Mashin Hero Wataru (魔神英雄伝ワタル Mashin Eiyūden Wataru) is an Adventure Super Robot multimedia franchise originally created by Sunrise and Red Entertainment. The first series aired on April 15, 1988, replacing the timeslot used for Transformers: The Headmasters. Sunrise credited Hajime Yatate for the storyline and Shuji Iuchi directed the series. The series employs a kinetic visual gag style, often employing characters running with their feet over their shoulders derived from Sunrise’s previous Super Robot anime series Choriki Robo Galatt.
The story is about a 9-year-old boy named Wataru Ikusabe (戦部 ワタル Ikusabe Wataru) who is magically transported to a magical realm by a dragon. This realm is called Soukaizan (創界山 Sōkaizan), which he is supposed to save from an evil, demonic ruler.
The series incorporates many elements of RPG games including dungeon levels and quests for mystical objects. Soukaizan itself is represented as a series of tiered platforms each floating above the one beneath it in a rough pyramid shape. In order to progress to the next tier where he will meet the series’ ultimate villain, the show’s heroes must complete some task on the one beneath. In addition to these, he has to defeat the ruler of each level along with his many henchmen. Each level he completes, rejuvenates one color of the gray rainbow over Soukaizan.
In his quest to save the realm, Wataru manages to transform a clay sculpture into a somewhat autonomous and small Super Robot. He also befriends many of the Soukaizan natives, and forms some very strong friendship bonds. The term Sou-kai-zan can be broken down to its three parts: “Sou” (creation), “Kai” (realm, space, world, or universe), and “Zan” (hill or mountain), representing the pyramid shape of the world’s level, leading to the alternate series title of Spirit Hero Wataru.
The series was a huge hit in Japan, later being imported into Taiwan, Mainland China, and Hong Kong (the latter was shown on TVB Jade). Chinese translations were provided, and the show became one the most famous Japanese anime shown in China during the mid-1990s, rivaling even Dragon Ball Z. The franchise spawned three TV series: Mashin Eiyuuden Wataru, Mashin Eiyuuden Wataru 2 (which is where this cel is from), and Chou Mashin Eiyuuden Wataru as well as four radio shows, five OVAs, five novels, five video games, and assorted other merchandise. One of the video games was the original pack-in game for the TurboGrafx-16 and was retitled as Keith Courage in Alpha Zones in the USA.
Batman #423: CGC 9.2, Third Printing (Classic McFarlane Cover)
