Mashin Hero Wataru

Mashin Hero Wataru (魔神英雄伝ワタル) 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 Transformers: The Headmasters. Sunrise credited "Hajime Yatate" for the storyline and Shūji Iuchi directed the series. 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 Wataru Ikusabe (戦部 ワタル) 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 Soukaizan (創界山), 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

 * Mayumi Tanaka as Wataru Ikusabe (戦部 ワタル Ikusabe Wataru) (In Keith Courage in Alpha Zones, he is known as Keith Courage)
 * Megumi Hayashibara as Himiko Shinobibe (忍部 ヒミコ Shinobibe Himiko) (In Keith Courage in Alpha Zones, she is known as Nurse Nancy)
 * Tomomichi Nishimura as Shibaraku Tsurugibe (剣部 シバラク Tsurugibe Shibaraku) (In Keith Courage in Alpha Zones, he is known as the Weapons Master)
 * Koichi Yamadera as Kurama Wataribe (渡部 クラマ Wataribe Kurama)
 * Kenichi Ogata as Genryūsai Shinobibe (忍部 幻龍斎 Shinobibe Genryūsai)
 * Tesshō Genda as Ryūjinmaru
 * Kazue Ikura as Toraoh (虎王 Toraō)
 * Urara Takano as Umihiko

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. On June 12, 2020, it was announced the anime would resume on June 19, 2020.

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.

A new anime television series, titled Mashin Genesis Wataru (魔神創造伝ワタル), was announced by Sunrise on January 13, 2024.

Music
Wataru Wataru 2 Cho Mashin Hero Wataru
 * Opening: "Step" by achi-achi
 * Ending: "Achi-achi Adventure" by achi-achi
 * Opening 1: "Step by Step" by Yumiko Takahashi
 * 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
 * Opening 1: "Hitotsu no Hāto de" (ひとつのハートで) 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