Kaen
From Transformers Wiki
- Kaen is an Autobot Trainbot from the Generation 1 continuity family.
He's the strongest of the Trainbots, and Kaen (カエン) is extremely proud of this fact. He's got the punch, and he can really bring on the heat, literally. This sometimes puts him at odds with his cold-loving teammate Yukikaze, especially since they have to physically link together when they form Raiden.
Contents |
Fiction
Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity
Generations toy bios
The Trainbots were constructed on Earth, in Japan. Their creation was a collaboration by several Japanese companies utilizing technology developed in the Binaltech Project. Generations Shouki bio
Ask Vector Prime
The Trainbots were built in the Raiden Initiative by a team of Japanese scientists. Doctor Ōnishi chose to name the DE 10 diesel locomotive, given his love of vintage trains. The name "Kaen" was chosen to symbolize the flame that would burn brightly for Japan and all mankind. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/27
Train Wars (1)
MPG toy bios (1)
The Trainbots joined the Autobots in 2011. They were appointed the Autobot transport team, inheriting the role from Omega Supreme and Sky Lynx after the duo retired for a life of space exploration. MPG Shouki bio
The Headmasters cartoon
- Voice actor: Masaharu Satō (Japanese)
In 2011, Kaen and the Trainbots were operating on Earth. After Galvatron invaded Cybertron, the robot trains assembled to transport their fellow Autobots to Cybertron across the space bridge. Shōki intervened on Ultra Magnus's first fight with Sixshot, knocking aside the ninja consultant long enough for the Autobots to roll out. The convoy was attacked along the way by the Constructicons, but Metroplex drove them off. Four Warriors Come out of the Sky The Trainbots formed Raiden and fought alongside Defensor and Superion against their Decepticon combiner counterparts. They were nearly crushed by falling debris when Bruticus collapsed a building on them using his sonic stun gun. The Mystery of Planet Master Kaen and the Trainbots returned to Earth just in time to shuttle Hot Rod and the Headmasters back to Cybertron, after their successful quest for the Matrix of Leadership. Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime In their train mode, Kaen and the Trainbots transported Rodimus Prime and the Monsterbots to planet Beast as reinforcements for the Headmasters. Rebellion on Planet Beast They also carried him into battle again on the planet Praum, where Scorponok had set a trap for Fortress and his team. The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery
Back on Earth, Kaen and the Trainbots took Danny and Wheelie on a sightseeing trip in Tokyo, Japan. When Sixshot a mysterious robot declared his intention to steal all of Japan's energy, Kaen and the Trainbots remained quietly alert, confident their combination form could handle any threat to their homeland. Their passive response to the danger angered the more action-oriented Headmaster team, especially Chromedome. After fruitlessly chasing behind the bandit in attacks on London and New York, Chromedome was incensed when he arrived back at Autobot headquarters to see Kaen and the Trainbots returning from a shopping spree with Danny. Shōki and Chromedome nearly came to blows with each other before Danny intervened.
When the robot finally made his attack on Japan, Shōki demanded that his team be allowed the first strike against their opponent. Flying to the rescue, Kaen and the Trainbots assembled as Raiden to fight Sixshot. Raiden's victory was prevented by the arrival of Trypticon, piloted by Scourge and Cyclonus. It turned into an all-out brawl after that, with the Headmasters arriving as reinforcements for their comrades. Sixshot was revealed, and he used his ninja training seemingly to duplicate himself, attacking Raiden as several winged wolves. As a demonstration of their newfound trust in each other, Raiden urged Chromedome to shoot at the holographic Sixshots swarming around him, knowing he would certainly be hit by some of the blasts. The Decepticons were eventually driven off and Shōki and Chromedome shook hands back at headquarters, having forged a warrior's bond on the field of battle. Terror! The Six Shadows
Galvatron soon struck out against Cybertron again, this time seeking the new super-metal known as Cybertonuron. Kaen and the Trainbots were first in line on Earth to transport over the Space Bridge into combat with the Decepticons. They rushed straight into the fighting as soon as they arrived. Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1 Kaen and the Trainbots confronted the Predacons in defense of their home planet. The battle was fierce but brief, as the Trainbots disabled their opponents. Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2
Kaen and the Trainbots defended the Sol 1 satellite during its launch cycle. When Scourge, Cyclonus and the Predacons arrived to steal the satellite, they flew out with the Headmasters to stop them. Shōki gave the command and the Trainbots assembled to form Raiden, grappling with Predaking and ultimately chasing off the Decepticons. The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok Next, Kaen's team joined the Protectobots on an emergency rescue mission to Peru, where an active volcano was threatening a small town. They were intercepted by the Predacons, and so Shōki asked Hot Spot to go on ahead and help the villagers while the Trainbots occupied the Preds. Kaen spoke loudly about the bravery and virtues of the Trainbots while caving Tantrum's head in. Soon, Raiden and Predaking were formed, and the battle was really joined. The Headmasters soon arrived and tagged out the Trainbots, allowing Kaen and his friends to journey to the village and escort the people to safety in their combined train mode. The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts In their next evil scheme, the Decepticons unleashed a giant carnivorous plant in downtown San Francisco, prompting the Autobots to respond. Kaen and the Trainbots arrived on the scene, but were confronted by Bruticus, who wished to duel with sabers made of light. The Trainbots formed Raiden and met Bruticus sword for sword. Head On!! Fortress Maximus
On a geological expedition to Mars with Danny and Spike, Kaen and the Trainbots were present when a series of tremors rocked the landscape. Seeking to investigate, the group split up to locate the source of the phenomena. Kaen and his teammates ran into the Predacons, and soon they learned of a plot to blow up Mars. Passing off the investigation to Chromedome and the Headmasters, Kaen and the Trainbots flew back to Athenia in order to take Spike and Danny to safety. Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger They were almost immediately called back, however — the Decepticon Headmasters had used plasma energy to neutralize Fortress Maximus, leaving the Autobots on Mars in desperate need of reinforcements. Kaen and the trains reformed Raiden as they arrived, and fought against Abominus and the MegaZarak Transtector, scorpion mode. Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears
Kaen and the Trainbots served as military transportation for the Autobots when they attacked the Decepticon meeting on the moon. The strike was foiled by the arrival of Galvatron, and the Autobots fled back to Earth aboard the trains. Return of the Immortal Emperor Kaen and his teammates were next used for a relief mission. The planet Sandra was in desperate need of energon, and Ultra Magnus coordinated the Autobots of Earth in gathering some of their energon reserves aboard the Trainbots. Galvatron and the Decepticons wanted the energy for themselves, however, and interfered with the relief aid. Kaen and the Trainbots took off twice for Sandra, and they were twice shot down by the Decepticons before they could leave atmosphere. Unable to take off, Kaen instead ended up serving as cover for the Technobots as they fired back on the Decepticons. The Autobots of Earth finally gave up, sending energy reserves from Athenia instead. SOS from Planet Sandra Kaen and the Trainbots also ferried the Witwickys and Headmasters to the mutual benefits talk with Galvatron. When the discussions went sour, they helped the Headmasters defeat the Horrorcons and make it to safety. Daniel Faces His Biggest Crisis Ever!!
After the talks failed, the Decepticons fled into space aboard Scorponok, planning to raid other planets in the universe for their energy. The Trainbots were part of a task force Fortress assembled to chase after their nefarious foes. After reaching the Twin Star planets, Kaen and the Trainbots ferried Brainstorm and Arcee down to the barren world of Toruin. They then transformed into Raiden and flew to the sister planet, Sperity, to battle the Decepticon invaders. Battle for Defense of the False Planet On Daros, Kaen and the Trainbots transported the rescued prisoners from the northern hemisphere to safety. Find MegaZarak's Weak Spot!! They also appeared on Paradise, escorting Highbrow on his scouting mission and later flying the Technobots and Monsterbots into battle. Head Formation of Friendship On Pirate Planet, Kaen and the Trainbots defended the pirates' pyramid from Galvatron, so that Highbrow and the Autobot Clones could unlock its secrets first. Mystery of the Space Pirate Ship
After returning to Earth, Kaen and the Trainbots re-entered Ultra Magnus's command at Autobot City. They were summoned to transport the Technobots to Miami, where an Autobot energy facility was under attack by the Decepticons. Kaen and his partners returned to Autobot City once it was attacked by Sixshot and Trypticon. They tried to enter the battle, assembling as Raiden, but were waylaid by Apeface and Snapdragon, who kept them busy long enough for Sixshot to murder Ultra Magnus on the battlefield. In the aftermath, Kaen and his comrades attended Magnus's funeral. Ultra Magnus Dies!! When Spike and Chromedome needed to get to Earth for the volcano summit, Kaen and the trains popped over to Athenia to give them a ride. They later defended the Kamchatka Peninsula from Scorponok's attack. I Risk My Life for Earth After the Decepticons seemingly abandoned Earth, Kaen and the Trainbots assisted Spike in rebuilding the planet after the enemy's departure. On one occasion, they located Sixshot's old command base. By combining into Raiden, the Trainbots helped Defensor and Computron obliterate the base, wiping out all trace of the Decepticons' presence. Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)
After Wheelie was kidnapped by the Decepticons and ransomed for the secrets of the Master Sword, Kaen and the Trainbots flew Chromedome and Danny in close to the MegaZarak base for a rescue attempt. The Master Sword Is in Danger!! When Danny went missing in a space vortex, Kaen's team joined the Targetmasters in searching for him. My Friend Sixshot! They also transported the Headmasters to the Pallas asteroid in order to battle the Decepticons. Duel on the Asteroid
Upon returning to Earth, Kaen and the Trainbots ferried Danny and the Headmasters to the Andes Mountains for a rescue mission, after Spike and Carly crashed their jet in the treacherous terrain. The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1) As part of Raiden, Kaen participated in the Autobots final battle with Scorponok's Decepticons at the North Pole. He lent his energies to the Headmasters' Head Formation to revitalize Fortress Maximus at the critical moment. The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)
MPG toy bios (2)
The destruction of the space bridge network left the Trainbots pivotal to the Autobots' transportation infrastructure, and they remained a frequent sight on Earth long after the Headmasters and the rest of the Autobot forces departed. MPG Shouki bio
Super-God Masterforce Master File
Following the expulsion of the Decepticons from Earth after the battle at the North Pole, the Transformers' war shifted into a series of space-based exchanges between Athenia and Chaar known as the Master Wars. During this time, the Trainbots discovered that Scorponok had constructed a new transtector for himself, and reported the news to Fortress. The Headmasters Now!!
Train Wars (2)
The Trainbots were heavily injured fighting the Nine Great Demon Generals in the form of Raiden, leaving them requiring extensive repairs. Blaming himself for their condition, Shouki left the team so that his leadership would never endanger them again. Train Wars: Shouki & Daniel Chapter
Later, just as all seemed lost for the ragtag band of Transformers left to defend Cybertron from the interdimensional incursion of the Fallen, Kaen and the other Trainbots arrived astride Metroplex, bringing with them the Liner Team and the Train Team! With that, on Windy's count all three teams of train 'bots combined into one massive coupling to chain the Fallen, giving Shouki and company time to vanquish the dark god by funneling Metroplex's power through Shouki's new "Raiden" cannon mode. The battle over, the Trainbots shared a tender moment as their old friend Daniel Witwicky reminded Shouki they were all his partners. Train Wars 2
TV Magazine comic continuity
The Headmasters manga
Responding to a distress call from their Beastformer allies on the planet Beast, Kaen and the Trainbots hurtled through the atmosphere in their separate train modes to deal with the Decepticons menacing the planet. Combining in mid-air, the united team allowed gravity to do the rest of the work as Raiden delivered a shattering "JR Kick" straight to Predaking's face, taking him out of the fight. The day won, Chromedome directed the Trainbots to shuttle the any of the Beastformers' wounded back to the Autobot base on Athenia for treatment. The Decisive Battle of Planet Beast!
Back on Earth, Kaen and his team wowed Daniel with their amphibious talents as they transported him and the Autobot Headmasters on a mission to investigate reports of massive squids attacking the Autobots' undersea bases. The Decepticons were laying in ambush and unleashed the culprit, a giant robot squid! The Trainbots allowed themselves to be entangled by the mechanical mollusk, biding their time until Daniel was safe inside his exosuit and the Headmasters' remotely piloted transtectors converged on their location. When the time was right, the Trainbots erupted into their robot modes, catapulting their passengers to safety and shredding several of creatures' tentacles in the process. As the Headmasters did their part by tying the creature into one massive knot, the Trainbots made a show of it by erupting from the ocean as Raiden to swing the swing the automaton architeuthis like a mace, flattening the other Decepticons and ending the aquatic menace. The Headmasters #3
When Christmas rolled around, Kaen and co got into the spirit of the season when they joined the Autobot Headmasters in handing out gifts at a Japanese children's hospital, even going so far as to procure an enormous Santa hat to don as Raiden and carry a huge sack. The merriment was soon interrupted by the arrival of the Decepticon Headmasters, but rather than join the battle, the Trainbots followed Chromedome's instruction to disengage, decombining and flying the hospital's patients to safety in their respective train modes.The Headmasters #6
The Headmasters story pages
Upon their arrival to Athenia, the Targetmasters set out to make themselves useful by offering their expertise to Fortress's existing troops. While the Trainbots could assume their train modes in a flash, when it came time to combine into Raiden, the big guy failed to live up to his name. Kaen and his team began taking speed transformation lessons from the Autobots' new resident "Speed Coach", Pointblank, to get their super mode formation up to snuff. The Headmasters story pages
Super-God Masterforce comic
Several years after the Decepticons' expulsion from Earth following the final battle at the North Pole, the Trainbots were dispatched to pick up the new Autobot Masterforce that had risen to prominence on Earth, and bring them to Athenia so Fortress could transfer his position of Supreme Commander to their leader, Ginrai. Naturally, the Decepticons attacked Athenia during Ginrai's stay, and the Trainbots formed Raiden to fight back, only for him to wind up being cut down alongside Chromedome by a powerful blast from the combined Decepticon Scramble 7. The quick thinking of Ginrai and the other Godmasters managed to repel the Decepticons with a combination attack, and a battered Raiden survived to fight another day. The Battle Begins! The Earth-Space Alliance Army
Super-God Masterforce intro
The Trainbots soared majestically through the sky in their combined train mode alongside Ginrai's base mode. Masterforce title sequence
Dreamwave Generation One continuity
Kaen was part of a big crowd of unhappy Cybertronians who made Prowl look really stupid when he tried to make a speech assuring them that everything would be okay after the collapse of Shockwave's supposedly benevolent rule. Skyfire
Transformers Go! Go!
Games
The Transformers (PS2)
Toys
Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers
- Kaen (Trainbot, 1987)
- ID number: C-130
- Accessories: "Power laser" pistol, 3 "joint parts" connectors, left & right "wing lasers"
- Known designers: Kōjin Ōno (TakaraTomy)
- Kaen transforms into a DE10 diesel locomotive. He also forms the lower torso and head of the team's combined mode Raiden.
- Raiden (Gift set, 1987)
- ID number: C-131
- Accessories: "Power laser" pistol, 3 "joint parts" connectors, left & right "wing lasers"
- The entire Trainbot team was sold both as individuals and in a six-bot Raiden gift-set. The box-set versions are identical to their individual releases.
- Kaen (Trainbot, 1990)
- ID number: C-359
- Accessories: "Power laser" pistol, 3 "joint parts" connectors, left & right "wing lasers"
- The Trainbots were re-released during Zone in new packaging, and only as individuals, never in a box set. The toys are identical to their original Headmasters incarnations, except for the fact that they no longer sport rubsigns.
Transform Jr
- Getsuei / Kaen (Multi-pack, 1987)
- ID number: Trainbot Set 3 (トレインボットセット3)
- Stumpy, simplified, weapon-less versions of Kaen and the other five Trainbots were released as part of Takara subsidiary Seven's Transform Jr line of simplified Transformers toys (these molds were originally part of Takara's Diaclone offerings). Kaen was available in a boxed two-pack with Getsuei, and the pair could combine with the other four Trainbots (also released in packs of two) to form a stumpy little Raiden.
- Raiden (Gift set, 1987)
- ID number: C-131
- Accessories: Left & right fists, chestplate, "Train Bazooka" rifle
- The Transform Jr versions of Kaen and his team were also available in a complete gift set. As with the larger versions, these are identical to their individual releases.
MPG
- Trainbot Kaen (2024)
- Release date: February 24, 2024
- ID number: MPG-06
- Accessories: "Power Laser" gun, "Light Sword", "Rail A", "Joint Part", "Anime Train Mark"
- Known designers: Kōjin Ōno (TakaraTomy), Dai Ono (Tomytec), Yuki Ohshima (concept artist)
- Previously teased on the "A Railway Story In The Sky" exhibition on December 3, 2019 and later confirmed in a magazine interview[1] with designer Kōjin Ōno in the March 2021 issue of Figure Ō, Kaen is the sixth release in MPG.[2] Produced in collaboration with TOMIX, the train department of TakaraTomy's scale model oriented subsidiary Tomytec, the figure converts into a fully HO scale compatible incarnation of his classic JNR Class DE10-1500 diesel locomotive mode.[3] Kaen's third mode forms the pelvis of the historic first "Masterpiece" combiner in the form of a new incarnation of Raiden.
- The figure's second contribution to the combined mode comes in the form of a "Light Sword" accessory for Raiden as seen in the thirteenth episode of the Headmasters cartoon, also usable as an impressively oversized weapon for the individual Trainbots. As with the prior MPG Trainbots, Kaen includes a single modular railway section slated to combine with segments included with the other Trainbots a la the team's original Diaclone plastic tracks. This track can be converted into a base for a stand armature (sold separately), and an adapter is included for a "flying train," a staple of the show. The track additionally features storage for the Light Sword on its underside.
- Due to being the smallest train, Kaen is notably shorter than the other Trainbots. In a compromise for accuracy, Kaen features autobot symbols on his hands as opposed to forearms. The figure also includes an attachable train mark part to convert the figure from a diorama-ready realistic train to a more show-accurate vehicle.
- One word of warning is necessary for the aspirant MPG Trainbot diorama builder: the set's adherence to vehicle mode accuracy proves something of a double-edged sword. While the MPG Trainbots adhere to a unified 1:87-ish HO scale, they do not adhere to a unified track width. In accordance with their real-life inspirations, Shouki, Yukikaze, Ginou and Yamabuki utilize standard gauge (true HO) tracks while Getsuei, Suiken, Seizan and Kaen utilize metre gauge (HOm) tracks. It is thus necessary to split the team up accordingly if one is to actually roll the danged things.[4]
- Trainbot Raiden (Gift set, 2024)
- Release date: February 24, 2024
- ID number: MPG-06S
- Accessories: "Power Laser" gun, "Light Sword", "Rail A", "Joint Part", "Anime Train Mark"
- Known designers: Kōjin Ōno (TakaraTomy), Dai Ono (Tomytec), Yuki Ohshima (concept artist)
- In addition to the regular edition above, Kaen was also released as a special Trainbot Raiden "box set", which comes with a display stand for Raiden himself, stand armatures (no longer sold separately!) for all six Trainbots, and a chromed version of the Kōken included with Seizan.
- This all comes in a unique collectors' box that can store all of the MPG Trainbots (first five sold separately!) in their alternate modes.
Notes
- Though it is a little tricky to tell the true meaning of Kaen's name since it is "spelled" in phonetic Katakana rather than Kanji, the most likely translation to English is "Blaze" (火炎).
- Kaen had the preliminary name of "Power" (パワー),[5] which was likely taken from the occasional identification of the Diaclone toy as "Powerliner" (パワーライナー Pawārainā).
- The Trainbots are all originally Diaclone toys, which came in two different color schemes. However, there are several mold differences between the Diaclone and Transformers versions. A major difference is the fact that the Diaclone version has an opening hatch to accommodate a Diaclone driver in the front part of the train. For the Transformers versions, this part underwent a significant mold-change which no longer allows this hatch to open. The Transformers releases also lost the Diaclone pilots (of course) and the little plastic tracks for the trains to ride on. The Transformers versions did gain a flat surface on the right side to accommodate a rubsign. However, while the Headmasters version of Kaen actually has a rubsign, the later Zone version does not (although it still has the rubsign surface).
- Kaen appears as part of the Trainbots' combined train form in the title sequence of the Super-God Masterforce cartoon, but not in the series itself. The series creators seem to have intended to use the Robot Train to travel back and forth to Athenia, more closely tying Super-God Masterforce to previous Transformers series, but the idea was quietly dropped. They did, however, appear for that purpose in the concurrent comic series.
Foreign names
- Russian: Silach (Силач, "Strong Guy")
References
- ↑ Figure King 278: Interview with Kōjin Ōno at Soundwave's Oblivion
- ↑ Dengeki Hobby announcement for MPG Trainbot Seizan
- ↑ Figure King 285: Interview With MPG-01 Raiden Development Team – English Translation at Soundwaves Oblivion
- ↑ Vehicle mode section of Getusei's MPG bio.
- ↑ When the Anime/Tokusatsu Hero Was Born by Keisuke Fujikawa
