Himitsu Sentai Gorenger, which began in 1975, is the series that started the entire Super Sentai franchise. Before Gorenger, there had been Japanese superhero teams and transforming heroes, but Gorenger established the basic formula that would eventually become associated with Super Sentai: a color-coded team of heroes working together against a powerful enemy organization.

The team consisted of five members, each with a distinctive color and personality. Akarenger served as the leader, while Aorenger, Kirenger, Momoranger, and Midoranger completed the original team. That basic five-member structure would become one of the most recognizable traditions in Japanese superhero television.

Gorenger was also different from many later Sentai seasons because it was not originally built around giant robots. The team relied primarily on individual weapons, vehicles, teamwork, and military-style tactics. The giant-robot tradition that became almost inseparable from Super Sentai came later.

The series was created by Shotaro Ishinomori, one of Japan’s most influential manga and tokusatsu creators. Ishinomori’s involvement helped give Gorenger a strong mixture of superhero action, espionage, science fiction, comedy, and adventure.

The importance of Gorenger can’t really be overstated. Every later Super Sentai series exists in a franchise that began with those five heroes. Even when later seasons completely changed their themes, they continued building on the basic team-hero concept Gorenger established.