Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion

Shinkalion THE ANIMATION

Several incidents of monster attacks from a mysterious group named Kitoralsus appeared suddenly in Japan after the appearance of the mysterious Black Shinkansen. In response, a secret organization called Shinkansen Ultra Evolution Institute was established in order to investigate the Black Shinkansen and its relations to the attacks using Shinkalions, bullet trains that turn into giant robots. However one day, Hayato Hayasugi, a young grade schooler who is a big railfan due to his father being a member of staff at the Railway Museum, accidentally got involved in the recent attack by the monsters and discovered his father's secret working with the Shinkansen Ultra Evolution Institute. Hayato shows a surprising amount of aptitude as a Shinkalion driver, based on him using a training application on his father's tablet that he mistook for a mobile game. Despite initial concerns from the adult members of the organization about having children as drivers, Hayato joins several other kids in using Shinkalions to willingly fight against the threat of the Kitoralsus.

Anime film

About half a year after the defeat of the Kitoralsus, giant monstrous beings suddenly appear from space led by both Nahane and Ohanefu, and are planning to take over the Earth. During these attacks, the Shinkansen Ultra Evolution Institute has been busy developing a new prototype unit - the Shinkalion ALFA-X. Suddenly, a 9-year old Hokuto appears from across time and space. Having no choice, the Shinkansen Ultra Evolution Institute appointed the young Hokuto to become the driver of the Shinkalion ALFA-X and bringing in the teams from all the branches across Japan as the last line of defense against the invaders threatening the planet.

Shinkalion Z

In preparation for the attack of new enemies, the Ultra Evolution Institute is developing a new type of robot called "Shinkalion Z" as well as new armed enhancement rolling stocks known as "Zailiners" that transform from conventional trains to power up the "Shinkalion Z". The children who became the drivers of "Shinkalion Z" with a high compatible rate will work together with the institute staff members to confront the giant monstrous beings that reappeared! The emergence of unknown enemies- And the encounter of two boys.

Shinkalion: Change The World

10 years ago, mysterious mechanical entities called UNKNOWN has been terrorizing all over Japan. To combat the threat of these invaders, the organization known as the Evolution Railway Development Agency or ERDA was formed using specialized combat train robots called Shinkalions. Though the fight against them has subsided, the organization continued to develop the Shinkalions and secretly made preparations for the return of the UNKNOWN.

Years later, Taisei Ōnari, a Junior High School student, attended the Shinkai Academy to find any clues on his older sister, Ina Ōnari's disappearance several years ago. He met up with Ryota Kuzuryu in class, inviting him to join the school's Railway Club and used the Metaverse simulator for the first time, which is being managed by ERDA's current leader Kadomichi Takanawa. Seeing Taisei has a very high Aptitude Rate, the UNKNOWN suddenly appeared after its last appearance and started to attack the city as he asked Taisei to become a Shinkalion driver due to his high Aptitude Rate than the other candidates. Despite being hesitant, he decided to become one after remembering some encouraging words from his missing sister, boarding inside the Shinkalion E5 Hayabusa to fight against the UNKNOWN and defeating it. He joined ERDA after the battle after finding out that his missing sister was an ERDA engineer.

Merchandise

The original Shinkalion toy franchise was released as a spin-off of the Plarail franchise on March 16, 2015. The original toys released resemble regular Shinkansen trains complete with a front train, middle carriage and back train and that are compatible with any Plarail track. But the three components can transform and combine into a robot that is 18 inches in height and each figure comes with its own weapon and accessories. Also, each figure can also swap parts for added playability.

Within each year, new figures were officially released, especially during the Anime's run. The 2018 line also redesigned many existing models to look more like the animated designs and the real world shinkansen type, though the primary exceptions were the Black Shinkalion models, which were created from scratch-made designs drawn up specifically for the anime. Many of the models are the front and rear trains combined as the upper and lower robot half, with the middle carriage storing the weapons for the resulting robot. The toyline for the Z anime features additional train models that form enhanced replacement limbs and weapons. Unlike the Shinkalions, these models were based on conventional trains. The Change the World line focuses more on combination gimmicks than the last two lines, with weaponry based on non-rail vehicles.

Other merchandise of the series were also released in the form of keychains and novelties. Good Smile Company also released model kits of the mechas of the series under the Moderoid line of scale models, starting with the Shinkalion E5 Hayabusa in February 2019. A Nendoroid figure of Hatsune Miku, done in the style depicted in the anime series, was released in August 2019.