Power Rangers: The Evolution That Redefined 30 Years After Might Morphin's Premiere

Summary

Power Rangers has come a long way since its debut 30 years ago, with numerous seasons, movies, and other media.

The Zordon era of Power Rangers came to an end with Power Rangers in Space, which signified a significant shift in the franchise. Power Rangers is gradually distancing itself from Super Sentai adaptations, exemplified by the introduction of the new Power Rangers Cosmic Fury suits.

Power Rangers recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, marking significant changes since its debut in 1993 with Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. With the inclusion of Power Rangers Dino Fury Season 2, the franchise now consists of 963 episodes, along with movies, specials, comic books, video games, roleplaying games, and reference materials. The successful blend of a Super Sentai show and an original storyline propelled its popularity, making Mighty Morphin Power Rangers a prominent figure in pop culture.

The inaugural episode of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, titled "Day of the Dumpster," introduced the audience to Zordon, an intergalactic being, and the "five teenagers with attitude" who would later transform into Power Rangers. Over the past three decades, an additional 22 Power Rangers groups have emerged, including the upcoming Power Rangers Cosmic Fury team. Nevertheless, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and its captivating characters will always remain synonymous with the Power Rangers identity. Here is a breakdown of the notable transformations Power Rangers has undergone since the premiere of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 30 years ago.

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10 Every Mighty Morphin Character Had Exited Power Rangers By Turbo Season 2

Towards the conclusion of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, the only remaining original Rangers were Billy, portrayed by David Yost, and Tommy, played by Jason David Frank. During Mighty Morphin season 2, Jason, Zack, and Trini had departed from the team, while Pink Ranger Kimberly left in season 3. The final lineup of Mighty Morphin Rangers made a comeback for Power Rangers Zeo, although Aisha was replaced by Tanya as the Yellow Ranger, and Billy was no longer part of the team. The Zeo team, excluding Rocky, then continued their journey in Power Rangers Turbo, but for only 19 episodes. By the 20th episode of Turbo, none of the Mighty Morphin Rangers were featured in the show.

9 Power Rangers In Space Marked The End Of The Zordon Era

Power Rangers in Space breathed new life into the Power Rangers franchise, rescuing it from the disappointment of Turbo's poor ratings. This season took the Power Rangers on a galactic adventure, bidding farewell to Zordon and marking the end of the Zordon era. Despite only Adam, played by Johnny Yong Bosch, from the original Mighty Morphin Ranger team appearing in In Space, the series still felt like a natural continuation of the saga, much like Zeo and Turbo had been. The former Turbo Rangers, led by Red Ranger Andros, played a pivotal role in saving humanity from Astronema in the epic episode "Countdown to Destruction." However, this triumph did not come without consequences.

In the powerful series finale of Power Rangers in Space, Zordon met his demise, bringing the storyline full circle and providing a satisfying conclusion to the narrative that began on August 28, 1993, with "Day of the Dumpster." Notably, iconic villains such as Rita Repulsa, Lord Zedd, and Divatox experienced redemption, while the Power Rangers achieved their most significant triumph to date. With the loss of Zordon, who had served as the linchpin of the Power Rangers universe, In Space became renowned as the conclusion to the Zordon Era, encompassing everything from the pilot episode of Mighty Morphin to "Countdown to Destruction, Part 2."

8 Lost Galaxy Introduced Standalone Power Rangers Seasons

With the Zordon Era concluded, Power Rangers Lost Galaxy marked a fresh chapter in the history of Power Rangers. Unlike previous seasons, Lost Galaxy broke away from the tradition of requiring viewers to have watched the prior show. This installment introduced a fresh set of main characters, most of whom had no connection to Zordon or Angel Grove. Subsequently, each subsequent Power Rangers series existed on its own, while still fitting into the same continuity as Mighty Morphin. Barring Power Rangers' crossover episodes, every series from Lost Galaxy onwards functioned as an independent narrative.

7 “Forever Red” Began Power Rangers’ Anniversary Crossovers Tradition

After a decade since the premiere of Mighty Morphin, Power Rangers had successfully built a remarkable legacy. This iconic franchise boasts an extensive catalog of thrilling episodes, two movie adaptations, and the formation of nine distinct teams. A momentous occasion in the Power Rangers universe was marked with the release of "Forever Red," an extraordinary crossover event featured in Power Ranger Wild Force. In celebration of the franchise's 10th anniversary, "Forever Reunited" united all the Red Rangers introduced up until that point, with the exception of Mighty Morphin's second Red Ranger. Other noteworthy anniversary crossovers in the Power Rangers series include "Once A Ranger" from Operation Overdrive, "Legendary Battle" from Super Megaforce, "Dimensions in Danger" from Super Ninja Steel, and the memorable "Once & Always" from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

6 Power Rangers (2017) Tried To Reboot Mighty Morphin As A Movie

5 The BOOM! Power Rangers Comics Expanded The Franchise's Lore

Despite being based on the original Power Rangers show and featuring the same cast from the 1990s TV series in two previous movies, Power Rangers made its return to the big screen in 2017 with a fresh take on the Mighty Morphin reboot. The film aimed to launch a new Power Rangers movie franchise by reinventing classic elements. Unfortunately, despite the relatively positive reception, especially in terms of the cast, Power Rangers (2017) failed to perform well at the box office, resulting in no sequel. Notably, the new Power Rangers costumes differed significantly from those in Mighty Morphin, and the backstories of characters like Zordon and Rita underwent changes.

In 2017, Power Rangers attempted to reboot the franchise in theaters, but unfortunately, it did not succeed. However, the BOOM! Power Rangers comics took a different approach and successfully reinvented the franchise in a way that had never been seen before. These comics transported us to a modern version of the Mighty Morphin show and expanded on the original storyline with fresh and captivating narratives that were never shown on screen. While the comics consider every episode of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers as part of their canon, they primarily focus on crafting original stories. This innovative approach allowed the Power Rangers universe to grow significantly without limiting the TV shows. One notable example is the introduction of the Power Rangers multiverse through the unforgettable series, Shattered Grid.

4 Power Rangers Revisited Mighty Morphin With Once & Always

Although Mighty Morphin is often referenced or acknowledged in other series, Power Rangers has yet to revisit the saga’s first team with a new show or movie. This changed with Power Rangers: Once & Always, an hour-long special set 30 years after Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’ ending. First-generation Rangers Zack (Walter Emanuel Jones) and Billy (David Yost) returned to the anniversary special that also brought back Kat, Rocky, Aisha, and Adam. The Power Rangers reunion paid homage to Trini’s actress, Thuy Trang, who died on September 3, 2001. Once & Always also had a tribute to Jason David Frank, Tommy Oliver’s actor, who died on November 19, 2022.

3 Power Rangers Is Slowly Moving Away From Super Sentai Adaptations

Power Rangers: Once & Always not only marked the long-awaited return of the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers team with Zack and Billy reprising their roles, but it also honored the late Thuy Trang and Jason David Frank, the beloved actors who portrayed Trini and Tommy Oliver.

The Power Rangers franchise, known for its Super Sentai adaptation since the Mighty Morphin era, is now undergoing a transformation. A notable instance of this shift can be seen in Power Rangers: Once & Always, where no Sentai footage was utilized, even in Zord battles. While the classic Power Rangers attire and the villains' design originated from Zyuranger, all other elements were created anew. Similarly, in Power Rangers Cosmic Fury, the costumes will be unique creations rather than Uchuu Sentai Kyuranger suits. Consequently, all of the Cosmic Fury's "ground fights" will feature American footage instead of being sourced from a Super Sentai series.

2 Power Rangers Cosmic Fury Is Changing The Franchise In Many Ways

Cosmic Fury, the season that commemorates Power Rangers' 30th anniversary, is set to bring forth numerous groundbreaking elements. Firstly, it will astound fans by introducing an entirely original collection of Power Rangers costumes, marking a captivating novelty in the franchise's history. Furthermore, a trailblazing milestone will be reached as the enigmatic Red Ranger leader of Dino Fury, the Pink Ranger, assumes the esteemed title of the Red Ranger in Cosmic Fury. Additionally, this momentous season will witness the advent of the very first Orange Ranger, alongside a prominent ensemble of Rangers comprising three remarkable women and three courageous men. Breaking away from tradition, the introduction of Power Rangers Cosmic Fury affirms the absence of the cherished catchphrase "Go, go, Power Rangers" in its theme song, an emblematic refrain that originated in 2013.

1 Power Rangers’ Future After Cosmic Fury Could Be An All-Original Series

The 30th season of Power Rangers is considered the conclusion of an era for the franchise, although this does not signify the end of the Power Rangers series entirely. At this point, there are no updates regarding the next adaptation of Super Sentai. Instead, the only confirmed live-action project following Cosmic Fury is a young adult series, which is expected to serve as a reboot of the franchise. This young adult Power Rangers reboot will likely be an original series, departing from the usual Super Sentai adaptation. Hence, Cosmic Fury holds even more significance as it may mark the end of the Power Rangers as viewers have known it since its inception with Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.