Having grown up with the Power Rangers series, I want to explore how I think of the franchise now, rather than what I thought of it twenty years ago. I also want to explore the Super Sentai franchise, which started it all. While both series as a whole try to target children, it's clear that there is plenty for adults to enjoy as well. While the mature undertones are subtle, they serve more to remind parents of their own pasts and fantasies all while keeping in mind that a child's brain is a sponge, constantly on the brink of over stimulation from absorbing so much new information. The maturity can get lost in the muddle of what, in a few years, can become everyday for a kid.
Before I proceed, I want to impress that when I use the word "mature", I am not necessarily referring to sexual content as the word is often used today, but rather I am referring to themes or instances that a typical child just wouldn't typically totally grasp (and if they have, they need a hug from someone who cares about their well-being). These situations could be some form of social problem, a common issue for anyone (divorce, physically or emotionally violent abuse, et cetera)
At least in the sentai series I have seen so far, the only things we Americans would consider "too mature" are instances of sexual harassment. But, this is a common issue for Japanese girls on public transportation (just google "chikan" or "Japanese groping laws"). Young women and girls are often groped or otherwise improperly touched by an older man on trains and buses, so seeing a strong young woman on a TV show being molested only to in turn exclaim her displeasure and soundly beat the everliving snot out of him, shows that the show is socially conscious and want these girls to stand up for themselves.
Power Rangers has its fair share of mature moments. Take Power Rangers Samurai. While the episode where Emily realized she was strong because of how often she was insulted was taken directly from Shinkenger, this is a pretty serious topic here. She has been berated, ridiculed, and brought down SO MUCH for her clumsiness, that words can't hurt her anymore, even when faced with a monster whose words have real and devastating power. That much emotional scarring should take DECADES to really make someone completely impervious to insults. I was birthed with an extremely unfortunate name, a (admittedly slight) physical deformity, a stutter, and a social awkwardness that would make any psychiatric professional roll up their sleeves, and even I still feel hurt when insulted for these things, even with the love from my wife and children behind me every day. Emily's torment would have to have been so, so much more than anything I have experienced to temper her against ridicule. Bullying is an issue that most children have to overcome, and for most, it goes away towards the end of high school when everyone else their age is faced with the real world and its own horrors. This example is just depressing. Then take Nick from Mystic Force. No mom, no dad, no siblings. Just foster homes. While I'm sure his adoptive family loved him greatly, he clearly never felt the connection that you would feel with your biological family (in many cases). A piece of him was ripped away when he was removed from his family (who he would later be reunited with...as an adult). Forces beyond his control alienated him from really being able to open up to anyone, to even trust anyone. He felt he was FORCED to be brave to survive the day to day, to stand out as someone could could be alone, who should be alone, and who was better off keeping everyone at arm’s reach. In Ninja Storm, Cam's father symbolically, died in front of him. While his dad was technically still able to be there to guide him, the familiar face he had known his whole life was ripped away in a single, violent moment.
This is why I still like Power Rangers, and why I think many grown-ups in the East still are willing to watch Super Sentai with their own children. There's something that resonates with us throughout our whole lives, which reminds us that (though fictional) someone understands our hardships. We saw them experience it or reminisce about it, and then either use it to their advantage, or overcome it completely. We want to do that too. We want to know that no matter how bad things are as we get older, there's always going to be a smile at the end waiting for us.
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