parent nodes: 2002 | Jack Judah | Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers | Mighty Morphin Power Rangers | Power Rangers
Power Rangers is a series of children's television series, based on the Super Sentai series of shows. However, it is not a dub: the series is often presented with different actors and different storylines.
Plot
Each of the Power Rangers series, or incarnations, centers around a group of people, often teenagers, that gain super powers to fight various villains, ranging from demons to witches to aliens. To activate these powers, these characters, known in general as the Power Rangers, morph by performing a standard action and reciting a morphing call. Throughout the series, the Power Rangers learn the importance of teamwork and perseverance as they battle progressively harder to defeat villains. Like its Super Sentai counterpart, from which some of an episode's footage is taken, a monster is unleashed on the Power Rangers and it is usually up to them to destroy the monster.
Often, before a monster is defeated, a monster will grow into gigantic proportions, forcing the Power Rangers to use gigantic (bio)mechanical machines known as zords. In many cases, these zords can be combined to form a more advanced (and humanlike) machine, known as a megazord. In many series, because of the way zords are combined, the Power Rangers may also use interchangeable parts to enhance their fighting power, or combine megazords together to form larger megazords.
In each incarnation of the Power Rangers series, there are generally people outside the Power Rangers aiding their cause. Among them is a mentor or teacher figure to help lead the Power Rangers, as well as a technical wizard or magician who design the various tools used by the Power Rangers. Characters for comedy relief are generally also present, with such characters attempting to discover the identities of the Power Rangers, and nearly succeeding on several occasions.
The Rangers themselves are often color-coded, with each Ranger wearing its color even when unmorphed. In some series, a jacket is given to the Power Rangers to distinguish them from non-Ranger characters. Typically, red, blue, green, black, yellow, and pink are the colors used. In series where new Power Rangers are introduced, these new Power Rangers often do not follow the color naming conventions (for example, the Quantum Ranger in Power Rangers Time Force).
Each team of Power Rangers, with few exceptions, obey a general set of conventions, outlined at the beginning of Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers and implied throughout many of the other incarnations, although not stated explicitly. These include the Power Rangers being forbidden to use their Ranger powers for personal gain or for escalating a fight. The Power Rangers are also forbidden to disclose their identities to the general public, barring extenuating circumstances.
The arsenal available to the Power Rangers is also somewhat standardized: each Ranger is generally armed with a weapon such as a laser gun or a sword. Each Ranger ]]-has also a secondary set of weapons, that can combine to form a larger weapon (usually a cannon). As the series progresses, each Ranger is also usually given a motorcycle for long-distance travel, as well as individual zords. In many series, a Ranger is also given additional zords or weapons that other Rangers may not have - an example of this is the Red Ranger armor given to the Red Rangers of each series. Although much of the arsenal can also be found in Super Sentai, there is generally at least one that is not.
In later incarnations it is also common for each incarnation to be separate, story-wise, from another incarnation. A tradition in later incarnations is for two teams of Power Rangers to team up and take on a villain. In Power Rangers Wild Force, the tenth incarnation of Power Rangers, this is taken to the next level, as ten Red Rangers teamed up in the episode Forever Red.
Criticisms
Many critics of the early Power Rangers series claimed that the Power Rangers use unnecessary force to destroy their monsters, and often get into fights when better alternatives were available. In some cases, networks often pulled Power Rangers from its lineup, citing such concerns. Later incarnations of Power Rangers often attempt to explain the actions of the Power Rangers, but many still believe that Power Rangers remains a series too violent for young children.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993-1996)
Mighty Morphin' Alien Rangers (1996)
Power Rangers Zeo (1996)
Power Rangers Turbo (1997)
Power Rangers in Space (1998)
Power Rangers Lost Galaxy (1999)
Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue (2000)
Power Rangers Time Force (2001)
Power Rangers Wild Force (2002)
The Power Rangers series have also brought forth two movies, neither of which were box-office successes.
Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: The Movie (1995)
Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie (1997)