Ginrai (human)
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The name or term "Ginrai" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Ginrai (disambiguation). |
- Human
- Robot (Victory Leo)
- Ginrai is a human and Autobot Godmaster from the Super-God Masterforce portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.
Being a soldier is not the life for Ginrai (ジンライ Jinrai). Command structures, fixed routines, forced formality, following orders, knowing your place and toeing the line are his complete antithesis. A Nagano native, Ginrai found the atmosphere of his home country unbearably stifling, and left for the United States at the young age of seventeen to "find himself". The very definition of a free spirit and a lone wolf, he took a job as a long-haul truck driver for Union Transportation which offered him the freedom and solitude of the open road. Despite his desire for isolation and self-exploration, however, he is hugely popular amongst his "brothers" in the trucker fraternity, as his easygoing personality allows him to get along with people like a house on fire.
Ginrai's life was turned upside down when he discovered that he was an Autobot Godmaster and became bonded to a transtector from the G Nebula. Now wearing the visage of the legendary Autobot commander Optimus Prime, Ginrai has found his entire worldview changed by the evil of the Decepticons, a force he painfully realizes is too great for him to overlook. It would not, Ginrai figures, be a good thing for the Decepticons to rule the world. After all, he lives there.
Ginrai's signature attack technique is the questionably-named "Atomic Fire Guts", which sees him condense his Chōkon Power into his gun and release it as a blast of roiling flame. Ginrai can combine with his own trailer to become Super Ginrai, upgrading his attack into the more-powerful "Special Fire Guts", and then again with the drone Godbomber to become God Ginrai. As God Ginrai, his Fire Guts attack is powered up once more, becoming the ultimate single-strike final attack known as the "God Fire Guts", which transforms Ginrai's entire body into a blazing fireball.
Contents |
Fiction
Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity
Super-God Masterforce cartoon
- Voice actor: Hiroshi Takemura (Japanese), John Culkin (English, Omni Productions dub), Giorgio Melazzi (Italian)
The events that would bring Ginrai into contact with the Transformers began an indeterminate number of years ago, when the super-energy alien being and self-styled "Decepticon god" Devil Z stole several transtectors, including one intended to be used by the legendary Autobot leader Optimus Prime, from an area of space known as G Nebula 89. Devil Z scattered the Transtectors across Earth, where they lay in hiding for years, absorbing the planet's Chōkon Power, to await the day Devil Z would have them bond to human beings, thereby creating a new super-robotic lifeform: Godmasters. Shūta and Grand's Masterforce Super-Secrets!
Through undivulged circumstances, the transtector intended for Prime assumed the form of a red tractor trailer cab and came to rest in a small Esso garage in California. The unwitting rent-a-car seller rented the cab to several truckers, but always found it returned early with complaints of unusual, even supernatural, incidents.
Ginrai was born in Nagano, Japan, circa 2001.[1] Friend or Foe!? The True Form of the Monster!! But Ginrai always felt out of place at his home so he traveled to America at age 17 and became a truck driver to find himself. A Hero Is Chosen - His Name Is Ginrai
Two years after coming to America, Ginrai happened to be transporting an ill dolphin from Baney Aquarium to the Ocean Research Institute of California, which was run, unbeknownst to him, by the Autobot Pretender Diver. Destiny stepped in when Ginrai's truck broke down on the way, and he pulled in at this very garage, where the owner rented him the transtector to complete his delivery. In the glove box of the cab, he discovered a pair of Master-Braces and slipped them on his wrists, only to discover that he was unable to remove them. When Diver laid eyes upon the bracelets, he recognized the basic design of them and insisted that Ginrai take him back to the garage where he had found the truck. On the way, however, they were sent off-road when the truck began to experience an energy surge before being subsequently attacked by the Decepticon Godmaster brothers Hydra and Buster. Accidentally touching the bracelets as he attempted to escape the crushed cab, Ginrai was infused with the Masterforce, and a suit of armor materialized around him, healing both himself and the transtector as they combined and transformed. Now a Godmaster himself, Ginrai saw the shocked Decepticons off. A Hero Is Chosen - His Name Is Ginrai
Ginrai was at first unsure of what to make of his new powers and was not entirely keen on joining the Autobots, as the notion of operating as part of a command structure and being tied down to a specific place ran directly counter to his desire for freedom in his life. Although he promised to aid them when necessary "for the sake of the world"—a mantra for which he admitted he had a weakness—he soon bore witness to the true evil of the Decepticons when Hydra and Buster killed several of his fellow truckers while searching for him. In spite of this, Ginrai was still not entirely willing to join the Autobots, but fate would continue to pushing him into doing so. Ginrai: God On of Rage!!
Ginrai soon suffered a prophetic dream, after which he discovered three more pairs of Master-Braces in his transtector, indicating the presence of more Godmasters on Earth. When Ginrai brought the bracelets to Japan for study at Autobot Base, A Strange Friendship: Cancer and Minerva events began to escalate as his transtector activated on its own, transporting Ginrai to his birthplace of Nagano, or more specifically, a construction site at the base of Mount Yatsugatake there. Blasting for a tunnel through the mountain had been blocked by a mysterious object, which proved to be a trailer for Ginrai's truck, which burst from the tunnel during another battle with Buster and Hydra. Friend or Foe!? The True Form of the Monster!! Later still, the two brothers lured Ginrai into a public battle so that they might blame the conflict on him and turn public opinion against the Autobots. The plan failed, but a friend of Ginrai's offered the suggestion that his becoming a Godmaster was the will of God Himself. Eliminate the Godmaster Ginrai
Not long thereafter, in a battle with King Poseidon, Ginrai discovered that his cab and trailer were capable of performing a "Double On", merging to create the super-robot "Super Ginrai". Heroism!! The Birth of Super Ginrai Additionally, after appearing on television in hopes of locating the remaining three Godmasters, to whom he would give the Master-Braces, Ginrai successfully located Lightfoot, Lightfoot: A Dramatic Encounter Ranger An Enemy? The Third Godmaster, Ranger and Road King and recruited them to the Autobot side. Assemble! The Four Godmaster Gunmen During this time, Ginrai was also challenged to a duel by the wandering Six Changer, Sixknight, who had been manipulated into doing so by the Decepticons. Sixknight lost the fight and was shocked to discover that he had been bested by a human being, A Powerful Foe!! Sixknight the Wanderer but was affected so deeply by Ginrai's explanation for how this could be so that he wound up siding with the Autobots. After this string of successes the Autobot leader Metalhawk stepped down as commander and requested that Ginrai take his place. After some deliberation and much hassling from the other Autobot Pretenders, who wouldn't let him say no, Ginrai accepted. The Autobot Warrior, Sixknight?!
When Grand Maximus arrived on Earth to inform Ginrai's Autobots of the impending arrival of the Decepticon super-weapon, BlackZarak, he provided them with the schematics necessary to create the drone Godbomber. Life? Death? The Desperate Lightfoot Metalhawk and the Pretenders raced to finish the construction of Godbomber, but as the so-called "Bomber Project" neared completion, Ginrai was lured into the desert by a disguised Buster and Hydra (under the auspices of performing some stunt driving for a movie) and was attacked and beaten within an inch of his life by the Decepticon Ambassador of Destruction, Overlord. Super Ginrai Gets Blown Away in the Desert!? Following a failed attack on the Bomber Project facility, Will the Bomber Project Be Destroyed!? the barely healed Ginrai insisted upon taking the fight to the Decepticons, combining with the completed Godbomber to form "God Ginrai". God Ginrai - Into the Sky!! In his new form, Ginrai confronted Overlord and BlackZarak on the moon, where he fully embraced his role as protector of Earth and defeated the Decepticons with the aid of Grand Maximus. God Ginrai - Showdown on the Surface of the Moon
Upon returning to Earth, Ginrai was lured into a trap in the Middle East by Overlord, during which Godbomber revealed a hidden power by transforming into a robot mode. Overlord - Terror of the Chōkon Tornado Godbomber's robot mode also helped save the day when Ginrai and Lightfoot were entombed in a cave while attempting to stop the eruption of an underwater volcano, Escape!! The Underwater Volcano Erupts leading the Decepticons to target him for destruction. Luring Ginrai to the heartland of America, the villains ambushed and badly wounded the Autobot leader, leaving him unable to use his Chōkon Power to animate Godbomber. Luckily, the day was saved when the Headmaster Juniors discovered they were able to take control of Godbomber together. Destroy Godbomber!!
When it seemed as though the Autobots had finally been joined by the final Godmaster, a young man named Clouder, Ginrai welcomed him into their ranks with open arms. Metalhawk, however, proved to be less trusting, and soon exposed Clouder as a Decepticon spy. Unfortunately, this was not enough to stop the plan the Decepticons had put in motion; while Ginrai and the Godmasters were occupied battling Buster and Hydra in a nearby city, the Autobot base was crippled by Clouder's sabotage and attacked by the rest of the Decepticons en masse. Secret Orders! Destroy the Autobot Base!! Ginrai was unable to prevent the destruction of the base, but was approached by Clouder in the aftermath. Clouder had been left to die in the base by the other Decepticons, and now wanted to work with the Autobots, which Ginrai permitted. Disaster! The Autobot Base Explodes
After failing to contact Grand Maximus, Ginrai headed out into space to search for him and found him trapped inside a powerful black hole. Ginrai too fell victim to the singularity's pull, but he and Grand Maximus were able to combine their energies to destroy it from within and escape. The black hole had, in fact, been created by BlackZarak, who had been able to travel to Earth and join the Decepticons there during Ginrai's imprisonment. BlackZarak - Destroyer from Space With BlackZarak now bolstering their forces, the Decepticons' campaign grew ever more aggressive, with Ginrai only just managed to save the planet from the villains' unholy Death Para-Machine. Crisis! The Day of Human Extinction
When Shūta was captured by the Decepticons, Ginrai was forced to come to the villains' base alone and unarmed in exchange for his safety. Things looked bad for the heroes until the self-doubting Decepticon Cancer finally switched sides and saved the day. God Ginrai: Showdown at the Decepticon Base With Cancer's aid, Ginrai was able to lead the Autobots in an all-out attack on the Decepticon base, during which Devil Z fused with BlackZarak, creating an even more powerful composite foe. The Ultimate Combination!! BlackZarak, the New Lifeform
After conclusive final battles with Hydra and Buster Battle to the Death!! God Ginrai VS Darkwings Reborn and Overlord, Autobots! Desperate Attack!! Ginrai confronted the fused Devil Z/BlackZarak entity atop the Matterhorn. Ginrai saved Overlord from danger after Devil Z turned on him. He was about to destroy both Ginrai and Overlord but Sixknight came to his rescue. He told Ginrai to assemble the Autobots while he battled BlackZarak. After much urging to stay with him Ginrai went to get the other Godmasters. However this would be the last time he would speak to Sixknight as Devil Z unleashed a big bolt of Devil Power on the Autobot Six Changer and destroyed him. Angered by this Ginrai decided to fit BlackZarak alone. Malevolent and Inhuman! The True Form of Devil Z As their battle raged down the mountain, Ginrai succeeded in decapitating the villain, but BlackZarak simply assumed a new, serpentine alternate mode and kept on fighting. The Headmaster Juniors boarded Ginrai's chest cockpit and joined their energies with him, allowing him to destroy BlackZarak's body with his God Fire Guts attack, exposing Devil Z. As the alien raged impotently, Ginrai and the Juniors united every last drop of their Chōkon Power into the almighty Final Fire Guts attack, which destroyed Devil Z once and for all.
With Devil Z's death, the bond he had forged between transtector and human ceased to exist, and Ginrai and the other humans were separated from their transtectors. The transtectors, however, had been evolved through their partnership with the humans and continued to exist as true super-robot life forms. Having been imprinted with his human partner's personality, Ginrai's transtector departed for space to pursue the surviving Decepticons and rejoin the greater war. A Battle... and Then...
Cloud
Kiss Players
Operating under the direction of the Sparkbots, Marissa Faireborn traveled forward in time from 2007 to witness Ginrai's first battle with Overlord in the desert. Thinking he was Optimus Prime, she kissed him to obtain a fragment of what she believed was the Allspark that had bonded to him (although in actuality, it was a fragment of Unicron's lifeforce). Discovering he was a human man, she was somewhat horrified to find that she had kissed someone other than Optimus Prime, and begged her Sparkbot companion Angela not to tell anyone. Kiss Players #43
Generations Selects Special Comic
In 2020, God Ginrai defeated Turtler and flew away, leaving the Seacon in defeat. Seacons comic 5
Legends comic
Ginrai was summoned by the Headmasters Juniors to the Legends World, where a transtector similar to his original one had appeared. Within it he found a new pair of Master-Braces that allowed him to become a Godmaster again, this time by forming the head of the transtector, and he transformed into Super Ginrai once more. Using Chōkon Power, he battled the Decepticons sent by a revived Devil Z to destroy the transtector, but was overwhelmed when they were augmented with Devil Power. The imperiled Ginrai was contacted by the factory computer of G Nebula 89, responsible for his new body, who told him it could be powered up further through use of Getmaster technology. He attempted a Get On and ended up drawing upon the power of a passing-by Rattrap, but found to his luck that the rat allowed him to access Jūchōkon, a new form of Chōkon Power that he used to transform into a base mode and fire a "God Fire Base Attack" that sent Devil Z and his cronies packing. Ginrai then remained in the Legends Universe to defend it from Devil Z, but was rather annoyed that the locals kept mistaking him for Optimus Prime. Bonus Edition Vol. 35 He was later seen partying at the Dancitron. Bonus Edition Vol. 36
While Ginrai was working for Blurr's delivery service, the new Godbomber that was being built for him was stolen by Decepticons. He attacked Decepticon Tera-Kura Co. to retrieve the robot only to find it under the control of Nightbeat, who challenged him to a duel. Even Super Ginrai's Getmaster powers did not avail him against Godbomber's firepower and ability to avoid attacks by splitting apart, and he was defeated. Fortunately the real Godbomber appeared on the scene, allowing him to become God Ginrai once more and destroy the fake before celebrating his reunion with his old partner. Bonus Edition Vol. 42 One morning, Ginrai woke up in the body of Magna Convoy, seemingly having contracted Transformers sickness. He first wondered who Magna Convoy was, but when even Waspinator and Delta Magnus were unable to solve the mystery, he got back to his deliveries and stole Delta Magnus's trailer to replace his transtector's. He was soon accosted by the Decepticon Headmasters, who believed they had a chance now that he was just a normal robot, but sent them fleeing by combining with the trailer into Super Magna Convoy. Ginrai's customer, Nightscream, was so impressed that he offered him a movie role, but Ginrai lost his chance as he reverted into a human the next day. Bonus Edition Magna Convoy
God Ginrai was among those who took on a revived Trypticon, believing his Triplemaster strength would avail him against the giant beast. However, he noticed too late that Trypticon was similarly drawing power from everyone he'd devoured, making him powerful enough to defeat Ginrai by ripping Godbomber off of him. Bonus Edition Vol. 43 After Trypticon was defeated and integrated into Akihabara, Ginrai was seen driving on the streets. Targetmaster Chapter Prologue While on a job to transport Master-Braces to Bonapar Island, Ginrai was blasted out of the sky by none other than Giga's Gigatank, and when he transformed to fight back, the Megajet showed up and separated him and Godbomber from their transtectors. Minerva and Cab were able to borrow the transtectors and drive the villains away, but not before they stole Ginrai's shipment of braces. Bonus Edition God Ginrai Knowing this heralded the inevitable return of Overlord, Ginrai revisited his home universe and had Godbomber's armor upgraded in anticipation of their battle. On Perceptor's request, he brought the Haywire Laser with him back to the Legends World only to learn that the weapon was actually the Beastformer White Lune, who scratched his face something fierce when he tried to stop her from wandering off. Late Xmas Present Chapter
Lured to the Chōkon Tower Chinese Restaurant by the offer of cheap food, Ginrai was met with Giga and Mega who revealed that they had come back to life to finish their rivalry once and for all with a duel. Super Ginrai was overwhelmed by his opponents' mastery of the Chōkon variation Shinchōkon, forcing him to Get On with Rattrap and become God Ginrai, but even so he was brought low by Giga and Mega's ability to form their own separate Overlords and combine them into the mighty Overlord Tera. On the cusp of defeat, however, he managed to tap into the Shinchōkon emanating from Rattrap and use it together with Jūchōkon to defeat the Overlords with a "Double Chōkon Fire Guts" attack. Not one to hold a grudge, he then told Giga and Mega he was ready for a rematch any time. Bonus Edition Vol. 60 When all Masterforce warriors joined forces to defend the world from Devil Z and his gigantic new BlackZarak, God Ginrai battled him using the combined weapon mode of Shaoshao Li, Sue Faireborn and White Lune. Bonus Edition Grand Maximus
Ginrai witnessed Majin Zarak's arrival in the Legends World Legends World in Imminent Danger! Part One and participated in the battle with the beast. With the destruction of the dimension being imminent, he and everyone else then evacuated back their own worlds. Legends World in Imminent Danger! Part Two
TV Magazine comic continuity
Super-God Masterforce comic
When Ginrai, the first Autobot Godmaster, was discovered in America by Diver, it was immediately arranged for him to travel to Japan to meet with the rest of the Autobots. As Metalhawk and the Headmaster Juniors awaited his arrival at Harumi Wharf, however, they were attacked by the Decepticon Godmasters, Hydra and Buster. The Autobots were unable to match the Decepticons' power, but salvation soon came in the form of a red tractor trailer: Ginrai had arrived, and saw the villains off with a blast of Chōkon Power. In the aftermath of the battle, Metalhawk commented on Ginrai's similarity to Optimus Prime and wondered if he could be his reincarnation. Ginrai dismissed the notion, explaining that he had chosen to do this not because he was fated to, but specifically because he had only one life, and wanted to use it in service of the forces of good. On Scene! Our Savior's Name Is Ginrai!
As leader of the Autobots, Ginrai led the heroes in investigating a mysterious Decepticon plan, only for the team to come under attack from what appeared to be a large army of legendary Decepticons, led by Galvatron. Attacked by King Poseidon, Ginrai was severely outmatched until the other Autobot Godmasters, Lightfoot, Ranger and Road King arrived with a trailer for his transtector. Combining with the trailer, Ginrai became Super Ginrai and defeated King Poseidon, revealing that the legendary Decepticons were nothing more than holograms. Burn, Chokon! New Commander Super Ginrai!
After traveling to planet Athenia, Ginrai was appointed the new Supreme Commander of the Autobots by Fortress. The Battle Begins! The Earth-Space Alliance Army When he got back to Earth, he was embroiled in battle with the other human Autobots against Grand King Poseidon . Headmasters VS Masterforce Ginrai soon received a power-up in the form of a transforming drone named Godbomber. When the Decepticon Ambassador of Destruction Overlord then attacked Tokyo, the newly formed "God Ginrai" attacked him and lured him into space, where the powerful Decepticon warrior BlackZarak was in process of battling other Autobots there. Ginrai was able to turn the two villains' powers against themselves, and they badly wounded each other and fled. God Ginrai's Amazing Divine Combination!
After a mission to rescue Shūta and Cab from the Decepticons with the help of Grand Maximus, The Good and Evil Families of Earth a mission to Chomolungma saw Ginrai struck down by the newest Decepticon Godmaster, Doubleclouder. Left temporarily blind by the Decepticons' new A.O. Laser, Ginrai was helpless, but luckily for him, an insulting remark from Cancer prompted the fickle Doubleclouder to switch sides to the Autobots and help him defeat the villains' plans. The Decepticons' Great Counterattack!
After several further battles, events culminated in Devil Z taking over BlackZarak's body and turning against the other Decepticons, attempting to drain Overlord and Ginrai's Jinchōkon Power to transform himself into the ultimate lifeform. Saved by the Autobot Pretenders, Ginrai and Overlord led their respective factions in combining their energies into the "Perfect Transformer Attack" and destroying Devil Z and BlackZarak for good. With Devil Z's death, the bond he had forged between transtector and human ceased to exist, and Ginrai and the other humans were separated from their transtectors. The transtectors, however, had been evolved through their partnership with the humans and continued to exist as true super-robot life forms. Having been imprinted with his human partner's personality, Ginrai's transtector informed Overlord that they would finish their fight out in space, and the Transformers departed the planet, leaving Ginrai and the other Autobot humans to return to their lives. The Birth of the Super Life-Forms
Victory comic
Cab and Shūta weren't impressed by the new Autobot Supreme Commander, Star Saber, and registered their disappointment with his human son, Jan. According to them, God Ginrai was the superior Commander as he had a human heart acting as his conscience, while Star Saber was strictly a cold, unfeeling robot. Jan took exception to this, but Cab and Shūta were eventually won over when they witnessed Star Saber show compassion to the Decepticon Kakuryu. Star Saber, Warrior of Love!
PDTF Comic
During a battle with Overlord, Ginrai announced he was going to launch a Chōkon Power attack. As he raised his gun in the air to gather Tenchōkon energy, he was suddenly hit by a bolt of lightning. Standing blackened by the shock, he wondered what the probability of that happening was. Fight! Super Ginrai!
During a battle, God Ginrai announced he was going to perform the "biggest final attack in the Universe", much to the consternation of the Decepticons. His Chōkon Fire Guts attack sent them all flying, and, as they writhed on the ground, Ginrai asked Ultra Magnus to refrain from pointing out that it was just a normal punch, or it might not work so well. Now! Deliver the Finishing Blow! God Ginrai!!
Titans Return marketing material
Ginrai was an ancient Titan Master who could grant Chokon Power to a larger bot.[2] He was partnered with Magnus Prime when the Autobots fought back a Decepticon attack on Cybertron.[3]
Transformers: All Spark
God Ginrai led a team of reinforcements to aid Bumblebee and Spike in their battle against Overlord's forces. On arrival, Ginrai separated from his transtector, allowing Spike to form its head while he instead manned one of its weapons. Looming Threat
Toys
Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers
- ID number: C-307
- Accessories: Godmaster transtector, 2 "Superconductor Rifles", 2 "Particle Beam Cannons", Super Ginrai head
- Known designers: Kōjin Ōno (TakaraTomy)
- Released in the fourth year of Takara's Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers line under the Super-God Masterforce banner, Ginrai a remolded version of the Hasbro Powermaster Optimus Prime figure, transforming into a red, blue and grey tractor-trailer, only able to transform into robot mode when the small Ginrai human figure is put into engine mode and snapped into place in the truck's grill, unlocking the clasp that holds the legs in place. When the cab is in robot mode, the trailer can become a battle station. Either robot or station can be armed with any of the toy's weapons, including two black "Superconductor Rifles", and two grey double-barrelled "Particle Beam Cannons", (referred to as "Cannon Craft" in "The Battle Begins! The Earth-Space Alliance Army"), which can be piloted by any small Godmaster figures. The cab and trailer can be merged into "Super Ginrai", whose head is a separate piece, and can go on to combine with the separately sold Godbomber to become God Ginrai.
- Differences between Ginrai and Powermaster Optimus Prime include retractable super-robot fists, a die-cast metal cab with translucent blue plastic windows, shortened smokestacks, a more metallic grey plastic, chrome on the Godmaster Ginrai engine, and silver paint rather than stickers for the small robot's upper legs.
- Godginrai [sic] (Godmaster multi-pack, 1988)
- ID number: C-310
- Accessories: Godmaster transtector, 2 "Superconductor Rifles", 2 "Particle Beam Cannons", Super Ginrai head, "God Cannon", "Tachyon Missile"
- Known designers: Ban Magami (concept artist)
- Super Ginrai was also sold in a gift set with Godbomber, who can interact with Ginrai in several ways. Trailer mode Godbomber can hook up either directly to Ginrai's cab or to the back of Ginrai's own trailer and be towed along behind him, while any of Ginrai's weapons can plug into the holes in Godbomber's wings and chassis. Most prominently, of course, Godbomber disassembles into various component parts that combine with Super Ginrai to form God Ginrai. Godbomber's legs become boots known as "God Legs", to which Ginrai's Particle Beam Cannons attach; his chest and wings form the "God Wing" backpack; his arms clip over the top of Ginrai's own as the "God Punch"; and his back becomes a chromed chestplate called the "God Breast", into the top of which the spring-loaded, missile-firing "God Cannon" plugs. The toy also features a secondary, lesser combination referred to as the "God Breaster", which involves attaching the God Breast to Super Ginrai, and plugging Godbomber's wings into his arms.
- Godginrai [sic] (Godmaster, 2001)
- ID number: C-310
- Accessories: Godmaster transtector, 2 "Superconductor Rifles", 2 "Particle Beam Cannons", Super Ginrai head, "God Cannon", "Tachyon Missile"
- The God Ginrai giftset was reissued in Japan in 2001 with the notable modification of blue eyes for the small Ginrai robot and a slightly different shade of red paint on the cab. However, it was notoriously over-produced, and online retailers were still selling it even years later, at greatly reduced prices. The blue plastic used on this reissue appears to be susceptible to GPS, becoming brittle and prone to breakage over time.
- The reissue was redecoed into the exclusive "Fire Guts God Ginrai" figure (see below).
- This giftset is the basis for the Commemorative Series "Powermaster Optimus Prime with Apex Armor" release, which is notable for referring to the Powermaster figure as "Ginrai", rather than Hi-Q. The More than Meets the Eye profile series sidestepped this issue by presenting "Ginrai" as a different name for Hi-Q.
- ID number: C-310E
- Accessories: Godmaster transtector, 2 "Superconductor Rifles", 2 "Particle Beam Cannons", Super Ginrai head, "God Cannon", "Tachyon Missile"
- Released to coincide with the 2002 reissue of the God Ginrai giftset, this redeco casts the Autobot leader in reds and oranges, representing Ginrai using his "God Fire Guts" attack from the animated series. Fire Guts God Ginrai featured his own unique packaging, with recolored package art, and was limited to 1600 pieces.
- This set was exclusive to e-HOBBY.
- Ginrai (1988)
- ID number: TF Super Ginrai 1
- Accessories: Blue gun, robot head, die-cast Super Ginrai figurine
- Like the other figures in the Transform Jr line, this version of the basic Ginrai cab robot is a simplified version of its larger counterpart. And when we say simplified, we mean simplified—the figure features no Godmaster engine gimmick, and its head is simply pulled off and set aside for transformation. The figure comes packaged with a small die-cast metal figurine of Super Ginrai.
- Shirei Kichi (1988)
- ID number: TF Super Ginrai 2
- Accessories: 2 red guns, trailer post, 2 wheel pieces, ramp, Super Ginrai head
- This Transform Jr figure of the Shirei Kichi (司令基地, "Command Base") is a simplified version of Ginrai's trailer, which can transform to base mode, hitch up to the separately sold cab robot and combine with it to form Super Ginrai. The toy includes a cardboard mock-up of Ginrai in torso mode to complete the super robot's look in-package.
- God Ginrai (Multi-pack, 1988)
- Accessories: Blue gun, small robot head, die-cast Super Ginrai figurine, 2 red guns, trailer post, 2 wheel pieces, ramp, Super Ginrai head, "God Breast" chestpiece, 2 "God Punch" arms
- This giftset includes both the Jr "Ginrai" and "Shirei Kichi" figures and all the accessories which came with them plus the attachments necessary to transform Super Ginrai into God Ginrai. Due to the nature of his construction, though, God Ginrai's fist-holes are blocked off, leaving him unable to hold the weapons which came with his components. Furthermore, as his attachments consist only of two arms and a chestpiece (no boots, no backpack), they cannot combine into Godbomber. The set also includes some sort of plastic "shield" with a cardboard insert depicting the Autobot insignia, which appears to be a pocket or belt clip, or something. We really don't know.
- Ginrai (2006?)
- ID number: BT-17
- Accessories: Engine/blaster
- When Hasbro wanted to create an Alternators Dodge Ram toy, Takara reportedly demanded that it be made into Optimus Prime to help the figure sell, only for the Binaltech release of the toy to wind up being solicited not as "Convoy", but as Ginrai. Ultimately, Binaltech Ginrai was cancelled, and the figure was later released as Optimus Prime/Convoy in the Alternators and Kiss Players lines, but not before Hirofumi Ichikawa produced character and story information to go along with it. Unlike the unreleased story for his fellow Binaltech cancellation victim, Blackarachnia, which fits into the published Binaltech continuity, Ginrai's intended story was modified into Optimus Primal/Nemesis Prime's fiction and therefore is not compatible with the official Binaltech continuity.
- Ginrai was solicited at the same time as Binaltech Asterisk BTA-04 Black Convoy, which was also cancelled and would have used the same mold.
- Hasbro:
- Alternators 21 Optimus Prime
- 24 Nemesis Prime
- Takara:
- Binaltech BT-17 Black Convoy
- BT-22 Convoy
- Kiss Players Convoy
- Super Ginrai (December 28, 2016)
- ID number: LG-35
- Accessories: Two blasters, two shoulder cannons, Ginrai Headmaster
- Known designers: Hisashi Yuki (TakaraTomy)
- Legends Super Ginrai is a redeco/extensive retool of Titans Return Leader Class Powermaster Optimus Prime, with new parts to resemble his original toy and his appearances in the cartoon. The Ginrai Headmaster, retooled from Apex, features a cartoon accurate deco in robot mode, and a new head-mode face based on the original Ginrai toy's core robot mode. Super Ginrai transforms into a trailer truck and a command base, with both modes equipped with pegs and seats for Headmaster/Titan Master figures to interact with. While Super Ginrai reuses the shoulder cannons that came with Powermaster Optimus Prime, his two blasters are new to this iteration of the mold. Both blasters can be pegged together at the top to create a seat that can accommodate a headmaster or Titan Master.
- Like his original figure, Super Ginrai is capable of interacting with the Legends Godbomber figure, which can either attach to the back of his truck mode or combines with his robot mode to form God Ginrai. However, the resultant God Ginrai combination can suffer some balancing issues due to the extra weight Godbomber's parts add to his back, along with some issues with his joints.
- This retooled mold was also used to make Magnus Prime.
- Hasbro: Combiner Wars Ultra Magnus
- Platinum Edition Ultra Magnus
- TakaraTomy: Legends LG14 Ultra Magnus
- Hasbro: Titans Return Powermaster Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime (Primitive Skateboarding Promotion)- TakaraTomy: Legends LG35 Super Ginrai
LG-EX Super Ginrai (God Ginrai set)- Hasbro: Titans Return Magnus Prime
- Magna Convoy (June 5, 2017)
- ID number: LG-EX
- Accessories: Smokestacks/laser cannon, wind vane/ion blaster, Matrix Sword, Large Gun
- An e-HOBBY exclusive, Legends Magna Convoy is a redeco of Classics Voyager Class Optimus Prime, transforming into a cab-over style truck of made up model. In robot mode, his wind vane transforms into a large blaster and can be used as a shield if one of his fists is folded down, and his smokestacks transform into a smaller laser cannon. Additionally, both weapons can combine together to form a double-barrelled over-shoulder weapon. He also features two accessories that are new to this mold: the Matrix Sword, which was reused from Voyager Class Titans Return Alpha Trion and Legends Leo Prime, and the large gun accessory from Titans Return Mindwipe. He comes with two comics, "Cybertron Magna Convoy" and "Bonus Edition Vol. EX".
- Hasbro:
- Classics Optimus Prime
- Ultra Magnus
- Universe Nemesis Prime
- Age of Extinction Optimus Prime
- Platinum Edition Optimus Prime
- Fun Publications:
- Timelines Optimus Prime
- Knight Ginrai
- TakaraTomy:
- Henkei! Henkei! C-01 Convoy
- Convoy Clear Version
Convoy (campaign prize)- United Ultra Magnus
- Black Optimus Prime
- e-HOBBY:
- Cloud TFC-A01 Optimus Prime
- Legends LG-EX Magna Convoy
- God Ginrai (Multi-pack, December 2, 2017)
- ID number: LG-EX
- Accessories: Two blasters, two shoulder cannons, Ginrai Headmaster
- Super Ginrai and Godbomber are also available in a God Ginrai-themed multi-pack exclusive to TakaraTomy Mall, featuring several chromed parts and transparent windows. The set also includes Minerva and Cab Headmasters. This version of Ginrai features retooled ankles that are molded together instead of the double hinges of the original release, meaning that it is much more secure.
- Hasbro: Combiner Wars Ultra Magnus
- Platinum Edition Ultra Magnus
- TakaraTomy: Legends LG14 Ultra Magnus
- Hasbro: Titans Return Powermaster Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime (Primitive Skateboarding Promotion)- TakaraTomy: Legends LG35 Super Ginrai
LG-EX Super Ginrai (God Ginrai set)- Hasbro: Titans Return Magnus Prime
- Siege on Cybertron (Multi-pack, 2017)
- Titans Return Ginrai is a redeco of Legends Ginrai. Ginrai transforms from a robot based on Generation 1 Hi-Q into Magnus Prime's head.
- Ginrai and Magnus Prime were only available as part of the "Siege of Cybertron" set, which also includes Fathom & Tidal Wave, Professor Go & Metalhawk, Decepticon Pounce, and Thunderwing. In the United States, this set was exclusive to BigBadToyStore, but it saw a wider release in Canada where it was available at Toys"R"Us, Amazon, the Canadian Walmart online store, book store chain Indigo and several PC retailers (seriously!). Additionally, it was also available at retail in Hong Kong and Singapore and even saw an official rellease in the Netherlands, where it was exclusively available from BOL.
- The original version of this mold was used to make Titans Return Apex.
- Ginrai (2024)
- ID number: MP-60
- Release date: 2024 December 28
- Accessories: Godmaster, 2 Ginrai Superconductor Rifles, 2 shooting effects
- Masterpiece Ginrai is patterned after his original toy release and sold as a standalone cab that transforms into a robot. He includes his Godmaster, two Superconductor Rifles, and blast effects.
- Super Ginrai (2024)
- ID number: MPG-09
- Release date: 2024 December 28
- Accessories: Container, Godmaster, cartoon version head, toy version head, toy version hand (right), toy version hand (left), boarding figure, 2 Ginrai Superconductor Rifles, 2 Super Ginrai Superconductor Rifles, 2 Particle Beam Cannons, 2 shooting effect parts, 2 lightning attack effect parts, cartoon version shoulder parts, adapter
- MPG Super Ginrai is a redeco and expansion upon the Masterpiece toy above, in animation-accurate colors and including his trailer, which allows a combination into Super Ginrai, and a wider range of accessories. It also includes a sticker sheet to make the trailer more toy-accurate, intended to combine with the MP-60 Ginrai.
- Godmaster-Braces—Ginrai (1988)
- Ginrai's Master-Braces came alive with this role-play set, including two golden-chromed bracelets with handcuff-style hinges, and a small clip-on "communicator" pin.
- Super Ginrai (1988)
- A pair of small non-transforming Decoy-style rubber figurines of Ginrai were released as part of Kabaya's Transformers Caramel line of candy toys, depicting Ginrai in both super robot and truck mode. Around half the size of the more familiar Decoys, the two figures were bundled together, attached to a rubber sprue, and came in either blue, red, or yellow.
- Super Ginrai (1988)
- Accessories: 2 Superconductor Rifles, 2 Particle Beam Cannons, Super Ginrai head
- Part of the ninth wave of Kabaya's Transformers Gum candy toy series, this Ginrai figure is a snap-together model kit cast in blue, red and grey plastic. Although lacking in any paint applications, the figure feature stickers for detail, and retains most of the accessories and features of the actual Ginrai toy. Due to its small size, however, while the Ginrai engine is removable, it cannot transform to human form, nor can the kit combine with Transformers Gum Godbomber to form a Gum version of God Ginrai.
- Super Ginrai (2010)
- Released in the third wave of the revived Transformers Gum series in 2010, this transforming model kit of Super Ginrai is made from red, blue and silver plastic, and decorated with quite a few stickers to add his familiar details. Based on the original Ginrai toy, this figure actually features MORE articulation than the original, as the arms are made of two pieces each, adding elbow movement. He also doesn't have to partform into robot mode, an unusual sight in Kabaya's offerings. This kit can combine with the Transformers Gum Godbomber, released in the same wave, to make God Ginrai.
- God Ginrai (2010)
- The combined form of the Godbomber and Super Ginrai kits released in the third wave of the revived Transformers Gum series in 2010.
- God Ginrai (2016)
- The Godbomber and Super Ginrai kits were re-released as a bundle under the DX Gattai label in 2016. Each kit comes with a metallic sheen on the plastic, pre-painted head parts, and shinier stickers.
- As with other DX Gattai toys featuring box art in homage to their original figures, God Ginrai's packaging mimics that of the original 1988 God Ginrai two-pack.
- Super Ginrai (1990)
- A small two-tone, non-transforming super deformed model kit of Super Ginrai was available as part of Kabaya's "Parody Deformed" line of candy toys. The seventh figure in the series, he was available in red, blue or yellow, and came with a "PDTF Comic" comic about himself, "Fight! Super Ginrai!", and something that could charitably be described as "chocolate".
- God Ginrai (1990)
- A similar model kit of God Ginrai followed in the next wave of the "Parody Deformed" series, this time packaged with something accused of being "gum". As the thirteenth figure of the line, God Ginrai came with the "Transformer PD Type" comic, "Now! Deliver the Finishing Blow! God Ginrai!!".
- God Ginrai (2000)
- Act: 1
- Accessories: Stand
- This PVC figure of Ginrai in his powered-up "God" form was available in the first "Act" of Takara'sSuper Collection Figure series. He came in both full-color and clear-plastic versions one each in every case of twelve figures.
- This mold would later be released as "Powermaster Optimus Prime in Apex Armor" in the first wave of Hasbro's Heroes of Cybertron line.
- Super Ginrai (2000)
- Act: 2
- Accessories: Stand
- The second Super Collection Figure of Ginrai, in his less impressive "Super" mode, was available in the second Act of the series. Once again, he came in both full-color and clear plastic versions, one of each per case of twelve figures.
- Fire Guts God Ginrai (2001)
- Act: 4
- Accessories: Stand
- The original God Ginrai PVC was re-released in solid metallic gold for the fourth Act of the Super Collection Figure series, available as a rare chase "Secret Figure", available only in one out of every ten cases. It is currently unknown which figure Ginrai replaced in this Act.
- The "Fire Guts" concept was apparently the inspiration for the "Powermaster Optimus Prime Spark Attack" figure in the Hasbro Heroes of Cybertron line, although that figure was cast entirely in translucent yellow-orange plastic, rather than solid golden.
- Ginrai (2001)
- Act: 5
- Accessories: Stand
- The fourth and final Ginrai PVC rendered the character in his basic robot form, released in the fifth, Masterforce-centric Act of the series. This figure was available in both full-color and metallic silver "pewter" versions, one of each in every case of twelve figures.
- The pewter version of the figure has a potential problem with connector peg breakage, due to said pegs often getting a layer of pewter paint before being forced into a socket, leading to sticking and tearing. Care should be used when moving or removing the arms; shaving down the socket interior with a thin hobby knife is usually sufficient to fix the issue.
- In eight out of every ten cases, the pewter version of Ginrai came packaged with the head and torso of the wave's BlackZarak "Build-A-Figure". These parts were available in both full-color and smokey translucent plastic, in an equal ratio of 4 out of every 10 cases each.
- Ginrai (2012)
- Accessories: Helmet, 2 smiling faces, 2 angry faces, 2 shouting faces, 4 pairs of hands
- A posable figure of Ginrai in his Godmaster armor was made by CM's Corporation as part of their Gutto Kuru Figure Collection series. He comes with a number of different hands, his helmet, three swappable heads with different expressions and three matching swappable faces for when he's wearing the helmet.
- Ginrai can be modified into his Western counterpart, Hi-Q, by use of an additional head sold only with Gutto Kuru Minelba Special Color Ver..
- Jinrai (迅雷) is a Japanese word meaning "thunderclap", but Japanese creator Masumi Kaneda, who named the character, notes the name was designed to evoke various other Japanese words that reflect the character, including shinrai (信頼, "trust"), kamurai (神来, "coming from God"), nin'ai (人愛, "love of people") and jin'ai (仁愛, "benevolence"). While Jinrai is the standard way of rendering the katakana that make up his name (ジンライ) in Latin characters, the name is consistently rendered as "Ginrai" in various Japanese sources, including the toy's packaging and the opening sequence of the Masterforce cartoon. Kaneda notes that this was also deliberate, with GinRai intended to evoke Giant Robot.[4] An elegant feature of the name to Kaneda was the fact that every katakana character in the name contains the no (ノ) character as a stroke.[5] God Ginrai (ゴッドジンライ), meanwhile, was named so that omitting every other Japanese syllable yields the word Gojira (ゴジラ), better known in the west as Godzilla.[6]
- Early in preproduction for Super-God Masterforce, Ginrai was named "N-Convoy". This is likely an English-based abbreviation of "New Convoy" (新コンボイ Shin Konboi).[7]
- The human Ginrai's appearance is designed after screen actor Yūjirō Ishihara.[citation needed]
- According to Ginrai's Tech Specs, there is a generator within his transtector named the "Ultra Matrix", which contains far more energy than the Sun. No fiction has featured this device, though it is mentioned in magazines such as Comic Bom Bom.
- Ginrai's supplementary bio card states that he is 20 years old. It also implies that he is an American of Japanese descent instead of a native of Japan.
- Ginrai was a candidate in TakaraTomy's Masterpiece Fan's Choice poll, which asked fans to determine which Autobot/Maximal leader from the franchise's then-30 year history should receive a new toy in the prestigious Masterpiece line. Ginrai placed third, with 18.6% of the vote.
- English: Optimus Prime (Omni Productions dub)
- Italian: Commander
- Mandarin: Jinrai (仁萊 Rénlái), Chāoshén Jinrai (超神仁萊 Chāoshén Rénlái, "Super-God Jinrai"), Leon (Taiwan Masterforce anime, 雷恩 Léiēn)
- Russian: Optimus Prime (Оптимус Прайм Optimus Prajm)
- ↑ This is extrapolated from Generations Selects Special Comic stating Super-God Masterforce is set in 2020.
- ↑ Trypticon's Titan Master Crunch
- ↑ Titans Return Siege on Cybertron pack-in materials
- ↑ "ジンライ(迅雷)を名付けた者がお答えします。正式には「GINRAI」です。信頼、神来、人愛、仁愛、そして「GR」=GIANT ROBOTの意味が含まれています。"—Masumi Kaneda, Twitter, 2022/02/02
- ↑ "もちろん漢字にすれば迅雷です。「ジンライ」ってカタカナで書くと、4文字すべてに「ノ」が入るすわりの良さが隠し味です。"—Masumi Kaneda, Twitter, 2019/07/31
- ↑ "Also, there’s something of a secret about his naming, that being that the powered up “God Ginrai” is pulled from “Godzilla.” For that reason, I think the name echoes a strong feeling."—Masumi Kaneda, Transformers Generations, 2001/07 (translated at TFPulp.com (archived))
- ↑ "新コンボイはごく最初の考えていない時期のメーカー側の仮案=海外品準拠です。"—Masumi Kaneda, Twitter, 2021/11/10
Transform Jr
Binaltech
Alternators mold: Optimus Prime | ||
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Legends
Combiner Wars mold: Ultra Magnus | ||
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Version 1: Version 2: Version 3: |
Classics mold: Optimus Prime | ||
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Combiner Wars mold: Ultra Magnus | ||
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Version 1: Version 2: Version 3: |
Titans Return
Masterpiece
MPG
Merchandise
Super-God Masterforce
Transformers Caramel
Transformers Gum
Parody Deformed
Super Collection Figure
Gutto Kuru Figure Collection
Notes
Foreign names
References
- Featured articles
- Character stubs missing fiction
- Stub
- Unreleased toys
- Upcoming toy releases
- Character stubs missing toys
- Articles needing citations
- Autobot leaders
- Cloud Autobots
- Godmasters
- Headmasters
- Kiss Players Autobots
- Knights
- Legends Autobots
- Legends humans
- Masterpiece
- Matrix bearers
- MPG
- Repurposed toys
- Super-God Masterforce Autobots
- Super-God Masterforce humans
- TakaraTomy Mall exclusives
- Titan Masters
- Titans Return Autobots
- Variable species characters
- Victory Autobots