This article is about a summary of all the shows and films in the Super Sentai series. |
- "We are the Super Sentai! (
我 らスーパー戦隊 ! Ware-ra Sūpā Sentai!)" - ―Roll call in unison.[src]
- "You don't mess with the Super Sentai! (スーパー
戦隊 を舐 めるなよ! Sūpā Sentai wo nameru na yo!)" - ―Pre-fight catchphrase.[src]
- "Connected by the baton of courage. These warriors continue to fight. Without them, surely peace on Earth would be destroyed. From the past, to the present, and even to the future. Let your souls burn bright, Super Sentai! (
勇気 のバトン繋 ぎ。戦 い続 ける戦士 。地球 に君 たちいなぎゃ、平和 は滅 びただろう。昔 今 未来 まで。魂 燃 やせ、スーパー戦隊 ! Yūki no baton tsunagi. Tatakai tsuzukeru senshi. Chikyū ni kimi-tachi i nagya, heiwa wa horobita darō. Mukashi ima mirai made. Tamashī moyase, Sūpā Sentai!)" - ―Super Sentai in a nutshell.[src]
The Super Sentai Series (スーパー戦隊シリーズ Sūpā Sentai Shirīzu) is the name given to the long-running Japanese "superhero team" genre of shows produced by Toei and Bandai and aired by TV Asahi (formerly known as NET), that is used as the basis for Power Rangers. ("Super" refers to their use of mecha, and "Sentai" is the Japanese word for "task force" or, literally, "fighting squadron" and was also a term used for Japanese squadrons in World War II.) The shows are of the "tokusatsu" genre, featuring a variety of live action characters and colorful special effects, and are aimed mainly at families. This series is one of the most prominent tokusatsu productions in Japan, alongside the Ultra Series, the Kamen Rider Series, and the Metal Heroes Series.
The first Sentai series, Himitsu Sentai Gorenger, in April 1975, was created by the late Shotaro Ishinomori, creator of Kamen Rider and Cyborg 009 in 1975. He did not create any further Sentai series after his second, J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai, was not received well. These two series were originally both just called Sentai and were not a part of the Super Sentai series until 1994 when Toei decided to include them with the series that followed.
Following J.A.K.Q., Toei chose to work with Marvel Comics to produce the live action adaptation of Spider-Man (1978), which included the first giant robot in a Toei Superhero show. This concept was used in Toei and Marvel's project Battle Fever J (1979) and was deemed the first Super Sentai Series. The following production of Denshi Sentai Denziman was the first production solely by Toei and written by "Saburo Yatsude".
The term Sentai is also occasionally used to describe shows with similar premises, such as Voltron, or even the magical girl team in Sailor Moon, as the creator Naoko Takeuchi deliberately used Sentai ideas.
In 2003, Sailor Moon was retold in a fashion somewhat similar to Sentai shows in the form of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon. While not officially Sentai, some fans of the genre have accepted it as such of it.
The first ever Sentai to be adapted into Power Rangers was Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger (1992), utilizing footage from all 50 episodes. (Saban tried to adapt the previous Sentai into a Power Rangers show, with Zyuranger to be adapted into a second season, but they were unable to get the rights to the Jetman footage, so they used just Zyuranger instead.) When the series enters their anniversary, they use special logos to commemorate them. So far, five of them used this to commemorate the series: The 25th anniversary logo is for Hyakuju Sentai Gaoranger, the 30th for GoGo Sentai Boukenger, the 35th for Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger, the 40th for Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger, and the 45th for Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger.
From Gorenger in 1975 to the last episode of King-Ohger, the franchise will have aired 2,360 episodes. Zyuohger is the 40th anniversary Sentai. Within the season, Episode 29 of Zyuohger is the 2,000th episode of the overall Sentai Series.
On April 6, 2020, several Sentai Series (from Himitsu Sentai Gorenger) became available to stream on the Toei Tokusatsu World Youtube channel. However, all Sentai series that were on the Toei Tokusatsu World YouTube channel are blocked on several countries due to the license.
Series overview[]
In every Super Sentai series, the fight between good and evil is illustrated, with the good side winning most of the time. The basic premise of the series is that a group of five (in some cases fewer, or more) people gain special powers (magical or technological), wear colored outfits, and use advanced weapons and martial arts skills to battle powerful beings from other planets and/or dimensions threatening to take over the Earth. In most of the episodes, after the team has beaten an army of evil creatures ("grunts") and the "monster of the week", they call for huge robotic vehicles/animals ("mechas") that can combine to form one giant robot to fight an enlarged version of the monster. Sentai series with the giant robot element are specifically known as Super Sentai. After each series ends or during the series, there are a number of TV and video specials feature a teaming up with previous Sentai.
Super Sentai has teamed up with its sister show Kamen Rider on occasion, with Samurai Sentai Shinkenger and Ressha Sentai ToQger having TV crossovers. This has become an annual event with the Super Hero Taisen film series, starting with Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Super Hero Taisen.
Distribution[]
Although the series originated in Japan, they were imported and dubbed in other languages for broadcast in several other countries.
Europe[]
Chodenshi Bioman, Choshinsei Flashman, Hikari Sentai Maskman, Choju Sentai Liveman, Kousoku Sentai Turboranger, Chikyu Sentai Fiveman, and Chojin Sentai Jetman, were broadcast in France in the 1980s and early 1990s, with Maskman and Liveman marketed as Bioman 2 and Bioman 3, respectively. Additionally, Liveman, Turboranger and Jetman were broadcast in both Spain and Portugal. Denshi Sentai Denziman and Dai Sentai Goggle-V were both broadcast in Italy. In addition, some episodes of Bioman were released on VHS in Greece in 1988.
The Sentai broadcasts in Europe were replaced by the American-produced Power Rangers in the 1990's.
Latin America[]
Choshinsei Flashman was broadcast in Ecuador on Ecuavisa, in Peru on Panamericana Televisión, in Mexico on Azteca 7 and in Bolivia on TVB in 1989. The dub in Spanish was licensed by Everest Video and produced by Álamo, the same companies responsible for the Portuguese dub and it was named, Comando Estelar Flashman, as in Brazil. In Peru, Choju Sentai Liveman was dubbed in Spanish on Panamericana Televisión and on Frecuencia Latina as Super Fuerza Liveman (Super Force Liveman) between 1991 and 1992 and it made a huge success. In Bolivia, the show was aired once on ATB Red Nacional and wasn't aired anymore. In Ecuador, was aired on Ecuavisa in the 90's and it enjoyed the same success as in Peru, however, the franchise stopped airing in the continent due to the colossal success of Power Rangers in the continent.
Brazil[]
In Brazil, the first Super Sentai series to air was Dengeki Sentai Changeman in 1988, on the now-defunct TV Manchete (in 1999, it was renamed as Rede TV!), and made a tremendous impact at the time, being considered a cult classic. Due to the success of Changeman, other series were imported, such as Choshinsei Flashman, Hikari Sentai Maskman and Dai Sentai Goggle-V. In place of later series in the franchise, the yearly iterations of the Power Rangers were dubbed into Brazilian Portuguese due to a general lower interest in tokusatsu programming in Brazil, as well as financial and bureaucratic issues. According to Toshihiko Egashira, the former owner of Everest Video (the company that licensed several tokusatsu shows in Brazil such as Changeman, Flashman and Juspion), in the mid-1990s, Choju Sentai Liveman and Kousoku Sentai Turboranger were already licensed to be aired in Brazil. At that time, some merchandise and gadgets of the shows appeared. However, at this height, the tokusatsu genre in Brazil was already low and no television channel was interested to air the shows. So, these shows, like the other Super Sentai shows, were unaired in Brazil.
Southeast Asia[]
In 1978, Himitsu Sentai Gorenger (known as Star Rangers) was the first Super Sentai series to be aired on Philippine television and was dubbed in English. Most fans are familiar with the Sentai series just as France and Brazil did. In 1987 following the return of democracy in the Philippines, ABS-CBN returned to the air after it was shut down by the declaration of martial law by president Ferdinand Marcos in 1972. The network took the rights of Super Sentai metaseries starting with the 1984 series Chodenshi Bioman. It continued with Dengeki Sentai Changeman in 1988, Choshinsei Flashman in 1989 and in 1990, ABS-CBN aired the Filipino dub of Hikari Sentai Maskman. Then the tradition continued until 1994 with Chojin Sentai Jetman and thereafter ABS-CBN took the American-produced Power Rangers until after Super Megaforce in 2015.
The Super Sentai broadcasts in Malaysia started with Bioman in 1986, dubbed into English and later into Malay with Flashman in 1988. Almost all Super Sentai shows were broadcast in Thailand since the 1980s; there, most new shows were exclusively broadcast on Channel 9 a year after its Japanese debut in the late 1980s to early 1990s. The Sentai broadcasts in both Malaysia and Thailand have been replaced by the American-produced Power Rangers and since then the series have appeared on various other channels. Thailand would air the original Super Sentai series after airing the Power Rangers version.
Vietnam was the first communist and socialist state to broadcast the Super Sentai series starting with Bioman in 1986 on VTV, dubbed into Vietnamese and gained popularity. It continued the tradition until they were replaced by the Power Rangers in 1994 but the Sentai broadcasts resumed with Go-Busters in 2014.
The Super Sentai series also were released in Indonesia starting in 1986 with Dai Sentai Goggle Five, with all episodes being released across 13 video cassettes with an Indonesian dub. Since then, all of the Sentai series that aired on TV in the region were all dubbed in Indonesian, and some also has dubbed openings, such as Turboranger (aired on RCTI in 1994 as Pasukan Turbo), Dairanger, Kakuranger and Ohranger. RCTI no longer shown Super Sentai after they aired Carranger and Megaranger in 2004. The last series to air in the region was in 2005-2006 being Gingaman, showing as Cosmic Ranger on Indosiar. Then, RTV also once held the rights to air Super Sentai series in Indonesia, with Kyuranger in 2019 and Lupinranger vs. Patranger in 2020. At one point, Indosiar also aired a couple of Sentai series such as Jetman and Fiveman. As of now, RTV airs Power Rangers series and no longer airs Super Sentai series, though some characters from Zyuohger and Zenkaiger showed up in their airings of Kamen Rider Ghost and Kamen Rider Saber.
United States[]
- see Power Rangers
After Honolulu, Hawaii's KIKU-TV had success with Android Kikaider (called Kikaida) and Kamen Rider V3 in the 1970s, multiple Super Sentai shows, including Himitsu Sentai Gorenger and Battle Fever J, were brought to the Hawaiian market (all broadcast in Japanese with English subtitles by JN Productions). Gorenger was also broadcast on Japanese-language stations in Sacramento, San Francisco and Los Angeles, California in 1976–77. J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai was also broadcast in Los Angeles following Sentai Gorenger. In 1985, Marvel Comics produced a pilot for an American adaptation of a Super Sentai series, but the show was rejected by the major US TV networks. In 1986, Saban Productions produced a pilot for an American adaptation of Chodenshi Bioman. In 1987, Kagaku Sentai Dynaman was dubbed and aired as a parody on the USA Network television show Night Flight.
In 1993, Haim Saban produced the first installment of the Power Rangers franchise by dubbing the action sequences from 1992's Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger and filming new footage with American actors for the story sequences. This trend has continued, with each successive Sentai show contributing the action sequences to the Power Rangers series the following year. In 1999, seconds of Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger aired during the The Lost Episode, albiet in Japanese. In 2004, nearly an entire episode of Bakuryu Sentai Abaranger was dubbed for an episode of Power Rangers Dino Thunder. In 2009, the Disney-owned production company was shut down in favor of re-broadcasting the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers newly reversioned. On May 12, 2010, it was announced that Saban bought back the rights to the Power Rangers franchise and planned to premiere a new season based on Samurai Sentai Shinkenger on the Nickelodeon network. The series premiered on February 2011 as Power Rangers Samurai, and was the first season since Mighty Morphin that would use the same Sentai season for more than a year. While Tensou Sentai Goseiger and Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger were also adapted, it was revealed that Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters would be skipped in favor of Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger being adapted into Power Rangers Dino Charge. To compensate, Saban has decided to incorporate elements of the former into the latter, although it has not yet explained how. However, it was since been announced that Go-Busters was adapted for the 26th season of Power Rangers. The same occurred with Ressha Sentai ToQger being skipped in favor of Shuriken Sentai Ninninger being adapted into Power Rangers Ninja Steel. One villain from ToQger was adapted into Ninja Steel, very much like how a villain from Megaranger was used in Lost Galaxy. As seen with Go-Busters, a season being skippped does not entirely rule out an adaptation.
On July 25, 2014, it was announced that Shout! Factory (distributor of Saban Brands programming) would be releasing Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger on DVD, marking the first Super Sentai series to be released in its original form. The set was released on February 17, 2015.[1] This proved successful enough that two more seasons are currently being released each year, the most current as of October 2017 being Megaranger. In 2018, Shout! Factory upped the number of seasons being released. Gingaman having been released in Janurary, GoGoV due in April, and in July Timeranger.
China, Hong Kong and Taiwan[]
In 1978, Himitsu Sentai Gorenger started to broadcast in Hong Kong. In 1983, Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan was broadcasted on CTS, became the first Super Sentai series to be aired in Taiwan. In 1987, Chodenshi Bioman was broadcasted on CCTV in mainland China, became the first Super Sentai series aired there and every Sentai series were exclusively aired three years after its original broadcast premiere in Japan. Even the Sentai broadcasts continues in Hong Kong, the American-produced Power Rangers were since then aired in mainland China but Taiwan switched back to the original Japanese Super Sentai series with Ninja Sentai Kakuranger in 1997.
Republic of Korea[]
Super Sentai has also been broadcast in Republic of Korea, dubbed from Japanese to Korean, starting in 1989 with Choshinsei Flashman, titled Earth Protector Flashman. Recently, Tooniverse (formerly Orion Cartoon Network), JEI-TV (Jaeneung Television), CHAMP TV/ANIONE TV (DAEWON BROADCASTING), and Cartoon Network Korea have broadcast the following series under these names:
- Bakuryu Sentai Abaranger as Power Rangers Dino Thunder
- Tokuso Sentai Dekaranger as Power Rangers S.P.D.
- Mahou Sentai Magiranger as Power Rangers Magic Force
- GoGo Sentai Boukenger as Power Rangers Treasure Force
- Juken Sentai Gekiranger as Power Rangers Wild Spirits
- Engine Sentai Go-Onger as Power Rangers Engine Force
- Hyakuju Sentai Gaoranger as Power Rangers Jungle Force
- Tensou Sentai Goseiger as Power Rangers Miracle Force
- Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger as Power Rangers Captain Force
- Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters as Power Rangers Go-Busters
- Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger as Power Rangers Dino Force
- Ressha Sentai ToQger as Power Rangers Train Force
- Shuriken Sentai Ninninger as Power Rangers Ninja Force
- Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger as Power Rangers Animal Force
- Uchu Sentai Kyuranger as Power Rangers Galaxy Force
- Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger as Power Rangers Dino Soul
- Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger as Power Rangers Lupin Force vs Patrol Force
- Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger as Power Rangers Zenkaiger
- Avataro Sentai Donbrothers as Power Rangers Donbrothers
- Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger as Power Rangers Kingdom Force
South Korea also aired an original series as a sequel to Power Rangers Dino Force called Power Rangers Dino Force Brave (dubbed into Japanese as Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger Brave). Due to the high Japanese content of Samurai Sentai Shinkenger, this season was skipped in place of Gaoranger (as Power Rangers Jungle Force). Shinkenger was still seen on Korean televisions in the Korean dubs of Kamen Rider Decade and Gokaiger, due to their crossover the series had with each one, and called Power Rangers Samurai Force and Power Rangers Blade Force respectively.
During the run of Power Rangers Captain Force, many of the Super Sentai shows before Abaranger kept their names with the following exceptions:
- Himitsu Sentai Gorenger = Power Rangers Five Rangers
- Denshi Sentai Denziman = Power Rangers Power Man
- Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger = Power Rangers Dino Rangers
- Gosei Sentai Dairanger = Power Rangers Dairanger
- Ninja Sentai Kakuranger = Power Rangers Ninja Rangers
- Seiju Sentai Gingaman = Power Rangers Galaxy Rangers
- Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger = Power Rangers Ninja Storm
Productions[]
Main series[]
The following is a list of the 48 Super Sentai Series and their years of broadcast. Each Super Sentai series has its own unique values and motifs:
- Himitsu Sentai Gorenger, aired from 1975–1977, was the first Sentai Series. Developed by Shotaro Ishinomori, the Gorengers are a super-technology spy team that fight against a secret terrorist monster force: the Black Cross Army. At 84 episodes, Gorenger is the longest-running Super Sentai show in the franchise.
- J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai aired in 1977. It featured a team of cyborgs based on a playing card motif — Jack, Ace, King and Queen — later joined by another member who takes over the leadership roles. Due to low ratings, the series was canceled after 35 episodes, making it the shortest-running Super Sentai series. J.A.K.Q. also had a feature film that served as a crossover with Gorenger. This use of a crossover would not happen again until 1995, when it began an annual tradition for a V-Cinema release.
- Battle Fever J aired in 1979 and featured an international group of characters. This series was the first to be produced by Marvel Comics after Toei and Marvel worked together on Spider-Man and featured characters resembling Captain America and Miss America. Each member represented a certain country and did a specific dance. Battle Fever J also featured the first giant robot, an idea carried over from the Spider-Man production. From then on, the series' official name came to be Super Sentai.
- Denshi Sentai Denziman aired in 1980 and was the first series to have a transforming giant robot and utilize a lens visor in the suits' helmet (unlike previous series, where the visor was made of the same fiber of the helmet). The series was also the first to introduce a personal transformation device - in this case, each member wore a special ring.
- Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan aired in 1981 and served as a direct sequel to Denziman, with Machiko Soga's Queen Hedrian character returning. The series used an air, land, and sea motif and featured the first combining robot to be used, a trend that continues throughout the Super Sentai Series. Sun Vulcan was the only official series to have a three-member team throughout the show, and the only one to have an all-male team.
- Dai Sentai Goggle-V aired in 1982 and featured motifs based on ancient civilizations. While a success, it was overshadowed by Space Sheriff Gavan, created by the main writer of Sun Vulcan and the beginning of the Metal Heroes franchise and generally the two were seen together during the year of airing.
- Kagaku Sentai Dynaman aired in 1983. Dynaman was the first series to use spandex costumes for the heroes and was the first series to remove scarves from the costumes. It began developing stronger story elements and was the first to have a truly ambiguous "dark hero" who rode the line between hero and villain. Several episodes of Dynaman were dubbed into English for comedic purposes and aired during the USA Network's 1987 Night Flight programming block.
- Chodenshi Bioman aired in 1984. Bioman was the first series to feature two heroines on the team. This season was pitched to be the start of the Power Rangers franchise, but the pilot episode Bio-Man that never got picked up into a full season. Bioman was dubbed into French and aired on France's Canal+ and TF1.
- Dengeki Sentai Changeman aired in 1985 and featured a motif based on creatures of mythology and focused on a trained military battalion fighting an alien invasion threat.
- Choshinsei Flashman aired in 1986. This was the first series to add a second giant robot for the team to fight with. It was notated as the "10th Super Sentai" at the time, as Gorenger and J.A.K.Q. were not counted as Super Sentai seasons when Flashman aired.
- Hikari Sentai Maskman aired in 1987 and featured a motif based on martial arts. It introduced the first five-piece combining robot, with an individual mecha piloted by each member of the team. The series featured a prototype for the sixth warrior, who only appeared for only one episode.
- Choju Sentai Liveman aired in 1988 and featured an animal-based motif. The series featured the first addition of two new team members to a three-person team as well as the first combination of two individual robots into a single powerful robot. The series was also the first to have a blue female member on the team. This was the last series to be broadcasted during the Showa period.
- Kousoku Sentai Turboranger aired in 1989 and featured a vehicles motif. As the tenth anniversary of the Super Sentai Series (Gorenger and J.A.K.Q. were not included this time), Turboranger featured an anniversary crossover with the previous teams. This was the first Super Sentai entry of the Heisei period.
- Chikyu Sentai Fiveman aired in 1990 and featured a school motif. both an antagonistic team of villainous counterpart and a team power upgrade armor. The motif of the series is a mix of martial arts and education, as each member poses as a school teacher. This team was later adapted into the comic exclusive Ranger team called the Supersonic Rangers. The series is also the first to have the entire team consist of family siblings.
- Chojin Sentai Jetman aired in 1991 and featured a bird motif, an homage to the anime and manga Science Ninja Team Gatchaman. The series was the first to feature a marriage of two members of the team and the last to feature the death of a main team member for over 20 years. It is also the last until ToQger to not get adapted into a Power Rangers series. Jetman also featured the first tertiary robot that could operate on its own and a manga epilogue that introduced a new member.
- Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger aired in 1992 and used prehistoric creatures (dinosaurs and extinct Pleistocene megafauna) as a motif. The series introduced both the first regular sixth team member and the first seven mecha combination. Zyuranger was later adapted into Mighty Morphin Power Rangers for American audiences, being adapted as the first entry in the Power Rangers franchise.
- Gosei Sentai Dairanger aired in 1993 using kung fu and traditional Chinese mythological creatures as a motif, as well as a unique storytelling style giving a sub-plot to each of the team members. The mecha action scenes, plus footage of their sixth member, KibaRanger, were adapted into the second season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Although the remaining 5 Rangers were eventually adapted into the Squadron Rangers as an entirely separate team for the 6-issue comic series Power Rangers Universe.
- Ninja Sentai Kakuranger aired in 1994 and had a ninja motif and one loosely based on the classic Journey to the West. The series featured the first five-piece secondary robot. As another anniversary series, the crossover Super Sentai World was produced featuring characters from Fiveman, Jetman, Zyuranger, Dairanger and Kakuranger. Many elements of the series, such as the mecha designs and action scenes, were adapted in the third season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, and the Ranger characters themselves were adapted in the following Mini-Series Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers.
- Choriki Sentai Ohranger aired in 1995 using motifs of the advance technology of ancient civilizations and psychic card shapes. This series was considered an anniversary season for the 20th anniversary of Gorenger (with both that series and J.A.K.Q. permanently counted from here on) Ohranger began the annual VS Series V-Cinema releases with Choriki Sentai Ohranger: Ole vs. Kakuranger. The series was adapted into Power Rangers Zeo, following up from the original series.
- Gekiso Sentai Carranger aired in 1996, and used automobiles vehicles as a motif, serving as a parody of Turboranger and the Super Sentai Series as a whole. The series also was the first to utilize more work-based vehicles (such as police cars, fire trucks and construction equipment) as mechs and to have a mech with interchangeable parts. Carranger was adapted into Power Rangers Turbo.
- Denji Sentai Megaranger aired in 1997 using electronics, digital messaging, video gaming and space travel as a motif, with several elements of the series paying homage to Bioman. Megaranger featured the first silver-colored hero and the evil Jaden Sentai Neziranger team who serve as villains for an entire story arc. Mega Silver's Keitaizer marked the debut of the cell phone-based transformation device, which would be standard in many later Super Sentai titles. Megaranger would later be adapted into Power Rangers in Space, which closed the overarching plot of the previous seasons and the Zordon Era as a whole.
- Seiju Sentai Gingaman aired in 1998 featured a classical elements motif as well as two additional combining robots in addition to the primary robot used by the Gingamen. It was adapted into Power Rangers Lost Galaxy, the first stand-alone series in the American franchise.
- Kyukyu Sentai GoGoFive aired in 1999 using an emergency service motif. GoGoFive is the first series since Jetman to only feature five heroes. Additional heroes appear in one of its V-Cinema productions. Much like Fiveman, the series' protagonists were all siblings. This series was adapted in 2000 as Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue, which was the first series to have an exclusive Ranger, the Titanium Ranger.
- Mirai Sentai Timeranger aired in 2000 and featured a time travel motif (four of the five main heroes are police officers from the year 3000). The series features the first additional hero whose costume is the same color as one of the original heroes. Timeranger would be adapted into the first Power Rangers series of the 21st century, Power Rangers Time Force.
- Hyakuju Sentai Gaoranger aired in 2001 using an animal motif, and was the first series to utilize multiple possible mecha combinations from a planned total of one-hundred mecha (only 22 were utilized in the series run). It also began the tradition of a film adaptation as a double bill with that year's Kamen Rider Series film (the first individual film since Ohranger, not counting GoGo-V). Gaoranger also served as the 25th Anniversary series, featuring the Hyakuju Sentai Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai crossover V-Cinema release. Gaoranger was adapted the following year into Power Rangers Wild Force, which marked the franchise's 10th anniversary as well as the first series to be produced by Disney.
- Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger aired in 2002 and used a ninjutsu motif with elemental powers, taking elements from Kakuranger as well as Liveman. Hurricaneger features the rival Gouraiger team with insect-themed powers, the free agent Shurikenger, and a series of smaller mecha that serve as weapons for the teams' robots. The series was adapted as Power Rangers Ninja Storm, the first Power Rangers series made in New Zealand instead of California. 10 years later, a return movie was released that reunited the Hurricanegers, Gouraigers, and a new Shurikenger.
- Bakuryu Sentai Abaranger aired in 2003 and used a motif of extinct animals (as with Zyuranger) but the first completely made of dinosaurs. It is the first series to present an alternate transformation for one of its members (AbaRed into AbareMax), and a sole evil warrior (AbareKiller). The series was adapted in 2004 into Power Rangers Dino Thunder, which brought Tommy Oliver back as a regular character and Ranger.
- Tokuso Sentai Dekaranger aired in 2004 and uses a police/detective motif taking elements from Denziman, Bioman and Carranger with its heroes fighting extraterrestrial criminals. The series features the first semi-regular seventh hero (Deka Master) and three additional heroines who appear once each throughout the series: DekaSwan (episode 36), DekaBright (ep. 40), and DekaGold (Dekaranger The Movie: Full Blast Action). This series started the tradition of a "passing the torch" segment after the ending credits of the series finale: the red warrior of the series that has just ended interacts with the red warrior of the upcoming series. Dekaranger's American adaptation was 2005's Power Rangers SPD. With over 10 good rangers, Dekaranger was the largest Sentai team until Kyoryuger 9 years later and Kyuranger 4 years after that.
- Mahou Sentai Magiranger aired in 2005 uses a magic motif with mecha that are the heroes transformed. As with Fiveman and GoGoFive, Magiranger features an entire family of heroes: the core team are all brothers and sisters (as in Fiveman and GoGo-V), the sixth hero (the very first Gold hero) marries one of the core team members, and the rarely-used seventh and eighth heroes are the parents to the core team. The series was adapted into Power Rangers Mystic Force in 2006.
- GoGo Sentai Boukenger aired in 2006 using an adventure and treasure hunting motif. It is the first series to be filmed in 720p (High Definition). As the 30th Anniversary series, it included the 30 Sentai Encyclopedia featurettes at the end of each episode and the GoGo Sentai Boukenger vs. Super Sentai V-Cinema release. The Boukenger vs. Super Sentai film also introduced AkaRed, the spirit of the Super Sentai red warriors. Unlike previous series, Boukenger featured multiple groups of loosely allied antagonists instead of the usual one overarching antagonist group. The series was adapted into Power Rangers Operation Overdrive which, like Wild Force, also coincided with its parent Sentai as a milestone anniversary; in Operation Overdrive's case, it was Power Rangers' 15th anniversary.
- Juken Sentai Gekiranger aired in 2007 and used a Chinese martial arts (eventually incorporating Muay Thai and karate in its additional warriors) theme with a wild animal motif. Instead of robots, the mecha of Gekiranger are manifestations of the heroes' qi. Gekiranger is also unique in that the story also focused on the show's two primary antagonists turned anti-heroes and introduced the first new colored hero (violet) in ten years. It was adapted into Power Rangers Jungle Fury in 2008.
- Engine Sentai Go-Onger aired in 2008, featuring an automobile vehicles motif mixed with an ecological theme: the antagonists are seeking to pollute the Earth. It also features the first female additional hero who joins with a male additional hero, bringing the team size to seven regular members, and it features the debut of four (human-like) robot combination. As with Abaranger, the Go-Onger mecha are sentient and speak in the Japanese language. Go-Onger was also the first Super Sentai series to have its theme song single reach the top-ten of the Oricon Weekly charts at #4, after selling 22,000 records in its first week of being released and the theatrical release of its VS Series entry Engine Sentai Go-Onger vs. Gekiranger to commemorate the 15th entry of the VS Series. It was adapted into Power Rangers RPM in 2009, being the last series produced by Disney.
- Samurai Sentai Shinkenger aired in 2009, combining a samurai motif with other aspects of Japanese culture. Like Go-Onger before it, its theme song single also ranked highly on the Oricon, reaching #4 on the Daily Ranking Charts on its day of release, and peaked at #6 on the weekly charts for its first week of release. Shinkenger featured the first crossover with the Kamen Rider series it aired alongside, Kamen Rider Decade. It also features the first female red warrior, introduced towards the end of the series. After Saban's reacquisition of the rights in late 2010, Shinkenger was adapted into Power Rangers Samurai and Super Samurai, which aired in 2011 and 2012.
- Tensou Sentai Goseiger aired in 2010, combining an angel motif with collectible card games. The series is directly tied-in with the Super Sentai Battle: Dice-O arcade game; the protagonists use variations on the cards featured in the game to perform actions such as transforming, summoning weapons and mecha, and enacting various elemental powers. Various groups of antagonists appeared in the series, one after another, but all featured one common character. It was adapted as Power Rangers Megaforce in 2013 and one element was incorporated into Power Rangers Super Megaforce in 2014.
- Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger aired in 2011, with a pirate motif. As the 35th anniversary series, the protagonists have access to the powers of the previous 34 Super Sentai teams. Gokaiger is also unique in that representatives from all previous teams appear (even furthering storylines of characters in a couple of cases), as well as many cameos and connections to previous Sentai villains. Gokaiger was adapted as Power Rangers Super Megaforce in 2014.
- Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters is the 2012 series; the theme combined spywork with computer technology and virus-busting with the main heroes possessing sentient partner machines. It is notable for having some influence from Power Rangers due to the 20th anniversary of Zyuranger (the first Sentai adapted into a PR series). It is the first series since Jetman to feature the death of a main team member as well as an enemy becoming an evil Ranger clone towards the end. Although initially skipped over in favor of Kyoryuger this series was ultimately adapted into Power Rangers Beast Morphers in 2019.
- Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger is the 2013 series. The name is a reverse of "Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger" (notice the pun, Zyuden-Ranger), and fittingly so, because, following both Zyuranger and Abaranger, it is the third series with a dinosaur motif. Kyoryuger is also the first Sentai to be filmed in 1080p (Full High Definition). It is the first series since Changeman to not feature a yellow Ranger, and the first season since Gaoranger to have four male Rangers and one female Ranger part of the core team. Mostly like Zyuranger, Gingaman, and Gaoranger, they have sentient mechas. It was adapted as Power Rangers Dino Charge and Dino Super Charge in 2015 and 2016 and then gained a Korean sequel called Power Rangers Dino Force Brave, which was dubbed in Japan as Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger Brave, in 2017. Its 11 good ranger count took the largest Sentai team record from Dekaranger 9 years before, until losing it to Kyuranger 4 years later.
- Ressha Sentai ToQger is the 2014 series, with a train imagination motif. Also similar to the Gokai Changes, the team can swap out their Ressha with that of another teammate's, called a Transfer Change. The sixth Ranger is special in both being the first monster Ranger and the first Orange Ranger since Battle Fever J. This series has been skipped over for the time being, but one villain was adapted into a character into Power Rangers Ninja Steel and Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel and another villain named Madame Noir was adapted into the character of Void Queen in Power Rangers Dino Fury.
- Shuriken Sentai Ninninger is the 2015 series, and, following Kakuranger and Hurricanger, it is the third series with a ninja motif. It is also the first team since Gaoranger to have Red, Blue and Yellow as males and a female White Ranger to take the place of a Green or Black Ranger in a team. It is also the first series in 10 years to have a male Yellow Ranger. It also introduces a cowboy motif Ranger as the Sixth Ranger. It was adapted as Power Rangers Ninja Steel and Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel.
- Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger is the 2016 anniversary series, and following Gaoranger, Liveman, and other similarly themed Sentai series, has an animal motif, albeit with a cube gimmick. It is also the first Sentai lineup with the color lineup of Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, and White. This is also the first Sentai to introduce a Sixth Ranger with 3 different colors and animal motifs (Zyuoh The World).
- Uchu Sentai Kyuranger is the 2017 series, the first Super Sentai to be space themed, though the motif has been used in other countries in Power Rangers in Space (adapted from Denji Sentai Megaranger, which was video game themed but had spaceship mecha) and the Chinese series Battle Strike Team Space Deleter. This is also the first team to have 9 rangers in the main team, and the first series since Magiranger to feature two Red Rangers (Shishi Red and Houou Soldier). This is also the first team since Ohranger to feature a child ranger (the ToQgers are an entire team of children that were aged to become adults). This is also the first Super Sentai team confirmed to be from an alternate universe. This Sentai team is the biggest by far, with a member count of 12, followed by Kyoryuger with 11 and Dekaranger with 10 (although not all members were active at the same time). While Kyuranger was initially skipped for adaptation into Power Rangers, In 2023 the series' mecha footage and villain characters were used similarly to Dairanger for Power Rangers Cosmic Fury, the third season of the Ryusoulger-derived Dino Fury.
- Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger is the 2018 series. Lupinranger has a phantom thief/treasure collecting motif where as Patranger has a police motif. This is the first Super Sentai series to feature two Sentai teams at the same time, competing with each other and the Gangler for posession of the Lupin Collection, with a settled rivalry reignited in the finale after numerous teamups in the past. This is the last series to have all its episodes broadcasted during the Heisei Period. This is the first Season to introduce a Ranger to be a different color in multiple main Sentai teams (Lupin X and Patren X are the same person with a silver and gold color respectively).
- Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger is the 2019 series with a prehistoric extinct creature (dinosaur and Pleistocene megafauna; much like Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger) and knight motif, featuring 5 knights from the time of the dinosaurs returning to protect the world from the Druidon Tribe, who have taken to the stars to survive the extinction of the dinosaurs and have returned to reclaim the planet. It is the first Super Sentai entry in the Reiwa period, the first series to have a set of monsters created from humans (the Minosaurs), and the first to introduce a brown-colored Sentai Hero. Four characters (Ryusoul Green, Ryusoul Black, Gaisorg and Master Red) had debuted in the miniseries, the 4 Week Continuous Special Super Sentai Strongest Battle!!, which aired before this series. It was adapted into the 28th season of Power Rangers Dino Fury, which aired in 2021. Dino Fury was later renewed for a retitled third season, Cosmic Fury, which utilized original suits (minus the reused Ryusoulger helmets) in New Zealand-shot scenes and mecha footage from the previously skipped Kyuranger.
- Mashin Sentai Kiramager is the 2020 series. Much like Turboranger, Carranger and Go-Onger, it has a vehicle theme, though mixed with gemstones (akin to Flashman and Denziman), with a magic theme shared with Magiranger. The show is also unified and distinct via the prescence of many eastern cultural references. Much like Go-Onger, the mecha are sentient and are capable of speech. It is the first entry to be fully broadcasted in the Reiwa period and the first to have a prequel film. This Series also had an impact with the Covid-19 Pandemic, as Rio Komiya (who plays Kiramai Red on the show) caught the new disease and went into treatment until he got discharged weeks later. Toei shows were put on hiatus for a few weeks until they started filming again under certain precautions along with Kamen Rider Zero-One.
- Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger is the 2021 series. Celebrating the 45th anniversary of Super Sentai, Zenkaiger is unusual in that it features a mecha theme, with many of the Zenkaigers themselves being themed after past Giant Robos. It is the first Reiwa Era series not to have a Red Ranger as team leader, and the first series since Magiranger to have some of the core rangers become the mecha. Much like Zyuohger, only one of the core Zenkaigers is a human being, the rest being robotic lifeforms. The series is notable in that on a regular basis, much of the team members themselves can enlarge to combat giant monsters, something rarely used standardly in Super Sentai. Zenkaiger is also the first anniversary series to have a gold ranger; most of the past anniversary series had Silver Rangers.
- Avataro Sentai Donbrothers is the 2022 series. Themed after the Momotaro legend, Donbrothers is notable for being the first Sentai series since Sun Vulcan to be marketed as a sequel, the equipment sharing many similarities to the preceding Zenkaiger, most prominently a gear collectible system (specifically, it is marketed as a direct sequel to Zenkaiger, with Zenkai Juran making some appearances as the JuranTyranno and an alternate version of Zenkaiger's lead ranger as a supporting character). It is touted as the first Sentai series with rangers portrayed solely through CG, which has had limited applications for Sentai Rangers proper in the past. Donbrothers is also the first series since Go-Busters not to have a title ending in the -ger or -man suffixes, and unlike all Sentai series before it, has an explicitly male pink ranger. The Donbrothers have the shortest time-span between promotional reveals and on-screen appearances, as the series lead, DonMomotaro, debuted in the 42nd episode of Zenkaiger's run, almost only a few weeks after the show was officially revealed (most sentai debuts occur a few months after the reveal). As a sequel to an anniversary series, the Donbrothers share the Gokaigers' ability to transform into past Sentai heroes, something the Zenkaigers were unable to do.
- Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger is the 2023 series. The series is themed after royalty and is the first series to have every member of the team themed after arthropods. In addition to the first Purple Ranger on the core team, King-Ohger has the first Sentai Rangers themed after a dragonfly, honeybee, mantis and butterfly, with the unique distinction of it's primary giant robo requiring Auxiliary Mecha in addition to the core Rangers'.
- Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger is the 2024 series. It is themed after vehicles, customization, and racing. And it is the first season to introduce a Purple Sixth Ranger.
Unofficial[]
- Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger aired in 2012 along with Go-Busters. Although produced by Toei, it is an "unofficial" parody installment in the Super Sentai Series, and has an anime motif. Unlike the other Sentai Series, which air Sunday mornings on TV Asahi, it ran Friday nights on BS Asahi and Tokyo MX, a block typically used for anime. It was aimed at older otaku rather than kids, as evident in the series tagline ("Good little kids shouldn't watch").
- Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger Season Tsuu aired in 2013 along with Kyoryuger. It is the sequel series of Akibaranger, although in this show, many parts of the first season were rewritten.
- The High School Heroes aired in 2021 along with Zenkaiger. Although produced by Toei, it is not an installment in the Super Sentai Series, but it does share many similarities and included cameos by AkaRanger. This series is the first production to feature a transgender ranger.
Extra Works[]
- Super Sentai Versus Series Theater is a 2010 special event on TV Asahi. It is a compilation of the at the time 14 V-Cinema movies, usually split into two parts. Episodes were aired before episodes of Tensou Sentai Goseiger, and each episode features commentary from the Goseigers at the beginning and end.
- Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger Brave is a 2017 Japanese dub of the Korean show Power Rangers Dino Force Brave, a sequel to the Korean dub of Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger. It is a 12 episode miniseries of 15-minute episodes. The finale features the cast of Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger.
- 4 Week Continuous Special Super Sentai Strongest Battle!! is a 2019 miniseries aired between Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger and Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger. It features an oddball team of past Rangers competing in the Super Sentai Strongest Battle, a tournament of Ranger teams competing for a wish.
Theatrical releases[]
- 1975: Himitsu Sentai Gorenger: The Movie
- 1975: Himitsu Sentai Gorenger: The Blue Fortress
- 1976: Himitsu Sentai Gorenger: The Red Death Match
- 1976: Himitsu Sentai Gorenger: The Volcano's Last Big Eruption
- 1976: Himitsu Sentai Gorenger: The Bomb Hurricane
- 1977: J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai: The Movie
- 1978: J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai vs. Gorenger
- 1979: Battle Fever J: The Movie
- 1980: Denshi Sentai Denziman: The Movie
- 1981: Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan: The Movie
- 1982: Dai Sentai Goggle-V: The Movie
- 1983: Kagaku Sentai Dynaman: The Movie
- 1984: Chodenshi Bioman: The Movie
- 1985: Dengeki Sentai Changeman: The Movie
- 1985: Dengeki Sentai Changeman: Shuttlbase! The Critical Moment!
- 1986: Choshinsei Flashman: The Movie
- 1987: Choshinsei Flashman: Big Rally! Titan Boy!
- 1987: Hikari Sentai Maskman: The Movie
- 1989: Kousoku Sentai Turboranger: The Movie
- 1993: Gosei Sentai Dairanger: The Movie
- 1994: Ninja Sentai Kakuranger: The Movie
- 1994: Super Sentai World
- 1994: Toei Hero Daishugō
- 1995: Choriki Sentai Ohranger: The Movie
- 2001: Hyakuju Sentai Gaoranger: The Fire Mountain Roars
- 2002: Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger: Shushuuto the Movie
- 2003: Bakuryu Sentai Abaranger DELUXE: Abare Summer is Freezing Cold
- 2004: Tokuso Sentai Dekaranger the Movie: Full Blast Action
- 2005: Mahou Sentai Magiranger the Movie: Bride of Infershia
- 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. Uchuu Keiji 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
- 2014: Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger vs. Go-Busters: Dinosaur Great Battle! Farewell, Eternal Friends
- 2014: Heisei Rider vs. Showa Rider: Kamen Rider Taisen feat. Super Sentai
- 2014: Ressha Sentai ToQger the Movie: Galaxy Line SOS
- 2015: Ressha Sentai ToQger vs. Kyoryuger: The Movie
- 2015: Shuriken Sentai Ninninger The Movie: The Dinosaur Lord's Splendid Ninja Scroll!
- 2016: Shuriken Sentai Ninninger vs. ToQger The Movie: Ninjas in Wonderland
- 2016: Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger the Movie: The Heart Pounding Circus Panic
- 2017: Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger vs. Ninninger: Message from the Future from Super Sentai
- 2017: Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Chou Super Hero Taisen
- 2017: Uchu Sentai Kyuranger The Movie: The Geth Indaver's Counterattack
- 2018: Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger en Film
- 2019: Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger The Movie: Time Slip! Kyoryu Panic!!
- 2020: Super Sentai Movie Party:
- 2021: Super Sentai Movie Ranger 2021:
- 2021: Saber + Zenkaiger: Superhero Senki
- 2022: Avataro Sentai Donbrothers The Movie: New First Love Hero
- 2023: Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger: Adventure Heaven
- 2024: Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger GekijoBoon! Promise the Circuit
V-Cinema releases[]
- 1996: Choriki Sentai Ohranger: Ole vs. Kakuranger
- 1997: Gekiso Sentai Carranger vs. Ohranger
- 1998: Denji Sentai Megaranger vs. Carranger
- 1999: Seiju Sentai Gingaman vs. Megaranger
- 1999: Kyukyu Sentai GoGoFive: Sudden Shock! A New Warrior
- 2000: Kyukyu Sentai GoGoFive vs. Gingaman
- 2001: Mirai Sentai Timeranger vs. GoGoFive
- 2001: Hyakuju Sentai Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai
- 2003: Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger vs. Gaoranger
- 2004: Bakuryu Sentai Abaranger vs. Hurricaneger
- 2005: Tokuso Sentai Dekaranger vs. Abaranger
- 2006: Mahou Sentai Magiranger vs. Dekaranger
- 2007: GoGo Sentai Boukenger vs. Super Sentai
- 2008: Juken Sentai Gekiranger vs. Boukenger
- 2010: The Return of Samurai Sentai Shinkenger: Special Act
- 2011: Come Back! Tensou Sentai Goseiger: Last Epic - The Gosei Angels are National Icons!?
- 2013: Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters Returns vs. Doubutsu Sentai Go-Busters
- 2013: Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger: 10 YEARS AFTER
- 2014: Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger Returns: 100 YEARS AFTER
- 2015: Ressha Sentai ToQger Returns: Super ToQ 7gou of Dreams
- 2015: Tokuso Sentai Dekaranger: 10 YEARS AFTER
- 2016: Come Back! Shuriken Sentai Ninninger: Ninnin Girls vs. Boys FINAL WARS
- 2017: Space Squad
- 2017: Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger Returns: Life Received! The Earth's Monarchs' Decisive Battle!
- 2018: Uchu Sentai Kyuranger vs. Space Squad
- 2019: Lupinranger VS Patranger VS Kyuranger
- 2021: Mashin Sentai 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 Hurricaneger Degozaru! Shushuuto 20th Anniversary
- 2023: Bakuryu Sentai Abaranger 20th: The Unforgivable Abare
- 2024: Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger vs. Donbrothers
- 2024: Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger vs. Kyoryuger
- 2024: Tokuso Sentai Dekaranger 20th: Fireball Booster
Special DVDs[]
- Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger Dino Video
- Ninja Sentai Kakuranger Super Video: The Hidden Scroll
- Choriki Sentai Ohranger Member Notebook
- Gekiso Sentai Carranger Super Video
- Denji Sentai Megaranger Super Video: You Can Be One Too! A Mega Hero
- Seiju Sentai Gingaman Super Video: The Secret Fruit of Wisdom
- Kyukyu Sentai GoGoFive: Five Lessons of Rescue Spirits
- Mirai Sentai Timeranger Super Video: All the Strongest Hero Secrets
- Hyakuju Sentai Gaoranger Super Video: Showdown! Gaoranger vs. GaoSilver
- Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger Super Video: Super Ninja and Super Kuroko
- Bakuryu Sentai Abaranger Super Video: All Bakuryu Roaring Laughter Battle
- Tokuso Sentai Dekaranger Super Video: Super-Special Technique Showdown! DekaRed vs. DekaBreak
- Mahou Sentai Magiranger Special DVD: Great Presentation! The Super Magic of the Gold Grip Phone ~Goru Gooru Goo Goo~
- Juken Sentai Gekiranger Special DVD: Gyun-Gyun! Fist Sage Great Athletic Meet
- Engine Sentai Go-Onger Special DVD: It's a Seminar! Everyone GO-ON!!
- Samurai Sentai Shinkenger: The Light Samurai's Surprise Transformation
- Tensou Sentai Goseiger Special DVD: Gotcha☆Miracle! Total Gathering Collection
- Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger Special DVD: Let's Do This Goldenly! Roughly! 36 Round Gokai Change!!
- Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters vs. Beet Buster vs. J
- Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger: It's Here! Armed On Midsummer Festival!!
- Ressha Sentai ToQger DVD special: Farewell, Ticket! The Wasteland Super ToQ Battle!
- Shuriken Sentai Ninninger: AkaNinger vs. StarNinger Hundred Nin Battle!
- Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger ~GIRLFRIENDS ARMY~
Web movies[]
- Engine Sentai Go-Onger: Bom Bom! Bom Bom! Net de Bong!!
- Kamen Rider x Super Sentai: Super Hero Taihen – Who's the culprit?!
- Kamen Rider × Super Sentai × Space Sheriff: Super Hero Taisen Otsu: Heroo! Answers
- Kamen Rider Wizard in Magica Land - Guest appearance by MagiMother
- From Episode of Stinger, Uchu Sentai Kyuranger: High School Wars
- Hero Mama League
Narikiri Movies[]
- Narikiri Movie Juken Sentai Gekiranger
- Narikiri Movie Engine Sentai Go-Onger: The Legendary Hero
- Narikiri Movie Samurai Sentai Shinkenger Special Curtain: The New Samurai Hero
- Narikiri Movie Tensou Sentai Goseiger Special Epic: New Hero Advent!
Drama CD[]
- Super Action Sound
- Gosei Sentai Dairanger Battle CD: Kiryouku Disc
- Hyakuju Sentai Gaoranger Gao Access CD: "Gao Panda Appears!!"
- Bakuryu Sentai Abaranger Dino Earth Special! The Legendary Bracelet & Five Abare Spirits
- Super Sentai VS Sound Collection
- Uchu Sentai Kyuranger: Nakasero! Tamakyuu Isshika Ichibancho!
- Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger Final Live Tour 2020 Story CD
Video works[]
Crossover videos[]
Other video works[]
- Super Heroine Illustration I, III, IV
- Toei Super Girls Mate
- Shine! Toei Tokusatsu Heroine!! Super Girls Mate (Hero Club Version)
- Toei TV Tokusatsu Theme Song Collection
- Super Sentai Theme Song Collection
- 35 Great Super Sentai Theme Song Collection
- Super Sentai Theme Song DVD
- Super Sentai Gekitou Daiemaki
- All Super Sentai: All Red Ultimate Battle DVD
- Super Sentai VS Series Gathering! The Strongest Warriors
- Super Sentai VS Series Descend! The Strongest Robo Army
- Gokaiger & Super Senai: Super Power Battle DVD
- Telemaga Glorious All 38 Great Super Sentai Legend & ToQ DVD
TV specials[]
- Fight! Our Heroes Daishugo (May 15th, 1976)
- Chibikko Matsuri! Heroes of Justice so Shutsusen (July 31st, 1976)
- TV Ninkisha Daishugo!! (September 25th, 1976)
- Immortal Sentai Hero Collection (March 21st, 1995)
- 35 Great Hero Sentai Ikkyo Dai Kokai SP (January 22nd, 2011)
- Movie Release Commemoration Special (June 9th, 2011)
- SmaSTATION!! (June 18th, 2011; featuring Super Sentai)
- Ressha Sentai ToQger Vs. Kamen Rider Gaim Spring Vacation Combining Special (March 30th, 2014)
- Shuriken Sentai Ninninger Vs. Kamen Rider Drive Spring Vacation One-Hour Combining Special (March 29th, 2015)
- Spring Vacation Combining Hero Festival (March 27th, 2016)
- Chou Super Hero Taisen: Movie Release Anniversary Special (March 26th, 2017)
- Sunday Ame Talk! Super Sentai Favorite Performer (July 30th, 2017)
Guest appearances[]
- Tsuribaka Nisshi: Abarangers guest starred in the 31st episode.
- Kamen Rider Decade: Shinkenger cast guest starred in episodes 24 & 25.
Collaboration with sports events[]
Toei collaborated with J League for their Super Hero Time summer movies in 2013 and 2014.
- 2013: Numerous football players made cameo appearances in the ending sequence of Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger: Gaburincho of Music
- 2014: Though a campaign was entitled "J-League x Gaim & ToQger: The Movie", players only appeared in Kamen Rider Gaim: Great Soccer Battle! Golden Fruits Cup! and not Ressha Sentai ToQger the Movie: Galaxy Line SOS.
Hero Shows[]
Performanced at the Tokyo Dome City attractions (former Korakuen Yuenchi) outdoor theater, Sky Theater, Theater G Rosso.
- Outdoor Theater
January 1976 (Himitsu Sentai Gorenger) to April 9th 2000 (Mirai Sentai Timeranger)
- Sky Theater
April 29th 2000 (Mirai Sentai Timeranger) to April 5th 2009 (Engine Sentai Go-Onger)
- Theater G Rosso
April 25th 2009 (Samurai Sentai Shinkenger) to present
Other shows[]
- Kamen Rider Stronger: Shadow to Taiketsu
- Seizoroi Kaettekita Superhero
- Superhero Daishugo
- Seizoroida yo! Superheroes
- Superhero Daisakusen
- Super Sentai Daishugo
- Red Daikai
- Resurrection! Legendary Warriors Gorenger
- Red Hero Daishugo
- Red Warriors' Competition of Dreams!
- The Great Adventure of Midsummer! The Legend Warriors of the Legend
- Goodbye Sky Theater! Enthusiastic Recovery!!
- Departure progress! Dream's G Rosso!!
Yoshimoto Shinkigeki[]
From February 2010, guest performances to the Yoshimoto Shinkigeki at Namba Gundoh Summer began. Super Sentai teams are represented by suit actors.
- Samurai Sentai Shinkenger
- Tensou Sentai Goseiger
- Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger
- Tokumei Sentai Go-busters
- Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger
- Ressha Sentai ToQger
- Shuriken Sentai Ninninger
- Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger
Games[]
LSI electronic games[]
- GoGo Dynaman
- Exploding Dynaman
- Pocket Club P-1 Mini Chikyu Sentai Fiveman: Finale! FiveRobo
- Pocket Club P-1 Mini Chojin Sentai Jetman: JetIcarus Appears
- Pocket Club P-1 Mini Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger: Daizyuzin Appears
- Pocket Club P-1 Mini Gosei Sentai Dairanger: Fight! RyuseiOh
- Pocket Club P-1 Mini Ninja Sentai Kakuranger: Muteki Shogun Arrives
Household console games[]
- Karaoke Studio - Featuring Maskman
- SD Battle Big Sumo Heisei Hero Venue
- Chojin Sentai Jetman
- Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger
- Gekiso Sentai Carranger: Zenkai! Racer Senshi
- AZITO 2
- AZITO 3
- Tokusatsu Action Adventure: Superhero Legend
- Super Tokusatsu Taisen 2001
- Hyakuju Sentai Gaoranger
- Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger
- Meccha! Taiko no Tatsujin DS: Great Adventure of the Seven Islands! - Features Go-Onger
- Super Sentai Battle: Ranger Cross
- Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger: Gathered Transformation! 35 Sentai!
- Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters
- Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger: Game on Gaburincho
- Shuriken Sentai Ninninger: Game de Wasshoi!!
- Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger: Battle Cube Puzzle
Video games[]
- Chogokin SELECTIONS
- Hyakuju Sentai Gaoranger DX Soul Bird
- Bakuryuu Sentai Abaranger (Pico)
- Tokuso Sentai Dekaranger (Pico)
- Mahou Sentai Magiranger: MagiMat de Dance & Battle
- Album Soft GoGo Sentai Boukenger: Let's Learn Numbers & Shapes!
- GoGo Sentai Boukenger DX BoukenDriver Let's Start! GoGo Vehicles Edition
- GoGo Sentai Boukenger DX BoukenDriver Special Software Part 2: Combine! Super Daibouken Edition
- GoGo Sentai Boukenger DX BoukenDriver Special Software Part 3: Arriving! Bouken Silver Edition
- Physical Excercise Boukenger: Run! Shoot! Mission Start!!
- Let's print out with a sticky note! Set Juken Sentai Gekiranger Niki-niki! Numbers & Shapes Challenge
- Gekiwaza Mastering: The Path from Gekiranger to Super Gekiranger
- Engine Sentai Go-Onger: Remember at Mach! AIUEO!!
- Engine Sentai Go-Onger DX Handle Blaster
- Samurai Sentai Shinkenger Full Battle! Iza Mairu
- Tensou Sentai Goseiger Super Battle Daishugo
I-Appli[]
- Himitsu Sentai Gorenger
- Super Sentai MIX
Social games[]
- Super Sentai Wars
- Super Sentai Heroes
- Super Sentai Battle Base
- Super Sentai Battle Base DX
- Super Sentai Legend Wars
Pachinko[]
Pachislot[]
Card games[]
Plastic models[]
Albums[]
- Super Sentai Full Sentai Theme Song Collection
- TV Size! Super Sentai Theme Song Collection
- 35 Great Super Sentai Theme Song Collection
- Super Sentai 35 Memorial Super Sentai Legend Song Best
- Superhero Chronicle Super Sentai Theme Song & Insert Song Colelction
- Toei Sentai Hero Theme Song & Insert Songbook
- Toei Sentai Robo Battle Music Collection
- Toei Sentai Hero Battle Music Collection
Stage & Musicals[]
- Cho Eiyu Sai
- Kamen Rider 40 × Super Sentai 35: LIVE & SHOW
- Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: LIVE & SHOW 2013
- Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: LIVE & SHOW 2014
- Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: LIVE & SHOW 2015
- Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: LIVE & SHOW 2016
- Kamen Rider 45 × Super Sentai 40: LIVE & SHOW
- Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: LIVE & SHOW 2018
- Kamen Rider x Super Sentai: LIVE & SHOW 2019
- Kamen Rider x Super Sentai: LIVE & SHOW 2020
- Kamen Rider x Super Sentai: LIVE & SHOW 2021
- Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: LIVE & SHOW 2022
- Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: LIVE & SHOW 2023
- Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: LIVE & SHOW 2024
Books[]
Children's Magazines[]
- Shogakukan
- Shogakukan's Graded Learning Magazines (1975-1977, 1980 -)
- Televi-Kun (1976 first issue - January 1978, February 1980 -)
- Tokuma Shoten
- TV Land (May 197 -January 1978, February 1979-February 1997, with TVCM)
- Akita Shoten
- Adventure King (1979-1983 April issue) → TV Anime Magazine (May 1983 issue - June 1984 issue)
- Kodansha
- TV Magazine (February 1979 issue -, TVCM from 1993)
- Friends (1979 -)
- Fun Kindergarten (1979 -)
- Tele Manga Heroes (2008-2009, TV magazine extra number issue, with CM)
Related books[]
- Super Collection (TV series after Jetman)
- Super Sentai Super Collection (First edition released in 1990)
- Super Sentai Super Collection 15 Sentai Special (Released in 1993)
- Sentai Hero Super Collection 20th Anniversary Special (Released in 1995, from now on including Gorenger and J.A.K.Q.)
- Sentai Hero Super Collection Revised Edition (Released in 1998)
- Super Sentai Super Collection (Revision released in 2002)
- 30 Great Super Sentai Super Collection (Released in 2007, with appendix DVD)
- Kanzenzukan (sister series of Super Collection, released in November during the TV series starting with Go-Onger)
- Super Sentai 15th Anniversary Super Sentai Heroine Photo Album
- Super Sentai Pictures: Teamwork of Justice in Thirty Years (2 volumes; originally scheduled for 3, but the third volume was not released)
- Super Sentai Great Collection
- All Super Sentai Complete Super Encyclopedia
- All Super Sentai Super Robo: Finishing Technique 100 Super Encyclopedia
- Himitsu Sentai Gorenger Encyclopedia
- Toei Super Sentai Encyclopedia Full Volume 2
- Tokyo Dome City Superhero Show History (first edition released in 2009, supplementary revision released in 2010)
- Chogokin Tamashii - 25 Years of Poppy & Bandai Toy Character History
- The Chogokin (first ediiton released in 1988, supplementary revision released in 1998)
- Chogokin Chronicle (Book & DVD)
- Hobby Archive: Super Sentai Robo Toy
- Glorious Super Sentai Series Complete Guide)
- Super Sentai Pia (first edition released in 2011, supplementary revision released in 2015)
- Super Sentai's Common Sense: Let's do this showy! Legend Sentai Edition
- Super Sentai's Common Sense: Kyoryuger & Legend Sentai Edition
Manga[]
- Himitsu Sentai Gorenger (Weekly Shonen Sunday)
- Himitsu Sentai Gorenger (Elementary 1st Grade)
- Himitsu Sentai Gorenger (Elementary 2nd Grade)
- Himitsu Sentai Gorenger (Elementary 3rd Grade)
- Himitsu Sentai Gorenger (Elementary 4th Grade)
- Himitsu Sentai Gorenger (Elementary 5th Grade)
- Himitsu Sentai Gorenger (TV Land)
- Himitsu Sentai Gorenger (Seperate TV Land)
- J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai (Elementary 1st Grade)
- J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai (Elementary 2nd Grade)
- J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai (Televi-Kun)
- J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai (TV Land)
- Battle Fever J (Elementary 1st Grade)
- Battle Fever J (TV Land)
- Battle Fever J (Televi-Kun)
- Battle Fever J (TV Magazine)
- Battle Fever J (Adventure King)
- Denshi Sentai Denziman (TV Land)
- Denshi Sentai Denziman (TV Magazine)
- Denshi Sentai Denziman (Televi-Kun)
- Denshi Sentai Denziman (Adventure King)
- Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan (TV Land)
- Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan (TV Magazine)
- Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan (Televi-Kun)
- Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan (Adventure King)
- Dai Sentai Goggle-V (TV Land)
- Dai Sentai Goggle-V (TV Magazine)
- Dai Sentai Goggle-V (Adventure King)
- Kagaku Sentai Dynaman (TV Land)
- Kagaku Sentai Dynaman (TV Magazine)
- Kagaku Sentai Dynaman (TV Anime Magazine)
- Chodenshi Bioman (TV Land)
- Chodenshi Bioman (TV Anime Magazine)
- Chodenshi Bioman (Televi-Kun)
- Dengeki Sentai Changeman (TV Land)
- Dengeki Sentai Changeman (Televi-Kun)
- Choshinsei Flashman (Elementary 1st Grade)
- Choshinsei Flashman (TV Land)
- Choshinsei Flashman (Televi-Kun)
- Hikari Sentai Maskman (TV Land)
- Hikari Sentai Maskman (Televi-Kun)
- Choju Sentai Liveman (TV Land)
- Choju Sentai Liveman (Televi-Kun)
- Kousoku Sentai Turboranger (TV Land)
- Kousoku Sentai Turboranger (Televi-Kun)
- Chikyu Sentai Fiveman (TV Land)
- Chikyu Sentai Fiveman (Televi-Kun)
- Chojin Sentai Jetman: Toki wo Kakete
- Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger (Televi-Kun)
- Gosei Sentai Dairanger (Televi-Kun)
- Gosei Sentai Dairanger (TV Land)
- Ninja Sentai Kakuranger (Televi-Kun)
- Ninja Sentai Kakuranger (TV Land)
- Choriki Sentai Ohranger (TV Land)
- Gekiso Sentai Carranger (Televi-Kun)
- Gekiso Sentai Carranger (TV Land)
- Denji Sentai Megaranger (Televi-Kun)
- Hyakuju Sentai Gaoranger (TeleCoro Comic)
- Hyakuju Sentai Gaoranger vs. Himitsu Sentai Gorenger
- Abaranger Gaiden: Freesia no Wakakusa
- Tokuso Sentai Dekaranger the Movie: Full Blast Action
- Mahou Sentai Magiranger the Movie: Bride of Infershia
- GoGo Sentai Boukenger (Televi-Kun)
- Juken Sentai Gekiranger vs. Boukenger
- Engine Sentai Go-Onger
- Engine Sentai Go-Onger: Boom Boom! Bang Bang! GekijōBang!!
- Samurai Sentai Shinkenger
- Engine Sentai Go-Onger vs. Gekiranger
- Samurai Sentai Shinkenger the Movie: The Fateful War
Novels[]
- My Heart's Flashman
- Jetman
- Megaranger: A Million's Worth of Quotes
- Samurai Sentai Shinkenger: Three Chances of Winning
- Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger
Smartphone applications[]
- Super Sentai Gashapon - Android and iOS
- Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger for AU
International Broadcast[]
More information: List of Super Sentai international broadcasts
Giant robots[]
What differentiated the Super Sentai Series from other tokusatsu produced by Toei, Toho, and Tsuburaya was that the Super Sentai featured giant robots (often referred to in the series as Robos) piloted by the series' protagonists. Prior to the usage of giant robots in tokusatsu series, Toei had already had a hand in using them, having animated two of the archetypes for what would be used in Super Sentai: the titular Mazinger-Z, the first pilotable giant robot, and Getter Robo, the first combining giant robot. The Toei/Marvel Comics 1978 production of Spider-Man featured Spider-Man's giant robot Leopardon. Spider-Man was followed by Battle Fever J which also had a giant robot and began the tradition of the Super Sentai Series programs and the giant robots prominently featured in nearly every episode. Himitsu Sentai Gorenger in 1975—1977 and J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai in 1977 did not have giant robots, and were not considered Super Sentai until the broadcast of 1995's Choriki Sentai Ohranger to promote it as the 20th anniversary series.
Since the introduction of the giant robot to Super Sentai, their complexity and number have varied over the years. Battle Fever Robo in Battle Fever J was simply a giant robot, whereas DaiDenzin in Denshi Sentai Denziman transformed from a large vehicle into a robot. This was followed by the first combining, or "gattai", robot Sun Vulcan Robo in 1981's Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan. Over the course of broadcasting the series, additional robots were available to the heroes, beginning with two individual robots in 1986's Choshinsei Flashman with the most at five in 2008's Engine Sentai Go-onger. The number of individual mecha combining into a larger robot has also changed, from the two-piece Sun Vulcan Robo to the seven-piece Ultimate Daizyujin in 1992's Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger to the fourteen-piece Doubutsu Zen Gattai Wild Tousai Dodeka King in 2016's Zyuohger to the twenty-piece God King-Ohger in 2023's Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger. The concept of multiple combinations was introduced in 2001's Hyakuju Sentai Gaoranger with different arm, leg, and torso combinations producing twenty-two different robots that appeared in the series's broadcast.
All Super Sentai robots have been portrayed by suit actors, with miniature props used for their vehicular components. In recent years, CGI has been incorporated in the robot fight scenes for more complex transformation sequences, action maneuvers that greatly exceed the mobility of the robot suit (a good example being the Gokaigers' GokaiOh), or scenes that depict a larger battlefield than what is provided on stage.
Timeline[]
The Super Sentai timeline is a complicated one. Each series was originally intended to take place in its own continuity; in other words, they are the only Sentai to have existed prior to the first episode. Later efforts from Toei retcon this, mainly through crossover episodes and/or films. Some episodes may contain small indirect references to previous series, but past teams are almost never overtly mentioned.
In popular culture[]
The Super Sentai series have been airing in Japan for the past forty years, and have been parodied as well as emulated in various ways throughout the world. Some of the anime and video games that reference or parody are:
- Bleach (Karakura Bōeitai/Karakura Heroes in the dub)
- Disgaea: Hour of Darkness (NijiRanger/Prism Rangers)
- Dragon Ball Z (the Ginyu Force/Ginyū Tokusentai)
- One Piece (Germa 66)
- Excel Saga (Municipal Force Daitenzin/Shiritsu Sentai Daitenjin}
- Negima!: Magister Negi Magi (Mahora Sentai Bakaranger; also featured in the television drama adaptation of Negima! titled MAGISTER NEGI MAGI: Mahou Sensei Negima!!)
- Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (Axem Rangers/Kajioh Squadron Onoranger)
- Tentai Senshi Sun Red
- Mitsudomoe (Honki Sentai Gachiranger/Honki Sentai Gachirenjā)
There have also been direct parody series such as the Filipino movies Biokids, Kabayokids, and Super Ranger Kids, the Les Inconnus sketch Bioumen, and the Japanese series Special Duty Combat Unit Shinesman.
There have been many tribute series that pay homage to the long running franchise, starting with the Japanese fan film Aikoku Sentai Dai-Nippon created by what is now Gainax.
Toei has also parodied their work by using it in a series of short features on various spas and onsen around Japan as Bihada Sentai Sparanger. This series features tokusatsu and drama actors Takashi Hagino (Changéríon of Choukou Senshi Changéríon and Kamen Rider Ouja of Kamen Rider Ryuki) as SpaRed, Kento Handa (Kamen Rider Faiz of Kamen Rider 555) as SpaBlue (SPAブルー SupaBurū), Kengo Ohkuchi (the trapped subway worker Kazushi Mizuno in Kamen Rider 555) as SpaGreen, Masashi Mikami (BoukenBlue in GoGo Sentai Boukenger) as SpaYellow, and Kohei Murakami (Kamen Rider Kaixa in Kamen Rider 555) as SpaMurasakiki, "purple" or "violet" in Japanese, a running joke would involve people referring to him as SpaPurple.
- Since 2005's Sentai run, the Japanese musical group Kanjani Eight have created a series of performances at their concerts where they dress in different colored outfits and call themselves Kanjani Sentai Eight Ranger.
Notes[]
- Since its debut in 1975, a new Sentai series, or an unofficial series, has started airing every year except 1978. However, the series that Super Sentai adopted the use of a mecha from (Spider-Man) aired in 1978, as well as a film that brought back the first two teams. (J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai vs. Gorenger)
- The only years to begin airing more than one Sentai series, or an unofficial series, is 2012, which aired Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters and Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger, and 2013, which aired Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger and Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger Season Tsuu.
Gallery[]
See Also[]
- Sentai Rangers
- Sentai Allies
- Extra Heroes
- Sentai Weapons
- Sentai Vehicles
- Sentai Villains
- Sentai Monsters
- Planets in Super Sentai
- Sentai Teamups
- Sentai Episodes
- Mecha
See Also[]
- Power Rangers - Power Rangers counterpart . See comparison page.
- Super Sentai Battle: Dice-O
External links[]
- Official Super Sentai Friends Website (Japanese)