TV-Series
Description
Kinniku Mantarou is the main protagonist of his story and the 59th prince of Planet Kinniku. He is the son of the legendary hero Suguru Kinniku, also known as Kinnikuman, and his queen, Bibimba. Growing up in an era of peace, following his father's decision to annul his past fight records, Mantarou was raised without knowledge of his father's heroic legacy, a fact that contributes significantly to his initial personality.
As a teenager, Mantarou is spoiled, lazy, and notably cowardly. He often avoids training and prefers leisure activities, frequently attempting to sneak into adult establishments like cabarets, a testament to his lecherous nature. At the start of a conflict, he typically displays hesitation and fear, relying more on luck than skill to land effective moves. Despite these flaws, Mantarou possesses a core of heroic potential. When his friends are in danger or an opponent fights dishonorably, he is able to tap into a hereditary power known as the Burning Inner Strength, or Kajiba no Kuso Djikara. Upon activating this state, the Niku symbol appears on his forehead, and his strength, stamina, and technique are amplified many times over, allowing him to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds.
Mantarou's role in the story is that of a reluctant but destined hero. His journey of self-discovery begins when he meets Alexandria Meat, a cyrogenically preserved advisor who reveals the truth about his father's heroic past and becomes his trainer. Throughout the narrative, he is forced to grow beyond his selfish tendencies, training at the Hercules Factory and defending the Earth from various villainous factions. His actions inspire and rally his peers, cementing his place as a leader among the next generation of superhuman wrestlers, known as Chojin.
His key relationships are central to his development. His initial one-sided crush on Rinko Nikaido, a human girl, gradually evolves into a deep, mutual friendship. He shares a profound bond with Meat, who serves as his guide and conscience. The masked wrestler Kevin Mask begins as a rival who rejects Mantarou's friendship, but their antagonism eventually develops into a grudging respect and a powerful partnership. Another pivotal relationship is with Chaos Avenir, whom Mantarou mentors. The tragic death of Chaos serves as a major motivator for Mantarou, hardening his resolve and deepening his character. He also forms friendships and tag teams with fellow trainees like Terry the Kid, Seiuchin, and Gazelleman.
Mantarou undergoes significant development, transforming from a spoiled prince who is unaware of his heritage into a courageous fighter who honors his father's legacy. He evolves from relying on his father's signature techniques to forging his own path and creating original finishing moves. Key arcs in his story include his graduation from the Hercules Factory, participating in the Chojin Olympics, and entering the Ultimate Tag Tournament, where he learns the true meaning of partnership and sacrifice.
In terms of abilities, Mantarou initially relies on his father's techniques, most famously the Kinniku Buster, a devastating sitdown powerbomb. He eventually develops his own signature moves, including the Muscle Millennium, where he launches his opponent into the air and then drives headfirst into their back using the ring ropes for propulsion, and the Muscle Gravity, a more powerful variation of the Kinniku Buster that increases gravitational force. He is also known to use a variety of other techniques, such as the submission hold Mantaro's Best Stretch and the incredibly complex, multi-part aerial maneuver known as the Iroha Hell Tour. Mantarou has a distinctive verbal tic in the Japanese version of the anime, where he often adds the word "Muscle" to the end of common phrases, such as saying "Itadaki-MUSCLE" before a meal.
As a teenager, Mantarou is spoiled, lazy, and notably cowardly. He often avoids training and prefers leisure activities, frequently attempting to sneak into adult establishments like cabarets, a testament to his lecherous nature. At the start of a conflict, he typically displays hesitation and fear, relying more on luck than skill to land effective moves. Despite these flaws, Mantarou possesses a core of heroic potential. When his friends are in danger or an opponent fights dishonorably, he is able to tap into a hereditary power known as the Burning Inner Strength, or Kajiba no Kuso Djikara. Upon activating this state, the Niku symbol appears on his forehead, and his strength, stamina, and technique are amplified many times over, allowing him to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds.
Mantarou's role in the story is that of a reluctant but destined hero. His journey of self-discovery begins when he meets Alexandria Meat, a cyrogenically preserved advisor who reveals the truth about his father's heroic past and becomes his trainer. Throughout the narrative, he is forced to grow beyond his selfish tendencies, training at the Hercules Factory and defending the Earth from various villainous factions. His actions inspire and rally his peers, cementing his place as a leader among the next generation of superhuman wrestlers, known as Chojin.
His key relationships are central to his development. His initial one-sided crush on Rinko Nikaido, a human girl, gradually evolves into a deep, mutual friendship. He shares a profound bond with Meat, who serves as his guide and conscience. The masked wrestler Kevin Mask begins as a rival who rejects Mantarou's friendship, but their antagonism eventually develops into a grudging respect and a powerful partnership. Another pivotal relationship is with Chaos Avenir, whom Mantarou mentors. The tragic death of Chaos serves as a major motivator for Mantarou, hardening his resolve and deepening his character. He also forms friendships and tag teams with fellow trainees like Terry the Kid, Seiuchin, and Gazelleman.
Mantarou undergoes significant development, transforming from a spoiled prince who is unaware of his heritage into a courageous fighter who honors his father's legacy. He evolves from relying on his father's signature techniques to forging his own path and creating original finishing moves. Key arcs in his story include his graduation from the Hercules Factory, participating in the Chojin Olympics, and entering the Ultimate Tag Tournament, where he learns the true meaning of partnership and sacrifice.
In terms of abilities, Mantarou initially relies on his father's techniques, most famously the Kinniku Buster, a devastating sitdown powerbomb. He eventually develops his own signature moves, including the Muscle Millennium, where he launches his opponent into the air and then drives headfirst into their back using the ring ropes for propulsion, and the Muscle Gravity, a more powerful variation of the Kinniku Buster that increases gravitational force. He is also known to use a variety of other techniques, such as the submission hold Mantaro's Best Stretch and the incredibly complex, multi-part aerial maneuver known as the Iroha Hell Tour. Mantarou has a distinctive verbal tic in the Japanese version of the anime, where he often adds the word "Muscle" to the end of common phrases, such as saying "Itadaki-MUSCLE" before a meal.