king-of-better

[king-of-better]

Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion The Animation 13: Decisive Battle!! Shinkalion Vs Genbu

The new Shinkalion, one Genbu hasn't witnessed before, does enough in hand-to-hand combat that Genbu opts to retreat for now.

All 5 platforms in the underground station are occupied, as Akita and Tsuranuki ask Hayato what that was all about. Hayato turns to the N700A Driver as he walks by, an older boy, but he coldly states all he cares about was defeating the enemy.

Kiyosu Ryuji, of the Tokai Branch of SUEI, introduces himself properly to Izumi in the Command Room, explaining he came after being notified of the Giant Monstrous Being due to being on tests in Shizuoka, and Izumi, having heard of Ryuji, explains Hokuto has been part of training Ryuji since his transfer, Ryuji is the top performer in Tokai. Ryuji is uninterested in cooperating with the younger Drivers, and believes the dangerous battles should be left to him, believing only he has the Iron Will needed to fight. Izumi takes all the Drivers to Hibiki to explain that as part of their attempts to understand why children are much better Drivers, they've noticed patterns from all the selected Drivers' data, and while explaining those factors is still underway, they've dubbed it "Iron Will" for now. Ryuji believes, especially as Iron Will wasn't explained to the younger Drivers, that as the higher-ups would prefer adult Drivers, Hokuto intends for himself, as a Junior High Student, to replace the boys.

In a Crystal Cave, Byakko, with Seiryu next to him, bites Genbu's wounds, and when his partner expresses excitement at the new enemy he's faced, tells him not to risk it further, and remember their mission, but Genbu wants to fight, to understand the enemy.

Ryuji calls his home, but on hearing his mother is asleep gives up.

Hayato returns home, and claims to Sakura everything was resolved, acting overexcited as they eat and watch TV, but he can't hide his worries once in bed. Next day he's awoken, the Black Shinkansen has appeared, the same portal over Tokyo Station raining black particles down, and while the enemy hasn't appeared yet, Izumi wants everyone on standby, while Ryuji deploys in advance. As Hayato goes to leave, Sakura stops him and tells him not to hide his worries, and he admits his uneasy feelings that Hokuto doesn't want him to drive anymore, but he actually wants to keep fighting to protect. Sakura tells him Hokuto was worried about leaving him, and assures him he can do what he can to prove himself to both Ryuji and Hokuto.

Genbu reassumes his Monstrous state, and is immediately Capture Fielded. As they're about to deploy the N700A, the younger Drivers request to deploy to, and while the others are hesitant, Izumi is fully intending to send them as asked, but Ryuji doesn't agree, believing himself much stronger, but Izumi won't back down. Ryuji sulks and waits, as the E5, E6, E7 and E3 deploy.

Genbu demands the new Shinkalion show itself, and accepts he'll have to defeat the older units to do so, and while he praises their coordination, he is able to swat them aside. They're ready to send in the N700A and extract the others, but Hayato is desperate to prove his worth and so his mother doesn't have to worry, the bite of his mother's concern causes Ryuji to pause. As Hayato and Shashot interlock as much as possible, Ryuji requests immediate departure.

The Shinkalion N700A Nozomi arrives, to the annoyance of the others, but while Ryuji is still brusque Hayato thinks he understands him better, Ryuji says he'll create an opportunity for them, and engages Genbu directly, noting his increased physical defence as he strike, Genbu expressing excitement. When Ryuji wonders just what Genbu is, he introduces himself as an Agent of a species emerging from the depths of the earth, Ryuji lands a decisive blow that pierced Genbu's armour, giving the others a weak point to target.

The Fumikiri Shuriken, Sharin Drill and Fumikiri Cannon all hit, and Ryuji activates another card, Advanced Mode, which combined the N700A with another car to become the N700A Advanced Mode. He fires a Dragon Knuckle to further destabilise Genbu, and Hayato launches a Gran Cross, as the attack consumes Genbu he praises the wonder of the Shinkalion.

That night on the phone, Hayato assures Hokuto not to worry about him, and Hokuto tells him that as the enemy may strike anywhere, Shinkalion are going to be deployed across the country, new Drivers Hayato will have to work with, at least 5 new units are being developed. Sakura is able to smile seeing Hayato has renewed confidence.

In the depths, hearing Genbu has been slain, a new Agent decides she'll have to act.

Ryuji operates an N700A series Shinkansen

The default Shinkalion N700A Nozomi shares the same structure as the other units, but compared to them is unarmed.

On the other hand, the N700A Advanced Mode is heavily equipped, with the Advanced Arm, Kuruma Dome Shield and Backpack Booster.

In Advanced Mode, the N700A fires the Dragon Knuckle as a finisher.

With five Shinkalion assembled now, here is a picture of the current team.

[king-of-better]

Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion The Animation 12: Impact!! Shinkalion N700A Nozomi

Izumi has arranged to send Hayato and his family to Kyoto this weekend to see Hokuto, Hayato considered refusing, feeling bad if the others had to deploy, but they insist he goes and sees his father.

At Omiya Station Sakura does they and tells Hayato not to make quite such a scene about getting to ride on the N700A, but Haruka knows it's futile, especially as Hayato explains how the Tokaido Shinkansen can be considered the origin of the Shinkansen, even if he has to wait until they reach Tokyo Station.

Genbu leaves a tunnel where the Black Shinkansen rests, declaring he will defeat Shinkalion by his own hand.

Back at SUEI, Shashot finds things quiet without Hayato, and considers contacting him but is told by Akita and Tsuranuki not to interrupt his seeing Hokuto.

At Tokyo Station the Hayasugi's look at boxed lunches, Haruka choosing one other than Hayato recommended. When Hayato suggests getting one for Hokuto Haruka tells him Sakura has already made him good she's bringing, and she's clearly excited to see him again.

The Black Shinkansen appears at Tokyo Station, a concern due to the dense population area. Akita and Tsuranuki are still committed not to involving Hayato, but Izumi tells them he has summoned the E3 to support.

As they watch a cleaning crew get ready to clean their train, Hayato overhears people discussing a video of what one person believes is Niigata's Genbi Shinkansen, which the other speaker knows is impossible, and becomes worried about the Black Shinkansen.

SUEI still have no sign of a Giant Monstrous Being, Izumi orders surveillance expanded in hopes of identifying something.

Sakura notices Hayato's worried expression.

Genbu stands atop Tokyo Station, a black portal forming above him, SUEI have now located this. Onlookers see Black Particles rain down, and Genbu is transformed into a Giant Monstrous Being. As Izumi recognises Genbu from their previous encounter, the others scramble to Capture Field before too many people see. As they board the train, Hayato catches a glimpse from the window, just before the Capture Field hides it, and the E6 and E7 deploys as Hayato runs off to call Shashot, who tries to get him to just enjoy his trip and hide the fact a battle is happening.

The E6, E7 and E3 all arrive to combat Genbu. Akita begins long range shots, and Tsuranuki and Shinobu charge in close, only t grabbed and restrained, and Genbu stins them all by speaking, telling them to be calm. He reveals he knows all of their abilities and who they are, having observed their battles within the Capture Field, and when attacked is able to perfectly counter their abilities, even damaging the Capture Field enough people outside take notice.

Sakura sees Hayato's concern, and lets him ask her to go to Kyoto with just Haruka, but she tells him no, he can go help his friends, but she and Haruka will wait until he's done. He rushes off.

As the battle continues, Genbu destroys the Sharin Drill, and SUEI collectively realise he has stronger versions of all the Giant Monstrous Being's abilities, as though they were preparation, a way to forcibly evolve themselves. Genbu does extreme damage to all the units, and Hayato contacts Mihara requesting to help. Genbu demands more from the Shinkalions, so he can know more about them and the E5. Tsuranuki charges, determined not to make that necessary, but is only save during his reckless charge by Hayato's arrival.

After the E5 attacking fails, they use the Gran Cross, but Genbu, even as it washes over him, declares it the end point of current human development, and wants to taste it in full. Hayato and Shashot interlock further, but Genbu sends the energy back, sending the E5 crashing down.

Honjo reports the E5 has halted. Genbu declares the Shinkalion his, and begins to use black particles to manipulate it, when a sound draws his attention, a new Shinkalion has appeared, one Hayato can see is an N700A.

[king-of-better]

Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion The Animation 11: Polish!! The Institute's Old Mechanic

The boys are helping the maintenance crew headed by Yamaguchi Nagato by washing the Shinkalions, but Hayato notices just how much damage they've taken. Elderly maintenance member Odawara Kintoki interrupts, grumpily telling them how each of them are missing their units.

Genbu watches a woman cleaning up after a hero show, they mistake him for one of the actors, questioning the act of cleaning, something he just doesn't understand.

The boys are put off by the experience with Odawara, and ask Honjo who he is, he explains Odawara is a veteran rail engineer scouted for SUEI for his skills, but he's a curmudgeonly sort people struggle to get along with, quick to scold for mistakes. Hayato thinks it might be useful to learn from him, but Akita and Tsuranuki only follow reluctantly. When they find him, Odawara tells them he's never watched them battle, but knows the damage they've done by looking at the wear and tear, and when Hayato still asks for advice, tells them to polish all the old parts he's collected.

Byakko and Seiryu find Genbu, who explains his puzzlement with human waste, that they haven't found means to stop it being produced, instead using technology to clean it, and questions if old technologies are also considered trash by the same token.

The boys are polishing, but get scolded for doing it wrong, while being told doing a will help them understand it's uses, and have more parts dumped on them to polish. Akita and Sugu give up, but Hayato continues for now, which Odawara notes.

Seiryu goes to a scrapyard, locating a vacuum cleaner.

Inspecting Hayato's work, Odawara says it shows promise, he'll be able to learn how not to damage them if he continues, and tells him how Hokuto and Izumi have often come to consult him. Taking a piece Hayato was polishing, which seems like waste as much as anything else, Odawara demonstrates it still has some use left in it, intuition for this he's developed over his career, and that even if you don't have a use for it, someone else may still. The Alert comes in. As the Drivers depart Odawara surprises Yamaguchi by actually joining the rest of the crew to watch the departure.

The 3 units confront Progress Cleaner, which doesn't make any movement, so Akita and Tsuranuki leap into attack. After these first hits it stands, and starts vacuuming up any blasts from the E6. The E7 charges in close, but the powerful suction even steals the Sharin Drill.

Recalling his conversation with Odawara, Hayato realise Progress Cleaner is considering the others as garbage, and requests Mihara make the others withdraw. Izumi approves the order, and once they're gone it shuts back down. He compares Progress Cleaner only focusing on the other two to his mother getting annoyed enough at his dad that she paid no attention to him and Haruka. Izumi understands the reasoning, and Hayato requests they call Odawara to the command room to advise him in how to deal with Progress Cleaner.

Impresses by Hayato's reasoning for requesting him after discussing, Odawara joins the support for the battle, and relying on his own intuition, concludes there's an upper limit on what can be vacuumed, so they should try and give it something to vacuum until all it can do is burst. He knows however even the Gran Cross won't do to much, before remembering the still absorbed Sharin Drill, the particles of the Gran Cross coating those inside the cylinder will test the cylinder apart.

The Gran Cross fires a continuos beam, but no damage is being done to Progress Cleaner, the cylinder is being rotated enough. Aid comes in the appearance of Shinobu and the E3, who uses the Fumikiri Shuriken on the Gran Cross to increase the force of rotation, and the damage begins to build up. With this, and increasing by max power, Progress Cleaner is made to tear itself apart.

Everyone meets up to celebrate, Odawara inspired to keep at the work thanks to Hayato. Izumi watches, but quietly confirms with Hibiki how analysis is progressing, wondering if the time to deploy a new unit is coming.

Byakko sees that humans don't throw themselves away, but choose their paths, questioning Seiryu if he still finds them inferior, Seiryu is silent, but Genbu wants to fight Shinkalion directly.

From this episode on, the standard E5 is equipped with these booster wings, which becomes part of the Cho Kaisatsu Sword when Link Gattai occurs.

[king-of-better]

Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion The Animation 10: Hide!! Shinkalion E3 Tsubasa

From the Kyoto Branch Command Center under the Kyoto Rail Museum, Hokuto reports to Izumi the progress of setting up SUEI's West Japan Branch. With the enemy increasing their area of operation, they need to find more Drivers to expand their areas of operation to try and achieve national Shinkalion deployment, and things are now, it would be a serious problem if they appeared in distant locations, or multiple at once. Izumi confirms that they're making arrangements for that, Hokuto knows who is being handed the E3.

Hayato and Tsuranuki have both been given make-up work after failing a test, Akita is unsympathetic. They're called over a Black Shinkansen sighting along the Yamagata Shinkansen, near Osawa. Akita is the only one who can go, Hayato having to explain that the Fukushima-Yamagata Shinkansen shares track with the conventional line, the E5 & E7 are too wide to be accommodated.

As the Black Shinkansen races down the track, a one-eyed boar spots it, Seiryu keen to use the strongest organism in the mountain, coats it with black particles, transforming it into a Giant Monstrous Being, but Wild Boar is soon captured.

Mihara is surprised when only Akita turns up, her and Honjo concerned if the E6 alone can handle such a large enemy, but Izumi declares it isn't a problem. As Mihara oversees Akita's departure, Izumi privately contacts the Yamagata Branch.

The E6 arrives at the battle, and while Akira recognises the danger of letting it get close, fails to keep his distance due to Wild Boar's speed, trampled underfoot. Hayato and Tsuranuki finally make it to HQ, but the battle already seems won.

Seiryu explains his choice to the watching Byakko and Genbu, both the power of the boar and the fact only one enemy could come to them, enabling them to divide and conquer.

The E6 is in dire straits, Mihara orders Akita to retreat, but he insists he can handle it alone. Wild Boar's charge is suddenly interrupted by the sound of another Shinkansen inside the Capture Field. The Driver initiates the transformation into the Shinkalion E3 Tsubasa, and it lands in front of the E6. Izumi appears to have been the only one to know about the E3. The Driver informs Akita they're withdrawing, and activates a smoke bomb then grapples out the field carrying the E6. The Capture Field restrains Wild Boar, having power to do so for 12 hours.

Byakko and Genbu notes Seiryu's strategy has failed, but he believes with this new power he can still crush them.

Akita is angry about being forced to retreat, but Izumi is actually prepared to withdraw him from the mission due to Wild Boar's power, and send the E5 and E7. For now, he is ordered to standby at Yonezawa, and meet the E3's Driver their.

Akita waits, wondering how he'll even find the Driver when they get the drop on him. The unassuming figure introduces themself as Tsukiyama Shinobu.

At Omiya, Mihara and Honjo are trying to workshop ways to actually allow the E5 and E7 to join the battle, and worrying if the E6 and E3 can win. Hayato thinks the Driver doesn't like fighting, but Mihara knows the retreat was warranted at the time, Izumi knowing it came from the Driver's knowledge of strategy.

Shinobu has brought Akita to a home out in the forest, he sees some specific tools on the wall. Shinobu explains their master is away training at the Eight Gates Barrier, claiming their family has studied to be Ninjas for generations on the mountain. Akita believes this to be a tourist trap, even as Shinobu relies on old fashioned means of starting a fire, but with speed and agility Akita doesn't see Shinobu proves otherwise, he relents, and Shinobu starts peeling vegetables, but turns grave when Akira questions pulling back earlier.

Hibiki reports to Izumi analysis on the black particle he recovered, whatever it is seems to have a will, as black particles assimilate onto Wild Boar into a metal structure.

Shinobu serves Akita hand cooked Soba, the pheasant meat reminds him of his grandfather, a Matagi Hunter, who taught him the hunt when he was younger, hearing this Shinobu let's the seriousness slip a little, letting them talk in their local dialects. Shinobu explains that they are fighting because the way of protection of the Shinkalion and that of the ninja are the same, fighting unknown, a philosophy their grandfather and master instilled. Shinobu explains the boar is lord of the mountain, and despite fighting it they have never defeated it. Akita now recalls the lessons taught of respect for the wildlife, but feels even moreso it is important to fight, that the boar is restored to its place, pressing Shinobu on the duty of protection. Mihara alerts them Wild Boar is moving again, now equipped with a gatling gun. The E5 and E7 will never make it in time, but Akita convinces Shinobu to join him, they they can win by working together. Izumi approves the launch.

Wild Boar breaks free of the Capture Field, heading towards Yonezawa. The E6 and E3 will have to stop it before it make it, Akita suggests a narrow space, Shinobu recommending Mizunuma Dam.

Akita in the E6 goads Wild Boar to the dam, and when it charges Shinobu in the E3 catches it in a trip wire, allowing the E3 to then use it's Fumikiri Shuriken to defeat Wild Boar. The restored Boar returns to the mountains, and Akita and Shinobu acknowledge each others skills.

Seiryu notes humans use of ingenuity to catch prey.

Shinobu operates an E3 series Shinkansen, Tsubasa. In the original line this was designated as the Flare Wing, to distinguish it from a late line.

The Shinkalion E3 Tsubasa is heavenly ninja themed, reflecting Shinobu's own ninja way.

For general combat, the E3 holds the Fumikiri Shuriken in kunai mode.

And for using the Tsukiyama Shuriken School Finisher, it then combines into a single Shuriken.

[king-of-better]

Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion The Animation 09: Battle!! SUEI Hot Spring Trip

Researcher Mishima Hibiki furnishes Izumi with surveillance from around the Capture Fields up to this point. The dark figures in the images seem to give credence to the theory Hokuto presented him with before departure, that as all the new Giant Monstrous Beings incorporated advanced technologies, their might be a guiding presence behind them. He orders Mishima to keep it quiet for now, and then meets with Mihara, who is concerned on how to prevent disagreements amongst the Drivers and Shashot causing a other near disaster. His proposal, an onsen trip.

And thus Mihara takes the Drivers, and Shashot, on a trip to Iwate, Hayato excited he's able to travel on the E5 and E6 during the leg of their journey they're linked up. In fact, almost the entire staff is on the trip, Izumi included, but Mihara is concerned over what will happen if a Giant Monstrous Being appears, despite Izumi's calm. Honjo has been left at base to run things.

Everyone begins acclimating to the Onsen, but just as Mihara has set up to emergency system in advance, Izumi leaves her with a bunch more, and heads off in search of a rumoured natural spring nearby, to Mihara's consternation.

The 3 Shinkalion units have been left in a Vehicle Centre, ready to meet the Drivers at Shin-Hanamaki within 10 minutes if needed.

The 3 dark figures have also followed the Units. Genbu, having witnessed the Shinkalion pierce a strong defence, overcome regenerating enemies and destroy the intangible, has a new focus to set up.

Mihara, tired from all the setup, heads to a bath, when she overhears the boys discussing how overworked she seems lately, having been put in charge of Hokuto's responsibilities, and appreciates their concern. Unfortunately the alert rings out.

Honjo informs the Black Shinkansen has appeared in Iwate, she can only conclude it's a coincidence, and the boys are sent to standby in the units, back to Shin-Hanamaki. As the units race towards Cho Shinka Speed, she has to tell Honjo they're in charge, Izumi still on a walk.

After transforming, the boys are surprised by the enemy, Mighty Crab, but are reminded to be on guard, and attacks seem to have no effect. Tsuranuki proposes trying to pierce with the Sharin Drill, while Akira things using the Fumikiri Guns Burner Mode to cook it is more likely. Struggling to decide, Mihara eventually chooses Tsuranuki's plan, having the others back him up. Unfortunately the drill fails the penetrate, and the E7 knocked back, injuring Tsuranuki's arm. Akita takes action, using Burner Mode to successfully cook Mighty Crab.

The remains are still present, and not wanting a repeat of the Railroader Incident, Mihara opts to have the analysis team begin investigating and await Izumi's return, the Capture Field can remain for 140 minutes. Honjo tells Mihara to relax while she can, as a flicker of darkness remains in Mighty Crab.

In the bath, Tsuranuki is trying to play it cool, but Akita knows he needs to be careful. Mihara feels responsible for bad advice, the realises Izumi should have been there as well, unaware of his looking sternly at the Capture Field.

The Alert comes in as everyone is drying from the bath, Mighty Crab has stirred again, or rather molted. Mihara orders them into action, Hayato and Akita are forced to demonstrate Tsuranuki is in no condition, pressing her to order Tsuranuki to remain. As the E5 and E6 head back, Izumi resumes walking.

Akita plans simply to cook Mighty Crab thoroughly this time, but it adapts a shield to block the flame, the it into a hand to grab the E5, able to overpower both of them, as Genbu and the others watch on.

Tsuranuki suggests boiling it, but there's no practical wat of doing so, when Tsuranuki's join injury inspires Mihara, though she hesitates until Hayato assures her they trust her judgement. She orders them to target the joints, and to ensure they have the mobility to do so, they will have to Link Gattai.

The E5+E6 forms, and begins racing to reach the joints, as it races the Kaisatsu Sword evolves into and upgraded from for when linked, the Cho Kaisatsu Sword, appearing due to increased Comparability. They Alice through all Mighty Crab's limbs, immobilising it, then eliminate it with a Gran Cross.

Seiryu compliments Genbu in growing the organism, but is saddened by the failure, but Genbu is more curious why, like them, humans chose a path of creating things like the Shinkalion. At this point Izumi interrupts, declaring it was simply the result of humanity choosing to better themselves in knowledge and technology, and asks them what they are. Genbu merely says he'll know soon, and they all vanish, stray black particles land on Izumi's hand.

Back at the hotel Mihara enjoys watching everyone enjoy their meal, when Izumi finally returns, and complements her on proving her command ability, though she still has doubts, he assures her he can rely on her in the future.

This is the first time wee see the E6 hold the rifle mode of the Fumikiri Guns.

The E5+E6 sees it's first use, equipped with the Cho Kaisatsu Sword and the Fumikiri Cannon.

Of course, it is also ready to unleash the Gran Cross.

[king-of-better]

Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion The Animation 08: Link Up!! The First Link Gattai

Tsuranuki finds Shashot contemplating ordering specialty boxed lunches from the various stations for lunch, feeling that after Hokuto left (Izumi, Mihara, and the Drivers saw him off, and Hokuto revealed Mihara would be acting Director) Hayato has seemed lonely. When they go to Hayato to discuss lunch, Hayato is more concerned with the new simulations for the Link Gattai.

Mihara explains that the Link Gattai system is designed to allow the E5, designed as a balanced unit, to combine with either the E6 or E7 and benefit from their abilities, speed or power, and adapt to whatever battle comes their way, but for it to work they must be synchronised, which is what the test is for. Despite his enthusiasm, Tsuranuki fails the test, and Hayato rather than breaking immediately goes to test with Akita instead, Tsuranuki and Shashot sorry he's going to overexert himself.

In Nagaoka City in Niigata, Genbu, Byakko and Seiryu stand outside a temple, watching something in the sky seemingly only Genbu can see.

The E6 test fails, and feeling like he's the one at fault Hayato presses on, rejecting Shashot's snack offer. Tsuranuki suggests showing their partnership.

At home, Hayato is unusually quiet as he eats, until they hear a sound, he finds Shashot in his room, reading his diary. He's trying to understand Hayato better, and says again they should live together, Hayato refuses both because of his mother, and because Azusa, currently filming a video on her balcony, lives right opposite, but Shashot is keen to improve his performance.

The Black Shinkansen appears in Chuetsu, however a Giant Monstrous Being doesn't appear. It's a school morning, but Hayato rushes to be ready, Sakura privately realising she'll have to call school for him.

It's been an hour with no appearance, but they're sending everyone to be on standby, but Hayato and Shashot are still arguing, even if it's explained to Hayato that Shashot was trying to help, and to Shashot what an invasion of privacy is.

Nonetheless they head to Chuetsu and wait, Hayato leaves Shashot with Tsuranuki. They witness a local fire festival, but the energy is absorbed into black particles, producing the Giant Monstrous Being, Fierce Flame. As soon as everyone is evacuated, the Capture Field is deployed.

Seiryu doesn't understand Genbu's fascination with a natural phenomenon like fire, but the answer is in how it has been used by humanity, become a tool, he is curious is Shinkalion can also conquer the flame. Byakko admits he's coming to understand Genbu's obsession, with humanity and the Shinkalion both.

In the battle the E5 won't move, Hayato's compatibility dropping to 82%, a result of his no longer being in sync with Shashot. Forced to act on their own, Akita and Tsuranuki settle on using the Fumikiri Cannon water mode, only for Fierce Flame to resist it unscathed, Operator Oyama Daiya postulating it means the fuel Fierce Flame is using is one water isn't suitable for, Izumi believed the secret is in the Black Particles. Unfortunately, the E6's bullets melt before even hitting Fierce Flame.

Hayato and Shashot continue to bicker, even if Hayato knows it isn't the time, annoying Tsuranuki into smacking some sense into them. He reminds Hayato they agreed the three of them would be a team, and yet Hayato is still trying to do everything himself, and Shashot needs to understand Hayato's good points not just his bad. Hayato and Shashot make up, allowing the E5 to reactivate. They still need a way to defeat Fierce Flame though.

Hayato has a realisation, requesting they remove all the air from the Capture Field, starving Furious Flame's fire to the Gran Cross can take it out. Unfortunately, creating the vacuum to do this would drain the Shinkalion power before long, but Tsuranuki has the solution to this as well, using Link Gattai, the power type aspects of the E7, designed to operate in mountainous areas, will keep the E5 in action long enough to finish the battle.

Even though the earlier tests failed, Mihara opts to trust the boys, and creates the vacuum, weakening the flames. The Link Gattai is initiated by Shashot deploying an E7 Shinca for Hayato to slot into the ShinkaGear, and takes the form of the lower half of the E5 and upper half of the E7 vanishing, the remaining portions attach, and a headgear themed on the E7 attaches to the head.

Shinkalion E5+E7 doesn't waste time, Hayato and Tsuranuki initiate the Gran Cross together, defeating Furious Flame.

Byakko understands that though fire is uncontrollable, the Drivers defeated it, Genbu notes that they may have faltered, they destroyed the obstacles in their way, Seiryu appears to also be begining to understand the fascination. Unknown to them, an image of the three has been captured, Izumi studying it.

Hayato admits to the others he's been worried without his dad, but they owe it to Tsuranuki for getting them on track. Not for his hot blooded speech, but his slugging them.

The Shinkalion E5+E7 is the first Link Gattai we see, equipped with the Kaisatsu Sword and Sharin Drill.

It can naturally also use the Gran Cross.

As an example of a Link Gattai with the E5 as the lower, here is E7+E5.

[king-of-better]

Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion The Animation 07: Cooperation!! Loyal Son Hayato

Tsuranuki is now formally a driver, but him and Akita seem liable to clash before the Black Shinkansen appears near the Oi Train Car Depot. The Giant Monstrous Being is dubbed Star Stream, appearing from the water after the Shinkalions are sent out. As the Capture Field is established a new dark figure, younger looking, is watching.

In battle, Tsuranuki and Akita both leap in without communicating, causing their teamwork to suffer, Hayato manages to leap behind Star Stream and bisect it. The dark figure declares the battle only beginning, as both halves regenerate whole bodies, and start deploying weapons, one pins down Tsuranuki with long-range fire, and the other forces Akita to the ground with close range attacks. SUEI realise these enemies seem built to counter them. Fortunately Hayato intervenes, first striking the long-range one disrupting it's attacks long enough for the E7 to destroy it, then knocking the close-range one away from the E6 so it can destroy the other.

The boy, Seiryu, is approached by the masked and armoured figures, Byakko and Genbu, about how he'd said he could handle things, he believes he has gained valuable data nonetheless.

Honjo provides Hokuto with the latest analysis, the technology of the Giant Monstrous Beings remain out of human capability and the Drivers barely defeated it. Izumi comes in with something serious to discuss.

As the units go into maintenance, Mihara has to scold Akita and Tsuranuki for their lack of teamwork, with them both continuing to blame the other, and Hokuto gathers them, briefing them on the regenerative capabilities and Shinkalion countermeasures Star Stream demonstrated. If they want to win they will have to evolve, so he orders Akita and Tsuranuki to share a dorm.

Hayato wonders at home what to do, and hears Hokuto return home and inform Sakura that he's been ordered to transfer to Kyoto's new West Japan branch of SUEI.

Tsuranuki transfers to Hayato's class, Azusa suspicious another transfer student is familiar with Hayato. Afterwards, Hayato and Shashot go to visit Akita and Tsuranuki, only to find they're still arguing in their shared room, but before a conversation can be had an alert comes out.

3 Star Streams have appeared, each coloured after one of the Shinkalion, as Seiryu watches.

Azusa is annoyed to have lost the boys again, having wanted to do a video challenging them to rap battles in their local dialects, but spots a trending video of the Star Streams.

The Capture Wall up, SUEI are ready to dispatch the Shinkalions, but order the mission will not be over until they can be sure no remnants are left over.

As the battle starts the others leap straight in again, even as the Star Streams clearly match their weak points. When the 3 enemies gather to fire beams, Hayato rushes to guard the others, and struggling to stand the E5, tells them they have to fight together, he has to show his father they can win so he can go to Kyoto without worries, and manages to slice all 3 Star Streams. Recognising this, Akita and Tsuranuki resolve to give their all, their comparability ratings start increasing, as coordinated assaults allow them to knock all three Star Streams to the ground.

Akita and Tsuranuki have now hit compatibility of over 90%, Hayato is over 97%, as Hayato launches the Gran Cross to defeat the enemies.

The dark figures note the results of the battle. Seiryu explained he used the primitive ability of regeneration, lost by the evolved humanity, as a means to study Shinkalion, and looks at the dark robot shape behind the three of them.

Back at the platform, Hayato, and the others, assure Hokuto they will keep things handled until he can return.

[king-of-better]

Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion The Animation 06: Break Through!! Shinkalion E7 Kagayaki

The E7's jointed fists are enough to knock Iron Steamer away for a moment, but and adding them and the tracks on its legs, they're able to more solidly resist the continuing onslaught, but it now seems a battle of endurance, can whatever power source Iron Steamer last longer than the Shinkalion.

The E5 and E6 lose power, but Tsuranuki continues to resist, the E7 also loses power, but Iron Steamer also loses a second later, avoiding a worse outcome.

Outside the Capture Field, Hayato thanks Tsuranuki, but he still refuses to fight, insisting he has an important job to deal with.

Mihara reports the Shinkalions have been recovered, and Akita and Hayato are enroute, Iron Steamer remaining inactive, allowing SUEI to try and repair the damaged portions of the Capture Field. In the hope that it needs similar time to regenerate it's energy, Honjo informs they'll need at least 20 hours to be operable, and 30 to be at full power. Sure they'll need all three, Hokuto and Izumi asks Hayato to try and convince Tsuranuki, but Akita thinks it pointless.

Next day Hayato and Shashot arrive in Kanazawa, and run into Akita, who claims he just wants souvenirs. They go to Daimonyama Construction, where Tsuranuki's younger sister, Kagari, and infant brother, Kenroku, inform them Tsuranuki is on site. Tsuranuki is indeed working with the adults on the site, who talk about the locomotive disappearing, allowing him to realise where Iron Steamer came from. Hayato and Akita turn up right after.

Tsuranuki explains that while he can't properly work yet as a kid, he is getting what experience he can in preparation for when he takes over the business, and aims to become the top engineer in Kanazawa, no, Japan. Hayato says that at the leat they need his help today, but the tunnel work is more important in his eyes. He walks off, but seeing his friends, his mother, Misuzu, recruits them to distribute tea and onigiri to the workers. Just doing this tires the two in out, but she gives them special boxes lunch as thanks, and as they eat tells them that after seeing them yesterday he seemed pretty happy when he came back. Tsuranuki's father passed away recently, and seeing her heading things up herself, he saw it has his responsibility to help, but she notes he went overboard a little with his ambition, for her, and all she's really seeing is him tiring himself out trying to help.

Hayato and Akita tell Tsuranuki they know he does want to fight, but he insists he can't, Kanazawa needs work doing, and if it isn't done the company won't survive, he has to keep working for his family. Hayato asks what he actually wants, he insists he isn't going and storms off. Mihara calls, Iron Steamer is showing new readings indicating it's about to reactivate, and needs them both to deploy.

Tsuranuki tidies up, when his mother confronts him, and tells him to be honest about his desire to ride "Shin Godzillon", yes she may have troubles handling everything on her own, but she'll manage, and gets him to go.

Tsuranuki catches up to Hayato and Akita and tells them he's joining, Shashot joking the cheer, as all three Shinkalion deploy back to the Capture Field.

The E7's own weapon is the Sharin Drill, which they'll need to get past Iron Steamer's armour so they can reach the power source. Tsuranuki tries to leap right in, and is blasted by the new cannon from behind the boiler. Akita and Tsuranuki start bickering, and it falls to Hayato to get them to work together. He decides to leap in, grabbing from one side, and asking Akita to grab from the other to try and keep Iron Steamer in place so Tsuranuki can act. The E7 drives forward, using the Sharin Drill to pierce through Iron Steamer and destroy it. Izumi tells Hokuto he sees this being quite a team.

The dark figures note human evolution, something they do not possess but fascinates them.

Tsuranuki and his mother admire the D51 returned to it's rightful place, Tsuranuki tries to explain his decision, but she tells him not to be so serious at his age, and just go ahead because he wants to.

The Shinkalion E7 Kagayaki takes the stage this time.

And charges ahead with the Sharin Drill. The toy can be split in half as well.

With this episode out initial team of Shinkalion is established.

[king-of-better]

Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion 05: Clash!! Iron Steamer

In Ishikawa Prefecture, the two dark figures look at an old D51 class steam locomotive, which the armoured one knows to be the predecessor of sorts to the Shinkansen, noting that when humans began changing earth's resources to power, this was what they created, the masked one does note he's impressed they reached the Shinkansen in only 150 years, dark particles fall, a dark shape looms over them.

Elsewhere in Ishikawa, the Kanazawa City limits, Izumi is making his request to Daimonyama Tsuranuki to come to Omiya.

Akita has transferred to Hayato's school, but becomes annoyed at Hayato telling everyone his dream, but Azusa seems very interested in the competition. In Ishikawa the missing locomotive is noticed. Shashot comes to meet Hayato and Akita in "disguise", forcing both to grab him in run when Azusa approaches, so he can then inform them Izumi needs them.

At SUEI, Izumi tells them another new Driver will arrive that Saturday, and he wants them and Mihara to show him around Tokyo, admitting he's doing it to try and convince him to definitively agree, having seen his test results.

Come Saturday, and excited Hayato is up early, and heads out. At the station they have a welcome banner, to Akita's embarrassment, and Hayato is guessing from Izumi's statement they'll get along that Tsuranuki is also a rail fan. The Kagayaki service roles in, but no driver comes off, but they spot a boy asleep with an invite from SUEI, and have to rush to get him off before the train leaves. Tsuranuki apologises, but informs them ahead of time he doesn't see himself agreeing just because they entertain him for a day. Hayato proposes a railway focused tour of Tokyo, but Tsuranuki is uninterested, nor in Mihara's more conventional tour suggestion, but he does have something he wants to do.

The two dark figures are hidden in a tunnel studying the D51, noting it's mineral composition, similar to the inventions of their world, the masked one is excited to see where things go.

They have arrived at Tsuranuki's chosen destination, Sanada Moat and Sendai Moat, admiring the work done on creating these elements of Edo Castle in a era with no mechanical tools. They realise Tsuranuki's interest is in engineering, something cultivated by his parents own engineering business. Hayato suggests another location to see, the Yamanote Line, which was built in the Meiji period and supports modern traffic. It's this shared understanding of the effort made on constructing bridges, tunnels and the like that gives Hayato and Tsuranuki something to bond over.

Hokuto and Izumi discuss the work with convincing Tsuranuki, Izumi sorry for needing Hayato, but Hokuto and Sakura can see Hayato has found a clearer path somehow.

At his welcome meal, Tsuranuki shares a similar story from his hometown, which during winter would be cut off from neighbouring towns as the lort was unusable, so hard work was put in to build a railway between them. Hayato hopes that means he's changed his mind, but he insists on still refusing, he refuses to fight.

An alert comes through, and everyone else rushes off to be ready to deploy. Mihara arrives at the command room as they capture the Giant Monstrous Being, recognising it as the train that vanished from Kanazawa, Honjo dubs it Iron Steamer. Izumi informs Mihara she's now in charge of departures, as Iron Steamer starts attempting to destroy the Capture Field, she orders Hayato and Akita to deploy. Witnessing on a screen the two depart, Tsuranuki rushes out of the room, and down to the platform, where another screen shows the two Shinkalions transform and ready to engage.

Hayato isn't keen on fighting a steam locomotive, but Akita reminds him what they're doing is reclaiming it. Unfortunately, the iron body of the enemy resists all their attacks, and when they try to repeat the strategy from Frost Tree 2 it both resists the blast and breaks free of the restraint, before charging the E6. Hayato rushes to him, and together they are barely able to hold off before being pushed off the edge. Their power won't last, as Tsuranuki makes a decision, and comes to the command room to tell them he'll help just this once, insisting when Izumi begins to show reservations.The E7 deploys to Kanazawa.

Shinkalion E7 Kagayaki arrives at the battle, and leaps towards the Iron Steamer.

It may be for one battle only, but Tsuranuki has headed out to battle in an E7 Kagayaki.

[king-of-better]

Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion The Animation 04: Fire!! Shinkalion E6 Komachi

Hayato, Shashot and Mihara explain about the Shinkalion to Akita, and ask him to join. He immediately refuses, stunning Hayato...because it was as fast as the top speed of the E6. Akita still isn't interested and leaves. Shashot and Mihara assume he finds it frightening, but his actions in the battle mean Hayato thinks it isn't that.

As Hayato wonders what to do he spots Akita, who due to what happened missed his meeting with his teammates and doesn't know how to find his hotel, Hayato insists on putting him up, Sakura and Haruka helping serve him a large meal to make up for the problems Hayato has caused. As Hayato sings later, Akita wonders how he can be so in to the Shinkansen, and Sakura and Haruka explain Hayato's always dreamed of being a driver.

In Natori, near the Sendai Shiroishi-Zao Tunnel, a team is searching, and the two dark figures watch.

At night, Akira apologises for treating Hayato's driving as just a whimsical adventure, but having heard Hayato's dream he explains his own dream is to be the top beam rifle marksman, and his completion final is tomorrow. If he wins he'll transfer to a Tokyo school with it's own team, having to explain that there has been no completion where he's grown up. He acknowledges the Shinkansen has played a part in his own dream, carrying him in his journey to compete, so he can't get distracted from his goal. When Hayato asks if he can watch him compete, he agrees.

Of course, Hayato is still using Shinkansen metaphors, as Haruka and Sakura sit alongside him to watch.

Izumi and Hokuto arrive at the command room. Mihara informs them they still haven't made useful determinations from Hayato's data, but they learn from Izumi they've found a new candidate in Ishikawa, Daimonyama Tsuranuki, and the E7 is being readied for that.

Akita came in second, and assures Hayato he didn't cause it, and he'll start over, but Hayato notes what he achieved was still incredible, and has given him a new goal himself, driving the Shinkalion to protect everyone's dreams, and tells Akita to keep fighting. Then the alert comes in, the Black Shinkansen has been sighted.

As the two dark figures watch, the Black Shinkansen spreads it's particles, producing a new Frost Tree. The masked one finds the repeated form a waste, the fully armoured one is curious what the result will be. SUEI dub Frost Tree 2 and prepare to act, Hayato rushes to join the fight, as Akira prepares to board the Komachi service home. As the E5 deploys, Akita recalls Hayato's words about protecting dreams, and gets off the train.

The E5 engages Frost Tree 2, clearly stronger, and launches a Gran Cross, and SUEI are declaring the operation over when they see it is in fact bigger, launching a freezing ray that captures the E5 in place. They can't trigger the E5's heating, Izumi orders to increase the Capture Field temperature. As he walks, Akita sees two SUEI staff mention the reappearance and head down, and sneaks after them. He jumps the barrier, triggering an alarm.

The temperature in the Capture Field continues to drop, Hayato is freezing, as Akira is dragged by a maintenance cream to the control room, and says he'll drive, and a they prep the E6.

The Shinkalion E6 Komachi arrives to the battle, equipping two Fumikiri Guns, blasting all missiles and freeing the E5. HQ can't detect the core now, but the E6's scope allows him to target it. The E5 uses the Kaisatsu Sword to impeded Frost Tree 2's movement, and the E6 equips the weapons to it's shoulders to launch the Fumikiri Cannon, destroying the enemy.

Back at base, Akita and Hayato agree to fight together.

Akita's personal unit is an E6 series Komachi service, which runs between Omiya and his hometown of Akita.

The Shinkalion E6 Komachi wields two Fumikiri Guns. Unfortunately, the toy version doesn't have a movable scope.

For the finisher, the E6 unleashes the Fumikiri Cannon.

[king-of-better]

Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion The Animation 03: Here He Comes!! The Sniper from Akita

School over for the weekend, Hayato muses over what to do, Azusa, sat next to him, says he'll just need out of her Shinkansen, but he sees this as no different to that fact she's obviously going to film a new video. He then gets a message from Hokuto, telling him to come to SUEI with his Shinca, and mentioning he'll need to talk to Sakura soon. When Azusa asks who messaged him he hides it suspiciously.

He arrives at SUEI to find Mihara struggling with the simulator, Shashot scolding, it's now been updated to find high compatibility based on score, it's now going to be distributed nationwide to find new Drivers.

Izumi explains that through Hayato they've found children have higher compatibility that adults, but hope to through further research find a way for adults to become Drivers, but until they can do that they need to find other children suitable to be Drivers. For now they want Hayato to test the simulators.

Meanwhile Hokuto is at home explaining his true job to Sakura, and explaining that they need Hayato's help. To his surprise she accepts the necessity, but tells him she'll be focusing on giving Hayato a normal life at home.

After 170 odd tests, Mihara tells him to take a break for the day, so a not to affect his condition. He returns home, where Sakura is focusing on normalcy and telling him to call if he'll be late. After dinner, he checks the simulator, and finds an anonymous user in Akita has scored almost as well as he has, but as Honjo explains to Izumi, this person isn't identifiable as they used the arcade version. Hayato resolves to meet them.

Next day Hayato tries to take the E5 out, and instead gets reprimanded, and explains his goal, Shashot also wants to go. When Mihara tells him that taking the E5 to do that is impossible Hayato thinks she's talking about the guage of the line from Morioka to Akira, which is standard guage unlike the Tohoku line, which isn't the case. Izumi does however realise Hayato may have better luck finding the kid, so they send him to Sendai in the E5 after all, having him change to the Akita Shinkansen there, allowing him his first trip on the E6 Komachi. As the E5 leaves Omiya, the two shadowy figures are watching, one clutches at the falling snow.

Arriving in snowy Akita, Hayato rejects Shashot, hidden in his bag's suggestion of a local specialty in favour of the station's specialty boxed lunch, before deciding to find the high scorer first. After random searching with no luck, they aim to go back to the station as it starts snowing, but lost Hayato almost falls, saved by a boy his age catching him, who points him towards the station.

Deciding to just go back for the day, Hayato boards the Komachi and finds the same boy in the seat next to him, but he just wants to listen to his music, while Hayato is feeling out over the switchback to the mainline, the boy switches seats just so he's less obnoxious, but Shashot then has Hayato go elsewhere when he spots the simulator app on the boy's phone. Irritated, when Hayato asks about the app the boy lets him see his score, but Hayato then gets an alert and runs off, leaving Shashot while still holding the phone.

The command room informs Hayato a Giant Monstrous Being has appeared in Miyagi, dubbed Frost Tree, as he's nearly at Sendai he's ordered to take the E5 to confront frost tree. He leaves the train with Shashot, the oy realising afterwards Hayato still has his phone. He sees Hayato run into the E5 and follows, only to be confronted by an empty train which departs at incredible speed, arriving at Natori the Shinkalion confronts Frost Tree.

The snowy environment makes it a dangerous fight even before Shashot notes the boy's presence, on learning of a civilian presence Hokuto instructs to return him to Sendai first, but there's only 10'minutes left with the Capture Field, but the boy insists on settling things if they need to, saying he can handle himself.

The battle resumes, but the E5 both has trouble moving and seeing, Honjo detects some form of power source vie thermal imaging, but Hayato can't move well enough in the snow to hit it. The boy finds this amusing, compared to what he's seen in the mountains, and asks if they have a gun. All they have is the Gran Cross, but the boy, a specialist in laser tag, tells Hayato to fire it and he'll give him the timing, so they prep the Gran Cross, and when Frost Tree appears ahead they fire successfully at his timing, defeating the enemy.

Back at the Underground Platform, the boy confirms he was the high scorer, Shashot tests him and confirms an 85.6% comparability. Annoyed at still being called a civilian, the boy properly introduced himself as Oga Akita, the new Driver.

[king-of-better]

Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion The Animation 02: Clash!! Shinkalion Vs the Giant Monstrous Being

As Hayato marvels over the Shinkalion's transformation, Hokuto informs him his sit will sync his movements with it, so with Shashot's support, he can fight Railroader. In battle, Shashot's personality has turned more confident and straightforward. Shashot presses Hayato to interlock with him without explaining, but it works somehow, and the E5 unleashes a Kaisatsu Sword finisher, restoring Railroader in under ten seconds, proving to the SUEI personnel what Shinkalion is capable of with a truly compatible driver.

Hayato returns to the platform, a little downcast, only to be greeted by an excited Shashot and cheered by the SUEI personnel, and thanked by his father.

Hayato is subjected to a medical exam by Doctor Kurume Midori, and is then greeted by Mihara, who questions if he felt scared, but he really didn't have the chance, he just focused on helping his dad, and is proud of what he's achieved, not upset that adults had to get him to solve their problems. Shashot intends to grow their bond by living in his home, something Hayato knows his mother won't allow. Mihara goes to deliver the test results to Hokuto, the Director, as Shashot begs Hayato to convince Hokuto to arrange it.

Mihara passes a meeting room, where command staff are pressing Hokuto on the successful acquisition of a Driver for the E5, but Izumi feels more testing is needed, and furthermore is against forcing a child to drive even if the mission is to defeat the enemy, telling the directors his opposition. Mihara hears this, and then realises Hayato has also heard, and he returns to Shashot quietly. Izumi tells Hokuto that while he beloved standing up to the Directors was important, there is much about the current situation they don't know, and Hokuto may need to make a tough decision.

Hokuto sends Hayato home, then returns to the command room, where Mihara tells him Hayato's own feelings, having concluded maybe if a child capable of fighting is willing, they should work together.

When school resumes, Azusa is seeing a lot of classmates admire her for her videos, but she can only notice Hayato's distraction. Hayato goes to leave while thinking of everything, only for Shashot to have some t pick him up, and panics over what Azusa may do if she sees him. When Azusa calls out, Hayato grabs Shashot and runs.

Shashot gives Hayato his own Shinca, and wants him to come to the lab for testing, but having seen his father's worries for him, has accepted the battle as due to special circumstances, aware he is just a boy,.but figures he'll make sure Shashot gets back to the lab.

At 3:30 PM, south of Koriyama City in Fukushima, the Black Shinkansen appears spreading particles, cresting from a amusement park a new Giant Monstrous Being. In Hayato's bag, Shashot makes a large noise over the appearance of the Black Shinkansen. SUEI confirms the appearance at 15:45, dubbing it Mad Ferris, and now that one has appeared in the day, must Captures Field it with a cloaking function. Shashot explains to Hayato that whenever the Black Shinkansen is sighted, a Giant Monstrous Being will appear and begs Hayato to fight, but recalling his father's suffering, Hayato refuses, but Shashot says he cannot complete his mission without him.

In the Capture Field, the E6 and E7 are attempting to battle Mad Ferris, but are overwhelmed, the Drivers losing Suitability, and with 50 minutes left it seems they will have to pull out to save the Drivers, let alone the Shinkalion. Via Shashot Hayato contacts the command room, and tells Hokuto he wants to fight. Hokuto takes a moment, then orders Honjo to retrieve the other units, and entrusts the battle to Hayato, and asks he trust them to support him as well.

The Shinkalion E5 Hayabusa arrives in the Capture Field, and while it dodges the beams, it doesn't manage to damage with the Kaisatsu Sword, and an alert comes out that the Capture Field will disperse in 2 minutes. Desperate for a winning attack, Hayato presses Shashot to help him unleash their ultimate attack, the Gran Crosss, which overpowers Mad Ferris' beam and destroys it.

The Amusement Park is restored, two dark figures watch, one noting the increasing evolution speed.

Here is the Kaisatsu Sword ready to destroy the enemy.

And the Gran Cross, the E5's ultimate attack.

[king-of-better]

Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion The Animation 01: Departing!! Shinkalion E5 Hayabusa

It's 3:10 AM near Kataoka Station in Tochigi Prefecture, and a JR maintenance team is working when one worker notices something on the express line. A strange black train speeds past, emitting glowing particles that coat nearby structures. This is strange, as at this time the wires shouldn't even be powered, but then, right on the tracks the train passed a similarly glowing monstrosity, looking cobbled together from various items the particles hit, appears.

At 3:18, the Shinkansen Ultra Evolution Institute receives footage of this entity, designated Railroader by an operator, which the commander confirms. A man next the operator orders measures readied. Once Railroader is 300m from the tracks, a satellite targets it, and fires a Capture Field that traps it in a separate environment, this Capture Field will last 56 minutes. With a deadline of 20 minutes before the first train as 4:37 AM, the man who have the order requests the line be powered between Omiya and Nasushiobara. Two trains, the E6 and E7, are dispatched, and become Shinkalion robots withing the Capture Field, leaping to oppose Railroader.

3 days later, an E5 Hayabusa service travels near Saitama's Omiya Station, watched eagerly by young railfan Hayasugi Hayato. His mother, Sakura, calls him to breakfast, where his sister Haruka, quietly eats while listening to headphones, Hayato wastes no time planning out his ideal rail journey, thinking he could make a trip on the E5, E6 and E3 in one day, a Triple East Japan Shinkansen debut, a dream Haruka is a little tired of hearing about, though he does have a reason in that his father has promised to take him on his first trip on a Shinkansen today. Sakura sends him to wake his father, Hokuto, but he bribes him to let him sleep by offering his tablet, seeing a new shinka sim app, Hayato decides to try this game out. Distracted by this game, which he manages to high score, he forgets about Hokuto until Haruka comes to warn him, too late as Sakura forcibly wakes him.

Mihara Futaba, a new Operator for SUEI, presents herself to the Commander, Izumi Shinpei, who has has to call her in early, as the incident 3 days ago was the first time in two months they had to deploy Shinkalion, and thus he must show her something.

While Hayato remains engrossed in the game, Sakura reminds a still tired Hokuto of his promise to take Hayato on the Shinkansen, as he's completed his winter homework. Haruka is less interested.

Izumi shows Mihara the captured Railroader, a scientist reporting the lack of toxins but the power source remains unknown. They explain this is a Giant Monstrous Being, the first they've ever managed to capture. They first appeared 10 years ago (these First Enemies looked like Bachigami), but their origins and purpose remain unknown. Because of the threat of this unknown technology, SUEI are researching next generation technology around the Shinkansen, producing the Shinkalion. As Izumi explains, they don't notice the faintest sign is life from Railroader.

Hayato is thrilled to be about to take his journey, though Hokuto is a little puzzled he insisted they start from Tokyo Station, but it's all part of his dream to drive one himself. Hokuto did in the past, but is now an official at Omiya Railway Museum. Hayato decided not to insist on Sendai to start the journey, figuring that wouldn't work with Hokuto's pay. Hokuto goes to grab a coffee before the train, having Hayato wait by the gate.

While he waits, Hayato is recognised by his classmate, Ueda Azusa, who for her popular YouTube channel plans to go to Kyoto for a Maiko vlog, she does a lot of these about her first time doing things, but is put off by Hayato comparing her views to the Shinkansen, and Hayato is more curious about another channel's video is a mysterious Shinkansen. Azusa leaves, leaving Hayato nonplussed.

In response to Mihara's questions, Izumi admits they simply don't know what the Monstrous Brings are, just that they're different each time, and unfortunately the two Shinkalions units were damaged, needing time to repair, and the third doesn't have a compatible driver. Further discussion is put on hold, as Railroader reactivates, repairs itself, and breaks free from its restraints, rampaging in the Underground Hanger.

Hayato watches the scenery from the E2 Shinkansen they're riding when Hokuto gets a call. As he steps away, Hayato decides to check out the video of the mysterious Shinkansen, pondering what model it is, before Hokuto returns to tell him he's been called to the museum for an emergency, and promises next time they'll take the E5 Hayabusa. They return to Omiya, and Hokuto rushes off to a slightly sad Hayato, who then notices Hokuto has left a Shinca pass in his tablet, which Hayato presumes he needs to enter the Museum.

Thus, Hayato comes to the Omiya Rail Museum, Hokuto has just gone down a staff elevator having donned a SUEI jacket. Hayato accesses a staff stairwell using the Shinca, and looks into a room to find his father and many others monitoring Railroader, Izumi reporting there is only so much time before it breaks free from the hanger. Ope torator Honjo Akagi notes the only available unit is the E5. Hayato is coming to terms with his dad's work being more than he thought, when he is interrupted by a floating conductor robot, which introduces itself as Shashot, which starts raising the alarm, Hayato grabs him to try and quiet him, but those in the command room have already heard, but Shashot suddenly detects compatibility and loses coherence. Those inside discover Hayato, and while Hokuto thanks him for the Shinca he warns him to get away, as Railroader starts attacking the command room window. Izumi notes there is no choice but to use the E5, even though Hokuto knows it's useless, until Shashot reports a compatible driver is present, Hayato's rate is 96.5%. Honjo points out that's still useless if he hasn't touched a simulator, Hayato asks if this means the tablet app, which he high scored earlier. Mihara nonetheless objects to putting a child in combat, leaving Hokuto struggling with a difficult choice, but Hayato is willing to do whatever they might need to save his father. Asking his son to trust him, Hokuto gives him back the Shinca.

Hayato is sent to an underground platform, where an E5 Hayabusa sits ready. Hayato steps aboard, his clothing changing to a pilot suit coloured after the Hayabusa as he enters the driver room, and takes a seat by the controls. The suits earpiece allows him to hear Hokuto, Hayato assures him he's still holding him to get him aboard a real E5, as Izumi warn Mihara to be ready for battle operation. Hayato must touch the Shinca to the Cho Shinka Mascon ShinkaGear, which activates the unit allowing Hayato to set it in motion, and it heads out the tunnel. Next is equipping the ShinkaGear, placing his left arm underneath and in and lifting it out so it equips for his arm, pulling the lever all the way back accelerates to Cho Shinka Speed, 1225 km/h, then inserting the Shinca into the ShinkaGear enable it to Change, Shinkalion.

For the first time, Hayato's E5 becomes a Shinkalion, ready to battle Railroader.

While on screen consisting of a full set, the toy of the E5 on consists of three cars. The version I have is the 5th anniversary Mobility+, but aside from the improved articulation it's the same as the original.

For most of the 3-car sets, the unit is really only the two drive cars, the middle car is for storage, or can optionally have a battery compartment placed inside.

As an example, I probably won't showcase this for the others, these are all the pieces that can be stored in the middle car. They're used for the Shinkalion mode only.

And the Shinkalion E5 Hayabusa is ready for action.

[king-of-better]

Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion (2015)

I'm about to start covering in earnest the anime seasons in detail, but first a little look at the line that started it all.

Running for two years, ending shortly before the launch of the Animation line, I'll cover the line in detail. As has become tradition, the initial lineup was the E5, E6, and E7, and the Televi-kun manga saw those three units commanded to fight Bachigami by Hayasugi Hokuto from New Saitama. The E5 was piloted by his son Hayato, while the E6 was piloted by Sugu Alita, and the E7 by Maeda Tsuranuki. Beyond the names, these characters had little in common with the later versions.

For the rest, I will cover the lineup, detailing the trailers where applicable.

When Promotional videos came out, it would be at least a month prior to the product releasing.

The first two units in the line were the Shinkalion E5 Hayabusa and the Shinkalion E6 Komachi. The Hayabusa Trailer shows Bachigami attacking, the Shinkansen departs the tail museum, and transforms, flying through the air above the sea and using the Kaisatsu Sword, then finishing it with the Gran Cross. The Komachi Trailer sees is so much the same, chasing across rooftops before attacking in the air above the sea, putting the Fumikiri Guns on the shoulders for the finisher.

Soon after cake the Shinkalion E7 Kagayaki. This one fought the Bachigami over a desert, and demonstrated the Sharin Drill's superiority over the opponent. This was followed by a trio where the 3 fought in the desert against a supremely powerful Bachigami, eventually uniting their powers to gain victory.

The next release would be the Shinkalion H5 Hayabusa, followed by the dual release of the Shinkalion E3 Tsubasa Flare Wing and Shinkalion E3 Tsubasa Iron Wing. Neither of these saw a special PV.

A year after the initial launch 3 single car units were released, the Shinkalion 700 Nozomi, the Shinkalion 700 Hikari Rail Star and the Shinkalion N700 Mizuho, subsequently there was a set of the 3 to showcase the Trinity Gattai. The CM showed each transform and hold their weapon, before showing them unite into Shinkalion Trinity, and unleash a Trinity Strike at the beach.

Shortly after came the largest release, the Shinkalion 500 Kodama. The PV showed it depart the Kyoto Rail Museum and transform, confronting a Bachigami at the coast, defeating it with a missile barrage. This was followed by a CM showcasing the E5 and 500 together, and their Cross into Shinkalion E5 x 500, and the powerful attack unleashed by the Kaisatsu Trident.

Next came the Shinkalion 800 Tsubame. The trailer showcased it using the Swallow Wing to avoid Bachigami attacks, before defeating it with the Pantograph Arrow.

Lastly came the Shinkansen N700A Nozomi. The trailer showed it departing the Rail Park, and transforming to fight an army of smaller Bachigami until a larger, more powerful one emerges. The Nozomi uses Advanced Mode, and destroys the opponent by blasting through it's attack with a Dragon Knuckle.

The very last release was the Shinkalion 500 TYPE EVA, which did not receive a trailer.

I'll be starting the first episode soon.

[king-of-better]

Shinkalion: Introductory History

The Shinkalion Franchise from TakaraTomy, a super robot spin-off of the classic Plarail line, announced on March 16th 2015. It's sister Tomica line had already had a number of similar spin-offs, most recently at the time Drive Head, which also resulted in an anime.

2015: Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion

Over 3 years 12 robots that could transform from Plarail Shinkansen were released. In this era there was limited fiction, consisting primarily of animated short CMs, but there was also 3 manga chapters published in Televi-kun to promote the initial toys, which gave those units Drivers. The names of these Drivers are to an extent shared with later series, though the designs are different.

The last release of the line was a crossover unit with Evangelion, based on the then operating Type EVA variant of the 500 Series Shinkansen

2018: Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion: The Animation

The toyline was revived alongside an anime series, featuring models for the Shinkalions and the enemy forces by the same studio behind the original CMs. While distinct from the previous iteration, the name of the protagonist has retained, as well as the given names of the others two Drivers, and in a meta nod the Bachigami enemies from the CMs were used as the First Enemy. Over 76 episodes a compelling story was told.

The first year of the series' toyline primarily consisted of updated versions of those from the original line, with more focus put onto the Link Gattai gimmick that had for the original releases only been noted on the packaging. Aside from this, in the first year there was also the Deluxe Shinka Gear and it's dark counterpart, able to read the Shinca passes included with the toys. Original designs for the first year consisted of the enemy Black Shinkalion, and the Doctor Yellow that was the climax of the line's first year. The second year's line consisted of new toys, now focused on the Over cross gimmick.

While an episode had focused on the 500 Type EVA, an updated figure based on the anime was not produced until the movie.

Early in the series, Hayato and the E5 made a guest appearance in the movie for Tomica Hyper Rescue Drive Head, the series having been Shinkalion's time slot precursor.

A gag manga ran briefly in the early months of the series.

2019: Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion: The Lightning Fast Alfa-X that came from the Future

At the end of 2019, 6 months after the series concluded, a movie followup aired, featuring a new enemy and one more new unit.

Over the six months, a manga adaptation had already run in Televi-kun, although the plot was modified to remove crossover elements only licensed for the film.

Also during the gap, short promos had been produced on a weekly basis. While most just focused in major cast, a few were in the style of the classic CMs focusing on newer units, Black Shinkalion Ogre, 923 Doctor Yellow, and E5 Hayabusa MkII.

2020 saw the re-release of the E6, E7, N700A and 923, and for the 5th anniversary the Mobility Plus version of the E5, and two further original units. First was the Hello Kitty, based on the briefly operating colour for a 500 Series, and the other being the N700S Nozomi, the successor to the N700A. Each got a new promo CM showcasing their battles.

2021: Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion Z: The Animation

The successor series launched in April 2021, focusing on a new cast, with returning appearances from some of the now-retired Drivers. The heroes are battling a new mysterious enemy.

The key gimmick for the new series was the Z Gattai Gimmick. Each of the Shinkalion had the ability to exchange their arms or legs for limbs transformed from Zailiners, which were based on more standard trains instead of Shinkansens.

Like the first season featuring the Type EVA that wasn't part of it's toyline, it also devoted an episode to a unit from the previous toyline, the Hello Kitty, and also devoted an episodes to Z's own Type EVA.

A small Televi-kun manga accompanied the early release.

A sequel novel, also featuring return appearances from most of the original series, entitled Yamanote Crisis, came in December 2022, and debuted the Z Alfa-X that had been released towards the end of the series. Around the same time, the 500 Type EVA-02 was released, based on a limited time wrapping of the 500 in the Kyoto museum.

February to April 2023 then saw a web novel, The Revival of Kairen, which featured the fiction debut of the Z N700S Kamome & Sonic Nichirin released the previous year, as well as promote the new Perfect versions of the Z E5 Yamanote and Z E6 N'EX.

2024: Shinkalion: Change the World

2024 launched a new series in a new continuity, and a slightly older main cast.

The new gimmick of CW's line was that now all the units consist of a single unit, and can combine with ERDA vehicles, based on equipment for other railway work, into more powerful forms. In addition, any 3 units can combine into a larger SRG formation. Unlike the previous series role play items were not advertised, and some Tie-in Tomica cars were advertised.

Shinkalion Dive the World was a manga accompanying Change the World, a side story focusing on younger characters operating behind the scenes, primarily in the Metaverse.

A novel adaptation released in 2 parts adapted the first course of the series, and a still running manga adaptation began late in the year.

2025: Shinkalion 10th Anniversary Project

At a Change the World even on February 16th 2025, the Shinkalion 10th anniversary project was announced.

The first announcement was the Shinkalion 300, a new CW release of a unit not featured in the series.

A more special announcement was for the summer release of new versions of the original E5 Hayabusa and Z E5 Yamanote, built to the CW body design, in addition to promoting a special combination of all 3 E5's, Shinkalion SRG E5 Grand Cross.

TakaraTomy's Metamor Verse line also announced a release of a Tie-in figure of Hatsune Miku with a Buddy Armour of the Shinkalion H5 Hayabusa.

Also announced was Bandai's Sould Of Chogokin recreation of the original E5 Hayabusa.

[king-of-better]

Been getting into Shinkalion a lot later. As the 10th anniversary is next month, I'm going to announce I'm going to be going over the whole series soon.

[king-of-better]

5: Under the Soda Sky

At a bottling plant, green goo drops from the sky, depositing tiny Monomachia into the soda, which are then bottled and shipping.

Marin runs past Mike and greets Jun, again struggling to rouse Tadashi, before running off to pick up Moe. It's her first time at the Kiraragi house, and she's intimidated by the fact they clearly have money. Marin is scared by the dog and summons Melan in a panic, then has to call him off after the dog flees. Speaking to her mother via the intercom, she is on formed Moe has a fever from the rain, and refuses to let her see Moe, and once she goes it's clear her mother doesn't want her interacting with Moe, lying to her about who it was.

The Monomachia jumps off a soda truck after it passes Marin and targets her, unaware, with a cannon, but she moves out of view before it can fire, and later is picked up by a cat.

The other kids refuse to let Marin enter the classroom and yell at her before she is summoned to the principals office, where Tokyo MPD detectives want to meet her.

The senior detective asks outright about the Flying Monster she had been manipulating, she denies Melan is a Monster and insists she doesn't control him, the detective asks to bring him somewhere safe to talk, which she hesitantly accepts, but as they're sorting things his partner makes clear to their contacts they plan to capture Monster 2. Isshin sees Marin being escorted to the police car and tells the car, only Sumire seems to be trying to avoid over sensationalising it all, though Kadamoto asks Takashi if Marin was really trying to hurt anyone.

As the car is in motion Marin starts getting scared. The cat holding the Monomachia passes them, and when it spots Marin the Minomachia fires, scaring the cat and knocking out all the officers in he car. Marin tries to escape the car but drops Melan when the officer grabs her ankle, but Melan awakes and draws his blade until he releases Marn. He aims to fly off when he officer goes for his gun, sensing this Melan holds him at gunpoint for Marin's safety. They fly off before the Monomachia can fire again, and the officer gives up trying to fire on Melan as well.

Hiding out, Marin can't get Melan to tell her more, but after hearing an ice cream cart goes and buys kne to share with him, while they eat Lolo is laying in the pond. Marin asks Melan to share more about himself. As a living weapon he lacks parents, and used to undergo intense training, and as for his friends... compared to Brigadoon, Earth seems to be a peaceful paradise. Marin realises Melan is like her, when the police arrive in the area, she makes him return to the Ampoule and runs into a library, while the Monomachia is hassled by a bird, and spots the boy again, the Monomachia is hit by a car.

Marin and the boy do introductions, he is Alo Makoto. Aloma is doing research on Nezu Shrine, saying a Blue Knight who fell from another world is sleeping there, he believes based on the records it is more than a legend, after the Indigo Bottle fell from the sky in the 19th century. The Legend is that the Blue Knight fought many battles against monsters which also came from the world above, then sealed himself in 1869. Aroma thought he may find the solution to the current issue, but found Nezu Shrine destroyed and wonders who may have found the Blue Knight, as Marin hurriedly excuses herself, borrowing the book.

The Monomachia spots Marin as she surveys the book, but it suddenly gets liquid poured on it as she runs towards it, as a drunk Tadashi has just spilled booze, but she's more worried about getting Tadashi off the tracks. Lolo notes that Nepon's body was destroyed by the alcohol.

Marin drags Tadashi home, only to be surrounded by police, the detective pulling out a warrant and pointing his gun right at her. And unfortunately for Marin, this one isn't an illusion.