Trainbots
| The below content is licensed according to Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License contrary to the public domain logo at the foot of the page. It originally appeared on http://en.wikipedia.org. The original article might still be accessible here. You may be able to find a list of the article's previous contributors on the talk page. |
The Trainbots are a team of six fictional characters in the Transformers series introduced in 1988. They appeared in the Japanese series Transformers: The Headmasters. On one English translation of the series they were called "the robot train."
Contents
Transformers: Generation 1
The Trainbots transform into different styles of locomotive and rail vehicles. They could link with each other forming a more powerful train or form a single rail vehicle. They combine into a gestalt named Raiden (雷電 in Japanese which means "the thunder and the lightning").
The Trainbots are:
Shouki is the leader of the group, and also probably the fastest of the Trainbots in robot and train modes. He is notably reckless. His alternate mode is a Tōkaidō 0 Series Shinkansen. Shouki is Japanese for "Zhong Kui". He was voiced by Keiichi Noda.
Getsuei. Getsui is the team's night-fighting specialist. During the day, he slacks off from his duties. His Alternate Mode is an EF65 electric locomotive. His name is Japanese for "moonlight". He is voiced by Kazuo Oka.
Yukikaze is the younger brother of Shouki, and a specialist in fighting on snow. He is weak against heat, and for that reason dislikes being linked to Kaen. His alternate mode is a Tōhoku-Jōetsu 200 Series Shinkansen. His name is Japanese for "blizzard". He was voiced by Ken Yamaguchi
Suiken is an all-terrain veteran, comfortable fighting everywhere no matter how broken the terrain. His alternate mode is a 153 Express locomotive. His name is Japanese for "hydrosphere". He was voiced by Kazumi Tanaka.
Seizan is a mountain fighting expert; he enjoys simply being in his favored terrain. His alternate mode is a Limited Express Series 485-1000 locomotive. His name is Japanese for "blue mountain".
Kaen is the team's strongman, and takes great pride in his physical condition. His alternate mode is a JNR Class DE10 diesel locomotive. His name is Japanese for "blaze". He was voiced by Masaharu Sato.
Raiden The combined form of the six Trainbots.
Animated series
The Trainbots appeared in Transformers: The Headmasters as one of the new Autobot combiner teams. As with most of the combiner teams, the Trainbots would not really have any major roles, usually being called upon to fight other combiners. He defeated Devastator in a head on battle, leading to several more confrontations between the two. They were also used as transports for the rest of the Autobot forces, who could fit inside their train modes. Like the Protectobots before them they were not given an origin story, apart from being noted as having been "born" in Japan.
In episode #27 of Headmasters, "Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters Part 1" the combined might of Computron, Defensor and Raiden is used to destroy the abandoned Decepticon base on Earth.
Headmasters manga
They also made several appearances in the manga accompanying the show, defeating Predaking in a battle on the planet Beest, and aiding the Autobot Headmasters in an undersea battle where their strength as Raiden tipped the balance.
Raiden appears in episode #27 of the Japanese Headmasters series, called "The Miracle Warriors - The Targetmasters (Part 1)." Spike orders the Protectabots, Technobots and Trainbots to destroy the abandoned Decepticon headquarters on Earth. Combined into Defensor, Computron and Raiden the Autobots quickly demolish the building.
Dreamwave Productions
The Trainbots would have a cameo in Dreamwave's Generation One ongoing series. In issue #3, they are seen amongst the Autobots in Iacon's Great Hall as Prowl attempts to calm the populace.
Fun Publications
"Ask Vector Prime" would later expand on the Trainbots' origins, indicating that they were created by a group of Japanese scientists-Dr. Fujiyama, Dr. Ōnishi, Dr. Sōji Yoshikawa, Dr. Haruma Gō, Dr. Takahashi, and Dr. Ishihara-who each contributed their different talents to the project. The project, dubbed the "Raiden Initiative," was financed by the Japanese government and undertaken at Shibuya Manufacturing, Worldwide; Yoshikawa thus served as leader of the creative team. After the Trainbots were completed, each scientist was allowed to name one of the Trainbots. However, it was not indicated how they came to be living Transformers. [1]
Toys
- Generation 1 Raiden (1988)
- A recolor of Train Robo from Takara's Diaclone toy line.
Other train-robots
Although the Trainbots did not appear in subsequent Japanese series, the concept of train-themed combiners would continue, resulting in the Battlestars exclusive Micromaster combiner Sixliner, the remold of that character Sixtrain, and the later Transformers: Robots in Disguise Team Bullet Train.
