| [Edit]
Power Rangers: Dino Thunder (often abbreviated as PRDT and often simply called Dino Thunder) is an American children's television series, the eleventh incarnation of the Power Rangers franchise. As with all Power Rangers series, it was adapted from a series from the long running, Japanese Super Sentai franchise, in this case the 27th, Bakuryuu Sentai Abaranger.
top
Production
Due to the mention that Power Rangers solely existed as a comic book in Power Rangers: Ninja Storm, many fans believed that series existed in a different universe than that of the original Power Rangers series. Fans also believed this due to the lack of a Ninja Storm/Wild Force team-up episode, partly due to the actors refusing to come since much of the production crew had been laid off as well as the change in hands of the Power Rangers franchise from Saban to Disney and filming locations from California to New Zealand. Executive producer Douglas Sloan also received heavy criticism for not tying Ninja Storm in with the original universe.
To tie up all of the loose Ninja Storm ends, and to try to bring in a larger audience, Sloan brought back Jason David Frank and his original character from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers through Power Rangers: Turbo, Tommy Oliver, a legendary Power Ranger, as a mentor for the new team as well as a fellow Power Ranger. Through the episodes Legacy of Power, a look back on all of the previous Power Rangers series; Back in Black, giving Tommy new Power Ranger powers; and Thunder Storm, a team-up arc between Dino Thunder and Ninja Storm. This was done so all subsequent series were included in the original Power Rangers universe.
top
Plot summary
|
A soccer player, computer expert, a singer, an artist, and a teacher with a long history of such situations join forces to become Power Rangers and help save the Earth from mutant dinosauric beings that wish to eradicate all human life and return Earth to the age of dinosaurs.
In this season, Tommy Oliver, of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers to Power Rangers: Turbo fame, returns as a paleontology professor in Reefside, California. When he is assigned three detention students, Conner, Ethan, and Kira, they end up finding the Dino Gems, paving the way for them to become the Dino Rangers. Conner gains the power of the Tyrannozord, as well as super-speed; Ethan gains the power of the Tricerazord, as well as the ability to make his skin super-strong; Kira gains the power of the Pterazord, as well as a sonic scream. Tommy (known often as Dr. O) himself joins the team as the Black Dino Ranger, and they are also later joined by Trent Mercer as the White Dino Ranger, with the powers of invisibility and camouflage, respectively. Trent Mercer must deal with the inner struggle of good and evil, as he gained his powers from a raw Dino Gem in Mesogog's lab, with the powers originally intended to be Mesogog's. Mesogog is in fact, Trent's adopted father Anton Mercer, who in a faulty lab experiment began to mutate into Mesogog. Trent later sides with good and saves his father from the mutation. During the course of the series, the team adds to its arsenal Zords based on the Pachycephalosaurus, Parasaurolophus, Ankylosaurus, Dimetrodon, and Stegosaurus, the last of which combines with Trent's Zord, a Tupuxuara * to form the Dino Stegozord. Tommy pilots the Brachiosaurus Zord, the carrier for all the other Zords.
At the end of the series, Conner, Kira, Ethan, Tommy, and Trent finished off Mesogog with their raw Dino Gem power, but the gems were burned out in the process.
A year after stopping Mesogog, the three main teens arrive at Reefside High for a reunion. Conner is working on starting a soccer club for kids. Ethan is attending Reefside Tech. Kira has moved to New York City in an attempt to start a recording career. So far: Conner is having trouble raising money for the club, Ethan's schedule is hectic, though Kira has been spotted on the radio -- doing a cat litter jingle.
Kidnapped into the future, they aid the S.P.D. Rangers in defeating Gruumm. They learn that Conner will set up a series of soccer camps for kids, Ethan will become rich creating supercomputer systems that will eventually be used for S.P.D. and Kira will become a major singing star. The trio is sent back to the very moment they were kidnapped (disintegrating their Dino Gems in the process), and their memories of the incident are erased.
In the S.P.D. episode "Wormhole", the S.P.D. Rangers team up with the Dino Rangers again to fight Gruumm who has traveled back in time to conquer 2004's Earth.
|
top
Rangers
top
Allies
Hayley: Manager of the Cyberspace Cafe, and technical advisor of the Rangers. She is very intelligent, is an MIT graduate and is always well informed about her customers. (Played by Ismay Johnston)
Cassidy Agnes Cornell: The local High School reporter. She is selfish, superficial, and snobby with a strong ambition to be a TV reporter. Once the Dino Rangers appear in Reefside, she begins her quest to uncover their real identities. (Played by Katrina Devine)
Devin Del Valle: Cassidy's subservient sidekick and cameraman; he has a slight crush on Cassidy but seems very reluctant to do her bidding oftentimes. (Played by Tom Hern)
Edward Cormier: Head of Reefside News and Cassidy's boss after she gained exclusive footage of the Rangers, he seeks to find the identity of the Power Rangers.
Carson Brady: A famous Comic Book artist whom inadvertently creates problems for the Rangers. He co-creates a comic book with Trent.
top
Villains
Mesogog/ Mesomonster: The main villain of the series, who resembles a dinosaur. His alter ego is Anton Mercer, who collaborated with Tommy in creating the Tyrannodrones. He is also the White Dino Ranger's adopted father. (Played by Latham Gaines)
Principal Randall / Elsa: An evil cyborg with a mysterious past. She doubles as Principal Randall, who runs the Rangers' school, Reefside High. Towards the end of the series, she revolts from Mesogog and turns back into a human on the side of good (Played by Miriama Smith).
Zeltrax): A black-armored warrior who has it out for the Rangers, and works for Mesogog. He was later discovered to be Terrence Smith (aka Smitty), a former co-worker of Tommy's who was injured in an explosion. (Voiced by James Gaylyn)
Evil White Ranger Clone: When Trent was replicated in Copy That, this evil clone was made. He shows no trace of human emotion and was created only to destroy the Rangers. He is occasionally weakened because two White Rangers cannot exist at the same time. (Voiced by Adam Gardiner)
Lothor: When Lothor escapes from the Abyss of Evil, he uses his own power discs to put Shane Clarke, Tori Hanson, and Dustin Brooks under his control; unfortunately, his plan fails and he forms an alliance with Mesogog in order to defeat the Ninja Storm and Dino Rangers. When Lothor fails to deliver on destroying the Power Rangers, Mesogog shrinks him down to figurine size and imprisons him in a jar with his mental powers.
Zurgane: One of Lothor's generals; returns alongside Lothor from the Abyss of Evil to help his fallen warlord to defeat the Rangers.
top
Arsenal
Dino Morphers: The Dino Morphers are used by the Red, Blue and Yellow Dino Rangers. Each one is powered by a Dino Gem and adorned with a "Dino Plate" modelled after each Ranger's respective creature. To morph, the Rangers simply flip the Dino Plate and call out "Dino Thunder, Power Up!". When Conner transforms into the Triassic Ranger, his Tyranno Plate turns gold.
Brachio Morpher: The Black Dino Ranger's morphing device, powered by the Black Dino Gem. It is activated when Dr. Oliver calls out "Dino Thunder, Power Up!" then inserts and turns a special key.
Drago Morpher: The White Dino Ranger's morphing device, initially granted to him when the evil White Dino Gem bonded with and corrupted him. Primarily activated with the call of "White Ranger, Dino Power!", although the morphing call has varied at least twice.
Triassic Morpher: Modelled after a Styracosaurus, the Triassic Ranger can use this morpher to summon his Battlizer Armor once he gains the necessary Dino Energy.
Triassic Battlizer Armor: The Triassic Ranger's Battlized state, which grants him access to powerful shoulder cannons and the flaming Dragon Yo-Yo, as well as allowing him to super-stretch his limbs somewhat like Inspector Gadget. Unlike most Rangers, Conner activated his Battlizer Armor with nothing but his own willpower. If the Triassic Ranger were to be counted as a separate Ranger, the Battlizer Armor could be seen as his version of Super Dino Mode.
Thundermax Saber: The Dino Rangers' primary firearm can transform into the Thundermax Saber.
Z-Rex Blaster: A powerful cannon made of the Tyranno Staff, Tricera Shield, and the Ptera Grips. It can be upgraded into the Z-Rex Blaster Super Mode with addition of the Drago Sword and Brachio Staff.
Tyranno Staff: Red Ranger's personal weapon; capable of launching energy orbs.
Tricera Shield: Blue Ranger's personal weapon; can fire lasers from its horn projections.
Ptera Grips: Yellow Ranger's personal weapons; simple dagger-like weapons.
Brachio Staff: Black Ranger's personal weapon. Like the Tyranno Staff, the Brachio Staff can fire much stronger energy orbs.
Drago Sword: The White Ranger's sword can switch into a "Pen Mode", in which mode it can conjure explosive energy arrows.
Shield of Triumph: Triassic Ranger's personal weapon. It allows him to travel into other dimensions. It also has a sword embedded in it known as the Sword of Triumph, that can slash opponents with energy and shoot powerful grappling energy blasts.
Super Dino Mode: An ability all five Rangers eventually utilize. By drawing energy from their Dino Gems, they go through an almost feral transformation. Their helmets roar, the patterns on their suits transform into spiked armor and their strength increases greatly. Kira is also granted a pair of wings in this state. Although Trent couldn't access Super Dino Mode until he became good, his evil White Dino Clone could use this ability.
Triassic Ranger: Conner morphs into this secondary Ranger form by using the Shield of Truimph. The Yellow and Blue Rangers generally lend him their power for him to achieve this transformation, but he has been shown to power-up without their aid. It it usually activated after Conner has morphed into the Red Dino Ranger, somewhat like a Battlizer.
Raptor Riders: The result of one of Tommy's experiments, these versatile dinosaurs are each comandeered by the Red, Blue, Yellow and Black Dino Rangers.
Raptor Cycles: Lightning-fast motorcycles piloted by the three main Dino Rangers. They pack incredible firepower.
Dino ATV's: Stylized, heavily-armored All Terrain Vehicles used by the Black and White Rangers. The then-evil White Dino Ranger had once intended to use the ATV's against the Rangers but they managed to stop him.
Hovercraft Cycle: Built specifically for the Blue Tricera Ranger, it has amazing flight capabilities.
Triceramax Command Center Truck: The Rangers used this truck, armed with powerful laser blasters, to invade Mesogog's island and storm his fortress.
Triceramax Command Center was shown on screen but not named. The name "Triceramax Command Center" comes from the toy released by Bandai in the U.S.
top
Zords
The Zords in Power Rangers: Dino Thunder were bioengineered from dinosaurs by Tommy Oliver and Anton Mercer.
Brachiozord (Black/Tommy)
Valkasaurus Megazord (combination of Thundersaurus Megazord, Triceramax Megazord & Dino Stegazord)
Thundersaurus Megazord (combination of Tyranno, Tricera & Pterazords)
Dino Stegazord (combination of Drago & Stegozords)
Stegozord (Blue/Ethan, Black/Tommy, White/Trent)
Triceramax Megazord (combination of Mezodon Megazord & Auxiliary Zords)
Mezodon Rover/Megazord (Triassic/Conner)
Cephalazord (Triassic/Conner)
Dimetrozord (Triassic/Conner)
Parasaurzord (Triassic/Conner)
Ankylozord (Triassic/Conner)
The Tyrannozord and the Tricerazord could combine to form the Thundersaurus Megazord without the Pterazord. However, this formation was weaker without the Pterazord.
The Auxiliary Zords, along with the Stegozord, could combine with the Thundersaurus Megazord to form various other combinations, giving the Megazord different offensive abilities.
The Dimetrozord and Cephalazord were shown to combine with the Dino Stegazord, and it is assumed that the Parasaurzord and Ankylozord could as well.
top
The Comic Strip
A monthly comic strip based on the series appeared in every issue of "Jetix Magazine" in the UK. Jetix Magazine is the official magazine of JETIX, the channel that shows Dino Thunder in the UK. It has since been replaced by S.P.D.
top
The Video Games
There were two games produced for the Dino Thunder series. On the Game Boy Advance, there was a sidescrolling version which was a simple platformer involving fighting several foes from the series. The other game was produced for the PlayStation 2 and the Nintendo GameCube. This was the first Power Rangers game produced on a next generation console. Unexpectedly, all the action takes place inside the zords. This game also had a few inconsistencies with the series to allow the action to take place in the zords while battling the regular enemies who were human size. (The series always displayed a monster needing to be destroyed before it could be a giant, a side effect of the Hydro Re-Generator)
top
Episodes
top
Trivia
Despite wild internet speculation, Lord Zedd did not return for this series.
In addition to the episodes, two short 'secret episodes' was created. One features Kira and Ethan looking into the future, and was designed as an advertisement for the Power Rangers series following Dino Thunder, Power Rangers: S.P.D.. The other is narrated by Tommy, explaining his role as a Power Ranger throughout the years and explaining how Conner, Ethan and Kira made ideal Power Rangers.
In general, this series has not been afraid to admit its campiness and poke fun at itself, owing partly to the fact that Jason David Frank is somewhat of an homage to days gone by in the series. In one episode, after Tommy receives his powers (again), he mentions he needs to go shopping. When asked why, he says that he doesn't have enough black clothes in his closet; this is the first outright reference to the fact that since Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, all Rangers have dressed in casual clothes with some degree of their Ranger color on it. Also, the Red and Blue Rangers have similar helmet and Zord designs to the Red and Blue Rangers' of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. The only major difference is the Yellow Ranger's costume and Zord.
Dino Thunder is the first series since Power Rangers: Turbo to actually have the Rangers attend high school.
Dino Thunder is also notable for being the first and only series not to feature a 6th Ranger or powerful ally at all. Power Rangers: Turbo and Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy had disputed 6th Rangers, but they at least counted as powerful allies.
According to the episodes "Tutenhawken's Curse" and "Drawn Into Danger", both Kira the Yellow Dino Ranger and Trent the White Dino Ranger are both left-handed.
Dino Thunder was the first series to feature a mentor who also was a Ranger (Dr. Thomas Oliver as the Black Ranger). (This would be repeated in Power Rangers: SPD with Anubis Cruger as the "Shadow Ranger", and again in Mystic Force with Udonna as the "White Mystic Ranger." Although she loses her Ranger powers in the first episode, the Rangers in Mystic Force are later also mentored by Daggeron, the Solaris Knight).
One episode ("Lost and Found in Translation") featured the Rangers watching a dubbed version of a Bakuryuu Sentai Abaranger episode (Episode 10: "Abare Leaguer Binded by Greed!") on TV. A great deal's worth of Super Sentai footage had been cut and most of the original dialogue had also been completely changed. All of the original terms for weapons and attacks, as well as the main characters names, had been changed. The Abarangers were also called "Dino Rangers" here, as the Rangers in Dino Thunder were called themselves. The episode itself implied that the show the American Dino Rangers was watching was based off of their (or previous Rangers') tenure as Power Rangers. The Super Sentai fanbase has been sharply divided on the subject: many of them criticized Disney, citing that they believe it to be a mockery of the Super Sentai franchise by making it seem like Super Sentai is adapted from Power Rangers (in reality, it's the exact opposite) and some praise it as an amusing acknowledgement towards Power Rangers' source material, while others were left dumbfounded. Like Forever Red, this is another example of the Forbidden Episode situation.
According to the Legacy of Power storyarc, Conner reveals that he has an identical twin, making him the first known Power Ranger to have one.
Additionally, his twin brother Eric attends the Wind Ninja Academy, the school from Ninja Storm, which Conner makes a mention of when Hayley, Kira, and Ethan are trying to find out more about the previous Ranger teams. Eric was last seen in the season finale "Storm Before the Calm".
According to the episode Back In Black, Conner can't swim.
In the episode Leader of the Whack it is revealed that Cassidy's middle name is "Agnes".
According to various casting sheets Hayley's last name is "Viktor" though it was never mentioned on the show.
Katrina Devine who portrayed Marah in Power Rangers: Ninja Storm appears in Dino Thunder as Cassidy Cornell, making her the first Power Rangers actor to play two different characters full-time. An interesting joke is made at the end of the 2-part Ninja Storm crossover Thunder Storm where Cassidy and Marah bump into each other and both secretly remark "Did you see that girl? She was so stunning! But I am SO much prettier!"
Antonia Prebble, who portrayed Krista, Conner's love interest in Dino Thunder, later appears in Power Rangers: Mystic Force as Clare, the Gatekeeper.
During Thunder Storm, the Dino Rangers team up with the Rangers of Power Rangers: Ninja Storm to battle the combined forces of Lothor and Mesogog. The three Wind Rangers are temporarily considered enemies (only because they were being controlled by Lothor), but turn to the side of good. This marks the first time that two Power Ranger teams have ever come to blows with each other (if you do not consider the Wind and Thunder Rangers as separate teams at the time), this would be repeated next season on Power Rangers: S.P.D. when the B-Squad Rangers battle the A-Squad Rangers, who unlike the Wind Rangers, actually did turn to the side of evil.
This was the second season to feature Rangers who became Rangers unintentionally or by accident and not chosen by an individual(s), (excluding Leo from Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy and Cole from Power Rangers: Wild Force whose destiny it was to become the Red Rangers of their respective teams). Unlike seasons past, the Dino Gems sought out who they wanted to have their powers, an individual could not control rather or not they were chosen to become a Ranger, hence why the teens (and Dr. Oliver) became Rangers: the Dino Gems bonded to their genes.
One with a careful eye will notice that the first two episodes, "Day of the Dino, Parts 1 and 2" are rife with obvious references to the first MMPR episode "Day of the Dumpster".
Jason David Frank is the only actor to have featured the word "Starring" above his opening credits. This happened during this season for his role of Dr. Tommy Oliver.
The White Dino Ranger Clone is the second Ranger in the history of Power Rangers not to have an unmorphed form. The first was the Magna Defender in Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy (although his status as a Ranger is disputed among the PR Fandom). This is not counting Phantom Ranger, as it is unknown if he possessed an unmorphed form or not or Blue Senturion, who is a robot and therefore not considered by many fans to be a Ranger.
This is the first incarnation of Power Rangers to feature a Black Ranger in a leadership position.
The team up episode Thunder Storm which featured the Dino Thunder and Ninja Storm Rangers was the first teamup episode to be filmed in New Zealand. It was also Disney's first team-up episode since Power Rangers: Wild Force's Forever Red.
The first series not to have the word "GO" in the theme song.
Second series to feature a Ranger, Tommy Oliver, who has facial hair (the first is Power Rangers Wild Force; this would be repeated in Mystic Force with the Solaris Knight).
This is the first series to bring back three previous Rangers from the past series'. The Green and White Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers and the Red Zeo Ranger. These are the only to appear without it being a team up episode. This happenend in PRWF 'Forever Red' but the Rangers were all the same color.
This is both the second Super Sentai and the second Power Rangers series to have a dinosaur theme.
This is the second series to have Dinozords.
In Bakuryuu Sentai Abaranger (the series that Power Rangers: Dino Thunder is adapted from), Mikoto Nakadai/AbareKiller, the White Ranger's Japanese counterpart, could access AbareMode (Super Dino Mode) for both good and evil purposes.
This is the first season in which all of the main villains had alter-egos. Anton Mercer was Mesogog, Principal Randall was Elsa and Zeltrax was formery Terrence Smith.
|
|
