Shinzo

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Shinzo
マシュランボー
(Mushrambo)
Genre Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Shōnen
TV anime
Directed by Tetsuo Imazawa
Studio Toei Animation
Network TV Asahi
Original run February 5, 2000September 23, 2000
No. of episodes 32

Shinzo, known as Mushrambo (マシュランボー Mashuranbō?) in Japan, is an anime based on an event where creatures known as Enterrans take over Earth and rename it in their own image: Enterra. Now three Enterrans have to protect the last human in order to restore the human race.

Contents

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

An undetermined time ago, the Guardian of the Milky Way, Lanancuras, started to harbor a desire for power, and eventually invaded the worlds he was assigned to protect. Being bound to the galaxy, he was able to absorb parts of a planet and add it to his strength. In his footsteps was a following from many planets, creatures that had pledged allegiance and were now named Kadrians. By the time the other Celestial Guardians confronted him, he was too strong to be defeated. The Celestial Guardians all gave up a part of their power and combined it into a single Guardian, Mushrambo, whose core was used to create a card to seal Lanancuras. The prison was made from parts of the planets that had suffered under his power and with the help of the card, the meteorite was able to restrain him, as planets are beings on their own and hold a significant amount of power as well.

The meteorite was sent off into the galaxy to be sealed forever. Meanwhile, the way Lanancuras had increased his strength had consequences on the planets of the Milky Way. On Earth, it was in the shape of a virus that merged with human DNA and destroyed the human that way. In order to eliminate the virus, scientists worked on combining human DNA with the DNA of animals and other creatures immune to the effects. They succeeded and created a sentient race known as Enterrans, Engineered Earthlings. Eventually, a cure was found, and the human race survived. This all took place around the 22nd century.

The Kadrians meanwhile worked on getting their master free, and they found the perfect place. The Guardians noticed too late that the meteorite was being redirected and heading towards Earth. The Guardians held a vow that they would not interfere with the way the planets reacted as this was up to the inhabitants and nature, so he was out of their influence. At impact, the seal holding Lanancuras in ripped due to the impact, leaving only the planetary pieces to hold the Kadrian king in.

At impact, Lanancuras send out three special gems that he had corrupted from the meteorite and placed them into the strongest Enterran he could find: Mushrambo. However, he also felt the Guardians influence and how they secured the energy they had given to Mushra, away from the meteorite. Lanancuras guessed that they would at some time grant this power to someone to counter him, and it could not be an Enterran since in a way, the Enterrans were a product of him becoming evil, and easily to be influenced because they were card-based creatures. It had to be a human. He chose six more generals to lead the Enterrans into a war against the humans, making them believe humans enslaved them.

Mushrambo led the war, and was like all the others completely oblivious to the reason he felt such a hatred. All they knew was that they wanted the humans destroyed, and only Rusephine and Mushrambo knew that the meteorite had something to do with the whole thing.

At one point, the Guardians elected a keeper of their power. The baby girl Yakumo Tatsuro was chosen, daughter of Daigo Tatsuro who had helped develop the Enterrans and the cure. Daigo knew they were losing the war, and under the inspiration of the Celestial Guardians he built a place where he could make Yakumo survive, knowing she was special. The Guardians sent Hakuba, a Celestial Equine who would transform into the Reversian Blade upon death. The most powerful weapon in the universe was shaped like a robot to transport Yakumo and was always aware of his task.

Around the age of 4, Daigo had finished building an underground for Yakumo to survive in, which would allow her to live for 30 years and only grow a single year in physical shape (50 in the dubbed version). Just at the moment this happened, Mushrambo destroyed the last sanctuary of the humans, the place called Shinzo. Then he went after Yakumo, and killed Daigo in the process. However, the machines keeping Yakumo alive activated and awoke her powers. Yakumo froze the energy of Mushrambo and ripped him apart with her own aura. Mushrambo died, and his EnCard was divided into three gems. The Guardians guided these gems away for a later purpose. (Mushra, Saago and Kutal were later send to the past, but unable to make a difference.)

The machine malfunctioned, though this was in fact the Guardians doing. Yakumo slept for 300 years (500 in the dubbed version) and woke up at the age of 17 close to the time Lanancuras would break out. She was told to search for Shinzo, the last sanctuary of the human race and bring peace to the Enterrans. In fact, this journey was to help her become aware of her powers.

A while before that, the three gems had been given to three Enterrans. One of them was Mushra, who had been given a new body on Enterra by the Guardians, since they were both card based beings. Mushra received the Crown of Koira, a powerful artifact that had been given to him before to seal Lanancuras, but that was then used by Lanancuras to control Mushrambo.

He met Yakumo after being hung above a waterfall as punishment for a crime. She freed him, and he somehow felt compelled to go with her (the gem at work). Later they met Saago, who held the blue gem, and Kutal, who held the green gem.

Yakumo's powers took long to develop, as she was a peaceful person and willing to forgive. She often had a conflict with Mushra and his violent nature.

The story tells about the group travelling and the enemies they meet, and bit by bit parts of the past are revealed. At the end of the first season, the timeline was altered by the destruction of the Evil Mushrambo, leaving only Yakumo and the three gems. The battle resulted in the timeline being altered. As a result, the human race didn't die out and the war between humans and Enterrans never happened.

This also meant that in the second timeline Lanancuras never used up a lot of energy to control the war, and while he was completely dormant in the first timeline, he was about to break free in the second.

Note: At the ending of season 2, original version, Yakumo dies and Mushra goes to Earth to live as an Enterran again and see the result of his work. He does not go to Shinzo because he is alive still, nor does Mushrambo which the Saban version implies by re-using a scene from episode 14. Shinzo is a spiritual sphere (the word shinzou means heart and mental image in Japan, which is the country where the anime was made) and is not a realm. Upon death, Yakumo became part of Shinzo, as will Mushra presumably when he dies.

[edit] Characters

[edit] Main cast

  • Yakumo Tatsuro: Human with celestial powers and leading female, a result of absorbing one of the four gems from the meteor that held Lanacuras. Chi elemental. She hates violence and follows the path of peace (which is annoying), until she eventually learns violence is required to achieve that peace. Represents the K'i-Lin and the Core. Dies in the finale.
  • Mushrambo: Fusion of Hyper Mushra, Sago and Kutal, the reborn Ultimate Warrior of Enterra. Mushra's Hyper form is the key to the transformation: Sago and Kutal turn into EnCards and are then absorbed by Hyper Mushra, then the transformation of Mushrambo begins. Ryuma tried to control Mushrambo with the Black Card, only to be killed by the corrupted warrior who was soon purified by Yakumo. Mushrambo later becomes Golden Mushrambo in the battle with his past self, the original Dark King Mushrambo. This power-boost was revoked by the Reversian Blade during the battle with Lanancuras.
    • Mushra / Hyper Mushra: An Ex-Celestial Guardian and main character. Fire elemental, humanoid. Represents the Phoenix and the South. Transforms into Hyper Mushra, a phoenix-knight warrior, he eventually received a boost by King Nipper, giving him wings. Originally a Celestial Guardian, he became an Enterran so he can try to stop Lanancuras, without memory of his previous life. He eventually resumed original form at the end of the series into Celestial Mushra. Many fans believe Mushra is in love with Yakumo.
    • Sago / Hyper Sago: Water elemental, humanoid. Represents the Dragon and the East. Hyper Form is something described as a water devil, he gained bat-like wings from the boost he received from King Nipper. He can create Aqua Dragons out of water as one of this attacks.
    • Kutal / Hyper Kutal: Earth elemental, felinoid. Represents the Tiger and the West. Hyper form is a lion with stripes with seismic-themed attacks. He later received a power boost from King Nipper, giving him wings.
  • Hakuba (1-21, 26-29): Celestial Equine that like Mushra came to Earth. Taking on a robotic-form, Hakuba served to protect Yakumo and serve as her transport. Represents the Turtle and the North. During the battle with Lanancuras, he absorbed the EnCards of the six Enterran generals and reassumed his true form, the Reversian Blade. The Reversian Blade later broke during battle when Lancuras' power was increased after asborbing Yakumo's lifeless body.
  • Ray, Chen, Este (7-22, 31-32): Kutal's nephews and niece. Out of all three of the kittens, Este is the most out spoken.
  • Binka (21-32): A young girl introduced in the second timeline, sent out by Yakumo to find the chosen ones. She is armed with a bazooka. Personalitywise she is the opposite of Yakumo. For example, in the first timeline Yakumo discrouages Mushra from getting revenge against the ones who hung him from the waterfall, in the second timeline Binka has no problem with Mushra's revenge. She is spunky and not at all demure like Yamuko. She keeps the boys on track on their journey.

[edit] Robots of Mechano City

  • King Nipper (15-18): Nipper was once Dr. Tatsuro's robotic partner, he became the ruler of Mechano City. However, he reluctantly became a whipping boy for Rusephine's soldiers, making him hated by his people. But by the time Yakumo arrived, Nipper revealed his true nature and sacrificed himself to give time for Yakumo's three bodyguards to undergo the power boost he planned for them. Dies just before telling the heroes about the Seven Enterran Generals.
  • Bolt: Bolt is the leader of a Robotic Rebellian against King Nipper until learning the truth about him.
  • Clip: Female friend of Bolt's in the Rebellian.
  • Daigo (16-18): Daigo was a giant warrior robot named after Dr. Daigo Tatsuro, Yakumo's father. Was destroyed by Caris while Mushra, Sago and Kutal were being recharged.

[edit] Villains

  • Lanacuras (25-32): The main villain of the series who surfaced in the 2nd timeline, though he was an influence in the first. An Ex-Celestial Guardian, he became a god of sorts to the Kadrians as they intended to revive him. He was finally defeated for good when Mushra resumed his Celestial form.

[edit] Timeline 1

The Seven Enterran Generals (1-21): The seven most powerful Enterrans who led the Enterrans to destroy the human race. Yakumo and company only encountered the first three and the last one in a battle that altered the timeline. The Seven Enterran Generals are:

  • King Daku (3-6): King of the Insect Enterrans and a Hercules Beetle-knight. Killed by Hyper Mushra, Sago, and Kutal after absorbing Katai's EnCard.
  • Lord Ryuma (10-14): Lord of the Reptile Enterrans and one of a few Enterrans who look like humans. With Grandora's EnCard, he becomes Grand Ryuma. Killed by the Black-Carded Mushrambo in this form.
  • Queen Rusephine (18-20): Queen of the Bird Enterrans, she absorbed the powers of the previous two and the three below to increase her power. She was killed and absorbed by Dark King Mushrambo.
  • Franken: King of the Sea Enterrans. Died prior to the series, presumably killed by Rusephine. Originally a female when looking closer at the card but dubbed as King.
  • Diehanger: King of the Wild Beast Enterrans. Died prior to the series, presumably killed by Rusephine.
  • Kimylas: King of the Phantom Beast Enterrans. Died prior to the series, presumably killed by Rusephine. His name and form are modeled after a Chimera.
  • Dark King Mushrambo (19-21): The original Mushrambo under influence of Lanancuras' evil. When he was killed, the three gems thaat held his powers were given to the three Enterrans that combine into the current Mushrambo. He was brought to the present by Rusephine to help her fight the current Golden Mushrambo, only to be killed by the Dark King who absorbed the powers of his comrades to assume a dark angel form. After a lengthy and horrific battle, the Dark King was finally killed by Hyper Mushra, Sago and Kutal, causing the timeline to change.

[edit] Minor Bad Guys

Here is a list of bad guys that worked for three of the Seven Enterran Generals:

  • Katris (1-2): Insect Bounty Hunter and Mantis-type Enterran. Absorbed Queen Bee-ing's card. Killed by Hyper Mushra.
  • Queen Bee-Ing (2): Queen of the Honey Bee-Ings and Hunting Bee-Ings. Killed by Hyper Mushra, later absorbed by Katris.
  • Big Blue and his older brother (3): Spider-type Enterrans. Killed by Hyper Mushra.
  • Tombo (4): Centipede-type Enterran. Killed by Hyper Mushra.
  • Caterpillar Soldiers (5-6): Servants of King Daku. Ride giant caterpillars.
  • Katai (5-6): Shapeshifting Insect Enterran and servant of King Daku. Posed as Kiri, a human, to lure Yakumo into Daku's castle. Said it was Shinzo. Killed by Daku who used his powers for invisibility.
  • Doctor Parasite (6): Brainwashing Insect Scientist and servant of Daku. Uses lice type things to crawl into Mushra and Co.'s brains to brain wash them.
  • Crocodile Enterran (7): Killed by Hyper Mushra.
  • Waru (7-8): Servant of Gyasa who plotted to destroy Mushra. He is able to turn his right hand into a sword, move through solid wall and fire spit that turns to metal darts. Killed by Gyasa after Hyper Mushra broke his hand (sword). Gyasa says, "Without your blade, you're nothing."
  • Gyasa (8-10) / Hyper Gyasa (10-11): Medusa-like Enterran who can turn anyone to stone with the venom of his snake-like blonde dreadlocks. When he survives a near-death experience in battle, Gyasa sheds his skin to increase his power. Is one of the only enemies of Mushra and Co. to kill Saago and Kutal. Killed by Mushrambo.
  • Huntari (12): Frilled lizard-type Enterran and Bounty Hunter. Charges Mushra with an axe. Darba says, "...but I must commend you of the technique as the boulders crashed all around your head!". Absorbed by a live plant and his seeds scattered.
  • Ungra (13-14): Reptile scientist, sorceress and servant of Ryuma. Created the Black Card used on Mushrambo, and was against the idea of Ryuma marrying Yakumo. Dies trying to defend her master.
  • Grandora (13-14): Three-Headed Ice-Venom Breathing Dragon controlled by Ryuma. It was overpowered by the black-carded Mushrambo, the beast was absorbed by Ryuma to become Grand Ryuma.
  • Caris (15-18): Powerful Tengu-like Enterran that works for Rusephine. He absorbed an Egg EnCard that gave him a freakish "Ultra Hyper Form", but he was killed by Hyper Mushra in his own newly gained "Ultra Hyper Form".
  • Gabriel (19-20): Servant of Rusephine who presents her the EnCards of Franken, Diehanger and Kimylas (other Enterran generals ).


[edit] Timeline 2

The Meteor that Lanancuras was entombed in crashed through the Kadrians' homeworld trapping their lifeforce within it. Kadrians are different from Enterrans in different ways: they were not made by humans, they come from another world, and they are shapeshifters. Their purpose is to revive Lanancuras from his tomb and prevent the revival of Mushrambo. The main Kadrians are:

  • Eilis (22-25): Commander of the Kadrian army. His body is made of Quicksilver metal. He created Metalasaur one time. Killed by Mushrambo.
  • Lunaria (22-26): Second in command of the Kadrians, her servants were myth-based. She creates "Hyper-Forming" seals to give her monsters an advantage over normal Enterrans. She was killed by Yakumo's aura.

[edit] Minor Kadrians
  • Garizani (22): Centipede/Lobster Kadrian and first opponent in the second timeline. Killed by Hyper Mushra.
  • Shiro & Kuro (23): Furball-Like Kadrian brothers that serve Lunaria. They tried to get on Binka's goodside while attempting to take the two remaining crystals. But after a while, the two revealed their true forms: A black bear with a yellow mask (Kuro) and a white bear with a purple mask (Shiro). They can combine to form a non-menacing panda with a bamboo stick as a weapon and turn into a Red Panda-like super-predator. Killed by Hyper Mushra, Sago & Kutal. The duo's names were puns on White (Shiro) & Black (Kuro)
  • Pixie Kadrian (26): Servant of Lunaria that can use wind-based attacks. She trapped anyone in Lunaria's maze, only to be killed by Mushra.
  • Troll Kadrian (26): Servant of Lunaria that posed as Yakumo until his cover was blown. He could sprout as many arms as he wants. He almost succeeded in killing the heroes when Yakumo's aura killed him.

[edit] Other Characters

  • Darba (12): Small horse-type Enterran. Duped Mushra and Co. into believing that he was a wizard of Shinzo.
  • Bonga (15): Water Buffalo-type Enterran. Encountered on the plane to Mechano City. Competed in King Nipper's tournament only for his prize to resort in him being carded by Caris.

[edit] Notes

  • Shinzo is loosely based on the Chinese legend Journey to the West, where a Buddhist priest and his three monstrous disciples journeyed to India to recover scriptures from Buddha to bring peace and enlightenment to the world. Like the priest, Yakumo is constantly advocating sparing the lives of even the monsters trying to stop them, and Mushra is like the Monkey King member of the disciples as he loves to fight, wields a staff, and wears a golden headband. Also, the same way Hakura transforms into a car to transport Yakumo, in the legend a dragon turns into a horse to transport the priest.
  • Grandora's appearance is based on the three-headed monster, King Ghidorah, arch-enemy of Godzilla. It even has Godzilla's roar.
  • Season 1's story line takes place in the post-apocalyptic U.S., with Mushra's prisonment at the Niagara Falls and their journey in the ruins of New York City.
  • In the episode where the gang are in the ruins of New York. The Statue of Liberty is depicted as being made of solid stone when it is destroyed in battle. Which is contrary to the fact that the actual statue is a hollow shell made intirely out of copper with a lime film covering it.


[edit] English Cast List

[edit] Japanese Cast List

[edit] External links

In other languages