Overdrive News Story
Go, Go Power Rangers! Bandai America Celebrates Action-Packed
15th Anniversary of the Best Selling Action Figure Brand of All Time
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Here to View the Bandai Power Rangers Timeline
The Pop Culture Phenomenon, Power Rangers, Marks 15 Consecutive Years of
Chart-Topping Action Figure Sales and Reaching Multiple Generations of Young
Fans
(CYPRESS, CA – July 26, 2007) - It all started fifteen
years ago, when five teenagers were plucked from obscurity to defeat evil space
aliens as the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers. Now after two theatrical
movies, 13 action-packed TV series and 15 seasons of dynamic toys, Power Rangers
has made its mark on the pop culture landscape, while retaining its title of
top-selling action figure brand of all time (according to the Toy Industry
Association's "Celebrating 100 Years of the Power of Play").
To honor every young boy’s favorite heroes, Bandai America Incorporated is
launching a series of morphenomenal festivities to celebrate the Power
Rangers toy line's milestone 15th Anniversary. After experiencing an amazing
legacy of success, it's only fitting that the Power Rangers be feted with:
- A fan-driven call to action to nominate the Power Rangers toy line for the
National Toy Hall of Fame
- An exclusive meet and greet event with the real-life Power Rangers at
Comic-Con 2007 in San Diego
- The 15th Anniversary Celebration Tour that hits major cities across the
U.S. and Canada
- The debut of limited edition toys from Bandai America to thank fans of all
ages for their loyal support these last 15 years.
"The Power Rangers 15th Anniversary celebration allows us to engage and
thank fans of all ages, from the 4 year old boy of today who loves playing with
our action figures, to the adult fan who's still collecting Power Rangers,
having grown up with the TV show," said Matthew Golding, director of
marketing, Bandai America Inc. "We invite everyone to join us for this
once-in-a-lifetime celebration of the Power Rangers toy line."
"There are few toy brands still in existence today that have the success
and heritage behind it like Power Rangers," said Chris Byrne, aka "The
Toy Guy™" and contributing editor to Toy Wishes Magazine.
"Having touched multiple generations of young fans now, kids play Power
Rangers by watching the TV show daily, playing with their toys and even acting
out the adventures on the playground."
"Vote for Power Rangers!"
Bandai America is sounding the call to fans of all ages to help the Power
Rangers toy line get inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame and Museum (www.strongmuseum.org),
which recognizes products that have inspired multiple generations of kids. Morph
into action and download nomination forms at www.Bandai.com
or get them on the 15th Anniversary Celebration Tour. Vote now and vote often!
Power Rangers at Comic-Con 2007
Comic-Con fans (in San Diego, CA on Sunday, July 29th) have the rare chance to
get powerized with the Power Rangers Operation Overdrive squad, as well
as help officially kick-off the supercharged 15th Anniversary Celebration Tour.
Exclusive activities taking place on Kids' Day (in Disney Consumer Products'
booth #3713 from 2:00-4:00PM), include:
- Spanning 15 years of the brand, a "Wall of Legends" historical
display showcases the actual helmets worn by the Red Ranger from every
season of the TV show.
- Unveiling of Bandai America's limited edition 15th Anniversary action
figures, as well as the official debut and interactive demo of the all-new
Mega Mission Helmet, which connects to the Internet to download dynamic
role-playing missions.
- Learn how to morph into action to help Power Rangers secure its rightful
place in the Toy Hall of Fame, the highest honor in the toy industry.
- Video game demos of Disney Interactive Studios' "Power Rangers: Super
Legends," which debuts this Fall for the Nintendo™ DS, PlayStation®2
and PC. The game allows players to battle enemies, solve puzzles and explore
an interactive world as Power Ranger heroes from the original Mighty
Morphin' squad to the current Operation Overdrive team. In the
spirit of the property, players can play with a friend for cooperative
missions and massive Zord battles.
- Free Power Rangers giveaways to all attendees.
Power Rangers 15th Anniversary Celebration Tour
Don't miss this unique chance to learn moves and take photos with the real-life
Power Rangers from Operation Overdrive, as they head across the U.S.
and Canada on the Power Rangers 15th Anniversary Celebration Tour. Visiting 15
cities for 15 dynamic years, the tour features fun games and activities such as
the Morphin' Obstacle Course, the Prize Chamber where you can grab prizes in a
wind tunnel, and the Training Stage where young fans can learn cool Power
Rangers moves. Additionally, there will be a "Wall of Legends"
showcase cultivated from the history of the TV series, an interactive station
where kids can demo an exclusive mission from Bandai America's new Mega Mission
Helmet role-play toy, a display of the limited edition 6.5" action figures
and 5" figure sets, video game demos from Disney Interactive and lots of
free giveaways, including Power Rangers backpacks from Accessory Network. The
tour hits the following cities on:
- San Diego (July 29)
- Toronto (August 10-12)
- New Jersey/New York City (August 17-19)
- Philadelphia (August 24-26)
- Baltimore (September 1-2)
- Washington, DC (September 8-9)
- Orlando (September 14-16)
- Atlanta (September 21-23)
- Bentonville, AR (September 28-29)
- Dallas (October 5-7)
- Phoenix (October 13-14)
- Las Vegas (October 20-21)
- San Francisco (October 26-28)
- Los Angeles (November 2-4)
Visit www.Bandai.com for more information
about the specific tour locations in each city, as well as the exclusive
activities offered at each stop.
Limited Edition Power Rangers Toys
By 2007, Bandai America will have created more than 200 million Power Rangers
action figures, Megazords and role-play toys since 1993-including 90 million
5" action figures, the most popular toy in the lineup. To commemorate the
Power Rangers legacy, Bandai America is offering these exclusive limited edition
toys:
- Power Rangers Mega Mission Helmet - Become your favorite
hero and act out fun adventures with this wearable Red Ranger helmet.
Connect to the Internet, with the included USB cable, to download more than
20 different secret missions directly into the toy. With lights and sounds,
each adventure guides you through training exercises, Power Rangers moves
and more.
- 6.5" Red Ranger Figures - Complete your Power
Rangers toy collection with these action figures based on the Red Ranger
from Mighty Morphin' to Operation Overdrive. These
6.5" figures come with a display stand and accessory - with a total of
13 to collect. Look for the special anniversary logo on each package.
- 5" Figure Sets: Missing a 5" action figure from
the past? Then this is the perfect collection for you as each set features
five Red Ranger figures. It's a must-have for any young Power Rangers fan or
action figure enthusiast.
About Power Rangers
Over the past fifteen years, the Power Rangers have been on Earth, in space, on
the moon, under water, traveling through time, in the jungle and anywhere evil
lurks. They've battled Rita Repulsa, Divatox, Master Org, Dark Spector, Toxica,
Jindrax and many more evil-doers – villains who have been shrunk to
miniatures, tossed in jail, reduced to ooze or banished. Over time, the brand
has maintained its core themes of teamwork, honesty, loyalty, courage and above
all, the victory of good over evil. For more information, please visit the new
Power Rangers supersite at www.powerrangers.com.
About Bandai America Incorporated
A leader in introducing Japanese toy trends to the United States, Bandai America
Incorporated is a subsidiary of NAMCO BANDAI Holdings (USA) Inc., a new entity
that resulted from the integration of Namco Ltd. and Bandai Co. Ltd. of Japan.
Global interests encompass five strategic business units: toys and hobby (toys,
models, apparel and sundries), amusement facilities, game content (home and
arcade console gaming), mobile content, and visual and music content (including
home entertainment). Bandai America is the manufacturer and master toy licensee
of some of the most popular brands in children's toys and entertainment today,
including Power Rangers, Ben 10, Tamagotchi and Girlz Connect. The company is
headquartered in Cypress, California and information is available at www.Bandai.com.
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