Bandai America Celebrates Power Rangers’ 15th Season with Versatile Lineup Based on New Treasure Hunting Themed Series

(CYPRESS, CA – January 2, 2007) – To coincide with the brand’s milestone 15th season on air, the Power Rangers return next year with a compelling new treasure-seeking series called Power Rangers Operation Overdrive. In early 2007, Bandai America Incorporated will offer enhanced play value with more sound features, transforming action, collectibility and interconnectivity across its perennially popular lineup of figures, vehicles, Megazords and role-play toys. Once again, Bandai America has brought the classic theme of good always triumphing over evil to life for kids with their most versatile toy line yet.

“Bandai America is set to celebrate the evergreen success of the Power Rangers brand with a new breakthroughtoy line that really allows young kids to live, breathe and play like their favorite Power Rangers hero,” said Matt Golding, director of marketing. “This expanded lineup for Operation Overdrive features more transforming toys than ever before, and new role-play accessories that truly deliver on the show’s themes by allowing kids to play out the treasure hunting adventures in unique ways.”

In the latest iteration of the Power Rangers’ story, evil forces have discovered the fabled “Crown Aurora,” which is said to give unstoppable power to anyone who reunites the crown with its missing jewels. To stop evil from taking over the world, five brave teens will set out on an exciting global treasure hunt to track down these magnificent jewels. The quest will be filled with action, adventure, mind-crunching puzzles and spectacular battles.

Beginning in March 2007, Power Rangers Operation Overdrive will air 57 times a week on Toon Disney’s JETIX action/adventure block and on ABC Kids. This perpetually popular boys’ franchise from The Walt Disney Co. continues to be a major success due to the yearly refresh of themes, great action sequences and good over evil premise. Much of its popularity can also be attributed to Bandai America and Disney creating a seamless brand story that translates from the television series to retail, enabling kids to play out the adventures as their favorite Power Ranger hero in their own homes.

“As the longest running kids’ show to date, Power Rangers is Disney Consumer Products’ largest boys franchise, and special tributes are being planned for its 15th season on air,” said Heather Rubaum, director of boys/film franchise, Disney Consumer Products. “In addition to special-edition product, JETIX on-air stunts and a new Power Rangers Supersite at www.powerrangers.com, we’re planning some special fan-driven events that audiences of season 1 to season 15 can all enjoy.”
Power Rangers Operation Overdrive products can be found at all major retailers nationwide beginning in January. The spring’s key items include:

• 5” Action Figures, the most popular product category, offer a total of five assortments including the new Mach-Morph transforming figures/vehicles and rocket-launching Torque Force Rangers.
• Vehicles, from the new Hovertek Cycles to the Transtek Armor Machines and collectible TransMax sets, vehicles remain key in the lineup. With added transforming features, many of the vehicles can be collected and combined together to form even larger toys for more play value.
• Megazords, the new Triple Transforming Megazords and deluxe DriveMax Megazord have more play features than ever. By configuring the Zords in different ways, each Triple Transforming Megazord set (three sets total) constructs three distinct Megazords. Zords from all sets can also be assembled to create even more unique combinations. The Drive Max Megazord is made up of five highly detailed vehicle-themed Zords that morph into Megazord and truck mode for more vehicle action. DriveMax also includes cool lights and sounds.
• Role-Play, the new Overdrive Tracker Morpher comes equipped with a unique black light feature that enables kids to decode and decipher clues like their favorite Power Ranger. Clues can be found on the five included scan cards as well as on the packaging of other Operation Overdrive toys. The Ultimate Mission Gear set has everything needed to become a real treasure hunting Power Ranger. It features a utility belt with missile-firing action and storage spots for the morpher, as well as a wearable chest plate with lights and sounds.

About Power Rangers

Over the past fourteen years, the Power Rangers have been on Earth, in space, on the moon, under water, traveling through time, in the jungle and anywhere evil lurks. They’ve battled Rita Repulsa, Divatox, Master Org, Dark Spector, Toxica, Jindrax and many more evil-doers – villains who have been shrunk to miniatures, tossed in jail, reduced to ooze or banished. Over time, the brand has maintained its themes of teamwork, honesty, loyalty, courage, family, friends and above all, the victory of good over evil. For more information, please visit the new Power Rangers Supersite at www.powerrangers.com.

About Bandai America Incorporated

A leader in introducing Japanese toy trends to the United States, Bandai America Incorporated is a subsidiary of NAMCO BANDAI Holdings (USA) Inc., a new entity that resulted from the integration of Namco Ltd. and Bandai Co. Ltd. of Japan. Global interests encompass five strategic business units: toys and hobby (toys, models, apparel and sundries), amusement facilities, game content (home and arcade console gaming), mobile content, and visual and music content (including home entertainment). Bandai America is the manufacturer and master toy licensee of some of the most popular brands in children’s toys and entertainment today, including Power Rangers, Ben 10, Team Galaxy, Tamagotchi and Girlz Connect. The company is headquartered in Cypress, California and information is available at www.Bandai.com.