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The Super Sentai Series is the name given to the long running Japanese superhero team genre of shows produced by Toei Company Ltd., Toei Agency and Bandai, and aired by TV Asahi ("Super" refers to their use of mecha, and "sentai" is the Japanese word for "task force" or, literally, "fighting squadron" and was also a term used for Japanese squadrons in WWII). The shows are of the tokusatsu genre, featuring live action characters and colorful special effects, and are aimed mainly at children. This series is one of the most prominent tokusatsu productions in Japan, and was adapted in the United States as Power Rangers.
Although the series originated in Japan, they were imported and dubbed in several other countries. Choudenshi Bioman and Hikari Sentai Maskman were very popular in France and in the Philippines in the 1980s. Additionally, Choujuu Sentai Liveman and Kousoku Sentai Turboranger were aired in Spain and Portugal. Denshi Sentai Denziman and Dai Sentai Goggle V were aired in Italy. In Brazil, the first Super Sentai series to air was Dengeki Sentai Changeman, in 1988, and made a tremendous impact at the time, being considered a cult classic. Due to the success of Changeman, other series were imported, such as Choushinsei Flashman, Hikari Sentai Maskman and the unsuccessful Dai Sentai Goggle V. There were also plans to import newer series, but were cancelled due to reduced popularity of recent series. Various Sentai series were also broadcast in Malaysia sometime in the 1990s.
Super Sentai in the U.S.
After Honolulu, Hawaii's KIKU-TV had success with Android Kikaider (called Kikaida) and Kamen Rider V3 in the 1970s, multiple Super Sentai shows, including Himitsu Sentai Goranger and Battle Fever J, were brought to the Hawaiian market (all broadcast in Japanese with English subtitles by JN Productions). Himitsu Sentai Goranger was also broadcast on Japanese-language stations in Sacramento, San Francisco and Los Angeles, California in 1976–77. J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai was also broadcast in Los Angeles, California following Himitsu Sentai Goranger. Kagaku Sentai Dynaman was dubbed and aired as a parody on the USA Network television show Night Flight in 1987. In 1993, Haim Saban produced the first installment of the Power Rangers franchise by dubbing the action sequences from 1992's Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger and filming new footage with American actors for the story sequences. This trend has continued, with each successive Sentai show contributing the action sequences to the Power Rangers series the following year.
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