In a stunning and quick set of events, Bandai America have lost rights to produce Power Rangers toys in the United States after 25 years. In 2019, Hasbro will take over as the GLOBAL master license holder of Power Rangers and produce all main line merchandise for the brand. Japan and certain Asian markets are excluded. We assume Bandai Tamashii Nations will continue Sentai and similar product in those markets. The reveal comes courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter with comments from Brian Goldner and Haim Saban.
“We’re particularly excited to partner together to help reignite and drive this brand for the next 25 years and more,” Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner tells Heat Vision about the deal. “It’s a partnership that is very collaborative and feels very good to us to be in business with Saban and to help power Power Rangers.”
Of note in the official press release:
The first set of products from Hasbro will be available in spring 2019. Both Hasbro and Saban Brands are dedicated to continue growing this iconic brand. In recognition of this investment, during a period of time after Hasbro becomes the master toy licensee, the arrangement between the parties provides Saban Brands and Hasbro with the opportunity to initiate Hasbro’s purchase of the Power Rangers property.
Make sure to stay tuned this weekend and check out TokuNation in the coming days and weeks for more details!
Update – full press release after the break!
HASBRO NAMED GLOBAL MASTER TOY LICENSEE FOR SABAN’S POWER RANGERS
PAWTUCKET, R.I. AND LOS ANGELES – FEB. 16, 2018 – Today, Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS), a global play and entertainment company, and Saban Brands announced that Hasbro has been named the global master toy licensee for Saban’s Power Rangers. Under the terms of the agreement and in collaboration with Saban Brands, Hasbro will design, produce and bring to market a wide variety of toys, games and role play items inspired by the franchise and its entertainment properties. Hasbro will hold the worldwide rights, excluding Japan and certain other Asian markets, effective as of April 1, 2019.
“We are honored to create a world of play experiences for such an iconic action brand,” said Brian Goldner, Chairman and CEO of Hasbro. “Saban’s Power Rangers are universally recognized and their hallmark attributes of teamwork and inclusivity perfectly align with our core values at Hasbro.”
“Hasbro leads the way in brand storytelling and creating engaging experiences across its exceptional portfolio of blockbuster and partner brands,” said Haim Saban, founder of Saban Brands and creator of Power Rangers. “Quality, innovation and a focus on designing dynamic products for fans of all ages makes Hasbro a great partner for Power Rangers.”
Created by Haim Saban and launched in 1993, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers quickly became a pop culture phenomenon. Today, Power Rangers is one of the longest running kids’ live-action series in television history with nearly 900 episodes produced to date. The TV series, currently in its 25th season with Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel, and feature films, including 2017’s movie with Lionsgate, follows the adventures of a group of ordinary teens who morph into superheroes and save the world from evil. Saban’s Power Rangers currently airs in 150 markets around the world and is translated into numerous languages.
The first set of products from Hasbro will be available in spring 2019. Both Hasbro and Saban Brands are dedicated to continue growing this iconic brand. In recognition of this investment, during a period of time after Hasbro becomes the master toy licensee, the arrangement between the parties provides Saban Brands and Hasbro with the opportunity to initiate Hasbro’s purchase of the Power Rangers property.
About Hasbro
Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) is a global play and entertainment company committed to Creating the World’s Best Play Experiences. From toys and games to television, movies, digital gaming and consumer products, Hasbro offers a variety of ways for audiences to experience its iconic brands, including NERF, MY LITTLE PONY, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH, MONOPOLY, LITTLEST PET SHOP and MAGIC: THE GATHERING, as well as premier partner brands. Through Hasbro Studios and its film labels, Allspark Pictures and Allspark Animation, the Company is building its brands globally through great storytelling and content on all screens. Hasbro is committed to making the world a better place for children and their families through corporate social responsibility and philanthropy. Hasbro ranked No. 1 on the 2017 100 Best Corporate Citizens list by CR Magazine, and has been named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere Institute for the past six years.
Learn more at www.hasbro.com, and follow us on Twitter (@Hasbro & @HasbroNews) and Instagram (@Hasbro).
© 2018 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
About Saban’s Power Rangers
Saban’s Power Rangers franchise is the brainchild of Haim Saban, creator and producer of the original, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers hit series that launched in 1993. Following its introduction, “Power Rangers” quickly became the most-watched television program in the United States and remains one of the top-rated and longest running kids live-action series in television history. The series, currently in its 25thseason, follows the adventures of a group of ordinary teens who morph into superheroes and save the world from evil. It is seen in more than 150 markets, translated into numerous languages and a favorite on many key international children’s programming blocks around the world. For more information, visit www.powerrangers.com.
About Saban Brands
Formed in 2010 as an affiliate of Saban Capital Group, Saban Brands acquires, develops and manages a word-class portfolio of entertainment properties. Saban Brands applies a global 360-degree management approach to growing and monetizing its brands through content, digital, marketing, distribution, licensing and retail in markets worldwide. Saban Brands’ growing entertainment portfolio of brands includes Power Rangers, Rainbow Butterfly Unicorn Kitty, Paul Frank, Popples, Glitter Force, Cirque du Soleil Junior – Luna Petunia and La Banda, amongst many others. Saban Brands is headquartered in Los Angeles with a global network of offices. For more information, visit www.sabanbrands.com.
Confirmed: Power Rangers Moves to Hasbro in 2019 - The Toyark - News
Hasbro Becomes New Producer Of Power Rangers Toys! - Tokunation
Officially Confirmed - Hasbro To Release Power Rangers Figures From April 2019
Honestly, I am quite happy and relieved that the brand is going to Hasbro's capable hands. My biggest issue with Bandai America as of late was the drop in quality not just in their collector lines, but also the main lines targeted to kids. They also never had a good/ believable reason as to why this was the case, especially when other companies were able to do the same things they were with more quality for the same or better price point.
I'm a big legacy collector especially when it comes to the 6.5in figures. A lot of people think that the switch is going to mean the end of the legacy line, but I have a feeling Hasbro is going pick up right where Bandai left off. My fingers are crossed for Marvel legends styled Power Ranger figures( with appropriate sculpts accessories and good build a figures), articulated transformable megazords from more seasons than just MMPR and most importantly better distribution across the whole line.
So now is this going to be a situation where Bluefin can still distribute PR as adult collectibles or like it'll be like Star Wars and people will have to import all SH Figuarts releases?
There's no way Hasbro would disregard a collector line. While I do love the Legacy line, and would continue to support it, i'm ecstatic that Hasbro is taking over. We'll now get better sculpts, articulation, paint, alt heads, and multiple hands.
They literally have nowhere to go but up.
Marvel Legends?
Meh, imagine Marvel Universe in it's prime. That would be incredible.
I'd be tempted to collect them all and im only really a fan of MMPR->In Space and the 2017 movie.
Tbh, I'm hoping we eventually get some 3 3/4 inch offerings.
It's unlikely, but one can dream.
YES!!!! We might now get some quality Power Ranger toys!!!
On the other hand, there goes my Legacy Shogun Megazord!
Hmm ... interesting.
If the distribution is better, my son will be happy.
6 inch power ranger figures with good paint and detail? Similar to marvel legends.... im all in for that.
6 inch ML style figures from the original PR Movie! And Ivan Ooze!! Maybe I can finally get some villains-of-the-week for my figuarts Rangers to face off against too.
Marvel Legends/Marvel Universe-style Power Rangers would be pretty sweet, except Hasbro seems to have all but abandoned 1/18th-scale these days...
I'm confident the legacy role play toys have a safe future. The 6" figures will probably be improved at this might have more accessories and less BAZ, I'm hoping for something closer to SWBS than ML. My only worry is the zords. I know the giant brick isn't for everyone but I love them and zords builder. Losing that will suck. Especially if new zords or legacy zords have much of a style or scale change from what's already available. Overall this is probably for the best compared to how BoA has been handling things, but it's still change.
I would love to see a Legacy Line from Hasbro in the Marvel Legends/Black Series vein... but I would hope Hasbro would go the extra mile and give us non-Power Rangers, as well. Every PR series has had their iconic set of villains, enemy mook army-builders, and supporting characters, and it's high time someone tapped into that market for collector-level figures.
At the very least, individual weapons and non-helmeted heads for any Rangers they make would be amazing.
I'm inclined to assume, though, that they'll make the more kid-oriented lines their PR bread-and-butter... but Hasbro is nothing if not tuned in to what to sell to adult collectors.
I'm really bummed that Bandai never got around to making a life sized MMPR Black Ranger Helmet, plus I doubt that Hasbro will continue the non-figure legacy items. I'm sure role-play weapons will come out and be much more kid friendly, but they may not pair well with the Legacy weapons already released.
I am hopeful that Hasbro creates their own versions of the rangers and doesn't try and mimic the stuff that Bandai has already released. They got the license no reason why the "Legacy" line needs to continue I think they could make much better options honestly.
And just to repeat everyone else please give us quality villians! I don't think there has ever been a quality Rita or Goldar and that is sad that in 25 or so years no one has got those two right, or even attempted them in most scales.
Wow, now I kind of wish hasbro was in charge of the legacy zords and figures.
I am hopeful that Hasbro creates their own versions of the rangers and doesn't try and mimic the stuff that Bandai has already released. They got the license no reason why the "Legacy" line needs to continue I think they could make much better options honestly.
And just to repeat everyone else please give us quality villians! I don't think there has ever been a quality Rita or Goldar and that is sad that in 25 or so years no one has got those two right, or even attempted them in most scales.
I just hope they do army-builder figures, like Putties, Cogs, and the like. That's an itch that needs a severe scratching.
Best news of the day!!!
This seems really promising. Looking forward to what Hasbro makes for the line. Hopefully we get a good 4'' line and a good 6'' line. The Zords are definitely a curious thing though. Really hope they do Transformers crossovers as well as start using the Combiner Wars system so that consumers can swap transformers for limbs or zord limbs for Transformers combiners.
Where this really shines too is the potential for any movie merchandise. Can't wait to see how the Hasbro engineers handle that megazord. Praying there's a sequel now and really curious how they'll do the Kyu adaptation toys too. That series has tons of legacy potential in some of the designs and motifs.
And I especially hope they do a Scorpina 4'' figure! Her and the psycho rangers and movie rangers are outright on my top favorites list for 4'' next to jungle fury and the original 90s Movie. Would love to seem them do the Shogun Megazord too. A CW compatible ninja temple transformer would be freaking badass to own.
Roleplay legacy items will likely stay. Hasbro does enough of those for Marvel too. Plus this also will mean Nerf stuff for things like DinoCharge maybe. Even if the Legacy roleplay ones don't, I'd expect that a replica company will pick it up then.
I liked the Zord builder system in essence, but I do wish it was handled a bit more like the miniplay kits in how well it's integrated. Hopefully if Hasbro uses the CW system, they can still do Zord builder like compatibility but in a less obtrusive way. Absolutely love the concept of combining different megazords to make unique combinations from different series. That and the articulation have been why I prefered Minipla over the Bandai DX since about Magi. Magi being the last BoA Megazord I ever bought. Though I did like some of the JF figures and mini combining megazords. That JF Bike Megazord is still one of my faves.
Really glad that the only Legacy MMPR weapon I bought is the Dragon Dagger. I'd feel utterly boned by this news if I'd dropped the money on the Power Sword in hopes that they'd do all the weapons so you could combine them. And don't delude yourselves if you think that Hasbro will do them and they'd be compatible with the others. Honestly...I don't see why there's so much positivity around this. Just going by how Hasbro handles Star Wars, I wouldn't expect a grand amount of collector's style figures right away and I wouldn't expect weapons, Morphers, or communicators any time soon. Heck, it's taken Hasbro this long to even acknowledge that they're going to do a Black Series Vader helmet.
Good F-ing riddance. That shows how far off base Bandai America was with its Bandai Japan Sentai origins. I don't even remember the last year Bandai America released a JP Sentai mold. 2008? For Bandai America to lose the Power Rangers license. For shame. Really says something about the US arm of the company. And don't give me that crap about the Japanese toys being too expensive for the American market. They had no problem releasing ridiculously priced Legacy crap.
Whoa big win for hasbro!
Full Thread: Hasbro Gets Power Rangers License.
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