Mashin Hero Wataru Explained

Mashin Hero Wataru
Ja Kanji:魔神英雄伝ワタル
Ja Romaji:Mashin Eiyū Den Wataru
Genre:Mecha, Fantasy, Adventure
Creator:Sunrise
Red Company
Type:tv series
Director:Shūji Iuchi
Producer:Takayuki Yoshii
Yuko Sagawa
Hibiki Ito
Music:Jun'ichi Kanezaki
Satoshi Kadokura
Studio:Sunrise
Network:NNS (NTV)
First:April 15, 1988
Last:March 31, 1989
Episodes:45
Type:ova
Genuine Mashin Hero Wataru
Director:Yutaka Kagawa
Shūji Iuchi
Music:Kohei Tanaka
Studio:Sunrise
First:August 5, 1989
Last:September 5, 1989
Episodes:2
Type:tv series
Mashin Hero Wataru 2
Director:Shuji Iuchi
Producer:Takayuki Yoshii
Yuko Sagawa
Hibiki Ito
Music:Hayato Kanbayashi
Studio:Sunrise
Network:NNS (NTV)
First:March 3, 1990
Last:March 8, 1991
Episodes:46
Type:ova
Mashin Hero Wataru: A Story At An Endless Time
Director:Shūji Iuchi
Music:Michiru Ōshima
Studio:Sunrise
First:October 1, 1993
Last:February 1, 1994
Episodes:3
Type:tv series
Super Mashin Hero Wataru
Director:Shūji Iuchi
Music:Tomoyuki Asakawa
Toshihiko Sahashi
Studio:Sunrise
Network:TXN (TV Tokyo)
First:October 2, 1997
Last:September 24, 1998
Episodes:51
Type:ona
Mashin Hero Wataru: The Seven Spirits of Ryujinmaru
Director:Hiroshi Kōjina
Studio:Sunrise
First:April 10, 2020
Last:November 20, 2020
Episodes:9
Type:manga
Illustrator:Hideaki Fujii
Publisher:Shogakukan
Demographic:Seinen
Magazine:Corocoro Aniki
First:July 15, 2020
Type:tv series
Mashin Genesis Wataru
Studio:Bandai Namco Filmworks

[1] is a mecha multimedia franchise originally created by Sunrise and Red Company. The first series aired on April 15, 1988, replacing the 17:00–17:30 timeslot used for . Sunrise credited "Hajime Yatate" for the storyline and Shūji Iuchi directed the series.[2] The series uses elements from both Chinese and Japanese mythology, in terms of themes and settings.

Story

The story is about a 9-year-old boy named who is magically transported to a magical realm by a mystical dragon named Ryujinmaru (龍神丸, Dragon God Round) - this magical realm is known as, which he is supposed to save from an evil, magical and demonic ruler.

The series incorporates many elements of contemporary RPG video games including dungeon levels and quests for magical objects. Soukaizan itself is represented as a series of tiered platforms each floating above the one beneath it in a rough shape of a pyramid. In order to progress to the next tier where he will meet the series' ultimate magical villain, the show's heroes must first complete some task on the tiers beneath the last one. In addition to completing these quests, he has to defeat the ruler of each level along with his many henchmen. Each level he completes, he rejuvenates one color of the gray rainbow over Soukaizan.

In his quest to save the magical realm, Wataru manages to transform a clay sculpture into a somewhat autonomous and small along with magical Super Robot. He also befriends many of the Soukaizan natives, and forms some very strong bonds of friendship. The term "Sou-kai-zan" can be broken down to its three parts: "Sou" (creation), "Kai" (realm, space, world, or universe), and "Zan" (hill or mountain), representing the pyramid shape of the magical world.

Cast

Interpretations

The first section of the title's kanji is a pun: the super-deformed mecha of the series are called "Magic Gods" (Kanji: 魔神, Romaji: mashin) - while written with the kanji for "magic" being shortened from "魔法" (mahō) to "魔" (ma) and "god" (神, shin) ("Shin" is the onyomi reading of this kanji while the kunyomi is "kami"), "mashin" is also the katakana spelling of English loanword "machine" (マシン, mashin). The kanji for "legend", 伝説 (densetsu) is shortened to "伝" (den) before being written alongside "hero" (英雄 Eiyū). A freer translation of the title would be "Legend of the Spirit Wataru."

Wataru and his friends Shibaraku and Himiko each represent different elements of ancient Japan: Wataru with his magatama and association with dragons represents the pre-Yamato Watari clan. Shibaraku represents samurai. Himiko represents ninja.

Cultural impact

The anime series was a huge hit in Japan, later being imported into Taiwan, Mainland China, South Korea, France, Monaco and Hong Kong (the latter was shown on TVB Jade). Chinese translations were provided. The show became one of the most famous Japanese anime shows in China during the mid-1990s.

Spin-offs

The franchise has spawned three TV series (Mashin Hero Wataru, Mashin Hero Wataru 2, Super Mashin Hero Wataru), four radio shows, five OVAs, five novels, five video games, and assorted other merchandise. One of the video games was the original pack-in game for the PC Engine, and was renamed in the United States as Keith Courage in Alpha Zones when localized on the TurboGrafx-16.

The latest anime, Mashin Hero Wataru: The Seven Spirits of Ryujinmaru, was released online on April 10, 2020. On April 24, 2020, it was announced that the anime would be on a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] On June 12, 2020, it was announced the anime would resume on June 19, 2020.[4]

Wataru's success prompted Bandai to copy the super-deformed mecha and multi-tiered world concepts in a science fiction setting with Sunrise's 1989 Madö King Granzört TV series.

A manga adaptation drawn by Hideaki Fujii began serialization in Shogakukan's Corocoro Aniki manga magazine in July 2020.[5]

A new anime television series, titled, was announced by Sunrise on January 13, 2024.[6]

Music

Wataru

Wataru 2

Cho Mashin Hero Wataru

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mashin Hero Wataru (TV series). Sunrise International.
  2. "Majin Hero Wataru " . Sunrise Animation. Retrieved on January 20, 2009.
  3. Web site: New Mashin Eiyūden Wataru Net Anime's 3rd, 4th Episodes Delayed. 28 August 2023 .
  4. Web site: New Mashin Eiyūden Wataru Anime Resumes with Episode 3 on June 19. 28 August 2023 .
  5. Web site: Sherman. Jennifer. New Mashin Eiyūden Wataru Anime Gets Manga. Anime News Network. July 15, 2020. July 15, 2020.
  6. Web site: Mashin Eiyūden Wataru Franchise Gets New TV Anime Mashin Sōzōden Wataru. 13 January 2024 .