Why I Believe Toei And Saban Owe "Jurassic Park" Their Success Last 1993

 

I could remember bitching about why Toei had to include a fourth dinosaur Super Sentai. I also don't like Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger though it was still watchable in some way. Before Power Rangers was born - there were some attempts to do so. Watching The Toys That Made Us gave me an insight into a franchise that I dislike. Haim Saban saw Super Sentai in a hotel and wanted to bring it to America. The show was considered too violent, too cheesy, etc. Instead, Toei and Saban would need to wait a little more before their partnership would happen.

Before that, Saban attempted Power Rangers with Chodenshi Bioman. The show would end up bringing some elements into Mighty Morphin' like naming the pink ranger KIMBERLY (which was taken from the cheesy English dub) and having a hysterical robot in Alpha 5. I find it hard not to compare Peebo to Alpha 5 because both have the mental programming of a child. Peebo's original voice still sounds similar to Alpha 5. The attempt was again met with failure. I guess there was no catalyst until 1993. There was also the late Stan Lee who attempted the same with Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan only for it to also crash.

Toei Ltd. was now trying new stuff with Super Sentai. The franchise nearly met its end after Chikyu Sentai Fiveman. Chojin Sentai Jetman saved the franchise. The not-so-popular Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger (which ended up getting Vindicated by History years later) came in. Before that, Toei once had a deal with World Events Productions where two of its unpopular Anime series, Hyajakuu Golion and Kikou Kantai Dairugger XV. Both were adapted as Lion Voltron and Vehicle Voltron. Vehicle Voltron crashed even harder than Dairugger XV. Lion Voltron had many spin-offs which were so bad for me that I ended up enjoying Golion instead.

Jurassic Park was hitting and it was a blockbuster. It was really the best timing. Zyuranger finished its run in 1992. The cultural differences were why Zyuranger wasn't dubbed over or aired at Fox Kids. Instead, what happened next was that Toei gave Saban the green light. The crew at Saban Entertainment would get licensed use of stock footage. It's because they were dealing with live-action shows instead of creating an animated show based on Marvel Comics. Before that, Saban Entertainment already had a Marvel license some time after Toei didn't renew theirs. In 1994, Saban eventually did a Spider-Man adaptation. It was called Spider-Man: The Animated Series which I think is more watchable than Toei's Supaida-Man. I'm amazed Lee still found Supaida-Man an amazing piece of adaptation. Lee also had an animated (and voice) cameo in Spider-Man: The Animated Series. Hmmm... full circle?

Dinosaurs were becoming a hot item. I guess Toei may have had good soy sales in Japan even when Zyuranger got less appreciated. Zyuranger was caught in between Jetman and Gosei Sentai Dairanger - both hailed as masterpieces by the fans. I guess children loved the dinosaur toys in 1992. Toei got greedy and partnered with Saban. The timing was never so perfect. Honestly, I think the dinosaur toys of Zyuranger have to be one of the best cool-looking toys ever. If they could make the toys for Mighty Morphin' - think of the money pouring in!

I guess that may explain why Toei created Bakuryu Sentai Abaranger and Kyoryuger in 2003 and 2013. I guess Toei wanted to celebrate the milestones with two more dinosaur seasons. What irritated me though was that Toei ended up creating Ryusoulger as a dinosaur series after Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom came out in 2018. Fortunately, Toei decided to make a more mystical series in Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger. However, Ryo Ryusei will guest star in October for some reason. 

Toei may have made the tributes way too blatant at times. Toei has the habit of making American pop culture references. Both Kidou Keiji Jiban and Tokosou Robo Janperson made some blatant Robocop references. Janperson's design is an obvious repaint of Robocop. Jiban's human-turned-cyborg origin is from Robocop. Kyoryuger never shied away from making a possible reference. Both Ian Yorkland and Ian Malcolm are flirtatious and anti-heroes. I guess Toei just wanted to make a more blatant reference than they normally did. I guess Toei still thinks of Jurassic Park as some kind of catalyst for their success. 

Either way, Jurassic Park was definitely a key player to the success. I wouldn't be surprised if Dugdead Dujardin in King-Ohger became responsible for the destruction of dinosaurs in Chikyu. I may not have the urge to rewatch Mighty Morphin' or Kyoryuger - I still do have the urge to rewatch Jurassic Park!