VR Troopers - Character Conversion - Heroes and Villains

This post was written for Henshin Grid -- The Blog. VR Troopers had footage from three different shows: Metalder, Speilban, and Shaider.

Metalder:

Ryan Steele / Ryuusei Tsurugi (Metalder)

Ryan was on a mission to find and save his father. Ryuusei was a android, modeled after the son of the doctor who created him. By shouting "Anger!", he transforms into his metallic form. Ryan said "Trooper Transform." Ryan was a martial arts teacher and expert, he was very sensitive, intuitive and had a sense of humor. At the end of the series, Metalder defeats God Neros but in the process is greatly damaged on the left side of his middle waist. While Ryan got a new suit from footage from another show.

Jeb / Springer
They were both capable of human speech. Springer was a Robot dog that guarded the base, he was built by Dr. Koga before Metalder, acting as his big brother. Springer repaired Metalder and ran the machines inside their base. Jeb was Ryan's pet, he could talk because of an incident in their base, he didn't really do any work, he was mostly lazy. He occasionally went to save Ryan when he was in a jam though. In one episode, Ryan and Jeb switched bodies and Jeb had to fight in the VR suit, grudingly so.

Grimlord / Emperor Godneros

They both masqueraded as philanthropists, but Godneros was a cyborg and Grimlord had a 'virtual self.' The leader of the Neros Empire, formerly Technical Major Muraki, assistant to Dr. Koga in developing the Super Machine project. he built the Kirihara Konzern under the name Gozou Kirihara, while Grimlord's alias was Karl Viktor. Both would change back and forth. Since Godneros only lasted one year and one show, they had to make new footage of Grimlord (different actor) for season two to match up with Shaider footage. Godneros was beheaded at the end of the series, Grimlord was never really foiled.



Speilban:

J.B. Reese / Yousuke Jou (Spielban)
J.B. was Ryan's friend, an intelligent martial arts teacher. J.B. also fixed Master Tao's computer so they could communicate with the lab and get printed information from the Professor. Unlike JB, Spielban was the leader and main character of his show. Spielban was like Superman, he came from a dead planet, but he had a partner... Diana Lady. in early episodes, viewers were able to see Spielban's thoughts as he briefly recollects the people who were either victimized or were bystanders, in his war against the Wahrer, in the said episode.

Kaitlin Starr / Diana (Diana Lady)
The footage for Kaitlin's VR suit was from the same show JB's suit came from. Diana was Spielban's partner from his home planet. A running gag on the show was that she would use her charm and sex appeal on the Kinclons, distracting them from their duties while she made her move. Another gag is that she sometimes uses her rear end to attack the Kinclons, which knocks them out cold (shown above). Kaitlin was brave, blunt, smart and an inspiring reporter. Her mirror self was split from her and then became her double that she could call, in Spielban, that was actually Spielban's sister Helen Lady.

Desponda / Queen Pandora
Desponda was Despera's sister and hired by Grimlord destroy the Troopers and control his Air Castle. She captured the two Kaitlins and JB on the Air Castle. JB managed to defeat her. 'Somehow,' she survived her defeat. Grimlord vowed never to use another of his allies' relatives to help him again. Queen Pandora was the main villain of Shaider and was played by Machiko Soga (Rita Replusa). She created the concept of the diety Wahrer to keep her position as the true leader from her generals, she said was receiving orders from it. She had four forms, two that existed at once and then merged. Doctor Ben appeared and injected Pandora with a virus, weakening her long enough for Spielban to destroy her.

Red Python / Hellvira
Amy, a friend of the Troopers was kidnapped and brainwashed by Grimlord and given powers using Tyler Steele's technology at the end of season 1. She had malfunctions and snapped in and out of the control. Professor Hart managed to reverse Grimlord's brainwashing. She was of course never seen again. While in Speilban, she was his elder sister who was captured. She was forced to witness when her dad was turned into Dr. Bio. Later and then they made her into the villainess Hellvira, who was in most of the series. She then became good mid-way and became Helen Lady, having an identical costume as Diana Lady.

Shaider:

Ryan Steele / Dai Sawamura (Shaider)

Dai was a archaeologist (deciphered the figures on the Nazca Plain in Peru) in college and became a Space Sheriff (Galactic Union Police), he was motivated and dedicated. In Season Two, Ryan switched to the metal suit that was from Shaider. His suit was built by his dad, just liek the first one. Dai was given the code name 'Shaider' in memory of an ancient warrior who defeated the villain Emperor Kubilai and brought down the Fuuma Empire 12,000 years ago. The empire plotted to annihilate him in order to conquer Earth once again.

Orclan / Great Emperor Kubilai
The ruler of Fuuma and the former ruler of the Mu Empire. He once had a body, having tentacled limbs with serpent-like heads on the ends, but his head was cut off by the original Shaider long ago. Kubilai was the main villain of the Shaider series. Orclan was just a super computer, seemingly destroyed by Kaitlin and J.B.

Dispera / Shinkan Poe
Dispera was a woman, while Shinkan Poe was a man, he was the godson of Kubilai. Drinking an elixir made somehow from young girls every 500 years, he lived 15,000 years. Unwilling to have anyone be more beautiful than he, his true face is mummified. He faded away when his grandfather was destroyed. There was no finale so we never knew Dispera's end result.

UPDATED 11/21/09

Doomaster / Hessler and Himley
Doomaster and Hessler were both fierce warriors. Hessler was destroyed by his brother Hessler, after he had betrayed Hessler by trying to usurp his position.

The Vixens / Girl's Army
Both groups had no individual names. The Girl's Army was a team of five deadly, kunoichi trained in the most vicious and dangerous arts of combat. At the end of the series, Kubilai ate the three remaining girls to give him energy to battle Shaider.

UPDATED MAY 6, 2009 7pm EST

Power Rangers RPM Series So Far Review (Episodes 1-10)

I decided to give my opinion on the series so far known as "Power Rangers RPM," which has been praised by fans as being as good as "Time Force" or "Space." Even though fans love it, they say it is good enough for Power Rangers but on its own, it is a bit of a hack. My friend considers it a 'rip-off,' but I think it's a satire, inspired by Terminator, Mad Max, Wolverine, etc. One thing that I have not seen mentioned but that it is also inspired by "Lost," how most episodes contain flashbacks detailed on each character. Now, fans of the original source Engine Sentai Go-Onger may not be happy that this is not a faithful adaption but that goes with the two paths of fans: the ones that like originality in Power Rangers and the others who like it to be faithful.

Series that strays from Sentai have been Lost Galaxy & Dino Thunder and series that have been more or less faithful were Time Force & Wild Force. In Go-Onger, the zords spoke and Go-Onger fans were disappointed to find out they don't speak here. I think it has to do a lot with culture. One would agree or disagree if which series is best, but I don't think one is better than another, it really does have to do with preference. Anyhoo, whatever your opinion, this is a season worth watching. With its dark tone, this proves that it can be done and it can work. RPM can also be considered a show for all-audiences. Also, it is interesting to mention how Kamen Rider Dragon Knight and RPM are both dark tones and I think it has a lot to do with the state of the world now. It is an appropriate time to do so. Even though RPM has 'dark tones,' it is still pretty funny.

Each episode deals with a moral issue or an adversity to overcome. For example, in "Ranger Green," Ziggy is wrongfully thought of robbing a bank and put back in jail. He had made different cartels angry at him because it was believed he stole a cargo for himself. But it turns out it was medicine and he gave it to Orphans, so at the urging of an informant, Dr. K (who did not initially like him) went to save him from the cartels. In "Ranger Blue," Flynn had always been told his whole life there was no such thing as superheroes but he never gave up. In "Ranger Yellow," Summer drew from her experiences of a dark period in her time and even though she was abandoned by her parents, she was willing to commit a sacrifice in order to help them. And so on and so on. Even though some might think the series is a 'rip-off' of other Apocalyptic movies, I think it is very well written, the 'plot twists' are hack-neyed or too over-dramatic. The show doesn't take itself too seriously and can make fun of itself, but it does it with flavor, not like Ninja Storm, that came off a bit over the top or campy. For one, there is actual character development and personal growth.

The show is creative, with its villainess Tenaya 7 for example, her first appearance is marked with her whistling "The Farmer and the Dell." Also, this is the first series to be brave enough to have two Rangers in jail for 3 episodes (not all back to back, mind you) and have the mafia and already more than 2 deaths close to the characters. So far the death count is the Red Ranger's elder brother and the Yellow Ranger's butler, who raised her. Even though the Rangers are 'types' like the 'tough leader,' 'the girl,' 'the bad boy,' 'the clown,' etc., they are more multi-dimensional than that. For example, the bad boy Dillon has a gentle side and doesn't know his past and sense of humor, Ziggy is not only a clown, he is mortality is in the grey area and a big story-teller, and Summer is a brave and no-gruff taking heroine but used to be a shallow heiress. Curiously enough, the series also has a great deal to do with family; we have already met three of the Ranger's parents in the course of ten episodes which is rare.


Their boss, Dr. K did not initially reveal her identity. She was believed to be a man, as she communicated to them through a white screen monitor with the letter K graphic and a muted voice. Dr. K in reality is a anti-social woman who does not like going outside and she looks like a child, what, with her mary jane shoes. She is a genius, who defends many of the reasons non-fans may not like Power Rangers: the spandex (the material their suits are made of), the eyes of the new zords (the talking Engines in Go-Onger), etc. We will find out further in next week's episode about Dr. K, so I might update this blog later. I really do hope this series wraps up the plots they made, which is difficult in Power Rangers, because of the footage but this season seems to be doing the smart thing that if the footage doesn't fit in, they don't use too much of it. Some may complain of short megazord fights but if the footage doesn't fit, then don't use it. Can't wait to see what happens. I personally like both Go-Onger and RPM, I can appreciate them on distinct levels.
~Lavender Ranger

Hero Profile: B-Fighters Kabuto's Four New Fighters

The four known as Astral Borgs in Beetle Borgs Metallix were 'guest' fighters with no human form, but in the origin show B-Fighters Kabuto, they were part of the team. Very rarely does a tokusatsu have International characters part of the team. B-Fighter Genji (far left) was Julio, a Peruvian played by a Japanese actor. B-Fighter Yanma (blue center) was a blonde Cacusian American named Mac, very rare for Tokusatsu. Ninja Black of Kakuranger was American but Japanese-American. B-Fighter Ageha (white center) was a French-Japanese girl named Sophie and B-Fighter Min (Far right) was Li, a Chinese man. Julio was sort of pyshic and taught Ran (purple) about the beauty of nature. Sophie was a genius violinist; Li was a peaceful magician and cook; Mac flirted with Japanese girls. They of course came in later in the series.

Power Rangers RPM - Episode 10 - "Ranger Blue"

Episode Summary:

Dr. K lets the five Rangers ask her questions about the suits, vehicles and gear, they are timid at first but when she says 'say something or forever hold your peace'... probably inspired from last week's wedding, they all raise their hands and ask questions all American fans have probably been asking... The eyes of the zords, the explosions after they morph and screaming out the morphing call. Dr. K mentions comic books and it sparks Flynn off in a flashback to when he was a kid in school and he tried to save a little girl and got himself beaten up. He then got scolded by his dad that there are no such things as real superheroes. All Flynn wanted to do was help!

Back to reality, there is yet another attack and this time all three generals are with the attackbot. The Rangers arrive and fight the Grinders. Flynn gets a usual Disney-explosion-and-fall and is checked on by Scott. They then morph and Ziggy mentions the run-off explosion behind him. The Attackbot then becomes big and Tenaya says they are 'too late.' Tenaya swings Ziggy away and he is at the mercy of General Crunch. Tenaya and Blue fight. She says who everyone is (bad boy, leader, clown, girl, etc.), so who is he? He says in a roar that he is SCOTTISH! and fights her with a techno-bagpipe inspired riff. Scott then fights Shifter, the gold British colonel. Green then tries out the teleporting with Crunch and then he is out of power. Yellow then fights Crunch.


Black uses his shield to protect Blue and then fights Tenaya. Blue tries to use his time-freeze power but there is a malfunction--- a reversal and he is frozen. He flashbacks to when he graduated high school and is asked by his dad what he will do. He becomes a police officer and tries arresting someone but he is the mayor's son and told not to arrest him, he does so and is dismissed. He becomes a fire fighter and is told he is doing water damage and he wants to save lives instead. He is dismissed once again. He is then a peace-corp or something, the gang is escaping because of a raid and he wants to stay but they don't care. Then cross-dissolve to Flynn doing a Braveheart impersonation with tennis rackets with the local people. He was yet again dismissed and returned to his father, thinking he was right and then Venjix attacked.

The baddies leave and the glitch releases Flynn. Dr. K tells Flynn about the glitch, as he says he is still a mechanic. Series Blue was plagued and now is off-line, which Flynn can't handle. Back to the day he and his father entered Corinth, the mother from the first episode gets no help to get her daughter who is on the outside. Back in real time, Scott and Summer come with what Venjix wanted. The monster sucked up power from one fault line and basically the same plot as the Go-Onger episode. Black and Green are in front of the giant bot at his next spot. After the commercial break, Dr. K sends Croc Carrier and they make ValveMax Megazord. Flynn brings up that they can't make the megazord without him. K says she built the suit, she knows.

Back to the flashback, Flynn runs into the bus to save the little girl. His dad tells him no but he says it is just who he is. People go into the bus and Flynn fights the Grinders through the fog to get the girl. The girl Penny asks if they are going to die. Then he brings them to safety and he drops a Grinder. It looks like it was re-dubbed, instead of 'crap,' he says 'trash' when he tosses the Grinder. His dad seems to scold him but it turns out that he is proud and he had a superhero right in front of him. Back in reality, Yellow and Red fight the Grinders. K is then shocked to find out Flynn is gone. Flynn arrives, not morphed, and fights the Grinders and explains his not-layman term plan to K. He morphs and sets off a huge explosion to bust out the baddies. K is shocked. Blue fights the Grinders. They then form the High Octane. Blue destroys the monster. K asks Flynn who taught him to a mechanic. Later, Flynn brings groceries to his dad, who is sleeping with a scrapbook of all of Flynn's heroics.

Review:
Yes, I do believe they dubbed over for him to say 'trash.' Maybe he did say 'scrap' the last time, but now he said trash. The plot to have Blue's series not working is a good way to explain why they don't have the High Octane Megazord for the majority of the episode. The reason in the original footage was that the last monster rusted the 'zords' and they were rusted for the episode until the end. Interesting episode, I didn't think there was gonna be an explanation to the little girl on the bus on the first ep but we got a cute reason within a huge plot turn for Flynn. Who knew he was a comic book geek with all of his cockiness and bravado? No wonder he has the cockiness and bravado! And Flynn outdoing K was priceless! Good funny and touching episode without getting sappy and pretty realistic even though it is a satire. By the by, K's techno-babble does make sense... in its own way.

Super Sentai Color Stats

Originally posted by me, Lavender Ranger, here at HenshinGrid!!!
UPDATED 8/2/11

*Subject to be incorrect

Red: 39 (All including Time Fire and female Shinken Red)
Crimson: 1 (Hurricanger)
Orange: 3 (Battle Fever J, Dekaranger & Gekiranger)
Yellow: 34 (All except for JAKQ, Battle Fever J, and Changeman)
Green: 20 (Goranger-JAKQ, Denji, Bioman, Flash-Live, Zyu-Dai, Oh-Car, Ginga-Time, Hurri, Deka-Magi, Go-Onger to Shinkenger, Gokaiger)
Blue: 34 (All except...)
Light Blue: 3 (Kakuranger, Hurricanger & Magiranger)
Navy: 1 (Hurricanger)
Pink: 25 (Goranger-Denji, Goggle-Mask, Turbo-Five, Zyu-Time, Deka-Bouken, Shinkenger to Gokaiger)
Violet: 1 (Gekiranger)
Black: 20 (Battle Fever J, Goggle-Dyna, Change, Mask-Zyu, Kaku-Oh, Mega-Ginga, Gao, Abare-Deka, Bouken, Go-Onger, and Goseiger)
White: 10 (JAKQ, Change, Jet Dai, Oh, Gao, Abare, Deka, Magi)
Silver: 8 (Mega, Gao, Deka, Bouken, Go-Onger, Goseiger, Gokaiger, Go-Busters)
Gold: 5 (Dekaranger, Magiranger, Go-Onger, Shinkenger, Go-Busters)

Other Color Stats

• 2 teams with Pink and White females (Changeman, Magiranger)
• 2 teams with Blue and White females (Jetman, Magiranger)
• 2 fan 'Rangers' in a series (White Racer in Carranger and AbarePink in Abaranger)
• 2 teams with the color sheme of Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, and Black (Liveman, Go-Onger)
• 3 teams with lone female Yellow Rangers (Abare, Geki, Busters)
• 3 teams with members of unique colors (Hurri, Deka, Geki)
• 3 sixth rangers that were Green in a TV series (Maskman, Zyu, Hurri)
• 4 Non-Red Ranger led teams (JAKQ, Kaku, Time, Geki)
• 4 rangers with pink trim (Change, Jet, Gao, Goseiger)
• 4 female Blue Rangers (Liveman, Jetman, Hurri, Magi)
• 4 teams with Green and White in a TV series (JAKQ, Dai, Deka, Magi)
• 4 teams with Pink and White Rangers (Change, Dai, Deka, Magi)
• 4 teams with color scheme Red, Blue, Yellow, White, and Black (Jetman, Kaku, Gao, Abare)
• 5 teams with color scheme that has only been used once [JAKQ: Red, Blue, Green, Pink and White; Battle Fever J: Red, Blue, Black, Pink, and Orange; Change: Red, Blue, Black, Pink, and White; Geki: Red, Blue, Yellow, White, and Violet; Go-Busters: Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold and Silver]
• 5 male White Rangers (JAKQ, Dai, Abare, Deka, Geki)
• 6 teams with White and Black (Change, Jet, Kaku, Gao, Abare, Deka)
• 7 teams that start with Red, Blue, and Yellow (Sun Vulcan, Live, Hurri, Abare, Geki, Go-On, Go-Busters)
• 6 female White Rangers (Change, Jet, Kaku, Gao, Swan, Mother)
• 7 teams with Black and Green (Live, Zyu, Oh-Car, Ginga, Geki, Go-On)
• 7 teams with Red entering pre-existing team (Dai, Mega, Ginga, Gao, Deka, Magi, Geki)
• 9 teams with the color scheme of Red, Blue, Yellow, Pink, and Black (Goggle, Dyna, Mask, Turbo, Five, Zyu, Mega, Bouken, Gosieger)
• 10 teams with no Pink Ranger (Sun Vulcan, Live, Jet, Kaku, Gao-Abare, Geki, Go-On, Go-Busters)
• 12 teams with Pink and Yellow female rangers (Bio, Flash-Mask, Five, Oh, Car, Mega, Deka, Magi, Shinken, Gosei, Gokai)
• 12 teams with a sole female Ranger, in this case being a Pink Ranger (Goranger-Denji, Goggle-Dyna, Turbo, Zyu-Dai, Ginga-Time)
• 14 Rangers with two colors [King Ranger, Gao Silver, KabutoRaijer, KuwagataRaijer, Deka Master, Deka Break, Deka Swan, Deka Bright, Magi Shine, Bouken Silver, Geki Chopper, Go-On Gold, Go-On Silver, Shinken Gold]
• 16 female Yellow Rangers (Bio, Flash, Mask, Five, Oh-Mega, Abare, Deka, Bouken, Shinkenger, Goseiger, Gokaiger, Go-Busters)
• 16 teams with the color scheme Red, Blue, Yellow, Green and Pink (Goranger -JAKQ, Denji, Bio, Flash, Zyu, Dai, Oh, Car, Ginga, GoGoV, Deka, Magi, Shinken, Gokaiger)
• 16 Females with no Skirt (Miss America, Goggle Pink, Dyna Pink, Bioman-2, Changeman-2, Flashman-2, Fiveman-2, Dekaranger-5)
• 17 male Yellow Rangers (Goranger, Denji-Dyna, Live, Jet-Kaku, Ginga-Hurri, Magi)
• 33 teams with Red Ranger leaders (Goranger-Dai, Oh-GoGoV, Gao-Bouken, Go-On-Go-Busters)
• 39 Females with Skirt (Momo Ranger, Denji Pink, Maskman-2, Blue Dolphin, Turbo Pink, Jetman-2, Pteraranger, Houhouranger, Ninja White, Ohranger-2, Carranger-2, Megaranger-2, GingaPink, GoPink, TimePink, GaoWhite, Hurricane Blue, Abare Yellow, Magiranger-3, Boukenger-2, Geki Yellow, Go-onger-2, Shinkenger-3, Goseiger-2, Gokaiger-2, Go-Busters-1)

Power Rangers again on The Daily Show

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	M - Th 11p / 10c
Your Government Not at Work - Jane Harman Scandal
thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Economic Crisis First 100 Days

Very very funny, this is partly about Haim Saban but includes footage of Power Rangers Lost Galaxy, MMPR season 1 "Food Fight" and the first movie.