Line #11 Anime/MashinHeroWataruSeries


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/main01_3.png]]
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3	The ''Mashin Hero Wataru Series'' (魔神英雄伝ワタル; ''Mashin Eiyūden Wataru'') is a [[GagSeries gag-filled]], whimsical fantasy adventure [[SuperRobot super robot]] [[{{Anime}} anime]] television series that stretched from the late [[TheEighties 80's]] to the end of [[TheNineties 90's]], co-created by Creator/{{Sunrise}} under their HousePseudonym, "Hajime Yatate", and ''VideoGame/SakuraWars'' creator Oji Hiroi.
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5	Athletically-gifted 9-year old Wataru Ikusabe brings his self-made clay robot sculpture from art class at school to life by unknowingly accessorizing the model with a couple of gemstones that he stumbles across, and finds himself transported to a magical kingdom called ''Soukaizan'' (創界山；”Creation Realm Mountain”).
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7	The townsfolk residing at the foot of the mountain [[TheChosenOne proclaim Wataru as the savior]]. To aid him in combating the evil that has taken over Soukaizan, a spirit of a dragon god resides within Wataru’s clay robot, bringing it to life as a HumongousMecha called "Ryujinmaru".
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9	Throughout his journey, Wataru is accompanied by two of the finest warriors Soukaizan has to offer: a DualWielding Main/{{Samurai}} by the name of Shibaraku Tsurugibe, who trains Wataru in the way of the sword, and Himiko Shinobibe, a spirited young {{Kunoichi}}, through all forms of problem-solving, battles, [[RuleOfDrama drama]], [[RuleOfFunny laughter]], and a whole lot of [[RuleOfFun fun]].
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11	The first two installments were immensely popular with the Japanese and East Asian demographics that it [[SpinOff spawned]] lengthy OriginalVideoAnimation to serve as {{Prequel}}s to their next respective installments [[note]] barring ''Super'' since that's a reboot [[/note]], as well as spinning out separate stories in the form of [[Main/AudioPlay radio dramas]] that focused on the backgrounds of individual characters. The success of the first series also led to Sunrise and Oji Hiroi creating another anime series with a similar premise of SuperDeformed HumongousMecha in a fantasy setting: Anime/MadoKingGranzort, which aired between the first two series.
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13	To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the ''Wataru'' series, Sunrise and BANDAI SPIRITS' Tamashii Nations toy brand kicked off a new WebAnimation titled ''Mashin Hero Wataru: The Seven Spirits of Ryujinmaru'' starting its release on April 10, 2020.
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15	The titles presented for this series are as follows:
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18	!!!Anime
19	* ''Mashin Hero Wataru'' (1988-1989)
20	** ''Shin Mashin Hero Wataru: Mashinzan-hen'' (1989; OVA spin-off)
21	* ''Mashin Hero Wataru 2'' (1990-1991)
22	** ''Mashin Hero Wataru: Warinaki Toki no Monogatari'' (1993–1994; OVA spin-off)
23	* ''Super Mashin Hero Wataru'' (1997-1998; An AlternateContinuity reboot of the series)
24	* ''Mashin Hero Wataru: The Seven Spirits of Ryujinmaru'' (2020; 30th Anniversary multimedia project.)
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26	!!!Radio Dramas
27	* ''Mashin Hero Wataru 3'' (1991-1992)
28	* ''Mashin Hero Wataru 3: The Story of Toraoh'' (1992-1993)
29	* ''Mashin Hero Wataru 4'' (1993-1994)
30	* ''Mashin Hero Wataru: Pure Pure Himiko'' (1996-1997)
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32	!!!Video Games
33	* ''Mashin Hero Wataru'' (1989, localized overseas as ''VideoGame/KeithCourageInAlphaZones'')
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36	!!Common tropes that are seen throughout the franchise are the following:
37	* AdventureTowns: The first installment has Wataru venturing through each province of ''Soukaizan'', which are designed like "floor levels" to take out the evil doers lurking in their kingdom. By ''Wataru 2'', he is sent to "[[Main/{{Planetville}} stellar provinces]]" in ''Seikaizan'' (星界山；”Stellar Realm Mountain”).
38	* AlternativeCalendar: ''Soukaizan'' and ''Seikaizan'' is stated in the [[AllThereInTheManual manual]] to have different terminologies for their calendars. The date and year counts are written universally in Chinese "upper case" numerical text[[note]]The upper case variant is used for contemporary financial documentation. The Japanese kanji system uses a form of simplified variety of the upper case.[[/note]], as for months, ancient ''Soukaizan'' goes by EasternZodiac for their months ("The Month of Rat" [鼠月] equals January, and so forth), however, contemporary ''Soukaizan'' advanced to Earthly Branches. ''Seikaizan'' on the other hand, goes by the the first kanji / Chinese character naming based on the first represented zodiac of the month from the WesternZodiac (January is “The Month of Ma” [魔月], standing for Capricorn [魔羯]).[[note]]Sample listed is more of a general East Asian usage. China and Japan uses different renditions of “ma” for Capricorn, namely 摩 (Chinese usage) and 磨 (Japanese usage).[[/note]]
39	* AlternateContinuity: The third series ''Super'' is this as it's a reboot of the series rather than a sequel.
40	* ArtEvolution: Toyoo Ashida's art style changed throughout the years so the character designs for each installment emphasized on bigger eyes, with overall physical features becoming rounder. Although ''Wataru 2'' standardized the design, as the page image taken from a 2014 pachinko game showcases, it's ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsX'' who takes the best traits of all three installments, blending them into a harmonious composite that can satisfy fans who root for a particular installment.
41	* AudienceSurrogate: Before ''Super'' was released, the series was produced as a family-friendly show in mind. Therefore, the main cast has one character to represent a specific age demographic to give the audience someone to see themselves and learn a lesson from.
42	** Himiko and Toraoh: Children ages 6 to 8.
43	** Wataru: Elementary kids to pre-teens.
44	** Kurama Wataribe: Late-teens to young adults.
45	** Shibaraku: Working adults and parental figures.
46	* BatmanCanBreatheInSpace: Justified; ''Soukaizan'' and ''Seikaizan'' share the same atmosphere, despite the latter being located at a higher altitude in the sky, akin to space. Of course, given the setting of the franchise is fantasy-based, "space" in ''Mashin Hero Wataru'' is relative.
47	* BrainwashedAndCrazy: Almost all floor bosses and their subordinates are normal residents of ''Soukaizan'' and ''Seikaizan'' whom the BigBad turned into their minions. Upon clearing a floor level, those affect are turned back to normal.
48	* CallingYourAttacks: Wataru routinely calls out Ryujinmaru's special attacks, while Shibaraku will state the names of his sword techniques occasionally. [[MonsterOfTheWeek The villain-of-the-week in their respective Mashin]] will also pull this off.
49	* ChildrenAreInnocent: The series places heavy emphasis in "[[RousseauWasRight children do not inherit evil]]"; it's by environmental influences that shape who they will become. Therefore, [[ParentsAsPeople no matter how incompetent one may be, adults are to take responsibility in setting positive examples for children]], especially those who look up to them.
50	* DragonsAreDivine: All dragons depicted in this franchise, be they are good or evil, are forms of high-level deities.
51	* EverythingsBetterWithRainbows:
52	** ''Soukaizan'' and its trademark rainbow halo serves as the kingdom's health status, with each color spectrum representing a floor. In the first series, once Wataru liberates a floor, a color of the rainbow is restored.
53	** In accordance to Empress Seiryuhi of ''Soukaizan'' in ''Wataru 2'', ''Seikaizan'' provides the energy source fueling the their kingdom’s rainbow halo. Therefore, just like the first series, when each stellar province of ''Seikaizan'' is freed from the floor boss, one color of the halo returns to normal.
54	** Transportation from one floor to another, aka. from province-to-province, is done by a rainbow bridge. However, these bridges [[RunningGag rarely]] [[InevitableWaterfall give Wataru and his companions a safe landing]] upon arriving to the next level.
55	* FinishingMove: Done to absolute formula - Ryujinmaru will destroy the villain-of-the-week and their Mashin via {{BFS}}.
56	* AMechByAnyOtherName: {{Mecha}} of all types in the franchise are classified as "Mashin" (see WorldOfPun for further descriptions).
57	* MediumAwareness: The [[BreakingTheFourthWall exposition]] [[GreekChorus teams]] in each installment are not completely invisible to the characters on set. Sometimes, those being exposed sense an unsettling presence, and give the teams {{Aside Glance}}s.
58	* NextTierPowerUp: All allied Mashins will go through a variety of this, ranging from {{Mid Season Upgrade}}s, [[SoLastSeason post-season upgrades]], and temporary {{Super Mode}}s to enhance their abilities. By just counting the initial canon trilogy (W, W2, & Super,) Ryujinmaru alone has a total of ''sixteen'' different forms.
59	* NumerologicalMotif: [[RuleOfSeven Seven]].
60	** This series revolves around the [[EverythingsBetterWithRainbows rainbow]], and the Big Dipper motifs, leading our heroes in need to [[DungeonCrawling go through]] seven AdventureTowns to save the worlds under the guidance of seven [[DragonsAreDivine dragon deities]] for each series.
61	** The 30th anniversary project has the theme of "Seven Spirits."
62	* {{Planetville}}: ''Seikaizan'' in ''Wataru 2'', a neighboring planet reminiscent of the Big Dipper constellation high in the sky.
63	* ThePowerOfLove [[ThePowerOfFriendship and Friendship]]: Compared to shows who emphasizes in mecha battles, the ''Wataru'' series focuses on the interactions between characters and how they overcome their differences to become friends with each other; their love and friendship with each other will bring miracles, and become the key elements to defeat evil.
64	* StrictlyFormula: The format of most episodes are as follows - {{The Hero}}es arrive at their next destination, saving a OneShotCharacter from the villain-of-the-week's {{Mook}}s. Said character tells the party of the villain and his/her motives, which leads to the party confronting the former. Hilarity ensues via hijinx and {{Running Gag}}s on the protagonists and the villains as their attempt to defeat/outsmart the other. Inevitably, the villain summons their respective Mashin to do battle, as does the party, ending with Ryujinmaru performing its FinishingMove a la {{BFS}}, cleaving the villain's Mashin in two and blasting him/her [[ATwinkleInTheSky away into the sky]]. As the party prepares to leave, the OneShotCharacter provides some exposition on where {{The Hero}}es need to go and do to liberate the floor/province from the floor boss.
65	* SuperDeformed: The entire franchise and world setting plays on this—all Mashins, good or bad, are rendered as such; Soukaizan and Seikaizan also have human races that showcase various levels of deformation. Justified when the shows were also meant to be MerchandiseDriven, with model kits of various Mashins being built to replicate this visual style compared to the majority of other shows in the {{Mecha}} genre.
66	* TechnologyMarchesOn: Shibaraku and Senjinmaru’s usage of phone went from phone booths in the first two installments, to mobile phones in ''Super,'' then to current smartphones in ''Seven Spirits'' all [[HandWave waved]] out thanks to them living in a fantasy world. Wataru gets the experience of using a smartwatch in ''Seven Spirits'' as part of his savior gear.
67	* ThemeNaming: Allied characters have surnames that end with "be" (部)", while juxtaposed with a word that characterizes them[[labelnote:note]]"Ikusa" in Ikusabe means "battle", while "tsurugi" in Tsurugibe means "sword"[[/labelnote]]; meanwhile, allied Mashin names end with the word "maru".
68	* ATwinkleInTheSky: Most villains-of-the-week will be sent flying when defeated by Ryujinmaru's FinishingMove. As this is a GagSeries, {{The Hero}}es [[RunningGag are not exempt from this, either]].
69	* YearInsideHourOutside: The time difference between Wataru's world and ''Soukaizan'' is this for the first two series. But ''Super'' seems to avert this mechanism, as Wataru's world in Japan takes place one year after ''Wataru 2'', but everyone from ''Soukaizan'' appear looking just about the same as they did previously; to be more precise, ''Soukaizan'' was moving a lot slower than before.
70	* WorldOfPun: The series runs this off the charts. The use of {{Punny Name}}s in particular are there to help children learn Japanese phrases, historical figures, celebrities, and important cultural references. Commonly used examples are listed below.
71	** [[AMechByAnyOtherName Mashins]] are a play on the words "Ma" (Demon) and "Shin" (God); phonetically, however, it sounds just like "machine".
72	** Wataru the "savior" is always mistaken as an "emergency vehicle"[[labelnote:note]]"Kyuseishu" (Savior) vs. "Kinkyusha" (emergency Vehicle)[[/labelnote]].
73	** [[GoroawaseNumber Senjinmaru's phone number]].

Context Anime / MashinHeroWataruSeries