VR Troopers
Three teens defend two worlds from virtual reality mutants.
VR Troopers, a live-action superhero show from Saban Entertainment, aired in syndication from 1994 to 1996. It was the first show to follow Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, combining Japanese tokusatsu footage from three Metal Hero series with the mid-1990s virtual reality craze.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Science fiction
- Superhero
- Action-adventure
- Tokusatsu
- Creator
- Haim Saban
- Shuki Levy
- Toei Company
- Based on
- Metal Hero Series by Toei Company
- Voices
- Gardner Baldwin
- Kerrigan Mahan
- Michael Sorich
- Mike Reynolds
- Richard Epcar
- Dave Mallow
- Country
- United States; Japan
- Language
- English
- Executive producers
- Haim Saban; Shuki Levy
- Producer
- Robert Hughes
Facts from the source article.
Plot
Three teenagers in the fictional California town of Cross World City—Ryan Steele, Kaitlin Star, and J.B. Reese—train and teach at Tao's Dojo. Ryan is the most dedicated martial artist, J.B. is a computer expert, and Kaitlin works as a photojournalist for the Underground Voice Daily. While searching for Ryan's missing father, they find a lab where a digitized head named Professor Horatio Hart reveals his secret virtual reality technology. The VR dimension exists alongside our own and is home to mutants who want to conquer both worlds. Their leader, Grimlord, hides on Earth as billionaire Karl Ziktor. As Ziktor tries to break through the dimensional barrier, the three teens defend the planet with armored suits and powerful weapons, later adding a Turbo Cycle, Techno Bazooka, VR Troopertron, VR Shoulder Cannon, VR Battlecruiser/Interceptor, and a flying Skybase. Recurring villains include General Ivar, Colonel Icebot, Decimator, and the Skugs. In season two, Ryan's father Tyler is found and restored, then leaves to research VR technology. Ryan gets new armor and upgraded powers. Grimlord's base becomes a large spacecraft, and new generals appear, including Oraclon, Despera, Doom Master and his Vixens. The Skugs can now become more powerful as Ultra Skugs.
Production
In pre-production, the series was known as Psycon and Cybertron, each focusing on a single hero rather than a team. The Psycon pilot script featured Adam Steele merging with the cyborg Psycon, with Grimlord as Cyrus Ritker leading Cyberdrones. The Cybertron pilot starred Jason David Frank as Adam Steele, drawing footage from Metalder, with Grimlord as Cyrus Rikter and a pair of bumbling reporters. Its theme song was based on Ron Wasserman's Go Green/White Ranger Go. Like Power Rangers, VR Troopers combined American footage with Japanese fight scenes from three Metal Hero Series: Metalder, Spielban, and Shaider. Metalder provided footage for Ryan's season one suit, Grimlord, the Virtual Dungeon, and other elements. Spielban supplied footage for J.B.'s and Kaitlin's suits, Ivar, Icebot, skugs, and battle scenes. Space Sheriff Shaider provided season two footage, including Ryan's new suit and ultra-skugs.
Home media
In the U.S., five VHS releases were issued: Lost Memories, Oh Brother, Computer Captive, Error in the System, and Virtual V6, each with a bonus music video. In the U.K., two VHS volumes were released through PolyGram Video and 4 Front Video. In the 2000s, four DVDs were released by FOX Kids Europe/Jetix Europe and Maximum Entertainment Ltd., including three single-disc volumes and a Mega-Disc. All episodes were available on Netflix from June 15, 2011, to February 1, 2021. In 2015, episodes appeared on Kabillion. Tubi began streaming the series in June 2025, and it became available on Roku as of May 2025. Shout! Factory released VR Troopers: Season 1, Volume 1 on October 2, 2012; Season 1, Volume 2 on January 8, 2013; and Season 2, Volume 1 on May 14, 2013. Season 2, Volume 2 was cancelled due to poor sales but eventually released as a Shout! Select title on January 14, 2014.
Other media
In 1995, Marvel Comics published a five-issue flipbook mini-series titled Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Ninja Rangers/VR Troopers. In Mighty Morphin Power Rangers issue 53, Ryan, Kaitlin, and J.B. were mentioned as candidates for the Green Ranger. The team appeared in the Power Rangers Prime comic series from BOOM! Studios, which also launched a VR Troopers miniseries in 2025 written by Mairghread Scott. Video games include Jeb's Rescue, Ryan's Challenge, and JB's Battle for MGA's Game Wizard; a Tiger handheld game; a 1995 Sega Genesis and Game Gear game; and a Milton Bradley board game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who created VR Troopers?
VR Troopers was created by Haim Saban, Shuki Levy and Toei Company.
Which network aired VR Troopers?
VR Troopers aired on Broadcast syndication.
How many episodes of VR Troopers are there?
VR Troopers has 92 episodes across 2 seasons.
When did VR Troopers first air?
VR Troopers first aired on 3 September 1994.
More in American Children's Science Fiction Television Series
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