Mashin Hero Wataru

Mashin Hero Wataru (魔神英雄伝ワタル) is a comedy/adventure Super Robot multimedia franchise originally consisting of 45 episode anime series created by Sunrise first aired on April 15, 1988. Sunrise credited "Hajime Yatate" for the storyline and Shuji Iuchi directed the series. The series employs a kinetic visual gag style, often employing characters running with their feet over their shoulders derived from Sunrise's previous Super Robot anime series Chou Riki Robo Galatt.

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 of the gods called Soukaizan (創界山), which he is supposed to save from an evil, demonic ruler. The series incorporates 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 where he will meet the series' ultimate villain, the show's heroes must complete some task on the one beneath. In his quest to save the realm, Wataru 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 (creation), Kai (realm, space, world, or universe), and Zan (hill or mountain), representing the pyramid shape of the world's level.

Interpretations
The title of the show is a pun. The super-formed mecha of the series are called "mashin." While written with the kanji for "demon" and "god", "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 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 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.

Cast

 * Mayumi Tanaka as Wataru Ikusabe (In Keith Courage in Alpha Zones he is known as Keith Courage)
 * Megumi Hayashibara as Himiko Shinobibe (In Keith Courage in Alpha Zones she is known as Nurse Nancy)
 * Tomomichi Nishimura as Shibaraku Tsurugibe (In Keith Courage in Alpha Zones he is known as Weapons Master)
 * Kōichi Yamadera as Kurama Wataribe
 * Kenichi Ogata as Genryūsai Shinobibe
 * Tesshō Genda as Ryūjinmaru
 * Kazue Ikura as Tora-Oh
 * Urara Takano as Umihiko

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 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.

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

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