All Will Be Revealed… In Late 2010!

Posted on August 17, 2010 by Bryan

Bandai has posted a short blog post answering some questions about the current Mighty Morphin Reversioned toyline as well as when the theme and name of the new toyline will be revealed.  The fall line of the MMPR 2010 toys have been released to Walmart, Meijer and Toys ‘R’ Us locations across the US.  The post also goes into detail describing how the toyline gets planned, designed and produced.

The “bonus” question about the theme of the new season and toyline gives the date as “late 2010″ with the toys on shelves in conjunction with the new season’s premiere on Nickelodeon in 2011.

And now, the waiting game begins.  Bandai also announced itself as the main sponsor for Power Morphicon next weekend in Pasadena, CA.  Possible reveal on August 27?  August is a late 2010.

Another recent bit of production news involves where in Auckland will season 18 be filmed.  Correspondence from Rangerboard member RangerWisdom has revealed that this season will be filmed at Studio West, twenty minutes from downtown Auckland.  The studio was also the previous home for Disney-owned Ranger Productions from Power Rangers Ninja Storm until Operation Overdrive.

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Power Rangers Goes Stuntin’. In HD.

Posted on August 15, 2010 by Bryan

News concerning the production of season 18 has been revealed through Twitter messaging and contacts to New Zealand.  First, the Stunt Guild of New Zealand revealed through email to Rangerboard member RangerWisdom that filming will start next month.  Mark Harris Stunt Productions LTD will be doing the stunts for this season.

A second bit of production news has bigger effects on this season and others to come.  One of the cameramen in New Zealand has revealed that this season of Power Rangers will be shot with the famous RED digital cameras used for such TV shows and as TNT’s The Cleaner, Southland and Leverage, the later seasons NBC’s ER and movies such as Gamer, Angels and Demons, and the Academy Award nominated District 9.  This is important to know for two reasons.

1. The RED series of cameras are known capturing footage at resolutions of 4,096 x 2,304 pixels, four times the resolution of 1080p HDTV (1920 x 1080).   The raw footage produced by the cameras would then be scaled down to HD.   That’s right, you heard me correctly.  Power Rangers in HD. The Blu-ray disc buzz words used by Saban and Marvista in the past couple of months will soon be come reality.   After three years of the horrid cropping, squashing and other general neglect during the Disney years, Power Rangers will air on Nickelodeon’s HD feed in widescreen format.  And…

2. Super Sentai has also started using RED cameras, starting last year with Shinkenger.  For the first time, PR and Sentai will be using the same equipment to film.  The footage switch, barring directorial and special effects differences, will be a little bit more seamless thanks to the new technology.  Not to mention each of the RED cameras alone (without viewfinders, mounts or lenses) cost $17,500.  Kinda makes you shudder wondering what would have happened if Disney had continued with the SD video tape used for Dino Thunder through R.P.M.  And the old days back when Saban had to use retail VHS copies of Zyuranger for Mighty Morphin.

Next years’ PR is set to be a groundbreaking one with a new cast, a new network, a new resources and  a whole new look.  Now if we only had a name.

4,096 horizontal by 2,304
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R.I.P. Peta Rutter (Udonna/White Mystic Ranger) 1959-2010

Posted on August 14, 2010 by Bryan

It is with a sad heart that I report that Peta Rutter, who played the role Udonna, the White Mystic Ranger of Power Rangers Mystic Force died last month after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.  Rutter was a veteran of stage, television and film that was said to be dedicated in supporting New Zealand’s theater troupes.

Rutter began her theatre career playing Iseult in “Tristan and Iseult” in 1980 and later began her television career with the sketch comedy show “Away Laughing”.  In 1998, she played a recurring role in the Fox Kids “Young Hercules”.  In 2006 Rutter played the role of Udonna, the White Mystic Ranger and mentor to the Mystic Force team.

Ms. Rutter, thank you for memories you gave us Power Rangers fans.  I send my deep condolences to your friends, peers and family.  Rest in piece and farewell.

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2011 Cast Revealed

Posted on August 8, 2010 by Bryan

After two and a half months of speculation and Twitter stalking, the cast of the 2011 edition of Power Rangers is here. The rise of social media has made this session the most translucent casting in Power Rangers history. From collecting hints from prospective cast members to the drama about the pay contracts, this casting session has been extremely exciting. Alas, all things must come to an end and with that, I am happy to present to you the six people that will join 98 others (I’m counting Daggeron and Leanbow) as the newest members of the Power Rangers. Credits to RangerWisdom of Rangerboard.

    To those that have been selected, we all wish you to break many legs. Especially those of the big bad. We’re looking forward to see you guys in action.

    EDIT: According to Rangerboard user Rangerwisdom, the cast will heading out to New Zealand for training and filming on August 16.

    And for one more piece of news I’ve learned at Henshin Justice, Tony Oliver aka. Rick Hunter of Robotech fame and writer of early Power Rangers episodes is back back for the new season. For those who want to check out Tony’s work, watch “Day of the Dumpster” from MMPR season 1, “The Power Stealer” from season 2, “Rock-A-Bye Power Rangers” from Zeo in season 4 and “Transmission Impossible” from Turbo in season 5.

    He’ll be appearing this weekend at Anime Festival Orlando August 6-8 and will be at Power Morphicon on August 27-29.

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    And More Thing…

    Posted on August 1, 2010 by Bryan

    When I started this site last year, I had wanted to turn Valencia Road into one of the premiere websites about Power Rangers.  I wanted to slowly but surely recap every season and have a wealth of info on this site.  That all changed after one look of the re-version.  But then the Saban reacquisition gave me a new fire inside to finish what I began.

    And then I stumbled across another opportunity.

    PRangerX is one of the best webmasters in PR fandom.  His Power Rangers Online is well known for the large amount of behind the scenes info.  He recently reopened Power Rangers Network with the files he inherited from its original owner. Now back in the day,  Power Rangers Network, which was I think was like the third PR site I encountered in the early days of my online PR fandom, was considered one of the best.  The original site closed some time before Mystic Force.  Mentioning that PRN was on the backburner to the main Power Rangers Online family of sites, he offered anyone to take over PRN.

    As Son Goku in Ocean dub would say: “I saw an opening that seemed to scream ‘attack’.  So I did.”

    I took the offer.  Right now, I’m preparing a temporary layout for the new PRN, so I can post news on there as well as here on Valencia Road, while making a bigger layout to unveil later this year.  In the meantime, I’ll put the older files in WordPress as well start sections on SPD through last year’s season, RPM.

    As for Valencia Road, this blog is staying put.  Right now, there is a growing PR blog community with such newcomer cupofwater03′s Morphin Legacy and the venerable Henshin Justice Unlimited, ran by Keith Justice that also covers other toku such as Kamen Rider and American comics.  PR fandom is heading for Web 2.0 and I would like to be part of this new uprising.  The old sites such PRN, Power Rangers Gateway, Amit Bhautmik’s Power Ranger’s Online Archives and Joe Rovang’s The Writer Guide to Power Rangers as well Ranger Central have served as my inspirations for Valencia Road and I hope to build upon everything they did for VR and PRN.

    Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank everyone for reading and stay tuned to both Valencia Road and Power Rangers Network for upcoming news and updates on Power Rangers and PR fandom.

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    Closing In on Airing and Casting.

    Posted on July 31, 2010 by Bryan

    Even with no sign of name for this season, a lot has happened in the past few weeks and I’m sorry I haven’t been around for it all.  Now that the Comic-con over with, we now know a lot more information of what go down with PR on Nick.  First, after coming to the Comic-con with suit actors posing as the classic Mighty Morphin team, Nickelodeon passed out DVDs with Day of the Dumpster, non-reversioned, revealing it will be October that the classic episodes will arrive on Nicktoons. Continue reading →

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    And I Heard It Through The Grapevine

    Posted on July 19, 2010 by Bryan

    Small update about the trademarks to PR since they are now owned by SCG Power Rangers, the new division of Saban Brands overseeing PR.

    Also the grapevine’s telling us that casting may be soon in its final stages.

    Originally Posted by RangerWisdom
    To confirm even more what they said, here is what my source gave me yesterday:

    A producer from New Zealand (I assume it might be the Executive Producer, Jonathon Tzachor) is in LA, and will be there for the next set of callbacks (which is confirmed to be final callbacks). After they decide who may go further, they’ll do screen tests and what not, and see which people look and work good together. It is said that Iris has a wall full of possible cast members (which is totally natural for most cast directors to do).

    As for right now, it looks like only a few of the Power Rangers are being called in so far, so girls (including Princess Megan) and other cast members will probably be the following week. In other words, we’re coming to an end.

    I was also contacted by an auditioner, and he was called back for final callbacks for Red, and another was called back for Green. And finally, someone I kind of know said that they know a couple of girls who got called back for Princess Megan and Pink, and one of them apparently showed sword presentation for the Megan role, and was blown away! So, that’s where things are as of right now.

    With Nickelodeon having a place at the San Diego Comic-Con this coming week, news should be coming in on the new cast and name of the new season soon.
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    Bulk and Skull 2.0?

    Posted on July 7, 2010 by Bryan

    Things have gotten interesting on the casting of the upcoming PR Season 18.  Two casting sides have appeared for two roles named Skinny Mack and Big Jack.  PR Historian Joe Rovang grabbed for all to see on Henshin Justice Unlimited.  Here are the sides as printed.  Continue reading →

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    Production News

    Posted on July 6, 2010 by Bryan

    While the cast is still in the process of put together, some indirect news came from a report talking about the delays of Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit”.  Many workers in New Zealand are leaving Wellington for Auckland with PR being one reason.

    Movie production workers, such as costume designers and set painters, had headed to Auckland where there was more work, Baldock said. “They’re being offered three-year contracts on [TV show] Power Rangers. It is a lower rate than The Hobbit would offer, but they’re looking for that continuity. Our movie reputation is drifting north.”

    The three-year contracts show that Saban has a long term plan regarding Power Rangers and I am glad for this as well as a lot of workers getting jobs.

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    Back In The Saddle

    Posted on July 1, 2010 by Bryan

    Obviously, a lot has happened since my last post and my first brief chronicle with the reversioned Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. For one thing, Dan Evans turned a fun, cheesy, awesome show into a less fun, cheesier, not-so-awesome show with the added special effects, labels and transitions. Secondly, like Power Rangers RPM, half the country was unable to see it, due the E/I requirement which left the non-E/I PR out to dry. After finding the reversioning would end on Labor Day weekend, the Power Rangers fanbase was in mourning.

    And then, a second wind came. From the company that started it all.

    Haim Saban’s repurchase of the Power Rangers franchise was a shock to everyone. And with the new deals made with Nickelodeon to air the new 40 episode season based on Samurai Sentai Shinkenger, the (unedited) re-airings of seasons 1-17 on Nicktoons, as well the intentions of DVD releases, online content and a third movie, Power Rangers may be in for a  second coming, following the footsteps of Transformers and the Marvel Universe in the past couple of years.

    Personally,  I’m looking forward to what will be going down later this year starting from the reruns premiering in the fall to the new season coming in 2011.  Already we gotten the casting sides for this year with one thread on Rangerboard featuring what could be our new Rangers.   Who will don the spandex as Reese, Ava, Perry,  Baron, Sadie and Wesley?   What other plans do the people at Saban Brands and SCG Power Rangers LLC. have planned for the future of the Power? Will we finally see that third movie?  Will your blogger here finally have a site that lasts more than to two weeks?   Find out in the coming months as Valencia Road covers everything about Power Rangers season 18!

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