Shinzo
Shinzo, known as Mushrambo (マシュランボー, Mashuranbō) in Japan, is an anime television series produced by Toei Animation. In the series, genetically-altered creatures known as Enterrans take over Earth and rename it in their own image called Enterra. Now three Enterrans have to protect the last human in order to find the hidden sanctuary called Shinzo and restore the human race.[2] The anime focuses primarily on the adventures they undergo while working to accomplish this task. The series was licensed and dubbed by Saban Entertainment & Buena Vista Television.[3]
| Shinzo | |
 Japanese cover of the Shinzo DVD | |
| マシュランボー (Mushurambo) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Action[1] |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Tetsuo Imazawa |
| Written by | Mayori Sekijima |
| Studio | Toei Animation |
| Licensed by | |
| Original network | TV Asahi |
| English network | |
| Original run | February 5, 2000 – September 23, 2000 |
| Episodes | 32 |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Yoshihiro Iwamoto |
| Published by | Kodansha |
| Magazine | Comic BomBom |
| Demographic | Shōnen |
| Volumes | 2 |
Plot
In the distant past, the Guardian of the Milky Way galaxy named Lanancuras began to harbor a desire for more power. Because of his connection to the galaxy, he was able to absorb parts of planets and add them to his strength. As a result, he began invading the worlds he was assigned to protect. In the wake of his destruction, a following of creatures from across the galaxy pledged allegiance to Lanancuras and became known as the Kadrians. Taking notice of his ever-growing power and followers, the other Celestial Guardians confronted him; however, he had become too powerful, and they were defeated. Unable to subdue Lanancuras, the Celestial Guardians each gave up a part of their power and combined it into a single new Guardian, Mushra. In a final desperate attempt, they used Mushra's core by transforming it into a powerful card with which to seal Lanancuras in a prison. The prison was created from the remains of planets that had suffered under Lanancuras' tyranny. Because planets are themselves large beings, their combined strength- along with the power of the card- was able to restrain him. Thus Lanancuras was successfully sealed in a large meteorite.
The meteorite was sent off into the galaxy to be sealed forever. Meanwhile, the way Lanancuras had increased his strength had consequences on the planets of the Milky Way. On Earth, it was in the shape of a virus that merged with human DNA and destroyed the humans that way. In order to eliminate the virus, scientists worked on combining human DNA with the DNA of animals and other creatures immune to the effects. They succeeded and created a sentient race known as Enterrans (a race of engineered Earthlings) which are based on humans, insects, reptiles, birds, sea creatures, wild beasts, and phantom beasts. Eventually, a cure was found and the human race survived. This all took place around the 22nd century.
Thanks to Lanancuras' influence, the Enterrans fought their human creators as well as the humans robotic creations, driving the human race to a near extinction state. Luckily, a scientist named Dr. Daigo Tatsuro placed his 4-year-old daughter Yakumo in a sleep chamber in hopes that she would save the human race and find the human sanctuary Shinzo and bring peace back to Earth which was then renamed to Enterra. When the meteor that Lanancuras was imprisoned in struck Earth during the earlier parts of the Human-Enterran War, it's fragment had struck an infant Yakumo giving her abilities that she would later discover.
First Season (Episodes 1-21)
Upon waking up 300 years later at the age of 17, Yakumo Tatsuro stumbled upon her soon to be companion Mushra while he is strung above a waterfall for impersonating a king. After Yakumo rescues Mushra, they soon run into their other companions Sago and Kutal.
Mushra, Sago. and Kutal are then shown to be Hyper-Enterrans, Enterrans who can transform into stronger powered-up versions of themselves, these forms allow them to fight the various creatures that come after them. Throughout the first season the main characters fight a collection of Enterrans known as the Seven Enterran Generals, and various independent Enterrans where these Enterrans were either minions of the Seven Enterran Generals or bounty hunters. Each of these Generals rules a region that the gang travels through, which have different types of Enterrans, such as King Daku's land having a majority insect based Enterrans. The defeated Enterrans become En-Cards, which are card-like structures that can be used to increase power in both Enterrans and several machines such as Yakumo's vehicle Hakuba.
Second Season (22-32)
When the timeline was altered due to events caused by Yakumo eventually finding Shinzo. The Human-Enterran war never occurred with the two species eventually settling their differences and peacefully coexisting. The ultimate cause of the Enterran genocide during the war, in the original timeline, was revealed. The Kadrians had devised a plan to free their master: they believed that crashing the meteor into Earth would destroy the seal, thus allowing Lanancuras to escape. The Guardians eventually discovered this plan, but it was too late. With the meteorite already redirected and heading towards Earth, the Guardians held a vow that they would not directly intervene. They reasoned it was the duty of the planet and its inhabitants to defeat Lanancuras. In a stroke of luck, the Kadrians' plan was not a complete success. At impact, the seal holding Lanancuras merely ripped due to the impact; therefore, the Kadrian King was still trapped by the planetary pieces.
This meant that, in the second timeline, Lanancuras never used up a lot of energy to influence the Human-Enterran War when his meteor struck Earth and while he was completely dormant in the first timeline, he was about to break free from his imprisonment in the second.
Characters
Media
Manga
Anime
Season 1
| No. | Title | Original air date | English air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | "Awakening" / "The Explosive Roaring Soldier's Sudden Raging Transformation" "todoroki baku senshi ikinari do henshin" (轟爆戦士いきなり怒変身) | February 5, 2000 | July 6, 2002 | |
| In 27th century, a human child named Yakumo awakens, with the mission to find the other humans, and bring peace between them and the mutant Enterrans rulling earth now. | ||||
| 02 | "Bee-Ware The Hunters" / " "100 oku chikara da!! suggee zo do tekken!!" (100億力だ!!スッゲェぞ怒鉄拳!!) | February 12, 2000 | July 7, 2002 | |
| Yakumo and her new friends land in a nest of Enterran bees. | ||||
| 03 | "Web of Evil" / "Raging Falling!! The Atrocious spider siblings: Gold and Silver" "datō!! gokuaku kumo kyōdai. kin to gin" (怒倒!!極悪クモ兄弟・金と銀) | February 19, 2000 | July 13, 2002 | |
| A bunch of Enterrans spiders kidnaps Yakumo in believing a legend that eating a human will make the eater immortal. | ||||
| 04 | "Day at the Park" / "Mushra, rampage at the amusement park!?" "Mushra, Yūenchi de Ō Abare" (マシュラ、遊園地で大暴れ!?) | February 26, 2000 | July 14, 2002 | |
| Yakumo, Sago and Kutal are invited to join a festival, while Mushra still roams about. When he gets the chance to do a little revenge for being send away, he takes it. | ||||
| 05 | "Kiri" / "He is Strong! Insect King Daku" "tsuyosu giru! konchū ō dokkaku!!" (強すぎる!昆虫王ドッカク!!) | March 4, 2000 | July 20, 2002 | |
| Mushra stumbles into a young human girl named Kiri, who is terrified of Enterrans, but promises to show Yakumo Shinzo. | ||||
| 06 | "Battling Daku" / "Final Battle! Mushra vs. the Insect King" "saishūkessen! mashura vs konchū ō" (最終決戦!マシュラvs昆虫王) | March 11, 2000 | July 21, 2002 | |
| In an attempt to save Yakumo and Kiri from Daku, Sago comes up with the plan to be captured themselves. | ||||
| 07 | "Into the Jungle" / "Thrusted into a new World! The mysterious Figure hiding in the Jungle" "shintairiku totsunyū! janguru nihisomu kaijin" (新大陸突入!ジャングルにひそむ怪人) | March 18, 2000 | July 27, 2002 | |
| Kutal's neices and nephews show up and throw the gang on an unexpected adventure. | ||||
| 08 | "Reptiles" / "Mushra Clash! School Wars" "Mushra Gekitō! Sukūruu Wōzu" (マシュラ激闘! スクールウォーズ!!) | March 25, 2000 | July 28, 2002 | |
| As Mushra battles Waru, another Enteran named Gyasa, the King of the Snake-Enterrans, appears with the intention of taking out the gang and kidnapping Yakumo. | ||||
| 09 | "Gyasa" / "Defeated! Kutal and Sago Dead!" "haiboku! kutaru, sago shisu!" (敗北!クータル、サーゴ死す!) | April 1, 2000 | August 4, 2002 | |
| Gyasa uses dirty tricks to take out Sago and Kutal, leaving Mushra by himself. Can he find a way to defeat Gyasa? | ||||
| 10 | "Mushrambo, the Ultimate Samurai" / "The Invincible Super Warrior, Mushrambo" "muteki no chōsenshi mashuranbo" (無敵の超戦士マシュランボー) | April 8, 2000 | August 5, 2002 | |
| Mushrambo is able to defeat Gyasa in his first form, but what will happen when he transforms? | ||||
| 11 | "Clash of the Hyper-Enterrans" / "Threatening Power! Gyasa's Defeat" "kyōi no chikara da! gyaza funsai!" (脅威のチカラだ!ギャザ粉砕!) | April 15, 2000 | August 10, 2002 | |
| Mushrambo is overpowered by the Hyper Gyasa. Can he find a way to turn the tide of the battle around? | ||||
| 12 | "The Test" / " "mashura. nazo no rōshi ni nyūmon ka!?" (マシュラ・謎の老師に入門か!?) | April 29, 2000 | August 11, 2002 | |
| Darba, the supposed wizard of Shinzo, appears with a proposition for the team, but what are his real intentions? | ||||
| 13 | "Ryuma, Lord of the Reptiles" / "Friend of Foe? Mushrambo the Destroyer" "Teki ka Mikata ka? Hakaishin Mushrambo" (敵か味方か? 破壊神マシュランボー) | May 6, 2000 | August 17, 2002 | |
| The group arrives at another forest after going through the desert, but when Grandora the 3-Headed Ice Dragon attacks the village under Ungra and Ryuma's control, it means trouble for the entire team. | ||||
| 14 | "The Dark Spirit of Destruction" / "Nonstop Maddness! Black Destroyer" "Nonsutoppu Bōsō! Kuroi Hakushin" (ノンストップ暴走! 黒い破壊神) | May 13, 2000 | August 18, 2002 | |
| Mushrambo has been turned evil and is now Dark Mushrambo. Can anyone or anything defeat him? | ||||
| 15 | "Mechano City" / "The Robot Sky-Kingdom of Mechano City" "tenkū no robotto ōkoku mekanoshitei" (天空のロボット王国メカノシティ) | May 20, 2000 | August 24, 2002 | |
| The group arrives in a city full of robots, but what will they do when the cops begin to pursue them? | ||||
| 16 | "The Giant Robot" / "Giant Robot Launch! The Mysterious Card Factory" "kyodai robo hasshin! nazo no kado kōjō" (巨大ロボ発進!謎のカード工場) | May 27, 2000 | August 25, 2002 | |
| 17 | "The Great War" / "Flawless!? The Fiendish EnCard is created" "jakuten nashi!? akuma no hatsumei eggukado" (弱点なし!?悪魔の発明エッグカード) | June 3, 2000 | August 31, 2002 | |
| 18 | "The Secrets of the Seven" / "Secret of the Seven Enterran Generals!" "7 daishōgun no himitsu!" (7大将軍の秘密!) | June 10, 2000 | September 1, 2002 | |
| 19 | "The Feathered Fiend" / "Defeat! The Strong Bird Queen Rusephine" "Taose! Saikyo no Torijūō Rusephine" (倒せ!最強の鳥獣王ルシフェーヌ) | June 17, 2000 | September 7, 2002 | |
| 20 | "The Two Mushrambos" / "Big Crash! Mushra vs. Mushrambo" "dai gekitotsu! Mashura vs Mashuranbo" (大激突!マシュラVSマシュランボー) | June 24, 2000 | September 8, 2002 | |
| 21 | "The Battle of One" / "In the End of the Fight..." "tatakai no hate ni..." (戦いの果てに…) | July 1, 2000 | February 7, 2005 | |
Season 2
| No. | Title | Original air date | English air date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | "A New Beginning" / " "ore ha saikyō ō. mashura samada!" (オレは最強王・マシュラさまだ!) | July 8, 2000 | March 1, 2005 |
| 23 | "Bear Claws" / "Heroic Revival of the Hyper Forms!" "yūsha fukkatsu no haipafomu!" (勇者復活のハイパーフォーム!) | July 15, 2000 | March 2, 2005 |
| 24 | "Nightmare Dream Center" / "The Name of Hell's Emissary is Eilis!!" "jigoku no shisha sono mei ha airisu!!" (地獄の使者その名はアイリス!!) | July 22, 2000 | March 3, 2005 |
| 25 | "Eilis of the Storm" / "Awaken! Mushrambo" "Mezame yo! Mushrambo" (目覚めよ!マシュランボー) | July 29, 2000 | March 4, 2005 |
| 26 | "Reviving Yakumo" / "A Reunion That Came Too Late" "Sore wa 'Ososugita Saikai" (遅すぎた再会) | August 12, 2000 | March 5, 2005 |
| 27 | "Lanancuras Arises" / "Final Hope" "Saigo no Kibou" (最後の希望) | August 19, 2000 | March 7, 2005 |
| 28 | "Lanancuras Unbound" / "Yakumo Dies in the Setting Sun" "yakumo rakujitsu ni shisu" (ヤクモ落日に死す) | August 26, 2000 | March 8, 2005 |
| 29 | "Mushrambo Meets His Match" / " "hate shinaki shitō" (果てしなき死闘) | September 2, 2000 | March 9, 2005 |
| 30 | "Mushra's Mission" / " "mashura no shimei" (マシュラの使命) | September 9, 2000 | March 10, 2005 |
| 31 | "Soul Survivor" / " "Shinaru Tatakai" (心ある戦い) | September 16, 2000 | March 11, 2005 |
| 32 | "Long Live Yakumo" / "Farewell, Mushrambo" "Saraba, Mushrambo" (さらばマシュランボー) | September 23, 2000 | March 12, 2005 |
Background
The series is an adaptation of the 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en, transplanting the events to a far-future science fiction setting. Tang Sanzang becomes Yakumo, a girl tasked with reviving the human race rather than retrieving sacred scriptures. Sha Wujing becomes Sago, Zhu Bajie becomes Kutal (who transforms into a lion), and Sun Wukong becomes Mushra (retaining the character's golden headband and telescoping staff).[4]
References
- "ABC Family Premieres Anime Adventure Series Beyblade And Shinzo". Animation World Network. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
- Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. p. 737. ISBN 978-1476665993.
- "New Anime In America". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
- Toole, Michael (June 19, 2011). "Too Many Gokus!". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
External links
- Official website (Anime) (in Japanese)
- Shinzo (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia