Top-selling Power Rangers Action Figures Can Be Found in One Out of Every Five U.S. Households

NEW YORK, Feb. 16, 2003 – Dominating as the perennial favorite among boys, Power Rangers action figures and toys continue to stand out as one of the top action figure brands since 1993. Building on the popularity of last year’s “Wild Force” series, Bandai America Incorporated unveiled the next incarnation of Power Rangers today with its biggest toy line to date: Power Rangers Ninja Storm. This year’s lineup includes a collection of new action figures, zords, playsets, vehicles and role play items, and introduces Power Rangers into new toy categories, such as die cast vehicles and collectible trading cards.

In 2002, the Power Rangers toy line generated recognition from some of the top consumer and toy industry experts and publications, earning a spot on NPDFunworld’s Top Growth Licenses, the Toy Industry Association’s “Century of Toys List,” the PlayDate 2002 “Hot 1’s to Watch” List, and Ebay’s Top 20 Hot Toy Picks.

Over the past 10 years, Bandai has produced more than 148 million Power Rangers toys, placing a Power Rangers action figure in one out of every five households. Moreover, the Power Rangers “Q score” in 2002 pushed the famous heroes ahead of Batman in terms of overall brand awareness.

“It has been amazing to watch the Power Rangers brand continue to build momentum over the years,” said Sean McGowan, veteran toy industry research analyst with Gerard Klauer Mattison. “You can be sure that any boy between the ages of four and eight knows who the Power Rangers are and what a ‘megazord’ is.”

“Power Rangers is a proven phenomenon – kids look for our toys each season, and Bandai is proud to bring these characters to life for 2003 with our biggest and best line ever,” said Bill Beebe, senior vice president of sales and marketing, Bandai America Inc. “We have a history of introducing new themes, characters, packaging and toys to ensure the continual reinvention of the Power Rangers brand. This year we continue to build the brand through our expansion into new categories, enabling us to introduce Power Rangers to a new generation of kids.”


“Power Rangers is a growing boys franchise property for The Walt Disney Company and will be supported by multiple lines of business, including consumer products, publishing, interactive and home entertainment,” said Adam Sanderson, senior vice president, Brand Marketing, ABC Cable Networks Group.

“Power Rangers Ninja Storm,” the 11th year of the phenomenal “Power Rangers” franchise, focuses on average teens who take on extraordinary powers of the legendary morphers and Super Megazords, and are transformed into superheroes challenged to defend Earth from the evil deeds of a wicked Ninja master. As of February 15, two episodes air Saturdays (11:30 a.m., ET/10:30 a.m., PT and 12:00 noon, ET/11:00 a.m., PT) on the ABC Television Network’s “ABC Kids” and, as of February 22, two episodes also air each weekend (Saturday and Sunday, 8:30 a.m., ET/PT) on ABC Family where “Power Rangers” is the cornerstone of the kids' action/adventure programming block, occupying 15 timeslots each week.

Bandai America has introduced a complete, expanded line of innovative and interactive Power Rangers products for the year, including new categories such as die cast cars and trading cards. Power Rangers Ninja Storm products range in price from $2.99 to $69.99 and can be found at all major retailers. This year’s key items include:

• Action Figures, such as the 6.5-inch Warrior Triple Zord Morphin Action Figures, which include three different modes of transformation: Ranger mode, Zord mode and Extreme Zord mode, and can transform without detaching any pieces.
• Playsets, such as the Mobile Control Center, which resembles the tractor-trailer from the television show. This detailed toy features a motorcycle launcher, missile firing action, lights, sounds and tons of cool playset action complete with three action figures.
• Vehicles, such as the Ninja Glider Cycles with 5-inch Power Rangers, that transform into Glider Mode without removing the figure.
• Role Play Items, including Ninja Mega Weapons. The two weapons, Ninja Thunder Blaster and Storm Striker combine to form one mega weapon, the Thunderstorm Cannon.
• Zords, including the Hurricane Command Megazord, which allows boys to transform the Megazord into helicopter mode and control all of the powers with an easy-to-grip joystick. This Megazord features lights, sounds, missile firing action and a Red Ranger figure.
• Die Cast Cars, a new category for Power Rangers, which includes a collection of eight Power Rangers Ninja Storm die cast mini cars and cycles with 1-inch Power Rangers to ride along inside, and the Mighty Mammoth Track Playset, a super fast race track and playset that allows the die cast cars to race around in pursuit of evil space aliens.
• Collectible Trading Cards, another part of the expansion of Power Rangers into new aisles, which incorporate Power Rangers-themed cards that kids can share, collect and trade with friends.

About Power Rangers

Over the past ten years, the Power Rangers have been on earth, in space, on the moon, under water, traveling through time, in the jungle and anywhere evil lurks. They’ve battled Rita Repulsa, Divatox, Master Org, Dark Spector, Toxica, Jindrax and many more evil-doers – villains who have been shrunk to miniatures, tossed in jail reduced to ooze or banished. Over time, the brand has maintained its themes of teamwork, honesty, loyalty, courage, family, friends and above all, the victory of good over evil.

About Bandai America

Bandai America Inc. is a subsidiary of Bandai Co. Ltd., the third largest toy company in the world, with 27 subsidiaries in 8 countries worldwide. Global interests include toys and children’s entertainment, video game software, multimedia, music, full-length feature films, vending machines, trading cards, candies and licensed apparel.

Bandai America Inc. is celebrating its 25th anniversary as the master toy licensee of some of the most popular properties and brands in children’s toys and entertainment, including the Power Rangers, Gundam, Digimon, Strawberry Shortcake and Hello Kitty product lines. Bandai America is headquartered in Cypress, California and company information is available at bandai.com.