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**Pink is absent in Sun/Three Vulcan (White Rose Mask has pink '''accents''', however), Liveman, Jetman (although White Swan had pink accents), Kakuranger, Gaoranger, Hurricanger, and Abaranger. So far, all pink warriors have been female.
**Pink is absent in Sun/Three Vulcan (White Rose Mask has pink '''accents''', however), Liveman, Jetman (although White Swan had pink accents), Kakuranger, Gaoranger, Hurricanger, and Abaranger. So far, all pink warriors have been female.
**Green is absent in Battle Fever (although Battle Kenya did have green accents), Sun/Three Vulcan, Goggle V, Dynaman, Changeman, Turboranger, Fiveman, Jetman, Kakuranger, Megaranger, Gaoranger, Abaranger, and Boukenger. So far, all green warriors have been male.
**Green is absent in Battle Fever (although Battle Kenya did have green accents), Sun/Three Vulcan, Goggle V, Dynaman, Changeman, Turboranger, Fiveman, Jetman, Kakuranger, Megaranger, Gaoranger, Abaranger, and Boukenger. So far, all green warriors have been male.
**White was introduced in JAKQ (however, many see Big One as a "rainbow ranger" rather than a white ranger), which, along with Dairanger, Abaranger, and Dekaranger, have male warriors in white; Sun/Vulcan, Changeman, Jetman, Kakuranger, Gaoranger, and Magiranger have white heroines.
**White was introduced in JAKQ (however, many see Big One as a "rainbow ranger" rather than a white ranger), which, along with Dairanger, Abaranger, and Dekaranger, have male warriors in white; Sun/Three Vulcan, Changeman, Jetman, Kakuranger, Gaoranger, and Magiranger have white heroines.
**Orange was introduced in Battle Fever, the only series with a regular member in orange; DekaSwan from Dekaranger has orange accents.
**Orange was introduced in Battle Fever, the only series with a regular member in orange; DekaSwan from Dekaranger has orange accents.
**Black was introduced in Battle Fever (Battle Kenya has green accents, however), and also appeared in Goggle V, Dynaman, Changeman, Maskman, Liveman, Turboranger, Fiveman, Jetman, Zyuranger, Kakuranger, Megaranger, Gingaman, Gaoranger, Abaranger, and Boukenger. So far, all black warriors have been male.
**Black was introduced in Battle Fever (Battle Kenya has green accents, however), and also appeared in Goggle V, Dynaman, Changeman, Maskman, Liveman, Turboranger, Fiveman, Jetman, Zyuranger, Kakuranger, Megaranger, Gingaman, Gaoranger, Abaranger, and Boukenger. So far, all black warriors have been male.

Revision as of 19:23, 29 April 2006

File:Sentai-goranger-1975.jpg
Costumes from the 1975 series, Himitsu Sentai Goranger, on display at the Bandai Museum in Matsudo, Chiba, Japan

Sentai (Japanese: 戦隊), the Japanese word for task force (literally fighting squadron - Sentai was also a term used for Japanese squadrons in WWII), is most commonly used for classifying the "superhero team" genre of shows produced by Toei Company Ltd. and Bandai, and aired by TV Asahi. The shows are of the tokusatsu genre, featuring live action characters and colorful special effects, and are aimed mainly at families. This series is one of the most prominent tokusatsu productions in Japan, alongside the Ultra Series, the Kamen Rider, and the Metal Heroes series.

Series overview

In every Sentai show, the fight between good and evil is illustrated, with the good side winning most of the time. The basic premise of the series is that a group of (usually) five people gain special powers (magical or technological), wear colored outfits, and use advanced weapons and martial arts skills to battle powerful beings from other planets and/or dimensions threatening to take over the Earth. In most of the episodes, after the team has beaten an army of evil creatures ("grunts") and the "monster of the week", they call for huge robotic vehicles/animals ("mechas") that can combine to form one giant robot to fight an enlarged version of the monster. Sentai series with the giant robot element are specifically known as Super Sentai. Each Sentai is set in a different fictional universe, with the exception of teamups.

File:97 prs1.jpg
Megarangers from Denji Sentai Mega Ranger (1997)

The first Sentai series, Himitsu Sentai Goranger, was created by the late Shotaro Ishinomori, creator of Kamen Rider and Cyborg 009 in 1975. He did not create any further sentai series after his second, JAKQ Dengekitai, was poorly received.

The third Sentai series, Battle Fever J (1979), is the first Super Sentai show (on account of it being the first to have a giant robot that the heroes ride - the past two shows only had vehicles).

The term sentai is also occasionally used to describe shows with similar premises, such as Voltron, or even the magical girl team in Sailor Moon. However, this definition was never official for these types of shows. Recently (in 2003/2004), Sailor Moon has been retold in a fashion somewhat similar to Sentai shows in the form of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon. While not officially Sentai, some fans of the genre have accepted it as such.

Distribution

File:Supersentaiserieslogo.jpg
The official logo of the Super Sentai Series (Japanese: Suupaa Sentai Shiriizu) introduced in 2000 during the run of Mirai Sentai Timeranger

Although the series' originated in Japan, they were imported and dubbed in several other countries. Cho Denshi Bioman & Hikari Sentai Maskman were very popular in the Philippines in the 1980's, [1] and multiple Sentai shows aired in Hawaii, due in large part to the previous success of Kamen Rider V3 and Kikaida there. Additionally, Bioman & Kousoku Sentai Turboranger were aired in Spain. Himitsu Sentai Goranger was also aired briefly in Sacramento and San Francisco, California. Kagaku Sentai Dynaman was dubbed and aired as a parody on the USA Network television show Night Flight in 1987. In 1993, Haim Saban produced the first installment of the Power Rangers series by dubbing the action sequences from 1992's Kyoryuu Sentai ZyuRanger and filming new footage with American actors for the story sequences. This trend has continued, with each successive Sentai show contributing the action sequences to the Power Rangers series the following year. [2]


The series

Year Series Description
1975-1977 Himitsu Sentai Goranger
(Secret Squadron Five Ranger) 		The first Sentai. Super-technology spy team against a secret terrorist monster force. Also the first to have a member get killed in action.
1977 JAKQ Dengeki Tai
(JAKQ Electric Shock Squad) 		The first with four initial members, with the fifth member (first hero in white) joining later. Team of cyborgs based on a playing card motif - Jack, Ace, King and Queen. First teamup with the previous Sentai team (JAKQ vs. Goranger), a special feature that wouldn't repeat until Ohranger vs. Kakuranger, when it became an annual tradition. First series without a member in yellow.
1979 Battle Fever J Team motif based on sovereign states. The first Super Sentai (being the first to have a giant robot) and the first to wear scarves instead of capes (although an earlier tokusatsu series humorously demonstrated their impracticality). Based on a national country (Japan, Soviet Union, Kenya, France and USA) & dance style motif. First hero in black. First series to have mouthplates. First series to feature a regular hero in orange (and therefore, the second with no yellow member). Second series with a member who is killed in action and the first to have a member get wounded in action so badly, that a replacement is necesitated. Female character, Miss America, was designed by reference in Marvel's Miss America; in addition, her male counterparts vaguely resemble Marvel's Captain America. This fact is influenced by the cooperative relation built when Marvel and Toei made the tokusatsu Spider-Man. All other characters were designed as original by Toei.

The anecdote about the design of "Battle Japan" - the leader, Battle Japan, was originally to be called "Captain Japan", a Japanese version of Captain America - is now recognized as false.

1980 Denshi Sentai Denjiman
(Electronic Squadron Electromagnetic Man) 		The first to have a transforming giant robot, and the first to have "ski-goggle" masks, as opposed to "bug-eye" visors with small holes drilled in them, as was the case in the previous three series.
1981 Taiyou Sentai Sun Vulcan
(Solar Squadron Sun/Three Vulcan) 		The only series to be a sequel to the previous one, Sun/Three Vulcan was the first team to have only three members, representing land, sea, and air. Also the first all-male team, and the first to have a combining robot (two units forming into one). It is also the first (and so far, only) Sentai series to change to a second leader (first Vul-Eagle was recruited by NASA for space shuttle research). First series with a non-Sentai hero of either sex (female in this case). San, the Japanese pronunciation for "sun", may also mean "three," since there are three Sun Vulcans (it is also in the series' second ending theme: One + Two + Three Vulcans).
1982 Dai Sentai Goggle V
(Great Squadron Goggle Five) 		Sentai team based on the jewels of ancient civilizations and on rhythmic gymnastics. The only Sentai team where only three of five members pilot the robot, while the other two stay in Goggle Caesar (a carrier ship for the Goggle Robo components). The show had a tremendous impact in Indonesia.
1983 Kagaku Sentai Dynaman
(Science Squadron Dynaman) 		The first to wear spandex and to forgo wearing scarves. Several episodes of this series were later dubbed into English as the comedic parody series Dynaman, which was briefly seen on the USA Network's Night Flight programming block.
1984 Cho Denshi Bioman
(Super Electronic Bioman) 		The first to have two females (and the first female in yellow), one of them perishing several episodes into the series and replaced by another female member. Well known in France and in the Philippines. Because of the level of special effects and storyline development, it is considered by many as one of the best Sentai series ever produced for its time.
1985 Dengeki Sentai Changeman
(Electric Shock Squadron Changeman) 		Team motif based on mythological animals: dragon, griffin, pegasus, mermaid and phoenix. The first to have a female in white and the third not to have a member in yellow. The show had a tremendous impact in Brazil.
1986 Choushinsei Flashman
(Supernova Flashman) 		Team motif based on colored crystals on different planets. The first to have a second robot. Like Changeman, had a tremendous impact in Brazil.
1987 Hikari Sentai Maskman
(Light Squadron Maskman) 		Team motif based on different martial arts techniques and mystical "aura power" energy. The first to have a sixth team member (for one episode only), and the first to have a five-piece component robot. The show became popular in the Philippines after Choudenshi Bioman in 1984.
1988 Choujuu Sentai Liveman
(Super-Beast Squadron Liveman) 		Team motif based on animals (falcon, lion, dolphin, bison, and rhino). The first to have a female in blue, and the first to initially have three members, with two members joining later. It was also the first team to have animal-based mecha (widely-used since), and the first to have two giant robots form into a single powerful robot.
1989 Kousoku Sentai Turboranger
(High-Speed Squadron Turbo Ranger) 		Team motif based on vehicles. The 10th anniversary series (by Toei's official count until Goranger & JAKQ were re-included). The first Super Sentai not to have the robot components brought into action through a "battleship" carrier vehicle.
1990 Chikyuu Sentai Fiveman
(Terrestrial Squadron Fiveman) 		Team motif based on five subjects: science, athletics, language, music and mathematics. The first all-sibling team.
1991 Choujin Sentai Jetman
(Birdmen Squadron Jetman) 		Team motif based on various birds. The second series to have a female blue Ranger. This series brought intense drama to the Sentai franchise, making it one of the more popular Super Sentai series. Based on the '70s anime Gatchaman, Jetman was supposed to become the first Power Rangers, but the concept did not fully take off with test audiences. A Jetman game was available for the Nintendo Famicom game console. First series with a member getting killed after the war.
1992 Kyoryuu Sentai ZyuRanger
(Dinosaur Squadron Beast Ranger) 		Team motif based on prehistoric beasts and the first sentai to introduce living mecha. The first to have an American series, Power Rangers, based on it (if one does not count the parody-dub of Dynaman), and the first to have a regular sixth team member. Oddly enough, only three out of the six Rangers actually have dinosaurs as avatars. A ZyuRanger game was also available for the Nintendo Famicom game console. First series with a member dying while active but not on the battlefield.
1993 Gosei Sentai Dairanger
(Five-Star Squadron Great Ranger) 		Team motif based on Chinese mythological animals and martial arts styles spanning generations of combatants fighting over the centuries. Regarded by many as one of the best series of the '90s. Also, it is the first series to feature a growing child Ranger.
1994 Ninja Sentai Kaku Ranger
(Ninja Squadron Hidden Ranger) 		Team motif based on the art of ninjutsu. The first to have a female leader and the first to have the sixth member not to resemble the regular five (and the first non-Ranger to be male). This series also saw the first teamup of sorts - Super Sentai World, where the previous four teams joined in the action. First series to have the team members become mecha rather than piloting them (this only occurred for the Beast Generals, however).
1995 Chouriki Sentai Ohranger
(Super-Power Squadron Overtech Hardware Ranger) 		Team motif based on five geometric symbols and ancient mystical technology. Ohranger began the annual tradition of a teamup movie with the heroes of the show seen the previous year with Ohranger vs. Kakuranger. (Note that "versus" in the Sentai context does not, for whatever reason, indicate animosity between the two teams but rather the two joining forces). OHRE could also be "Olé".
1996 Gekisou Sentai CarRanger
(Extreme Racing Squadron Car Ranger) 		Team motif based on cars. The 20th Sentai incarnation. Helmets are closely related to 1989's Turboranger. This season was not very serious, even by Sentai standards. A CarRanger game was available for the Bandai Sufami Turbo cartridge compatible for the Nintendo Super Famicom game console.
1997 Denji Sentai Mega Ranger
(Electromagnetic Squadron Mega Ranger) 		Team motif based on various electronic equipment, with Toei capitalizing on the growing popularity of the internet, cell phones, and computers. The first to have a member in silver.
1998 Seijuu Sentai Gingaman
(Star-Beast Squadron Galaxy Man) 		Team motif based on both benevolent "Galaxy Beasts" that aided mankind through the centuries and nature/elements (Fire, Water, Wind, Electricity and Flowers). Featured the first regular and first male non-Ranger henshin hero in the Super Sentai history (Hyūga aka Black Knight).
1999 Kyukyu Sentai GoGo-V
(Rescue Squadron Go-Go Five) 		Team motif based on various rescue services (hazardous rescue, firefighter, helicopter pilot, police officer, and paramedic). The second sibling team in the Super Sentai series. For the first time since Jetman, the series featured only five heroes, although in the GoGoV movie other two non-Ranger henshin heroes appeared (only 1 at a time, the first was killed in action, resulting in the first Sentai movie with such an event).
2000 Mirai Sentai Time Ranger
(Future Squadron Time Ranger) 		Team motif based on time-travelling police officers from the year 3000. The first to have the sixth team member's costume color the same as a regular team member (red), and the second Sentai series to have a female leader. Fourth series with a member getting killed in the line of duty.
2001 Hyakujuu Sentai GaoRanger
(100 Beast Squadron Growl Ranger) 		Team motif based on wild animals. The 25th anniversary Sentai team, which had the honour of teaming up with past Super Sentai members in a special production. A Gaoranger game was available for the Sony Playstation game console.
2002 Ninpu Sentai Hurricanger
(Stealh-Wind Squadron Hurricane Ranger) 		Team motif based on variations of the art of ninjutsu. Originally a team of three, it later added a rival ninja duo, as well as an independent green ninja warrior with no real identity, to make six full members. The third series to have a blue female Ranger. Costume designs are closely related to Liveman in 1988 (Red falcon, Yellow lion, Blue dolphin). A Hurricanger game was also available for the Sony Playstation game console. Fifth series with a member getting killed on the job.
2003 Bakuryuu Sentai Abaranger
(Blastasaurus Squadron Outburst Ranger) 		Team motif based on dinosaurs, closely resembling 1992's Zyuranger and working out of a curry restaurant. 2nd series to start with 4 members (Black's changer is inactive until episode 8). Midway through the series, an evil Ranger appeared, who only joined the Abaranger at the end of the series. Second series with a member dying in action through means other than an enemy attack.
2004 Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger
(Special Investigation Squadron Detective Ranger/DecaRanger) 		Team motif based on an intergalactic police force division stationed on Earth to handle extraterrestrial criminals who enter Earth illegally and wreak havoc. The first to have a regular seventh team member, with 3 more Rangers who appear once throughout the series: Deka Swan - Ep. 36, Deka Bright - Ep. 40, Deka Gold - Dekaranger the Movie: Full Blast Action, although Deka Gold was not a member of Earth's Dekarangers (her henshin device also malfunctioned a second after use). Second series to feature a hero in orange (and first female orange ranger - Deka Swan). (Deka is Japanese slang for Detective, it may also be "deca", which is a Greek numerical prefix for 10, since there are ten DecaRangers in all, 5 male and 5 female, creating sexual equillibrium).
2005 Mahou Sentai Magiranger
(Magical Squadron Magic Ranger) 		Team motif based on magic and elemental powers, with Toei capitalizing on the popularity of the Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings series as well as Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, their own adaptation of the Sailor Moon franchise. The first sentai series since Kakuranger to have the heroes themselves transform into the mecha rather than piloting them. The third sibling team of Sentai, and the fourth series to have a blue heroine. First series to feature a married couple serving as Rangers (MagiMother & Wolzard Fire), and later two (MagiBlue & MagiShine). Sixth series with a member killed in action, but first with two, although both were revived for the final battle.
2006 Gougou Sentai Boukenger
(Thunderous Squadron Adventure Ranger) 		Team motif based on adventure and treasure hunting. 30th anniversary.

Tributes/Parodies

Year Series Description
1982 Aikoku Sentai Dai Nippon
(Patriot Squadron Great Japan) 		A movie tribute/parody of Sentai produced by Daicon (now Gainax) in Japan.
1986 Ninja High School Features a comedic sentai parody, Zetraman.
1989 Dragon Ball Z During the shows run there were two parody references. First there was the Ginyuu Tokusentai [Special Fighting Team] (or Ginyu Force in the English dub). They not only came in different colors, but would also perform Sentai-style poses. Second there was the Great Saiyaman (aka Son Gohan), who also did some Sentai-style poses.
1990 Biokids A low-budget Filipino parody of Choudenshi Bioman. Consists of kids. Team motif based on different creatures (Red Lion 1, Green Dragon 2, Blue Eagle 3, Yellow Tiger 4 and Pink Panther 5).
1990 Kabayokids (Horse Kids) A Filipino parody of Choudenshi Bioman, starring Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon, the team motif is based on horses and fruits. This is said to be a spinoff of Biokids (released a month later the same year).
1991 Flying Warriors A video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System by Culture Brain, featuring five martial artist superheroes with special weapons and powers. The team dynamic is classic sentai boilerplate; the courageous leader, the hotshot second in command, etc., from shows such as Gatchaman and Jetman. The leader, Rick Stalker, and his mentor, Gen, would have cameos in other martial arts games from the same company.
1992 YuYu Hakusho One of the teams in the Ankoku Būtsukai [Black Martial Arts Tournament] Saga (or Dark Tournament Saga in the english dub) is named Team Goranger. They are likely a parody of Himitsu Sentai Goranger, not only in name, but they also have the same colors.
1993 Hero Games The sourcebook "Allies" for the Champions superhero role playing game includes Zen Team, a team of Japanese superheroes who have much in common with the sentai model. Zen Lion, Zen Rhino, Zen Dolphin, Zen Eagle and Zen Mouse are heroes whose primary abilities are skill in a range of martial arts and armored and strength-enhancing costumes which are identical save for the dominant color (red, black, blue, yellow and pink). Talk is also made in the book of equipping them with a giant robot.
1996 Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars Characters known as Axemrangers (Kajio Sentai Onoranger/Axeranger in Japan) fight Mario's party with their mecha.
1996 Pretty Sammy A sentai based team the Blue Sky Cool Rangers make an appearance in episode 12 of the Pretty Sammy TV series (aka Magical Project S in the English version). The Cool Rangers have many similarities and a giant robot called the Cool Ranger Robo. Also some references to the Super Sentai's popularity is mentioned as well. The Cool Red costume also makes an appearance in episode 23 as well.
1996 Shinesman The full title is Tokuma Sentai Shinesman (or Special Duty Combat Unit Shinesman'), and they are clearly a parody on a Super Sentai team, but employed by a trading company and with ridiculous, non kid-friendly colors like sepia, moss green, salmon pink, and gray in addition to red. Also, another sentai team called the Great Men appear as a TV show inside the show itself.
1997 Slayers Try Episode 18 features a spoof sentai-like team called the Peacemen, who have grown extremely elderly.
2000 Excel Saga Beginning with episode 18, features a spoof, masked-hero troupe, the Municipal Force Daitenzin.
2000 Jushi Sentai France Five
(Musketers Squadron France Five) 		A French-produced tribute the Sentai Series. Four episodes, one each year, have been shown. The final episode is slated for release in 2006.
2001 Rolling Bomber Special (Link) A short film by SMAP, aired as segments in the TV show 'SMAP X SMAP' on April 9, 2001. The Sentai team itself is called "Chikyuu Sentai Freshman" and appear to be parodies of both Flashman and Fiveman.
2001-2005 Bioumen A French parody of Choudenshi Bioman
2002-03 Hamtaro Ham-Ham Heartbreak The carnival presents a Ranger-like team composed by five colored hamsters known as the Ham Rangers. An in-game task involves finding them all.
2003 Disgaea: Hour of Darkness Characters known as NijiRanger fight/annoy Laharl and his party.
2003 Fighting Foodons One episode had a group of five hamburger monsters who wore sentai-like costumes.
2004 Jewel Knights Crusaders An ecchi computer game where the player becomes the only male member of the Jewel Knights, young women who use magical lingerie to transform into colorful costumes and gain special weapons that they use to fight bondage-style villains.
2004-2005 Mai-HiME Midori Suigiura pushes for all the HiMEs to join forces in ep. 16, dubbing them HiMEranger. In ep. 26, Natsuki leads the HiMEranger against the Red Star, the source of the Obsidian Lord's power.
2004-05 Ragnarok: The Animation In this anime, related to a MMORPG Ragnarok Online, there was an episode, where Maya-chan returned to Payon with her comrades-merchants, they did a sentai-like presentation (though without sentai armor), with their colours stated. Their tamed poring-family monsters (colored after the 'merchant rangers') also appeared on the scene. The team made a final attack, using together the skill 'Cart Revolution' (also ending it with a typical ranger formation), helping Roan and the archers to defeat the undeads - Bonguns and Zombies (monsters in Ragnarok Online).
2005 Killer7 A superhero group "Punishing Rangers Handsome Man" are featured as characters in a TV series and comic book franchise resembling Super Sentai, but are actually Government-sponsored assassins set out to deal with the Heaven Smiles crisis. They are notorious for playing out fictional events depicted in their comic books into the real world.
2005 School Rumble Episode 18 featured the "Hatenkou Robo Dozibiron". The team is composed only with girls, whose names are also a parody of their voice actresses names, exchanging the first kanji of the name with the corresponding color of the character.
2005 Mahou Sensei Negima Episode 7 featured the Bakaranger, a group of the five lowest scoring students which included Asuna.
2005 BLEACH Episode 50 Features the "Karakura Heroes" , lead by Don' Kanonji and made up of Ichigo's sisters and two children who work at Urahara's store , as well as Kon , known as "Karakura King".
03/28/03 Mega Man Battle Network 3 Towards the end of the game, DNN has actors in Navi suits on stage called the "NetRangers". These tell their powers and state their names, which are based on colors(Net Black, Net Red,etc).
Unknown Hentai Sentai Perfectranger
(Sex Squadron Perfectranger) 		A pornographic spoof.
2002/2003 Ojamajo Doremi Dokkan In season 4 of the series called "Ojamajo Doremi" about a group of 6 girls learning to use magic, there is one episode where they use their magic to become a Sentai group. They called them selves Ojamjo Sentai Majoranger. They had the colour sceme of Red, Orange, Blue, Purple, Yellow, White. This series is one filled with random adventures by the characters, and the sentai episode was just one of the many adventures they have.
Unknown Maxman A Korean Sentai.
2005 Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness Characters called the Hexagon Brothers guard the Cipher Lab, after pulling a few Super Sentai poses.

Notes

  • The color pallette for Super Sentai has grown over the years, beginning with Red, Blue, Yellow, Pink, and Green in Goranger.
    • Red is in all Sentai; TimeFire in Timeranger is the first Ranger to share the same color as a core member (TimeRed). So far, all red warriors have been male.
      • Crimson was introduced in Hurricanger with Kabuto Raiger; Wolzard Fire in Magiranger also wore crimson.
    • Blue is in all Sentai; Liveman, Jetman, Hurricanger, and Magiranger had blue heroines.
      • Light Blue is worn by Blue Swallow, Hurricane Blue, and MagiBlue.
      • Navy Blue first appeared in Hurricanger, with Kuwaga Raiger wearing the color.
      • DekaMaster, from Dekaranger, wore Metallic Blue armor.
    • Yellow is in all Sentai with the exceptions of JAKQ, Battle Fever, and Changeman; Bioman, Flashman, Maskman, Fiveman, OHRanger, Carranger, Megaranger, Abaranger, Dekaranger, and Boukenger had yellow heroines.
    • Pink is absent in Sun/Three Vulcan (White Rose Mask has pink accents, however), Liveman, Jetman (although White Swan had pink accents), Kakuranger, Gaoranger, Hurricanger, and Abaranger. So far, all pink warriors have been female.
    • Green is absent in Battle Fever (although Battle Kenya did have green accents), Sun/Three Vulcan, Goggle V, Dynaman, Changeman, Turboranger, Fiveman, Jetman, Kakuranger, Megaranger, Gaoranger, Abaranger, and Boukenger. So far, all green warriors have been male.
    • White was introduced in JAKQ (however, many see Big One as a "rainbow ranger" rather than a white ranger), which, along with Dairanger, Abaranger, and Dekaranger, have male warriors in white; Sun/Three Vulcan, Changeman, Jetman, Kakuranger, Gaoranger, and Magiranger have white heroines.
    • Orange was introduced in Battle Fever, the only series with a regular member in orange; DekaSwan from Dekaranger has orange accents.
    • Black was introduced in Battle Fever (Battle Kenya has green accents, however), and also appeared in Goggle V, Dynaman, Changeman, Maskman, Liveman, Turboranger, Fiveman, Jetman, Zyuranger, Kakuranger, Megaranger, Gingaman, Gaoranger, Abaranger, and Boukenger. So far, all black warriors have been male.
    • Gold was introduced in OHRanger and also appeared in the GoGo V movie, Dekaranger, and Magiranger.
    • Silver appeared for the first time in Megaranger and was used again in Gaoranger and Dekaranger.
  • Technically speaking, the Super Sentai Series starts with Battle Fever J. If you watch episode 1 of Turboranger, where they have a reunion of "all" past Super Sentai teams, Goranger and JAKQ are notably abscent. Goranger and JAKQ are today officially part of the broader Sentai series.
  • Due to the previous reason, all decade anniversary seasons had been car-themed. First, it was Turboranger in 1989, with the team motif being car models. Later, after the recount, was Carranger in 1996, focusing more in the vehicles and giving the series a comical air. The next would be Boukenger in 2006, featuring different exploration vehicles. Gaoranger, which celebrated the 25th Anniversary would be the first (and so far, only) Anniversary Super Sentai that is not a vehicle theme (it had an animal and environmentally-conscious theme instead).
  • The longest Sentai series is Goranger, with a 84-episode run over three years. The shortest, JAKQ, only lasted 35 episodes due to lack of popularity and didn't reach the end of the broadcast year. Ironically, both shows were conceived by Shotaro Ishinomori. All other incarnations had lasted around 48-53 episodes (Changeman lasted 55); on average 49-50. Also, Battle Fever J to Sun/Three Vulcan are classified as the Marvel Super Sentai.
  • The story of the Super Sentai mecha is very long:
    • Goranger had the first aircraft carriers (Variblune and Varidreen), the first tank (Varitank), and the first (and so far, only) hot-air balloon mecha (Variccune).
    • JAKQ had the first jet mecha (Sky Ace).
    • Battle Fever J featured the first giant robot (Battle Fever Robo).
    • Denjiman added the transforming feature (Denjifighter becomes Daidenjin, the first giant robot to engage in swordplay without a shield in its arsenal).
    • Sun/Three Vulcan made the first combining mecha (Cosmo Vulcan (Red) + Bull Vulcan (Blue and Yellow) = Sun/Three Vulcan Robo).
    • In Goggle V, only three of the Rangers piloted mecha which combined (Goggle Jet (Red) + Goggle TanTank (Blue) + Goggle Dump (Yellow) = Goggle Robo); GoggleBlack and GogglePink stayed behind in GoggleCeaser to supervise the battle.
    • Dynaman had the first giant robot with a combined auxillary form (DynaMach (Red) + DynaMobile (Black and Blue) + DynaGarry (Yellow and Pink) = either DynaRobo or DynaTrailer).
    • Flashman featured the first secondary robo (Flash Titan).
    • Maskman featured the first personal mecha for each team member (Masky Fighter (Red) + Masky Drill (Black) + Masky Tank (Blue) + Masky Jet (Yellow) + Masky Gyro (Pink) = Great Five).
    • Liveman saw the first combining robots (Live Robo (Red, Yellow, and Blue) + Live Boxer (Black and Green) = Super Live Robo).
    • Turboranger had the first mecha not to be transported to the battlefield via aircraft carrier (Turbo Machines and Rugger Fighter). It also had the first transforming base (Turbo Builder).
    • Fiveman was the first instance in which a giant robot (Five Robot) rides another mecha (Star Carrier).
    • Jetman featured the first mecha-cum-weapon for other mecha, Tetra Boy, which became the Tetrabuster cannon.
    • Zyuranger introduced the living (and talking) mecha (Shugozyu).
    • Dairanger had the first abnormally large mecha: Daijinryuu, a neutral mecha on neither side of the Dairanger-Gorma war.
    • Kakuranger was the first to show heroes growing giant-size (Ninjaman) or becoming their mecha (Beast Generals). It was also the first to feature humanoid personal mecha (Beast Generals and Beast General Fighters) for the main team and the first to have a second five-pieced robot (Kakure Dai Shogun).
    • OHRanger was the first (and currently only) series to feature a robot with interchangeable helmets (OHRanger Robo), with each helmet having different use and powers.
    • Gingaman featured mecha that transformed from living creatures (Seijuu) and, for the first time the "warrior + mecha" combination, as was the case with Black Knight, who transformed into Heavy Knight (Heavy Knight + GouTaurus = BullTaurus). It was also the first to feature combined robots acting independently (Giga Rhinos and Giga Phoenix) and a third five-pieced robot (Giga Phoenix).
    • GoGoV saw the first abnormally large humanoid robot (Grand Liner), also the first to separate and transform into an electric train.
    • Timeranger had the concept of the same mecha (Time Jets) combine in three different combinations (a la Getter Robo).
    • Gaoranger was the first to feature a wide line of mecha able to form different combinations rather than formations by default as in previous seasons (Power Animals). Although this feature was a bit unpopular, due to all of the numerous possible combinations, a more simplified version that was used for later Sentai such as Abaranger (Bakuryuu) and Boukenger (GouGou Vehicles) would just have the additional mecha replacing the primary robot's arms rather than completely changing the robot formation around. It was also the first to have a centaur formation (GaoCentaurus).
    • Hurricanger had the concept of the primary robots (Senpuujin, Gouraijin, and Tenkuujin) wielding (and at times, sharing) multiple collapsible weapons (Karakuri Balls).
    • Dekaranger saw the first giant robot with a motorcycle transformation (DekaBike Robo) and the first set of mecha designed specifically for the primary Ranger's power-up form (S.W.A.T. Mode Dekarangers' Patrol Wings 1~5 become DekaWing Robo becomes DekaWing Cannon).
    • Magiranger saw the fact that the principal Rangers could only form one of their two main robos (MagiKing and MagiLegend) at any one time, but not both (as the Rangers themselves transform into their mecha rather than piloting them). When the Rangers are in Legend Form, they have to form MagiLegend (MagiFirebird + MagiLion, both Majuu), while outside of Legend Form, they can only form MagiKing (MagiPhoenix + MagiGaruda + MagiMermaid + MagiFairy + MagiTaurus, all Majin). It also saw the first giant robot to transform into a steam locomotive (Mahou Tokkyuu Travelion Express becomes Mahou Tetsujin Travelion). The Magiranger robot toys revolved around the concept of interchangeable cores.
  • Only a few actors who played roles on a Sentai series have been recalled to play other characters. One of the most notable is Hiroshi Miyauchi, who played Akira Shinmei/Ao Ranger in Goranger, Soukichi Banba/Big One in JAKQ, and Chief Counselor Miura in Ohranger. Another recurring actress is Machiko Soga, who not only played Bandora/Rita Repulsa in Zyuranger/Power Rangers, but also played Queen Hedrian in Denjiman and Sun/Three Vulcan, and Magiel in Magiranger the Movie and the final episodes of Mahou Sentai Magiranger. Another good example of returns is Shurikenger, whose disguises were played by 10 different ex-Sentai actors and actresses.
    • Note: While Machiko Soga is credited as the suit actress for Rita Repulsa, she actually never traveled to America. Her footage as Bandora was used, with actress Barbara Goodson providing the voice.
  • Special heroes clearly stated as non-"Rangers" have been featured in very few seasons. These heroes not only have a suit design almost completely different from the season's team, most of them also have heavy armor suits and their names almost never include the team's nominal scheme (for example, Signal Man doesn't end with "Racer"). Some of them don't even have another identity. In the Super Sentai specials, they are commonly forgotten or skipped (with a few exceptions).
    • Sun/Three Vulcan was the first to have one, with Misa Arashiyama (the daughter of Commander Daisaburou Arashiyama) fighting along side the Sun/Three Vulcans in Episode 29 as "White Rose Mask".
    • Later, Kakuranger had the first male and first regular non-Ranger, with NinjaMan.
    • In Carranger, there was SignalMan (one of the rare married warriors in Sentai, he is seperated from his wife, Sigue, and his son, Sigtarou), and later appeared VRV (Victory Ranger Vehicle) Master (who is Dappu's father and played a relatively minor role).
    • In Gingaman, there was Black Knight (first the original without an alternate identity (BullBlack), later Hyuuga), who despite playing an important role throughout the series (and being the first henshin hero in this category), never got his own shot in the opening credits.
    • Demon Hunter Sieg, in the GoGoV movie, also had a human form, and he later passed his powers to Kyoko Hayase, who transformed into Sieg-Jeanne, making her the second (and so far, the last) female non-Ranger warrior (after White Rose Mask).
    • The last is Tenkuu Yuusha Wolzard Fire (Magiranger), the father of the principal Magirangers, the husband of MagiMother, and the father-in-law of MagiShine, although his position as a Ranger is arguable; due to black-magic brainwashing, he spent most of the season as a foe (Madou Kishi Wolzard) and his name doesn't include the team nominal scheme, but he shares part of the team's arsenal, such as a Majin form, a Majuu under his control, and a slightly different henshin device.
  • Although most of the evil counterparts of the heroes are repainted versions of the originals, a few had their own designs:
    • The Flowery Kunoichi Set (a.k.a. Hanarangers) in Kakuranger. They even had their own color scheme (deep blue (Ayame), orange (Yuri), olive green (Suiren), pink (Sakura), and purple (Ran)), fitting with flowers instead of the traditional Super Sentai color scheme (red, blue, yellow, green/black, pink/white).
    • Jaden Sentai Nejirenger in Megaranger. Demon-like in appearance, they featured the same colours as their good counterparts.
    • Apart from those, Bousou Sentai Zokuranger in Carranger was a Sentai-like team of monsters.
  • As of 2005, five video games based on separate Sentai shows have been released in Japan. Each of these games have been released every 5 years (sometimes 2 get released consecutively). Jetman for the Nintendo Famicom game console in 1991, Zyuranger also for the Famicom in 1992, Carranger for the Nintendo Super Famicom game console (requiring the Bandai Sufami Turbo cartridge) in 1996, Gaoranger for the Sony Playstation in 2001, and Hurricanger also for the Playstation in 2002. Beginning from the Carranger game release, all of them were designed by Bandai (The Jetman and Zyuranger games were designed by Angel Studios) (On a side note: Bandai licenses most, if not all, of Toei's merchandise).
  • In honor of the 30th anniversary, Carddass released a Sentai-based trading card game titled "Rangers' Strike". Zyuranger, Gingaman, Gaoranger, and Abarenger are categorized as "Wild Beast" Sentai and are marked red; Denjiman, Bioman, Flashman, Carranger, Timeranger, and Dekaranger are blue "Over-Technology" cards; Maskman, Dairanger, Kakurenger, Ohranger, Hurricanger, and Magiranger are yellow "Mystic Arts" cards; all the rest are green "Earth Technology" cards. Each Sentai's enemies are also in the game: they are purple "Dark Alliance" cards.
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