Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion

Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion (Japanese: 新幹線変形ロボ シンカリオン, Hepburn: Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkarion, "Transforming Bullet Train Robot Shinkalion") is a Japanese toy franchise created by Takara Tomy, in association with the Japan Railways Group.[1] It is a spin-off of the long-running Plarail model train franchise, with the toys first launched back at March 16, 2015. An anime adaptation by OLM, Inc. aired in all JNN stations in Japan from January 6, 2018, to June 29, 2019.[2]

Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion
Cover of the first Blu-ray volume
新幹線変形ロボ シンカリオン
(Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkarion)
GenreMecha, science fiction
Anime television series
Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion THE ANIMATION
Directed byTakahiro Ikezoe
Written byKento Shimoyama
Music byToshiyuki Watanabe
StudioOLM, Inc.
Original networkJNN (TBS)
Original run January 6, 2018 – June 29, 2019
Episodes76
Game
Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion: Card ga Moraeru! Chō Shinka Battle
DeveloperT-ARTS
PublisherT-ARTS
GenreAction
PlatformArcade
Released
  • JP: March 2018
Anime film
Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion the Movie: Mirai Kara Kita Shinsoku no ALFA-X
Directed byTakahiro Ikezoe
Written byKento Shimoyama
Music byToshiyuki Watanabe
StudioOLM, Inc.
Toho
ReleasedDecember 27, 2019 (2019-12-27)
Runtime79min

Plot
Main article: List of Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion characters

Anime

Several incidents of monster attacks from a mysterious group named Kitoralzers appeared suddenly in Japan after the appearance of the mysterious Black Shinkansen. In response, a secret organization called Shinkansen Ultra Evolution Institute was established in order to investigate the Black Shinkansen and its relations to the attacks using Shinkalions, bullet trains that turn into giant robots. However one day, Hayato Hayasugi, a young grade schooler who is a big railfan due to his father being a staff in the Railway Museum, accidentally got involved in the recent attack by the monsters and discovered his father's secret working with the Shinkansen Ultra Evolution Institute. Hayato shows a surprising amount of aptitude as a Shinkalion driver, based on him using a training application on his father's tablet that he mistook for a mobile game. Despite initial concerns from the adult members of the organization about having children as drivers, Hayato joins several other kids in using Shinkalions to willingly fight against the threat of the Kitoralzers.

Anime film

About half a year after the defeat of the Kitoralzers, mysterious giant beings suddenly appear from space lead by both Nahane and Ohanefu, and are planning to take over the Earth. During these attacks, the Shinkansen Ultra Evolution Institute has been busy developing a new prototype unit - the Shinkalion ALFA-X. Suddenly, a 9-year old Hokuto appears from across time and space. Having no choice, the Shinkansen Ultra Evolution Institute appointed the young Hokuto to become the driver of the Shinkalion ALFA-X and bringing in the teams from all the branches across Japan as the last line of defense against the invaders threatening the planet.

Development

The franchise's roots dates back to 2012, during the time when Takara Tomy revived the Tomica Hyper series. At the time, the Plarail Hyper Series did not do well in sales and was eventually discontinued in 2013. In order to redevelop the Plarail Hyper Series concept into a new series, Takara Tomy hired several experts from the Japan Railways Group for the new designs and concepts. The new concept is a transforming super robot in the vein of the Plarail series, and was inspired directly from several anime, notably Chō Tokkyū Hikarian. JR East Project and JR East Group were already been long time sponsors of Takara Tomy during Plarail's development, and other branches of the Japan Railways group joined in on its development.

The new project was announced under the codename "Project E5" during the 2014 Tokyo Toy Show, with special promotional animation created in collaboration with Japan Railways Group and Shogakukan Music & Digital Entertainment Inc..[3] After the presentation, many changes on the concept were done in order for the toy to be finalized for retail sale and to be compatible with any Plarail tracks. After the changes, the first wave of toys were released on March 16, 2015.[4][5]

Soon after the release of the toys, Takara Tomy announced that an anime of the series is in the works.[6] The anime, aired in TBS, was released on January 6, 2018. The anime has notable crossovers from both the Vocaloid franchise[7] and the Evangelion franchise in some of its episodes.[8][9][10][11][12] Hayato and the E5 also cross over in the feature-length film for Tomica Hyper Rescue Drive Head Kidō Kyūkyū Keisatsu.[13]

In May 2019, Takara Tomy announced that the anime would end in Summer 2019.[14][15] A sequel film is also announced to premiere in Winter 2019.[16]

Media

Merchandise

The original Shinkalion toy franchise was released as a spin-off of the Plarail franchise on March 16, 2015. The original toys released, resembles regular Shinkansen trains complete with a front train, middle carriage and back train and that are compatible with any Plarail track. But the three components can transform and combine into a robot that is 18 inches in height and each figure comes with its own weapon and accessories. Also, each figure can also swap parts for added playability. Within each year, new figures were officially released, especially during the Anime's run.

Other merchandise of the series were also released in the form of keychains and novelties. Good Smile Company also released model kits of the mechas of the series under the Moderoid line of scale models, starting with the Shinkalion E5 Hayabusa in February 2019. A Nendoroid figure of Hatsune Miku, done in the style depicted in the anime series, was released in August 2019.[17]

Anime

An anime adaptation of the toyline, titled Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion THE ANIMATION (Japanese: 新幹線変形ロボ シンカリオン THE ANIMATION, Hepburn: Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkarion THE ANIMATION) was animated by OLM, Inc., airing on all JNN stations in Japan from January 6, 2018, to June 29, 2019. It was directed by Takahiro Ikezoe (Show By Rock!!) and written by Kento Shimoyama (Servant × Service, Kamen Rider Zi-O). The opening song is titled "Shinka Riron" (進化理論, "Evolution Theory") by Boys and Men. The first ending song is titled "Go One Step Ahead" by Keisuke Murakami, the second ending is titled "I WANNA BE WITH YOU" by TETSUYA, the third ending is titled "Go Way!" by Silent Siren, the fourth ending is titled "STARTRAiN" by Amatsuki and the fifth ending is titled "Start Line" (スタートライン, Sutātorain) by BERRY GOODMAN. The series's music is composed by Toshiyuki Watanabe (Galactic Armored Fleet Majestic Prince, Space Brothers).

Theatrical film

A film sequel to the anime, titled Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion the Movie: Mirai Kara Kita Shinsoku no ALFA-X (Japanese: 劇場版 新幹線変形ロボ シンカリオン 未来からきた神速のALFA-X, Hepburn: Gekijō-ban Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkarion Mirai Kara Kita Shinsoku no Arufaekkusu, "The Swiftly ALFA-X that came from the Future") premiered in cinemas in Japan on December 27, 2019.[18][19]

Video game

An arcade game based on the franchise, Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion: Get the Card! Super Evolution Battle (Japanese: 新幹線変形ロボ シンカリオン カードがもらえる! 超シンカバトル, Hepburn: Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkarion Kādo ga Moraeru! Chō Shinka Batoru) was developed and published by Takara-Tomy A.R.T.S and was released in March 2018 in Japan.

Characters from the series also appeared in various mobile game crossovers, including Alien no Tamago by Paon DP and Sega's mobile RPG game Kotodaman. The series also debuted in Bandai Namco Entertainment's long running Super Robot Wars franchise, starting with Super Robot Wars X-Ω.[20][21][22]

Reception

The anime won the Best Award on Television Anime CG Category at the VFX-Japan Awards.[23]

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References
  1. 「新幹線変形ロボ シンカリオン」デビュー！ - タカラトミー at the Wayback Machine (archived September 30, 2017)
  2. "Takara Tomy's Shinkalion Franchise Gets TV Anime in 2018". Anime News Network.
  3. "どこに行けば、キャラクターをつくれますか？:No.05（前編）＞＞小学館ミュージック＆デジタル エンタテイメント". CGWORLD.JP. Retrieved 2018-08-12.
  4. "Transformers' Takara Tomy Turns Bullet Train Into Shinkalion Robot". Anime News Network. Retrieved Jun 24, 2019.
  5. "Shinkalion Combines Speed of Bullet Trains with the Power of Giant Robots". Anime News Network. Retrieved Jun 24, 2019.
  6. Chapman, Paul. "Trains Transform in "Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion" Trailer". Crunchyroll. Retrieved Jun 24, 2019.
  7. Chapman, Paul. "Hatsune Miku Breaks Into Voice Acting on "Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion"". Crunchyroll. Retrieved Jun 24, 2019.
  8. Dennison, Kara. "Celebrate Father/Son Robot Bonding with "Shinkalion" and "Evangelion"". Crunchyroll. Retrieved Jun 24, 2019.
  9. "Kids' Anime Shinkalion Episode 17 Parodies Evangelion". Anime News Network. Retrieved Jun 24, 2019.
  10. "Rei, Asuka VAs Confirmed, Angel-Themed Villain Revealed for Shinkalion's Giant Eva Episode". Anime News Network. Retrieved Jun 24, 2019.
  11. "Misato Brings 'Service, Service' to Shinkalion's Giant Eva-Filled Episode". Anime News Network. Retrieved Jun 24, 2019.
  12. "Kids' Anime Shinkalion Goes Full Eva, Megumi Ogata Reprises Shinji Role". Anime News Network. Retrieved Jun 24, 2019.
  13. "Drive Head Anime Film's Teaser Video Reveals Shinkalion Appearance". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
  14. "『シンカリオン』TVアニメシリーズがついに最終章に突入！クライマックスにむけ特別PVをYouTubeにて大公開". 超！アニメディア. Retrieved Jun 24, 2019.
  15. "【速報】TVアニメ「新幹線変形ロボ シンカリオン」最終章突入、物語は終着駅へ". エキサイトニュース. Retrieved Jun 24, 2019.
  16. "Shinkalion Anime Gets Film This Winter". Anime News Network. Retrieved Jun 24, 2019.
  17. "Nendoroid Hatsune Miku (Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion)". Retrieved Jun 24, 2019.
  18. Inc, Natasha. "劇場版「シンカリオン」に試験車両・ALFA-Xが登場、特報公開（コメントあり）". 映画ナタリー. Retrieved Sep 3, 2019.
  19. "Shinkalion Anime Film's Teaser Reveals Staff, Title, December Opening". Anime News Network. Retrieved Sep 3, 2019.
  20. "【ゲームコラボ情報】スーパーロボット大戦X-Ωへの参戦が決定！｜新幹線変形ロボ シンカリオン". www.shinkalion.com. Retrieved Sep 3, 2019.
  21. "シンカリオンが「スパロボX-Ω」に参戦 先輩列車ロボのマイトガインとそろい踏み". ねとらぼ. Retrieved Sep 3, 2019.
  22. "【スパクロ】『新幹線変形ロボ シンカリオン』＆『勇者特急マイトガイン』の情報公開（オオチP情報局#34）". 電撃オンライン. Retrieved Sep 3, 2019.
  23. "Batman Ninja, Shinkalion Anime Win VFX-Japan Awards". Anime News Network. Retrieved Jun 24, 2019.
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