V.R. Troopers

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13
(ended 1996)

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V.R. Troopers

Show Summary

Saban's VR Troopers was the first official "sister series" to the most popular "action fighting kid show" at the time, Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers. Much like it, this was an Americanization of a Japanese special effects children's program by Toei Company LTD. The show focused on three young adults in their late teens, Ryan Steele, Kaitlin Star, and J.B. Reese, living in the West Coast town of Cross World City. They regularly attended and were teachers at "Tao's Dojo", a karate studio (Ryan was the most focused martial artist, J.B. was the computer wizard, while Kaitlin was a photographer/budding reporter for the local newspaper, the Underground Voice Daily). One day, Ryan's search for his long missing father led him and his two friends to a strange laboratory. Inside, a digitized head of Ryan's father's friend, Professor Hart, explaind the truth about his life's work, having developed extremely advanced virtual reality technology in secret. VR is in actuality a dimension existing alongside our own, and within it lie mutants and monsters bent on conquering both worlds. The main ruler of them is a creature known as Grimlord, who, unbeknowst to anyone on Earth, has a human identity as billionaire industrialist Karl Ziktor. As he tries to break down the barriers of the true reality to allow his armies easy passage from virtual world, it's now up to Ryan, Kaitlin, and J.B. to defend the planet from both sides of the dimensional barrier. Luckily, they've got assistance, in the form of armored bodies with incredible firepower. This included eventual additions to their arsneal, such as a Turbo Cycle, Techno Bazooka, and a flying, laser-blasting Skybase! Other regular characters on the show included Jeb, Ryan's hound dog, who, after an accident in Prof. Hart's lab, is now capable of speech (and sounds like Jack Nicholson); Woody Stocker, Kaitlin's wacky hat-loving boss at the Underground Voice Daily; Percy Rooney, Kaitlin's bumbling rival reporter at the paper (and nephew of the mayor); and Tao, the wise martial arts sensei who owns the dojo. Recurring villains include General Ivar, a vicious rocket-shaped monster with his own tank; Colonel Icebot, a cold blooded virtual menace; Decimator, a sword-wielding warrior; the Skugs, gold headed foot soldiers, and more throughout. During the second season, the show changed format very slightly. Ryan's father was finally found, though he wouldn't remain safe for long. With him, came an upgrade to Ryan's V.R. armor. Grimlord switched from working in a dungeon to a massive spacecraft, and added new Generals such as DoomMaster (and his Vixens), Oraclon, and Despera. The Skugs now had the ability to become more powerful in the form of Ultra-Skugs! During the first season, footage of V.R. Ryan came from the 1987 Toei Metal Hero series, "Chou Jinki Metarudaar" (Super Man Machine Metalder). During the second season, V.R. Ryan's new form and villains came from the 1984 Toei series "Uchuu Keiji Shaidaa" (Space Sheriff Shaider. Both seasons. V.R. J.B. and V.R. Kaitlin's footage came from the 1986 Toei Metal Hero series "Jikuu Senshi Supiruban" (Dimension Warrior Spielban). Original footage was more common in the second season than the first. Saban's VR Troopers was a co-production of: Toei Company, LTD. and Cyberprod, Inc. It was originally copyrighted by Saban Entertainment, Inc. and Saban International, N.V., which is now known as BVS Entertainment, Inc (a part of the Walt Disney Company). _The theme song (written by Shuki Levy & Kussa Mahchi):_ Countdown control Four, three, two, one We are, we are VR, We are, we are VR, We are, we are VR, We are, we are VR! Troopers three (go!), Virtual Reality Troopers three (go!), Virtual Reality Troopers three (go!), Virtual Reality Troopers three (go!), Virtual Reality Four, three, two, one We are, we are VR, We are, we are VR, We are, we are VR, We are, we are VR! Troopers three (go!), Virtual Reality Troopers three (go!), Virtual Reality Troopers three (go!), Virtual Reality Troopers three (go!) We are, we are VR!moreless

Episode Guide

S 2 :  Ep 40 Aired 2/21/96
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S 2 :  Ep 39 Aired 2/20/96
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S 2 :  Ep 38 Aired 2/13/96
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S 2 :  Ep 37 Aired 2/12/96
S 2 :  Ep 37
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Cast & Crew

Brad Hawkins

Brad Hawkins

Ryan Steele
Sarah Brown

Sarah Brown

Kaitlin Star
Michael Bacon

Michael Bacon

J.B. Reese
Gardner Baldwin

Gardner Baldwin

Karl Ziktor, Grimlord (voice)
Richard Rabago

Richard Rabago

Tao Chong
Aaron Pruner

Aaron Pruner

Percival "Percy" Rooney III
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Fan Reviews (9)

SUBMIT REVIEW

  • This show was cool back in the day. But you could tell that the action sequences didn't go wel together.Every time the same airbatlles and finishing moves.

    7.0
    By baskok, Nov 06, 2011
    I liked the story of Ryan who lost his father and then he and his friends see him in the vr world then they get their suits and Battle grimlords forces. The overall look of the show was darker then mmpr. The suits were cooler. But it was a litlle bit too much like mmpr. I enjoyed the characters on the show like Ryan JB and pretty girlKaitlin. She looked hot and fit! But on the other hand the actionsequencingwere getting old quickly they should just made themtheir selvesand not use theJapaneseones. Itdefinitelycheapened the feel of the show.moreless

  • "We are, we are...VR, Troopers three GO! Virtual Reality.."

    7.0
    By DaveChristie1, Jun 17, 2010
    I absolutely loved this show when I was younger, it was shown in the mornings on GMTV in the UK and was a very much under-rated kids show. Timing wise it closely followed the buzz created by the infamous Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and provided Saban with yet another merchandising line. The program was very similar in format to Power Rangers in that the good guys were a group of teenagers (3 to Power Rangers 5) and would be faced each episode with a perilous enemy that kicked their asses until they transformed into their Virtual Reality counterparts.



    They did this by screaming "Trooper Transform" and then after a video montage the VR Troopers would appear to save the day.moreless

  • It was okay.

    6.5
    By cactusjack39, Feb 25, 2009
    I had a hard time getting into this show. I started on Power Rangers and this show felt like a cheaper version. As a kid, I watched it when I got the chance. The thing is, it never was around long enough to make any impact. I think it only lasted for 2 or 3 seasons. My favorite parts of the show had to be where there was a talking dog that acted stupid. Another part was when the troopers changed into their super costumes. Overall, I must say that this was an okay show that was decent enough to be entertaining. Thank you.moreless

  • VR Troopers, by the same creator of Power Rangers, SABAN brings forth the story of three young adults who enforce the powers of 'virtual reality' in order to protect their city and the world from the evil Grimlord - the master of the virtual world!moreless

    10
    By Dave82517, Apr 23, 2007
    Not many people did enjoy this show as to my knowledge. There were many people i knew who did not like it and tried refering it to other great kids action shows with no success. I think it was very unappreciated in its time. But then again, a lot of people don't appreciate good work and storytelling when they see it. A pity really since, once you get in to it, you can really enjoy this series. VR troopers was a great idea but did evolve to its full potential and i feel that not a lot of special effort was put in to it by its creators to make it as big and brilliant as i think it should have been. If you get the chance to watch all of the series, you won't miss out since there are some great stories withing its 'Trooper Core'moreless

  • SOme things could have been improved

    2.2
    By fifetv, Jan 15, 2007
    they could have had a finale of the troopers discovering grimlord\\\'s identity, Grimlord having a last ditch effort of conquering reality, a final battle between grimlord and his destruction, what happens to ziktor, the troopers retiring from troopers and ryan and kaitlin\\\'s feelings for eath other revealed. but no they ended the series with an episode resembled



    what has ruined it with the show with me, I am super ultra mega big time miffed that the troopers never discover that ziktor is grimlord (that would be like joker discovering bruce is batman or shredder discovering where the turtles lair is) and that would have gone down as the best moment in history of the show. I bet the troopers would not be all that shocked as they have had to fight Ziktor\\\'s ruthless projects like tearing something down for like a power plant or whatever and he had total control over the mayor. I wonder how cross wolrd city have felt.



    they never gave into detail on the indigo sector.



    I am mad at the Toys, they never made grimlord, Icebot, a lot of the season 2 villians, a playset of hte lab, I could not find the battle grid figures, Ivar or Jeb, series 2 was very very very hard to find.



    WHY WAs grimlord always in his throne in the first season, I remember seeing him out of that in one episode



    two things they tricked us. in defending dark hart, they said the only way to break the link to dark heart was to terminate grimlord, which never happened. in grimlord\\\'s dark secret there was a chance they had of discovering grimlord is ziktor, but that never happened and I am miffed, I am happy saban went out as they cheated us out of them discovering ziktor is grimlordmoreless
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More Info About This Show

Categories

Kids, Science Fiction

Themes

Thrillers, Futuristic

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