Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion

Several incidents of monster attacks from a mysterious group named Kitoralzers appeared suddenly in Japan after the appearance of the mysterious Black Shinkansen. In response, a secret organization called Shinkansen Ultra Evolution Institute was established in order to investigate the Black Shinkansen and its relations to the attacks using Shinkalions, bullet trains that turn into giant robots. However one day, Hayato Hayasugi, a young grade schooler who is a big railfan due to his father being a staff in the Railway Museum, accidentally got involved in the recent attack by the monsters and discovered his father's secret working with the Shinkansen Ultra Evolution Institute. Hayato shows a surprising amount of aptitude as a Shinkalion driver, based on him using a training application on his father's tablet that he mistook for a mobile game. Despite initial concerns from the adult members of the organization about having children as drivers, Hayato joins several other kids in using Shinkalions to willingly fight against the threat of the Kitoralzers.

About half a year after the defeat of the Kitoralzers, mysterious giant beings suddenly appear from space lead by both Nahane and Ohanefu, and are planning to take over the Earth. During these attacks, the Shinkansen Ultra Evolution Institute has been busy developing a new prototype unit - the Shinkalion ALFA-X. Suddenly, a 9-year old Hokuto appears from across time and space. Having no choice, the Shinkansen Ultra Evolution Institute appointed the young Hokuto to become the driver of the Shinkalion ALFA-X and bringing in the teams from all the branches across Japan as the last line of defense against the invaders threatening the planet.

The original Shinkalion toy franchise was released as a spin-off of the Plarail franchise on March 16, 2015. The original toys released, resembles regular Shinkansen trains complete with a front train, middle carriage and back train and that are compatible with any Plarail track. But the three components can transform and combine into a robot that is 18 inches in height and each figure comes with its own weapon and accessories. Also, each figure can also swap parts for added playability. Within each year, new figures were officially released, especially during the Anime's run. The 2018 line also redesigned many existing models to look more like the animated designs and the real world shinkansen type, though the primary exceptions were the Black Shinkalion models, which were created from scratch-made designs drawn up specifically for the anime. Many of the models are the front and rear trains combined as the upper and lower robot half, with the middle carriage storing the weapons for the resulting robot. Other merchandise of the series were also released in the form of keychains and novelties. Good Smile Company also released model kits of the mechas of the series under the Moderoid line of scale models, starting with the Shinkalion E5 Hayabusa in February 2019. A Nendoroid figure of Hatsune Miku, done in the style depicted in the anime series, was released in August 2019.[19]

An anime adaptation of the toyline, titled Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion THE ANIMATION (Japanese: 新幹線変形ロボ シンカリオン THE ANIMATION, Hepburn: Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkarion THE ANIMATION) was animated by OLM, Inc., an anime studio behind Pokémon, airing on all JNN stations in Japan from January 6, 2018, to June 29, 2019. It was directed by Takahiro Ikezoe (Show By Rock!!) and written by Kento Shimoyama (Servant × Service, Kamen Rider Zi-O). The opening song is titled "Shinka Riron" (進化理論, "Evolution Theory") by Boys and Men. The first ending song is titled "Go One Step Ahead" by Keisuke Murakami, the second ending is titled "I WANNA BE WITH YOU" by TETSUYA, the third ending is titled "Go Way!" by Silent Siren, the fourth ending is titled "STARTRAiN" by Amatsuki and the fifth ending is titled "Start Line" (スタートライン, Sutātorain) by BERRY GOODMAN. The series's music is composed by Toshiyuki Watanabe (Galactic Armored Fleet Majestic Prince, Space Brothers). A new anime titled Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion Z will be released in Spring 2021 on TV Tokyo.[20]

A film sequel to the anime, titled Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion the Movie: Mirai Kara Kita Shinsoku no ALFA-X (Japanese: 劇場版 新幹線変形ロボ シンカリオン 未来からきた神速のALFA-X, Hepburn: Gekijō-ban Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkarion Mirai Kara Kita Shinsoku no Arufaekkusu, "The Swiftly ALFA-X that came from the Future") premiered in cinemas in Japan on December 27, 2019.[21][22]

An arcade game based on the franchise, Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion: Get the Card! Super Evolution Battle (Japanese: 新幹線変形ロボ シンカリオン カードがもらえる! 超シンカバトル, Hepburn: Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkarion Kādo ga Moraeru! Chō Shinka Batoru) was developed and published by Takara-Tomy A.R.T.S and was released in March 2018 in Japan. Characters from the series also appeared in various mobile game crossovers, including Alien no Tamago by Paon DP and Sega's mobile RPG game Kotodaman. The series also debuted in Bandai Namco Entertainment's long running Super Robot Wars franchise, starting with Super Robot Wars X-Ω.[23][24][25]