Super Sentai

The is a Japanese superhero team media franchise consisting of television series and films produced by Toei Company and Bandai, and aired by TV Asahi. The shows are of the '' tokusatsu'' genre, featuring live action characters and colorful special effects, and are aimed at children, teens and young adults. ''Super Sentai'' airs alongside the '' Kamen Rider'' series in the Super Hero Time programming block on Sunday mornings. In North America, the ''Super Sentai'' series is best known as the source material for the '' Power Rangers'' series.

Series overview

In every ''Super Sentai'' series, the protagonists are a team of people who – using either wrist-worn or hand-held devices – transform into superheroes and gain superpowers – color-coded uniforms, signature weapons, sidearms, and fighting skills – to battle a group of otherworldly supervillains that threaten to take over the Earth. In a typical episode, the heroes thwart the enemies' plans and defeat an army of enemy soldiers and the monster of the week before an enlarged version of the monster confronts them, only to be defeated once again when the heroes fight it with their super robot mecha.

For a time, ''Sentai'' series chose to set themselves in their own unique fictional universes; however, beginning in the 1990's, incarnations have retroactively made it so nearly every ''Sentai'' series has occurred within the same universe with rare exceptions, and modern series now maintain that nearly all ''Sentai'' series (as well as a majority of Toei's other ''tokusatsu'' hero series) occur in the same setting, just with the other series not commonly referenced when unneeded to allow a running series to tell the story its creators wish to without the need to actively factor decades of continuity in. Beginning with ''J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai vs. Gorenger'', Various TV, video, and film specials as well as in-canon storyline episodes feature a team-up among two or more teams, often clarifying and maintaining the now-commonplace inter-series continuity, which makes it difficult to dis-associate the greater franchise's entries from each other unless a specific entry detaches itself from the greater majority. The ''Sentai'' series ''Zenkaiger'' proposed that both a standalone and unified perspective of ''Sentai'' continuity is simultaneously true; that there are worlds where just any ''Sentai'' series occurs in a standalone format, as well as the main timeline in which Toei's series collectively occur; generally seen as a way for Toei to acknowledge their own longstanding inconsistencies and continuity errors with regards to the writing of team-up events and the changing expectations of storytelling over time.

The first two ''Super Sentai'' series were created by Shotaro Ishinomori, then known for the 1971–1973 '' Kamen Rider'' TV series and the long-running manga '' Cyborg 009''. He developed '' Himitsu Sentai Gorenger'', which ran from 1975 to 1977, and '' J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai'', released in 1977. Toei Company put the franchise on hiatus in 1978, collaborating with Marvel Comics to produce a live-action '' Spider-Man'' series, which added giant robots to the concept of ''tokusatsu'' shows. The giant robot concept was carried over to Toei and Marvel's next show, '' Battle Fever J'', released in 1979, and was then used throughout the ''Super Sentai'' series. The next two series '' Denshi Sentai Denjiman'' and '' Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan'' had Marvel copyrights and co-productions, despite no influence. Subsequently, the remainder of the series has been solely produced by Toei Company.

Productions

Main series

The following is a list of the ''Super Sentai'' series and their years of broadcast:

Theatrical releases

* 1975: '' Himitsu Sentai Gorenger'' (Movie version of episode 6)
* 1975: ''Himitsu Sentai Gorenger: The Blue Fortress'' (Movie version of episode 15)
* 1976: ''Himitsu Sentai Gorenger: The Red Death Match'' (Movie version of episode 36)
* 1976: ''Himitsu Sentai Gorenger: The Bomb Hurricane''
* 1976: ''Himitsu Sentai Gorenger: Fire Mountain's Final Explosion'' (Movie version of episode 54)
* 1977: '' J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai'' (Movie version of episode 7)
* 1978: '' J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai vs. Gorenger''
* 1979: '' Battle Fever J'' (Movie version of episode 5)
* 1980: '' Denshi Sentai Denjiman''
* 1981: '' Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan''
* 1982: '' Dai Sentai Goggle-V''
* 1983: '' Kagaku Sentai Dynaman''
* 1984: '' Choudenshi Bioman''
* 1985: '' Dengeki Sentai Changeman''
* 1985: ''Dengeki Sentai Changeman: Shuttle Base! Crisis!''
* 1986: '' Choushinsei Flashman''
* 1987: ''Choushinsei Flashman: Big Rally! Titan Boy!!'' (Movie version of episodes 15–18)
* 1987: '' Hikari Sentai Maskman''
* 1989: '' Kousoku Sentai Turboranger''
* 1993: '' Gosei Sentai Dairanger''
* 1994: '' Ninja Sentai Kakuranger''
* 1994: '' Super Sentai World''
* 1994: ''Toei Hero Daishugō''
* 1995: '' Chouriki Sentai Ohranger''
* 2001: '' Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger: The Fire Mountain Roars''
* 2002: ''Ninpu Sentai Hurricanger: Shushutto The Movie''
* 2003: ''Bakuryū Sentai Abaranger DELUXE: Abare Summer is Freezing Cold!''
* 2004: '' Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger The Movie: Full Blast Action''
* 2005: ''Mahō Sentai Magiranger The Movie: Bride of Infershia ~Maagi Magi Giruma Jinga~''
* 2006: '' GoGo Sentai Boukenger The Movie: The Greatest Precious''
* 2007: '' Juken Sentai Gekiranger: Nei-Nei! Hou-Hou! Hong Kong Decisive Battle''
* 2008: '' Engine Sentai Go-onger: Boom Boom! Bang Bang! GekijōBang!!''
* 2009: '' Engine Sentai Go-onger vs. Gekiranger''
* 2009: '' Samurai Sentai Shinkenger the Movie: The Fateful War''
* 2010: '' Samurai Sentai Shinkenger vs. Go-onger: GinmakuBang!!''
* 2010: '' Tensou Sentai Goseiger: Epic on the Movie''
* 2011: '' Tensou Sentai Goseiger vs. Shinkenger: Epic on Ginmaku''
* 2011: '' Gokaiger Goseiger Super Sentai 199 Hero Great Battle''
* 2011: '' Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger the Movie: The Flying Ghost Ship''
* 2012: '' Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger vs. Space Sheriff Gavan: The Movie''
* 2012: '' Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Super Hero Taisen''
* 2012: '' Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters the Movie: Protect the Tokyo Enetower!''
* 2013: '' Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters vs. Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger: The Movie''
* 2013: '' Kamen Rider × Super Sentai × Space Sheriff: Super Hero Taisen Z''
* 2013: '' Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger: Gaburincho of Music''
* 2014: '' Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger vs. Go-Busters: The Great Dinosaur Battle! Farewell Our Eternal Friends''
* 2014: '' Heisei Riders vs. Shōwa Riders: Kamen Rider Taisen feat. Super Sentai''
* 2014: '' Ressha Sentai ToQger the Movie: Galaxy Line S.O.S.''
* 2015: '' Ressha Sentai ToQger vs. Kyoryuger: The Movie''
* 2015: '' Super Hero Taisen GP: Kamen Rider 3''
* 2015: '' Shuriken Sentai Ninninger the Movie: The Dinosaur Lord's Splendid Ninja Scroll!''
* 2016: '' Shuriken Sentai Ninninger vs. ToQger the Movie: Ninja in Wonderland''
* 2016: '' Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger the Movie: The Exciting Circus Panic!''
* 2017: '' Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger vs. Ninninger the Movie: Super Sentai's Message from the Future''
* 2017: ''Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Ultra Super Hero Taisen''
* 2017: ''Uchu Sentai Kyuranger the Movie: Gase Indaver Strikes Back''
* 2018: ''Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger en Film''
* 2019: ''Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger the Movie: Time Slip! Dinosaur Panic''
* 2020: '' Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger VS Lupinranger VS Patranger''
* 2020: ''Mashin Sentai Kiramager: Episode Zero''
* 2021: ''Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger Special Chapter: Memory of Soulmates''
* 2021: ''Mashin Sentai Kiramager The Movie: Bee-Bop Dream''
* 2021: ''Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger The Movie: Red Battle! All Sentai Rally!!''
* 2021: '' Saber + Zenkaiger: Superhero Senki''
* 2022: ''Avataro Sentai Donbrothers The Movie: New First Love Hero''
* 2023: ''Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger the Movie: Adventure Heaven''
* 2024: ''Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger GekijōBoon! Promise the Circuit ''
* 2025: ''No.1 Sentai Gozyuger the Movie''

V-Cinema releases

* 1996: '' Chōriki Sentai Ohranger: Ohré vs. Kakuranger''
* 1997: '' Gekisou Sentai Carranger vs. Ohranger''
* 1998: '' Denji Sentai Megaranger vs. Carranger''
* 1999: '' Seijuu Sentai Gingaman vs. Megaranger''
* 1999: '' Kyuukyuu Sentai GoGoFive: Sudden Shock! A New Warrior!''
* 2000: '' Kyuukyuu Sentai GoGoFive vs. Gingaman''
* 2001: '' Mirai Sentai Timeranger vs. GoGoFive''
* 2001: '' Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai''
* 2003: ''Ninpu Sentai Hurricanger vs. Gaoranger''
* 2004: ''Bakuryū Sentai Abaranger vs. Hurricanger''
* 2005: '' Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger vs. Abaranger''
* 2006: ''Mahō Sentai Magiranger vs. Dekaranger''
* 2007: '' GoGo Sentai Boukenger vs. Super Sentai''
* 2008: '' Juken Sentai Gekiranger vs. Boukenger''
* 2010: '' Samurai Sentai Shinkenger Returns''
* 2011: '' Tensou Sentai Goseiger Returns''
* 2013: '' Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters Returns vs. Dōbutsu Sentai Go-Busters''
* 2013: ''Ninpu Sentai Hurricanger: 10 Years After''
* 2014: ''Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger: 100 Years After''
* 2015: ''Ressha Sentai ToQger Returns''
* 2015: ''Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger: 10 Years After''
* 2016: '' Shuriken Sentai Ninninger Returns''
* 2017: '' Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger Returns: Give Me Your Life! Earth Champion Tournament''
* 2017: '' Space Squad: Uchuu Keiji Gavan vs. Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger''
* 2017: ''Uchu Sentai Kyuranger: Episode of Stinger''
* 2018: '' Uchu Sentai Kyuranger vs. Space Squad''
* 2018: ''Engine Sentai Go-Onger: 10 Years Grand Prix''
* 2019: '' Lupinranger VS Patranger VS Kyuranger''
* 2021: ''Kiramager VS Ryusoulger''
* 2021: '' Kaizoku Sentai: Ten Gokaiger''
* 2022: ''Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger vs. Kiramager vs. Senpaiger''
* 2023: ''Avataro Sentai Donbrothers VS Zenkaiger''
* 2023: ''Ninpu Sentai Hurricanger Degozaru! Shushuuto 20th Anniversary''
* 2023: ''Bakuryu Sentai Abaranger 20th: The Unforgivable Abare''
* 2024: ''Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger 20th: Fireball Booster''
* 2024: ''Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger vs. Donbrothers''
* 2024: ''Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger vs. Kyoryuger''
* 2025: ''Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger vs. King-Ohger''
* 2026: No.1 Sentai Gozyuger vs. Boonboomger

Spin offs / extras

* 2012-2013: '' Unofficial Sentai Akibaranger''
* 2017: '' Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger Brave''
* 2021: ''The High School Heroes''

Distribution and overseas adaptations

Although the ''Super Sentai'' series originated in Japan, various ''Sentai'' series have been imported and dubbed in other languages for broadcast in several other countries.

United States

After Honolulu's KIKU-TV had success with '' Android Kikaider'' (marketed as ''Kikaida'') and '' Kamen Rider V3'' in the 1970s, multiple ''Super Sentai'' series, including ''Himitsu Sentai Gorenger'' and '' Battle Fever J'', were brought to the Hawaiian market, broadcast in Japanese with English subtitles by JN Productions. In 1985, Marvel Comics produced a pilot for an American adaptation of ''Super Sentai'', but the show was rejected by the major American TV networks. In 1986, Saban Productions produced a pilot for an American adaptation of ''Choudenshi Bioman'' titled ''Bio Man''. In 1987, some episodes of '' Kagaku Sentai Dynaman'' were dubbed and aired as a parody on the USA Network television show '' Night Flight''.

In 1993, American production company Saban Entertainment adapted 1992's '' Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger'' into '' Mighty Morphin Power Rangers'' for the Fox Kids programming block, combining the original Japanese action footage with new footage featuring American actors for the story sequences. Since then, nearly every ''Super Sentai'' series that followed became a new season of ''Power Rangers''. In 2002, Saban sold the ''Power Rangers'' franchise to Disney's Buena Vista division, who owned it until 2010, broadcasting ''Power Rangers'' on ABC Kids, ABC Family, Jetix, and Toon Disney. On 12 May 2010, Saban bought the franchise back from Disney, moving the show to the Nickelodeon network for 2011 with '' Power Rangers Samurai''.

On 25 July 2014, Shout! Factory announced that they would release ''Zyuranger'' on DVD in the United States. They have since been the official distributor of ''Super Sentai'' in North America, and as of 2024 have released all subsequent series up to ''Dekaranger'', plus ''Jetman'' and ''Fiveman''. Shout! also provides episodes on demand via Shout! TV since 2016. ''Super Sentai'' episodes are also available to watch on the free streaming service, Tubi.

On 1 May 2018, toy company Hasbro announced they had acquired the ''Power Rangers'' franchise from Saban Capital Group for $522 million.

South Korea

''Super Sentai'' has been broadcast in South Korea, dubbed in Korean. The first such series was ''Choushinsei Flashman'' which aired as ''Jigu Bangwidae Flash Man'' (''Earth Defence Squadron Flashman''), released in video format in 1989 by the Daeyung Panda video company; this was followed by ''Hikari Sentai Maskman'' and ''Chodenshi Bioman''. Throughout the 1990s, ''Dai Sentai Goggle Five'', ''Dengeki Sentai Changeman'', ''Choujyu Sentai Liveman'', and ''Kousoku Sentai Turboranger'' were also released in video format. In the 2000s and early 2010s, Tooniverse (formerly Orion Cartoon Network), JEI-TV (Jaeneung Television), Champ TV/Anione TV (Daewon Broadcasting), Cartoon Network South Korea, and Nickelodeon South Korea have broadcast ''Super Sentai'' series a year following their original Japanese broadcast, but have changed the titles to "Power Rangers".

Merchandise

, Bandai Namco has sold ''Super Sentai'' shape-changing model robots since 1979.

Notes

References

External links

*
Toei Video's Super Sentai DVD Soft Guide

Bandai's Super Sentai website

Shout! Factory's Official Super Sentai website

{{Subject bar , portal1=1970s, portal2=1980s, portal3=1990s, portal4=2000s, portal5=2010s, portal6=2020s, portal7=Television, commons=y , d=y

Bandai brands
Extraterrestrial superheroes
Fiction about size change
Teen superhero television series
Japanese drama television series
Mass media franchises introduced in 1975
Toei tokusatsu