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, 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 Hero 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 Kyōryū 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, only four of them is used to commemorate the series: The 25th anniversary logo is for Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger, the 30th for GoGo Sentai Boukenger, the 35th for Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger, and the 40th for Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger.
From Gorenger in 1975 to the last episode of Lupinranger VS Patranger, the franchise will have aired 2,118 episodes. Zyuohger is the 40th Anniversary Sentai. Within the season, Episode 29 of Zyuohger is the 2,000th Episode of the overall Sentai Series.
Series overview
The first thirty-five Super Sentai teams and the ten extra heroes
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.
Choudenshi Bioman was dubbed in Spanish and aired in Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico and El Salvador by Caracol TV, RCTV/Televen, Azteca 7 and Canal 12, respectively. Choushinsei Flashman was broadcast in Ecuador on Ecuavisa, in Peru on Panamericana Televisión, in Mexico on Azteca 7 and it was broadcast several times through many years in Bolivia on RTP. The dub in Spanish was made by Everest Video, the same company which made the Portuguese dub and it was named, Comando Estelar Flashman, as in Brazil. In Peru, Choujuu Sentai Liveman was dubbed in Spanish on Panamericana Televisión and on Frecuencia Latina as Super Fuerza Liveman (Super Force Liveman) between 1992 and 1995 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.
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 Choushinsei 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, Choujuu 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
J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai and Himitsu Sentai Gorenger (retitled Star Rangers) were the first Sentai series to be shown in the Philippines. Just as in France and Brazil, it was Choudenshi Bioman (dubbed in English) and Hikari Sentai Maskman (the first Super Sentai series dubbed in Filipino by the IBC-13 network) that most fans are familiar with. They were broadcast in the Philippines in the 1980s, along with Kousoku Sentai Turboranger, Chikyuu Sentai Fiveman, Choujin Sentai Jetman and Dai Sentai Goggle V in the 1990’s. Various Sentai series such as Fiveman and Choushinsei Flashman were also broadcast in Malaysia sometime in the 1990s dubbed into English. Almost all Super Sentai shows were broadcast in Thailand since the 1980s; there, most new shows were exclusively broadcast on Channel 9 a year late from its Japanese debut in the late 1980s to early 1990s until Power Rangers replaced Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger in the mid 1990s. Since then, the series have appeared on various other channels.
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 Choudenshi 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 Kyōryū 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 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 will be 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. Onevillain from ToQger was adapted into Ninja Steel, very much like how avillain from Megaranger was used in Lost Galaxy.
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.
South Korea
Super Sentai has also been broadcast in South Korea, dubbed from Japanese to Korean, starting as early as Choushinsei 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:
South Korea also aired a 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:
The following is a list of the 43 Super Sentai Series and their years of broadcast. Each Super Sentai series has its own unique values and motifs:
The first Super Sentai team, the Gorengers.
Himitsu Sentai Gorenger, aired from 1975–1977, and 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. This was also the first Super Sentai entry of the Shōwa period.
The second Super Sentai team, J.A.K.Q.
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.
The third Super Sentai team, Battle Fever J.
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. The series' motif was unusual, wherein 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. In addition, this was the first series to feature a team cannon formed from the members' individual weapons.
The fourth Super Sentai team, the Denzimen.
Denshi Sentai Denziman aired in 1980 punch boxing motif. and was the first series completely produced by Toei. It is the first series to have a transforming giant robot and utilize an actual 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.
The fifth Super Sentai team, Sun Vulcan.
Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan aired in 1981 animals motif. 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. It was also the first to use a transformation bracelet - a device that would be standard in majority of the Super Sentai franchise. Sun Vulcan was the only official series to have a three-member team throughout the show (with the fourth member being actually a substitute to another team member), and the only one to have an all-male team.
The sixth Super Sentai team, Goggle V.
Dai Sentai Goggle V aired in 1982 and featured motifs based on gemstones, ancient civilizations, and athletics, most notably rhythmic gymnastics. It was also the first series to start the tradition of the main cast members shouting the team name on the opening title. 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.
The seventh Super Sentai team, the Dynamen.
Kagaku Sentai Dynaman aired in 1983 and was featured a motif scientist and baseball player. the first series to use "spandex" costumes for the heroes and was the first series to remove the scarves from the costume (a tradition carried over from Ishinomori's Kamen Rider Series). 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 comically dubbed into English and aired during the USA Network's 1987 Night Flight programming block.
The eighth Super Sentai team, the Biomen.
Choudenshi Bioman aired in 1984 Bio Particles/technology motif. techand was the first series to feature two heroines on the team and the first to feature a helping robot to aid the heroes. The show was also the last to have a change in team members mid-season.
The ninth Super Sentai team, the Changemen.
Dengeki Sentai Changeman aired in 1985 and featured a motif based on legendary creatures in European traditions and focused on a trained military batallion fighting an alien invasion threat. At 55 episodes, it is the second longest-running of all the Super Sentai titles, after Gorenger.
The tenth Super Sentai team, the Flashmen.
Choushinsei Flashman aired in 1986 prism powers involving five humans formerly of Earth returning to face their captors using technology and abilities gained while living on a planetary system, which gave them great powers but with an unexpected, tragic side-effect that emerges towards the end. 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". (with Gorenger and J.A.K.Q. counted at the time)
The eleventh Super Sentai team, the Maskmen.
Hikari Sentai Maskman aired in 1987 and featured a motif based on martial arts and Ch'i aura powers. It introduced the first five-piece combining robot, with an individual mecha piloted by each member of the team. The series also featured the first sixth warrior, appearing for only one episode.
The twelfth Super Sentai team, the Livemen.
Choujuu Sentai Liveman aired in 1988 and featured an animal-based motif, and was the first Super Sentai series to have a female blue warrior and the first mech completely based on an animal. It is also the first Super Sentai series to have both a Green Ranger and a Black Ranger in the main five. The series also 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. This was the last series to be broadcasted during the Shōwa period.
The thirteenth Super Sentai team, the Turborangers.
Kousoku Sentai Turboranger aired in 1989 and featured an automobile vehicles motif, as well as the first team made completely of high school teenagers. 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 also the first Super Sentai entry of the Heisei period.
The fourteenth Super Sentai team, the Fivemen.
Chikyuu 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. The series is also the first to have the entire team consist of family siblings.
The fifteenth Super Sentai team, the Jetmen.
Choujin 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 twomembers 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.
The sixteenth Super Sentai team, the Zyurangers.
Kyōryū 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, beginning the Power Rangers franchise as well as the first to be adapted into a Power Rangers series.
The seventeenth Super Sentai team, the Dairangers.
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.
The eighteenth Super Sentai team, the Kakurangers.
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, as well as its Mini-Series Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers.
The nineteenth Super Sentai team, the Ohrangers.
Chouriki 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 Chouriki Sentai Ohranger: Ole vs. Kakuranger. The series was adapted into Power Rangers Zeo, following up form the original series.
The twentieth Super Sentai team, the Carrangers.
Gekisou 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.
The twenty-first Super Sentai team, the Megarangers.
Denji Sentai Megaranger aired in 1997 using electronics, dental message, 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 Nejiranger 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.
The twenty-second Super Sentai team, the Gingamen.
Seijuu 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.
The twenty-third Super Sentai team, GoGoFive.
Kyukyu Sentai GoGo-V 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.
The twenty-fourth Super Sentai team, the Timerangers.
The twenty-fifth Super Sentai team, the Gaorangers.
Hyakujuu 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 Hyakujuu 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.
The twenty-sixth Super Sentai team, the Hurricangers.
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.
The twenty-seventh Super Sentai team, the Abarangers.
Bakuryuu 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.
The twenty-eighth Super Sentai team, the Dekarangers.
Tokusou 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.
The twenty-ninth Super Sentai team, the Magirangers.
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.
The thirtieth Super Sentai team, the Boukengers.
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.
The thirty-first Super Sentai team, the Gekirangers.
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.
The thirty-second Super Sentai team, the Go-Ongers.
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 the first twelve-piece combining robot. 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.
The thirty-third Super Sentai team, the Shinkengers.
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.
The thirty-fourth Super Sentai team, the Goseigers.
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.
The thirty-fifth Super Sentai team, the Gokaigers.
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. Some elements of Gokaiger were adapted as Power Rangers Super Megaforcein 2014.
The thirty-sixth Super Sentai team, the Go-Busters.
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 and not adapted into Power Rangers, elements of Go-Busters have been incorporated into Power Rangers Dino Charge in 2015. The series was ultimately adapted into Power Rangers Beast Morphers in 2019.
The thirty-seventh Super Sentai team, the Kyoryugers.
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.
The thirty-eighth Super Sentai team, the ToQgers.
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 was skipped for adaptation as a Power Rangers series in favor of Ninninger, although some elements were incorporated into Power Rangers Ninja Steel and Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel. Despite this, there is a possible chance that it may be adapted into Power Rangers in a similar manner to the situation with Go-Busters and Beast Morphers.
The thirty-ninth Super Sentai team, the Ninningers.
Shuriken Sentai Ninninger is the 2015 series, and, following Kakuranger and Hurricanger, it will be 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.
The fortieth Super Sentai team, the Zyuohgers.
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 which was apparently inspired by Minecraft, as well as various arcade game motifs. 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).
The forty-first Super Sentai team, the Kyurangers.
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).
The forty-second Super Sentai team(s), the Lupinrangers/Patrangers.
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. Secret x Heroine Phantomirage!. 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).
The forty-third and current Super Sentai team, the Ryusoulgers
The forty-fourth and upcoming Super Sentai team, the Kiramagers
Mashin Sentai Kiramager is the 2020 series. Much like Turboranger, Carranger and Go-Onger, it has vehicle theme, though mixed with gemstones (akin to Flashman and Denziman), with a magic theme shared with Magiranger. 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.
Unofficial
The Akibarangers, an unofficial Sentai team. (Top) Season 1, (Bottom) Season Tsuu
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.
Giant Robos and vehicles from the first 35 Super Sentai series
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 Chōriki 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 throughout the Super Sentai Series' history. 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 Taiyou 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 Choushinsei 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 Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger to the fourteen-piece Doubutsu Dai Gattai Wild Tousai Dodeka King in 2016's Zyuohger. The concept of multiple combinations was introduced in 2001's Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger with different arm, leg, and torso combinations producing twenty-two different robots that appeared in the series' 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' Gokai-Oh), or scenes that depict a larger battlefield than what is provided on stage.
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. Some episodes may contain small indirect references to previous series, past teams are almost always never overtly mentioned.
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)
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)
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)
Although the stories of each show are not intended to work with stories and universes from other shows, Toei has had characters from Super Sentai crossover with other Tokusatsu series, and those series have occationally crossed over with other Tokusatsu series. Because of these crossovers, it can be assumed these series all take place in the same canon. These series include:
Kamen Rider series (due to its crossover in Super Hero Taisen.)
Metal Hero series (due to its crossover with Super Sentai in Gokaiger vs. Gavan.)
Kikaider series (due to its mention in a Super Sentai movie and cameo in Kamen Rider.)
Inazuman series (due to its cameo in Kamen Rider.)
Kaiketsu Zubat (due to its cameo in Kamen Rider.)
Most of the Super Sentai teams aren’t aware that they are part of a Sentai team to protect. These teams might include teams from places other than Earth like Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger and even Uchu Sentai Kyuranger
Gallery
The different anniversary seals. Note: the 10th anniversary seal (top right) was used with Liveman in 1988, and the 15th anniversary seal (top left) was used with Dairanger in 1993, both before Gorenger and JAKQ were reincorporated into the Sentai chronology (in whose cases Flashman would be the 10th anniversary, and Jetman the 15th). The other seals were used with Ohranger (20th anniversary, 1995), Gaoranger (25th anniversary, 2001), Boukenger (30th anniversary, 2006) and Gokaiger (35th anniversary, 2011).
The 40th anniversary seal used with Zyuohger in 2016.
. 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 (
