Shinji and Miku in a Train-Robot Anime: Shinkalion!

by

Summary

  • Shinkalion collabs with Neon Genesis Evangelion and Hatsune Miku.
  • Shinkalion is a mecha franchise involving kids piloting robot JR trains.
  • The international release of Shinkalion is unlikely due to high collaboration costs and niche appeal.

Generally speaking, the majority of seasonal anime are now accessible internationally through streaming services such as Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Hidive. Shows that don’t reach a global audience often cater heavily to Japanese viewers or are long-standing franchises that are costly to acquire, translate, and are too niche for audiences outside of Japan (or primarily Asia). An example of this is “Sazae-san,” the longest-running animated show on television as recognized by Guinness World Records.

Despite its highly successful collaborations with iconic franchises like Neon Genesis Evangelion and Vocaloid’s Hatsune Miku, the anime “Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion” has yet to gain international recognition, as it remains unlicensed outside of Japan.

.

What Exactly Is Shinkalion?

The Shinkalion franchise originates from a collaboration between Takara Tomy, a prominent Japanese toy company, and the Japan Railways Group (often referred to as JR Group), which is the largest railway network in Japan. This partnership was established following the privatization of the Japan National Railways company in the 1980s.

It seems quite plausible that the Shinkalion series was designed primarily for marketing toy train models, modeled after JR lines – and you would be right. However, the Shinkalion series is actually rooted in another Tomy-owned model train franchise, Plarail (a blend of “plastic” and “railroad”). What sets Shinkalion apart is its unique twist: it’s a mecha franchise where children control robot versions of Japanese Railway (JR) trains.

Initially, the first “Shinkalion” anime aired in Japan between 2018 and 2019, leading to a movie released in the same year. Following this, a spin-off series called “Shinkalion Z,” featuring new main characters but related to the original, was broadcast from 2021 to 2022. Interestingly, both of these series were produced by Studio OLM, known for creating shows like “Pokemon.” More recently, “Shinkalion: Change the World” concluded, which was animated by Signal.MD and Production I.G instead.

Why Are Hatsune Miku And Shinji Ikari In Shinkalion?

In simpler terms, they teamed up because that’s what the production decided was best. Shinkalion and Evangelion first joined forces in an anime episode where Shinji Ikari piloted the Shinkalion 500 TYPE EVA in Episode 31. They then collaborated again in a movie and in Shinkalion Z, Episode 21. Since they are both Japanese mecha series, it’s natural for them to work together, though it might come as a surprise.

In a more daring step, Hatsune Miku made her appearance within the franchise. Initially, she debuted in Episode 15 of the first anime series, yet rapidly rose to prominence and is now a significant character across the show as well as the feature film. Within the narrative, she plays the role of pilot for Shinkalion H5 Hayabusa; however, by the conclusion of the storyline, she transforms into a singer.

I must admit, it’s quite daring for her to be elevated from being a guest character in the collaboration with Crypton Future Media, to becoming a significant, recurring figure – and now, she’s even getting her own anime series!

Beyond these two well-known team-ups, the series has additionally incorporated characters from Galaxy Express 999, Hello Kitty, and Godzilla (with possibly a few others as well).

Are There Any Chances Shinkalion Gets An International Release?

Upon finishing all of this, one might ponder: why isn’t the franchise Shinkalion officially distributed elsewhere than Japan? Is there a possibility that it could still be licensed?

In 2018, Japanese producers had reservations about international streaming services, making it likely that this show, which is centered around actual Japanese trains and designed to promote toy sales, was mainly intended for Japanese viewers.

It’s possible that producers believed it unnecessary to grant licenses for selling these toys abroad, as they lacked a well-defined plan to market them globally. They likely assumed that these toys might not hold the same appeal for audiences outside of Japan.

As a die-hard fan, I must confess that the greatest hurdle in acquiring the license for Shinkalion today lies in the collaborations themselves. Securing approvals from every company involved can be not only tricky but also quite costly. With an impressive lineup of popular series making guest (or recurring) appearances in this show, it’s likely that the price to obtain these rights outweighs the anticipated profit. To add to the challenge, if a distributor wishes to capitalize on these collaborations for marketing purposes, they would have to navigate the approval process with all parties involved – no easy feat!

It seems that an international release isn’t expected to take place soon, I’m afraid.

Read More

2025-02-11 22:38