Okay, so a couple weeks ago i found myself reading an article on, "The Top 5 '80s Cartoons that Deserve a Movie". I know that at least M.A.S.K. and Silverhawks were mentioned.
M.A.S.K. intro
Silverhawks Intro
As you all know, YouTube then offers suggestions on what you should watch too. And one such video was from an old Power Rangers episode. So I watched one. Then another. And another. Until it became an obsession to get more.
So I did a quick search and found two sites: http://www.rangerboard.com/ and http://www.rangercentral.com/database/. (The latter is a database of ALL the Americanized versions of Power Rangers, and their Japanese predecessors the Super Sentai.) Looking through most of it, made me feel less nerdy, as it appeared that others out there obsessed over these shows even more than myself. So I sighed some relief and read on.
After some reading of the past versions of the Super Sentai I thought it would be a Grand Idea to find episodes online. I was able to locate one, the Zyurangers (episodes 1 thru 5); which was the footage used in the first season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
Zyuranger Ep. 1 (This ain't no "Day of the Dumpster")
I was amazed, sort of, to see how vastly different the Japanese version was from the American. Obviously I knew there would be some differences, but as I discovered the storylines are totally different. To go straight to the point, the main thing that USA TV took from the Japs was the fight scenes, everything else was our attempt (quite successful attempt at that) of producing an entertaining show. The story of ordinary teens becoming superheroes hit the right keys with kids across America. Though I'm sure their target audience was the 5 to 12 group, I believe they also snagged a few early teens.
I was in 6th or 7th grade when these guys first aired and I remember rushing home in hopes of catching the show. Sadly FOX kept changing the air time almost on a weekly basis. As I grew up I'd happen to catch an episode here and there, trying to follow the storyline as close a possible, but eventually I had to grow up and got away from the Fab 5 (or 6, or 7 or however many they come out with, with each new rendition). From season to season I'd hear about a new group of teens and catch an episode or two, but never got into the show as much as I did when I was younger.
Now here I am at 30 years old finding myself watching the old shows once more. Why? Perhaps I'm just goofy like that, or this is one of those things I'll obsess over for a while before I get burned out. I managed to get my hands on the first 3 seasons of the show, and have made it through to Season 2 (Tommy has just been announced as the White Ranger -- remember that episode?). I plan on watching all three seasons, and then go from there. If I can get my hands on Season 4 (Power Rangers Zeo) and Season 5 (Power Rangers Turbo) I may just watch them too.
We'll see how long this obsession lasts. 20 seasons of Power Rangers would be a lot of TV time. At 20 minutes an episode, with 60 or so episodes for the first 3 seasons, then near 50 for the next few seasons, and then 30 plus for those following, that could be Power Ranger suicide.
And you wanna know what's funny? One day you could be watching some random TV show and bang, there's an actor/actress who was on Power Rangers. You don't expect it, but I've scene one of them in non-PR role. That's not to say other former Rangers haven't gone on to successful careers. Amy Jo Johnson, Kimberly from the first few seasons apparently has the best acting career of former morphers. While Jason David Frank, the Green and White Ranger for the first three seasons, is now a successful MMA champion. Go figure!
Amy Jo, you haven't changed
Only one word for this: DAMN!
And if you thought a blog entry was bad enough, check out a couple of YouTube videos by hardcore fans:
Every series song in a montage of colorful costumes
A history lesson
My obsession has even crossed over into my gaming world (what doesn't?!). I'm currently working on a Savage Worlds version of Power Rangers. But more on that in my other blog.
