Power Rangers: Dino Thunder

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Power Rangers: Dino Thunder
Genre	Action-Adventure
Starring	James Napier Kevin Duhaney Emma Lahana Jason David Frank Jeffrey Parazzo Latham Gaines Miriama Smith James Gaylyn Ismay Johnston Katrina Devine Tom Hern
Country of origin	United States/New Zealand
No. of episodes	38
Production
Running time	30 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	ABC
Original run	2004-02-14 – 2004-11-20
Chronology
Preceded by	Power Rangers: Ninja Storm
Followed by	Power Rangers: S.P.D.
Links
IMDb profile

Power Rangers: Dino Thunder (often abbreviated as PRDT and often simply called Dino Thunder) was an American children's television series, an 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.

Contents 1 Production 2 Plot summary 3 Characters 3.1 Dino Rangers 3.2 Allies 3.3 Villains 4 Arsenal 5 Zords 6 The Comic Strip 7 The Video Games 8 Episodes

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. (However, Power Rangers in Space had previously mentioned a Ranger-based comic book in its crossover with Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation.) 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.

Plot summary

A soccer player, a 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 finish off Mesogog with their raw Dino Gem power, but the gems are burned out in the process.

Characters

Dino Rangers

Main article: Dino Thunder Power Rangers

Conner McKnight

The Red Dino Ranger; a soccer player and one of Dr. Oliver's students. The power he got from the Red Dino Gem was super speed. He later gains the powers of the Triassic Ranger. He was portrayed by James Napier. According to the episode Back In Black, Conner can't swim.

Ethan James

The Blue Dino Ranger; a computer expert and one of Dr. Oliver's students. The power he got from the Blue Dino Gem was "Dino-Skin", which gives him invulnerability from physical attacks. He was portrayed by Kevin Duhaney.

Kira Ford

The Yellow Dino Ranger; a musician and one of Dr. Oliver's students. The power she got from the Yellow Dino Gem was "Ptera-Scream" which allows her to produce a supersonic screech. She was portrayed by Emma Lahana.

Dr. Thomas Oliver

The Black Dino Ranger; a professor of paleontology and long-standing Power Ranger. He becomes one, once again, as the Black Dino Ranger. The power he got from the Black Dino Gem was invisibility. He was portrayed by Jason David Frank.

Trent Fernandez

The White Dino Ranger; an artist and adopted son of Anton Mercer. He accidentally found the White Dino Gem, and the evil energies in it made him a foe of the Dino Rangers until he was freed, and joined up with them. The power he got from the White Dino Gem was chameleon camouflage. He was portrayed by Jeffrey Parazzo.

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. According to various casting sheets, Hayley's last name is "Ziktor", though it was never mentioned on the show. (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. In the episode Leader of the Whack, it is revealed that Cassidy's middle name is "Agnes". (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 often. (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.
• Kylee Styles: A pop idol who was once friends with Kira until they went their seprate ways. She becomes a old woman when Donkeyvac stole her youth. She returned to normal after Donkeyvac was destoryed. Her counterpart in Bakuryuu Sentai Abaranger is Lillian.
• Carson Brady: A famous Comic Book artist whom inadvertently creates problems for the Rangers. He co-creates a comic book with Trent.
• Anton Mercer: Trent's adoptive father and Mesogog's alter ego. (Played by Latham Gaines).
• Ninja Storm Power Rangers: Appeared in a crossover episode with their allies
• Marah and Kapri and
• Sensei Kanoi Watanabe.

Villains

Main article: Villains in Power Rangers: Dino Thunder

• 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)
• Terrence "Smitty" 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. In one episode, Zeltrax got his Golden Rod form and used the Triptoids as Foot Soldiers after he broke away from Mesogog (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.
• List of Mutations in Power Rangers: Dino Thunder
• Enemy Foot Soldiers:
  • Tyrannodrones
  • Triptoids

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. The Brachio Staff can Create a super energy orb to launch at opponents. It can also deliver energy slashes and summon "Wind Strike", "Earth Strike", and "Fire Strike" attacks.
  • 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 the "Triassic Dimension". 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 is 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.

Zords

Main article: Zords in Power Rangers: Dino Thunder

The Zords in Power Rangers: Dino Thunder were bioengineered from dinosaurs by Tommy Oliver and Anton Mercer.

• Brachiozord, controlled by Tommy as the Black Dino Ranger
• Valkasaurus Megazord
  • Thundersaurus Megazord (combination of Tyranno, Tricera & Pterazords)
    • Tyrannozord, summoned by Conner as the Red Dino Ranger ¹
    • Tricerazord, summoned by Ethan as the Blue Dino Ranger ¹
    • Pterazord, summoned by Kira as the Yellow Dino Ranger
  • Dino Stegazord
    • Dragozord, summoned by Trent as the White Dino Ranger
    • Stegozord, summoned by Ethan, Tommy, and Trent ²
  • Triceramax Megazord
    • Mezodon Rover/Megazord, summoned by Conner as the Triassic Ranger
    • Auxiliary Zords ^{2 3}
      • Cephalazord, summoned by Tommy and Conner
      • Dimetrozord, summoned by Tommy and Conner
      • Parasaurzord, summoned by Tommy and Conner
      • Ankylozord, summoned by Tommy and Conner