''Monsuno'', released as in Japan, is an

animated series An animated series is a set of animated works with a common series title, usually related to one another. These episodes should typically share the same main characters, some different secondary characters and a basic theme. Series can have either ...

that premiered in the United States on February 23, 2012 on Nickelodeon's sister channel,

Nicktoons Nicktoons is a collective name used by Nickelodeon for their original animated series. All Nicktoons are produced partly at the Nickelodeon Animation Studio and list Nickelodeon's parent company (Viacom, now known as Paramount Global) in their ...

and began airing on

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 ...

in Japan in October 2012, with global launches staggered by country sometime between mid-2012 and early 2013 through Nickelodeon. The series was created by

Jeremy Padawer Jeremy Padawer (born October 26, 1973) is an American businessman, Internet entrepreneur, and animated television producer. He is the cocreator and executive producer of the Nickelodeon animated series ''Monsuno'' and the former executive vice pre ...

and Jared Wolfson. It is distributed by

FremantleMedia Fremantle (; formerly FremantleMedia) is a British multinational television production and distribution company based in London. Fremantle takes its name from Fremantle International, acquired by predecessor company All American Television in ...

and is produced by Dentsu Entertainment USA (part of

Dentsu Aegis Network Dentsu International (previously Dentsu Aegis Network) is a multinational media and digital marketing communications company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Japanese advertising and public relations ...

Jakks Pacific Jakks Pacific, Inc. is an American company that designs and markets toys and consumer products, with a range of products that feature numerous children's toy licenses. The company is named after its founder, Jack Friedman, who had previously fou ...

, and

The Topps Company The Topps Company, Inc. is an American company that manufactures chewing gum, candy, and collectibles. Formerly based in New York City, Topps is best known as a leading producer of American football, baseball, basketball, ice hockey, soccer, ...

. Japanese animation studio

Larx Entertainment is a Japanese animation studio founded in June 2006. The studio is based in Nerima, Tokyo and is a subsidiary of Studio Hibari is a Japanese animation studio founded in July 1979 by Hiroyoshi Mitsunobu and his wife Sachiko. In 1985 Hiroyoshi M ...

animated the series.

Synopsis

Season 1: World Master

The show revolves around "re-awakened Monster DNA called Monsuno" that finds its way into the unsuspecting hands of adventure-seeking teenagers Chase, Jinja, and Bren. Accompanied by their Monsuno, Lock, Charger, and Quickforce, they are searching for Chase's father Jeredy Suno, the creator of the Monsuno. They are soon joined by Beyal, a monk from the Himalayas along with his Monsuno Glowblade. Beyal often speaks of five people that with the help of their Monsuno, could change the world. It just so happens that they are that five, along with Dax, a teenager who along with his Monsuno Airswitch, opposes the team and is disliked among most people. The team has yet to befriend him and persuade him to join their cause. They are also on the run from a H.A.M.M.E.R.-type

agency Agency may refer to: Organizations * Institution, governmental or others ** Advertising agency or marketing agency, a service business dedicated to creating, planning and handling advertising for its clients ** Employment agency, a business that ...

called "S.T.O.R.M." (Strategic Tactical Operatives for Recovery of Monsuno) whose plans are still in question and Dr. Emanuel Klipse, a malevolent scientist who has his own nefarious plans.

Season 2: Combat Chaos

The 5 adventure-seeking teenagers are once again in the battle of Monsunos, now, however, with Jeredy Suno officially back from being missing or kidnapped. But along with old foes, come new ones, with The Forge Resistance, a manufacturer bent on destroying the world with Wild Core Bombs, The S.T.O.R.M. Strike Squad, a team which could be considered the anti version of Team Core-Tech handpicked by Charlemagne, the Hand of Destiny, a team of century-old tribes who have hidden themselves from the world underground long ago, and Six, a teenager clone of Dr. Eklipse. Now on Team Core-Tech's tail, Chase and his friends are ready to take the heat. But as the battle becomes tougher, the team must face new problems and must come to connect to their Monsunos than ever before.

Season 3

The series continues after the events of Monsuno: Combat Chaos, with the introduction of Core-Tech and S.T.O.R.M's merging, Eklipse and Forge Resistance with the newly-manufactured Dino Monsuno, and return of Hand of Destiny with their new non-shapeshifting alien Monsunos. The three survived members of the Hand have been reverted to children- Petros, Terz and Dasha now work with Digby Droog. There are also some returning characters from Season 1, like the Bookman and Grandma Future. With the help of their new Hyper Monsuno, Team Core-Tech may stand a chance against their adversaries.

Characters

The characters are accompanied by Monsunos (giant high-tech/mechanical/armored

hybrid Hybrid may refer to: Science * Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding ** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species ** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two dif ...

monsters of one or more animal species), which are contained in cylinder regeneration chamber capsules known as "cores". * (voiced by

Cam Clarke Cam Clarke is an American voice actor, known for his work in animation, video games and commercials. Among his notable roles are Leonardo and Rocksteady in the 1987 ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' animated series, Shotaro Kaneda in the 1989 ...

in English and by Kenn in Japanese) - One of the main protagonists. A brave and adventurous 15-years old boy, Chase is the leader of Team Core-Tech. In the first season "World Masters," Chase engages on a journey to find his father Jeredy Suno, a research scientist who disappeared while experimenting with the mysterious power source called Monsuno Essence which brought him into conflict with both the corrupt government agency S.T.O.R.M. and the rogue scientist Dr. Klipse. In the second season "Combat Chaos" Chase is repeatedly having visions of his mother Sophia who was believed to be deceased which leaves him to confront The Hand of Destiny which might have a hand at Sofia's disappearance. * Jinja (voiced by

Karen Strassman Karen Strassman (born June 5 is an American stage, television and voice actress who has provided English language voices for Japanese anime shows, animation, and video games. Some of her major roles are Kallen Stadtfeld in the ''Code Geass'' seri ...

in English and by

Asami Tano is a Japanese actress and voice actress and former singer from Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. She is affiliated with Amuse Inc. Tano was part of the girl group Boystyle from 2001 to 2007. Her voice acting career began with ''Toriko'' in 2011, and ...

in Japanese) - One of the main protagonists, renamed in the Japanese version. Jinja is the self-proclaimed "sassy" and genuinely outspoken

tomboy A tomboy is a term for a girl or a young woman with masculine qualities. It can include wearing androgynous or unfeminine clothing and actively engage in physical sports or other activities and behaviors usually associated with boys or men. W ...

member of Team Core-Tech who is often the first one into battle. Jinja is a strong supporter to Chase in his journeys and is known to playfully tease Bren on occasion. Jinja was at first interested in Beyal and had no fear of showing it. In the second and third season she was more comfortable and calm about it. * (voiced by

Christopher Corey Smith Christopher Corey Smith is an American voice actor who voices in animated shows and video games. He is best known for his voice role as Gagumber in the anime ''Sakugan''. Personal life On April 29, 2022, Smith married voice actress Cindy Robi ...

in English and by

Chihiro Suzuki is a Japanese voice actor. He made his debut role as Soichiro Arima in ''Kare Kano''. Filmography Television animation ;1998 *''Kareshi Kanojo no Jijō'' ( Soichiro Arima) ;2000 *'' Tottoko Hamutarō'' (Megane-kun and Mr Yoshi) ;2001 *'' Dā! ...

in Japanese) - One of the main protagonists. A timid but inquisitive boy who's an adept computer programmer and hacker. Bren is one of Chase's closest friends and is usually the one to kaiser or decode any piece of Technology or Monsuno Equipment that Team Core-Tech comes across. Bren has a bit of a playfully antagonistic relationship with Jinja. * Beyal (voiced by

Kirk Thornton Kirk Thornton is an American voice actor, director and script writer working mainly with English-language versions of Japanese anime shows. Career His major roles include Brandon Heat in ''Gungrave'', Hotohori in ''Fushigi Yūgi'', Klein in ' ...

in English and by

Sachi Kokuryu is a Japanese actress and voice actress from Saitama Prefecture. Filmography Television animation ;2004 *''Kyo Kara Maoh!'', Shori Shibuya (childhood) *''Windy Tales'', Boy (ep 11), Announcer (ep 7) ;2005 *''Onegai My Melody'', Yamato *''Ging ...

in Japanese) - A supporting protagonist. He was renamed in the Japanese version. An introspective and spiritual young man, Beyal was introduced in the episode "Knowledge" as a monk who possesses "The Monsuno Sight"; A special ability that allows one to see into the future. Beyal helped Chase, Bren, and Jinja escape from The Bookman's evil clutches and joined Team Core-Tech afterwards. He was a good friend of Dax, since they were the last members who joined the team. His wide spectrum of knowledge, his alternative methods and his intense emotions have aided in tackling difficult situations and making him the most beloved character of the series. Beyal is attracted to Jinja although he does not admit it aloud. * Dax (voiced by

Keith Silverstein Keith Silverstein is an American voice actor, known for lending his voice to English Versions of Japanese anime and video games, affiliated with Bang Zoom! Entertainment, Viz Media, Studiopolis and Funimation. He is best known for his roles as ...

in English by Hiroshi Shimozaki in Japanese) - A cocky young drifter that joined Team Core-Tech in the episode "R.S.P.V.". Dax has a mysterious past that might tie into Dr. Klipse's illegal Monsuno research. In the original English version, he has a bit of an Australian accent. Renamed in the Japanese version. Dax enjoys making fun of Bren, since they are not fond of each other a lot. On the contrary, he likes gibing Beyal even though he is jealous of his relationship with Jinja. Having experienced the cruelty of street life, Dax has become impulsive and shrewd.

Episodes

The series premiered on February 23, 2012 with the first two episodes "Clash" and "Courage" as a back-to-back one-hour special.

International broadcasts

The Nordic broadcasts were premiered in

Nickelodeon Nickelodeon (often shortened to Nick) is an American pay television television channel, channel which launched on April 1, 1979, as the first cable channel for children. It is run by Paramount Global through its List of assets owned by Param ...

in Denmark, Norway, Sweden (as ''Monsuno'') since 2012, with SDI Media as the Nordic studio, and

in Finland (as ''Monsuno'') since 2012, with SDI Media as the Finnish studio. The series was also premiered in

in Germany (as ''Monsuno'') since 2012, with SDI Media as the German studio,

in Netherlands (as ''Monsuno'') since 2012, with SDI Media as the Dutch studio,

in Poland (as ''Monsuno'') since 2012, with Master Film as the Polish studio. China's broadcast was premiered on

CCTV-14 CCTV-14 is a Chinese free-to-air television channel that was launched on 28 December 2003 and is owned by the China Central Television. It airs animated films and series as well as kids game shows and other young-oriented programmes, including ' ...

, starting with the first series on 15 May 2017.

Home media

Shout! Factory Shout! Factory is an American home video and music company founded in 2002 as Retropolis Entertainment. Its video releases include previously released feature films, classic and contemporary television series, animation, live music, and comedy ...

began releasing ''Monsuno'' episodes on DVD in January 2013. ''Monsuno: Destiny'' was released on January 8, 2013, and ''Monsuno: Power'' was released on May 21, 2013.

Other media

Toy line

owns exclusive worldwide rights to manufacture Monsuno's toy products.

Trading card game

trading card game A collectible card game (CCG), also called a trading card game (TCG) among other names, is a type of card game that mixes strategy game, strategic deck building elements with features of trading cards, introduced with ''Magic: The Gathering'' in ...

(TCG) adaptation based on the series was released on March 5, 2012.

References

External links

* *
Official Japanese Site
at

Bandai is a Japanese multinational toy manufacturer and distributor headquartered in Taitō, Tokyo. Its international branches, Bandai Namco Toys & Collectables America and Bandai UK, are respectively headquartered in Irvine, California and Richmond ...

*
TV Tokyo's Monsuno Website
* * * {{Larx Entertainment 2010s American animated television series 2012 anime television series debuts 2012 American television series debuts 2014 American television series endings American children's animated action television series American children's animated adventure television series American children's animated science fantasy television series Japanese children's animated action television series Japanese children's animated adventure television series Japanese children's animated science fantasy television series Larx Entertainment Man of Action Studios Television series by FremantleMedia Kids & Family Hulu original programming Nicktoons (TV network) original programming Animated television series about teenagers Teen animated television series TV Tokyo original programming