Wataru

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Spirit Hero Wataru
魔神英雄伝ワタル
(Mashin Eiyuuden Wataru)
Genre Mecha, Comedy, Fantasy
TV anime : 魔神英雄伝ワタル
Directed by Hideharu Iuchi
Studio Sunrise
Network NTV, Bandai Channel
Original run April 15, 1988 – March 31, 1989
No. of episodes 45
OVA: 真魔神英雄伝ワタル　魔神山編
Directed by
Studio
No. of episodes 2
Released August 5, 1989
TV anime : 魔神英雄伝ワタル2
Directed by
Studio Sunrise
Network
Original run March 3, 1990 – March 8, 1991
No. of episodes 46
TV anime : 魔神英雄伝ワタル 終わりなき時の物語
Directed by
Studio Sunrise
Network
Original run October 1, 1993 –
No. of episodes 3
TV anime : 超魔神英雄伝ワタル
Directed by
Studio Sunrise
Network
Original run October 2, 1997 – September 24, 1998
No. of episodes 51

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".

Contents

[edit] Story

The story is about a 9-year old boy named Wataru that is magically transported to a magical realm of the gods called Soukaizan which he is supposed to save. The series incoporates many elements of RPG games including dungeon levels and quests for mystical objects. 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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 show in China during the mid 1990s. Even till today, on popular Chinese websites like Baidu.com, you can still find very active forums discussing the show.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Spinoffs

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.

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 a RPG-like mystical realm. However that novel is not based or to be confused with this series.

[edit] Staff

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

[edit] Soundtrack

Opening: Step, by achi-achi

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../w/a/t/Wataru.html"
In other languages