I have been planning this post for a while, since June actually. I know this is a controversial topic. There seems to be a divide between Power Ranger fans and Super Sentai fans. There are indeed fans that like both Power Rangers and Super Sentai but it is a small group. I do know that at least more than half of Power Force know Sentai and like both PR and Sentai, others just know Power Rangers but have no problems with Sentai. When some people mention that Power Rangers and Super Sentai are the same thing, most fans get angry. It can be both sides, the Sentai fan could get insulted or the Power Ranger fan would get insulted. Power Rangers fans mostly like when shows take a departure from the Sentai, hence the dislike of Samurai and consensus of love for RPM and In Space.
But I bring this up because now with Super Megaforce using footage and material from Gokaiger, we are starting to see Super Sentai from before Zyuranger (other wise Pre-Zyu or Pre-MMPR) spill into the US. Jetman Figuarts are starting to be available in the United States. The new Universe of Hope cards (that have been delayed a SECOND time to July 26th) have Goranger and Sun Vulcan characters on it. Also, Dairanger seen in a marketing teaser for Super Megaforce, an episode of Megaforce and US Ranger Keys made for them. So it's all starting to come together, it is getting harder and harder to tell the difference between them... just kidding. But you know what I mean, they are getting closer and closer after years of being distinctly different. At least visually.
Differences
Obvious differences are that one series is in English set in the United States but the other is in Japanese set in Japan. Where as the majority of Super Sentai members being Japanese (Kyoryu Cyan being White and Houhouranger being half Chinese and other characters like that), Power Rangers usually have diverse groups of different ethnicities (especially with New Zealand and Australian actors). Power Rangers of course have less teams than Power Rangers and Dairanger suits were not used but MAYBE that will change come Super Megaforce. Also, there VRV Master of Carranger upgraded to a Ranger as Phantom Ranger in Power Rangers Turbo. Titanium Ranger, the Spirit Rangers and A-Squad Rangers are exclusive to PR. Also, the Battlizers (save for the SPD one), new cycles and other different items and armors. In Japan, it has been a tradition to have a movie annually of the current series (usually double-billed with a Kamen Rider movie) whereas in the US, the last movie was Turbo. And now Teamups which are annual tradition, are also in theaters. Teamups usually are part of the episode count in Power Rangers, save for "Clash of the Red Rangers" which was a TV Special.
Obviously they use the same footage. Basically we are dealing with a team of 3 or 5 young people who transform with either a handheld item or wrist brace (etc.) and fight grunts, then a monster of the day. The monster of the day grows and they enter robots that combine to save the day. And they usually get new members added to the team. Also the rotating actors year by year.
What Power Ranger fans don't like about Sentai
"Too Goofy." This is what I hear often when people who never seen Sentai talk about Sentai. It is the cultural differences. People find it weird. What can be weird? Is it the cross-dressing? Is it the Anime-like visual effects at time (Abaranger, Go-Onger, etc.)? Is it the talking dinos (Abaranger) or talking cars (Go-Onger)? Could it be that the whole cast starts dancing and singing at the ending titles? (Hurricanger, Magiranger, Go-Onger, Kyoryuger, Go-Busters, etc.) But it doesn't happen every year. Or could it be the balloon-monster (Go-Onger) or the cutie monster (Boukenger) or various ridiculous monsters? A lot of people don't understand it if they don't understand the Japanese culture.
"Too water-down and specifically aimed for children by scared American parents." Super Sentai fans find that Power Rangers has been 'watered down' or a softer simpler version of Sentai. That it is made in fear that kids would imitate violence (hence explosions that appear behind people in the Disney era) and imitate behavior. Also, all the death and consequences are cut out. Many Rangers have died in Sentai, there are characters that are perverts or otherwise, there is guns and real bullets and oh also blood. The above picture from Mystic Force, Necrolai is looking at piles of feathers that used to be the Power Rangers thanks to a MotD, in Magiranger, the monster created a parasite in people's stomachs that killed them.
MORE after the 'jump.'
MORE after the 'jump.'
Power Rangers 20th Anniversary Merchandise
Super Sentai are starting to slip into Power Rangers through merchandise, mostly because Gokaiger covers the past 35 years of Super Sentai and some elements have been slowly seeping in for the 20th anniversary of Power Rangers. Andy of Action Card Game Facebook page says these were approved by Saban and that they are just shoutouts to Sentai fans, doesn't mean they will be in the show.
Red Megaforce Ranger (with VulEagle of Sun Vulcan -- Rangercrew.com exclusive)
At the SDCC preview, TokuNation reported that the ShishiRanger of Dairanger key was at the Bandai display.
Last year at SDCC, they had the Ryuuranger helmet to the right.
Red Hawk Figuart is already available at Toysrus.com and Black Condor Figuart will be available soon. They are from Jetman.
Super Sentai characters in the Power Rangers Monolopy
Picture from FuryDiamond of Megaforcecast
Power Rangers in Korea
In South Korea, as I have mentioned before, show Super Sentai show with the Power Rangers name. In the opening sequence theme song, they use the Super Sentai song (for example Boukenger) but replace the name Boukenger with Power Rangers. Why would Bandai use the Power Rangers name but use Super Sentai show? Well my theory is that it is better to use Asian faces better than American ones to localize the show, also maybe they don't want to use the Japanese names but American names to have it be more accessible. The Koreans don't like Japanese, it is the main reason that Shinkenger wasn't adapted because it was 'too Japanese.' Believe it or not, Bandai (the entire company) counts considers profits of Super Sentai and Power Rangers internationally all clumped as 'Power Rangers.'
Lavender Ranger's Opinions
People might get insulted but I do see Power Rangers and Super Sentai not as the same exact thing but in the same grouping and genre. Power Rangers is a rare series in a class of their own, as it is imported but no dubbed. In the case of Digimon, Sailor Moon, Pokemon and other Japanese material, it is just dubbed. Sometimes its localized and they change some things around and basically the same series, just translated. With Power Rangers, they take Super Sentai footage, put on the mute button and edit it and not use all of it. They use their own actors and create their own stories and move it all around. So in a sense, Go-Onger isn't RPM and RPM is not Go-Onger but they do look alike. With Samurai and Shinkenger, they are very similar, same story, same twists, same plot lines, but different actors and different order and pace of said twists and plot. I am NOT saying that they PR and Sentai are the SAME EXACT thing. But I am saying since they use the same footage, same costumes and themes, so they are in the same family, closer than brother and sister, maybe like brother and brother like a year apart.
I am not saying that Power Rangers are becoming Super Sentai and Super Sentai is becoming Power Rangers. I am not saying they ever would. But I don't like all this fighting. I want the fandoms to unite. I think both can co-exist in peace, ha ha. I hate the thinking 'this one is better than another.' Maybe one could be handled more like the other or visa versa. I have been told by some fans that I unite the fandoms. The point of the name 'Henshin Grid' was 'Henshin' from Sentai and other Tokusatsu and 'Grid' from 'Morphin Grid' from Power Rangers. I guess healthy competition is not a bad thing. But completely hating one is like hating the one you love, if that makes many sense. They are made from the same cloth in my opinion.
Related: http://henshingrid.blogspot.com/2013/06/power-rangers-in-south-korea-super.html | http://henshingrid.blogspot.com/2013/07/dairanger-in-super-megaforce.htmlI am not saying that Power Rangers are becoming Super Sentai and Super Sentai is becoming Power Rangers. I am not saying they ever would. But I don't like all this fighting. I want the fandoms to unite. I think both can co-exist in peace, ha ha. I hate the thinking 'this one is better than another.' Maybe one could be handled more like the other or visa versa. I have been told by some fans that I unite the fandoms. The point of the name 'Henshin Grid' was 'Henshin' from Sentai and other Tokusatsu and 'Grid' from 'Morphin Grid' from Power Rangers. I guess healthy competition is not a bad thing. But completely hating one is like hating the one you love, if that makes many sense. They are made from the same cloth in my opinion.
