| Genre: | Action Adventure Science fantasy Superhero |
| Creator: | Haim Saban Toei Company |
| Developer: | Saban Entertainment Toei Company |
| Showrunner: | Ann Austen Doug Sloan |
| Based On: | Chouriki Sentai Ohranger by Toei Company |
| Director: | Isaac Florentine Vickie Bronaugh Robert Radler Douglas Sloan Terence H. Winkless Koichi Sakamoto Larry Litton |
| Starring: | Catherine Sutherland Nakia Burrise Steve Cardenas Johnny Yong Bosch Jason David Frank Austin St. John David Yost Paul Schrier Jason Narvy Richard Genelle Gregg Bullock |
| Opentheme: | "Go Go Power Rangers" (Zeo Version) by Ron Wasserman |
| Cinematography: | Ilan Rosenberg |
| Executive Producer: | Haim Saban Shuki Levy |
| Producer: | Jonathan Tzachor |
| Composer: | Shuki Levy Kussa Mahchi Kenneth Burgomaster Jim Cushinery Jeremy Sweet Ron Wasserman |
| Runtime: | 20–21 minutes |
| Country: | United States Japan |
| Language: | English |
| Location: | California (Santa Clarita & Los Angeles) Japan (Greater Tokyo Area (Tokyo, Saitama, Yokohama)) and Kyoto) |
| Company: | Saban Entertainment Renaissance Atlantic Entertainment Toei Company, Ltd. MMPR Productions, Inc. |
| Network: | Fox (Fox Kids) |
| Num Episodes: | 50 |
Power Rangers Zeo is a television series and the fourth season of the Power Rangers franchise, based on the 19th Super Sentai series Chouriki Sentai Ohranger. It is the continuation of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, which aired in 1996.
Power Rangers Zeo is the first season of Power Rangers to follow the Super Sentai practice of annual Ranger suit changes.
After witnessing the destruction of the Command Center, the powerless Rangers discover the Zeo Crystal intact in the rubble—apparently dropped by Goldar and Rito Revolto. The Crystal guides them to a portal which takes them deep underground to the Power Chamber where they find Zordon and Alpha 5 waiting for them. The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers become the Zeo Rangers, a new team of Rangers powered by the Zeo Crystal. The four remaining Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Tommy Oliver, Adam Park, Rocky DeSantos and Katherine Hillard become Zeo Ranger V — Red, Zeo Ranger IV — Green, Zeo Ranger III — Blue and Zeo Ranger I — Pink respectively and Tanya Sloan joins the team as Zeo Ranger II — Yellow, while Billy Cranston chooses to become their technical advisor rather than continuing as a Ranger.[1]
The Machine Empire, led by King Mondo and Queen Machina, enters Earth's solar system, seeking to conquer Earth, with the Zeo Rangers serving as the only opposition. Many, even Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd, are forced to flee to the M51 Galaxy under the threat of destruction. Unbeknownst to anyone, Rito and Goldar – now amnesiac – are left behind on Earth. They are taken in by Bulk and Skull, who have them serve as butlers. Meanwhile, Bulk and Skull continue to be members of the Junior Police Force until Lt. Jerome Stone is dismissed when Bulk tries to win the heart of the chief's daughter. Quitting as a show of respect for Stone, they join him at his new detective agency.[2]
Over time, the Machine Empire wears down the five Zeo Rangers, but they are rescued by the mysterious Gold Ranger. Though his identity is unknown, it quickly becomes clear he is there to help the Rangers. After he is injured in battle, it is revealed that the mysterious Gold Ranger is an alien, Trey of Triforia. Split into three separate selves, Trey is forced to temporarily pass his powers to a worthy warrior while healing. They attempt to transfer Trey's powers to Billy, but as Billy acquired excess negative energy during the Command Center's destruction, he is unable to do so. Ultimately the successor is Jason Lee Scott, the original Red Power Ranger and team leader. This event also sees the introduction of the more powerful Super Zeo Zords, which are used against a tougher generation of machines. The Super Zeo Megazord is powerful enough to later destroy King Mondo, creating a power vacuum in the Machine Empire.
Secretly returning from the M51 Galaxy, Lord Zedd and Rita seek to take power again. Operating out of an RV with Finster, they restore Goldar and Rito's memories, retrieving the pair in the process. After King Mondo's death, they launch their first plan, to use Louie Kaboom to take over the Machine Empire. Though he succeeds, he breaks free of Zedd and Rita's control. He embarks on his own plans to conquer Earth and destroy the Zeo Rangers. Louie is eventually killed by King Mondo's first-born son Prince Gasket and his wife Princess Archerina, who rule until King Mondo's reconstruction is complete, which causes them to flee.
When Billy begins rapidly aging as a side-effect of restoring his proper age before undoing Master Vile's spell in the last series, the Zeo and Aquitian Rangers race to help him and fend off monsters from King Mondo as well as Zedd and Rita. Billy leaves Earth for treatment on Aquitar and chooses to stay to be with Cestria. Soon after, it is discovered the Gold Ranger powers are leaving Jason and draining his life force in the process as the alien powers were not meant for a human. Trey is still in recovery, but a risky gamble with the Zeo Crystal heals him, restoring his powers. Rita and Lord Zedd finally get revenge on the Machine Empire by crippling their leaders with a bomb.
Zeo Rangers
Supporting characters
Villains
Guest Stars
During the middle of the series, the identity of the Gold Ranger was a constant teaser and a central plot theme. After many episodes of speculation, with other characters like Billy Cranston, David Trueheart, and even Eugene Skullovitch suspected, it was revealed the Gold Ranger was Trey of Triforia, a new character. Former Red Ranger, Jason Lee Scott, obtained the powers of the Gold Ranger after Trey lost the ability to transform. Trey was voiced by Brad Hawkins, who played Ryan Steele on VR Troopers and portrayed by Ted, Tim and Tom DiFilippo.
See main article: Lists of Power Rangers episodes.
Starting in August 1996, several episodes of Power Rangers Zeo were released on VHS.
| Release name | Release date | Publisher | Stock Number | Notes | REF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zeo Quest (contains: "Attack of the 60' Bulk", "Water You Thinking?", "Along Came a Spider", "Sowing the Seas of Evil", "Hogday Afternoon" (Parts 1 and 2), and "A Zeo Beginning" Parts 1 and 2) | August 6, 1996 | Saban Home Entertainment/WarnerVision Family Entertainment | 42060-3 | Contains The Following Previews at the Beginning: Power Rangers Zeo: It Came From Angel Grove (1996) Power Rangers Zeo: 'Tis the Season to be Zeo (1996), Masked Rider: Ferbus' First Christmas (1995) Masked Rider (Featuring Ones For:Escape from Edenoi: Special 2 Part Mini-Series (1995), Super Gold: Special 2 Part Mini-Series (1995), Book and Tape Cassette and Collectible Action Figures (1995), Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: A Friend in Need" Parts 1, 2, & 3 (1995)) Power Rangers Zeo: Zeo Quest (1996) And A Promo For: | [3] | |
| "It Came from Angel Grove" | August 20, 1996 | 42061-3 | Contains The Following Previews at the Beginning: Power Rangers Zeo: Zeo Quest (1996) Power Rangers Zeo: 'Tis the Season to be Zeo (1996), Masked Rider: Ferbus' First Christmas (1995) Masked Rider (Featuring Ones For:Escape from Edenoi: Special 2 Part Mini-Series (1995), Super Gold: Special 2 Part Mini-Series (1995), Book and Tape Cassette and Collectible Action Figures (1995), Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: A Friend in Need" Parts 1, 2, & 3 (1995)) Sweet Valley High (Featuring Ones For:Kidnapped, Dangerous) (1994) Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Lord Zedd's Monster Heads (1995) At The End of the Series: | Fright Night | [4] |
In 2012, Shout! Factory announced that it had reached an exclusive distribution deal with Saban Brands for shows such as Power Rangers and Big Bad Beetleborgs. Power Rangers Zeo was released on DVD in August 2012, as part of a Time-Life exclusive boxed set containing seasons 1–7. The show later became available independently of the boxed set in two volumes, each containing 25 episodes, released November 12, 2013, and February 11, 2014.
Image Comics began publication of a Power Rangers Zeo comic in August 1996. It featured scripts by Tom and Mary Bierbaum, and art by Todd Nauck and Norm Rapmund. Four issues were drawn but only one was released before Image Comics lost the license.
Characters have been featured in Power Rangers comics published by Boom! Studios.
In 2018, the Zeo Rangers appeared in "Shattered Grid", a crossover event between teams from all eras commemorating the 25th anniversary of the original television series. It was published in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #25-30 and various tie-ins. A Power Rangers Zeo story by Kyle Higgins and Marcus To was published in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 2018 Annual as part of the crossover.
"Beyond the Grid," the follow-up to "Shattered Grid", was published in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #31-39. It saw Tanya joining a new team alongside the Ranger Slayer, the Magna Defender, Cameron, Andros and the Dark Ranger.