The fabled Zyu2 footage isn't as fabled as it once was, thanks to some generous footage leaks. We now have a better understanding of what Season 2 excised when editing in the Thunder Megazord while cutting (Dino) Megazord/Daizyujin. However, I thought of something with those footage reveals. As we see with Turbanshell as he battles the Tyrannosaurus, he makes an obvious "F-U" gesture with his claws in Clip 72 of the Turbanshell footage set! Not surprisingly, Season 2 cut the scene just before he motions in that manner.

Did the Zyu2 deal give no restrictions to Toei regarding the filming? Did Toei not see the move as potentially controversial? Did Toei intentionally film that gesture with the knowledge that it would be cut, intending the move to be direct criticism not toward the Tyrannosaurus but toward Saban and his people, with Turbanshell essentially acting as Toei's "representative" in that moment!?

https://www.grnrngr.com/zyu2/monsters/turbanshell

As far as I’m aware, that gesture isn’t as offensive in Japan as it is in America. Heck, America is the one place it is offensive.

And it's so specific it's easily something they wouldn't know about. Makes enough sense to me

Has there ever been an actor/ actress of Japanese descent to have played a Ranger?

As far as I can tell, besides stuntmen, no. Ironically, we’ve had three seasons based on Japanese warriors, with one Asian character each. The first one was Malay, the second was Korean and the third was Desi (south-east Asian)

I believe the current Red is

The Retro Style MOTU figures are everywhere now, but not something I think too much about... until I saw what was shown in the included photo!

How did Mighty Morphin' Season 3 get away with using the same name!? Did the MOTU trademark go lax in the '90s? Have the rights to that name been renewed by MOTU trademark, preventing the name from being used by Hasbro even if they wanted to?

Masters of the Universe was pretty dead during the 90's, and a look at the box of the 90's Ninjor zord indicates either Saban or Bandai help the copyright. There's always the chance that MOTU never bothered trademarking the original name - Transformers was much the same during the 90's, and it's why there were often "close enough" names during the 2000's until they reclaimed most of the ones people cared about because other companies let them drop.

EDIT - I've checked for more recent uses, and as of the nw Playskool Heroes line, Ninjor is being usd without a Trademark, prsumably because Mattel and/or MOTU pickd it back up after Power Rangers stopped caring about it!

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/tLEAA...OQv/s-l640.jpg

https://pwrrngr.com/wp-content/uploa..._Ninjor_01.jpg

How good was the Super Nintendo Zeo Battle Racers cart? I found a spot which has a copy, but I would like a feel for what it's like before I commit.

I was watching

Boy Meets World
Saved By The Bell
Sister Sister

all 3 on DVD which had a screen ratio of 1:33:1.
I buy 90s shows on DVD.

Was this the case for MMPR - RPM from Shout Factory who had gotten Saved By The Bell?

The old 90s shows on TV had black bars on the side.

This too was the case when I watched Sabrina The Teenaged Witch for one slot and Family Matters (1 episode) on Hulu.
Black bars on the side.