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One-Punch Man's Yuusuke Murata Draws Hollywood's Power Rangers

posted on by Lynzee Loveridge

Yūsuke Murata created a special gift for Power Rangers moviegoers in Japan. The One-Punch Man manga artist drew the super sentai characters from Lionsgate's live-action film and the artwork will be distributed on postcards for viewers when the film opens on July 15. A total of 300,000 postcards will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis.

Murata has shown his dedication to American superhero franchises in the past, and has drawn the artwork for the Street Fighter novelization, the cover for Marvel's Japanese release of Spider-Verse, and Tony Stark for the "Marvel: Age of Heroes" exhibition in Tokyo.

Toei began streaming a franchise explanation video in May to get Japanese viewers up to speed on what the American version of the franchise. The Power Rangers television series has aired in the United States for 24 years, and according to the video, 93% of Americans know about the franchise. The video also states that the series have aired in more than 160 countries. The video rounds out the franchise's history in America by ending with footage from the new film.

The film opened at #2 in the U.S. box office. It has now earned an estimated US$84,234,169 in the United States and a worldwide total of US$134,759,902. Saban Entertainment founder Haim Saban said in March that there is a "six-movie story arc" planned for the film reboot if the new film is successful.

Some people, including members of the original Power Rangers team seen in the video above, are not buying into the hype. David Yost (Billy/Blue Ranger) and Walter Jones (Zack/Black Ranger) recently expressed their disappointment about the lack of "Hip Hop Kido" and unemphatic performances of the "It's Morphin' Time" catchphrase in the film. Jason David Frank (Green Ranger) and Amy Jo Johnson (Pink Ranger) have cameos in the new film.

Lionsgate describes the film:

Saban's Power Rangers follows five ordinary high school kids who must become something extraordinary when they learn that their small town of Angel Grove – and the world – is on the verge of being obliterated by an alien threat. Chosen by destiny, our heroes quickly discover that they are the only ones who can save the planet. But to do so they will have to overcome their real-life issues and band together as the Power Rangers before it is too late.

The film's Japanese dub cast includes Ryo Katsuji (Origin: Spirits of the Past's Agito, Mobile Suit Gundam 00 the Movie: A Wakening of the Trailblazer's Descartes Shaman) as the Red Ranger and Alice Hirose (live-action Silver Spoon's Aki Mikage) as the Pink Ranger.

Source: Comic Natalie


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