Disney took a massive gamble in 2003. They moved production to New Zealand, swapped the brooding tone of Wild Force for extreme sports and surfer humor, and basically reinvented the franchise. It worked. The cast of Power Rangers Ninja Storm didn't just survive the transition; they defined an era that many fans now consider the "golden age" of the Disney years.
Honestly, looking back at the trio of Pua Magasiva, Sally Martin, and Glenn McMillan, you realize how much the chemistry mattered. They weren't just actors in spandex. They were athletes, pranksters, and—in a very real, tragic sense—a family that would face incredible highs and devastating lows in the decades following their time at the Wind Ninja Academy.
Pua Magasiva: The Red Ranger’s Complicated Legacy
Shane Clarke was the heart of the team. Pua Magasiva brought a specific kind of kinetic energy to the role of the Red Wind Ranger. Before Ninja Storm, the Red Ranger was usually a stoic, almost boring leader. Pua changed that. He was impulsive. He loved skateboarding. He felt like a real teenager you'd actually see at a park in 2003.
His career in New Zealand was massive. If you live in Auckland, you didn't just know him as a Power Ranger; you knew him as Vinnie Kruse on the long-running soap Shortland Street. He was a household name. He hosted radio shows on Flava FM. He was, by all accounts, the "face" of New Zealand entertainment for a solid decade.
But the story gets heavy. In May 2019, the news broke that Pua had passed away in Wellington at the age of 38. It gutted the fandom. Later, reports surfaced regarding the domestic violence issues and personal demons he was battling toward the end of his life. It’s a stark reminder that the heroes we see on screen often carry burdens we can't imagine. Fans still honor his contribution to the show, but there's a profound sadness attached to his memory now. He was the first lead Red Ranger to pass away, and it shifted how we look at the Ninja Storm legacy forever.
Sally Martin and the Staying Power of Tori Hanson
Tori Hanson was arguably the first female Blue Ranger who wasn't just "the girl" on the team. She was the best surfer. She was often the most logical person in the room. Sally Martin played her with a dry wit that kept the boys in check.
Sally is one of the few who stayed deeply connected to the franchise. She showed up for the "Once a Ranger" anniversary special in Operation Overdrive, and she’s a regular fixture at conventions like Power Morphicon. What’s cool is that she didn't just stop at acting. She moved into production and casting. If you look at the credits for recent New Zealand-based shows, her name often pops up behind the scenes.
🔗 Read more: Bad For Me Lyrics Kevin Gates: The Messy Truth Behind the Song
She’s basically the matriarch of the Ninja Storm family. Whenever there's a reunion, she's the one at the center of it. Her career is a blueprint for how to transition from a "teen star" into a sustainable, multi-faceted career in the New Zealand film industry.
Glenn McMillan and the Brazilian Connection
Did you know Glenn McMillan is half-Brazilian and speaks fluent Portuguese? Because fans definitely didn't realize that when he was playing Waldo "Dustin" Brooks. Dustin was the "comic relief" Yellow Ranger, the guy who actually liked Power Rangers in a world where Power Rangers existed.
Glenn brought a genuine sweetness to the role. After the show, he didn't go the typical Hollywood route. He moved to Australia, studied law, and became a practicing solicitor. It’s wild to think that the guy who played the goofy motocross kid is now defending clients in a courtroom.
He still pops up in acting roles occasionally, like in the series Wonderland, but he’s found a balance between "real life" and the fan world. He’s incredibly active on social media, often sharing throwback photos that prove the cast of Power Rangers Ninja Storm actually liked each other off-camera. That’s rarer than you’d think in TV production.
The Thunder Rangers: From Rivals to Icons
You can't talk about the cast without the Blake and Hunter dynamic. Adam Tuominen (Hunter, the Crimson Ranger) and Jorgito Vargas Jr. (Blake, the Navy Ranger) changed the stakes of the season. They were the "anti-heroes" before that was a tired trope in the series.
- Adam Tuominen: He went back to Australia and became a powerhouse in the theater world. He’s done Shakespeare, heavy dramas, and has one of the most respected stage reputations among former Rangers.
- Jorgito Vargas Jr.: Based in Vancouver, Jorgito was already a veteran child actor before he landed the Navy Ranger role. He’s stayed busy in the Canadian acting circuit, appearing in shows like Smallville and Supernatural.
Their chemistry was so good that fans spent years speculating about a spin-off. While that never happened, their arrival in Ninja Storm marked the moment the show went from a "fun surf show" to a high-stakes martial arts drama.
💡 You might also like: Ashley Johnson: The Last of Us Voice Actress Who Changed Everything
Jason Chan and the Tech Genius Archetype
Cameron Watanabe was the "guy in the chair" before he became the Green Samurai Ranger. Jason Chan played Cam with a chip on his shoulder that felt earned. He was the director’s son who had to work twice as hard to prove he belonged.
Jason’s life after the show is fascinating. He moved to Singapore and became a massive star there, but not just in acting. He’s a director, a filmmaker, and a mentor. He founded BananaMana Films, which focuses on high-quality Asian content for a global audience. He’s arguably one of the most successful members of the cast in terms of creative control and industry influence.
His transformation from the nerdy tech guy to the badass Green Samurai is still one of the best character arcs in the entire 30-plus year history of the franchise.
Why This Specific Cast Worked
Most Power Rangers seasons feel like they’re trying too hard. Ninja Storm didn't. It was the first season produced by BVS (Disney), and there was an experimental energy to it.
The actors were mostly New Zealanders and Australians, which gave the show a distinct "down under" vibe that felt fresh compared to the California-heavy Saban era. They did a lot of their own stunts—or at least the physicality looked more natural because they were actually familiar with the extreme sports their characters practiced.
The Supporting Players
We have to give a shout-out to the villains. Katrina Browne, who played Kapri, and Jennifer Azer, who played Marah. They were the comedic "mean girls" of the season and were so much fun to watch. Then you had Grant McFarland, who pulled double duty. He played the villainous Lothor and the voice of Sensei Watanabe (the guinea pig). That’s some serious range.
📖 Related: Archie Bunker's Place Season 1: Why the All in the Family Spin-off Was Weirder Than You Remember
Real-World Impact and Legacy
The cast of Power Rangers Ninja Storm represents a shift in how the show was made. It proved that you could move production halfway across the world and still maintain a massive global audience.
It also highlighted the importance of "Kiwi" talent. New Zealand has become the permanent home of Power Rangers, and that started here. The local actors brought a grit and a sense of humor that redefined the brand for a generation of kids who grew up in the early 2000s.
If you’re looking to catch up with them today, your best bet is the convention circuit. While Pua is gone, the rest of the team remains close. They frequently do "Thunder and Wind" panels where they discuss the grueling shoot schedules in the New Zealand bush and the weirdness of seeing their faces on action figures.
What to Do Next
If you want to dive deeper into the history of this specific era, there are a few things you should actually check out:
- Watch the "Ninja Encounter" episodes: It’s the three-part arc where the Thunder Rangers are introduced. It’s peak 2003 TV.
- Follow the cast on Instagram: Sally Martin (@sallyoerke) and Glenn McMillan (@glennmcmillan) are very active and often post behind-the-scenes content that was never released during the original run.
- Check out the "Power Rangers HyperForce" tabletop RPG: It features some legacy actors and keeps the lore of the Ninja Academies alive.
- Look for the "The Hills are Alive" documentary fragments: There are several fan-collected interviews from the Auckland sets that show how the transition from the US to NZ actually happened.
The Ninja Storm team wasn't just another group of actors. They were the pioneers of a new production model and the faces of a season that saved the franchise from being cancelled after the Disney acquisition. Their influence is still felt in every season filmed in New Zealand today.