Rita Repulsa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rita Repulsa |
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| Power Rangers character | |
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| First appearance | "Day of the Dumpster" (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) (as Rita Repulsa) |
| Last appearance | "Mystic Fate" (Power Rangers Mystic Force) (as Mystic Mother) |
| Portrayed by |
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| Voiced by |
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| Information | |
| Home | M51 Galaxy |
| Status | Mystic Mother |
Rita Repulsa is a famous bad guy from the TV show Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. She was the main enemy of the Power Rangers in the first season. Different actors played her over the years. Machiko Soga and Carla Perez played her in the TV show, and Barbara Goodson did her voice. Later, Machiko Soga played Rita as the Mystic Mother, with Susan Brady as her voice in Power Rangers Mystic Force. In the movies, Julia Cortez played her in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, and Elizabeth Banks played her in the 2017 movie. Rita Repulsa was based on a villain from a Japanese show called Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger.
Contents
Who is Rita Repulsa?
Her Story Begins
Rita Repulsa is an evil space witch who wants to rule the whole universe. She is a very strong sorceress, which means she uses powerful magic. Rita has taken over many planets and has a big collection of monsters and Putty Patrollers to help her.
Long ago, she tried to conquer Earth, a planet full of people. But a wise hero named Zordon stopped her. He trapped Rita and her helpers in a space dumpster. This dumpster floated in space for ten thousand years!
In 1993, the dumpster crashed back onto the moon. Rita was finally free! She and her team took back their home base and started trying to conquer Earth again. She was the first big villain the Power Rangers ever faced.
What Rita Looks Like and Acts Like
You can easily spot Rita by her two pointy hair cones. She also has a loud, screeching voice and an annoying attitude. She loves to be sarcastic and wants all the power.
When the Power Rangers beat her, Rita would often get very funny. She would usually shout, "I've got such a headache!" Later, when Rita married Lord Zedd, she became even funnier. She would often argue with Zedd or her father, Master Vile.
Rita also had a younger brother named Rito. He had a skeleton-like look. Rita would sometimes argue with him too, especially about gifts. She once used a fire-breathing dragon to attack him because she wanted a planet, not a dragon!
Years later, something amazing happened. Zordon sent out a wave of good energy. This wave turned Rita away from evil! She then became known as the Mystic Mother. She started using her magic for good. When evil tried to attack, the Mystic Mother was strong. She helped the Power Rangers Mystic Force get rid of dark magic.
Rita's Magical Powers
As a powerful witch, Rita had many magical abilities. Her most common trick was using her special staff, which looked like a wand. She would use it to make her monsters and helpers grow to giant sizes.
Rita could also use magic to control people. She could even turn them evil for a short time. Tommy Oliver and Katherine Hillard were two famous examples. She could trap people in other dimensions and shoot energy blasts. Like most villains from her time, she could teleport short distances. This meant she could go from the moon to Earth and back.
In the 2006 show Power Rangers Mystic Force, Rita became the Mystic Mother. She was the ruler of all good magic. She could use this magic to protect herself and others. She could even help create a team of Power Rangers if needed. As the Mystic Mother, she mostly stayed behind the scenes. She made sure good magic flowed through the world. She only used her powers directly if there was no other choice.
Who Played Rita?
Many actors played Rita Repulsa. In the beginning, she was made from scenes of a Japanese villain. So, Machiko Soga played her, and Barbara Goodson did her English voice. Goodson voiced Rita until 1998.
Carla Perez started playing Rita in 1994. She continued until 1998. Julia Cortez played Rita in the 1995 movie Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie. In 2006, Machiko Soga played Rita again as the Mystic Mother. Susan Brady voiced her this time. Finally, Elizabeth Banks played a new version of Rita in the 2017 movie.
Rita's Adventures and Defeats
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
In Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Rita was born to Master Vile. She also had a younger brother named Rito Revolto. Once, her parents gave her a fire-breathing dragon when she wanted a "cute little planet." Rita used the dragon to burn down their house!
Rita started working for Lord Zedd. She helped him try to conquer the universe. She was in charge while he was away. But Zordon and his army fought against her. Rita even managed to steal a powerful Dragon Coin. However, Zordon eventually trapped Rita and her helpers in a space dumpster. Rita did manage to trap Zordon in a time warp.
Season 1: The First Battles
At the start of season 1, Rita Repulsa had been trapped for over ten thousand years. Two astronauts from Earth accidentally set her free. She came out of the dumpster with her helpers: Goldar, Baboo & Squatt, and Villains in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers#Finster. Rita decided to conquer Earth, the first planet she saw.
Rita Repulsa fought the Power Rangers in many ways. She used spells to make them afraid. She created super Putty Patrollers. She even used magic to tie them up. Sometimes, she let Goldar, Squatt, and Baboo try to destroy the Rangers. But all their plans failed. Rita would often hit her helpers with her magic wand or yell at them. After every loss, she would either promise revenge or complain about a headache. The headache complaint became one of her most famous lines!
Season 2: Lord Zedd Arrives
In season 2, Rita's time as the main villain ended. Lord Zedd returned to take control. It turned out Rita was not the true empress. She was just in charge of Zedd's empire while he was away. Zedd was very angry that Rita had failed to beat "children" and conquer Earth. Rita tried to warn him about Zordon, but Zedd didn't listen.
Lord Zedd destroyed Rita's magic wand. He then shrunk her down to the size of a toy. He sent her back into space in a space dumpster. Rita almost got free when her dumpster landed on Earth. Bulk and Skull even opened it! But the Power Rangers quickly sent her back into space.
Eventually, her dumpster crashed on the moon, and she escaped. Rita was down but not out. She asked Finster, her loyal helper, to make a love potion for Lord Zedd. She also used a beauty cream to look younger. The love potion worked, and Rita and Zedd got married! After marrying Zedd, Rita stopped practicing magic on her own. She worked with Lord Zedd as a team. Together, they were more powerful. They tried to defeat the Rangers, and the Rangers had a harder time winning.
Season 3: Family Troubles
In season 3, Rita's brother, Rito Revolto, joined them. He helped his sister and brother-in-law try to destroy the Power Rangers. Also, monsters now grew when Rita and Zedd crossed their staffs and used lightning.
But they still kept failing. Even with help from Rita's spy, Katherine Hillard, they couldn't win. Katherine later broke free from Rita's control. She joined the Power Rangers as the second Pink Ranger. Goldar found out about the love potion Rita used on Lord Zedd. He made a potion to reverse the effects. The anti-love potion brought Zedd back to normal. However, Zedd had actually developed real feelings for Rita on his own!
Later, Rita's father, Master Vile, arrived. He helped the villains a lot. He even turned the Power Rangers into powerless children.
Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers
In Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers, Rita's father used a powerful Orb of Doom to turn back time. This made the Power Rangers young children. So, the Alien Rangers from Aquitar came to Earth. They protected Earth from Rita and Zedd. They stayed until the young Rangers could get the Zeo Crystal.
During this time, the villains destroyed the Power Coins. They also put a bomb in the Power Rangers' Command Center. They thought they had finally destroyed Zordon, Alpha, and the Power Rangers. But they lost track of Rito and Goldar. They thought Rito and Goldar escaped with the Zeo Crystal.
Power Rangers Zeo
In Power Rangers Zeo, Rita and Zedd had to run away. They went to live with Master Vile. This was because the Machine Empire arrived. However, Rita and Zedd, along with other villains, later returned to the moon in a campervan.
Throughout Zeo, Rita and Zedd tried to stop the Machine Empire's plans. They even helped the Rangers to keep the Machine Empire from taking Earth. In one episode, Finster made a new staff for Rita. She used it to create a monster that was stronger than anything she had made before. After the Power Rangers defeated King Mondo and his family, Zedd and Rita gave Prince Sprocket a "peace offering." It was actually a bomb! The bomb blew up the Machine Empire's home. Zedd and Rita drove away happily in their motorhome.
Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie
Rita and Zedd had a small appearance in Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie. Divatox called them late at night. She asked them how to destroy the Rangers. In a funny scene, Rita held the phone to a snoring Zedd. She said if she knew how to stop the Rangers, she wouldn't be listening to Zedd snore. Then she told Divatox her advice was to run away.
Power Rangers Turbo
In the Power Rangers Turbo episode "The Millennium Message," the Blue Senturion showed a video from the future. It showed Dark Specter's evil team attacking the galaxy. Rita, Zedd, Mondo, Machina, and Divatox were all working together and causing destruction.
Power Rangers In Space
In Power Rangers In Space, Rita and Zedd joined a group of villains. This group was led by Dark Specter. They helped Dark Specter try to destroy all good in the universe. In the first episode, Rita argued with Divatox. They both wanted to chase Andros, the Red Space Ranger.
During Dark Specter's final attack, Zedd and Rita were sent to conquer a planet. This planet was protected by Trey of Triforia, the Gold Zeo Ranger. In the final battle, Zordon gave up his own life. This turned Rita into a normal human! She was very happy that Lord Zedd also became human. They were seen dancing happily.
Power Rangers Mystic Force
In Power Rangers Mystic Force, it was revealed that Rita had become the Mystic Mother. She was the Empress of Good Magic. She was also the leader of the Mystic Ones. She was the one who gave the Power Rangers Mystic Force their connection to the Morphing Grid. When the Master was about to attack the Mystic Mother's home, Udonna said she was "known as Rita in the dark days." The Mystic Mother gave Clare her full sorceress powers. She also helped the Mystic Rangers defeat the Master of Darkness. In a typical Rita way, she told the Master he was giving her a headache!
The characters in the original Japanese shows were not related. But the writers decided to connect them in Mystic Force. This was a fun surprise for old fans. It was also a way to honor Machiko Soga, who passed away while the show was being made.
Power Rangers Operation Overdrive
In the Power Rangers Operation Overdrive 15th anniversary special, Once A Ranger, Zedd and Rita's son, List of Power Rangers Operation Overdrive characters#Thrax, appeared. Thrax gathered the enemies of the current Power Rangers team. He also cut off their connection to the Morphing Grid. To fight back, the Sentinel Knight brought together a team of older Power Rangers. Adam, the leader of this new team, remembered fighting Zedd and Rita. He said Thrax would be hard to beat. When he mentioned Rita becoming good, Thrax made fun of his mother's choice.
Power Rangers Beast Morphers
Rita was mentioned and shown in old video clips in the Power Rangers Beast Morphers episode "Making Bad." She appeared in footage of Lord Zedd. This happened when Scrozzle suggested using a special device on Lord Zedd's staff.
Rita in the Movies
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995)
In Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, Rita, Zedd, Goldar, and Mordant arrived on Earth. They found a giant egg at a construction site. They opened it and released Ivan Ooze. Ivan Ooze was a powerful being who ruled Earth 6,000 years ago. Zordon and young warriors had defeated him.
Ivan Ooze quickly took over from Rita and Zedd. He trapped them inside a snow globe. After Ivan Ooze was destroyed, Rita and Zedd were freed. In a scene after the credits, Goldar was sitting on Zedd's throne. He was being served by Mordant. But he panicked when Zedd and Rita suddenly appeared.
Power Rangers (2017 film)
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Making the Movie Character
On February 2, 2016, it was announced that Elizabeth Banks would play Rita Repulsa in the new Power Rangers movie. In this movie, Rita was once the Green Ranger. Now, she wants to get the Power Rangers' power source. A magazine called People showed a picture of Elizabeth Banks as Rita on April 19, 2016.
Rita's Story in the 2017 Film
In this movie, Rita was once part of Zordon's Ranger team. But she betrayed them. She wanted to get the power of the Zeo Crystal. This crystal was the source of all life on Earth. She killed the rest of the team. Zordon then buried the Power Coins. He also hid his location with a meteor. This meteor blasted Rita into the ocean and badly damaged her armor.
In the present day, a fishing boat captained by Jason's father finds Rita. She starts gathering gold to get her power back. Her goal is to unleash Goldar. Goldar is a huge monster who will help her get the Zeo Crystal. The Rangers are forced to fight her even though they haven't fully mastered their powers. Rita kills Billy after he tells her where the Crystal is. The Crystal is under a Krispy Kreme doughnut shop. But Zordon and the other Rangers are able to bring Billy back to life. This costs Zordon his chance to come back to life himself.
The Rangers then fight Goldar with their Zords. They only start winning when they form the Megazord. Rita merges with Goldar to take control of the fight. But the Rangers finally defeat her and destroy Goldar. They offer her a chance to give up and hand over the green Power Coin. But she tries to attack them again. Jason then slaps her into the sky. She is last seen floating in space towards the moon. She is smiling as her body freezes.
Images for kids
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Rita Repulsa
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Carla Perez played Rita in season 2 and continued to play her for the rest of the original series.
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Machiko Soga as Rita the Mystic Mother in Power Rangers Mystic Force.
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Julia Cortez as Rita in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie
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Elizabeth Banks as Rita Repulsa in the 2017 film Power Rangers.
