Super Shiro
Super Shiro (スーパーシロ, Sūpā Shiro) is a Japanese anime television series that serves as a spin-off from the long-running Crayon Shin-chan franchise, centering on Shiro, the Nohara family's seemingly ordinary pet dog who secretly transforms into a superhero to safeguard the Earth.[1] The series follows Shiro's missions to protect legendary artifacts, such as the powerful bone known as the "Bobobobobone," from villains like the evil inventor dog Dekapoo, who seeks world domination.[1] Produced by Shin-Ei Animation and Science SARU, it premiered on October 14, 2019, via streaming platforms AbemaTV and Telasa in Japan, with episodes airing weekly until September 7, 2020.[2] The anime was created to commemorate the 60th anniversary of TV Asahi and features a mix of action, comedy, and adventure tailored for a young audience, highlighting Shiro's double life alongside brief appearances from the Crayon Shin-chan cast.[2] Internationally, Super Shiro launched in 2020 on Turner Broadcasting's Cartoon Network in various regions, expanding its reach to global viewers.[3] Directed by Masaaki Yuasa with series composition by Kimiko Ueno, the 48-episode series, with each episode approximately 5 minutes long, blends traditional 2D animation with stylistic elements from Science SARU's distinctive approach.[4] Super Shiro received positive attention for its charming character design and lighthearted storytelling, earning a 6.3/10 rating on IMDb based on viewer feedback, and it has been made available on various streaming services worldwide, such as HBO Max and Apple TV.[4] The show's success underscores the enduring popularity of the Crayon Shin-chan universe, particularly its beloved canine character, Shiro, who first appeared in the original manga and anime in 1990.[1]Synopsis
Premise
Super Shiro centers on Shiro, the unassuming pet dog of the Nohara family from the Crayon Shin-chan universe, who leads an ordinary life until global threats arise. In these moments, Shiro secretly transforms into the superhero Super Shiro, harnessing extraordinary abilities to safeguard Earth from impending dangers. This dual existence forms the foundation of the series, highlighting the contrast between his everyday canine routine and heroic interventions.[1] At the heart of the narrative is the pursuit of the "Bobobobobone," a legendary magical bone said to grant unparalleled power to its possessor. Super Shiro embarks on a quest to locate and protect this artifact, fending off villains who covet it for their own nefarious purposes, such as world domination. The primary antagonist, the cunning inventor dog Dekapoo, relentlessly schemes to claim the bone, driving the overarching conflict across the storyline.[1][5] The series unfolds through episodic adventures, each pitting Super Shiro against an array of quirky foes in high-stakes battles that test his heroism. While concealing his alter ego from his family and the world, Shiro navigates these challenges with ingenuity and bravery, emphasizing themes of protection and secrecy. Infused with a lighthearted comedic tone, the show combines dynamic action sequences, slapstick humor, and wholesome family-oriented elements, appealing to young audiences within the playful spirit of the Crayon Shin-chan franchise.[6][7]Characters
Shiro is the central character of Super Shiro, depicted as a loyal and energetic white dog who serves as the Nohara family's beloved pet.[8] In his everyday life, Shiro exhibits a playful and adventurous personality, often engaging in lighthearted antics with the family while maintaining a responsible demeanor as their guardian.[1] Beneath this ordinary facade lies his hidden identity as Super Shiro, a canine superhero endowed with extraordinary abilities to protect Earth from threats.[9] His transformation is triggered by imminent global dangers, activated through a special superhero badge that enhances his strength, speed, and heroic resolve, allowing him to adopt a cool, independent persona focused on justice.[1] As Super Shiro, he demonstrates unwavering courage and determination, prioritizing the safeguarding of the legendary energy source known as the Bobobobobone.[10] The Nohara family forms the domestic core around which Shiro's dual life revolves, with their chaotic yet affectionate dynamics highlighting his role as a steadfast companion. Shinnosuke Nohara, commonly called Shin-chan, is a mischievous five-year-old boy whose cheeky and carefree behavior frequently leads to humorous interactions with Shiro, such as playful chases or shared misadventures in the household.[8] Misae Nohara, the family's caring and patient mother, manages daily chores and often navigates Shin-chan's antics while treating Shiro with gentle affection, reinforcing his place in the family's routine.[8] Hiroshi Nohara, the hardworking and kind-hearted father, brings a calm, supportive presence to family life, occasionally tiring from his job but always engaging warmly with Shiro during relaxed moments at home.[8] Himawari Nohara, the cheerful and curious infant daughter, adds innocence to the group through her playful tugs at Shiro's fur or toddling pursuits, fostering tender, sibling-like bonds that underscore Shiro's protective instincts in ordinary settings.[8] Among the primary antagonists is Dekapoo, a quirky and antagonistic inventor dog whose mad genius drives his relentless pursuit of the Bobobobobone to achieve world domination.[9] Motivated by ambitions of power and control, Dekapoo employs inventive gadgets and schemes in his rivalry with Super Shiro, embodying a persistent threat to global peace.[10] Supporting villains include Can Can, a stylish and self-indulgent female dog who covets the Bobobobobone for personal luxuries and social status, often allying with Dekapoo in her pursuit of extravagance.[1] Aura, a mysterious crow character, contributes enigmatic mischief to the conflicts, complicating the antagonists' efforts with unpredictable interventions.[1] On the allied side, Bibo serves as a humanoid alien mentor who issues missions to Super Shiro, guiding his heroic endeavors with authoritative directives while emphasizing the importance of secrecy from the Nohara family.[9] This recurring dynamic positions Bibo as a key supporter, providing strategic support that bolsters Shiro's ability to balance his pet life with superhero duties.[1]Production
Development
Super Shiro was announced on February 3, 2019, as a spin-off project from the long-running Crayon Shin-chan franchise, created to commemorate the 60th anniversary of TV Asahi.[11] The series emerged from collaborations between TV Asahi, Shin-ei Animation, and Science SARU, with additional backing from ADK EM and Futabasha.[11] Masaaki Yuasa served as the overall director, drawing on his prior experience with the Crayon Shin-chan series, where he had contributed as a storyboard artist and setting designer for films including the 2015 theatrical release.[11] Science SARU, the studio co-founded by Yuasa in 2013, handled production, infusing the project with the studio's signature fluid and dynamic animation approach suited to action-comedy sequences.[11] Tomohisa Shimoyama acted as chief director, while Kimiko Ueno penned the scripts, adapting the original intellectual property by Yoshito Usui into a fast-paced chase comedy format.[7] The conceptualization centered on elevating Shiro, the Nohara family's unassuming pet dog from the parent series, into the protagonist—a secret superhero who transforms to defend the world from threats while maintaining his ordinary facade.[11] This expansion built on Shiro's minor role in Crayon Shin-chan, reimagining him for standalone adventures that blend humor with heroic elements. Pre-production emphasized a concise episode structure, resulting in 48 shorts each lasting 5 minutes, optimized for streaming platforms like AbemaTV and Telasa to align with contemporary short-form viewing preferences.[7]Casting
The voice of the titular character Shiro, the Nohara family's pet dog, is provided by Mari Mashiba, who reprises her role from the parent series Crayon Shin-chan and delivers the character's barks and non-verbal expressions to maintain continuity with Shiro's established personality.[9] In contrast, Akio Ōtsuka voices Super Shiro, the heroic alter ego and inner voice that emerges upon transformation, bringing a deep, authoritative tone to the superhero dialogue that contrasts sharply with Shiro's everyday canine sounds.[9] For the Nohara family members, who appear in select episodes to tie the spinoff to its origins, the production reused the established Crayon Shin-chan voice actors to preserve familiarity and continuity: Yumiko Kobayashi as Shinnosuke Nohara, Miki Narahashi as Misae Nohara, Toshiyuki Morikawa as Hiroshi Nohara, and Satomi Koorogi as Himawari Nohara. These reprises were limited to specific episodes, such as Kobayashi in episodes 6 and 12, Narahashi in episode 31, and Morikawa in episode 40.[1] The villains and supporting characters were cast with performers known for versatile comedic delivery. Anri Katsu voices the main antagonist Dekapoo, the inventive evil dog, infusing the role with exaggerated villainy suitable for the series' humorous tone.[1] Yukana provides the voice for Bibo (also known as Be-Boo), Dekapoo's bumbling henchwoman, while Ibuki Kido voices CanCan, another subordinate, both contributing to the slapstick dynamics of the antagonistic trio.[1] Additional supporting roles, such as Aura (Setsuji Satō), further enhance the comedic ensemble.[12] Casting announcements were made in July 2019, highlighting the key roles for Shiro and Super Shiro ahead of the series' October premiere, with no reported changes during production.[9]Animation Production
The animation for Super Shiro was primarily handled by Science SARU, in collaboration with Shin-Ei Animation, combining the latter's expertise in family-oriented series like Crayon Shin-chan with Science SARU's innovative approach to production.[1][7] This partnership allowed Science SARU to apply their signature digital hand-drawn style, which integrates traditional animation techniques with digital tools such as Adobe Animate for efficient yet expressive visuals.[13] The series' 5-minute episode format necessitated a focus on concise, dynamic storytelling, with particular emphasis on fluid action sequences depicting Shiro's transformations into his superhero form and battles against antagonists like Dekapoo. Character designs, led by Tomohisa Shimoyama, featured Shiro's distinctive canine superhero costume—a sleek, caped outfit with glowing accents—to highlight his heroic identity, while art direction by Shoko Ishida incorporated vibrant, exaggerated visuals for the ongoing quest to protect the legendary Bobobobobone.[1][14] Visual effects, including compositing by Toshikazu Hisano, enhanced these sequences with energetic particle effects and dynamic camera work to maintain the fast-paced chase-comedy tone within the short runtime.[1]Episodes
Format and Structure
Super Shiro is structured as a 48-episode anime series, with each installment lasting approximately 5 minutes, resulting in a compact total runtime of 240 minutes across the entire run.[2] The episodes were released weekly via streaming platforms, spanning from October 14, 2019, to September 7, 2020.[1] This bite-sized format allows for quick, self-contained viewing sessions while maintaining narrative momentum through the series' core storyline. The narrative employs an episodic structure overlaid with a progressive quest, where the protagonist Shiro, as Super Shiro, pursues the legendary artifact known as the Bobobobobone to prevent it from falling into villainous hands.[15] Individual episodes often feature standalone adventures involving quirky challenges and humorous encounters, interspersed with advancing elements of the central plot, such as alliances formed with alien companion Bibo and confrontations with antagonist Dekapoo.[15] This hybrid approach balances immediate entertainment with serialized development, encouraging viewers to follow the full arc. Designed specifically for digital streaming on platforms like AbemaTV and Telasa, the series incorporates short, dynamic segments and occasional cliffhangers at episode ends to suit on-demand consumption and mobile audiences.[9] The pacing was intentionally brisk to align with TV Asahi's 60th anniversary programming, enabling efficient production and broadcast of high-energy content that celebrates the Crayon Shin-chan franchise's legacy in a fresh, superhero-themed format.[16]Episode List
Super Shiro consists of a single season of 48 short episodes, each approximately 5 minutes in length, centered around Shiro's quest to protect the legendary Bobobobobone from the villainous Dekapoo across various everyday and fantastical settings.[1] The series was released weekly on Mondays from October 14, 2019, to September 7, 2020.[17] All episodes follow the core narrative arc of the Bobobobobone quest, with no designated filler or special episodes noted.[2] The following table lists all episodes with their original Japanese titles, English translations, and premiere dates.| No. | Japanese Title | English Title | Air Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | シロはスーパーヒーロー | Shiro Is a Super Hero | October 14, 2019 |
| 2 | おかしなおかし工場 | The Wack Snack Factory | October 21, 2019 |
| 3 | 宝石はボボボボボーン | A Jewel Is the Bobobobo-bone | October 28, 2019 |
| 4 | たまごを奪え! | Steal the Eggs! | November 4, 2019 |
| 5 | 池の中は... | In the Pond... | November 11, 2019 |
| 6 | しんのすけと夏休み体操 | Summer Break Exercises with Shinnosuke | November 18, 2019 |
| 7 | 楽しい博物館 | The Fun Museum | November 25, 2019 |
| 8 | 吊り橋ラプソディ | The Rope Bridge Rhapsody | December 2, 2019 |
| 9 | 働きもののアリさん | The Hardworking Ants | December 9, 2019 |
| 10 | 寒いのは苦手 | Can’t Handle the Cold | December 16, 2019 |
| 11 | 風船を追え! | Follow the Balloon! | December 23, 2019 |
| 12 | スーパーなヒーロー誕生 | Birth of a Super Hero | December 30, 2019 |
| 13 | ワイルドな缶詰 | Wild Canned Food | January 6, 2020 |
| 14 | 麗しのキャンキャン | The Beautiful CanCan | January 13, 2020 |
| 15 | ゆかいなボウリング | Jolly Bowling | January 20, 2020 |
| 16 | 傘は忘れがち | Forgotten Umbrellas | January 27, 2020 |
| 17 | きけんな工事現場 | The Dangerous Construction Site | February 3, 2020 |
| 18 | ビン・ビン・ビン | Bottles, Bottles, Bottles | February 10, 2020 |
| 19 | 決闘はとうもろこし畑で | Showdown in the Corn Field | February 17, 2020 |
| 20 | キャンキャンはブランコがお好き | CanCan Loves the Swings | February 24, 2020 |
| 21 | ワカサギ釣りで大騒動 | Mayhem in Smelt Fishing | March 2, 2020 |
| 22 | お昼寝中はおしずかに | Quiet During Nap Time | March 9, 2020 |
| 23 | ようこそ宇宙博物館へ | Welcome to the Space Museum | March 16, 2020 |
| 24 | デカプー, 世界大統領をめざす | Dekapoo, Aim to Be World President | March 23, 2020 |
| 25 | ミツバチの甘い生活 | The Sweet Life of Honey Bees | March 30, 2020 |
| 26 | こわ～い博士の館 | The Scary Professor’s Mansion | April 6, 2020 |
| 27 | 動いちゃダメ! | Don’t Move! | April 13, 2020 |
| 28 | マッスル! マッスル! マッスル! | Muscles! Muscles! Muscles! | April 20, 2020 |
| 29 | 歯は大切に | Take Care of Your Teeth | April 27, 2020 |
| 30 | ドーベルマンのお気に入り | The Doberman’s Favorite | May 4, 2020 |
| 31 | 楽しいきのこ狩り | Having Fun Picking Mushrooms | May 11, 2020 |
| 32 | 自慢ののど自慢 | The Show-off Sing-off | May 18, 2020 |
| 33 | 池の中のゴミ屋敷 | The Trash House in the Pond | May 25, 2020 |
| 34 | ヒーローの休日 | A Hero’s Holiday | June 1, 2020 |
| 35 | ジャングルで大冒険 | Adventures in the Jungle | June 8, 2020 |
| 36 | キャンキャンの日常 | The Daily Life of CanCan | June 15, 2020 |
| 37 | シロ, 忍者になる | Shiro Becomes a Ninja | June 22, 2020 |
| 38 | バッジの秘密 | The Secrets of the Badge | June 29, 2020 |
| 39 | アリさんの生活 | The Life of Ants | July 6, 2020 |
| 40 | 日曜日のゴルフ | Sunday Golf | July 13, 2020 |
| 41 | 眠れない夜 | One Sleepless Night | July 20, 2020 |
| 42 | ヒーロー, 風邪をひく | The Hero Catches a Cold | July 27, 2020 |
| 43 | 走って, 逃げて, 追いかけろ | Run, Flee, and Follow | August 3, 2020 |
| 44 | 不思議なボボボボボーン | The Mysterious Bobobobo-bone | August 10, 2020 |
| 45 | ポポポポポップコーン | Popopopo-popcorn | August 17, 2020 |
| 46 | 華麗なる洗濯物 | The Marvelous Laundry | August 24, 2020 |
| 47 | 大きなスイカ | The Big Watermelon | August 31, 2020 |
| 48 | 真夜中のデパート | Midnight at the Department Store | September 7, 2020 |