The series that started the Power Rangers phenomenon, Super Sentai is finally getting slow but steady home media releases from Japan to the United States, thanks to Shout Factory. This version of the series is far more mature than the Power Rangers we’re used to full of bad language, sex jokes, alcohol, and more adult like references, it’s definitely not the Power Rangers you’re used to, but it’s damn good.

Ninja Sentai Kakuranger is an 1994 action series, it is the sixth Super Sentai series from the 89-00 era, it is produced by Toei, and licensed by Shout! Factory in North America, it is currently available on DVD with English subtitles.

The Kakurangers as they appear in the series.

Being a long time fan and viewer of Power Rangers, I was only recently aware as their origin of Super Sentai a decade and a half ago. I had always considered giving the original Japanese version of the series I grew up with a chance, but never pulled the trigger. Now with Shout! Factory producing DVDs of the Super Sentai franchise for the US, it made giving the series a proper watch much easier. Full of comedy, action, and some minor adult themes, Super Sentai is a great alternative view of the more child like Power Rangers.

Super Sentai is the more mature original version of Power Rangers.

THE GOOD: Shout!’s Super Sentai transition to DVD is pretty flawless, there’s still no special features unfortunately, but the video is clean to have been from 1994. The more mature themes featured in Super Sentai is a fun alternative way to look at the US version of the series (which uses Super Sentai footage for action scenes). Ninja Sentai Kakurangers is fairly fast paced compared to the US version of Power Rangers, I’m not sure if this is a usual happening in Super Sentai, but the episodes and story go by in a breeze to be 40+ episodes.

Super Sentai is more fast paced than Power Rangers.

THE BAD: No special features for another Power Rangers release.

Another great collection for Power Rangers fans.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: Ninja Sentai Kakurangers continues the era of Super Sentai that started the US adaptation of Power Rangers. Though a more adult big brother of the series, Super Sentai is still just as fun as it’s US continuation. Otaku Dome gives Ninja Sentai Kakurangers: The Complete Series an 95 out of 100.