Super Sentai is not officially confirmed to be ending permanently. The current anniversary season is concluding, but neither Toei Company nor TV Asahi has announced a franchise cancellation, so talk of a permanent Super Sentai ending remains speculation. The near-term possibilities include a hiatus, a format refresh, or a new show occupying the same broadcast block.
What is Super Sentai?
Super Sentai is Toei’s long-running Japanese team-based superhero series, a pillar of tokusatsu television that began in 1975 and inspired the American Power Rangers adaptations. Each year typically launches a new, self-contained season with a fresh cast, suits, mecha, and storyline, while sharing the brand’s color-coded team formula.
Each Super Sentai season is a standalone story with a new team, so there is no single multi-thousand-episode plot that needs one grand finale.
Since 2003, Super Sentai has aired alongside Kamen Rider in TV Asahi’s weekly “Super Hero Time” block, making it a fixture of Japanese weekend programming.
Is Super Sentai ending?
The latest season is wrapping up, which is fueling rumors. However, as of the time of writing there has been no public, official notice from Toei Company or TV Asahi that the franchise is permanently cancelled. Japanese broadcasters often keep next-year plans quiet until formal unveilings, and Toei has previously paused or reshaped sister franchises before continuing them.
At the time of writing, no permanent cancellation has been publicly confirmed by Toei or TV Asahi.
What could happen next: a one-year hiatus, a rebrand that changes the team format, or a successor show that still serves the same audience in the Super Hero Time slot.
Why are people saying it might end?
Three factors drive the chatter:
- Milestone timing: An anniversary season is a natural breakpoint to reassess or refresh a brand of this age.
- Market dynamics: Industry watchers point to shifting toy and merchandise performance and the stronger recent momentum of Kamen Rider, which also airs in the same block.
- Format fatigue: After decades, creators sometimes experiment with new hero formats to keep the audience engaged.
None of these, by themselves, equal a confirmed shutdown. They explain why a hiatus or retooling is plausible.
What would a hiatus or rebrand mean?
Tokusatsu history suggests pauses do not always equal endings. Kamen Rider had notable gaps in the late 1970s and 1990s before returning in force. The Metal Hero line ended as a weekly show in the 1990s but has been revived in specials and crossovers. Super Sentai could similarly pause, change its naming, or test a different team structure while remaining spiritually continuous.
Tokusatsu is a production style, not a single title. Formats evolve, but the core blend of suit action, mecha, and special effects tends to persist.
What does this mean for Power Rangers?
Power Rangers historically adapted suits and action footage from Super Sentai, but it is not strictly dependent on it. Recent entries have used more original material, and future Power Rangers adaptation strategies could mix Sentai elements with fully original productions. In short, even if Super Sentai paused, Power Rangers could continue with different sourcing or creative approaches.
Where can you watch Super Sentai with English options?
Availability varies by region, but legal options include:
- TokuSHOUTsu / Shout! Factory TV: Rotating seasons, free ad-supported streaming and physical releases. See the service hub.
- Pluto TV: Free ad-supported channels sometimes carry Sentai seasons in rotation. Visit Pluto TV and search locally.
- Tubi: Some regions host select Super Sentai seasons for free with ads. Check Tubi and search for specific titles like Zyuranger or Kakuranger.
Catalogs change regularly due to licensing. Physical media releases can be the most reliable way to watch specific seasons in order.
How will we know for sure what happens next?
Watch official channels and trade reporting:
- Toei Company announcements and franchise portals
- TV Asahi schedules for the Super Hero Time block
- Bandai toy reveals that often preview suits and mecha for upcoming shows
Until those sources publish definitive guidance, treat any “final episode ever” claims as unconfirmed.