The Sūpā Sentai Shirīzu is a Japanese superhero team media franchise consisting of television series and films produced by Toei Company and Bandai, and aired by TV Asahi.
Series overview
In every
Super Sentai series, the protagonists are a team of people who – using either wrist-worn or hand-held devices – transform into superheroes and gain superpowers – color-coded uniforms,
, sidearms, and fighting skills – to battle a group of otherworldly supervillains that threaten to take over the Earth. In a typical episode, the heroes thwart the enemies' plans and defeat an army of enemy soldiers and the monster of the week before an enlarged version of the monster confronts them, only to be defeated once again when the heroes fight it with their super robot
mecha.
For a time, Sentai series chose to set themselves in their own unique fictional universes; however, beginning in the 1990's, incarnations have retroactively made it so nearly every Sentai series has occurred within the same universe with rare exceptions, and modern series now maintain that nearly all Sentai series (as well as a majority of Toei's other tokusatsu hero series) occur in the same setting, just with the other series not commonly referenced when unneeded to allow a running series to tell the story its creators wish to without the need to actively factor decades of continuity in. Beginning with J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai vs. Gorenger, Various TV, video, and film specials as well as in-canon storyline episodes feature a team-up among two or more teams, often clarifying and maintaining the now-commonplace inter-series continuity, which makes it difficult to dis-associate the greater franchise's entries from each other unless a specific entry detaches itself from the greater majority. The Sentai series Zenkaiger proposed that both a standalone and unified perspective of Sentai continuity is simultaneously true; that there are worlds where just any Sentai series occurs in a standalone format, as well as the main timeline in which Toei's series collectively occur; generally seen as a way for Toei to acknowledge their own longstanding inconsistencies and continuity errors with regards to the writing of team-up events and the changing expectations of storytelling over time.
The first two Super Sentai series were created by Shotaro Ishinomori, then known for the 1971–1973 Kamen Rider TV series and the long-running manga Cyborg 009. He developed Himitsu Sentai Gorenger, which ran from 1975 to 1977, and J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai, released in 1977. Toei Company put the franchise on hiatus in 1978, collaborating with Marvel Comics to produce a live-action Spider-Man series, which added giant robots to the concept of tokusatsu shows. The giant robot concept was carried over to Toei and Marvel's next show, Battle Fever J, released in 1979, and was then used throughout the Super Sentai series. The next two series Denshi Sentai Denjiman and Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan had Marvel copyrights and co-productions, despite no influence. Subsequently, the remainder of the series has been solely produced by Toei Company.
Productions
Main series
The following is a list of the
Super Sentai series and their years of broadcast:
Theatrical releases
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1975: Himitsu Sentai Gorenger (Movie version of episode 6)
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1975: Himitsu Sentai Gorenger: The Blue Fortress (Movie version of episode 15)
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1976: Himitsu Sentai Gorenger: The Red Death Match (Movie version of episode 36)
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1976: Himitsu Sentai Gorenger: The Bomb Hurricane
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1976: Himitsu Sentai Gorenger: Fire Mountain's Final Explosion (Movie version of episode 54)
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1977: J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai (Movie version of episode 7)
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1978: J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai vs. Gorenger
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1979: Battle Fever J (Movie version of episode 5)
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1980: Denshi Sentai Denjiman
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1981: Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan
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1982: Dai Sentai Goggle-V
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1983: Kagaku Sentai Dynaman
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1984: Choudenshi Bioman
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1985: Dengeki Sentai Changeman
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1985: Dengeki Sentai Changeman: Shuttle Base! Crisis!
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1986: Choushinsei Flashman
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1987: Choushinsei Flashman: Big Rally! Titan Boy!! (Movie version of episodes 15–18)
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1987: Hikari Sentai Maskman
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1989: Kousoku Sentai Turboranger
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1993: Gosei Sentai Dairanger
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1994: Ninja Sentai Kakuranger
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1994: Super Sentai World
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1994: Toei Hero Daishugō
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1995: Chouriki Sentai Ohranger
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2001:
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2002: Ninpu Sentai Hurricanger: Shushutto The Movie
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2003: Bakuryū Sentai Abaranger DELUXE: Abare Summer is Freezing Cold!
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2004:
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2005: Mahō Sentai Magiranger The Movie: Bride of Infershia ~Maagi Magi Giruma Jinga~
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2006:
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2007:
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2008:
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2009: Engine Sentai Go-onger vs. Gekiranger
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2009:
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2010:
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2010:
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2011:
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2011: Gokaiger Goseiger Super Sentai 199 Hero Great Battle
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2011:
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2012:
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2012:
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2012:
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2013:
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2013:
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2013:
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2014:
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2014:
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2014:
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2015:
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2015:
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2015:
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2016:
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2016:
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2017:
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2017: Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Ultra Super Hero Taisen
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2017: Uchu Sentai Kyuranger the Movie: Gase Indaver Strikes Back
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2018: Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger en Film
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2019: Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger the Movie: Time Slip! Dinosaur Panic
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2020: Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger VS Lupinranger VS Patranger
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2020: Mashin Sentai Kiramager: Episode Zero
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2021: Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger Special Chapter: Memory of Soulmates
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2021: Mashin Sentai Kiramager The Movie: Bee-Bop Dream
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2021: Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger The Movie: Red Battle! All Sentai Rally!!
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2021:
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2022: Avataro Sentai Donbrothers The Movie: New First Love Hero
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2023: Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger the Movie: Adventure Heaven
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2024: Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger GekijōBoon! Promise the Circuit
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2025: No.1 Sentai Gozyuger the Movie
V-Cinema releases
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1996:
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1997: Gekisou Sentai Carranger vs. Ohranger
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1998: Denji Sentai Megaranger vs. Carranger
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1999: Seijuu Sentai Gingaman vs. Megaranger
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1999:
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2000: Kyuukyuu Sentai GoGoFive vs. Gingaman
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2001: Mirai Sentai Timeranger vs. GoGoFive
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2001: Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai
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2003: Ninpu Sentai Hurricanger vs. Gaoranger
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2004: Bakuryū Sentai Abaranger vs. Hurricanger
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2005: Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger vs. Abaranger
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2006: Mahō Sentai Magiranger vs. Dekaranger
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2007: GoGo Sentai Boukenger vs. Super Sentai
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2008: Juken Sentai Gekiranger vs. Boukenger
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2010: Samurai Sentai Shinkenger Returns
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2011: Tensou Sentai Goseiger Returns
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2013: Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters Returns vs. Dōbutsu Sentai Go-Busters
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2013: Ninpu Sentai Hurricanger: 10 Years After
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2014: Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger: 100 Years After
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2015: Ressha Sentai ToQger Returns
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2015: Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger: 10 Years After
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2016:
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2017:
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2017:
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2017: Uchu Sentai Kyuranger: Episode of Stinger
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2018: Uchu Sentai Kyuranger vs. Space Squad
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2018: Engine Sentai Go-Onger: 10 Years Grand Prix
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2019: Lupinranger VS Patranger VS Kyuranger
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2021: Kiramager VS Ryusoulger
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2021:
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2022: Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger vs. Kiramager vs. Senpaiger
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2023: Avataro Sentai Donbrothers VS Zenkaiger
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2023: Ninpu Sentai Hurricanger Degozaru! Shushuuto 20th Anniversary
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2023: Bakuryu Sentai Abaranger 20th: The Unforgivable Abare
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2024: Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger 20th: Fireball Booster
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2024: Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger vs. Donbrothers
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2024: Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger vs. Kyoryuger
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2025: Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger vs. King-Ohger
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2026: No.1 Sentai Gozyuger vs. Boonboomger
Spin-offs/Extras
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2012-2013: Unofficial Sentai Akibaranger
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2017: Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger Brave
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2021: The High School Heroes
Distribution and overseas adaptations
Although the
Super Sentai series originated in Japan, various
Sentai series have been imported and dubbed in other languages for broadcast in several other countries.
United States
After
Honolulu's
KIKU-TV had success with
Android Kikaider (marketed as
Kikaida) and
Kamen Rider V3 in the 1970s, multiple
Super Sentai series, including
Himitsu Sentai Gorenger and
Battle Fever J, were brought to the Hawaiian market, broadcast in Japanese with English subtitles by JN Productions. In 1985,
Marvel Comics produced a pilot for an American adaptation of
Super Sentai, but the show was rejected by the major American TV networks.
In 1986, Saban Productions produced a pilot for an American adaptation of
Choudenshi Bioman titled
Bio Man.
In 1987, some episodes of
Kagaku Sentai Dynaman were dubbed and aired as a parody on the
USA Network television show
Night Flight.
In 1993, American production company Saban Entertainment adapted 1992's Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger into Mighty Morphin Power Rangers for the Fox Kids programming block, combining the original Japanese action footage with new footage featuring American actors for the story sequences. Since then, nearly every Super Sentai series that followed became a new season of Power Rangers. In 2002, Saban sold the Power Rangers franchise to Disney's Buena Vista division,
On 25 July 2014, Shout! Factory announced that they would release Zyuranger on DVD in the United States.
On 1 May 2018, toy company Hasbro announced they had acquired the Power Rangers franchise from Saban Capital Group for $522 million.
South Korea
Super Sentai has been broadcast in South Korea, dubbed in Korean. The first such series was
Choushinsei Flashman which aired as
Jigu Bangwidae Flash Man (
Earth Defence Squadron Flashman), released in video format in 1989 by the Daeyung Panda video company; this was followed by
Hikari Sentai Maskman and
Chodenshi Bioman. Throughout the 1990s,
Dai Sentai Goggle Five,
Dengeki Sentai Changeman,
Choujyu Sentai Liveman, and
Kousoku Sentai Turboranger were also released in video format. In the 2000s and early 2010s,
Tooniverse (formerly Orion Cartoon Network), JEI-TV (Jaeneung Television), Champ TV/Anione TV (Daewon Broadcasting), Cartoon Network South Korea, and Nickelodeon South Korea have broadcast
Super Sentai series a year following their original Japanese broadcast, but have changed the titles to "Power Rangers".
Merchandise
,
Bandai Namco has sold
Super Sentai shape-changing model robots since 1979.
| + Bandai Namco Super Sentai retail sales
! Fiscal year
! Net income sales
! Notes
! |
| to December 2005 | | Bandai sales | |
| to March 2007 | | Toy sales | |
| to March 2012 | | | |
|
| to March 2013 | () | | |
| to March 2014 | () | | |
| to December 2020 | () | | |
|
| + Super Sentai licensed merchandise in Japan
! Year
! Retail sales
! |
| 2003 | | |
| 2008 | | |
| 2010 | | |
| 2012 | | |
| 2013 | | |
| 2014 | | |
|
| + Sentai licensed merchandise outside Japan
! Year(s)
! Retail sales
! |
| 1993 to 1999 | $6 billion | |
| 2005 | | |
| 2006 | $131 million | |
| 2012 | $300 million | |
| 2013 | $333 million |
| 2014 | $326 million | |
| 2015 | $330 million | |
| 2016 | $361 million |
| 2017 | $548 million | |
| 2018 | $281 million | |
|
Notes
External links
