Sentai

Sentai (戦隊, Sentai, literally "fighting squadron" or "task force") is a Japanese genre encompassing live-action team-based superhero television programs. It is characterized by teams of colorfully costumed heroes who use a combination of martial arts, weaponry, and giant mecha to battle monsters and villains.

The term "Sentai" is often associated with the Super Sentai (スーパー戦隊, Sūpā Sentai) series, a long-running franchise produced by Toei Company, Ltd., which began in 1975 with Himitsu Sentai Gorenger. Super Sentai series are known for their distinctive tropes, including a team of five or more members, each with a designated color and role; a transforming sequence; signature weapons and finishing moves; and giant robot battles.

Outside of the Super Sentai franchise, the term "Sentai" can also be used more broadly to refer to similar team-based superhero shows produced in Japan, although this is less common.

The Super Sentai franchise has had a significant cultural impact, particularly in Japan, and is also well-known internationally through its adaptation in the United States as the Power Rangers franchise. Power Rangers utilizes footage from the Super Sentai series, dubbed and edited for an American audience, with original American actors and storylines interwoven. This adaptation has introduced many viewers outside of Japan to the core concepts and visual style of the Sentai genre. The themes of teamwork, justice, and overcoming adversity are central to the appeal of Super Sentai.