.gif)
Kenny (Beyblade)
Encyclopedia
Kenny, known in the original Japanese version as Professor (キョウジュ Kyouju) and in the English version as the Chief, is a fictional character in the popular anime
and manga
series of Beyblade
. He is voiced by Houko Kuwashima
in the Japanese version, and Alex Hood
in the English dub. Alex Hood says that Kenny has a similar personality to him and that portraying Kenny is like "playing myself in real life".
team. He is a "self-described nerd", as he'd gladly take the job of a janitor just to be around high-class instruments and computers. He is nicknamed "Chief" by his fellow beybladers because of his advanced expertise on beyblading and computer technology. In the Japanese version, his real name, Manabu Saien (才媛マナブ Saien Manabu), is only revealed later in the series by his mother; only a few other people have called him by his real name, such as DJ Blader in a few episodes.
Kenny's parents, introduced in the second season, own a noodle shop - one of the most successful in the city - and live right above it. His mother is shown to be pushy and overbearing, constantly badgering Kenny about not being enough help to their business and demanding that he help more with the shop. Kenny's father is more easy-going but is constantly busy with the running of the shop; he is never seen outside of it.
Kenny is introduced in episode one of the first season when he first meets the show's protagonist, Tyson Granger
. In the second episode, he is kidnapped by Kai Hiwatari
and the Blade Sharks for the information on his laptop. After Tyson does battle with Kai to save him, Kenny becomes Tyson's best friend and the two remain inseparable throughout the rest of the series. In the third episode when Tyson meets and befriends Max Tate
, Kenny becomes jealous, feeling that Max is stealing Tyson away from him, culminating in an argument between him and Tyson. However, this issue is resolved when Max talks with Kenny and proves that he is determined to be good friends with him as well as Tyson.
Kenny keeps tabs on Tyson's (and later, all the Bladebreakers') beyblading progress throughout the series. He takes care of all the Bladebreakers' blade upgrades and repairs, and though he doesn't take part in beybattles as often as the other members of the Bladebreakers, he's an expert on every aspect of the sport.
Kenny created the HMS series in the anime, and is shown to be of genius intelligence as demonstrated in his ability to repair and modify beyblades to the best of their potential. This was, for the first two seasons, the sole reason for his involvement in the Bladebreakers team - but in G-Revolution Kenny begins to come into his own as a blader, and becomes an official competing member of the team upon the departure of Max and Ray from the Bladebreakers.
In the second season (V-Force) Kenny creates a beyblade with the help of Max's scientist mother Judy called "Einstein". In a surprise twist, he challenges his best friend Tyson, confidant that Einstein can beat Tyson's newly upgraded Dragoon. However, just when it looks like Kenny might win, Einstein accidentally bounces upside-down into a nearby pond, losing the battle.
In the third season (G-Revolution) Kenny uses "Hopper", his most powerful beyblade in the series. With Hopper, Kenny competes as an active member alongside Tyson. This was initially out of necessity due to Max, Ray and later Kai's departure, but in this season Kenny proves himself to be a formidable opponent in battle.
In the English dub of the first two seasons of the anime, Kenny's laptop
has a female bit-beast inside, called Dizzi who was added to the show in placement of Kenny's normal laptop screen. Because Kenny did not use his laptop much in the 3rd season, the addition of Dizzi to the show was impossible to keep up and she was taken out. As part of avoiding confusion because of the removal of Dizzi, Hopper's bit (which showed a frog wearing Kenny's glasses) was blanked or the scene was cut whenever the anime focused on the blade itself.
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
and manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series of Beyblade
Beyblade
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Takao Aoki. Originally serialized in CoroCoro Comic from 2000 to 2002, the individual chapters were collected and published in 14 tankōbon by Shogakukan...
. He is voiced by Houko Kuwashima
Houko Kuwashima
is a Japanese voice actress and singer. She is capable of playing a variety of roles, ranging from young boys to feminine women. Kuwashima is currently affiliated with Aoni Production. Her given name, , is sometimes misread as Noriko, even in Japan...
in the Japanese version, and Alex Hood
Alex Hood
Alex Hood, also called Alex Hodd, is a Canadian actor who is known as the voice of Kenny in Beyblade.Hood has featured in other cartoons such as Arthur and Peep and the Big Wide World ....
in the English dub. Alex Hood says that Kenny has a similar personality to him and that portraying Kenny is like "playing myself in real life".
About Kenny
Kenny is the "brains" of the BladebreakersBladebreakers
The Bladebreakers are a fictional team of Beybladers in the anime series Beyblade. The team includes Takao Kinomiya, Kai Hiwatari, Max Tate, Ray Kon and Kenny, though Kenny does not blade for the team until G-Revolution, where the team undergoes two new names, the BBA Revolution, and later...
team. He is a "self-described nerd", as he'd gladly take the job of a janitor just to be around high-class instruments and computers. He is nicknamed "Chief" by his fellow beybladers because of his advanced expertise on beyblading and computer technology. In the Japanese version, his real name, Manabu Saien (才媛マナブ Saien Manabu), is only revealed later in the series by his mother; only a few other people have called him by his real name, such as DJ Blader in a few episodes.
Kenny's parents, introduced in the second season, own a noodle shop - one of the most successful in the city - and live right above it. His mother is shown to be pushy and overbearing, constantly badgering Kenny about not being enough help to their business and demanding that he help more with the shop. Kenny's father is more easy-going but is constantly busy with the running of the shop; he is never seen outside of it.
Kenny is introduced in episode one of the first season when he first meets the show's protagonist, Tyson Granger
Tyson Granger
Tyson Granger, known in Japan as ', is the main character of the anime and manga series of Beyblade.-About Tyson:Tyson is a strong-willed kid who is not afraid to speak his mind and in so doing, he seems to get into more trouble than most kids his age...
. In the second episode, he is kidnapped by Kai Hiwatari
Kai Hiwatari
is a character from the Beyblade manga and anime series.He is the captain of the Team BBA throughout most of the anime series and the keeper of the phoenix bit-beast Dranzer, or in the original Japanese version, Suzaku, the phoenix god of the South in Chinese/Japanese legend.Kai is voiced by David...
and the Blade Sharks for the information on his laptop. After Tyson does battle with Kai to save him, Kenny becomes Tyson's best friend and the two remain inseparable throughout the rest of the series. In the third episode when Tyson meets and befriends Max Tate
Max Tate
Max Tate is a fictional character in the popular manga and anime series of Beyblade....
, Kenny becomes jealous, feeling that Max is stealing Tyson away from him, culminating in an argument between him and Tyson. However, this issue is resolved when Max talks with Kenny and proves that he is determined to be good friends with him as well as Tyson.
Kenny keeps tabs on Tyson's (and later, all the Bladebreakers') beyblading progress throughout the series. He takes care of all the Bladebreakers' blade upgrades and repairs, and though he doesn't take part in beybattles as often as the other members of the Bladebreakers, he's an expert on every aspect of the sport.
Kenny created the HMS series in the anime, and is shown to be of genius intelligence as demonstrated in his ability to repair and modify beyblades to the best of their potential. This was, for the first two seasons, the sole reason for his involvement in the Bladebreakers team - but in G-Revolution Kenny begins to come into his own as a blader, and becomes an official competing member of the team upon the departure of Max and Ray from the Bladebreakers.
Beyblades
In the first season, Kenny battles Kai in the qualifier round using a custom green beyblade with a spring attached to the bottom, giving it a unique bounce effect. Kenny is one of the last competitors with his beyblade still going, but lacks confidence that he can best Kai. Kai ultimately wins the battle against Kenny, but when Tyson wins against Kai later on in the qualifier and the Bladebreakers are formed, Kenny becomes an integral member of the team.In the second season (V-Force) Kenny creates a beyblade with the help of Max's scientist mother Judy called "Einstein". In a surprise twist, he challenges his best friend Tyson, confidant that Einstein can beat Tyson's newly upgraded Dragoon. However, just when it looks like Kenny might win, Einstein accidentally bounces upside-down into a nearby pond, losing the battle.
In the third season (G-Revolution) Kenny uses "Hopper", his most powerful beyblade in the series. With Hopper, Kenny competes as an active member alongside Tyson. This was initially out of necessity due to Max, Ray and later Kai's departure, but in this season Kenny proves himself to be a formidable opponent in battle.
In the English dub of the first two seasons of the anime, Kenny's laptop
Laptop
A laptop, also called a notebook, is a personal computer for mobile use. A laptop integrates most of the typical components of a desktop computer, including a display, a keyboard, a pointing device and speakers into a single unit...
has a female bit-beast inside, called Dizzi who was added to the show in placement of Kenny's normal laptop screen. Because Kenny did not use his laptop much in the 3rd season, the addition of Dizzi to the show was impossible to keep up and she was taken out. As part of avoiding confusion because of the removal of Dizzi, Hopper's bit (which showed a frog wearing Kenny's glasses) was blanked or the scene was cut whenever the anime focused on the blade itself.