TokuNation.com Interview with Bandai of America at NYCC 2013
 

Our administrator Sentai Tamashii sat down with Brehan Maul of Bandai of America who was kind enough to answer a variety of questions that we submitted from you, our users. So let's dive straight in to them, shall we?

Regarding the Legendary Morpher
For starters - yes, the Legendary Morpher does open and close clam-shell like, just like the show. Also, the keypad is fully functional. Each Ranger Key is unique, and will unlock a unique sound when used. Also, when you turn certain keys in immediate sequence (example: Super Megaforce Red, then Blue, then Green, then Yellow, then Pink) you will unlock a special sound. There will be many special combinations that will be leaked after release. It was not stated outright, but it was implied that the Legendary Morpher has a larger sound-bank than the Gokaiger Mobirate.

Regarding Ranger Keys
While they couldn't come right out and say if we would be getting a Ranger Key of any of the exclusive Power Rangers (Titanium, Elephant, Shark, Bat), it was stated that yes, Super Megaforce will have USA exclusive Ranger Keys that Japan did not get. Again, each key is unique and will unlock a special sound in the Legendary Morpher. Also, each key has a graphic that you can scan with an upcoming app that will then unlock that Power Ranger in the app.

Regarding Legacy items for Collectors
For starters, if you thought the Legacy Dragon Dagger looked impressive, check out this fact - the sample is all plastic! The final release will not be all plastic, though they did state that for safety reasons, the blade of the dagger will NOT be diecast metal. And for those wondering - the Legacy Dragon Dagger and Legacy Dragonzord are NOT the final Legacy items. There are more planned. Bandai of America would like to move on to series other than Mighty Morphin but nothing is planned at this time. So the future Legacy items will continue to be Mighty Morphin themed.

Regarding the Power Rangers Action Card Game
The Power Rangers ACG will continue through Super Megaforce.

Again, a huge thank you to Brehan Maul from Bandai of America for taking the time to not only answer our questions, but to GET answers he didn't have, as well as putting up with some of Sentai Tamashii's technical difficulties. We will have a video of this interview after the convention is over.

So what do you think? We will do a quick run-by follow up on Sunday, so if we missed anything dire (they can't always comment on things because marketing is different than development and some things aren't finalized) please feel free to post it here.

Exciting year ahead of us!

Oh God I'm so pumped for the Legendary Morpher now.

So, i took it as a possibility of a Legacy Thunder Megazord and White Tiger Zord. That would be quite awesome.

... Please God O-O

While it'd be unrealistic to expect a Legacy Jungle Pride, I would very much like to see a Legacy Ninja Megazord (Falcon included, hopefully).
...Oh, and I guess a Legacy brick house would be neat too, if it included a white arm. Legacy Battleborgs, too!

Anyway, I kind of figured they wouldn't make the blade of the Dragon Dagger metal. They can aim it at collectors and stamp "15+" on the box all they want, parents will still get them for kids, and kids will beat the hell out of their siblings with it :lol

Keep the faith alive :lol

Unique sounds for each key eh? The legendary morpher is more than welcome in my collection then!

Good to see them moving in a better direction with more Legacy stuff. While I don't like to have PR equivalents of my sentai robos, Zyuranger through GoGoV can be pricey. So I'll take a cheaper alternative where and when it's possible.

Good to know the Legendary Morpher has a lot more sounds. But I feel I have to point out that it may not necessarily equal more in terms of quality. The Gosei Morpher used quite a few generic sound effects that weren't as elaborate as the Tensouder. I'm 50/50 on whether the inclusion of more sounds is an improvement or not. Honestly it could be a series of reused sounds slightly tweaked.

What I'm still really interested to know is if they plan to produce more original Grand Powers upgrade mecha than were originally present in Gokaiger. I don't expect them to be very elaborate but the mere inclusion of something like the "Red Zeo Battle Tank" is cool. It definitely shows a willingness on BOA's part to be creative again. If they could repeat a similar process for other ranger shows that won't have a "Legendary Machine" counterpart from Gokaiger then they could even sell someone like me on their line. And I don't mean the generic motorcycles as legs and arms things they always do. I mean legitimate additional zords/vehicles.

They would have my money faster then you could say super special awesome if they announced those.

Mega and Dragon are great.. But The Thunderzords are my favorites.

Same here. And considering how much a genuine Dairenoh costs, this would be a god send.

the action card game is going to continue through super megaforce?

BEST NEWS EVER!

Legacy Titanus?

Bring on more Kaiju & Jaegers! :D

Called it!

Does anybody know if they will reissue the 2013 Legacy Megazord into stores? It's gone up too high in price on the secondary market. Maybe they'll make a giftset with the Dragonzord?

Now, I have a reason to buy that damn Morpher. Oh, Bandai >=\

...I want Super Megaforce so damn bad.

I don't know about anyone else but local TRU has been getting cases of them fairly regularly every few weeks. They had 4 I think this morning and several Legacy Morphers and mask sets.

Great! More legacy items? How about legacy die cast zeo, in space, and turbo, morphers? Drool!!!

Ninjetti coins...

Oh yes! We need him to complete the trio!

They have plenty here now. Depends on which r us you go to. New York r us had like 30 of both. Yes it's a higher mark up because of location. But it's there alright. Same as all those htf mp transformers. Plenty of them.

you can still buy it on toysrus.com

Did they give an official release date for the Dragonzord yet?

We'll I now have to buy the Megaforce toys and then the following month Super Megaforce, it looks like it is going to be a busy month(s).

The Legacy Morpher sounds more and more radical every time I hear about it. As long as the Ranger Keys are easy to get en masse, then I might actually go for it, even though I usually abstain from roleplay items.

So the Legendary morpher is gonna have unique sounds? Fine Bandai, you win, Ill buy it... Right after I get a Mobirates too....

I don't think anyone was actually expecting the dragondagger's blade to be diecast. That said, I do hope that a significant amount of it's outer shell is diecast. It's good to hear that there are more Legacy items on the way. I imagine Titanus will probably be the next zord. Maybe the bladeblaster could be the role-play item released alongside it. All of the Thunderzords and Saba would make great future additions to the line.

The new morpher sounds interesting, but I have to admit, I'm more interested in the keys themselves. Have they said anything about how the keys will be released. I know some have been shown to be included with other toys, but I can't imagine they'll all be released like that. If I could by the entire MMPR team's keys in one set, that would be great.

Should have asked about bringing the old Mugenbine line over to the US, I honestly think they'd be a big hit. Would be nice to be able to collect them without the hassle you have to go through to do so.

That said, not a bad interview.

All of the Thunderzords and Saba would make great future additions to the line

I honestly think those could be the last ones to be realeased in the line.

So much yes!

Good to know they're planning on expanding the Legacy line beyond Mighty Morphin'. Maybe then we could get the Thunderzords, the first set of Zords I owned as a wee lad when I got into Power Rangers.

Complete with gray thigh-guards and a green face for the Lion Zord!

Can someone ask if there is potential for more Gokai machines stateside? Because so for I've got PatStriker, MagiDragon, Red Battlezord, GaoLion/Lion Origami, and the potential Machalcon.

Who would be next?

Assumedly Fuuraimaru/Mini-Zord from Hurricaneger/Ninja Storm.

I'll believe the Legendary Morpher competing with the Mobirates when I see it. It's good to be optimistic, but unless I get a "TUUUUUUUUUUUUURBO!!", I'm going to be disappointed.

If you count the Zord Builder compatible motorcycles too, there's Lightspeed Rescue and Time Force bikes coming too.

I feel that the next Zord to be released would be the Tigerzord instead of Titanus. I may be wrong but as long as a Tigerzord is available I'll be happy.

I tend not to count those things. The bikes they do are something they always do that don't tend to be very original. They're just kind of generic is all, the Red Zeo Battle Tank however is very original. Give me more of that.

I always regretted not buying those Samurai ZB Cycles. They looked really fun, and it's a trend I hope continues.

I do believe that a Legacy Tigerzord will bw made, but I think they'll get Titanus out there before it. The tooling already exists from the 2010 version, and it would also complete this first set of zords. Then they could get to work on the Thunderzords. Which even though I'ved passed on the Dino Megazord, and don't plan on getting the Dragonzord, I have a feeling that I would go all in for a set of Thunderzords. Including Tor, even though I think they would probably just skip him.

When can we expect to see the US Super Megaforce morpher in stores?