Hikarian (ヒカリアン), also called Hikarian: Great Railroad Protector, is a Japanese anime and toy franchise by Tomy.
Hikarian | |
ヒカリアン | |
---|---|
Genre | Mecha, Superhero |
Original video animation | |
Directed by | Hiroyuki Fukushima Chikae Kuwahara |
Produced by | Iori Suzuki |
Written by | Hiroyuki Fukushima |
Music by | Takumi Kusanagi |
Studio | Artmic |
Released | 1996 |
Episodes | 3 |
Anime television series | |
Super Express Hikarian | |
Directed by | Shuichi Kazuyuki Hirokawa Yoshikata Nitta |
Produced by | Tomy Iori Suzuki |
Written by | Toshiki Inoue Hideki Shirane |
Music by | Yuzo Hayashi |
Studio | Tokyo Kids |
Original network | TV Tokyo |
Original run | April 2, 1997 – March 29, 2000 |
Episodes | 156 |
Anime television series | |
Ultra Radiant Express Hikarian | |
Directed by | Hideaki Ōba |
Produced by | Tomy Iori Suzuki |
Written by | Toshiki Inoue |
Music by | Yuzo Hayashi |
Studio | Tokyo Kids |
Licensed by | |
Original network | TV Tokyo |
Original run | April 7, 2002 – March 30, 2003 |
Episodes | 52 |
The first television series, Chō Tokkyū Hikarian (超特急ヒカリアン, lit. "Super Express Hikarian"), is about a series of bullet trains that are turned into robots. The robots, along with two humans named Tetsuyuki Shinbashi (新橋 テツユキ Shinbashi Tetsuyuki) and Minayo Kanda (神田 ミナヨ Kanda Minayo), have to stop an alien invasion.
A second television series, Denkō Chō Tokkyū Hikarian (電光超特急ヒカリアン, lit. "Ultra Radiant Express Hikarian"), was later created. The new series stars a new Hikarian, Lightning West, and a new human lead, Kenta Hijiribashi (聖橋 ケンタ Hijiribashi Kenta).
Enoki Films has licensed the series for an English release. The company has suggested name changes (e.g. Tetsuyuki becomes Terry and Minayo becomes Mina),[1] but the series is not yet[when?] available in English, and Enoki may sublicense the series to another company who may decide to keep the original Japanese names, use Enoki's suggested English names, or use original English names.
Characters
The main characters in Hikarian are the Hikarians who fight against the Blatcher gang and their plan operation Darkness. All of the characters, except the Black Express, are based on real life trains. The series depicts them operating as normal trains during times of peace.
Hikarians
- Nozomi: The most dynamic hero of the entire Hikarian members. He is full of fighting spirit. He uses a shield and sword.
- Tsubasa: He is very sharp and agile even in narrow places or on highlands.
- Max: The biggest Hikarian. He has strong muscles and uses a huge hammer.
- Hikari: The Captain of Hikarians. Always resourceful and calm.
- Windash: She is a test car called "Win 350." She possesses the power to see the future.
- E2 Jet: He flies at tremendous speed. He scrambles to rescue friends like fighter planes. He uses turbine lasers that pack a punch.
- Police-Win: Patrol Train of the Railroad Police. He uses a laser that helps him in sticky situations.
- Fire N'ex: Fire Engine of the Railroad.
- Sniper Sonic: Defense Force of railroad. He has a big cannon.
- Dr. 300X: A test car. He is a very intelligent scientist and invents special cars.
- Nankai Lapito: A ninja Hikarian. He uses a ninja sword with a shuriken shield. His attacks are super fast and ninja style.
- Azusa: The rescue car of the railroad.
- Lighting West: A most advanced super express. She runs on rails at the highest speed in the world. The wing sensor on her back gives her the power to search the time tunnel. Main character of the second series. Can combine with Sky Garuda to form Lightning Garuda.
- Doctor Yellow: An engineer of Hikarian Headquarters. He assists Dr. 300X.
- E3 Racer: Unlike other Hikarians he has got wheels on feet. E2 Jet's friend.
- E4 Power: Max's friend. Loves to clean with his broom used also as weapon.
- Yamabiko
- K-kun: Youngest of the Hikarians.
- Kodama: Oldest of the Hikarians.
- STAR21: Experimental engineer
- Seven
- Eurostar Blue Euro: Eurostar only appears in the series twice. After one fight, he is so badly damaged that he has to undergo a treatment that will eventually become the Blue Euro. (The treatment was in the background so only the creators knew how it was).
- Hitachi Brothers: There are four in total.
- Odakyū Romancecar
- Skyliner
- Rescue: American Hikarian Road Fire Engine.
- Hikarian X/Shadow X: Combines with Sphinx and Nazca to form God X.
Humans
- Tetsuyuki Shinbashi (新橋 テツユキ Shinbashi Tetsuyuki) / Terry : Friends with the Hikarians and a lover of trains.
- Minayo Kanda (神田 ミナヨ Kanda Minayo) / Mina : Terry's girlfriend.
Blatcher Gang
- Black Express: The boss of the Blatcher Gang. He uses an electric maces and most times hides in black smoke.
- Dozilas: The henchmen of Black Express. They have a mild heart and like to play with children.
- Wookary: A careless and daydreaming guy.
- Silver Express Mastermind of the Blatcher Gang.
- Smoke Jo: The gigantic locomotive made by the Blatchers. When it passes by, everything will turn totally black.
- Baron Euro
- Star: Black Express' daughter (probably)
- Ukkari: The Streamlined locomotive that does the budget cuts.
Chinese CGI knockoff
In January 2011, it was announced Pat Lee would be working with Carloon Animation to create a CGI cartoon about trains called Train Hero (高铁侠).[2] In July 2011, Chinese viewers of previews were shocked that it was a shot-for-shot knockoff of Hikarian.[3][4] After Pat Lee was sued by TV Tokyo & Takara Tomy when they found out about the cartoon being a rip-off of Hikarian[citation needed], Pat Lee created a revised version called Train Heroes (トレインヒーロー) which began airing in Japan in April 2013.[5]
References
- ^ "Hikarian". Enoki Films USA. 2006-04-17. Archived from the original on 2006-04-17. Retrieved 2019-08-25.
Terry (Tetsuyuki): A train mania. [sic] He is a good friend of the Hikarians
Mina (Minayo): Terryıs [sic] girl [sic] friend. - ^ "TV Tokyo, Pat Lee, China's Carloon Make Train Hero Show - Interest". Anime News Network. 2011-01-28. Retrieved 2014-06-26.
- ^ "Chinese Show's Similarities With Hikarian Anime Identified - Interest". Anime News Network. 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2014-06-26.
- ^ celeron533. "同步率爆表《高铁侠》—在线播放—优酷网,视频高清在线观看". V.youku.com. Retrieved 2014-06-26.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "あにてれ:トレインヒーロー 再始動!". Tv-tokyo.co.jp. Retrieved 2014-06-26.
External links
- Toho Amusement Park Hikarian website
- Hikarian (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Hikarian at the Wayback Machine (archive index) - Enoki Films USA