Shinkalion Change the World has gathered three musical acts for its ending themes, but the music doesn’t stop there—they’ll be uniting with the upcoming series’s opening theme performers for a new, train-centric music project!
It appears that the series, which debuts in Japan on April 7, is lining up several ending themes in advance. The show’s theme songs will be released under the banner of UTA-RAIL♪ PROJECT: a group of four artists and bands creating new songs inspired by actual Shinkansen trains.
As previously announced, the opening theme will be performed by GRe4N BOYZ (who recently announced their name change from GReeeeN). The four-person group, which formed in 2002, wrote “Senkou Hayabusa” based on the iconic Hayabusa train.
Rounding out UTA-RAIL♪ PROJECT are up-and-coming singer-songwriter meiyo, legendary rock group THE ALFEE, and pop star graduate Sayaka Yamamoto.
meiyo, who ironically rose to fame on TikTok in 2021 with his song “No matter what I do, nothing ever works out,” penned the song “HOPE! HOPE! HOPE!” The song is inspired by the Nozomi train (“Nozomi” being Japanese for “hope”), the fastest train on the Tokaido and San’yo Shinkansen lines.
Rock trio THE ALFEE formed in 1973 and have been performing ever since, currently holding the record for most concerts performed by a Japanese band. While we don’t know the name of their song yet, we know it’s inspired by the Kodama train—the slowest train on the Shinkansen line thanks to its stops at every station.
A graduate of NMB48, Sayaka Yamamoto made her solo debut in 2016. She will be performing a song inspired by the Shinkansen’s Kamome train.
The main voice cast includes:
Taisei Ohnari voiced by Hiiro Ishibashi (Akatsuki Red in Mr. Villain’s Day Off)
Folden Akane voiced by Kensho Ono (Tetsuya Kuroko in Kuroko’s Basketball)
Ryota Kuzuryu voiced by Shinba Tsuchiya (Shotaro Futaba in Backflip!)
Vina voiced by Hana Tamegai (Risa Matoba in THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS U149)
Mai Oume voiced by Kaede Hondo (Sakura Minamoto in ZOMBIE LAND SAGA)
Kadomichi Takanawa: Chikahiro Kobayashi (Saichi Sugimoto in Golden Kamuy)
Ina Ohnari voiced by Eri Kitamura (Sayaka Miki in Puella Magi Madoka Magica)
The main staff includes:
Director: Kenichiro Komaya (Kizuna no Allele)
Series Composition: Eiji Umehara
Sub-series Composition: Daisuke Ishibashi
Character Design: Shiori Asaka, Niina Morita
Mechanical Design: Akira Kirishiki
Sound Director: Masafumi Mima
Music: Yugo Kanno
Animation Production: Signal M.D., Production I.G
CG Animation Production: SMDE
Production: Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions
The franchise’s first TV series, Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion The Animation, aired for 76 episodes from January 2018 to June 2019. The sequel feature film, Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion the Movie: The Marvelous Fast ALFA-X That Comes From the Future, released on December 27, 2019. The second TV series, Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion Z, aired for 41 episodes from April 2021 to March 2022.
Shinkalion Change The World is described on the official website as such:
“Unknown” is a mysterious enemy that suddenly appeared a long time ago. As a countermeasure, the “Evolutionary Railway Development Agency” (ERDA) has developed the “Shinkarion,” robot that transform into bullet trains, to prepare for the threat.”I want to be a cool person who can protect something…” Taisei Ohnari, a second-year junior high school student, transfers to Shinkai Gakuen Middle School in search of clues about his older sister who disappeared two years ago.Just then, the Unknown appears for the first time in 10 years. Taisei happens to have a high aptitude value as a Shinkarion pilot, and is forced to make a decision to fight it.What is the true nature of the Unknown and what is its purpose? What is the truth that comes to light at the end of the fight? The story of the boys’ determination and growth begins now.
Source: Comic Natalie
