Idaten Jump (
Japanese: IDATEN翔 / 韋駄天翔,
Hepburn: Idaten Shō) is a Japanese
manga series created by Toshihiro Fujiwara. It was serialized in
Kodansha's Comic BomBom.[3] The manga tells the story about a boy named Sho Yamato who loves
mountain biking. It was adapted into a 52-episode
anime series, produced by
Aniplex and Trans Arts.[4][5] It aired from October 1, 2005, to September 30, 2006.[6][7] A toyline was also made by
Tomy.
Plot
Sho Yamato is a boy who enjoys
MTB a lot. He and his friends Kakeru and Makoto, always practices at the "X-Zone", a place which his father Takeshi Yamato made for MTB, while riding on a bike his father had built called "Flame Kaiser".
One day, Sho is challenged to a race by a MTB group Team Shark Tooth headed by his classmate and rival Gabu Samejima, and whoever wins the race will get the X-Zone. For Sho, the X-Zone had always been a place of happy memories. He has spent many days with his father, who disappeared, so he accepts the game in order to save X-Zone. During the race with Gabu, a black smoke suddenly covers the ground around them, and are sent to another world which is also called as "X-Zone".
When Sho wakes up, he finds Kakeru, Makoto, and his MTB Flame Kaiser are also present. While they are wondering what has happened, MTB riders arrive and challenges Sho to an Idaten battle, a form of MTB race in the X-Zone. They tells that the only way for Sho to return home is by collecting 10 gold emblems by winning Idaten battles while making their way to X-City which is at the epicenter of the X-Zone. This is how Sho comes down to compete in Idaten Battles at various courses such as ghost towns,
volcanoes, ancient ruins,
deserts, and snow-topped mountains. Now Sho must Idaten Battle for the sake of returning home.
Before an Idaten Battle begins, the MTB riders will put on their bike helmets while quoting "Ready, set, and go". When their bike helmets are on, a full mountain biking suit appears on them during the Idaten Battles. Sho's group decides to head towards the X-City, the main city of X-Zone so that they can get the 10 gold emblem and can return to their home. They also face off against Team Shark Tooth and their various allies even when he arrives in X-City where Gabu is actually the dictator. After defeating Gabu, the black smoke takes them back to earth, but Makoto's brother Kyoichi Shido remains there.
They find that only a half day has gone after staying 3 months in X-Zone. However, they return to X-Zone due to various circumstances, and also find that Imperial X, the bike which controls the energy levels of X-Zone is stolen by mysterious Team X, who controls people by defeating other racers and planting Team X emblem on their bikes. Sho also learns that Takeshi, who is actually alive, is a member of the X-Zone. They also learn that Kyoichi is also defeated by Team X and has become their leader. Sho later defeats Kyoichi in the race and makes him normal, but later learns that Takeshi is the leader of Team X and was the one who stole Imperial X; had been controlling Kyoichi earlier.
It is revealed that Takeshi actually created the MTB bikes in order to save the world from the destruction caused by the activities of an ancient devil who wants to take revenge. An engaging battle ensues, where Sho defeats Takeshi in a MTB battle and makes him normal. Sho stays back in X-Zone as it is his homeland, while the gang, along with Kyoichi emotionally return to earth. Few days later while the gang are practicing, they reminisce about Sho. To their shock and happiness, Sho returns to earth telling that Takeshi has sent him to be with his friends.
Kakero is one of the main characters in the series. His main job in their team is to fix Sho, Makoto and Ayumu's bikes and also to change their bikes' gears whenever they are going to have an Idaten Battle.
Kyoichi Shido is Makoto Shido's elder brother. He is amazingly talented at everything, especially mountain biking. He is very protective towards his sister, also being a serious person. In the first few episodes, he used to follow Makoto, Sho, Kakeru and Hosuke but he always kept his distance. His MTB is Thunder Emperor and he is really an awesome unbeatable and impeccable rider, being a trial bike champion.
Yuki is a mechanic who is one of the protagonists of the anime. She is actually a princess from a very respected family. She is an expert mechanic and helps Sho and co. on various occasions. Arthur and Yuki have helped protect the secrets of the X-Zone. She has been wanting to be a mechanic from her childhood. She is Hosuke's granddaughter.
Koei is a ninja rider hired Gabu Samejima and was a member of Team ST. It is later revealed that he did so because he could not afford a doctor for his sister, Kiku. Once Kiku fell in Gabu's clutches, Sho Yamato had to help rescue her. He rides the Idaten Bike Aero Scissors. His special move is the "Ninjutsu Hurricane" by which he can create a hurricane around him.
Ayumu Yamato is Sho Yamato 's younger brother. He joins the group during their return to the X-Zone. Ayumu used to behave like a maniac and ride without any control when riding MTB's until Koei taught him about control. He rides the Idaten bike Imperial Dragon.
Takeshi Yamato Sho Yamato's father. While falling off his bike in an accident, he was transferred to the X-Zone to repair Imperial X. He had built Flame Kaiser, Thunder Emperor, Neptune, Imperial Tiger, Imperial Dragon, Aero Scissors, Hammer Head and Bloody Fang as well. Possessed by an ancient evil, he rode Imperial X whose attack was Even's Destruction. He defeated Flame Kaiser and took away its emblem but lost in the rematch where Sho rode with the combined forces of Bloody Fang, Thunder Emperor, Aero Scissors, Hammer Head, Imperial Dragon and Neptune. He made the Idaten Bikes to restore and maintain peace in the X-Zone and protect Imperial X.
Gabu Samejima is the strongest MTB Rider along with Kyoichi Shido. He rides the powerful Idaten bike, Bloody Fang. Gabu and Taiga Samejima are the leaders of Team Shark Tooth aka Team ST. He goes to the same school as Sho, Makoto, and Kakeru. When Team Shark Tooth arrived in the X-Zone, Gabu became the dictator of X-City after overthrowing it's mayor.
Taiga Samejima (鮫島 大牙(さめじま たいが))
Voiced by: Toshiyuki Kusuda (Japanese);
Steve Staley (English)
The older brother of Gabu who serves as his second-in-command of Team Shark Tooth.
Captain Jackal is a ship captain who is a member of Team ST. He and his crewmen challenged Sho when Sho was on a ship to X-City. They did get away with some of Sho's Emblems at the cost of Captain Jackal's ship and handed them to Gabu and Taiga.
Yoko and Rika are two sisters who are resort tycoons in Gold Celebresort City and members of Team Shark Tooth. Yoko is a MTB rider while her sister Rika is a mechanic.