Super Sentai, Power Rangers, And Battlizer Usage

 

This week's episode of Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger really brought in the Royal Battlizer. It wasn't just what I'd call an improved Corona Aurora from Power Rangers Operation Overdrive. It's also that said crown formed a Battlizer that both Gira and Racules were able to use. With King-Ohger as a possible celebratory season - it seems that it's a show with several shows in mind. It's time to look at how Super Sentai and the localization called Power Rangers have used the Battlizer concept for some time. 

The pre-Zyuranger era's introduction of Battlizers

I can understand if some Super Sentai seasons do get less appreciation. Would anybody want to sit through 84 episodes of Himitsu Sentai Goranger? Would anybody want to sit through what might be considered the cheesier days? Several experiments were done and most of them aged badly as flawed prototypes or became a staple item.

Kagaku Sentai Dynaman had the Dyna Tector which was an experimental concept. Ryu Hoshikawa did invent this one to improve his combat skills. However, this didn't really do much and may have felt overpowered. So, the concept was somewhat shelved.

The concept of Team Battlizers was introduced in Chikyu Sentai Fiveman. Ah yes, it was that time when Super Sentai nearly died because of really bad ratings Ironically, Fiveman had an official release. What amazes me is that in spite of the more superior Kyukyu Sentai GoGoFive official release - the sales were still a success. This concept would be done for many years to come.

The post-Jetman era's usage of Battlizers between the two franchises

Chojin Sentai Jetman became the last Super Sentai series not to have an American counterpart. We'd get Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger which I believe went from underappreciated (thanks to a lack of subs) to getting overappreciated (for starting Power Rangers). Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers was first forced to rely on whatever stock footage Toei gave to them for most suited fight scenes. Later on , the American side filmed more suited footage to blend better with the American suitless fights. It was also in Zyuranger that gave the red ranger a sole power-up.

Dragon Ranger's death was really planned. I heard Burai was supposed to last only six episodes but was extended. Later, Burai dies in the 42nd episode and returns as a ghost to guide the others. Burai later handed over his weapons to Geki. Geki as Tyranno Ranger could later don the shield and Zyusouken. It's pretty much that lone Battlizer since only Geki could use it. The black ranger wearing the shield was only from the Zyu2 footage for American usage.

Toei did manage to create this very cheesy, bulky "cyber diaper" in Juuku B-Fighter. Blue Beet was able to do this really CHEESY super mode. It was pretty much almost invincible. True, teamwork was still there but I did feel the Super Blue Beet mode tends to be near-invincible. Fortunately, this concept wasn't carried over in the less popular sequel B-Fighter Kabuto. However, B-Fighter Kabuto was still kind of a mess with the medals plot even if it's way better than the two Beetleborgs entries. This was also in 1995 when Choriki Sentai Ohranger aired. This was also the year of the Majin Buu Saga which was a desperate attempt to sell as many toys as possible.

The American side (and Bandai) probably got greedy. Toei probably got greedy too. Why do you think Toei had a long partnership with Saban Entertainment? Why do you think Toei complied with making additional footage for Lion Voltron and Zyuranger? It was all about, "It's a monster hit! Must get dollars! Mwahahahahahaha!" This may be the reason why Toei cared less when Power Rangers started introducing what's called the AMERICAN-EXCLUSIVE BATTLIZERS for some time. Yes, it was a very long line of American-exclusive red ranger Battlizers.

The first to be used was in Power Rangers in Space. Denji Sentai Megaranger did have a non-canon movie Team Battlizer. Did Haim Saban and Disney saw the potential of the Super Blue Beet to sell more toys. Toei apparently didn't like continuing the bulky design. However, Saban and Disney probably wanted to milk it out. Toei probably had no objective since Battlizer toy sales equal more royalty. Toei probably had a lot of fun counting money whenever a Power Rangers-exclusive Red Ranger Battlizer was created.

When Red Ranger Battlizers became redundant or wasted space IMHO

One of the main issues I can raise with the American-exclusive Battlizer is it can be redundant. It can end up as a lame gimmick when the Super Sentai Team Battlizer is carried over. Space probably had a good reason since the non-canon Megaranger super mode wasn't used. However, Power Rangers Lost Galaxy carried over the Lights of Ginga as the Lights of Orion. I felt the use of the Red Armored Form in Lost Galaxy felt like, "Hey kids, buy this toy!" It felt as gimmicky as the Fusion characters or several forms introduced in the Buu Saga of Dragon Ball Z. In short, it was really all done out of greed. Toei probably didn't care as long as Haim Saban paid on time. 

A lot of Power Rangers seasons would add in an American-exclusive Battlizer even if there was already the team Battlizer. Some of these seasons are Power Rangers SPD, Power Rangers Mystic Force, Power Rangers Operation Overdrive, Power Rangers Samurai, and Power Rangers Beast Morphers. I was wondering again if it's all about toy sales. 

I think Power Rangers Dino Thunder ended up with more waste of space IMHO. Take note that was the DISNEY ERA before Saban bought back the rights. There was the usage of the Max Abare Red power-up from Bakuryu Sentai Abaranger. What was the reason that Triassic Battlizer had to be added? It just felt redundant as Super Saiyan 3 or any of the Fusion characters in the Buu Saga. 

I think the use of this Battlizer in SPD was another. Didn't SPD already carry over the SWAT Mode from Dekaranger? Giving the Red SPD Ranger a Battlizer was already rather weird. We would later see this mode in the non-canon Mahou Sentai Magiranger vs. Tokosou Sentai Dekaranger movie. Dekared could go into Battlizer mode but only for the movie. I just felt that Toei probably scored big in the West with SPD at that time. Later, SPD would have a Japanese dub as well done by the main cast. 

Super Sentai bringing in lone Battlizers again

Unlike the Power Rangers side which wanted to continue the Super Blue Beet-type design - the Japanese side seemed to prefer the sleeker designs. This is coming from the same studio that keeps making Clusterf*ck Megazord combinations! While watching Abaranger -  I was actually fascinated by the Max Abare Red Battlizer for its mobility and power. I wonder why Dino Thunder still added another Battlizer? I guess the popularity of the Battlizers was too hard to dismiss huh? In this case, I felt that the sleeker designs were a much more welcome treat. 

Later, Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger also created the Kyoryu Red Carnival mode. The mode was carried over in Power Rangers Dino Charge. Fortunately, Dino Charge didn't bring an American-exclusive Battlizer, unlike Dino Thunder. However, I'm no fan of the design and neither am I a fan of Kyoryuger either.

What would be interesting is that some lone Battlizers could be shared. Samurai Sentai Shinkenger featured the super mode that could be used by everyone except Genta. Takeru Shiba did have the Hyper Shinken Red mode which he didn't share with anyone. Still, I love how sleek the designs are compared to what Super Blue Beet and the American-exclusive Battlizers would give. 

Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger did have a bulky Battlizer. This time, it was first used by Gai Ikari before it was used by Captain Marvelous in future episodes. Using previous sixth ranger rangers and giving tribute to them can be cool. However, the design seems impractical due to how heavy it can be. 

In the case of Ucchu Sentai Kyuranger, this is one Battlizer that I think has me mixed? Why literally white-wash the red color from the red spandex? I'm laughing hard at this one even if I think the attacks are cool. I think it should've been still all red. Is this again the Law of Chromatic Superiority that Lucky is a red ranger who can become a white ranger? I think this is one weird power-up until now -- even if I'm a fan of the show!

What would be very interesting is how Kikou Sentai Zenkaiger would have Zenkaiser and Twokaiser both have armored power-ups. The design seemed as bulky as what Kishinryu Sentai Ryusoulger came up with for Ryusoul Red. Both suits look impressive and aren't as bulky as the American-exclusive Battlizers. Zenkaiger felt like a huge tribute to the now-discontinued Metal Hero. I guess Toei didn't have much of a liking for Super Blue Beet hence why we get these sleeker designs.

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What are your thoughts?