Ginrai
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Image:Ginrai tf.jpgGinrai, occasionally spelled Jinrai and also known as both Super Ginrai and God Ginrai, is a fictional character from the animated series Transformers: Super God Masterforce and it's toyline, one of the Transformers series exclusive to Japan.
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Powermaster Optimus Prime
Image:Ginrai human.jpgWhen the iconic Transformers character, Optimus Prime, was brought back to life in America in 1988, he was recreated as a Powermaster - a Transformer which came with a small companion figure Hi-Q (a humanoid alien from the planet Nebulos) who transformed into an engine and connected to the larger figure, unlocking the toy's ability to transform to robot mode. Naturally, Prime retained his famous red tractor trailer transformation, but could now also combine with his trailer to form a "super robot."
With the American Transformers animated series having come to an end the previous year, Japan had struck out on its own and already produced one series exclusive to its shores, Transformers: Headmasters, and repeated the action this year with the creation of Super God Masterforce, which took the American Powermaster toys and created an entirely new concept and story for them in its animated series, where they were renamed "Godmasters" (using the word as a reference to "power," with no connection to any deity intended). Powermaster Prime's toy was slightly recolored with a more metallic shade of grey, and retooled with a die-cast metal cab and retractable super-mode fists, and released in Japan as an entirely new character named Ginrai, voiced in the series by Hiroshi Takemura.
Ginrai in Super God Masterforce
Image:Ginrai armour.jpgThe central concept of Super God Masterforce was that it would be human beings, rather than Transformers, who would defend the Earth - their own planet - against the threat posed by the Decepticons. To that end, the Headmasters and Godmasters featured in this series were not Transformers who partnered with smaller beings, or even, as with the previous year, small Transformers who piloted larger, lifeless bodies named "Transtectors" - here, they were human beings imbued with the "Masterforce," who could combine and control Transtectors, becoming Transformers themselves.
Some years before the beginning of the series, the evil alien energy entity and self-styled "Decepticon God" known as Devil Z stole eight Transtectors from the region of spacek known as the G Nebula, one of which was intended to be a new body for Optimus Prime. Breaking off from the largest Transtector - Overlord - as they entered Earth's atmosphere, the other Transtectors were scattered across the planet, with most of them adopting the form of Earthly vehicles to remain hidden in plain sight. The body built for Optimus Prime, by coincidence or design, adopted the form of a truck cab - the secondary portion of the Transtector was split from it and buried underground - which found its way into the hands of a garage owner in America, who rented it out to needy drivers. However, the drivers soon began to report strange phenomena occurred when the drove the truck - but this did not dissuade Ginrai, a nineteen-year-old Japanese immigrant, from renting the truck to complete an important delivery. Image:Super ginrai.jpg
In the truck's glove compartment, he discovered a set of Master-Braces - the metallic bracelets that endowed humans with the Masterforce - and donned them, completing his delivery, which was coincidentally received by the Autobot Pretender, Diver. Recognising the Master-Braces, Diver accompanied Ginrai and explained their significance to him, only for them to be attacked by the Decepticon Godmasters, Buster and Hydra, and forced over a cliff. Accidentally touching the bracelets as he attempted to escape the crushed cab, Ginrai was infused with the Masterforce and a suit of armour materialised around him, healing both himself and the Transtector, as they combined and transformed. Harnessing a Godmaster's natural ability to manipulate Chokon Power - the energy of the heavens (Tenchokon), the Earth (Chichokon) and man (Jinchokon) - Ginrai saw off the Decepticons, and, after a period of deliberation, after which he decided that becoming a Godmaster was the will of God Himself, he joined the Autobots.
Super Ginrai
Following a premonition, Ginrai discovered three further sets of Master-Braces in his Transtector, a portent of things to come. Events began to escalate when Ginrai's Transtector activated on its own, Ginrai was pulled to a construction site at the base of Mount Yatsugatake. Again confronted by Buster and Hydra, the secondary component of Ginrai's Transtector burst from within the tunnel being dug, taking the form of a tandem trailer for his truck. Not long thereafter, in a battle with King Poseidon, Ginrai discovered that the two components could merge, creating "Super Ginrai." Appearing on TV in hopes of locating the remaining three Godmasters, to whom he would give the Master-Braces, Ginrai successfully located Lightfoot, Ranger and Road King, and recruited them to the Autobot side, after which the Autobot Pretender leader, Metalhawk, stepped down as Commander and requested that Ginrai take his place. After some deliberation, Ginrai accepted.
Godbomber & God Ginrai
Image:Godginrai.jpgArriving on Earth to inform the Autobots there of the impending arrival of the Decepticon super-weapon, BlackZarak, Grand Maximus provided them with the schematics necessary to create the non-sentient drone, Godbomber. Able to connect to vehicle mode Ginrai as an additional trailer, Godbomber could also transport the Transtectors of the three Headmaster Juniors - Cab, Shuta and Minerva - and most importantly, would be able to combine with Super Ginrai, powering him up into the new form of God Ginrai, giving him the strength necessary to battle BlackZarak. As the so-called "Bomber Project" proceeded apace under Metalhawk's command, Super Ginrai was dealt a severe defeat by the Decepticon, Overlord. Following a failed attack on the Bomber Project facility, the barely-healed Ginrai insisted upon taking the fight to the Decepticons, combining with the completed Godbomber and confronting Overlord and BlackZarak on the moon. With the aid of Grand Maximus, God Ginrai was able to force BlackZarak to retreat back into space.
Image:Godbomber1.jpgDuring a desert battle with Overlord, God Bomber revealed an unexpected ability by reconfiguring his components into a robot mode in response to Ginrai's threat. Later, the Headmaster Juniors discovered that they could control Godbomber in both of his modes by uniting their own Chokon Power, together matching the level used by Ginrai to control him.
With BlackZarak's return to Earth and subsequent merging with Devil Z, God Ginrai was forced into a final battle with the hybrid entity. He succeeded in decapitating the villain, but BlackZarak then assumed a new hydra alternate mode, which God Ginrai destroyed with his God Fire Guts attack. With the added power of the Headmaster Juniors from within his God Bomber components, God Ginrai then executed the almighty Final Fire Guts attack, destroying Devil Z. With the energy-being's destruction, Ginrai and the other humans were separated from their Transtectors, who continued to exist as true robot lifeforms, having evolved real personalities through their partnership with humans. The newly-born Transformers then departed Earth to pursue the surviving Decepticons back into space.
Victory Leo
When God Ginrai died of injuries sustained in battle (Victory, in the episode "Farewell God Ginrai"). At the last moment, his brain was transferred into a new body, Victory Leo. The transfer was not a complete success, leaving Victory Leo a more violent individual than God Ginrai was. In fact, during one battle, it seemed as though he was willing to ignore Jan (Star Saber's adopted human son)'s pleas for help for the sake of fighting the Destrons. Luckily, Victory Leo did retain some memories of his 'past life', enough for him to remember who he was and rescue Jan.
Victory Leo can combine with Star Saber to form Victory Saber.
Subsequent Releases
When the God Ginrai toy was reissued in Japan in 2002, online retailer E-Hobby produced an exclusive "Fire Guts" version, representing Ginrai as he utilises his final attack. Decorated in various shades of red and orange, the toy was limited to 1600 pieces.
When Hasbro began their own series of reissues, the "Powermaster Optimus Prime" toy they reissued was, in fact, the God Ginrai mold, and hence featured a die-cast cab and shorter, chromed smokestacks. Godbomber, never having been released in Hasbro markets before, was included in the set, renamed Apex Bomber, who formed "Apex Armor" for Prime. The toy's tech spec/bio indicates Apex Bomber is the original Optimus Prime toy's Roller companion rebuilt. Of note is that the Nebulan partner was named Ginrai, not Hi-Q, in this release.
Takara also released a black redeco of this toy with translucent red windows, available exclusively through Toys R Us Japan, named Nucleon Quest Super Convoy. The toy did not included Godbomber, and represented Optimus Prime himself, rather than Ginrai, a first for the toy in Japan.