Japanese Hero TV
Some of the most watched and highest followed American super hero television originated in Japan. Shows such as Ultraman, Metal Hero, Tokusatsu Hero, Kamen Rider, Kaiju, and Super Robot paved the way for the epic successes of American “ports” (importing and subtitling or re-recording). By focusing on the mainstream success of America’s Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers and it’s original incarnation, Super Sentai, which debuted in Japan in 1975.
Saban Entertainment debuted Might Morphin’ Power Rangers on August 28, 1993 with the series being created from a mix of newly recorded drama scenes and the original Super Sentai action footage. American actors filmed everything in between the fight sequences which were “dubbed” (voice recorded in English) over to retain the sense of reality. In some of the series, fight scenes were nixed in order to film them over with features, characters, and objects unique to the Power Rangers story lines.
The Power Rangers franchise has continued since and as of 2010 the show consists of 18 television seasons, 15 different series, and two full length feature films.
