Battle Spirits: Shounen Toppa Bashin

Battle Spirits: Shounen Toppa Bashin (バトルスピリッツ少年突破バシン) is a 2008 Japanese anime series based on the Battle Spirits Trading Card Game. It was produced by Sunrise and Nagoya Broadcasting Network and aired on TV Asahi from September 7, 2008 to September 6, 2009. It replaced Dinosaur King in the Nichi Asa Kids Time 7:00 timeslot and was succeeded by Battle Spirits: Shounen Gekiha Dan. It has been licensed in China, Thailand, and the Philippines.

Plot
The story follows the day-to-day adventures of an optimistic and energetic young boy nicknamed Bashin. Along with his card battler friends, he aims to be the very best at Battle Spirits. However, to accomplish that, they must defeat Nazo Otona (ナゾオトナ) throughout the world, obtain X-rare cards to build the greatest deck, and take down King Uchuuchouten.

Pyroxene Card Battlers
Chosen card battlers that each possess a pyroxene (輝石) stone (alternatively translated as "cornerstone"). The stones have the power to release Isekai World (イセカイ界), an alternate dimension where spirits truly exist, and allow their respective pets to speak. In the final tournament, they refer to themselves as Team Shomen Toppa (チームショーメン突破)


 * Bashin (バシン) Toppa Bashin (馬神トッパ)
 * X-rares： The DragonEmperor Siegfried, The TwinRowdy Diranos, The Gigantic Thor, The GiantHero Titus, The SacredEmperor Siegfrieden
 * X-rares： The DragonEmperor Siegfried, The TwinRowdy Diranos, The Gigantic Thor, The GiantHero Titus, The SacredEmperor Siegfrieden

The protagonist. Bashin is a 12-year-old who is very passionate about Battle Spirits, though this singularity of mind often makes him oblivious to the people around him. He is at times rude, but often has good intentions. He lives with his mother Hayami and pet mouse Aibou, and his father left home when he was young. Initially he attends Toaru Elementary School but in episode 29 he advances to Toaru Middle School where he joins the Battle Spirits Club with Striker, Meganeko, Smile, and Seven. His catchphrase is '''"I'll break through from the front and total ___!" (正面突破で○○突破トウォォタル！)''' Bashin uses an exclusively red deck in the beginning, adding more colors as the series continues. He possesses the oval-shaped red pyroxene stone, which was given to him by his father.


 * J Sawaragi (澤ラギJ) Juli Sawaragi (澤ラギジュリー)
 * X-rares: The ImpregnableFortress Odin, The Gigantic Thor, The DarkDragonEmperor Siegfried, The SacredEmperor Siegfrieden
 * X-rares: The ImpregnableFortress Odin, The Gigantic Thor, The DarkDragonEmperor Siegfried, The SacredEmperor Siegfrieden

Bashin's rival. J is the "Noble Youth of the Battle Spirits World," winning championship after championship and has a large number of fans. He is also very rich, as his father is head of an electronics firm, and is chauffeured everywhere. He lives with his parents, sister Kyouka, and pet cat Okyou, but his father is often busy. He has a cold personality, though warms up with the influence of Kyouka and Bashin. He attends Tonari Private Middle School starting in episode 29, but later withdraws to enter the Thousand Spirits Group as No. 11, Jack Knight (ジャックナイト). In episode 42 he resigns from the Group and becomes an official member of Team Shomentoppa. J uses a primarily white deck, and possesses the oval-shaped white pyroxene stone.


 * Suiren (スイレン) My Sunshine (マイサンシャイン)
 * X-rares: The SevenShogun Desperado, The SevenShogun Destlord, The GreatArmoredLord Deathtaurus
 * X-rares: The SevenShogun Desperado, The SevenShogun Destlord, The GreatArmoredLord Deathtaurus

A mysterious card battler, Suiren's true identity is that of the popular idol My Sunshine. While My Sunshine has a very bright and cheery personality, Suiren is somewhat rude and overbearing. Her pet chameleon Pink allows her to transform into Suiren, but her mask is separate. Suiren reveals her identity to the other pyroxene holders in episode 17, explaining that her image as an idol restricts her from playing a boyish game like Battle Spirits. This restriction is eventually rescinded, but as My Sunshine her deck is full of cute rather than strong cards. As she gets friendlier with the other pyroxene holders, her personalities become closer together. As Suiren she uses a primarily purple deck, while as My Sunshine she uses a yellow deck. She possesses the heart-shaped purple pyroxene stone, which she found in her homeland of Hawaii under the sea.


 * Striker (ストライカー) Kakeru Nohara (ノ原カケル)
 * X-rares: The Duke Kingtaurus, The SavageKnight Hercules, The GreatArmoredLord Deathtaurus
 * X-rares: The Duke Kingtaurus, The SavageKnight Hercules, The GreatArmoredLord Deathtaurus

The former star player of Toaru Elementary School's soccer team, who stops playing due to a leg injury. In the hospital, Hayami teaches him how to play Battle Spirits, thus awakening him as a pyroxene card battler. Striker is typically optimistic and sensible, but becomes excited easily about soccer, Battle Spirits, or My Sunshine. He lives with his parents, younger brothers, and pet parakeet Cap. Striker uses a primarily green deck, and possesses the V-shaped green pyroxene stone.


 * Meganeko (メガネコ) Fumiko Otonashi (音無フミコ)
 * X-rares: The ArcAngelia Valiero, The PhantomLord Rean
 * X-rares: The ArcAngelia Valiero, The PhantomLord Rean

Bashin's childhood friend, Meganeko is an initially shy, quiet glasses-wearing girl. She is a victim of Bashin's enthusiasm, as he often is too absorbed in Battle Spirits to pay attention to her. To rectify this, she has Card Sensei teach her Battle Spirits and enters a tournament as Kiiroko (キイロコ). Though she loses to Bashin, she is awakened as a pyroxene card battler. After this, she begins to wear contacts instead of glasses and associates with the other pyroxene card battlers. Meganeko uses a primarily yellow deck, and possesses the butterfly-shaped yellow pyroxene stone.


 * Kyouka Sawaragi (澤ラギキョーカ)
 * X-rares: The ImpregnableFortress Odin, The GiantHero Titus, The HugeBeastLord Behedoth
 * X-rares: The ImpregnableFortress Odin, The GiantHero Titus, The HugeBeastLord Behedoth

The younger twin sister of J, Kyouka is an amicable and humorous girl who cares deeply for her brother. While not a chosen battler until very late in the series, she knows about the pyroxene stones through J and Okyou and becomes a part of Bashin's circle of friends. Having been brought up in Kyoto, she has an Osakan accent. Kyouka uses a variety of colors throughout the show and is given the hexagonal blue pyroxene stone by Card Sensei in episode 44.

Pets

 * Aibou (アイボウ)

Bashin's pet mouse, who gains the ability to speak in episode 1. Aibou is rather feisty and tends to nag at Bashin for his shortcomings.


 * Okyou (お京) Queen (クイーン)

J's pet cat, who has a strong rivalry with Aibou.


 * Pink (ピンク)

Suiren's pet chameleon, who has the ability to turn invisible.


 * Cap (キャップ)

Striker's pet parakeet. Before the green pyroxene stone awakened, Cap was able to speak some phrases, but had no understanding of human words.


 * Nanarin (ナナリン)

Kitan and Meganeko's pet dog. After Meganeko receives the yellow pyroxene stone, Nanarin begins to speak.


 * Guraguri (ぐらぐり)

Card Sensei's master, who was for a time the class pet of Bashin's elementary class.

Bashin Family

 * Hayami Bashin (馬神ハヤ美)

Bashin's mother, usually referred to as Mama, who works as a taxi driver. She is strict with Bashin and concerned about his well-being. Hayami frequently gives her passengers advice when they appear troubled. She taught Bashin how to play Battle Spirits to cure his introversion, and later teaches Striker how to play so he can get over his depression. In the past she was a well-known masked card battler known as Mama the Speed Star (ママ・ザ・スピードスター).


 * Touha Bashin (馬神トーハ)

Bashin's father, who left his family to explore the world. Touha called Bashin "Aibou", meaning "partner", when he was young, and in turn Bashin named his mouse Aibou when Touha left. In the past, he was part of an invincible masked card battler duo with Hayami. In the epilogue, he gives Bashin a new pyroxene stone before heading out to continue his journey around the world.


 * Papa Navi (パパナビ) Supi-chan (スピちゃん)

An artificial intelligence system that controls non-driving functions in Hayami's taxi.

Sawaragi Foundation

 * Kiano Steven Sawaragi (キアノ・スティーブン・さわラギ)
 * X-rares: The IceBeast Mam-Morl
 * X-rares: The IceBeast Mam-Morl

J and Kyouka's father. He is frequently busy working as head of a large electronics firm. Soon after developing the tag battle system with Elliot, Kiano joined the Numbers Elite as No. 3. Due to this, he quarrels with J and J also joins the Thousand Spirits group as a result. After battling and losing to Bashin in a tournament, he leaves the Numbers to become closer to his family. Kiano is Finnish in descent and in the past was part of a masked battler duo with his sister.


 * Miyako Sawaragi (澤ラギミヤコ)

J and Kyouka's mother. At first she disapproves of J playing Battle Spirits, believing him to be obsessed with it and wasting his time. However, she becomes tolerant of it after J turns in her deck to her and Kyouka teaches her how to play. She is from Kyoto.


 * J's Aunt (Jの叔母)

The elegant caretaker of Kiano Castle in Finland. She appears only in episode 28, though in episode 50 it is revealed that she and her brother Kiano formed a masked battler duo that was rivals with Hayami and Touha.


 * Chauffeur (運転手)

The Sawaragi family chauffeur who frequently drives J around the towns of Tonari and Toaru.

Toaru and Tonari Schools

 * Nanao Watanabe (渡辺ナナ男) Seven (セブン) Galaxy Seven (ギャラクシーセブン)
 * X-rares: The GiantHero Titus, The MobileFortress Castle Golem
 * X-rares: The GiantHero Titus, The MobileFortress Castle Golem

A student at Toaru Middle School and the president of Toaru Middle School's BatoSupi club. Nanao is typically timid, but when in his Galaxy Seven persona, he is very confident and narcissistic. Before Bashin and the others joined, his club was populated by only himself, as all other members were frightened by him. Nanao joined the first incarnation of Team Shomen Toppa when J was Jack Knight, only to remove himself right before the tournament from a lack of confidence, and soon after reveals himself to be No. 7.


 * Setsuko Kirishima (キリ島セツ子)

The student council president of Tonari Private Middle School. Setsuko is very strict about the school rules and tries to prevent the Battle Spirits Club from forming because it could impede studying. After reluctantly acknowledging the club's establishment, she joins the Battle Spirits club so she can rival Kyouka's academic success.


 * Manabu (マナブ)

The vice president of Tonari Private Middle School's student council. He is more relaxed about the studying than Setsuko, but typically follows her lead. Due to his admiration of Kyouka, he joins the Battle Spirits Club, becoming the last member needed for it to officially form.

Toaru City

 * Card Sensei (カードセンセ) Kyoji Kawato (川戸キョーヂ)
 * X-rares: The Archangel Mikafar, The Arcangel Valiero
 * X-rares: The Archangel Mikafar, The Arcangel Valiero

Bashin and Meganeko's elementary school teacher. Formerly No. 5 of the Thousand Spirits Group.


 * Kitan Otonashi (音無奇譚)
 * X-rares: The Emperor Kaiseratlus, The PhantomLord Rean
 * X-rares: The Emperor Kaiseratlus, The PhantomLord Rean

Meganeko's grandfather. Formerly No. 10 of the Thousand Spirits Group.


 * Female Announcer (女子アナ)

BatoSupi TV's announcer. She appears to be enthusiastic about her job.


 * Commentator-san (解説さん)

BatoSupi TV's commentator. With Female Announcer, he covers Battle Spirits news and events.


 * Baito-kun (バイトくん) Rokurouta Murai (村井ロクロータ)

A part-time worker at the Toaru Battle Spirits Center. In episode 33 he is shown to have joined the Thousand Spirits Group.


 * Baito-san (バイトさん)

A part-time worker at the Toaru Battle Spirits Center. She formerly lived in the same apartment complex as Bashin and frequently babysat him. She takes over working at the Battle Spirits Center when Baito-kun leaves.


 * Manager (マネージャー)

My Sunshine's manager, who often is troubled by her tendency to disappear before concerts.


 * Pseudo-J (Ｊもどき)

An actor who portrays J in the Pretty Girl Breakthrough My Sunshine movie.

Thousand Spirits Group
A mysterious organization. Its members, dubbed Nazo Otona (ナゾオトナ) by children, are said to distribute X-Rares and High Ranker Passes to those that defeat them. The top members of the group are the Numbers Elite (ナンバーズエリート).

Anime
Battle Spirits: Shounen Toppa Bashin aired on TV Asahi from September 7, 2008 to September 6, 2009 on the 7:00 NichiAsa timeslot. It replaced Dinosaur King in the 7:00 NichiAsa timeslot and was succeeded by Battle Spirits: Shounen Gekiha Dan. Many of the episode titles mix kanji and kana in unconventional ways to create dual meanings or tongue twisters.

Music

 * Opening theme
 * "GO AHEAD!!"
 * Lyrics: Mitsuhiro Oikawa
 * Composition: TAKURO(GLAY)
 * Arrangement: CHOKKAKU
 * Performance: Mitsuhiro Oikawa
 * Episodes: 1–50


 * Ending themes
 * "Adventure Record" (冒険記録)
 * Lyrics: Little Non
 * Composition: Little Non
 * Arrangement: Masaki Suzuki
 * Performance: Little Non
 * Episodes: 1–26
 * "dear-dear-DREAM"
 * Lyrics: Aki Hata
 * Composition: Katsuhiko Kurosu
 * Arrangement: Nijine
 * Performance: My Sunshine (Ayahi Takagaki) Meets Sphere
 * Episodes: 27–50


 * Insert Themes
 * "Deep Breath" (冒険記録)
 * Lyrics: Little Non
 * Composition: Little Non
 * Arrangement: Noriyoshi Matsushita, Little Non
 * Performance: Little Non
 * Episode: 17
 * "NEVER SURRENDER"
 * Lyrics: Mitsuhiro Oikawa
 * Composition: Mitsuhiro Oikawa
 * Arrangement: CHOKKAKU
 * Performance: Mitsuhiro Oikawa
 * Episodes: 33, 43, 44

Manga
A manga version by Hideaki Fujii was serialized in Kerokero Ace magazine beginning in July 2008 and ended in September 2009. The manga differs significantly from the anime.

A comic entitled Training! Bato☆Supi School (特訓！バト☆スピ学園) was also serialized on the official site, running for 21 chapters. It had no connection to the plot of Shounen Toppa Bashin asides from the appearance of Card Sensei.

Novel
A novel entitled Battle Spirits: Shomen Tanteidan (バトルスピリッツ ショーメン探偵団!) was published on July 17, 2009 by Kadokawa Tsubasa Bunko. It was written by Tatsuya Hamazaki and illustrated by Hideaki Fujii. A new student named Oriba (折場) has appeared in Bashin's class, but only Meganeko notices. Since then, a series of mysteries have occurred within the school which Bashin and Meganeko must solve.

Video games
While no games have been made featuring solely the cast of Shounen Toppa Bashin, two games including Shounen Toppa Bashin, Shounen Gekiha Dan, and game-original characters have been made. The first, Battle Spirits: Champion of Pyroxene (バトルスピリッツ 輝石の覇者) was released November 12, 2009 for the Sony PSP by Namco Bandai Games. The game takes place in Toaru City and revolves around Seiya Muteki (霧笛セイヤ), a little league ace pitcher who admires Bashin and received a pyroxene stone from his mother. Card battles are shown in real time on a 3D field where the characters and spirits are rendered. On August 5, 2010, Namco Bandai Games also released Battle Spirits: Digital Starter (バトルスピリッツ デジタルスターター) for the Nintendo DS. The player character, Retsu Torai (渡雷烈), travels around Chikaba Town challenging other card battlers. Unlike the previous games, Battle Spirits is played as it is in real life. Characters from both Shounen Toppa Bashin and Shounen Gekiha Dan must be unlocked in order to battle them.