Wataru

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Spirit Hero Wataru
魔神英雄伝ワタル
(Mashin Eiyūden Wataru)
Genre Mecha, Comedy, Fantasy
TV anime
Director Hideharu Iuchi
Studio Sunrise
Network NTV, Bandai Channel
Original run April 15, 1988 – March 31, 1989
Episodes 45
OVA: Spirit Hero Wataru: Majinzan
Studio Sunrise
Episodes 2
Released August 5, 1989
TV anime: Spirit Hero Wataru 2
Studio Sunrise
Network NTV, Bandai Channel
Original run March 3, 1990 – March 8, 1991
Episodes 46
OVA: Spirit Hero Wataru: Warinaki Toki no Monogatari
Studio Sunrise
Episodes 3
Released October 1, 1993
TV anime: Chou Spirit Hero Wataru
Studio Sunrise
Network TX
Original run October 2, 1997 – September 24, 1998
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 Ikusabe (戦部ワタル Ikusabe Wataru) that is magically transported to a magical realm of the gods called Soukaizan which he is supposed to save. The series incorporated many elements of RPG games including dungeon levels and quests for mystical objects. Soukaizan itself is represented as a series of tiered platforms each floating above the one beneath it in a rough pyramid shape. In order to progress to the next tier, the show's heroes must complete some task on the one beneath where he will meet the series' ultimate villain. 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. The term Sou-kai-zan can be broken down to its 3 parts. Sou meaning creation.| Kai meaning realm, space, world, or universe.| Zan meaning hill or mountain. which is repersented by the pyramid shape of the world's level.

[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 shows in China during the mid 1990s. Even till today, on popular Chinese websites like Baidu.com, one 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.

Wataru's success prompted Bandai to copy the goofy super-deformed mecha and multi-tiered world concepts in a science fiction setting with Bandai's 1989 Mado King Granzort TV series.

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 an 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

Wataru
Opening: "Step" by achi-achi
Ending: "Achi-achi Adventure" by achi-achi

Wataru 2:
Opening 1: "Step by Step" by Takahashi Yumiko
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

Wataru (3rd TV Series: Super Demon Warrior)
Opening 1: "Hitotsu no Haato de; With One Heart" 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

[edit] External links