Metako

  

Metako (メタコ)
Janshii character
Basic art of Metako and her forms
First appearance	Janshii Safari
Designed by	Aoi Tadano (Normal, Mermaid, Blazer and Electric) Mitsumi Hayashibara (Esper, Shadow, Chilly, Blooming, and Cute)
Voiced by	English Katherine Black (Main VA) Akane Saotome (Robball Saves the World) Japanese Yuka Fujiwara (藤原 ゆか)
Information
Species	Transforming Modimal (変身改獣, Henshin Kaijū) (main) Modified Q4 Alien (改造Q4星人, Kaizō Kyū-yon Seijin) (Robball Saves the World)
Gender	Female
Home	Modimal Zoo (改獣園, Kaijū-en) (main) Q4 Zone (Q4惑星（ゾーン）, Kyū-yon Zōn) (Robball Saves the World)

Metako (Japanese: メタコ, Hepburn: Metako), is a character owned by Janshii, and designed by Aoi Tadano. She is depicted as a fluffy cat or dog like genetically engineered creature with the power to transform into several different forms depending on the current situation. Metako serves as one of the main protagonists of Janshii Safari, and much of the show's story revolves around learning the nature of why Metako and the other Modimals (改獣, Kaijū, "Modified Beasts") were created. Though not as popular as Pono or Robball, Metako has become a famous figure in her own right, and has appeared on a variety of merchandise and Janshii-Nintendo media, most prominently, Metako would appear as a secondary antagonist-turned recurring ally in Robball Saves the World.

Concept and Creation

The design for Metako was created by Janshii designer Aoi Tadano, who was asked to create the main mascot for Janshii Safari (ポノ&メタコのジャンシーさふぁり, Pono to Metako no Janshii Safari). Janshii Safari, a co-production between Ashi Productions, Janshii, and British TVS Entertainment was conceptualized as a soft science fiction show about a mysterious zoo full of wonderful creatures. Drawing from a vague childhood memory of seeing some kind of animal, Tadano drew a mammalian creature with brown fur, a bushy tail that has a cream-colored tip, and a furry collar that is also cream-colored. The name "Metako" came from Metamorphosis, and Ko (子), a common suffix for female names in Japan.

Tadano also designed Metako's three initial forms: Mermaid, a blue fish like creature, Blazer, a red and orange form, and Electric, with yellow wild fur. Metako's other forms were designed by Mitsumi Hayashibara: Esper, a solar powered purple feline, Shadow, a black figured with illusionary powers, Chilly, an icy blue creature, Blooming, a green plant-animal hybrid, and Cute, a well, cute form.

Character and Backstory

Janshii Safari

Metako was created by the alien creators of the Modimal Zoo to be a versatile creature, able to serve the needs of the zoo's future visitors; her various transformations were an offshoot of this. However, before she could be properly born, the Modimal Zoo crashed into the Earth, and her egg was ejected, landing somewhere in London. The egg is found by Polly "Pono" North, who takes it home with her. There the egg hatches into Metako, who only has a vague idea of who she is and what they can do. Together, the two work together to learn the secrets of Metako's past and the Modimals who landed on the planet.

Robball Saves the World

Normal Metako in the Robball style

Metako was a member of the native species of the Q4-Zone, an extrasolar planet located somewhere in the Andromeda Galaxy. As a part of their attempts to conquer the Earth, Metako volunteered to undergo genetic modifications to become a versatile, transforming soldier. Initially loyal to the Zone, Metako becomes increasingly disillusioned after meeting Roball, who's love of the earth makes her question her own morals.

Transformations

Forms

Name	Powers	Changes by	First introduced
Normal Metako (常体メタコ, Shōtai Metako)	None	Base form	JS Episode 1: "Hello! A strange creature."
Mermaid Metako (獣魚体メタコ, Shūgyotai Metako)	Hydrokinesis able to breath under water	Splashed with cold water	JS Episode 2: ""Let's Swim! Metako's Transformation"
Blazer Metako (火炎体メタコ, Kaentai Metako)	Pyrokinesis high heat resistance	Gets really hot	JS Episode 3: "Good Grief! The Fiery Heat of Summer"
Electric Metako (電気体メタコ, Denkitai Metako)	Electricity Hyper energy	Comes into contact with electricity	JS Episode 4: "Shiny! The Living Battery"
Esper Metako (超能力体メタコ, Chōnōryokutai Metako)	ESP	Meditation during the day	JS Episode 12: "A New Form! I'm an Esper"
Shadow Metako (影法師体メタコ, Kagebōshitai Metako)	Illusions	Meditation during the night	JS Episode 13: "Huh? Only the Moon Knows..."
Blooming Metako (草木体メタコ, Kusakitai Metako)	Photosynthesis Plant control	Contact with deep soil	JS Episode 14: "How Pretty! Flowers in Bloom"
Chilly Metako (氷結体メタコ, Hyōketsutai Metako)	Cyrokinesis Cold resistance	Gets really cold	JS Episode 15: "Brr... A Cold, Snowy Mountain"
Cute Metako (可愛らしい体メタコ, Kawaiirashii-tai Metako)	Empathy Connecting the thoughts of people	Reach a state in which her desire to help others it at it's strongest	JS Episode 39: "Won der ful! Metako's Final Form"

This page uses material from the Wikipedia page Eevee, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License (view authors).