The mecha anime series Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion Z will crossover with Neon Genesis Evangelion in a new episode set to premiere on Japanese television on Sept. 17.
In the new crossover, the Shinkalion team find themselves teaming up with Evangelion pilots Shinji Ikari and Rei Ayanami. The two groups of pilots will need to team up to fend off the Oni Eva, an Evangelion created by an evil group after a visit to Toei Kyoto Studio Park, the famous real-world theme park that houses a near-full-scale statue of Unit-01. This new episode will mark the third crossover between Shinkalion and Evangelion. In anticipation of the new episode, the official Shinkalion Z website was also updated to showcase the story's new mecha, the Shinkalion Z 500 Type EVA, which combines the look of Shinkalion's train robots with the Evangelion's iconic design. The design was originally previewed in August in a promotional tweet from the official Shinkalion Z Twitter.
【情報解禁】
— 新幹線変形ロボ シンカリオンZ(公式) (@shinkalion) August 13, 2021
「#エヴァンゲリオン新幹線」ことJR西日本「新幹線 500 TYPE EVA」が「シンカリオンＺ 500 TYPE EVA」に変形！
さらに！初の私鉄在来線となる名鉄「エヴァンゲリオン特別仕様 #ミュースカイ」とＺ合体！https://t.co/FXm37s0Dpc
続報をお楽しみに！#シンカリオンZ #エヴァンゲリオン pic.twitter.com/NyH4RGLjTc
Originally created as a collaboration between toy manufacturer Takara Tomy and the Japan Railways Group, the Shinkalion franchise features transforming mecha that are based on real-life Japanese bullet trains. In the Shinkalion Z series, Japan is attacked by giant monsters controlled by the evil Kitoralzers organization. A team of young pilots protect the country from this threat using the Shinkalions, which are part-giant mecha, part-bullet train protectors of the peace that were created by the Shinkansen Ultra Evolution Institute.
This is not the first time Evangelion and Japanese mass transit have collaborated. Back in 2015, Japan Rail West launched a Neon Genesis Evangelion-themed bullet train to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the influential anime series. The Eva-themed train was in service for a limited time only, from Nov. 17 to March 2017.
Despite being more than 25 years old, Neon Genesis Evangelion is still incredibly popular today. The fourth and final movie in the Rebuild of Evangelion series, Evangelion 3.0 + 1.0 Thrice Upon a Time, was released in Japan on Mar. 8 and internationally on Aug. 13 via Amazon Prime Video.
Shinkalion Z‘s crossover episode will air in Japan on Sept. 17. Currently, the series has not been licensed for an international release and is not available on any streaming services outside of Japan.
Source: Twitter via Siliconera
