Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion

Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion (新幹線変形ロボ シンカリオン) is a Japanese toy franchise created by Takara Tomy, in association with the Japan Railways Group. It is a spin-off of the long-running Plarail model train franchise, with the toys first launched back at March 16, 2015. An anime adaptation by OLM aired in all JNN stations in Japan from January 2018 to June 2019. A second anime titled Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion Z aired from April 2021 to March 2022 on TV Tokyo. A third anime by Signal.MD and Production I.G titled Shinkalion: Change the World premiered in April 2024.

Shinkalion THE ANIMATION
Several incidents of monster attacks from a mysterious group named Kitoralsus appeared suddenly in Japan after the appearance of the mysterious Black Shinkansen. In response, a secret organization called Shinkansen Ultra Evolution Institute was established in order to investigate the Black Shinkansen and its relations to the attacks using Shinkalions, bullet trains that turn into giant robots. However one day, Hayato Hayasugi, a young grade schooler who is a big railfan due to his father being a staff in the Railway Museum, accidentally got involved in the recent attack by the monsters and discovered his father's secret working with the Shinkansen Ultra Evolution Institute. Hayato shows a surprising amount of aptitude as a Shinkalion driver, based on him using a training application on his father's tablet that he mistook for a mobile game. Despite initial concerns from the adult members of the organization about having children as drivers, Hayato joins several other kids in using Shinkalions to willingly fight against the threat of the Kitoralsus.

Anime film
About half a year after the defeat of the Kitoralsus, giant monstrous beings suddenly appear from space led by both Nahane and Ohanefu, and are planning to take over the Earth. During these attacks, the Shinkansen Ultra Evolution Institute has been busy developing a new prototype unit - the Shinkalion ALFA-X. Suddenly, a 9-year old Hokuto appears from across time and space. Having no choice, the Shinkansen Ultra Evolution Institute appointed the young Hokuto to become the driver of the Shinkalion ALFA-X and bringing in the teams from all the branches across Japan as the last line of defense against the invaders threatening the planet.

Shinkalion Z
In preparation for the attack of new enemies, the Ultra Evolution Institute is developing a new type of robot called "Shinkalion Z" as well as new armed enhancement rolling stocks known as "Zailiners" that transform from conventional trains to power up the "Shinkalion Z". The children who became the drivers of "Shinkalion Z" with a high compatible rate will work together with the institute staff members to confront the giant monstrous beings that reappeared! The emergence of unknown enemies- And the encounter of two boys.

Shinkalion: Change The World
10 years ago, mysterious mechanical entities called UNKNOWN has been terrorizing all over Japan. To combat the threat of these invaders, the organization known as the Evolution Railway Development Agency or ERDA was formed using specialized combat train robots called Shinkalions. Though the fight against them has subsided, the organization continued to develop the Shinkalions and secretly made preparations for the return of the UNKNOWN.

Years later, Taisei Ōnari, a Junior High School student, attended the Shinkai Academy to find any clues on his older sister, Ina Ōnari's disappearance several years ago. He met up with Ryota Kuzuryu in class, inviting him to join the school's Railway Club and used the Metaverse simulator for the first time, which is being managed by ERDA's current leader Kadomichi Takanawa. Seeing Taisei has a very high Aptitude Rate, the UNKNOWN suddenly appeared after its last appearance and started to attack the city as he asked Taisei to become a Shinkalion driver due to his high Aptitude Rate than the other candidates. Despite being hesitant, he decided to become one after remembering some encouraging words from his missing sister, boarding inside the Shinkalion E5 Hayabusa to fight against the UNKNOWN and defeating it. He joined ERDA after the battle after finding out that his missing sister was an ERDA engineer.

Development
The franchise's roots dates back to 2012, during the time when Takara Tomy revived the Tomica Hyper series. At the time, the Plarail Hyper Series did not do well in sales and was eventually discontinued in 2013. In order to redevelop the Plarail Hyper Series concept into a new series, Takara Tomy hired several experts from the Japan Railways Group for the new designs and concepts. The new concept is a transforming super robot in the vein of the Plarail series, and was inspired directly from several anime, notably Chō Tokkyū Hikarian. JR East Project and JR East Group were already long time sponsors of Takara Tomy during Plarail's development, and other branches of the Japan Railways group joined in on its development. The new project was announced under the codename "Project E5" during the 2014 Tokyo Toy Show, with special promotional animation created in collaboration with Japan Railways Group and Shogakukan Music & Digital Entertainment Inc. After the presentation, many changes on the concept were done in order for the toy to be finalized for retail sale and to be compatible with any Plarail tracks. After the changes, the first wave of toys were released on March 16, 2015.

Soon after the release of the toys, Takara Tomy announced that an anime of the series is in the works. The anime, aired in TBS, was released on January 6, 2018. The anime has notable crossovers from both the Vocaloid franchise and the Evangelion franchise in some of its episodes. Hayato and the E5 also cross over in the feature-length film for Tomica Hyper Rescue Drive Head Kidō Kyūkyū Keisatsu. In May 2019, Takara Tomy announced that the anime would end in Summer 2019. A sequel film is also announced to premiere in Winter 2019. In January 2021, a new anime series was announced for spring of that year.

In late December 2023, Takara Tomy later announced that a new season would be releasing in April 2024, titled Shinkalion: Change the World.

Merchandise
The original Shinkalion toy franchise was released as a spin-off of the Plarail franchise on March 16, 2015. The original toys released, resembles regular Shinkansen trains complete with a front train, middle carriage and back train and that are compatible with any Plarail track. But the three components can transform and combine into a robot that is 18 inches in height and each figure comes with its own weapon and accessories. Also, each figure can also swap parts for added playability.

Within each year, new figures were officially released, especially during the Anime's run. The 2018 line also redesigned many existing models to look more like the animated designs and the real world shinkansen type, though the primary exceptions were the Black Shinkalion models, which were created from scratch-made designs drawn up specifically for the anime. Many of the models are the front and rear trains combined as the upper and lower robot half, with the middle carriage storing the weapons for the resulting robot. The toyline for the Z anime features additional train models that form enhanced replacement limbs and weapons. Unlike the Shinkalions, these models were based on conventional trains. The Change the World line focuses more on combination gimmicks than the last two lines, with weaponry based on vehicles.

Other merchandise of the series were also released in the form of keychains and novelties. Good Smile Company also released model kits of the mechas of the series under the Moderoid line of scale models, starting with the Shinkalion E5 Hayabusa in February 2019. A Nendoroid figure of Hatsune Miku, done in the style depicted in the anime series, was released in August 2019.

Anime
An anime television series adaptation of the toyline, titled Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion THE ANIMATION (新幹線変形ロボ シンカリオン THE ANIMATION) was animated by OLM, an anime studio behind Pokémon, airing on all JNN stations in Japan from January 6, 2018, to June 29, 2019. It was directed by Takahiro Ikezoe (Show By Rock!!) and written by Kento Shimoyama (Servant × Service, Kamen Rider Zi-O). The opening song is titled "Shinka Riron" (進化理論) by Boys and Men. The first ending song is titled "Go One Step Ahead" by Keisuke Murakami, the second ending is titled "I WANNA BE WITH YOU" by TETSUYA, the third ending is titled "Go Way!" by Silent Siren, the fourth ending is titled "STARTRAiN" by Amatsuki and the fifth ending is titled "Start Line" (スタートライン) by BERRY GOODMAN. The series' music is composed by Toshiyuki Watanabe (Galactic Armored Fleet Majestic Prince, Space Brothers).

A second anime television series titled Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion Z THE ANIMATION (新幹線変形ロボ シンカリオンZ THE ANIMATION) aired from April 9, 2021 to March 18, 2022 on TV Tokyo. Kentaro Yamaguchi is directing the series at OLM, with Takahiro Ikezoe serving as chief director. Ikezoe and Masanao Akahoshi are penning the series' scripts and Norihito Sumitomo is composing the series' music. The opening song is titled "New Challenger" (ニューチャレンジャー) by Boys and Men. The first ending song is titled "Bond Rail" (キズナ・レール) by Morinaka Kazaki meets ▽▲TRiNITY▲▽, the second ending song is titled "Running Up Voltage" (駆け上がるボルテージ) by Urashimasakatasen, the third ending song is titled "Terminal ~Where We Should Be~" (ターミナル ~僕ら、あるべき場所~) by Luce Twinkle Wink☆ and the fourth ending song is titled "Fastest!" by KOTOKO.

A third anime television series titled Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion: Change the World (新幹線変形ロボ シンカリオン チェンジ ザ ワールド) was announced on December 26, 2023. It is produced by Signal.MD and Production I.G and directed by Kenichiro Komaya, with Eiji Umehara writing series scripts, Shiori Asaka and Niina Morita designing the characters, and Yugo Kanno composing the music. It premiered on April 7, 2024 on TV Tokyo. GRe4N BOYZ performed the series's opening theme "Senkou Hayabusa" (閃光ハヤブサ). meiyo performed the first ending theme "HOPE!HOPE!HOPE!" while THE ALFEE will perform the second ending theme "KO.DA.MA." Sayaka Yamamoto will perform the third ending theme song.

Theatrical film
A film sequel to the anime, titled Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion the Movie: The Mythically Fast ALFA-X That Came From the Future (劇場版 新幹線変形ロボ シンカリオン 未来からきた神速のALFA-X) premiered in cinemas in Japan on December 27, 2019.

Manga
A manga titled Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion: Dive the World (新幹線変形ロボ シンカリオン シンカリオン ダイブ ザ ワールド) began serialization in Shueisha's Saikyō Jump on April 4, 2024. Mashino Sawazaki is credited for the original story with Kō Furuya as the illustrator.

Video game
An arcade game based on the franchise, Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion: Get the Card! Super Evolution Battle (新幹線変形ロボ シンカリオン カードがもらえる! 超シンカバトル) was developed and published by Takara-Tomy A.R.T.S and was released in March 2018 in Japan. Characters from the series also appeared in various mobile game crossovers, including Alien no Tamago by Paon DP and Sega's mobile RPG game Kotodaman. The series also debuted in Bandai Namco Entertainment's long running Super Robot Wars franchise, starting with Super Robot Wars X-Ω.

Reception
The anime won the Best Award on Television Anime CG Category at the VFX-Japan Awards.