Tomica Kizuna Gattai Earth Granner
Tomica Kizuna Gattai Earth Granner (Japanese: トミカ絆合体 アースグランナー, Hepburn: Tomika Kizuna Gattai Āsu Gurannā, "Tomica Bond Combination Earth Granner")[1] is a Japanese anime television series produced and animated by OLM, Inc., based on the long running Tomica series of die-cast metal cars created by Takara Tomy and released for the franchise's 50th anniversary.[2] It is directed by Shinji Ushiro (Yo-kai Watch) and written by Yuka Yamada (Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid, Asteroid in Love) with character designs done by Yuko Inoue (Inazuma Eleven).[3] It began airing on all TXN stations in Japan on April 5, 2020.[4]
Tomica Kizuna Gattai Earth Granner | |
トミカ絆合体 アースグランナー (Tomika Kizuna Gattai Āsu Gurannā) | |
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Genre | Mecha, science fiction |
Anime television series | |
Directed by | Shinji Ushiro |
Written by | Yuka Yamada |
Music by | Noriyuki Asakura |
Studio | OLM, Inc. (Team Inoue) |
Original network | TXN (TV Osaka, TV Tokyo) |
Original run | April 5, 2020 – present |
Episodes | 20 |
Plot
Raiga and Kuuga Kudou are twin brothers who like animals and sometimes help their mother in the zoo where she works. However one day, an alien gang known as Dark Spinner appeared on Earth, aiming to obtain the Earth Energy from the Earth's rotation and started to wreak havoc on the planet by summoning huge monsters known as Spingers. In the midst of chaos and the attack on their town, Raiga and Kuga heard voices calling to them, leading them to encounter the defense group Earth Granner. Raiga and Kuuga both became pilots of special machines called Gao Granners, and assume a secret identity. These machines can combine with sub-machines in order to become powerful super robots, as humanity's trump card to protect the planet from the threat of Dark Spinner.
Characters
Granners
- Raiga Kudou (駆動 ライガ, Kudō Raiga) / Granner R (グランナーR, Gurannā Āru)
- Voiced by: Shizuka Ishigami
- Twin brother of Kuuga. A 12-year-old who is chosen by Gao Granner Leo to be its partner.
- Kuuga Kudou (駆動 クウガ, Kudō Kūga) / Granner K (グランナーK, Gurannā Kē)
- Voiced by: Haruna Sakurai
- Twin brother of Raiga. A 12-year-old who is chosen by Gao Granner Eagle to be its partner.
- Kakeru Kumaneko (熊猫 カケル, Kumaneko Kakeru) / Granner X (グランナーX, Gurannā Ekkusu)[5]
- Voiced by: Yūma Uchida[6]
- A mysterious boy who is one of first Granner Candidates before Raiga and Kuuga. He disappeared a year before the events of the series, later appearing in the series being tricked into attacking the current Earth Granners by the Dark Spinner. He is also the chosen pilot for Gao Granner Saber as its partner.
- Joe Pachero (ジョー・パケーロ, Jō Pakēro) / Granner J (グランナーJ, Gurannā Jē)
- Voiced by: Shun Horie
- A cowboy from America. He is the chosen pilot for Gao Granner Buffalo as its partner.
Gao Granners
- Gao Granner Leo (ガオグランナーレオ, Gao Gurannā Reo)
- Voiced by: Nobuyuki Hiyama
- Raiga's Gao Granner and partner, whose motif is a Lion. Proclaimed to be the King of the Beasts (百獣の王, Hyakujū no Ō), and has a lively personality. However, he doesn't like water.
- He is able to combine with his partner, Gao Granner Cheetah (ガオグランナーチータ, Gao Gurannā Chīta) using a Kizuna Gattai to form the Earth Granner Leo Cheetah (アースグランナー レオチータ, Āsu Gurannā Reo Chīta), who is armed with the Accel Sword (アクセルソード, Akuseru Sōdo).
- Gao Granner Eagle (ガオグランナーイーグル, Gao Gurannā īguru)
- Voiced by: Satoshi Hino
- Kuuga's Gao Granner and partner, whose motif is an Eagle. Both calm and intelligent but sometimes forgets when he's driven to desperation and indignation. Proclaims to be the Emperor of the Sky (空の皇帝, Sora no Kōtei).
- He is able to combine with Gao Granner Cheetah to form the Earth Granner Eagle Cheetah (アースグランナー イーグルチータ, Āsu Gurannā Īguru Chīta) who is armed with the Accel Gun (アクセルガン, Akuseru Gan). He is also able to combine with his true partner, Gao Granner Shark (ガオグランナーシャーク, Gao Gurannā Shāku) to form the Earth Granner Eagle Shark (アースグランナー イーグルシャーク, Āsu Gurannā Īguru Shāku), who is armed with the Jet Arrow (ジェットアロー, Jetto Arō) which changes into the Jet Spear (ジェットスピア, Jetto Supia).
- Gao Granner Saber (ガオグランナーサーベル, Gao Gurannā Sāberu)
- Voiced by: Akihiro Tajima
- Kakeru's Gao Granner and partner, whose motif is a Saber-toothed tiger. He is one of the prototype Gao Granners constructed several years ago until his disappearance alongside his pilot.
- He is able to combine with his partners, Gao Granner Black Panther (ガオグランナー ブラックパンサー, Gao Gurannā Burakku Pansā) and Gao Granner Crow (ガオグランナークロウ, Gao Gurannā Kurō) to form the Earth Granner Saber Panther (アースグランナー サーベルパンサー, Āsu Gurannā Sāberu Pansā), who is armed with Gao Granner Crow's weapon forms: the Cross Scissor (クロスシザー, Kurosu Shizā) which changes into the Cross Boomerang (クロスブーメラン, Kurosu Būmeran).
- Gao Granner Buffalo (ガオグランナーバッファロー, Gao Gurannā Buffarō)
- Voiced by: Hiromichi Tezuka
- Joe's Gao Granner and partner, whose motif is a Buffalo. He is energetic, friendly and loves to show-off, but is severely loyal to Joe.
- He is able to combine with Gao Granner Alligator (ガオグランナーアリゲーター, Gao Gurannā Arigētā) using a Kizuna Gattai to form the Earth Granner Buffa Gator (アースグランナー バッファゲーター, Āsu Gurannā Baffa Gētā), who is armed with the Horn Shield (ホーンシールド, Hōn Shīrudo), and the Pile Ax (パイルアックス, Pairu Akkusu), which can combine with the two drills on the Horn Shield to form the Pile Hammer (パイルハンマー, Pairu Hanmā).
Earth Granner
- Bariki Kudou (駆動 バリキ, Kudō Bariki)
- Voiced by: Shouto Kashii
- Father of the twins. An engineer in Earth Granner and the developer of the Gao Granners.
- Ikuzou Kumaneko (熊猫 イクゾウ, Kumaneko Ikuzou)
- Voiced by: Takahiro Sumi
- The Commander of the organization Earth Granner and both Kakeru and Rin's father.
- Rin Kumaneko (熊猫 リン, Kumaneko Rin)
- Voiced by: Emiri Suyama
- Younger sister of Kakeru. Head operator of Earth Granner, who is in fact a 12-year-old and one of the twins' school mates.
- Gyron (ジャイロン, Jairon)
- Voiced by: Aya Endo
- An AI robot developed by Bariki.
- Go Mach (マッハゴウ, Mahha Gou)
- Voiced by: Jun Fukuyama
- A famous racer who was once a candidate driver of Gao Granner Leo.
Jono Zoo Staff
- Steve (スティーブ, Stīfu)
- Voiced by: Jun Fukuyama
- Head zookeeper of the zoo.
- Madoka Kudou (駆動 マドカ, Kudō Madoka)
- Voiced by: Aya Endo
- Mother of the twins who works as a vet in the zoo.
Dark Spinner
- Brake (ブレーキ, Burēki)
- Voiced by: Takayuki Nakatsukasa
- Leader of Dark Spinner and Chamber's father.
- Chamber (チャンバー, Chanbā)
- Voiced by: Yūki Wakai
- Brake's daughter and second in command in the Dark Spinner.
- Clutch (クラッチ, Kuratchi)
- Voiced by: Masaki Nakanishi
- A member of the Dark Spinner, a very slender male who follows Chamber's orders.
- Oiler (オイラー, Oirā)
- Voiced by: Seiyu Fujiwara
- A member of the Dark Spinner, resembling a big fat man. He serves as the mechanic of the trio and usually shown with his AI robot Puff Puff.
- Puffpuff (パフパフ, Pafupafu)
- Voiced by: Tomohiro Yamaguchi
- Oiler's AI assistant, who handles gathering data regarding dark energy.
Production
Earth Granner was created for the Tomica franchise's 50th anniversary and follows a similar concept of combining mecha as that of its previous series Tomica Hyper Rescue Drive Head Kidō Kyūkyū Keisatsu .[1][7] An official live stream in February 2020 outlined the basic concept of the upcoming anime as well as the toys, which were first released in April 2020.
Exhibition for the upcoming toyline and anime was meant to be held at the 2020 Anime Japan Expo on March 21, 2020, but the event was cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and information was instead later revealed online.
Media
Anime
The series began airing in Japan in all TXN affiliated stations in Japan on April 5, 2020.[8] The opening theme song is titled "Sekai ga Kimi o Hitsuyou to Suru Toki ga Kitanda" (世界が君を必要とする時が来たんだ, Sekai ga Kimi o Hitsuyō to Suru Toki ga Kitanda, "The Time Has Come for the World to Need You") by Masayoshi Ōishi[9][10][11] while the ending theme is titled "Bokura ga Hero" (僕らがヒーロー, Bokura ga hīrō, "We Are Heroes") by Da Vinci Poriot. The series' music is composed by Noriyuki Asakura (Major, Knights of Sidonia)
No. | Title | Original air date |
---|---|---|
1 | "Launch! Earth Granner Leo Cheetah!" Transcription: "Hasshin! Āsu Gurannā Reo Chīta!" (Japanese: 発進!アースグランナーレオチータ!) | April 5, 2020 |
2 | "Gale! Earth Granner Eagle Cheetah!" Transcription: "Shippu! Āsu Gurannā īguru Chīta!" (Japanese: 疾風!アースグランナーイーグルチータ!) | April 12, 2020 |
3 | "Go Go! Mach Go!" Transcription: "GOGOGO! Mahha gō!" (Japanese: GOGOGO!マッハ ゴウ!) | April 19, 2020 |
4 | "Type Change! Aero Tornado Tomica!" Transcription: "Taipu Chenji! Earo Torunēdo Tomika!" (Japanese: タイプチェンジ!エアロトルネードトミカ!) | April 26, 2020 |
5 | "Burn! Turbo Fire Tomica!" Transcription: "Moero! Tābo Faiyā Tomika!" (Japanese: 燃えろ!ターボファイヤートミカ!) | May 3, 2020 |
6 | "Pinch it! Pursuit from Underground and the Sky!" Transcription: "Hasamiuchi! Chika to sora kara oitsumero!" (Japanese: 挟み撃ち!地下と空から追いつめろ!) | May 10, 2020 |
7 | "Red Zone! Leo's in a Pinch!?" Transcription: "Reddozōn! Reo ga pinchi!?" (Japanese: レッドゾーン!レオがピンチ!?) | May 17, 2020 |
8 | "Twin Burst! A Strategy Where the Other Watches Your Back!" Transcription: "Futago bāsuto! Senaka wa makaseta sakusen!" (Japanese: 双子バースト!背中はまかせた作戦!) | May 24, 2020 |
9 | "Fly! Earth Granner Eagle Shark!" Transcription: "Tobe! Āsu Gurannā īguru Shāku!" (Japanese: 飛べ!アースグランナーイーグルシャーク!) | May 31, 2020 |
10 | "Attack! Earth Granner Saber Panther!" Transcription: "Shūrai! Āsu Gurannā Sāberu Pansā!" (Japanese: 襲来!アースグランナーサーベルパンサー!) | June 7, 2020 |
11 | "Spin Turn! Kakeru and Saber!" Transcription: "Supintān! Kakeru to Sāberu!" (Japanese: スピンターン!カケルとサベル!) | June 14, 2020 |
12 | "Activate! Torque Rock & Screw Wave!" Transcription: "Hatsudō! Torukurokku ando Sukuryūueibu!" (Japanese: 発動!トルクロック&スクリューウェイブ!) | June 21, 2020 |
13 | "Granner vs. Granner!" Transcription: "Gurannā tai Gurannā!" (Japanese: グランナー | June 28, 2020 |
14 | "Proceed! The Boys Expedition Team!" Transcription: "Susume! Shōnen tanken-tai!" (Japanese: 進め!少年探検隊!) | July 5, 2020 |
15 | "Surprise Attack! The Legendary Mechanic!" Transcription: "Totsugeki! Densetsu no mekanikku!" (Japanese: 突撃! 伝説のメカニック!) | July 12, 2020 |
16 | "OK Baby! Earth Granner Buffa Gator!" Transcription: "Ōkei beibī! Āsugurannā Baffa Gētā!" (Japanese: OKベイベー! アースグランナーバッファゲータ!) | July 19, 2020 |
17 | "Protect! The Impregnable Horn Shield!" Transcription: "Mamore! Teppeki no hōnshīrudo!" (Japanese: 守れ!鉄壁のホーンシールド!) | July 26, 2020 |
18 | "Smash! Pile Hammer!" Transcription: "Uchikudake! Pairuhanmā!" (Japanese: 打ち砕け!パイルハンマー!) | August 2, 2020 |
19 | "Threatening! Drift Thunder Tomica!" Transcription: "Kyōi! Dorifutosandā Tomika!" (Japanese: 脅威!ドリフトサンダートミカ!) | August 9, 2020 |
20 | "Red Flash! GT-R Tomica!" Transcription: "Akai senkō! jītī āru Tomika!" (Japanese: 赤い閃光!GTーRトミカ!) | August 16, 2020 |
Video Games
Characters and units from the series were featured in the arcade crossover game Omocha ga Ataru! Roboca Battle (おもちゃがあたる!ロボカバトル, Omocha ga Ataru! Roboka Batoru, "Get the Toy! RoboCar Battle") alongside Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion and the Transformers franchises.
Merchandise
The official toys based on the series were released by Takara Tomy under the Tomica brand, including interactive role-play toys.
References
- ""Tomica Kizuna Gattai EARTH GRANNER (Tomica Bond Combination EARTH GRANNER)"" (PDF). Takara Tomy. 2020-01-15. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
- "『トミカ絆合体 アースグランナー』4月からテレビアニメ放送・玩具展開スタート" (PDF). Takara Tomy. 2020-01-15. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
- "トミカ50周年記念のTVアニメ「トミカ絆合体 アースグランナー」4月より放送". Comic Natalie. Natasha. 2020-01-15. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
- "Takara Tomy's Tomica Toy Cars Get Earth Granner TV Anime in April - News". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
- https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000695.000020945.html
- https://mantan-web.jp/article/20200523dog00m200024000c.html
- ""Tomica Kizuna Gattai Earth Granner" Giving the children a fun time at home! The advanced broadcast has been decided". Anime Anime Global. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
- "Takara Tomy's Tomica Kizuna Gattai Earth Granner Anime Reveals Opening Song, April 5 Debut - News". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
- "オーイシマサヨシ、新作MVに加藤純一が友情出演(動画あり) - 音楽ナタリー". natalie.mu. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
- "オーイシマサヨシの新曲「世界が君を必要とする時が来たんだ」MV公開|TVLIFE web - テレビがもっと楽しくなる!". tvlife.jp. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
- "オーイシマサヨシの新曲「世界が君を必要とする時が来たんだ」ミュージックビデオが公開!先行配信スタート! | Ponycanyon News". news.ponycanyon.co.jp. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
External links
- Official website (in Japanese)
- Official anime website (in Japanese)
- Tomica Kizuna Gattai Earth Granner (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia