Ranger's Dinozords in battle and also help form more powerful Zord combinations.[9]
As time goes on, discontent with regularly being defeated with the aide of the Green Ranger powers she believes are hers, Rita focuses her plans on eliminating Tommy and regaining the powers. Utilizing a special wax touched by Tommy when he was evil, Rita uses a magic green candle to sever Tommy's link to the Morphing Grid and slowly remove his powers, returning them to her. Because Tommy's proximity to the candle accelerates its melting process, Jason enters the Dark Dimension where the candle is guarded by Goldar to retrieve it. Unfortunately, Rita unleashes a monster attack in Angel Grove that keeps Jason from retrieving the candle. In the end, Tommy loses his powers, however, he is able to prevent Rita from reclaiming it by transferring the remains to another Ranger who can operate them based on their own link to the Morphing Grid. Tommy chooses Jason who, feeling guilt for failing to protect Tommy's powers, accepts them.[10]
The five Rangers continue to protect Earth from the ongoing threat of Rita, with Jason wielding the Green Ranger powers in conjunction with his own Red Ranger powers. However, when Rita kidnaps the parents of all the students at Angel Grove High School, including that of the five Ranger teens, the Rangers are forced to give up their five Power Coins in trade for their parents' safety. In an act of subterfuge, Goldar accepts the coins and keeps the captive parents. However, Jason reveals that he is still in possession of the Dragon Coin. Tommy returns, agreeing to take part in a dangerous process in which Zordon transfers energy from himself into the Dragon Coin, allowing Tommy to morph into the Green Ranger once more. He succeeds in retrieving the other Power Coins and the six Rangers unite once again to save the day. Though Tommy has now regained his powers, they are only temporary and must be frequently re-charged by Zordon, who makes no attempt to hide the fact that the Green Ranger's powers will ultimately fail. Despite this, Tommy remains determined to continue assisting the other Rangers as long as possible.[11]
Lord Zedd, emperor of all that he sees, arrives at Rita's Moon Palace, where he takes her place and throws her into a space dumpster again. He then begins to attack the Power Rangers with Pirantishead, a stronger monster than the Rangers are used to fighting. Pirantishead freezes four of the Dinozords and takes control of the Tyrannosaurus Dinozord and the Dragonzord. However, Zordon and Alpha are able to regain control of the Dinozords by upgrading them into the more powerful Thunderzords, which can combine into the Thunder Megazord. The Rangers then defeat Pirantishead with their new Megazord and give Zedd his first defeat.[12]
After several more defeats, Zedd focuses his attention on eliminating the Green Ranger. He does so with a special green crystal, using it to take away the Green Ranger's powers permanently. The crystal also powers up Zedd's Dark Rangers, but when Tommy smashes it, the Dark Rangers powers are transferred back to the regular Rangers. Following the permanent loss of the Green Ranger's powers, Zordon and Alpha create in secret a new White Ranger to aid the other Rangers in battle. The White Ranger is revealed to be Tommy, who in addition receives a new Zord, the Tigerzord, and also becomes the new leader of the team.[13][14]
During the Team Ninja Trials in Angel Grove, the Rangers make some new friends in three teenagers from Stone Canyon - Rocky DeSantos, Adam Park, and Aisha Campbell. During an ensuing battle with Zedd and a magical serpent, Rocky, Adam, and Aisha discover the Rangers' identities and, having been entrusted with their secret by Zordon himself, the three newcomers become allies of the Rangers.[15]
Later on, Jason, Zack and Trini are selected to represent Angel Grove at the World Peace Conference in Switzerland, and the Rangers are faced with the task of finding replacements, but in order to transfer the powers of the Red, Black, and Yellow Rangers, they must find the Sword of Light, which is located on the Deserted Planet. However, Zedd pursues them across the galaxy in Serpentera, his massive personal Zord, which destroys most of the Deserted Planet. Fortunately, Serpentera runs out of power before being able to finish the Rangers, and they return to Earth safely with the Sword of Light. Zordon then chooses Rocky, Adam, and Aisha to replace Jason, Zack, and Trini as the Red, Black, and Yellow Rangers respectively.[16]
Some time before the Power Transfer, Rita had returned to Earth when Tommy made his debut as the White Ranger, and fell into the hands of Bulk and Skull, but the Rangers sent her back into space. She later returns to the Moon while the Rangers are in Australia, and with the help of Finster, she gets a special "makeover" to gain a younger and "prettier" face. She then uses a love potion on Zedd, who is in a deep sleep during his centennial re-evilizer, and he falls in love with her when he wakes up. They get married and thus join forces to make an even more terrible threat for the Rangers, but not even this can prepare them for what is to come.[17]
Rito Revolto, Rita's skeletal brother, later comes to Earth and, with the help from a group of monsters, manages to destroy the Rangers' Thunderzords and the Tigerzord. As a result, the Rangers' Power Coins are damaged beyond repair. Undaunted, they seek the aid of Ninjor, alleged creator of the Power Coins, who gives them new Ninja Coins and the even more powerful Ninjazords.[18]
Later, an Australian girl named Katherine Hillard moves to Angel Grove. She befriends Kimberly, and displays an intense affection for Tommy. Later it is found that Rita had captured Katherine and put her under a powerful spell. As a result, she steals Kimberly's Crane Coin, vastly weakening the Pink Ranger whose life force, like that of the other Ninja Rangers, is connected to their Ninja Coins. Katherine eventually overcomes the spell, and gives the coin back to Kimberly. Having already been disconnected from the Crane Coin and Zordon's declaration that her time as a Ranger has ended, Kimberly now has a chance to pursue her personal athletic dreams. She leaves to train for the Pan Globals, deciding to entrust the Crane Coin to Katherine, making her the new Pink Ranger. Though her initial fear and hesitation keeps her from contributing fully to the fight against evil, Katherine eventually becomes both more comfortable and capable of fulfilling her duty as a Ranger.[19][20][21]
After several more battles, Zedd and Rita are joined by Rita's father, Master Vile. Following his failed attempts to defeat the Rangers, he reverses time, turning the Rangers into powerless children. These events culminate in the mini-series Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers, which leads to the next incarnation of the Power Rangers franchise entitled Power Rangers: Zeo.[22]
The Dinozords are the first Zords that the Power Rangers have access to. They consist of the Tyrannosaurus, Mastodon, Triceratops, Saber-Toothed Tiger, and Pterodactyl, which together form the original Megazord. Later on, the Dragonzord is added to the Dinozord team.
When the Dinozords are frozen and taken over by Lord Zedd, Alpha 5 causes a refraction of energy that transforms the Dinozords into more powerful Thunderzords. They consist of the Red Dragon, Lion, Unicorn, Griffin, and Firebird, which together form the Thunder Megazord. Later on, the Tigerzord is added to the Thunderzord team.
When the Thunderzords are destroyed by Rito Revolto, leaving their original Power Coins severely damaged, the Rangers seek out Ninjor, who gives them new Power Coins which give them access to their new Ninjazords. They consist of the Ape, Frog, Wolf, Bear, and Crane (which together form the Ninja Megazord), as well as the Falconzord
When Zedd kidnaps Ninjor and steals the Falconzord (with help from a then-evil Katherine), he uses Ninjor as a power source for the Shogunzords and copies the Ninjazords' battle technology using the Falconzord. With Kimberly in captivity, he forces the Rangers into using the Shogunzords for evil, but this fails to pan out when Billy finds a way to use the Ninja Coins to obtain control of them. They consist of the Red, Black, Blue, Yellow, and White Shogunzords, which together form the Shogun Megazord.
Despite the show's high popularity, it was also subject to much controversy from parents who felt the show was too violent for young children. Note that this was before television stations issued content warnings, the V-chip, and television ratings. In the USA, numerous complaints were sent to the FCC. In 1993, YTV obtained the Canadian broadcast rights to Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, which played to a receptive audience on weekday afternoons, trailing the American broadcast by several months. However, due to complaints sent to the recently formed Canadian Broadcast Standards Council, YTV removed the series from their line-up due to its violent content.[23] Despite not actually being a member of the CBSC board, YTV complied and pulled the series before the end of its first season. While a phone-in poll was conducted to see if viewers wanted MMPR back on YTV, no further installments of the Power Rangers franchise ever aired on the network, although commercials for toys and videos were advertised on the network.[24] Newer versions of the series are run on Family.[25]
In Malaysia, as part of its campaign against drugs, the word "Morphin" is censored, by substituting or muting footage where the word is spoken (the phrase "It's morphin' time") or displayed onscreen, for fear that it could encourage children to become addicted with the uses of morphine. When it was broadcast on RTM (along with its toy commercials), it was called "Mighty Power Rangers," or simply Power Rangers or "Power Ranger." Litt Tak, Malaysia-based distributor of the Power Rangers toys since the first broadcast of MMPR, has advertised the same second season toyline for the third season. In 2005, Litt Tak has turned its attention from the distribution of the toys under the Power Rangers brand, in favor of the toys under the Super Sentai series starting from Ninpuu Sentai Hurricanger, whose footage was used in Power Rangers: Ninja Storm.[26]
In 1994, the New Zealand Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) upheld several complaints from members of the public about the level of violence in the show. The main concern of those complainants was that the show portrayed violence as the primary means of resolving conflict, and that this was influencing children to behave more violently more frequently. Immediately following the BSA decision, the second season of the show was all but canceled by Television New Zealand.[23] New Zealand is the only country in the world where this show has been prematurely withdrawn from public broadcast to date.[27] DVD and video releases of the more recent Power Rangers series that were filmed in New Zealand can be found at The Warehouse, although general sales through video stores and other retailers are scarce. Later series in the Power Rangers franchise, such as Power Rangers: Mystic Force and Power Rangers: Jungle Fury, were filmed in New Zealand, but the programs were still not shown in the country.
When brought up on VH1's I Love the '90s, the original cast members interviewed (Amy Jo Johnson, Walter Emanuel Jones) as well as other celebrity commentators, mentioned that the original line-up had Jones' role as the Black Ranger and Thuy Trang's role as the Yellow Ranger as the actors and characters were of African and Asian descent, respectively.
| New television show | Power Rangers 1993 – 1995 |
Succeeded by Alien Rangers |
| Preceded by RPM |
Power Rangers (Re-version) 2010 |
Succeeded by TBA |
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