Zyu2

This article is about a specially recorded Japanese source material in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

Zyu2 is a fan coined term referring to Japanese footage filmed exclusively for use in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

History

Rita in scene from Zyu2 footage.

Before the series had began, Saban had Toei film scenes involving the villains (with both Machiko Soga and Ami Kawai reprising their Zyuranger roles as Rita Repulsa and Scorpina respectively). These scenes were of noticeably higher quality than Zyuranger footage, and were used in order to better match lip movements with the voices provided (some examples, Rita's now famous phrase of "Magic Wand, make my monster/Goldar grow", Rita yelling at her henchmen after her monsters get destroyed, and Scorpina calling for the Putty Patrollers to attack the Rangers) and extend the amount of footage available of the villains.

Scorpina in scene from Zyu2 footage

The original first season of the show was given a 40-episode run and meant to end with the series finale "Doomsday". In the original script which was faithful to its Zyuranger counterpart, the Evil Witch Bandora (Rita Repulsa) was going to resurrect her deceased son Kai, who was reportedly going to be named Bubba, using the power of Great Satan (Lokar), and was going to drive the colossal driving force Dora Talos (Cyclopsis).

However due to the show's unforeseen popularity, Saban was willing to continue with the show and rewrote "Doomsday", giving it a less dramatic climax with the mechanized robot being given to Grifforzer (Goldar), and the Rangers being given a choice to keep their powers. However as the show had exhausted all Zyuranger footage at this point, Saban commissioned Toei Corporation (the producers of Super Sentai) and Rainbow Productions (the makers of the monsters suits) to produce new footage with new monsters, in-suit battles, and mecha fights to splice into Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Along with the footage, Saban also sanctioned an American band for new music, typically rock or heavy metal to appeal to the mainstream audience.

Differences between Zyu2 and Zyuranger

It was also requested that themes present in the Power Rangers series were placed in the new footage. There are four main significant differences between the original Zyuranger footage and the Zyu 2 footage, plus other minor differences.

Power Rangers technology

Whereas the Zyurangers relied on magic, the Power Rangers used technology. This was incorporated in the Zyu2 footage. For example, whereas the Zyurangers communicated telepathically, the Power Rangers used wrist-worn communicators that they had to put up to their mouths. This was shown during the fight scenes.

Furthermore, the Power Rangers used teleportation to travel to destinations instantly. The Zyu2 footage accommodated for this change by showing the Rangers doing a particular pose right before they teleported, along with fading to the empty setting to facilitate adding the effect.

Green and Pink Rangers

As requested the relationship between the Green and Pink Rangers was present in the Zyu2 footage. During many battles the two would show certain signs of affection for one another, something that never happened in Zyuranger.

Examples of this include:

• In the battles against Guitardo and Dramole where the Pink Ranger was in danger, the Green Ranger rescued her.
• In the second part of the Guitardo battle, the Pink Ranger rescued the Green Ranger.
• The Pink Ranger also displays affection by clutching his arm and always staying close to him.
• In Green No More, when the Green Ranger had been spit out of Turbanshell's belly, the Pink Ranger ran to his side in slow motion, as she was concerned for his safety more than any other Ranger was.

Blue Ranger

Blue Ranger wielding an Anti-Sonic Foam Gun in Grumble Bee

In Zyuranger, TriceraRanger is the comic relief while MammothRanger is the intelligent one. In Power Rangers, the Black Ranger is the comic relief while the Blue Ranger is the "smart one". Saban requested that the new footage showed the Blue Ranger's intelligence, thereby giving his morphed form a whole new personality.

Many episodes had the Blue Ranger use special gadgets, weapons and machines to win battles. Particular examples include the fights against Saliguana and Pirantishead, both where the inventions malfunction and the Blue Ranger fixes them. Furthermore, in "Green No More", the Green Ranger hands the laser gun to the Blue Ranger, showing that the Blue Ranger actually designed the gun.

However, elements of the original Zyuranger character remained:

• When apparently MammothRanger designed the fire extinguisher (or at least in conjunction with TriceraRanger), the comic relief element remained in his snafu with the batteries in the signal blocker
• He had two mirrors to use against monsters
• His penchant for charging headfirst into battle.

In Power Rangers, the Blue Ranger is the most timid and hesitant in battles, with the new footage taking this into account, such as in the battle against the Goo Fish.

Yellow Ranger

The Pink and Yellow Ranger.

Though Zyu2 does not have a woman portraying the Yellow Ranger, there are female characteristics:

• Displaying a bond with the Pink Ranger that only female companions usually share (the battle against Bloom of Doom).
• Other minor examples, like the Yellow and Pink Rangers posing or teleporting with their legs together while the males keep theirs apart.

Technical quality

On a technical level, fans have noticed a change in pacing in the fights between the Zords and the monsters of the week between Zyu2 and Zyuranger. Whereas Zyuranger's Zord battles were more lively and fast-paced, Zyu2's were slower and more deliberate.

Below is an example of the difference in fight pacing:

Zyuranger

Zyu2

Gosei Sentai Dairanger Switchover

While episodes of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers continued to air in America using the new Zyu2 footage, negotiations were underway with Toei to obtain footage from Gosei Sentai Dairanger. This meant that in-battle footage would be filmed in America and the Zords would change to Dairen'Oh, the mecha used in Dairanger so the Japanese mecha footage could be used (and, coincidentally, seen with Daizyujin in the previously mentioned Super Sentai World).

Gosei Sentai Dairanger footage was obtained in time to be used in episode 61 (2x01) of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. However, Saban had not yet exhausted all of the Zyu2 footage, so in episode 61, a new villain (Lord Zedd) was introduced. The remainder of the Zyu2 monster and Ranger footage was spliced with newly made American footage of the Zyu2 monsters and the Power Rangers morphed and in battle. One of the most obvious examples of this is in episode 2x07 ("The Power Stealer") when Zyu2 footage of the Red and Blue rangers fighting the Octophantom was used, while close-up shots of the remaining Rangers (who were captured at the time) were filmed in America surrounded by the American-only Z Putty Patrollers, as opposed to Rita's regular putties. Though equivalent footage was filmed by Toei with the original putties (albeit without the Green Ranger), it could not be used under the circumstances.

The usage of Zyu2 proved difficult to use when Saban chose to switch from the old Dino Zords to Chi-Beasts from Gosei Sentai Dairanger (the Thunderzords) prematurely in episode 63 when Zyu2 footage was still being used. The difficulty came when Japanese footage of Dairen'Oh was spliced with Japanese footage of the Zyu2 monsters, as they could not be seen fighting the Daizyujin (original Megazord). Most Zord battles from this time would only show the monster attacking using mostly lasers and beams, followed by a shot of just the Thunderzords taking the damage. This did not always work, however, as the monster could occasionally be seen making physical contact with the old Megazord, such as in "The Mutiny" (when Pirantishead is electrocuting Daizyujin on the ground), or in "The Ninja Encounter" (when the old Megazord was seen as the Thunder Megazord was blasted, then seen again when the Thunder Megazord had the sword out). The monster would also sometimes be shown close-up receiving a quick punch from the Thunder Megazord with its fist taking on the appearance of the original Megazord's (a single exception lies in the battle against Octophantom, where its fist is seen punching the Thunder Megazord's chest in footage shot by Saban).

A further challenge lied in the fact that the Season 2 battles against Primator and TurbanShell featured the Dragonzord in action, the Green Ranger's Zord being part of the original Zyu2 battle footage. These were the only true cases where a mecha could directly be seen battling the enemy because of the change in Megazords, with no footage showing the Thunder Megazord and Dragonzord together directly.

In the Season 2 episodes which utilized the Dairanger/Zyu2 hybrid footage, when it came to finishing the monster, the Dairanger stock footage of the Thunder Megazord's eyes lighting up then charging and "firing" its Thunder Saber would be used. However, to reconcile with the clashing Zyu2 footage, the American production team digitally added a "pulsing-laser slash" striking the monster, which then fell backwards and exploded, followed immediately by stock footage of the Thunder Megazord turning around and returning its sword to the hilt. Saban would reuse this effect for the mostly American-filmed Zord battle of Season 3's "A Friend in Need".

Zyu2 Monsters

The monsters are listed as the Sentai name on the left,[Citation needed] and the American one on the right in parentheses. Monsters whose names are identical in both versions are listed once, in bold.

• Goofish (Goo Fish)
• Flea Monster (Fighting Flea)
• Jellyfish Monster (Jellyfish Warrior)
• Mantis
• Dora Mole (Dramole)
• Bee Monster (Grumble Bee)
• Peckster
• Lizzinator
• Pumpkin Rapper
• Parrot Monster (Two Headed Parrot)
• Speed Shark (Slippery Shark)
• Soccadillo
• Rhino Blaster (Rhinoblaster)
• Crayfish Monster (Commander Crayfish)
• Oyster Monster (Oysterizer)
• PiranhaHead (Pirantishead)
• PriGorilla (Primator)
• Galamander (Saliguana)
• Flower Buster (Bloom of Doom)
• Octophantom
• HoeSoilBeetle (Stag Beetle)
• Venueleon (Invenusable Flytrap)
• Robogoat
• MinGuitar (Guitardo)
• Turbashell (TurbanShell)

Release of Unedited Footage

Power Ranger fan GrnRngr and Jeff Pruitt, the stunt coordinator for MMPR, released uncut footage showing what fans had believed from the start -- that the Megazord did indeed fight Primator, Octophantom, Turbanshell, Bloom of Doom, and Invenusable Flytrap in Zord battle footage that was never used. Jeff later found and released more footage showing Robogoat, Stag Beetle, Oysterizer, and Pirantishead that was also never used.