is Toei's twenty-first production of the Super Sentai metaseries, and the second Sentai, after Kousoku Sentai Turboranger in which all heroes are high school students. The footage was also used in the American series Power Rangers in Space. It aired from February 14, 1997, to February 15, 1998, replacing Gekisou Sentai Carranger, and was replaced by Seijuu Sentai Gingaman. Toei gave it the name Mega Rangers for international distribution.
Shout! Factory released "Denji Sentai Megaranger: The Complete Series" on DVD on October 31, 2017. This is the 6th Super Sentai series to be released in North America on Region 1 DVD. In January 2018, Shout! streamed the series on their website.
One of the series villain costumes and a prop were used for the 7th season of the American Power Rangers series (Power Rangers Lost Galaxy which was adapting the 1998 Sentai installment, Seijuu Sentai Gingaman).
Plot
Kenta Date, a senior high school student, is the ultimate champion of an arcade video game called Megaranger. He belongs to the Cybernetics club, a group of like minded friends from his school. Koichiro Endo, Shun Namiki, Chisato Jogaseki, and Miku Imamura are also members of Cybernetics. The International Network of Excel-Science and Technology (INET), the games creators, invite Kenta and the Cybernetics club members to tour the INET laboratories. Following a short tour of the INET HQ buildings, the company is attacked by the Neijirejia, an evil force led by Dr. Hinelar on a mission to conquer the current reality. Dr. Kubota, INET's chief scientist, reveals that Megaranger was more than only a simple video game but actually a combat simulator to identify potential recruits for a super fighting team to combat the Neijirejia. While the INET headquarters (HQ) is destroyed by the Neijirejia warrior Yugande, Dr. Kubota gives Kenta and his friends devices known as 'Degitaizers'. By entering the key-code "3-3-5" and shouting "Install, Megaranger!", the five students transform into the Megarangers to fight the Nejirejia.
Characters
INET
The is the company responsible for the Megaranger video game used to identify five people to become the Megarangers.
Megarangers
thumb|250px|The Megarangers (sans Yuusaku Hayakawa) transformed. From left to right: Kouichirou Endo, Chisato Jougasaki, Kenta Date, Miku Imamura, and Shun Namiki.
Five high school students chosen by INET become the titular Denji Sentai Megaranger, with one additional member who is an INET agent. Their base of operations is the Digital Research Club at Moroboshi High School.
Kenta Date
: 18 years old, Kenta is a slacker and knucklehead who likes yakiniku (to a point where he will ask Dr. Kubota to treat him to a yakiniku lunch for every mission accomplished), but is also friendly, playful, and has a good heart. He becomes an ideal candidate to become a Megaranger after beating a skilled opponent on INET's Megaranger arcade game, which was actually a tool used to recruit Megarangers.
As Mega Red, Kenta's forehead symbol is a personal computer, which enables him to upload data and program skills into his mind, making him an adaptable warrior. Ironically, he is the only member who does not like computers.
Kouichirou Endo
: 18 years old, Kouichirou is the functioning leader and overachiever of the team. Aside from being a keen soccer player, he is a member of the class committee and is concerned about his schoolwork. He balances his duties as a Megaranger and a student. He has a younger brother, Koujiro, who also plays soccer. A natural leader but extremely bossy, he once created an hour by hour schedule for all the Megarangers to follow but they ignored it. During his stay at the Epinard Nasu hotel in Tochigi, Kouichirou encounters a mysterious boy who is a spiritual representation of the forest that is not only in danger of Kinoko Nejire's attack on it but INET's Relay Base. He eventually gains the forest spirit's trust as he uses up all his power to help the Megarangers as Kouichirou promises to have INET relocate the relay base.
As Mega Black. Kouichirou's forehead symbol is a digital satellite, which enables him to trace communication sources and transmissions. His special attacks are the Satellite Search, Satellite Scan, and (soccer ball kicking attack).
Shun Namiki
: 18 years old, Shun is a loner who aspires to become a computer-graphics artist and initially refuses to become a Megaranger. After seeing Kenta attempt to keep the Kune Kune from interfering in his lifelong dreams, Shun reconsiders and becomes good friends with Kenta. He plays the flute, as his late mother was a world-renowned flautist. Shun is adept at creating battle strategies, such as confusing the Nejirangers by making the other Megaranger suits look like his. Shun is a Virgo, according to Miku.
As Mega Blue, Shun's forehead symbol is a digital TV, which enable him to create CG images and trap enemies in a movie dimension where characters from that dimension attack the enemy. His special attacks are the Virtual Vision and Virtual Holograph.
Chisato Jougasaki
: 18 years old, Chisato dreams of becoming a professional photographer. Aside from photography, she is also into singing. She is attracted to Kouichirou. Compared to the rest of her teammates, she gets the least amount of focus (sans from the episode previews).
As Mega Yellow. Chisato's forehead symbol is a digital camera, which enables her to telescopically search for people and things – even allowing her to see through walls – as well as record and playback anything she sees. Her special attacks are the Digicam Search, Galaxy Search, and .
Miku Imamura
: 18 years old, Miku eats a lot, but is very self-conscious about her weight. She dislikes schoolwork just as much as Kenta, and because of this, the two of them are very good friends. She is attracted to Shun. During the Megarangers' encounter with Bibidevi on episode 17, Miku is accidentally hit by an evolution beam and becomes , which makes the colored squares on her costume turn gold. As Super Mega Pink, Miku gains super strength and can wield the other Megarangers' weapons. Additionally, her intelligence increases to an IQ of 800, along with a change in her personality. However, after suffering painful side effects, Miku manages to return to her normal self. In Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai, she lectures Sae Taiga (Gao White) on the Super Sentai franchise's many female warriors and their shared skill at changing their clothes in the blink of an eye, something that Sae had never done before.
As Mega Pink, Miku's forehead symbol is a cell phone, which enables her to track and analyze sound waves. Her special attack is the Telephone Search.
Yusaku Hayakawa
: The 25-year-old chief of INET's Special Development Division, Yusaku is one of the scientists under Kubota who created the Mega Suits, including Mega Silver which was the prototype Mega Suit. Though he is placed in charge of the Super Mega Project, Yusaku secretly took the Mega Silver powers for his own use in helping the Megarangers despite Kubota's insistence that he gets back to work. Initially, Yusaku's transformation into Mega Silver lasts for 2.5 minutes due to how powerful it was, but he was able to repair it by the time Nejirejia discovers this. When the primary Megarangers alter their costumes to look like Shun's to trick the Nejirangers, Yusaku confuses them even further by disguising himself as , wielding a twisted version of his Silver Blazer. Yusaku also pilots his own mecha, Mega Winger. He has also demonstrated his culinary skills by preparing a lavish meal to distract a Nezire Beast before Mega Pink defeats it. In the final battle, he is able to assist the Megarangers by using his damaged Mega Winger to free the Voyager Machines from the rubble of the INET Moonbase to give the Megarangers a chance of defeating Death Nejiro and attend their high school graduation ceremony.
As Mega Silver, Yusaku's forehead symbol is a microchip.
Allies
INET members
The following are known members of INET:
Prof. Eikichi Kubota
: He is in charge of the Megaranger program – specifically the Megaranger video game. During a surprise attack on the NASADA base by the Nezirejia, he is forced to give the Degitaizers to five students – turning them into Megarangers. He was once friends with Dr. Samejima, who had left this dimension for Nezirejia – becoming Dr. Hinelar. Dr. Kubota is a former high school boxer and he plays the trumpet.
Eikichi Kubota is portrayed by Satoru Saitō.
Shougo Kawasaki
Shougo Kawasaki (川崎 省吾 Kawasaki Shōgo): A young man who is the head engineer of the Mega Ship's maintenance department. His father, Professor Kawasaki, is a world authority on robot control programs (helped create the program for Delta Mega) and wants Shougo to attend college, using the program he developed for Delta Mega to get his son back on Earth. However, after Mega Red saves Shougo from Guirail, he is allowed to remain with INET.
Shougo Kawasaki is portrayed by Yuki Tanaka.
Tachibana
Tachibana (立花): A member of INET and a crew member aboard the Galaxy Mega.
Tachibana is portrayed by Takao Miyashita (宮下 敬夫 Miyashita Takao).
Pop
Pop (ポップ Poppu) is a technician associated with I.N.E.T. who assists the Megarangers.
Pop is portrayed by Samuel Pop Aning.
Moroboshi High School
: The high school attended by the five Megarangers until the series finale. Each of the team's classmates and teachers ended up being involved in a Nejirejian scheme and they become enraged when they learned the identities of the Megarangers to which almost everyone turns against them. It was only in the final battle with Dr. Hinelar that the school realized the error of their stand and started to support the Megarangers.
Gen Ooiwa
Gen Ooiwa (大岩 厳 Ōiwa Gen): The class' lazy Homeroom/Science teacher. Despite his laziness, he manages to find ways to motivate his students – especially the well-disciplined Kouichirou. In episode 12, while the Megarangers battle Mole Nezire Mr. Ooiwa stumbles upon a meteorite fragment and keeps it in his possession, making him a target of the Nejirejia. When he and Mega Black are captured by Mole Nezire, he tells the overachiever to never give up. As a result, Mr. Ooiwa inspires Mega Black to break free and foil the Nezirejian plans. During the finale, despite the Megarangers being expelled, he is the only staff member not to turn his back on the Megaranger and together with Jirou and Erina start the pep rally to cheer the Megarangers on.
Gen Ooiwa is portrayed by Yoshihiro Nozoe.
Shintarou Wada
Shintarou Wada (和田 シンタロウ Wada Shintarō, 6, 45 & 49–51): An overweight shy boy who has a crush on Miku. He threatened to reveal some secret photos of Miku to the school unless she would go on a date with him. Miku agrees as she thought the photos were of her transforming into Mega Pink. The photos are of her sleeping in class and the nurse's office. Shintarou was placed under the control of the Thorn Nejilar to do Dr. Hinelar's bidding until he is freed by the Megarangers. Later after the Megaranger's secret identities are exposed and Jirou is injured during the Nejilars attack, Shintarou blames the Megarangers and turns his back on them. He comes around during the final battle and cheers his friends on. Afterwards, he graduates with his classmates.
Shintarou Wada is portrayed by Takenari Hirowara.
Jirou Iwamoto
Jirou Iwamoto (岩本 ジロウ Iwamoto Jirō, 6, 45, 49 & 51): Shintarou's best friend and spokesperson due to Shintarou's shy personality. He consoles Shintarou when Miku turns him down for a second date. Near the finale, he is injured when the Megarangers' secret identities are exposed. During the final battle, a bandaged Jirou returns to the school and together with Erina and Mr. Ōiwa started the pep rally to cheer the Megarangers on. Afterwards, he graduates with his classmates.
Jirou Iwamoto is portrayed by Takumi Hashimoto.
Erina
Erina (恵理奈, 37 & 49–51): A classmate of the Megarangers. After the Megaranger's secret identities are exposed, she is among the few people in the school who still supports the Megarangers and tried unsuccessfully to convince the school staff not to expel them. It is heavily implied she is attracted to Kenta, having looked up to him for his compassion and leadership qualities; becoming deeply depressed when he was kicked out. Ultimately with Jirou and Mr. Ooiwa she started the pep rally to cheer the Megarangers on, which would be instrumental in restoring the Megaranger's fighting spirit, contributing to their final victory against Dr. Hinelar and the Death Neziros. Afterwards, she graduates with her classmates and poses next to Kenta in the school graduation photo.
Erina is portrayed by Emi Shigemitsu.
Other allies
Takeshi
Takeshi (タケシ): One of the arcade children Kenta befriended. He was used by Guirail in a scheme to break Mega Red's fighting spirit by having the boy receive the end of Mega Red's punch.
Takeshi is portrayed by Yōsuke Asari.
Picot
Space Fairy Picot (宇宙妖精ピコット Uchū Yosei Pikotto): Known as the "Light of Hope", Picot is a dragon-like fairy who assumes a clam-like form while traveling to a planet where he can only grant five wishes. After fulfilling the wishes, Picot leaves the planet and would eventually return to the visited planet 100,004,000 years later. Though originally chased by Helmedor, Picot becomes targeted by the Nejireians as well. While on Earth, Picot granted Miku's giant cake wish, Kyosuke's wish for katsudon, Helmedor's planet destroying laser cannon, and Kani Nejilar's wish to bring dead Psycho Nejilars back to life. After granting Kenta's wish for the Megarangers to have for energy to keep fighting, giving them their Mega Tector armor and aiding the Carrangers, Picot leaves for the next planet.
Space Fairy Picot is voiced by Fushigi Yamada (山田 ふしぎ Yamada Fushigi).
Evil Electric Kingdom Nezirejia
The are invaders from another dimension ruled by an entity called Javious. Their names and appearances are all twisted and distorted. They have stationed in the fortress which transforms into the giant robot in the series finale. This robot can regenerate severed limbs as well as bind and electrocute his victims with cables and was finally destroyed along with the Mega Voyager in the finale. Hinelar self-destructed the Death Neziros from the inside in an attempt to blow up the Megarangers, the people in their high school and the Mega Voyager. The Megarangers nearly sacrifice themselves to carry Death Neziros with the Mega Voyager into the sky to prevent any further damage to their high school.
- is the ruler of Nezirejia. He appears only as a giant eye on the screen of the Death Neziros. Very little is known about him and he is killed when the last of the Nejirangers, whose life forces are connected to his, are destroyed by the Megarangers. Upon his death, Javious was revealed to be the nucleus of Nejirejia which fades away upon his death. Only Javious' heart remained which Hinelar used to power his Hinelar City. Javious' heart was later destroyed along with Hinelar City. Javious the First is voiced by Ryūzaburō Ōtomo.
- is the leader of the Nezirejia invasion party. He was originally a cybernetics scientist named , who studied space exploring suits and lost his beloved daughter in one of his experiments, destroying his reputation and scarring him. He later worked with Kubota on an interdimensional project, being the first to discover the existence of Nezirejia. A year later, Samejima decides to enter the dimension to prove its existence in spite of Kubota's pleas not to be reckless and ends up becoming Javious', right-hand man. Kubota later realized that Dr. Hinelar and Samejima are one and the same when he recognizes that the suits of the Nejirangers are similar to the Power Suits Samejima had developed. Hinelar later plots and successfully kills Javious through the Nejirangers, to become the new high leader of the Nejirejians. After the destruction of Javious, the Nezire Dimension closes making Hinelar build in which he intended to concentrate all mankind as data cards. Soon after the destruction of his city, Hinelar began his personal attack on the Megarangers after learning their identities and making sure that they become outcasts to society. But Yugande's and Shibolena's demises drove Hinelar over the edge and gained a monster form to battle the Megarangers himself. However, the device that kept his body from warping on itself (a side effect from being in Nezirejia) was damaged and he retreated into the Death Neziros and turning it into Grand Neziros. When GrandNeziros exploded during the Mega Voyager's sacrifice, Hinelar dies, still inside while trying to will his body from collapsing onto itself. Dr. Hinelar is portrayed by Tetsuo Morishita.
- is a cybernetic gynoid modeled after Hinelar's long dead daughter, Shizuka. Considers herself the masterpiece of Dr. Hinelar's work. She was second-in-command to Hinelar on the Death Neziros, a mistress of disguise and illusions. Wielding a rapier, she was also the smart one, often initiating plans for conquest. Creating Rose Nezire through her own DNA, Shibolena poses as a nun to give her offshoot's roses to children, turning them into slaves and subject them to Demon Therapy to create "Little Rose Nezire". But with one of the children being her new friend Ruri, Chisato arrives and nearly exposes herself as Mega Yellow (whom Shibolena establishes a rivalry with) to wound Shibolena with her Blade Arm. Fortunately, Mega Blue creates a holographic duplicate of Chisato to confuse Shibolena. She was critically wounded near the finale, by Mega Red, while protecting Yugande. She makes it back to the Death Neziros, to inform Hinelar of Yugande's death. Her body explodes right before Dr. Hinelar's eyes after she says goodbye to her master. The design of her hairstyle-like helmet is based on an American CG illustration used as a reference. Shibolena is portrayed by Asami Jo.