Lost and Found in Translation
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Lost and Found in Translation is an episode of the American children's television program Power Rangers: Dino Thunder, the eleventh incarnation of the Power Rangers series. As with all Power Rangers: Dino Thunder episodes, it is loosely adapted from, and uses certain footage from, a Japanese tokusatsu program produced as part of the Super Sentai franchise, 2003's Bakuryuu Sentai Abaranger.
What makes Lost and Found in Translation unique, however, is that it uses the action footage, as well as footage of the original Japanese Abaranger actors, under the pretense of a dubbed, late night television series within the series. This episode marks the first appearance of the original, Japanese Super Sentai actors appearing in Power Rangers. Lost and Found in Translation was originally broadcast on ABC Family on June 13, 2004, and is the 19th in Dino Thunder's first and only season. The Abaranger episode that is the source of the footage is the 10th.
The title for this episode was taken from the 2003 movie, Lost in Translation, starring Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson and directed by Sofia Coppola.
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[edit] Plot summary
The Power Rangers, Conner McKnight, Kira Ford, and Ethan James, are watching television late one night, and discover an unusual dubbed Japanese program that is seemingly based on their own adventures as Power Rangers. Troubled by what he sees as a mockery of their heroic efforts, Conner turns off the program.
Ethan, ignoring Conner's qualms, continues to watch. On the program, the villain reveals that his plan is to use wigs to take over the world, further upsetting Conner. When he sees a scene with "Whacker Wilson", an American baseball player, extolling the virtues of money and expressing his belief that it is the key to happiness (after the Japanese Blue Ranger fixes his back), Conner feels that the program is not only making a mockery of the Power Rangers, but of American culture as well.
However, when the Power Rangers triumphantly defeat the villain in an action-packed finale, Conner is able to see the other side of the story. Inspired by the courage and heroics displayed by the Japanese Rangers, Conner is able to look back on the program and take it in a better light. Afterward, he writes an essay entitled "Japanese vs. American Culture - Closer Than We Think.", learning lessons both about the importance of diversity and, he says, the fun of watching foreign TV.
[edit] Adaptation
The Abaranger footage that was used was mostly left intact, though several cuts were made for various reasons. In addition, the translation is, for the most part, accurate according to the general plot of the episode, although most of the lines were deliberately altered for comedic purposes; for example, the scene where Lije attacks Jeanne — in the original, she was simply berating her for her failure to complete the mission, whereas in Lost and Found in Translation, she attacks her for stealing her hairspray. Another is when Ryouga suggested to deposit the money the torinoid fired while in the dub, he wondered how much money Yukito had. Most of the characters named are changed as well.
Content edits include the removal of scenes where Asuka sits in a bathroom, about to vomit due to Yukito's curry, and an overjoyed Bucky Bonds thanks Yukito with a kiss. Two moments featuring a police officer wielding a gun. A scene featuring Bakuryuu Tricera chatting with the Abaranger team was cut for unknown reasons, despite the fact that he also talked to Yukito/Abareblue earlier in the episode on Yukito's brace. An Abareguts/Super Dino Mode battle is cut and it could be for time purposes (mainly because Asuka had Abareguts whereas Tommy had yet to receive Super Dino Mode). The mecha battle and Whacker Wilson's farewell scene were also cut, for time. A scene featuring the board game Monopoly was cut for legal reasons.
The reason for these changes, rather than a straight adaptation of the Sentai episode, is unknown, but the dialogue between the three Rangers at the end hints at a particular theme. Essentially, it was not the purpose of the episode to merely display "the Japanese version of Power Rangers," but instead, to make a statement about Power Rangers' own nature as an adaptation, and make some tongue-in-cheek knocks at itself and the concept of dubbing from one series to another - indeed, many such conventions (the non-Japanese names for the characters, the comedic emphasis, etc.), are knocks at things done not just by Power Rangers, but anime dubs, and translations of live action shows.
In the end, the message seems to be - "There's one version, but it's the differences that make them unique."
[edit] Name changes
The characters' name changed in the dub. Not all of the characters' names were mentioned.
- Asuka - Mikey
- Yukito Sanjou - Kenny Yukito
- "Bucky" Bones - Whacker Wilson
- Yokota - Mr. O'Shaugnessy
- Jeanne - Missy
- Torinoid #9 Bank Mushroom - Ka-Ching
[edit] Trivia
- The Japanese counterpart of Whacker Wilson actually spoke English in the Japanese Version. However, he was redubbed to say many different things.
- If the Aba Rangers threw an Irish man away to preserve their identities, why did they reveal themselves to Whacker Wilson? The Blue Aba Ranger even revealed himself to Wilson, stating that he is a Power Ranger.
[edit] External links
- Lost and Found in Translation at the Internet Movie Database
- Sodders.net comparison
- Lost and Found in Translation at Power Rangers Central
| Power Rangers |
|---|
| Television series: |
| Mighty Morphin Power Rangers - Alien Rangers - Zeo - Turbo - Space - Lost Galaxy - Lightspeed Rescue - Time Force |
| Wild Force - Ninja Storm - Dino Thunder - S.P.D. - Mystic Force - Operation Overdrive |
| Movies |
| Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie - Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie |
| Select episodes |
| Day of the Dumpster - Green with Evil - The Wedding - Ninja Quest - Hogday Afternoon Chase Into Space - Countdown to Destruction - Forever Red - Legacy of Power Back in Black - Lost and Found in Translation - Fighting Spirit - Mystic Fate |
| Characters |
| Rangers - Zords - Villains - Enemy grunts - Monsters - Other Characters |
| Related series from Saban |
| VR Troopers - Masked Rider - Big Bad Beetleborgs - The Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog |
| Other related series |
| Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad - Tattooed Teenage Alien Fighters from Beverly Hills |
| See also |
| Fox Kids - ABC Kids - ABC Family - Toon Disney - Jetix - Saban - Disney - Super Sentai |
