VR Troopers | ABC-5 90s American Adapted Super Hero Kids Show

VR Troopers or Virtual Reality Troopers was a syndicated live action show produced by Saban Entertainment (creators of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series) and originally aired in Fox Kids block from 1994 to 1996. In the Philippines, the Associated Broadcasting Company (now known as TV5) aired VR Troopers on a weekend primetime block. The show featured early CGI and video effects (to show the "Virtual Reality") mixed with Japanese stock footage from three different Metal Hero Series: Superhuman Machine Metalder, Dimensional Warrior Spielban and Space Sheriff Shaider. Let's go down memory lane and remember VR Troopers back in ABC Channel 5 Philippines.

VR Troopers tried to profit from the fascination with the virtual reality craze in the early 90s as well as the success of Power Rangers. It featured early CGI and video effects mixed with Japanese stock footage from three different Metal Hero Series: Superhuman Machine Metalder, Dimensional Warrior Spielban, and Space Sheriff Shaider. This kind of adaptation technique of turning multiple foreign shows into one completely different local show was originally used in anime (Robotech and Voltron). Amidst the success of VR Troopers, making a name for itself escaping the shadows of Power Rangers (or any comparison to it) the show was eventually cancelled due to the lack of stock footage from the original Japanese tokusatsu series it borrowed its action scenes from. The show lasted two seasons (Season 1 1994-1995 and Season 2 1995-1996) with nearly 100 episodes before it was eventually cancelled in favor of another Americanized tokusatsu series, The Big Bad Beetleborgs. Let's go down memory lane as we remember another Americanized Saban Kid's show of the 90s.

VR Troopers - The Story
VR Troopers Series Plot

VR Troopers follows three young adults in their late teens, Ryan Steele (played by Brad Hawkins), Kaitlin Star (Sarah Brown), and J.B. Reese (Michael Bacon) living in the fictional West Coast town of Cross World City. They regularly attend and are teachers at "Tao's Dojo", a karate studio. Ryan is the most focused martial artist; J.B. is a computer wizard; and Kaitlin is a photographer & budding reporter for the local newspaper, the Underground Voice Daily.

In Ryan's search for his long-missing father, he and his two friends are led to a strange laboratory. Inside it was a digitized head of Professor Horatio Hart, a friend of Ryan's father. Professor art explained the truth about his life's work of having developed extremely advanced virtual reality technology in complete secrecy. "VR" is a dimension universe existing alongside our own; within it lie mutants and monsters bent on conquering both worlds. The main ruler of the said monstrosities is the Grimlord (Gardner Baldwin). Unbeknownst to everyone on Earth, Grimlord has a human identity, the billionaire industrialist Karl Ziktor. In the normal reality, Karl Ziktor tries to overcome the barriers that protects the real world and the virtual world to allow his armies easy passage from virtual world. It is up to Ryan, Kaitlin, and J.B. to defend the planet on both sides of the dimensional barrier. In order to stop Grimlord's assault on both realities they are able to change to Virtual Reality Troopers with armored bodies having incredible firepower.

VR Troopers Opening Theme
VR Troopers Series Intro

As a kid growing in the 90s, I still remember liking this show and not taking any offense on how it made use of various Japanese tokusatsu series. We were oblivious of the tokusatsu series used in VR Troopers at that time, with the exemption of Space Sheriff Shaider aggressively used in the show's second season. It was a good action-packed retro superhero kids show after the Power Rangers every Friday nights. Like any other retro kids show it has this catchy opening theme. The show featured Jeb, the talking dog which to me added a little charm to the usual scary moments of the show specifically those transformation sequence of Ziktor to Grimlord. Seeing that horrendous face of Grimlord brought shiver down my spine as a kid.

It was really just a shame that it got cancelled like most US shows on that era. Even up to this generation, there are still some shows that can get cancelled amidst its popularity. Luckily, Saban and other companies who tried adapting Japanese series finally leaned a few tools of trade from running out of stock footage which is to actually re-create the costumes and set and choreographed fight scenes on set.

How about you guys? How do you remember this Americanized tokusatsu series? any favorite characters, episodes, or merchandise? Share your thoughts about VR Troopers in the comments section below:

Bioman | Choudenshi Bioman | ABS-CBN 80s, IBC 13 - 90s English Dubbed Tokusatsu

Bioman was an English dubbed super hero kids show which first aired in ABS-CBN back in 1986 and later in Intercontinental Broadcasting Company (IBC) around the 90s. Bioman was originally Choudenshi Bioman (超電子バイオマン Chōdenshi Baioman), a Japanese tokusatsu television series by Toie Company and the 8th super sentai series title which originally aired on TV Asahi from February 4, 1984 to January 26, 1985. Bioman was the last super sentai series that got an English dubbed, the localized sentai series that followed are all dubbed in Filipino. Even in its 90s rerun, it was still dubbed in English. But it was the series that most 90s Filipino kids are familiar with and has the same charm as Maskman. Let's go down memory lane as we look back at Bioman.

Choudenshi Bioman - The Story
Choudenshi Bioman Series Plot

The once prosperous Bio Star is destroyed after a world war erupted over the use of a scientific discovery called "Bio Particles". The Bio Star Peacekeeping Alliance, which sought to use Bio Particles for peaceful purposes, sends the giant robot Bio Robo and an assistant robot named Peebo in order to prevent the same tragedy from happening to Earth. Bio Robo arrives on 15th century Japan, where it showers Bio Particles on five young individuals. Centuries later, the descendants of these individuals, infused with Bio Particles, are chosen by Peebo and Bio Robo to become the Bioman team: Shiro Go became Red One, Shingo Takasugi became Green Two, Ryuta Nanbara became Blue Three, Mika Koizumi, who was later replaced by Jun Yabuki became Yellow Four, and Hikaru Katsuragi became Pink Five.

The Bioman team are asked to protect the Earth from the Neo Gear Empire, an organization led by the cyborg mad scientist Doctor Man from his Neo Grad fortress at the South Pole. Doctor Man believe that Neo Gear Empire to be a technologically advanced society with the right to rule Earth. Big Three (Mason, Farrah, and Monster), Farrah Cat, Prince and Mecha Clones.

Bioman Opening Theme
Choudenshi Bioman Series Intro





"Choudenshi Bioman" (超電子バイオマン Chōdenshi Baioman)

Lyrics by Chinfa Kan.
Composition by Kunihiko Kase.
Arrangement by Tatsumi Yano.
Artist: Takayuki Miyauchi

Takayuki Miyauchi Live Perfomance of Bioman Opening Theme
Takayuki Miyauchi Sings Choudenshi Bioman - Series Intro






Bioman Closing Theme
Choudenshi Bioman Series Outro



The only Bioman Closing Theme I found that showed the original TV Ending Theme Sequence. This Closing Theme is in French but stayed true to its original arrangement.

"Biomic Soldier" (バイオミック・ソルジャー Baiomikku Sorujā)

Lyrics by Chinfa Kan.
Composition by Kunihiko Kase.
Arrangement by Tatsumi Yano.
Artist: Takayuki Miyauchi.


Takayuki Miyauchi Live Perfomance of Bioman Closing Theme
Takayuki Miyauchi Sings Biomic Soldier - Series Intro

For a 90s kid, I have considered Bioman as the "bio brain" of all super sentai series during its run. Of course this was not true, but you really can't blame a kid who has just started to grow awareness about his surrounding during the 90s. We don't have Wikis or the internet to inform us that time, so this was really my first exposure to the super sentai (tokusatsu) series. Besides the usual storyline, monsters, mechas and story, Bioman's greatest and lasting influence was both its memorable catchy opening and closing themes. As a sign of its lasting influence, I still seldom randomly hear its theme everytime I'm out doing my regular stroll. Whether it is in a form of a ring tone or a music being played in a CD, Bioman truly has became a part of everyone (mostly its male audience) who grew up with the series. I am bit ashamed to say that I never really got into the series due to the fact that it was dubbed in English and it has erratic airing television schedule back in IBC-13. I believe I have never seen the show's finale. I preferred Maskman later, because of the obvious... being in Filipino. I somewhat understood Maskman "more" back then(?). I wasn't that fully into Star Wars back as well, so Peebo was my first lovable gold robot. CRPO was just a runner up. Bioman became memorable a series and probably a part of my childhood now. Thus it always brings me back to the worry-free moments of my life when I was just watching retro tokusatsu shows in our local Philippine television.

What about you guys? What's your fondest memories, favorite episode, character or merchandise about the Bioman? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below:

That's Entertainment | GMA 80s Filipino Teenage Variety Show

That's Entertainment or simply known as "That's" was a Filipino youth-oriented talent and variety show that aired in GMA Network from January 6, 1986 – March 23, 1996. That's was hosted by German Moreno together with Ike Lozada. Let's go down memory lane with That's Entertainment here at Retro Pilipinas.

That's Entertainment - The Show
About That's Entertainment

That's Entertainment launched on January 6, 1986 by GMA Network and first aired from the old GMA building in EDSA, but later moved to the GMA Broadway Centrum in 1987 to accommodate it's increasing studio audience and fans. The Filipino youth variety show used song "That's Entertainment" as its main theme song. That's Entertainment was written by Arthur Schwartz with the lyrics of Howard Dietz which was written especially for the 1953 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musical film The Band Wagon. Hosted by German Moreno together with Ike Lozada, That's gained popularity almost overnight among young Filipino audiences.




That's Entertainment ushered in new stars whom most have become the Philippine industry's finest. The youth-oriented variety show grouped their talents into five: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday groups. Every Saturday, all of the said five groups were joined together to performed various production numbers. The show paired up various talents to serve as love teams that usually illicit feelings of "kilig" to most of the show's female audiences. The pairing eventually transcended the show and some eventually hooked up in real life. The show was a star maker, those who were exceptional and offered something fresh became the industry's finest celebrity idols. Nobody can be young forever. That's members eventually moved on with their lives. Some got their much needed industry break making them the industry's popular actors, comedian/comedienne, actors, singers, dancers, and performers. Some decided to pursue a much fulfilling and private lives completely vanishing from the radar of the ever scrutinizing eye of the public. The show also catapulted different dance group to popularity, The Maneouvres, Streetboys, Abztract Dancers, Kids at Work, UMD all became the Philippines' premiere dance group because of the show. German "Kuya Germs" Moreno was recognized as the Philippine's star maker because of the said show.

That's went off the air at the height of its popularity back in March 23, 1986. The last episode of "That's Entertainment" was shown on Saturday primetime (9:00 pm) with former members reunited in a TV special entitled "That's The Reunion".

A Fan Tribute Video to That's Entertainment:

I wasn't really that into That's Entertainment that time. I was but a kid back then and had really no interest in an afternoon variety show. But I have to give credit to the show for discovering and launching the career of their talents who most have become the popular celebrities, politicians and professionals in the Philippines and even abroad. I was really not a That's kid, but it will forever have a special place in the hearts of those who supported the show.

What about you guys? Were you a fan of That's Entertainment? If you were, then what's your fondest memory, favorite love teams, favorite talent and general thoughts on the iconic star maker of a variety show from GMA Network back in its 80s-90s run? Share your thoughts on That's Entertainment on the comments section below: