Line #32 Anime/ShinkansenHenkeiRoboShinkalionZ


1	!! [-WARNING: The train on bound to this station contains unmarked [[LateArrivalSpoiler Late-Arrival Spoilers]] for ''Anime/ShinkansenHenkeiRoboShinkalion''. Please be advised to approach this station with caution and care as the train arrives to its destination. Thank you and have a nice day!-]
2	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/shinkalionz.jpg]]
3	[[caption-width-right:350:'''''Z-Combine, Shinkalion!''''']]
4
5	The SequelSeries to ''Anime/ShinkansenHenkeiRoboShinkalion'', ''Shinkalion Henkei Robo Shinkalion Z'' premiered in April 2021, based off [[MerchandiseDriven a new generation of transforming train figures]] by Takara Tomy.
6
7	Some time after ''Shinkalion'', a new generation of Shinkalions, known as Shinkalion Z, are being built. Shinkalion Zs are built alongside Zailiners, ''zairaisen'' (conventional trains) that transform into armours that compliment each of the new Shinkalions. However, the SUEI is still looking for suitable drivers. Not helping is that Abuto Usui, the ChildProdigy who helped design the Shinkalion Zs and Zailiners and is one of the few drivers the SUEI has actually trained by this point, doesn't have a high enough compatibility rating.
8
9	Enter Shin Arata, a mythology and cryptid buff who stumbles upon the SUEI and proves to have a sufficient compatibility rating, allowing him to become driver for the Shinkalion Z E5 ''Hayabusa''.
10
11	But just as Shin's compatibility is proven, a new group of Giant Monstrous Beings arises, and Shin and Abuto's destinies proceed on winding (and crossing) tracks…
12
13	----
14	!! Tropes! Now Departing!:
15	* AllYourPowersCombined: The final evolution of Shiknalion, ZZ-Combination, is half of the mechs (except Doctor Yellow) fusing with E5 and the other half [[spoiler:with Dark Shinkalion]], with driver rooms merging.
16	* BaitAndSwitch: In Episode 31 is seems that [[spoiler:Astraea has manipulated Shin's sister Ayu into helping her infiltrate the SUEI, but she got informed about her offscreen and lured her in. Astraea still teleported out.]]
17	* CallBack: While visiting Osaka, Hanabi calls Acting Commander (formerly Operator) Akagi Honjou "Honjou-nii-chan" [[Anime/ShinkansenHenkeiRoboShinkalion the same way Tsuranuki did]]. Honjou {{Lampshades}} this by noting how nostalgic it felt.
18	* ContrastingSequelProtagonist: Most of the Shinkalion Z drivers have personalities that contrast their predecessors.
19	** Shin is somewhat more of an IdiotHero than Hayato, and compared to him, his knowledge of trains is lacking.
20	** Unlike [[ColdSniper Akita]], Hanabi is loud and HotBlooded, and less of a sniper.
21	** Inversely, while Tsuranuki was brash and HotBlooded, Taiju is more of a shy GentleGiant.
22	** While both Rei and Yamakasa are both [[ChildProdigy Child Prodigies]], Rei considered himself a junior to the other drivers while Yamakasa is a bit more willing to step on his comrades' toes (especially Shin) to the point of coming off as a bit of an InsufferableGenius.
23	** While the Anjou brothers bear similarity to the Kiyosu brothers from the last show, here it's the younger brother, Nagara, that gets the more screentime compared to his brother Shimakaze, whereas the elder Kiyosu brother, Ryuji, got more attention from the plot over his little brother Tatsumi.
24	** In contrast to Hokuto Hayasugi, who was the only adult driver, Ginga is about the same age as the other drivers, and is decidedly more [[LargeHam hammy]].
25	** While both Miku and Maetel are [[InkSuitActor Ink Suit Actors]] of characters from famous franchises, Maetel's Shinkalion Z H5 is more based around long-range combat than Miku's H5, which used Kendo.
26	** On the non-driver side, Commander Sogo is considerably more bumbling and ineffectual than Commander Izumi.
27	* CooldownHug: [[spoiler: Shin does this to Abuto at the end of their climactic duel, [[HeelFaceTurn finally freeing Abuto from the Dark Shinkalion and bringing him back to his side]].]]
28	* {{Crossover}}:
29	** Continuing from last season's unexpected crossovers, Episode 16 features a Shinkansen and a Shinkalion based on ''Franchise/HelloKitty''.
30	** The previous season had a limited merchandise crossover between [[TheMovie the ALFA-X movie]] and Manga/GalaxyExpress999, but remained at that. Maetel makes an appearance in Episode 20's [[TheStinger Stinger]], but Episode 21 the crossover is for ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' instead. The younger version of Maetel appears as a mysterious regular Driver later similarly to Music/HatsuneMiku in the last season.
31	** ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'''s cast and 500 Type EVA make a return. Like last time, it's AllJustADream.
32	** Episode 26 prominently features ''Literature/NightOnTheGalacticRailroad'' book, with Taiju dreaming up being Giovanni and [[Manga/GalaxyExpress999 Maetel]] appears as Campanella in the dream
33	* DisappearedDad: Abuto's father went missing before the events of the show, which has considerable ramifications for Abuto's motivation.
34	* EvolvingCredits: From Episode 16 on, the opening is changed to include Yamakasa and Nagara (and their respective Shinkalions), acknowledge [[spoiler:Abuto's FaceHeelTurn]], and reveal more of the Teoti's numbers.
35	* FaceHeelTurn: [[spoiler:Abuto joins the Teoti to become the Dark Shinkalion's driver]].
36	* FightingFingerprint: How Shin realizes [[spoiler:Abuto is the Dark Shinkalion's driver]] by how it fights.
37	* HoistByHisOwnPetard: [[spoiler:Valtom tries to kill Kannagi with the power of stolen royal Torridantia. Kannagi completely drains it and Valtom loses powers he was so proud of]].
38	* IHaveYourWife: [[spoiler:Abuto's plan to steal the Dark Shinkalion for the SUEI is thwarted when Astraea finds out and takes his father hostage to make sure he keeps fighting for the Teoti]].
39	* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: During TheTeaser of Episode 14, one of the singers of BOYS AND MEN (who performed the opening themes for both ''Shinkalion Z'' and [[Anime/ShinkansenHenkeiRoboShinkalion its predecessor]]) is shown on a radio program introducing a new song from the band. The show then cuts to the opening theme.
40	* MechaExpansionPack: The Zailiners function as mecha add-ons, taking the place of a Shinkalion Z's legs or arms, and upgrading its weaponry. For example, the Shinkalion Z E5 jettisons its arms and Z-Combines with the Zailiner E235 ''Yamanote'' to form the Shinkalion Z E5 ''Yamanote'', turning its two small handheld swords into one large BladeBelowTheShoulder, and giving it a shield. The Zailiner [=HC85=] ''Hida'' is unusual in that it turns into both arms ''and'' legs for a Shinkalion Z.
41	* PetTheDog: [[spoiler:Sogyoku saves Setsura]] in Episode 29 despite his evil nature.
42	* ThePowerOfRock: In Episode 25 Hanabi destroys Konaki-Jiji with the power of weaponized rock concert.
43	* RankUp: Ryuji Kiyosu and Akagi Honjou have both been promoted to more executive positions since the last show, and it's later revealed that Shunpei Izumi has become Commander-in-Chief of the SUEI.
44	* ReadingTheStageDirectionsOutLoud: In Episode 26 SUEI accidentally registeres the MonsterOfTheWeek as "A {{Kappa}} is a Kappa!" by taking Misaki literally.
45	* SesquipedalianLoquaciousness: When introducing himself to the new bunch of drivers in Episode 18, Akagi Honjou tries to emulate [[Anime/ShinkansenHenkeiRoboShinkalion Commander Izumi]]'s coolness, but undermines himself by falling head-first into this trope, leaving the drivers less than impressed.
46	* ShoutOut:
47	** When Ginga makes his debut in Episode 17, he recites a shortened, modified version of the motto used by [[Anime/TheBraveExpressMightGaine Might Gaine]].
48	** In Episode 29, when Shin visualizes an alien, he pictures a [[Franchise/{{Alien}} Xenomorph]].
49	* SumoWrestling: Episode 26 features a sumo fight between the {{Kappa}} kaiju and E7.
50	* TransformingMecha: As with the previous season, Shinkalions are mecha bullet trains.

Context Anime / ShinkansenHenkeiRoboShinkalionZ