Beyblade Burst (Japanese: ベイブレードバースト, Hepburn: Beiburēdo Bāsuto) is a Japanese manga and toyline created by Hiro Morita, based on Takara Tomy's Beyblade franchise. The third series of the franchise, the Beyblade Burst toyline launched on July 15, 2015, while the original manga was serialized in Shogakukan's children's manga magazine CoroCoro Comic from August 2015 to December 2021 and is compiled into twenty tankōbon volumes. Shogakukan's South East Asian branch began publishing it in English in April 2017.[1]
An anime adaptation by OLM premiered on all TXN stations in Japan on April 4, 2016.[2] ADK Emotions NY, Inc. licensed the anime and Hasbro licensed the toyline in English; marking the first time in the franchise that an English adaptation wasn't produced by Nelvana.[3] The first two series were originally recorded between Vancouver, British Columbia and Calgary, Alberta in Canada by Ocean Productions and its sister studio Blue Water. Since the third series; the franchise has been recorded in Los Angeles, California in the United States by Bang Zoom! Entertainment. The dub would be one of the final anime voice acting roles of Gabe Khouth who died two years later.[4]
The story revolves around Valt Aoi and his childhood best friend Shu Kurenai, as well as their classmates at the Beigoma Academy school in Japan. Beyond their academic studies, they both share an intense passion for Bey tops, creating a school bey club and challenging one another to battles at their Bey Stadium. As time passes, the friends eventually become rivals as they compete against each other in a competition to claim the title of Japan's best Blader, in the Japanese Championship Finals, Valt lost to the reigning National Champion Lui Shirosagi.
Valt Aoi, who hails from Japan was a top competitor in the Japanese Championship, is scouted for the prestigious Spanish team "BC Sol" and heads out to Spain. When he arrives in Spain, he runs into some old friends and meets some new ones who end up accompanying him along his journey. Valt's first battle in Spain leaves his bey, Victory Valtryek, with an opportunity to evolved into Genesis Valtryek, making it stronger. Valt and his friends set their sights on becoming the World Champion; however, in order to qualify the World League, they must first take the European League by winning team battles against other teams from around the globe. After the victory of BC Sol in the World League, Valt competes in the tournament for the International Blader's Cup and manages to defeat Shu Kurenai in the finals to become the World Champion.
Two years after the International Blader's Cup, the story focuses on Aiger Akabane, a "wild child" that grew up in nature. After battling and losing to No.1 Blader in the world "Valt Aoi", he became inspired to become the No.1 Blader in the world, along with his bey, Z Achilles. He aims to fight strong opponents in an effort to become stronger himself. To defeat Legendary Blader Valt Aoi and become the World Champion, Aiger begins his journey.
Valt Aoi has been training the next generation of elite Bladers in Spain's BC Sol. One day, rookie Bladers Dante Koryu and Delta Zakuro witness Valt unleashing his newly evolved Gamma Bey, Sword Valtryek. To their surprise, Valtryek radiates a golden light as it rockets around the stadium. Inspired by the limitless possibilities of this "Hyper-Flux" state, both Dante and Delta seek the same bond with their Beys. Dante and his partner, Ace Dragon, set off for Japan, the birthplace of Beyblade. But the path to glory won't be easy; plenty of tough competitors and Gamma Beys stand in their way, among them some of the best to ever let it rip. Dante soon realizes he'll have to do whatever it takes to deepen his bond with Dragon.
From high atop the Blading world reign the Blading Legends, a select group of Bladers who set the standard to which all other hopefuls aspire. No challenger yet has succeeded in breaking through their ranks.
A legend of legends, Valt Aoi hosts an exhibition match featuring a revolutionary class of Bey: "Lightning Beys". Inspired by the battle, Hizashi brothers, Hikaru and Hyuga, issue a challenge: armed with their solar Beys Super Hyperion and Kolossal Helios, this unlikely duo is going to topple Beyblade's ruling elite.
As the Hizashi brothers's challenge envelops the world's Blading legends, a new tournament is born to determine who among them is truly the best. In the middle of this mayhem, there lurks a unique Blader shrouded in mystery.
The story centers on Bel Daizora, the leader of the Bey graveyard "Phantom's Gate". Bel, who holds Destruction Belfyre, declares war on Bladers across the world. With Ranzo Kiyama and Bashara Suiro, their journey unfolds as Bel advances to becoming the Dark Prince.
The stage is set for a masquerade tournament, but the Dark Prince isn't the only belle at this ball! Enter: the masked Blader known as Quadra. Wielding her elemental Bey, Lightning Pandora, Quadra has defeated every foe to come her way. Meanwhile, Quadra's older brother, Pax Forsythe, is busy studying the elemental powers radiating from a series of mysterious ruins nearby. Bel Daizora might be the Dark Prince, but this adventure is full of even darker secrets!
The main protagonist of Burst and Burst Evolution. An enthusiatic and zealous boy who dreams of being a world champion.
Shu Kurenai (紅 シュウ, Kurenai Shū) / Red Eye (レッドアイ, Reddo Ai)
Voiced by: Junya Enoki (Japanese); Adrian Petriw (seasons 1-2), Alan Lee (seasons 3, 5-7) (English)
Valt's childhood best friend and main rival. He is also one of the Supreme Four and the owner of the beyblade team called Raging Bulls.
Rantaro Kiyama (黄山 乱太郎, Kiyama Rantarō)
Voiced by: Fumihiro Okabayashi (Japanese); Matt Hill (seasons 1-2), Kevin K. Gomez (season 5) (English)
Also known as The Head Honcho or Honcho / The Boss (クミチョー, Kumicho). Rantaro is a member of Beigoma Academy BeyClub and BC Sol as well as a coach for The Bombers. He is also Ranjiro's older brother.
Ken Midori / Kensuke Midorikawa (緑川 ケンスケ, Midorikawa Kensuke)
Voiced by: Tomoko Ikeda (Japanese); Laura Stahl[6] (English)
The main protagonist of Burst Turbo. A hot-headed 11-year old boy who dreams to become the world's strongest blader after witnessing the strength of Legendary Blader "Valt Aoi".
The main protagonist of Burst QuadDrive and Burst QuadStrike. Also known as the Dark Prince / Demon King (魔王, Maō) and leader of the Bey graveyard "Phantom's Gate".
Ranzo Kiyama (ランソー・キヤマ, Ransō Kiyama)
Voiced by: Fumihiro Okabayashi (Japanese); Luis Bermudez (English)
A blader from Brazil. He's a cousin of both Rantaro and Ranjiro.
Rashad Goodman (ラシャド・グッドマン, Rashado Guddoman)
Voiced by: Daisuke Ono (Japanese); Jordan Dash Cruz (English)
The main antagonist of Burst QuadDrive. Also known as the High Prince / Supreme King (覇王, Haō) and the member of BC Sol.
Alexander Shakadera / Kaiza Xhakuenji (灼炎寺カイザ, Shakuenji Kaiza)
Voiced by: Rikiya Koyama (Japanese); Andrew Francis (seasons 1-2), Austin Lee Matthews (seasons 3, 7) (English)
Also known as Xander / Xhaka (シャカ, Shaka) is Valt and Shu's childhood friend and the founder and leader of Sword Flames. He is also one of the Supreme Four.
The antagonist of Burst Turbo and Phi's younger brother. He's one of Turbo 4 and a former world champion who is lost to Valt and reclaims his new world championship belt.
The main antagonist of Burst Rise and leader of Inferno. He refers himself as the King of Hell (ヘルの王, Heru No Ō) and the Beyblade King (ベイブレードの王, Beiburēdo No Ō).
05. "Battle Fairy Spriggan, The Iron Hammer of Friendship" (戦闘妖精スプリガン、渾身の鉄槌, Sentō Yōsei Supurigan, Konshin no Tettsui)
06. "The Dashing Valkyrie VS The Impeccable Spriggan, Decided!!" (爆進のヴァルキリーVS無欠のスプリガン、決着!!, Bakushin no Varukirī Bāsasu Muketsu no Supurigan, Ketchaku!!)
07. "Who's the Leader!? Bey Club Formation!!" (部長はだれに!?ベイクラブ結成!!, Buchō wa dare ni!? Bei Kurabu Kessei!!)
39. "Strike God Valtryek, The Super Giant Sword's Full Power Awakening!!" (撃ゴッドヴァルキリー、全力覚醒の超巨大刃!!, Sutoraiku Goddo Varukirī, Zenryoku Kakusei no Chōkyodai Ha!!)
40. "The Return of Nightmare!? The Messenger of Destruction Nightmare Luinor!!" (悪夢再来!? 破壊の使者ナイトメアロンギヌス!!, Akumu Sairai!? Hakai no Shisha Naitomea Ronginusu!!)
41. "Almghty God Spryen Requiem, Complete Battle!!" (全能神スプリガンレクイエム、完壁なる攻防!!, Zen'nōshin Supurigan Rekuiemu, Kan Kabenaru Kōbō!!)
42. "Fierce Training!! Control the Partner's Super Evolution!!" (激特訓! 超進化の相棒制御せよ!!, Geki Tokkun! Chō Shinka no Aibō o Seigyo Seyo!!)
43. "World Tournament's Final, the Best Friend Battle of Destiny!!" (世界大会決勝、運命の親友対決!!, Sekai Taikai Tesshō, Unmei no Shin'yū Taiketsu!!)
SP8. "Ultimate God Bey, Double God Bey!! (Part 1)" (究極の神ベイ、ダブルゴッドベイ!!(前編), Kyūkyoku no Kami Bei, Daburu Goddo Bei!! (Zenpen))
SP9. "Ultimate God Bey, Double God Bey!! (Part 2)" (究極の神ベイ、ダブルゴッドベイ!!(後編), Kyūkyoku no Kami Bei, Daburu Goddo Bei!! (Kōhen))
An anime television series adaptation was announced on June 18, 2015, by D-rights and Takara Tomy.[36] The anime is produced by OLM and directed by Katsuhito Akiyama with character designs by Toshiaki Ōhashi and Hideki Sonoda handling series composition.[37] The anime aired on TXN between April 4, 2016, and March 27, 2017. An English dub of the anime premiered on Teletoon in Canada on September 10, 2016[38] and on Disney XD on October 2. The dub premiered on 9Go! in Australia on 5 December 2016[citation needed] and on Disney XD in the United States on December 19, 2016.[39] An English subtitled version began streaming on Daisuki in the United States on December 27, 2016, from 9:30 am,[40] until the website went defunct in 2017.[41]
On February 11, 2017, it was announced that the anime television series was confirmed for a second season, titled Beyblade Burst God.[42] The season is directed by Kentaro Yamaguchi with Katsuhito Akiyama serving as chief director. Hideki Sonoda and Toshiaki Ōhashi are returning from Beyblade Burst for series composition and character design, respectively. Hiroki Matsuoka is the sound effects director, and Zain Effendi is composing the music.[43] The second season aired between April 3, 2017, and March 26, 2018. An English dub of the anime premiered on Teletoon in Canada on November 4, 2017[44] and on Disney XD in the United States on December 4, 2017.[45]
On February 8, 2018, it was announced that the anime television series was confirmed for a third season, titled Beyblade Burst Chōzetsu.[46] The main staff for the previous series are returning at OLM.[47] The third season aired between April 2, and March 25, 2019. An English dub of the anime premiered on Teletoon in Canada on October 7, 2018[48] and on Disney XD in the United States on December 15, 2018.[49]
On February 15, 2019, it was announced that the anime television series was confirmed for a fourth season, titled Beyblade Burst GT. The series streamed weekly on the CoroCoroYouTube channel, the official Beyblade portal website, and the Takara Tomy Channel between April 5, 2019, and March 27, 2020.[50] Katsuhito Akiyama is the show's chief director, and Ojing is directing the series at OLM. Hideki Sonoda is returning to oversee the series scripts, and Toshiaki Ōhashi is returning to design the characters. d-rights is producing the series.[51] An English dub of the anime premiered on Disney XD in the United States on February 8, 2020.[52]
On March 13, 2020, it was announced that the anime television series was confirmed for a fifth season, titled Beyblade Burst Sparking. The anime aired from April 3, 2020, to March 19, 2021, on the CoroCoro Channel and the Takara Tomy Channel on YouTube. Katsuhito Akiyama is the chief director, and Jin Gu Oh is directing the anime at OLM. Hideki Sonoda is overseeing the series scripts, and Toshiaki Ōhashi is the character designer.[53] An English dub of the anime premiered on Disney XD in the United States on February 20, 2021.[54]
On December 15, 2020, it was announced that the anime television series was confirmed for a sixth season titled Beyblade Burst Dynamite Battle.[55] The anime aired between April 2, 2021, and March 18, 2022, on the CoroCoro Channel and the Takara Tomy Channel on YouTube. Katsuhito Akiyama is the chief director, and Jin Gu Oh is directing the anime at OLM. Hideki Sonoda is overseeing the series scripts, and Toshiaki Ōhashi is the character designer. Frederik Weidmann is composing the music.[56] An English dub of the anime premiered on Disney XD and DisneyNOW in the United States on December 4, 2021.[57]
On December 2, 2022, it was announced a seventh and final season of the series Beyblade Burst QuadStrike would be released for the international market in spring 2023.[58] The series premiered on Disney XD on April 3, 2023, and was released on Hulu on May 8.[59]
Hasbro and Sunrights are launching the toyline outside of Japan. Toys "R" Us started distributing the toys in Canada in September 2016[60] and Hasbro started distributing the toys in the United States in January 2017.