The Super Sentai Morphing Grid?



Power Rangers has the concept of the Morphing Grid which is an energy field across the Universe that gives power to any Power Rangers team and that each team has a link to it. The concept was raised in Mighty Morphin' Season 2 and in Dino Thunder and Operation Overdrive. The Bio Field in Power Rangers RPM may be a totally different entity -- not the Morphin' Grid. However, the concept was brought back (TV wise and just ignore the comics) in Power Rangers Beast Morphers. I just think the idea is cool yet it can also kill creative writing -- we didn't see the concept brought up and several Power Rangers seasons tend to operate with different sources of power in later season.

How dinosaurs died vary from Super Sentai to Super Sentai. That alone can prove that most Super Sentai series are self-contained (like Super Robot Anime). It's safe to assume that there's really no Super Sentai Morphin' Grid or anything of that sort. If you've tried watching the 80s Super Sentai, the dinosaur Super Sentai trilogy (now becoming a quadrilogy), the ninja trilogy's first two entries don't even bother to connect Hurricanger with Kakuranger, then you can tell several Super Sentai series are self-contained. The idea of a self-contained another universe series was further verified in Kyuranger which made way for the Gavan vs. Dekaranger movie. 

Besides, there are DIFFERENT sources of power per Super Sentai to use their Henshin Powers

One may have tried to watch sole older series and some newer series. I suggest not to try to watch everything but to watch only the older Super Sentai which might appease your curiosity. Just remember that watching Goranger is a whopping 84 episodes which might not click well with some. The high count of episodes of Mighty Morphin' is also another reason why I skip rewatching it. It would do good to notice the different sources of powers that just can't be connected.

Goranger started the whole trend but was only retroactively included in 1995. Various energy sources are used. Goranger used pure science fiction to create their powers and so did JAKQ as well as many Super Sentai after it. So, trying to connect them into one powerful Sentai Grid isn't feasible. Denziman introduced alien technology which is from Planet Denzi. Sun Vulcan went back to science fiction. The powers that each team had just can't be linked to a singular source.

The Hirohisa Soda era just can't be linked to one source either. Take how Goggle V and Dynaman use different energies by different inventors. Bioman had Peebo introduce the Bio Particles to five brave warriors (which Jun probably shares the same ancestor as Mika). Bio Robo only awakened when the Earth was in a danger it can't handle on its own. Just think for a second that Bio Robo should've awakened in 1975 if that's the case. Changeman's Earth Force was mysterious energy waiting to be awakened when the Earth can't handle itself. The Earth Force didn't awaken at all until the United Alliance of Evil ahem Gozma decided to attack the Earth. Flashman introduced children raised from Planet Mirinoi ahem Planet Flash (located in some lost galaxy) and Mag wasn't even from a series of Peebo robots. Maskman introduced the use of Aura Power - something that Dairanger and Gekiranger introduced in different ways. Liveman used scientific suits from Academia. Turboranger introduced fairy magic and cars - something that Carranger would improve on. Fiveman started the sibling group - something that GoGoFive and Magiranger would deal with. Jetman (a transitional series) introduced the Birdonic Waves as a new form of energy. 

Unlike Mighty Morphin' - the Sugimura era of Super Sentai is anything but directly connected. Zyuranger introduced the energy called Gaiatron. Barza (Zordon's counterpart) never spoke of other teams nor binding energy at all. Though, I still want to joke Barza needs Peebo to keep him n check of his senile tendencies. Dairanger introduced a different version of Aura Power - something that would totally NOT link it to Maskman. Kakuranger introduced the ninja theme but different energies were used in Hurricanger and the rather sub-standard Ninninger. Ohranger introduced the Pangaea energy which isn't linked to any previous energies such as Gaiatron or the Bio Particles. Carranger didn't even bother to directly connect to Turboranger at all even if they both used car magic. Nowhere in Carranger does Dappu reference the war of Boumas and fairies nor does Emperor Exhaus proudly declare he'll succeed where the fool Emperor Ragorn failed. Megaranger doesn't even bother to directly reference previous shows such as Bioman (which I think it strongly derives from) when Dr. Kubota could've mentioned that he feels the same way Dr. Shinichiro Gou (Kenichi's father) feels in regards to going against a former friend. Gingaman returns to fairy energies once more with no direct reference to other shows. GoGoFive doesn't even try to make Dr. Mondo Tatsumi a colleague of Dr. Hoshikawa or use the same technology.

Take a look at that not all Metal Heroes or Kamen Rider are directly connected. What I didn't like about most Showa era Riders is how they try to keep connecting to each other - making you have to watch every other show. For example, Kamen Rider V3 is a direct sequel to The First Kamen Rider and almost every show that followed it. I felt the Great Leader of the Showa Era is better off GONE except to return in crossover films to get his butt handed over to him. The Space Sheriff Trilogy ended and newer Metal Heroes were hardly connected to each other. The Rescue Police Trilogy loosened up the connections when Exceedraft came in. Janperson was almost its own and I felt Toei Ltd. should've not connected it to B-Fighter's finale. However, even with some direct sequels, the energy sources are all different and not bound to one amazing grid. 

Gokaiger mentioned different sources. The powers of the 34 Super Sentai series were lost when Akaranger encouraged them to sacrifice their powers for that continuity. Eventually, the Gokaigers gave back the powers after Zangyack was defeated. If anything, Gokaiger needs to be viewed as a huge what-if dimension than actual continuity to all the series before it. Take note that Super Sentai crossover movies tend to be not canon to the actual series proper. A good example is how Ohranger vs. Kakuranger can't fit into the two series they're based on properly. It's just like how the Dragon Ball Z movies just introduce non-canon characters that contradict the series proper. A good example is how Turles in Tree of Might just can't fit in. Cooler as Frieza's brother is most likely a what-if scenario since Frieza seems to operate like an only child in the series proper. The Greatest Treasure in the Universe should be viewed as a what-if scenario instead.

Besides, Go-Busters' Enetron is pretty much its own story compared to Morph-X. There's no objection whatsoever like, "The Enetron is the same source of all the Super Sentai powers. This power could be dangerous such as when villains like the Black Cross Fuhrer up to Ackdos Gill tried to get it." None of that talk. Instead, Enetron is simply introduced as a new energy source that's INDEPENDENT of other sources like the Bio Particles, Earth Force, Aura Power, Flash powers, Birdonic Waves, Gaiatron, Earth Power, etc. There's really no binding force behind them. Enetron just remained to be as is. That's why I still feel the Gavan episodes are a mistake for this show. Go-Busters should've tried to remain independent, series-wise, and have a non-canon crossover after that. 

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I think that the concept can still work in a crossover. Pretty much, I think the Boukenger vs. Super Sentai crossover could've tried to do so. I think Gokaiger tried to create a universal source of Super Sentai power. Other than that, it's best to treat every source of Super Sentai henshin energy as their own continuity.  If there's really a "Sentai Morphing Grid" that binds all Super Sentai teams - look for it no further than Toei Ltd.! The writers, producers, and executives are the ones that link all the power of Super Sentai! I guess they never wanted to create such a power grid to make sure most seasons stay self-contained.

(Updated: April 16, 2022)

Comments

  1. Just gonna ignore all the actual crossovers in episodes huh. Or the fact that the gokaigers appears in later Sentai show with said seasons powers

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