The Uncertain Fate of Power Rangers
Jungle Fury Developing News Story
The Uncertain Fate of Power Rangers
March 18, 2008 Update
Well Ranger Fans, it appears that Power Rangers for 2009 is back to Live Action. According to Power Animals, "My source says PR 2009 is a go. He also mentioned they're not too fond of the talking Zords, but not sure if they can get around it."
So ladies and gentlemen, it looks like the live action Power Rangers series will get another season. There's still no official decision on a title for the season yet, but yes we can likely expect to see this team as the Rangers next year. . .
March 7, 2008 Update
Not much more has really developed since the last update. But there is one bit of interesting information that was released on March 6, 2008. Disney has announced that they will team up with Japanese Animation Companies to produce films & series for Japan. This full news article can be found here.
Now while Power Rangers is not mentioned what-so-ever in the article, it should be noted that one of the animation studios Disney will be working with is Toei Animation. Toei Animation is of course part of Toei Entertainment, the same company that produces Sentai in Japan (the Japanese Series which Power Rangers is adapted from).
So is it too much to speculate that, perhaps Disney will use Toei Animation to create a Power Rangers Animated Series? Maybe, maybe not. For now, we continue to sit and wait.
February 2, 2008 Update
Well Ranger fans, a month has past and there are some new rumors floating around the mill. So I must remind everyone, the follow are bits are only RUMORS. Nothing has been confirmed nor denied on these parts of information.
RUMOR #1 -- According to another source from Power Animals on Rangerboard, Live Action Power Rangers may still continue for 2009. There isn't anything solid yet, but the live action side of the series may not be finished after Jungle Fury after all.
RUMOR #2 -- Again, according to the same source mentioned above, with Production Costs in New Zealand being about the same as some other countries, there may be a small possibility of Power Rangers Production moving from New Zealand to Canada.
Once more, these are only RUMORS. If any more news on these rumors develops, I'll post it here.
January 2, 2008 Update
Okay Power Ranger Fans, it's time to bring everyone back up to speed on the future of Power Rangers. So let's review.
----In February of 2007, Ron Wasserman told the fandom that a friend of his was working on the music for the Power Rangers Animated Series.
----In September of 2007, Samuell Benta again said that the rumors of Power Rangers going completely animated after Jungle Fury had been circulating.
----In November of 2007, Power Animals on Rangerboard posted that his source (who has proven to be reliable several times) told him that Power Rangers Jungle Fury will be the last Live Action version of the series.
----In December of 2007, the 2008 Japanese Sentai Series was announced to be "Enjin Sentai Gouonger". However, we learned that all contracts that the Walt Disney Company has with Toei in Japan (makers of Sentai), and all contracts with Power Rangers Production Staff expire with the end of Jungle Fury. This indicated that Disney would not be using "Gouonger" for the 2009 Power Rangers Series.
----Also in December of 2007 we learned that a 10 minute Pilot Episode of the Power Rangers Animated Series had been completed. Plus, the domain of www.animatedpowerrangers.com had been registered by Disney.
----Finally, in late December of 2007, Power Animals informed us, that from what he had heard, the Animated Pilot did not go over well with the people at Disney.
So where do we stand today? Well there are three options on the table right now, and they are as follows.
Option #1 -- Disney renews their contracts and uses "Gouonger" for Power Rangers in 2009. (Though this is the least likely option to occur.)
Option #2 -- Disney makes Power Rangers into an Animated Series for 2009. Even though the pilot episode did not go over well, that doesn't mean that the Animated Series is completely shot down.
Option #3 -- Power Rangers Jungle Fury will be the LAST Power Rangers Season. Yes, that would mean THE END of Power Rangers.
Now, while there's still a chance of Power Rangers becoming Animated in 2009, the possibility of Power Rangers Ending does seem to be creeping into the equation more & more. This is starting to worry this webmaster & Power Rangers Fans.
So, I know you're asking, "What can we do?". The answer is simple, support the show in every way possible:
#1. Mail letters to the Walt Disney Company explaining your enjoyment & support of the Power Rangers Series. In the letter, be sure the BE POLITE. If you are rude, you not only make yourself look bad, but the rest of the Power Rangers Fandom as well. When you treat a business with politeness & respect, they are more willing to listen to your concerns. All letters should be addressed to:
The Walt Disney
Company
#2. Watch the show on TELEVISION, not from illegal downloads (Disney XD is not Illegal, it is done by Disney themselves). When you watch the show on TV, you help the ratings. Better ratings show that the series is still popular & profitable.
#3. Buy the merchandise. Be it Power Rangers Toys, DVDs, Clothes, School Supplies, or anything. If you buy Officially Licensed Power Rangers Products, that again shows the popularity & profitability of the series.
For now, that is all that we can do to help support Power Rangers.
For me personally, since the Animated Series is still not completely out of the question, I'd like to see Power Rangers go that route. As a fan who has been around since day one, I'd hate to see such a great series & legacy end now. I know that the Global Economy has made it increasingly difficult to keep Live Action Production Costs down, but if the Power Rangers series can continue as a cartoon, that would be fine by this fan.
Again, as more news develops on this issue, I will post it here.
December 18, 2007 Update
I'm little late on this, but I still wanted to post it. The Sentai Series (The Japanese Series that Power Rangers has been taken from since the beginning) for 2008 has been confirmed to be titled "Enjin Sentai Gouonger". It is a live action season and the picture below shows the Gounger Team.
However, before anyone begins jumping the gun and saying that this proves that Power Rangers will remain a live action series, I must point out a few things. All of Disney's contracts with continuing the production of Power Rangers ends with end Jungle Fury. There is also news that a 10 Minute Completed Pilot of the Power Rangers Animated Series has been made. Finally, if you type in www.animatedpowerrangers.com/ into your web browser, it takes you to the main Jetix Site.
So all signs still appear to be point towards Power Rangers going to a Animated Format in 2009.
Here are my own thoughts, theories and feelings on the Animated Series.
First let me express that I have always loved the fact of Power Rangers being a live action series. For years now, Power Rangers has remained the ONLY kids show on television that was live action. The special feeling you get from seeing real actors, sets, vehicles and more just adds to the “connect-ability” of Power Rangers. For the past 15 seasons, and about to be 16 seasons, Power Rangers being live action has set itself into the history book as a legend, and one of the best children’s shows.
However, is animated the inevitable next step in the evolution of Power Rangers? I believe it very may be. When you sit down and think things over, you begin to realize that with an animated Power Rangers series, the limits that come from live action, are no longer in existence.
Live Action storylines are limited by the Japanese Sentai footage, but an Original Animated Series would be able to tell any story the writers and producers wanted. Also, some fans complained over recent seasons not having team ups, which were due to the cast not being completely available to film. In an animated Power Rangers series, team up specials would be a lot easier, since all that would be needed was having the cast be available to record their voice one or two days.
With live action, there are limits on the stunts and battles of the show. In an Animated Series, there are no limits at all for how far the battles and stunts can go. You could have a Ranger jump from building to building without requiring a crane, harness, or green screen & CGI-ing it.
Now as
great as
Now, while I would love for the Live Action version of the series to continue, with the Animated Series along side of it, I do realize that that, more than likely, can not happen. So with the probably of Power Rangers becoming an Animated Series in 2009, I do have my own list of items I want to see from it, to keep the spirit of Power Rangers alive.
Now most cartoons today only have 22 episodes each season. Personally, I do not believe a complete Power Rangers season story can be told in only 22 episodes. Operation Overdrive did prove that a good story can be told over 32 episodes, so if Disney can just continue to give us at least 32 episodes or more, during a season of an Animated Power Rangers Series, I think the stories will remain in tact.
Another part of maintaining the essence of a Power Rangers story, is keeping the fundamentals of Power Rangers. The Animated Series should still be about five to six young adults, chosen to protect the universe from evil, and teaching the lessons of team work, acceptance, never giving up & always fighting for what is right. All the Rangers should always get a well balanced amount of focus, not just one to two. There should still be the usual number of Morphers, Weapons, Vehicles, Zords, etc. . . . If everything story-wise can just be transferred completely into an Animated Series, the transition will be that much easier.
Going back to the episode count, I hope this Power Rangers Animated Series is not just going to run for 65 episodes and then that be the end of it all. Power Rangers has something that most all other kids shows don’t. Every February Power Rangers reinvents itself with a new cast, new suits, new weapons, new Zords and new everything. This not only makes the show more enjoyable, but looking at it from a business perspective, makes it more marketable than other children’s shows.
The Animated Series needs to continue the Power Rangers story line, and keep itself in the same continuity & universe as the Live Action version. The only way I would let this one slip, is if Disney decided that they wanted to go back, start over from the beginning and retell the entire Power Rangers Saga, from the beginning with Mighty Morphin, to the end of Jungle Fury, in Animated Form.
As anyone can see by watching today’s children’s shows, there is a huge variety of animation styles out there. Personally, I’d like to see a mixture of Anime & US styles. While a CGI would look nice, I think the traditional animation look might present a better look and appeal.
I do realize that there are a number of Power Rangers fans that feel the series would never be the same if done in animation. Some of them think the show is doomed to die painfully with the Animated Version. However, I would like to present this bit of information. Look through the past twenty five years of children’s television. What Cartoon shows stand out today as the best? Here’s just a short collection of ones, I feel, have earned their right in the history books as the best of the best.
-The Real Ghostbusters
-Transformers (the original 80’s cartoon)
-X-Men (90’s cartoon)
-Spider-Man (90’s cartoon)
-Batman The Animated Series
-Superman The Animated Series
-Transformers Beast Wars
-Justice League
-Justice League Unlimited
-Batman Beyond
-Avatar: The Last Airbender
-Ben 10
-Kim Possible
While I may not be a fan of all those shows I listed, I, as an adult fan of children’s television, acknowledge their excellence in storytelling, style and the power to remain popular after they were removed from the airwaves. So I ask you, don’t you think it is possible for Power Rangers to enter into that list, but now as an Animated Series?
A campaign has been started for all Power Rangers fans to write into Disney, expressing their concerns on Power Rangers going animated. I do encourage each and every Power Rangers fan to write to the Walt Disney Company, via the address provided below. However, I do have this to say. When you write, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT be rude in your letter. Disney is a company that will listen and respect the opinions of those that take the time and effort to express their concerns, so long as they are kind and professional in their letters. So yes, do write a letter to the Walt Disney Company, but not only if you are against the idea of an Animated Series, but also if you are in favor of it, or if you just want to express your support for the Power Rangers show and franchise.
So I’ll wrap things up. Is a Power Rangers Cartoon coming? More than likely, yes. Will it replace the Live Action version? Right now there’s probably a 50/50 shot. I do want everyone to realize that the Walt Disney Company is not this evil company that some people would have you believe. If it weren’t for Disney, Power Rangers would have ended when Saban was finished at the end of 2001. Over the years, I believe Disney has given Power Rangers more media exposure in advertising, a pretty good supply of DVD releases, and many timeslots over its various networks. It is very possible that, by the time the Animated Series premieres in 2009, Disney will have spent close to two to two & a half years on the series. That alone should show the dedication they are willing to put into the series. Animation is the foundation that made the Walt Disney Company the largest and best entertainment company on the planet. I have faith that the future of Power Rangers is not in jeopardy. I believe that what lies in store will help continue the great legacy that is Power Rangers.
Mail all letters to:
The Walt Disney
Company
As more news develops on the Power Rangers Animated Series, I'll post it here.
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