Wataru

Infobox animanga/Header
name = Spirit Hero Wataru


caption =
ja_name = 魔神英雄伝ワタル
ja_name_trans = Mashin Eiyūden Wataru
genre = Mecha, Comedy, FantasyInfobox animanga/Anime
title =
director = Hideharu Iuchi
studio = Sunrise
network = NTV, Bandai Channel
first = April 15 1988
last = March 31 1989
episodes = 45Infobox animanga/OVA
title = Spirit Hero Wataru: Majinzan
director =
studio = Sunrise
released = August 5 1989
episodes = 2Infobox animanga/Anime
title = Spirit Hero Wataru 2
director =
studio = Sunrise
network = NTV, Bandai Channel
first = March 3 1990
last = March 8 1991
episodes = 46Infobox animanga/OVA
title = Spirit Hero Wataru: Warinaki Toki no Monogatari
director =
studio = Sunrise
released = October 1 1993
episodes = 3Infobox animanga/Anime
title = Chou Spirit Hero Wataru
director =
studio = Sunrise
network = TX
first = October 2 1997
last = September 24 1998
episodes = 51

Nihongo|"Spirit Hero Wataru"|魔神英雄伝ワタル|Mashin Eiyūden Wataru is a comedy/adventure Super Robot anime series created by Sunrise first aired from 1988 to 1989 in Japan. It is also referred to as "Demon Hero Legend Wataru" or "Legend of Devilish Heroism Wataru". The official title of this series is "Legend of the Machine Demons and the Hero Wataru".

tory

The story is about a 9-year old boy named Wataru Ikusabe (戦部ワタル "Ikusabe Wataru") that is magically transported to a magical realm of the gods called Soukaizan which he is supposed to save. The series incorporated many elements of RPG games including dungeon levels and quests for mystical objects. Soukaizan itself is represented as a series of tiered platforms each floating above the one beneath it in a rough pyramid shape. In order to progress to the next tier, the show's heroes must complete some task on the one beneath where he will meet the series' ultimate villain. In his quest to save the realm, he manages to transform a clay sculpture into a somewhat autonomous (small) Super Robot. He also befriends many of the Soukaizan natives, and forms some very strong friendship bonds.The term Sou-kai-zan can be broken down to its 3 parts.Sou meaning creation.
Kai meaning realm, space, world, or universe.
Zan meaning hill or mountain. which is repersented by the pyramid shape of the world's level.

Interpretations

The title of the show is a pun. The super-formed mecha of the series are also called "mashin." While written with kanji as "magic" and "god" (with the meaning "demon"), "mashin" is also the Japanese word for "machine."

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

Cultural Impact beyond Japan

The anime series was a huge hit in Japan, later being imported into Taiwan and Mainland China. Chinese translations were provided. The show became one of the most famous Japanese anime shows in China during the mid 1990s. Even till today, on popular Chinese websites like Baidu.com, one can still find very active forums discussing the show.

Cast

*Mayumi Tanaka as "Wataru Ikusabe" (In "Keith Courage in Alpha Zones" he is known as "Keith Courage")
*Megumi Hayashibara as "Himiko Shinobibe" (In "Keith Courage in Alpha Zones" she is known as "Nurse Nancy")
*Tomomichi Nishimura as "Shibaraku Tsurugibe" (In Keith Courage in Alpha Zones he is known as "Weapons Master")
*Kōichi Yamadera as "Kurama Wataribe"
*Kenichi Ogata as "Genryūsai Shinobibe"
*Tesshō Genda as "Ryūjinmaru"
*Kazue Ikura as "Tora-Oh"
*Urara Takano as "Umihiko"

pinoffs

The franchise has spawned three TV series (Mashin Eiyuuden Wataru, Mashin Eiyuuden Wataru 2, Chou Mashin Eiyuuden Wataru), four radio shows, five OVAs, five novels, five video games, and assorted other merchandise. The most notable video game was renamed in the U.S as "Keith Courage in Alpha Zones" for the TurboGrafx-16.

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

In the premise of the Japanese anime, "Brave Story" is a novel created more than a decade later featuring a young boy named Wataru, who is transported to an RPG-like mystical realm. However that novel is not based or to be confused with this series.

taff

Director: Hideharu Iuchi

Additional Directors: Michio Fukuda, Masamitsu Hidaka, Nobuhiro Kondo, Katsuoshi Yatabe, Yutaka Kagawa

Screenwriter: Yoshiaki Takahashi, Ryosuke Takahashi, Hiroyuki Kawasaki, Takao Koyama, Hiroko Naka

Design: Toyoo Ashida, Kazunori Nakazawa

Animator: Toyoo Ashida

Music: Junichi Kanezaki, Satoshi Kadokura

oundtrack

Wataru
Opening: "Step" by achi-achi
Ending: "Achi-achi Adventure" by achi-achi

Wataru 2:
Opening 1: "Step by Step" by Takahashi Yumiko
Ending 1: "Kimi ni Tomaranai - MY GIRL, MY LOVE" by Takahashi Yumiko
Opening 2: "Fight" by Takahashi Yumiko
Ending 2: "Niji no Kanata" by Takahashi Yumiko

Wataru (3rd TV Series: Super Demon Warrior)
Opening 1: "Hitotsu no Haato de; With One Heart" by Hitomi Mieno
Ending 1: "BOYS BE AMBITIOUS" by Hitomi Mieno
Opening 2: "POWER OF DREAM" by Hitomi Mieno
Ending 2: "Ganbatte" by Hitomi Mieno

External links

* [http://www.sunrise-inc.co.jp/datacard/card0059.htm Sunrise]
* [http://www.b-ch.com/contents/wataru/index.html Bandai Channel]
* [http://community.livejournal.com/chou_wataru/ Wataru Livejournal Community]
* [http://www.vap.co.jp/wataru/ VAP]
* [http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/m-serve/-/Discographylist2/N1577.html VICTOR]
*ann anime|id=2355
* [http://hw001.gate01.com/taku1papa/ WATARU RAINBOW ISLAND]