Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Impact of a Legend

In 1993, an aspiring Israeli-American television program creator named Haim Saban came up with an idea to create a tv series for children about a group of high school kids who were given super powers to fight against supernatural forces of evil. This show would go on to be a cultural phenomenon with a legacy that is still running strong at this very moment. Inspired by the Japanese super hero franchise known as Super Sentai, this series created by Saban is known as Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

Making its debut on August 28th, 1993, the story of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is centered around a group of six high school kids in the fictional town of Angel Grove California. One day this normal group of kids were minding their natural teenager business when an ancient inter-dimensional being known as Zordon of El-Tar and his trusted assistant named Alpha 5 granted these kids superpowers equipped with suits and defensive weaponry. These young adults would be known as the Power Rangers. Their identities were kept secret so that they could be Power Rangers and at the same time still maintain normal lives.

As the Rangers embrace their super power identities they live their lives as Zordon’s avenging angels battling Zordon’s greatest foes like Rita Repulsa, Lord Zedd, Goldar and the charismatic Ivan Ooze. While fighting for Zordon the rangers also battle their average day to day adolescent struggles like school, dating, family life and exploring their personal passions such as community work and love for the arts.

The Power Rangers were also big on having a close bond of friendship, being morally grounded and sharing their roles as Rangers with others who they were willing to let succeed them. Because of this the characters were popular with the younger children in the Angel Grove community. They were always supportive of one another, giving each other advice and when it was time to pass the mantle of Ranger to another they did it without question, even when it meant leaving their comrades whom they loved.

The Power Rangers eventually made it to the big screen with a theatrical film Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1995). The film was a hit and succeeded at solidifying the Power Rangers franchise. The series would eventually result in spin-offs of the original run like Power Rangers Zeo and Power Rangers in Space before spinning off into more branded themes for the following generations like Wild Force and Dino Thunder. Even at this very moment the Power Rangers franchise is still going and thriving for the current generation.

From the day I was born my family nickname was the Power Ranger because how much I loved the Power Rangers series. They used to always tell me “lil Joe, do the Power Rangers” and I would imitate all the Power Ranger fighting moves. The 1995 live action film is one of my favorite movies ever and I even saw it in theaters when it came out with my dad. Ivan Ooze was a great villain I just couldn’t get over. I’m retrospect I realized that the criticism that the series garnered over time is what made it such a great show. It’s seemingly campy style was actually very advanced for young toddlers and preschoolers like I was in those early days and though critics thought it was too mature given it’s violent nature, this actually was just a display of a show being ahead of its time,

Of course I loved all the characters just like every other fan. Tommy Oliver was my top favorite, but I loved all the characters greatly, so much so that when the characters would swap out in light of the real life behind the scenes issues going on, I loved all the characters who picked up the ranger mantle that followed. This strikes a big chord with us die hard fans when you consider the tragic real life deaths of the main stars, Jason David Frank who portrayed Tommy Oliver and Thuy Trang who portrayed Trini Kwan. I really felt these deaths because of how much these artist meant to my childhood.

33 years after it first debuted, I myself and every other 90’s baby who loved the Power Rangers are still Power kids, even though we’re adults. They were also able to have a successful reunion film, Power Rangers: Once and Always A Ranger, which serves as a tribute to Jason and Thuy. Being that I’m a big nerd who loves going to conventions I’ve had the privilege to meet several of the Power Rangers stars and thank them for making my childhood fun. Today there is a new generation of the Power Rangers franchise and even though I’m not too familiar with them I am glad they’re around. They keep a legacy alive that young children such as my nephews can enjoy just like I did when I was their age. As I’ve grown up to be an author I love to watch my favorite shows and movies as my muse for writing and yes, my Power Rangers box set is part of that heavy rotation. It is a given that we Power Rangers fans will be forever thankful to Haim Saban and the cast of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers for everything they put in to making our childhoods great.

~Dedicated to the memory of Thuy Trang and Jason David Frank.