, also called ''Hikarian: Great Railroad Protector'', is a Japanese
anime
is Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japane ...
and toy franchise by
Tomy
is a Japanese entertainment company that makes children's toys and merchandise. It was created from a merger on March 1st 2006 of two companies: Tomy (founded in 1924 as Tomiyama, changing the name to Tomy in 1963) and long-time rival Tak ...
.
The first television series, , is about a series of
bullet train
Bullet train may refer to:
Rail
* Shinkansen high-speed trains of Japan, nicknamed for their appearance and speed
* Other high-speed trains of a similar appearance to Japanese trains
* An ongoing project to build high-speed rail in India.
Rail to ...
s 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. Some of the OVAs even appeared after
Tomica
is a line of die-cast toy vehicles (mainly model car, cars) produced since 1970 by Tomy, Takara Tomy Co. of Japan (formerly known as Tomiyama and Tomy Kogyo Incorporated). Ostensibly, Tomica diecast were an outgrowth of Tomica World, an autonom ...
VHS tapes.
A second television series, , 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'').
has licensed the series for an English release. The company has suggested name changes (e.g. Tetsuyuki becomes Terry and Minayo becomes Mina), but the series is not yet 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
may refer to:
Places
*Hikari Station, a station on Sanyō Main Line in Hikari, Yamaguchi
* Hikari, Chiba, a former town in Sousa District, Chiba, Japan
*Hikari, Yamaguchi, a city in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan
People
*Hikari (name), people and ...
: 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 Azusa may refer to:
Relating to California
From a Native American language, likely Tongva language, Tongva ''Asuksagna:''
*Azusa, California, a city in the United States
*Azusa Pacific University, a Christian-based institution in Azusa, California
...
: 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
Garuda (Sanskrit: ; Pāli: ; Vedic Sanskrit: गरुळ Garuḷa) is a Hindu demigod and divine creature mentioned in the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain faiths. He is primarily depicted as the mount (''vahana'') of the Hindu god Vishnu. Garuda is a ...
to form Lightning Garuda.
*
Doctor Yellow
is the nickname for the high-speed test trains that are used on the Japanese Shinkansen ("Bullet Train") dedicated express passenger train routes.
The trains have special equipment on board to monitor the condition of the track and overhead wire ...
: 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
The is a high-speed Shinkansen train service operated on the Tōhoku Shinkansen between and by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan.
Name
The word ''yamabiko'' is usually translated as 'echo', particularly one which is heard in the ...
*
K-kun: Youngest of the Hikarians.
*
Kodama: Oldest of the Hikarians.
*
STAR21
"STAR21" was the name given to the 9-car experimental Shinkansen train developed in 1992 by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan to test technology to be incorporated in next-generation shinkansen trains operating at speeds of or ...
: Experimental engineer
*
Seven
7 is a number, numeral, and glyph.
7 or seven may also refer to:
* AD 7, the seventh year of the AD era
* 7 BC, the seventh year before the AD era
* The month of
July
Music Artists
* Seven (Swiss singer) (born 1978), a Swiss recording artist ...
*
Eurostar
Eurostar is an international high-speed rail service connecting the United Kingdom with France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Most Eurostar trains travel through the Channel Tunnel between the United Kingdom and France, owned and operated sep ...
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
The is an airport limited express train service between Tokyo and Narita Airport in Japan. It is operated by Keisei Electric Railway and runs on the Narita Sky Access route.
This article also covers the and services.
Service
The ''Skylin ...
* Rescue: American Hikarian Road Fire Engine.
* Hikarian X/Shadow X: Combines with
Sphinx
A sphinx ( , grc, σφίγξ , Boeotian: , plural sphinxes or sphinges) is a mythical creature with the head of a human, the body of a lion, and the wings of a falcon.
In Greek tradition, the sphinx has the head of a woman, the haunches of ...
and
Nazca
Nazca (; sometimes spelled Nasca; qu, Naska) is a city and system of valleys on the southern coast of Peru. It is also the name of the largest existing town in the Nazca Province. The name is derived from the Nazca culture, which flourished in ...
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
A star is an astronomical object comprising a luminous spheroid of plasma (physics), plasma held together by its gravity. The List of nearest stars and brown dwarfs, nearest star to Earth is the Sun. Many other stars are visible to the naked ...
: 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 ' (高铁侠). In July 2011, Chinese viewers of previews were shocked that it was a shot-for-shot
knockoff
Counterfeit consumer goods (or counterfeit and fraudulent, suspect items - CFSI) are goods, often of inferior quality, made or sold under another's brand name without the brand owner's authorization. Sellers of such goods may infringe on eith ...
of ''Hikarian''. After Pat Lee was sued by
TV Tokyo
JOTX-DTV (channel 7), branded as and known colloquially as , is a television station headquartered in the Sumitomo Fudosan Roppongi Grand Tower in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, owned and operated by the subsidiary of listed certified b ...
&
Takara Tomy
is a Japanese entertainment company that makes children's toys and merchandise. It was created from a merger on March 1st 2006 of two companies: Tomy (founded in 1924 as Tomiyama, changing the name to Tomy in 1963) and long-time rival Tak ...
when they found out about the cartoon being a rip-off of Hikarian, 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.
References
External links
Toho Amusement Park ''Hikarian'' website*
* -
USA
{{Shinkansen
1996 anime OVAs
1997 anime television series debuts
2002 anime television series debuts
Mecha anime and manga
TV Tokyo original programming
Takara Tomy franchises