Rangercast: A Power Rangers Podcast

Hasbro, ostensibly a toy company, has licensed global Power Rangers toy rights to Playmates, with CEO Chris Cocks telling investors the brand just wasn't profitable enough to keep making in-house. With the sale of Entertainment One and the apparent fizzling-out of Jonathan Entwistle's planned movie and television projects, is this the end of the road for Power Rangers? Tyler and Josh talk about it.Also in this episode:Toy industry insider says Playmates will need "focus" to succeedBOOM! Studios MMPR series to conclude this summer"Tokusatsu" among several Japanese loanwords added to the Oxford English DictionaryAustin St. John's online store opens sans quotes from controversial figures but with AI artDiscotek announces Mobile Cop JibanMedia Blasters readies box set of Kamen Rider moviesFind and rate us on Apple Podcasts and check us out on Spotify.Buy last-minute gifts or a little something for yourself from Entertainment Earth. Click our link for 10% off in-stock items and free US shipping on orders $79+: https://ee.toys/RANGERSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/rangercast/donations

Austin St. John is back in the headlines and again it's for all the wrong reasons. In a February podcast interview with Jim Cummings, he said he planned a clothing line featuring quotes from leaders both famous and infamous, saying the German mustache guy "was a demon on steroids but he had some pretty good one-liners." This week, Power Rangers fans took notice of the comments and the former Red Ranger has faced backlash from nearly all corners. Tyler and Mike Manos offer their takes on what he said, and how fans and fan events should respond.Mentioned in this episode:United States Holocaust Memorial MuseumAmy Jo Johnson subtweets her former co-starGodzilla Minus One wins historic OscarAnimeNJ++ relocates for 2024Anime Boston welcomes Lotus JuiceLineage Studios: "EVERYTHING MUST GO GO"Find and rate us on Apple Podcasts and check us out on Spotify.Buy last-minute gifts or a little something for yourself from Entertainment Earth. Click our link for 10% off in-stock items and free US shipping on orders $79+: https://ee.toys/RANGERSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/rangercast/donations

Koichi Sakamoto is a household name for Power Rangers fans. The Japanese American director and producer best known for his work on Power Rangers from the mid-1990s up through 2009 before heading to Japan and working on iconic tokusatsu franchises. His new movie is Ninja vs. Shark, out now on Blu-ray.We spoke to Sakamoto-san at AnimeNJ++. Thanks to John Sirabella of Media Blasters for his help in arranging this interview. We'll talk more about the convention in our next episode. Be sure to check out the video version of this episode.Find us and rate us on Apple Podcasts and check us out on Spotify.Buy last-minute gifts or a little something for yourself from Entertainment Earth. Click our link for 10% off in-stock items and free shipping on orders $79+: https://ee.toys/RANGERSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/rangercast/donations

Tyler and Mike Manos talk about the episodes "Team Work," "Rock Out" and "Take Off." We also discuss some developments on the Power Rangers and Sentai fronts.Mentioned in this episode:Incoming Power Rangers overlord Jonathan Entwistle to helm new Karate Kid movieLegend of the White Dragon two-pack available for pre-orderMeet Olivia Hart, the Green Ranger of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The ReturnShiro Izumi coming to Power MorphiconTrailer released for Garo: The Inheritor of SteelBandai shows off Memorial D-Sword VegaTsuburaya announces School Girl vs. Ultraman: HollyhockShop Entertainment Earth's Cyber Monday sale. Use the code CYBER25 for 25% off all in-stock items.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/rangercast/donations

We're pleased to bring you an interview with Pan, the face, voice and pen behind the tokusatsu-themed idol project Bakery Sentai Panranger. Pan (they/them) this week released their first original song, GUARDIAN. We talked to them about their background, style and the rigors of a summer spent performing at cons and other events all over the country.Mentioned in the news segment:Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie going out of printTokuSHOUTsu asks eight fans to share the tokusatsu they're thankful forKickstarter preorders are live for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return, co-written by Amy Jo JohnsonLike and review us on Apple Podcasts.Get your Black Friday shopping done at Entertainment Earth! Check out their sale on action figures and use the code HOLIDAY39 through Nov. 28 for free shipping on orders $39 and up.(Photo by Parallax.Photos)Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/rangercast/donations

In this episode, we finally get to discussing the first few episodes of Power Rangers Cosmic Fury: Lightning Strikes, Beyond Repair and Off Grid.We also talk about some toy news, some comic news and a rare mention of Sentai in People magazine. We discuss the arrest of Gokaiger and Garo actor Junya Ikeda and mourn the passing of Eka Darville's young son, Mana.Mentioned in this episode:Funko Pop! Tyrannosaurus Dinozord at TargetBOOM! Studios Direct Reserve Kickstarter campaign for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The ReturnDannielynn Birkhead, daughter of Anna Nicole Smith, cosplays as Donbrothers' Oni Sister for HalloweenDekaranger to get a 20th anniversary movieKyoryuger marks 10th anniversary with two-episode King-Ohger crossoverNew Garo series coming next yearAgency drops Junya Ikeda after fraud arrestMana Darville, son of RPM's Eka Darville, dies after battle with brain cancer]Want to know where Rangercast got its refreshed logo? Fiverr. Connect with freelancers and the right service in more than 600 categories, from graphic design to programming.This episode was recorded just prior to the end of the SAG-AFTRA strike, so we glossed over Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always to honor the union's guidance.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/rangercast/donations

Tyler sat down virtually with Andrew Bush, director of the Kickstarter tokusatsu project Metal Force. The project aims to create a horror-tinged short. The project is about a metal band that gets abducted by aliens and granted superpowers. It has raised more than $4,000, twice its initial goal. Funding closes next Monday.(This recording makes reference to the Writers Guild of America strike. The WGA has since reached a tentative deal with producers. The SAG-AFTRA strike remains ongoing.)Donate to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation and the Entertainment Community Fund. Your gifts are tax-deductible.Follow us on Twitter or find us at rangercast.net.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/rangercast/donations

Tyler and Josh talk about the Power Rangers Cosmic Fury teasers and details, including the return of Billy and other old friends. We also break down the 30th-anniversary comic release (spoiler warning). And Power Rangers Day was on Aug. 28. We talk about how Hasbro did and didn't celebrate it.Referenced in this episode:David Yost returns in Cosmic Fury -- get a sneak peekSAG-AFTRA chief negotiator blasts studios for refusing talksA first look at the Lightning Collection Master Morpher30th-anniversary Funko Pops: Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, Pink, Black, Ranger SlayerSuper7 unveils Vile Violet Rita RepulsaSuperX MMPR hoodies coming later this monthHasbro Pulse lists 30th anniversary teeMelissa Flores AMA on r/PowerRangersFresh off Entertainment One sale, Hasbro launches Hasbro EntertainmentPower Bow and Power Axe tipped for HasLabRangercast may receive a commission from links to products mentioned in the show notes.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/rangercast/donations

Summer travel plans are forcing us into a brief hiatus, We expect to be back in late August to talk about news including Lionsgate's planned acquisition of Entertainment One.For this episode, we turn the clock back to 2008 and Anime Central in Chicago. Jason David Frank, Robert Axelrod, Steve Cardenas and Karan Ashley held court for fan press at one of the first conventions to invite guests from the franchise. Here unguarded reminiscing on the show's early days and lots of laughs. Thanks to Lisa J of No Pink Spandex for her help in recording the original episode from whence this came and to Rangercast listener Lee Sands for saving the file after all these years.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/rangercast/donations

Tyler and Josh talk about the news (or lack thereof) out of San Diego Comic-Con. Hasbro's repositioning and the ongoing strikes of the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA may keep us waiting a while for the future of Power Rangers. In the meantime, the Lightning Collection line will be put on pause. We talk about the series of events that got us here and the people and events responsible for Power Rangers' apparent second-class status in the Hasbro empire.Hasbro: "Development is ongoing" on Jenny Klein-led Power Rangers seriesLionsgate leading suitor for Entertainment OneShin Ultraman distributor Cleopatra Entertainment releases new pressing with better subtitlesToei releases the concept and design for Kamen Rider GotchardBOOM! Studios teases 30th-anniversary book, Amy Jo Johnson limited seriesRanger Academy comic series hits shelves in OctoberReshoots lead to postponement of Legend of the White DragonHasbro PulseCon set for Sept. 22Donate to the Entertainment Community Fund and support those affected by the Hollywood strikesSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/rangercast/donations

After New Zealand media confirm Power Rangers is leaving its longtime production home, Tyler and Lamar reflect on what they'll miss and chat about what may be to come.Mentioned in this episode:Leak reveals Lightning Collection Omega Rangersthreezero drops Armored Black RangerAn early look at the Cosmic Fury MegazordOnce & Always soundtrack on Spotify and Apple MusicSuper7's SDCC offeringsShodo SUPER Megaranger team available in December from Premium BandaiJohnny Yong Bosch is Ultraman BlazarToei's Shinichi Shirakura tasked with promoting Kamen Rider and Super Sentai internationallyNew trailer for Bakuryu Sentai Abaranger's 20th anniversary filmTsuburaya expands Ultraman licensing programShin Kamen Rider to Amazon Prime on July 21Teaser out for Godzilla Minus OneToho plans two western e-commerce sites, one just for GodzillaMiryokucon (which Tyler staffs) is Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 in downtown BaltimoreShop Manta Sleep and get 10% off your first orderSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/rangercast/donations

Despite no new episodes of Power Rangers until the fall, there's still some news we had to get through. Tyler and Josh talk about toy developments in the US and Japan and some other recent developments.Mentioned in this episode:The Roku Channel adds Power RangersOur first look at the Cosmic Morpher toySOC Daizyujin and Dragon Caesar reissuesPreorders open for Kamen Rider Black RX Blu-ray setBuy a Shin Japan Heroes transforming toyBandai Namco gets the master toy license for Ultraman in North AmericaToei trademarks Kamen Rider GotchardTsuburaya announces Ultraman Music LiveJason David Frank's family insists he approved of projects announced after his deathLandlord sues JDF's karate school for unpaid rentShowrunner Simon Bennett confirms Cosmic Fury is his last rodeoReddit moderators protest change to site's API policy but CEO stands firmMember of fan community needs help with severe post-COVID complicationsGet 10% off your order and free domestic shipping from Manta SleepSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/rangercast/donations

For scheduling reasons, we are taking a few weeks off. But we're not leaving you empty-handed.Robert Axelrod is best known for being the voice of Lord Zedd and Finster, among other things, on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. A prolific voice actor, he followed Tony Oliver and other Robotech regulars over to Saban. His credits included Wizardmon and Ankylomon from Digimon, Emperor Darius in the William Winckler Productions dub of Dino Mech Gaiking and various roles in shows like Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo and Hajime no Ippo. In later years, he reached broader audiences through his work with the comedy duo Tim and Eric. He died in 2019 after a long illness.In 2006, he gave about 20 minutes of his time to a nervous 17-year-old kid. Here is a lightly edited version of that conversation.Use our affiliate link to get 10% off at Manta Sleep.Support Rangercast by shopping on Amazon.Photo by 5of7 - CC BY-SA 2.0Thanks to Rangercast listener Lee Sands for preserving the archived audio of this conversation.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/rangercast/donations

Picking up from where we left off in the previous episode, Tyler, Mike, Josh and Lamar talk about all the news we couldn't fit into one episode.Mentioned in this episode:Power Rangers Hyperforce returns in upcoming one-shotU.S. theaters list Shin Kamen Rider on May 31Vintage Henshin visits the POWER UP! mall tourRanger Liz's dispatch from the POWER UP! tourAmazon lists Power Rangers 30th anniversary apparelHasbro moves closer to selling Entertainment OneUltraman BlazAr announced, will get simultaneous English dubHasbro completes the Lightning Collection Remastered teamSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/rangercast/donations

Tyler, Mike, Josh and Lamar talk about "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always," perhaps the most anticipated episode of the show since "The Mutiny." Yes, there will be spoilers ahead.Referenced in this episode:Johnny Yong Bosch says the story of the special could continue if streaming numbers meritDavid Yost and Walter Jones discuss the dedication at the end of the specialCatherine Sutherland discusses her experience working on the specialYost: "You never stop being a Power Ranger"Our next episode, which was recorded immediately after this one, includes all the news that couldn't fit.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/rangercast/donations