Did Power Rangers Just Drop a Look at Its Axed Animated Reboot?

Did Power Rangers Just Drop a Look at Its Axed Animated Reboot?

As a long-time fan of the Power Rangers franchise who grew up watching the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers and eagerly awaited each new season, it’s disheartening to see yet another potential animated project fall through the cracks. I can still remember the excitement I felt when I first saw those colorful spandex-clad heroes on my television screen, fighting against evil and saving the day with their mighty zords.


Discussions about the “Power Rangers” series are heating up once more, though it may be a while before we see new episodes. This is because early images from a potential, but possibly canceled, animated reboot have been leaked online. The “Power Rangers” franchise, which just turned 31, has had quite a run with numerous adaptations of the TV show, video games, comics, and movies over the years. However, one area that the franchise hasn’t delved into until now is animation, as there haven’t been any animated projects associated with the series up to this point.

It appears that an animated movie for the Power Rangers franchise might have been produced, as a leaked animated film titled “Power Rangers: Origins” has emerged online. This supposedly shelved project was reportedly being developed by Saban Brands and Zag Entertainment (the team behind Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir), offering a fresh perspective on the original team from the first season of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers TV series. Posters and other promotional materials related to the shelved project have been listed on eBay, and you can view them below.

Up for grabs on eBay – Check out some stunning concept posters for the aborted #PowerRangers Origins animated film! What are your thoughts on these visuals? (Especially the Megazord design!) Fancy owning something similar?

— ? RangerBoard.com ? (@RangerBoard) September 21, 2024

What Is Power Rangers: Origins?

Information about the supposedly abandoned project “Power Rangers: Origins” is limited due to its clandestine development. It seems that during the time when Saban Brands owned the franchise and were brainstorming future projects, they were reportedly working on this animated adaptation. This was post-Saban Brands acquiring the franchise from Disney, and before the franchise rights were transferred to Hasbro. Regrettably, for some reason or another, “Power Rangers: Origins” never materialized, much like the recent cancellation of the Netflix reboot.

Judging by the visuals, it appears this revival will feature a fully animated adaptation of the initial Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers team consisting of Jason, Kimberly, Billy, Zack, and Trini. Despite possible character updates for contemporary relevance, it seems that the overall franchise may undergo a facelift too, including reimagined designs for the zords, as suggested by promotional content. Many fans eagerly anticipate witnessing this animated series in action at some point.

Will There Ever Be an Animated Power Rangers?

Fans of the Power Rangers franchise have long expressed their wish for a fully-animated series, which they believe would offer a fresh perspective unattainable through live-action shows and movies. The absence of new content in this format has led fans to speculate about an animated version that could steer the franchise into unexplored territories not possible with actors in suits, as seen in Tokusatsu adaptations. However, it remains unclear why the franchise hasn’t yet ventured into animation, with licensing issues being one of the primary suspects.

Since the Power Rangers franchise is based on Japan’s Super Sentai series by Toei Animation, it’s likely that various agreements exist for using these characters across different mediums. Altering the character designs and concentrating primarily on the Power Rangers versions could streamline certain projects. However, due to its intricate nature compared to other Hasbro brands, bringing an animated Power Rangers series to life might be more challenging. With the current TV series temporarily halted, it may prove even more difficult to release an animated version.

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2024-09-24 02:09