Zaborn_1997
patreon
Chapter 685 Power Rangers Plan.
🕑 Added 2025-10-03 00:17:01 +0000 UTCMonday 30 August 1996.
Zaboru was currently in his office in the USA, sitting alongside Kyotaro Shinomori—the owner of Rekka Studio, a ZAGE subsidiary responsible for producing tokusatsu shows. Kyotaro had traveled to the United States because Zaboru wanted to introduce him to the studio that would handle the American adaptation of Super Sentai, which would soon be known as Power Rangers.
Kyotaro sighed and turned to Zaboru. “Zaboru, I know you’re the creator of Zyuranger, but why do we even need to adapt it? Wouldn’t it be easier and faster to just show the original Zyuranger to Western audiences with subtitles? That seems like a more direct way.”
Zaboru chuckled and nodded, understanding where Kyotaro was coming from. “True, it might be faster and easier on the surface. But let me explain, Kyotaro-san—Japanese and Western audiences have very different sensibilities when it comes to television. Our storytelling styles, humor, pacing, even cultural references—they don’t always translate well. If we air a Japanese show straight to American viewers, there’s a high chance they won’t connect with it. At least, not yet.”
He leaned forward, resting his hands on the desk. “This is about more than just subtitles. We’re introducing a whole genre—tokusatsu—to a new culture. If we adapt Zyuranger into something familiar, with local characters, settings, and tone, we make it accessible without losing its essence. That way, we’re not just exporting a show—we’re building a new fanbase. Trust me, if we get this right, this show won’t just succeed—it’ll make Super Sentai more famous than it ever was, even in Japan.”
Kyotaro nodded thoughtfully, but then raised another question. “But why only Sentai? What about Kamen Rider and Ultraman? Why aren’t we adapting those into Western versions too?”
Zaboru smiled calmly. “Soon, Kyotaro-san—but not just yet. If we introduce all of Tokusatsu to Western audiences too quickly, it could overwhelm them. We need to take things step by step. Right now, Super Sentai is our best entry point—it has the right balance of action, character dynamics, and visual appeal that can hook a broader audience. Once Sentai proves successful, the door will open naturally for Kamen Rider and Ultraman.”
Kyotaro nodded again, this time with a deeper understanding in his eyes.
Not long after, Zaboru and Kyotaro arrived at the offices of a company called “Saban.” Now, this wasn’t the real Saban Entertainment as known from Zaboru’s past life—since in this alternate timeline, that company didn’t exist yet. Instead, this version of “Saban” was a newly established subsidiary under Nickelodeon. At Zaboru’s request, Nickelodeon had formed Sabar the year prior with the sole purpose of handling all Power Rangers-related productions, especially the adaptation of Super Sentai for American audiences. It was a bold move, but Zaboru believed in building things from scratch when necessary.
The exterior of the building was modest, but inside, it buzzed with creative energy. Posters of concept art for various Sentai adaptations lined the hallway walls. Costumes, props, and early sketches for new monsters were scattered across whiteboards and desks. Kyotaro looked around, clearly impressed by the level of preparation.
As they entered the meeting room, a cheerful man approached them with a warm smile and a firm handshake. “Welcome, Zaboru! And you must be Kyotaro Shinomori—it's an honor! I’ve loved tokusatsu shows ever since I was introduced to them,” he said enthusiastically.
The man was Roy Brand, head director of Saban and the creative lead behind the Power Rangers adaptation. His passion was evident from the moment he spoke. Kyotaro nodded politely, understanding the English but not confident enough to respond directly. Still, he gave a small bow, showing his appreciation, and took mental note of the man’s energy and sincerity. He was still studying the language, but the genuine atmosphere didn’t require translation.
The room was ready, and so was the plan. The collaboration between ZAGE, Rekka Studio, and Nickelodeon was moving forward—and everything was pointing toward something massive in the making.
“How are you, Roy? So, have you found the main actors yet?” Zaboru asked with curiosity.
Roy grinned. “We did, and they’re fantastic. Please, take a look.”
He gestured to Gordon, who brought in six young people—the cast who would portray the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Five of them were fresh faces, actors Zaboru didn’t recognize. But he trusted Roy’s judgment; Roy had an eye for casting and a strong passion for the material.
Still, one person among them immediately caught Zaboru’s attention: a young man with sharp features, a confident posture, and unmistakable charisma. It was none other than Jason David Frank. Though still early in his career, there was something magnetic about him.
Zaboru grinned and thought to himself, “He’s really destined to play the Green Ranger.”
“Okay, so you already have some footage of their acting, right? I want to see it—with Kyotaro here,” Zaboru said, his tone both eager and curious.
Roy nodded confidently. “Sure thing. Let’s go.”
He led them into a viewing room and played a compilation of final-cut scenes featuring the new Power Rangers cast in action. The footage rolled, showing a mix of classroom dialogue, casual banter, and tense transformation scenes. While the acting wasn’t top-tier, it wasn’t bad either—it was genuine. Most importantly, it captured the essence of American high school life: awkward, energetic, and emotionally raw. Zaboru grinned and nodded in approval. It wasn’t about perfection; it was about relatability, and the cast delivered that.
What made Zaboru even more satisfied was the tone of the show. Like Super Sentai, Power Rangers had moments of lighthearted fun, but there was also an undercurrent of something darker—more grounded. Though it was still a children's show, Zaboru believed strongly that entertainment for kids didn’t have to be dumbed down. “Children aren’t stupid,” he often said. “They know what’s good and what’s not.”
He had ensured that the adaptation respected its audience. There were themes of responsibility, teamwork, and sacrifice layered between the explosions and colorful suits. He wanted the show to have weight, something that kids—and their parents—could feel invested in.
And unlike in his previous life, where Saban Entertainment mostly reused footage from the original Sentai shows, this version of Power Rangers would be different. Zaboru had pushed for fully original footage when the Rangers were transformed. This meant fresh choreography, custom scenes, and new angles never before seen in the Sentai versions. It was an ambitious effort, but one Zaboru felt was necessary. If this was going to be the Western world’s introduction to Tokusatsu, it had to be done right—and done with care.
And just like in Super Sentai, Zaboru amplified the action in his Tokusatsu adaptation of Power Rangers. The rangers showcased expert martial arts techniques, flashy acrobatics, and intense combat choreography that brought a new level of excitement to every battle scene. Each movement was sharp, dynamic, and carefully rehearsed, making the combat not only thrilling but visually impressive even by modern standards. Zaboru made sure that every fight felt unique—sometimes grounded in hand-to-hand precision, other times exploding with stylized team attacks or creative use of environment and weapons.
In his previous life, Zaboru remembered how Saban Entertainment had created Power Rangers with a very limited budget, heavily relying on stock footage from Super Sentai and using low-cost production methods. Despite that, the show had exploded in popularity and become a massive cultural phenomenon across the globe.
Now, in this alternate timeline, Zaboru was doing things differently. With full creative control and a deeper understanding of both Western and Eastern audiences, he poured more resources into every aspect—from cinematography and original suits to the choreography and post-production effects. This version of Power Rangers was not just a cheap adaptation; it was a full-fledged reinvention with the intention of honoring the spirit of Sentai while elevating it for a global audience.
Zaboru was confident—no, certain—that this Power Rangers would explode in popularity once again, maybe even bigger than before. With better action, richer storytelling, and a fresh visual identity, the franchise would no longer just be a Saturday morning show. It would be a flagship of international tokusatsu culture.
After watching some of the footage, both Kyotaro and Zaboru nodded in approval. Kyotaro, visibly pleased, grinned and commented in Japanese, “You really added some interesting scenes, huh? That Knight Monster that spits pollution—that's a great design!”
Zaboru translated the comment for Roy, whose eyes lit up with enthusiasm. “Hahaha! Yeah, Kyotaro! I loved your monster designs so much, I wanted to try making one of my own. I'm really glad it resonated with you. Man, if only I could speak Japanese—I’d love to have a proper conversation with you.”
Kyotaro nodded politely, smiling warmly. He had misjudged Roy at first. When they were introduced, he assumed Roy might just be another money-driven director looking to profit off a popular brand. But over time, it became clear that Roy genuinely understood and appreciated Tokusatsu, even if he had only recently been introduced to it through his work at Nickelodeon. His dedication was sincere.
Kyotaro felt reassured. With Zaboru’s vision and Roy’s passion, he was more confident than ever that Power Rangers would be a massive success.
Before long, Zaboru returned to his office while Kyotaro, visibly tired from the day’s events, chose to head back to his hotel to get some much-needed rest. As Zaboru sat at his desk, his mind wandered.
“In my previous world, old-school Super Sentai only aired up until Bioman,” Zaboru mused. “But in this world, many Sentai series were skipped since I jumped straight to Zyuranger.” He leaned back in his chair, eyes reflecting a mix of nostalgia and planning. “Each Sentai series has its own charm and identity. But if I had to pick a starting point for global audiences, Zyuranger just feels right.”
He paused for a moment, then chuckled to himself. “Still, I can’t skip Maskman and Jetman—they’ve always been among my favorites.”
Maybe those two would be next after the upcoming year’s Choriki Sentai Ohranger, which Rekka Studio was already deep into producing. The idea excited him. "Yeah," he thought with a grin, "those two could make great follow-ups and round out the lineup nicely."
Zaboru thought to himself, “Z-Man games, huh? Should I make a new one?” He leaned back, considering the idea. Ideally, he wanted to develop a proper sequel for Z-Man on his upcoming 32/64-bit console, the ZEPS 3. That had always been the plan. But recently, waves of fan letters and messages had been pouring in—fans pleading for a sequel on the existing ZEPS 2 instead.
“Well, I could do it,” he muttered with a small grin. “Might as well start planning it out.”
With a chuckle and a spark of motivation, Zaboru turned back to his desk and got to work.
To be continue
