Shonti Baraka

## Shonti

**Shonti Baraka** is a supporting character in *Tenko and the Guardians of the Magic*.

An expert animal trainer, Shonti was hired by Hikita Tenko to care for the animals owned by his studio. She is the primary caretaker for Ninjara and Pearl Rider.

## History

After Princess Tenko's friends Bolt, Steel, and Hawk gift her a snow leopard cub named Ninjara, Shonti is tasked with training her. Shonti had already been familiar with the Guardians of the Magic, having been hired by Master Hikita at an unknown time to take care of animals such as the horse Pearl Rider.

Shonti later accompanied Tenko and the Guardians to her homeland of Africa in search of the mystical Diamond Gem that had been found by a hunter named Travis Cage. Unbeknownst to Shonti, Cage had made a deal with the Dark Twins to hunt Ninjara in exchange for the gem. As she and Ninjara headed back to Tenko's hotel, Shonti's jeep drove into a trap and spun out of control. Shonti and Ninjara crawled from the wreckage only to find Travis Cage. Shonti commanded Ninjara to flee, but Shonti is knocked unconscious by a gas bomb thrown by the hunter.

Princess Tenko, Ali, Steel, and Travis Cage's son Colin found Shonti on the road as she regained consciousness. She joined the Guardians in searching for Ninjara and found the snow leopard trapped near an abandoned temple with Jana standing over her. Shonti was quickly incapacitated alongside Ali and Steel as Jason hypnotized them with his Mesmer-Disk. Shonti regained her senses after Tenko used the Diamond Gem on Ninjara, sending her snow leopard to defeat Jason.

When Pearl Rider was poisoned by Jana, Shonti stayed behind to take care of the horse while Tenko sought out Hawk's grandfather Knowingwolf, a medicinal shaman. Shonti soon started training another animal, Kiddles the monkey. Jana managed to capture all of the Guardians, including Shonti. However, she used her animal telepathy to summon Ninjara for aid. With her help, Kiddles managed to steal the keys from Jana and free the Guardians.

Shonti accompanied the Guardians as they traveled to Hawaii for a performance. She, Tenko, and Bolt went to the marine park and learned from marine biologist Joel Russell that their baby orca Kaylu was having health problems after being separated from his mother. After the Guardians defeated Jana and Jason once again, Shonti helped Joel and the others locate Kaylu's mother.

## Powers and abilities

Shonti has years of experience as an animal trainer. Ever since she was a child, Shonti has been able to telepathically communicate with animals.

Although she does not possess a Starfire Gem in the TV series, the toyline reveals Princess Tenko has given Shonti a Starfire Gem, giving her the power to summon animals of all sorts, including magical creatures. Presumably, Season 2 would have seen Shonti gain this ability.

## Merchandise

The Tenko and the Guardians of the Magic Toy Line features a Shonti "Fashion Action Doll" which depicts what Shonti would have looked like had she become a Guardian in the animated series:

Shonti, Animal Trainer
## Trivia

* Shonti's full name is never revealed in the series; however, in a two-pack of dolls by Mattel, Shonti's name is revealed to be Shonti Baraka under "Consumer Information".

## References

1. ↑ Episode 3: "Diamond in the Rough"
2. ↑ Episode 4: "Strong Medicine, Strong Magic"
3. ↑ Episode 6: "Trust and Betrayal"
4. ↑ Episode 7: "Night of the Dolphin"