Crush Gear Turbo

Main characters

• Kouya Marino (真理野 コウヤ)
• Gear: Garuda Eagle ⇒ Garuda Phoenix
• The series' protagonist and the captain of the Tobita Club, Kouya is a young Gear Fighter who aims to be the number one in the world of Crush Gear.
• Naotake Furusato, producer of Crush Gear Turbo, said that the creators "lost a lot of sleep over" trying to name the main character. Furusato credits director Shūji Iuchi with the final naming. The creators decided to use "Kouya" as the name "had a ring to it like brothers would have and that made it kind of realistic" and that the name literally means "wilderness" and "sounded right for a main character". Furusato added that the name "Kouya" made him want to see the character "grow up big and strong".[1]
• Jirou Oriza (織座 ジロウ)
• Gear: Raging Bull ⇒ Raging Bullet
• A Gear Fighter and member of the Tobita Club, Jirou is a former baseball pitcher who likes to eat red-bean buns. He is Kouya's closest teammate and friend. Jirou also has a crush on the team's deputy owner, Lilika.
• Kyousuke Jin (迅 キョウスケ)
• Gear: Dino Spartan ⇒ Dino Phalanx
• A Gear Fighter and member of the Tobita Club, Kyousuke is known as a genius Gear Master, a mechanic with superior skills in tuning, maintaining and customizing Crush Gears. He was Kuroudo's former teammate in Team Griffon.
• Kuroudo Marume (丸目 クロウド)
• Gear: Shooting Mirage ⇒ Shooting Phantom
• A Gear Fighter and member of the Tobita Club, Kuroudo is a kendo swordsman with an excellent sense of hearing. He was Kyousuke's former teammate in Team Griffon.
• Furusato said that Kuroudo's name originates from a samurai in the Edo period.[1]
• Kaoru Hanano (華野 カオル)
• Kouya's childhood friend and the manager of the Tobita Club team, Kaoru often provides information about various Gear Fighters to her teammates.
• Takeshi Manganji (万願寺 タケシ)
• Gear: Gaiki
• The leader of the Manganji Club and Kouya's rival, Manganji is a powerful Gear Fighter who comes from a wealthy family that runs their own business company.
• Furusato described the name "Manganji" as having "an image of wealth" – He added that "Japanese people are suckers for names that end in "ji"! (laughs)"[1]
• Lilika Tobita (飛田 リリカ)
• A key member of the Tobita Club serving as the team's deputy owner, Lilika is managing the group alongside Kaoru and is watching over the members.

Recurring characters

• Yuhya Marino (真理野 ユウヤ)
• Gear: Garuda Eagle
• A genius Gear Fighter and Kouya's deceased older brother, Yuhya was the late former captain of the Tobita Club and former champion of the Asia Cup tournament. Four years prior to the start of the series, he was killed in an unfortunate accident just before the final match of the World Cup tournament. Yuhya often appears in flashbacks.
• Furusato said that Yuhya's name was decided on early in the production.[1]
• Marimo Marino (真理野 マリモ)
• Kouya and Yuhya's mother, who runs a café called La Mére du Marino.
• Tateo Marino (真理野 タテオ)
• Kouya and Yuhya's father and Marimo's husband.
• Gou Manganji (万願寺豪)
• Manganji's father, who is the president of the Manganji Group corporation.
• Shinnosuke Gomano (胡麻野シンノスケ)
• Manganji's loyal sidekick and a member of the Manganji Club.
• Daikichi Momita (揉田ダイキチ)
• Manganji's loyal sidekick and a member of the Manganji Club.
• Nobiru Koike (小池ノビル)
• Gear: Thunder Horn
• A Gear Fighter and member of the Central Club, a team consisting of Gear Fighters from central Japan.
• Chota Aida (相田チョータ)
• Gear: Hammer Willow
• A Gear Fighter and member of the Central Club team.
• Futoshi Harano (原野フトシ)
• Gear: Shellnite
• A Gear Fighter and member of the Central Club team.
• Fuuko Nagidori (凪鳥フウコ)
• Shingo's younger sister and Kouya's classmate.
• Shingo Nagidori (凪鳥シンゴ)
• Gear: Winning Dagger
• A Gear Fighter and former member of the Tobita Club during Yuhya's generation, and Fuuko's older brother.
• Burning Octopus (バーニングオクトパス)
• Gear: Tentakol
• A team of mischievous Gear Fighters from the Kansai region, consisting of quadruplet brothers Tarou Takoyama (多古山太郎), Jirou Takoyama (多古山次郎), Saburou Takoyama (多古山三郎), and Shirou Takoyama (多古山四郎).
• Eddie Kobayashi (エディ小林)
• Gear: Break Nine
• A snooker player and underground Gear Fighter who is a member of the Mighty Gears, a team by the Manganji Club consisting of Gear Fighters exceling in their own field in sports. Eddie is Kuroudo's rival.
• Taki Hiroomi (滝ヒロオミ)
• Gear: Aero Rider
• A skateboarder and one of the Gear Fighters of the Mighty Gears team. Taki is Jirou's best friend and former baseball catcher.
• Kishin Ōkawa (大川キシン)
• Gear: Hishōkaku
• An intelligent shogi (chess) player and one of the Gear Fighters of the Mighty Gears team. Kishin is Kyousuke's arch-nemesis.
• Satoru Todoroki (轟サトル)
• Gear: Mach Turbo
• A GPX kart racer and one of the Gear Fighters of the Mighty Gears team.
• Ichidou Takekura (武蔵一道)
• A kendo master from Hokkaido.
• Mitsuki Ohmori (大森 ミツキ)
• Gear: Griffon Nova
• A Gear Fighter and the captain of Team Griffon, who is a former teammate of Kuroudo and Kyousuke.
• Kazuya Shishigawa (獅子川カズヤ)
• Gear: Hard Stag
• A Gear Fighter and member of Team Griffon.
• Hiroshi Washida (鷲田ヒロシ)
• Gear: Hard Beat
• A Gear Fighter and member of Team Griffon.
• Sougen Manganji (万願寺宗玄)
• Manganji's grandfather, who is a renowned calligrapher.
• Kurosaki (黒崎)
• Manganji's trusted bodyguard.
• Wang Hu (王虎)
• Gear: Tigeraid
• A cheerful, outgoing Gear Fighter and member of the Si Xing Hu Tuan, a team consisting of Chinese Gear Fighters. Wang Hu is Kouya's close friend and rival.
• Lan Fang (蘭芳)
• Gear: Tiger Flare
• A Gear Fighter and the only female member of the Si Xing Hu Tuan team, Lan Fang is Wang Hu's adoptive older sister and Kyousuke's love interest.
• Ma Liang (馬良)
• Gear: Tiger Commander
• A Gear Fighter and the captain of the Si Xing Hu Tuan team.
• Li Chun (李春)
• Gear: Tiger Force
• A Gear Fighter and member of the Si Xing Hu Tuan team.
• Ming Wu (明呉)
• The antagonistic coach of the Si Xing Hu Tuan team and Wang Hu's adoptive father, Ming Wu is ambitious, radical, and manipulative.
• Dan Midou (御堂 ダン)
• Gear: Gougetsu Reishiki
• A Gear Fighter and member of the Manganji Dreams, an elite team by the Manganji Club consisting of gifted Gear Fighters with special training from the Manganji Laboratory.
• Rai Shinomiya (篠宮 ライ)
• Gear: Sougetsu
• A Gear Fighter and member of the Manganji Dreams team, who is Rin's twin brother.
• Rin Shinomiya (篠宮 リン)
• Gear: Shigetsu
• A Gear Fighter and member of the Manganji Dreams team, who is Rai's twin sister.
• Brad Fincher (ブラッド・フィンチャー)
• Gear: Stealth Jiraiya
• A young Hollywood movie star and the arrogant Gear Fighter of the Star Brad team, who becomes Jirou's arch-nemesis.
• Alex Borg (アレックス・ボーグ)
• Gear: Beo Fenrer
• A Gear Fighter and former member of the Tobita Club during Yuhya's generation, and Jirou's mentor and old friend. Alex is also a Gear Master (mechanic) who was responsible for creating Garuda Eagle and Raging Bull.
• Gallen Connellheim (ガレン・コンネルヘイム)
• Gear: Grifeed
• A Gear Fighter and the captain of the Euro Griffon team, Gallen is a strict coach whose training methods pushes the team members too hard.
• Gina Firestein (ジーナ・ファイアスティン)
• The chairwoman of the Gear Fight Association (GFA).
• Carlos Ferrein (カルロス・フェラン) / U-YA (ユーヤ)
• Gear: Black Garuda Eagle
• A mysterious Gear Fighter and member of Quo Vadis, a team consisting of Brazilian Gear Fighters. Carlos is the boy who was saved by Yuhya Marino before his death four years ago.
• Takaya Tobita (飛田 タカヤ)
• The coach of Quo Vadis team and Lilika's father. He was originally the founder and former coach of the Tobita Club during Yuhya's generation.
• Shane Firestein (シェーン・ファイアスティン)
• A 22-year-old Gear Master (mechanic) who befriended Kouya in San Francisco, and Kane's mentor. Unbeknownst to everyone else, Shane is Gina Firestein's older brother and the legendary Gear God.
• Crusher Kane (クラッシャー・ケイン)
• Gear: Vort Grenade
• A Gear Fighter who participated in Gear Pancratium, an illegal underground competition that shows the destruction of Crush Gears in battle.
• Heinrich Gang (ハインリッヒ・ガンク)
• Gear: Blitz Vogel
• A gifted Gear Fighter and former champion of the Europe Cup tournament, Heinrich was a former member of the Weiss Ritters, a team consisting of German Gear Fighters. Four years prior to the start of the series, he quit from Gear Fighting after his rival Yuhya Marino died in the day of the World Cup finals match.

Other characters

• Taikan Mizumori (水守 タイカン)
• The owner of a kendo dojo where Kuroudo attends.
• Ryouichi Ebata (江畑リョウイチ)
• Gear: Wild Stag
• An arrogant member of the Manganji Club.
• Q (キュー)
• A chimpanzee at the zoo where the father of Nagidori siblings works. Q knows how to play Gear Fighting.
• Kouji Hanano (花野コウジ)
• Kaoru's uncle, who lives in Hokkaido.
• God Voice (ゴッドボイス)
• The host of the Illusion Cup tournament.
• Taka Shibuya (渋谷タカ)
• Gear: Dorikin
• A Gear Fighter and member of Club 4649 (Yoroshiku).
• Momo Yamanoki (山野木モモ)
• Gear: Cuty Tiger
• A Gear Fighter and the captain of Pink Lips, an all-female team.
• Koume Aida (愛田コウメ)
• Gear: Cuty Zebra
• A Gear Fighter and member of the Pink Lips team.
• Crush Mary (クラッシュ・メェリー)
• A female Crush Gear sportscaster.
• GFA-kun (ジーファくん)
• The official mascot of the Gear Fight Association (GFA).
• Kim Yong-dae (金 龍大)
• Gear: Assault Panzer
• A South Korean Gear Fighter and member of Team Kim, who is Yong-sun's younger brother.
• Kim Yong-sun (金 龍乗)
• The coach of Team Kim and Yong-dae's older brother. Four years prior to the start of the series, Yong-sun was the opponent of Yuhya Marino in the finals of the Asia Cup tournament for 23 rounds.
• Tomba Giriran (トンバ・ギリラン)
• Gear: Tradisi
• A Singaporean Gear Fighter and member of Team Kemenangan.
• Lennard Firestein (レナード・ファイアステイン)
• The founder and former chairman of the Gear Fight Association (GFA), who is Shane and Gina's father.
• Steve Douglas (スティーブ・ダグラス)
• A member of the Star Brad team and Brad's friend.
• Crush Gordon (クラッシュ・ゴードン)
• The host of the Crush Gear World Cup tournament.
• Alberto Schweiger (アルベルト・シュバイガー)
• Gear: Ein Horn
• A Gear Fighter and member of the Weiss Ritters team.
• Ralf Wenders (ラルフ・ヴェンダース)
• Gear: Jagd Horn
• A Gear Fighter and member of the Weiss Ritters team.
• Rudolf Steiner (ルドルフ・シュタイナー)
• Gear: Kugel Geist
• A Gear Fighter and member of the Weiss Ritters team, who is Michael's older brother.
• Michael Steiner (ミハエル・シュタイナー)
• Gear: Sturm Winkel
• A Gear Fighter and member of the Weiss Ritters team, who is Rudolf's younger brother.
• Mohamed Ramzy (モハメド・ラムジー)
• Gear: King Pharaon
• An Egyptian Gear Fighter and member of the Heliopolis team.
• God Mama (ゴッドママ)
• The host of the illegal Gear Pancratium competition.
• Richard Firestein (リチャード・ファイアステイン)
• An old mechanic who lives in the woods of Black Forest with a pet dog called Zeus. Richard is Shane and Gina's grandfather.
• Nina Maier (ニナ・マイヤー)
• Heinrich's personal maid.

Film-only characters

• Jake Groundstein (ジェイク・グランドシュタイン) / Gear Emperor (ギア・エンペラー)
• Gear: Kaiservern
• Manganji's old friend and the son of the president of the Groundstein Group, a rival company of the Manganji Group. Jake is responsible for stealing the Kaiservern, the first Crush Gear created in the world.
• Gear God (ギアゴッド)
• A mysterious man at the GFA headquarters who holds a golden front weapon, Goldblade.

Anime

''Gekitou! Crush Gear Turbo'', directed by Shūji Iuchi and produced by Sunrise's internal "Studio 10" division alongside Tokyu Agency, premiered in Japan on October 7, 2001, and concluded on January 26, 2003, after 68 episodes on Nagoya TV and TV Asahi. Atsuo Tobe is the character designer for the anime series, with Shinji Aramaki, Susumu Imaishi and Mitsuru Owa as the mechanical art designers. The musical score is composed by Kenichi Sudo and Yogo Kono. The series features two pieces of theme music and one insert song, all performed by JAM Project: the opening theme is "Crush Gear Fight!!", and the ending theme is "Ai dayone!! -Gear wo Tsunagou-" (愛だよねっ!! ～ギアをつなごう～), while the insert theme is "Kaze no Eagle" (風のEAGLE) featuring Hironobu Kageyama. A Filipino dub of the series premiered on ABS-CBN in the Philippines on April 21, 2003.

Film

Crush Gear Turbo the Movie: Kaiservern's Ultimate Challenge (激闘！クラッシュギアTURBO カイザバーンの挑戦) is a 20-minute short film that was released in Japan on July 20, 2002, as part of Toei Animation Summer 2002 Animation Fair.[3] In this movie, Kouya and Manganji team up against a Gear Emperor who is controlling the world's first gear, Kaiservern. JAM Project performed two pieces of theme music: the insert song is "Get Up Crush Fighter!", and the ending theme is "Alright now! (Movie Re-mix ver.)" featuring Rika Matsumoto.

Manga

The manga adaptation is illustrated by Hisashi Matsumoto. The manga version featured original elements and unique developments, and the Gear Fighting is slightly more realistic than in the anime. It was serialized in Kodansha's magazine, Comic BomBom from October 2001 to January 2003, and released in tankōbon (book) format in four volumes from February 2002 to March 2003. The manga also included three bonus chapters.

The English-language version was licensed in Singapore by Chuang Yi.

Volume list

Video games

Two video games have been produced based on the series, both published by Bandai and released only in Japan. The PlayStation version of ''Gekitou! Crush Gear Turbo'' was first released on July 25, 2002. ''Gekitou! Crush Gear Turbo: Gear Champion League'' was released for WonderSwan Color on August 10, 2002.

DVD release

In Australia, the English dub of Crush Gear Turbo was released by Magna Pacific. Volumes one and two of the series were released on July 1, 2004;[8][9] volumes three and four were released on September 8, 2004;[10][11] volume five was released on October 6, 2004;[12] volume six was released on November 10, 2004;[13] and volume seven was released on January 19, 2005.[14]