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Kids' Anime Shinkalion's Eva Cross-Over Continues with Hikari
posted on by Lynzee Loveridge
The kids' sci-fi mecha show Shinkalion's evolution into Neon Genesis Evangelion continues, this time with character appearances by Hikari Horaki and her sisters Kodama and Nozomi. The episode marks the first time Kodama and Nozomi have ever appeared on screen. Voice actress Junko Iwao, the voice of Hikari in the original Eva TV series, will voice all three sisters in the episode.
The series' 31st episode, slated to air on August 11, will show protagonist Hayato Hayasugi in the car with the Horaki family. Neon Genesis Evangelion protagonist Shinji Ikari will also appear in the episode, voiced once again by Megumi Ogata.
The new episode will again feature the transforming 500 TYPE EVA train with Shinji as its pilot.
Originally the anime was planning to only air a referential episode to send off the Evangelion bullet train. The train ended service in May, and seeing as the 500 TYPE EVA train already collaborated with Takara Tomy's Shinkanlion toy line in October, it would make for a fitting tribute. The first collaboration episode aired on May 5.
Neon Genesis Evangelion director Hideaki Anno welcomed the collaboration when it was first announced and said he especially wanted to watch the transformation. Anno is a train fan himself, and he and original mecha designer Ikuto Yamashita worked directly on the 500 TYPE EVA train project.
The Shinkalion anime series premiered in Japan on January 6. The anime may just be fulfilling its self-titled destiny. The title "Shinkalion" written in katakana is "シンカリオン" while Evangelion is "エヴァンゲリオン". Despite different pronunciations in English, both share "lion" in the title. Shinkalion could simply be a portmanteau "shinkansen" and "Evangelion."
Source: Anime! Anime! (仲瀬 コウタロウ), Comic Natalie
