Five Teenagers with Attitude

In 1993, "Five Teenagers with Attitude" captured young television viewers attention as they fought off the evil forces led by the witch Rita Repulsa. The Power Ranger craze was born. Toys, movies, and television specials sprouted from the ever popular children's toy line. As the years grow, so does the programs' once-intended target audience. The six-to-eight year olds of the ‘90s are now in their late 20s and early 30s and continue to show dominance with widespread multimedia public relations and a new network that airs the newest series, Power Rangers: Samurai.

As a fan of the original and the current series of Power Rangers, here are five reasons why the show has proven successful.

1. Availability

Early in 2011, along with the premiere of Power Rangers: Samurai, Saban Brands released all season of the Power Ranger franchise from the classic Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers (1993-1995) to Disney-produced Power Rangers: RPM (2009). This set many fans into a frenzy. Fansites like Henshingrid, which covers both Power Rangers and its Japanese counterpart Super Sentai, to Jefusion publicized the Netflix release. Before, scattered episodes were available on video like the epic Green Ranger saga that brought Jason David Frank's  character Tommy into the limelight but never a whole series. When Disney bought the rights to the franchise in 2000, they released videos in episodic order but never the whole season. Now fans can watch their favorite episodes whenever they want or even start from the beginning and catch themselves up to where the series is today.

2. An alternate reality

Who wouldn't want to be in Space or searching for a Lost Galaxy? Power Ranger seasons, though derived from a Japanese source provide an idyllic theme that young kids can play with. They have been police forces from the future, to ninjas, magicians and many others that create valuable play time. Because they show that anyone can be a Power Ranger, children and adults are drawn to their characterizations.

3. Cheesy one-liners.

This show has added some new words to the English language. The term "morph" used to describe when the Rangers transform has become a household name.  Most of these one-liners are their morphing calls. "It's Morphin' Time" ranks as the distinguishable, funny puns include "Let's Rocket" and "SPD Emergency," while less thought of one's include "Lightspeed Rescue." From the mosters to the Rangers, someone has something funny to say.

4. MEGAZORDS.

No lie, adults like myself collect them- even play with them. With the advent of YouTube, merchandise most especially the megazords and action figures, are able to be showcased making the sale of a collector's item easier and faster. Megazords are great because they come together and come apart and provides ultimate playabilty. Micromegazords were started by Disney to allow cheap versions of the toy for people to buy. The Deluxe versions, usually the most expensive ones, are always compared to the Japanese mold from which they are collected. American versions definitely lack the same attention to detail Japanese made zords do, but what the zords lack, the action figures make up for. Big robots fighting. God.

5.       Lessons.

This may sound cheesy, but the writers of Power Rangers make sure that there is a blatant moral lesson involved in each episode. In a children's program, that must come first and everything else after. All the other reasons must remind them of what the program is about and everyone knows it is about good and evil and good always prevail.

No one is too old for Power Rangers. There is something there for all of us especially for the little child inside of you.