CREATOR
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Minekura Kazuya
PlOTLINE
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An anime/manga series very, very loosely based on the Chinese myth Journey to the West. Basically, the land involved is called Togenkyo. Gyuumao, a bull demon has been subdued for ages, but in recent times, trouble is stirring in the west, where youkai (demons) have started to run amok, spilling blood and spreading carnage. The Three Buddhas thus send a young monk, Genjyo Sanzo to round up his three ragtag followers (none other than Sha Gojyo, Cho Hakkai and Son Goku), and the four of them are ordered to head West to put things back in order.
COMMENTS
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I watched a couple of episodes when it first came out on Channel AXN, bought the manga, and the rest is history. Saiyuki is one of my favourite series. It doesn't have the strongest storyline since it's based on a Chinese myth (and totally slaughtering it, I have to say ^_^'), but there IS something about it that's very addictive. The bishounen-factor aside, the camaderie and the relationship between the characters, their shared angst and pain...all make for compelling audience-attraction.
MAIN CHARACTERS
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First the four main protagonists, then the 7 antagonists. ^^;;
GENJYO SANZO. The monk and leader of the group. Ignoring the fact that he has hair (and golden, no less), smokes,curses, and is generally quite a grouch, he's actually a very level-headed and capable leader. A special 'spirit' gun is his weapon, his Sutra, plus a huge paper fan that miraculously appears when he needs to discipline the others. ^^;;
SHA GOJYO. Red hair and red eyes are the characteristics of his half-human/half-youkai heritage, being the product of a human mother and a youkai father. Has a playboy and too-slick exterior, but really is a softie at heart, and will do anything for his friends. Carries the jakujou (a staff with a crescent-shaped blade attached at the end with chains).
CHO HAKKAI. A human-turned-youkai, and the peacemaker of the group. Has an amiable and courteous demeanour, but has a biting way with words that he isn't afraid to use. Often gives too much and takes too little for himself, and is good friends with Gojyo. His weapon is actually a burst of energy he unleashes from his hands.
SON GOKU. The little monkey-boy. ^^ His main concerns revolve around food, fighting, and Sanzo - who is more or less his master (or pet-owner as Gojyo puts it nicely). His physical potential is currently limitless. Goku also plays a big part in the group dynamics as he sees things SO simply. Wields the Nyoibou, his staff.
[from left to right]
YAONE. A sweet female youkai who was rescued by Kougaiji from the clutches of the lecherous 1000-eyed Devil, and since then, has become Kougaiji's apothecary. ^^;; And yup, there is a thing between her and her Master Kougaiji.)
DOUKUGAKUJI. Kougaiji's personal bodyguard, and a very loyal follower. He wields a sabre, and is pretty good at his job. On a personal level, he is thus loyal to Kougaiji because the red-haired youkai reminds him of someone very dear to him.
KOUGAIJI. The son of Gyuumao. He's waged a war against Sanzo and Co. because he needs the Evil Sutra (the scriptures that hang on Sanzo's shoulders). This Sutra was the condition set in order to let his mother be revive.
LIRIN. The boisterous half-sister of Kougaiji who adores her brother, and loves to spar with Sanzo and Co. (specifically Sanzo, hah). She loves food too, and is basically a female version of Goku. *nod nod*
[clockwise from top]
HOMURA. A god kicked out of heaven. ^^;; Ok, it's more like he's the sucessor to the God of War (Nataku), and the son of a human and a goddess. However, all his life he was locked up in a cellar and he basically hates everyone and everything, until he meets and falls in love with Rinrei, a goddess. Naturally, their relationship is doomed. Because of that and all that crap he had to live through, Homura becomes hell bent on forming an army in the Lower World so he could overthrow the heavens one day.
SHIEN. He used to be a soldier under Nataku, but now well, is Homura's minion. ^^;; He uses double swords as weapons.
ZENON. Once human, now youkai. He lost his wife and son to the hands of a youkai. He uses a machine gun as a weapon, and the eye-patch is his control device.
MANGA DETAILS
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Number of volumes : 9
Status : Complete
Sequel : Saiyuki Reload
Personally speaking, I prefer the manga to the anime. The manga contains liberal splashes of violence, blood-spill, action, taboo such as incest and even some female nudity, all of which I feel, form the core of what the [Saiyuki] series is MEANT to be. This is not a sunshiney happy series, nor is it campy. The manga paints a much grittier and bleaker picture of the story. And I like it that way.
SAMPLE 1 (3 pics)
ANIME DETAILS
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Director : Nobutaka Nishizawa
Character Design : Moriyama Yuji
Music : Motoi Sakuraba
Episodes : 50
Status : Complete
Sanzo | - | Seki Toshihiko |
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Gojyo | - | Hiroaki Hirata |
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Hakkai | - | Ishida Akira |
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Goku | - | Hoshi Souichirou |
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Kougaiji | - | Kusao Takeshi |
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Doukugakuji | - | Matsumoto Hiroshi |
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Yaone | - | Minaguchi Yuuko |
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Lirin | - | Morota Kaoru |
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Homura | - | Morikawa Toshiyuki |
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Shien | - | Yanaka Hiroshi |
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Zenon | - | Horikawa Hitoshi |
ANIMATION
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Generally good, with nice clear lines colouring (...I think!), and follows the manga pretty closely. On the flip-side, this anime isn't done on the biggest budget, and it shows in the number of stills used and other uhm, 'cheap' methods, like relying on voice-overs. Also, the character design and animation tends to be choppy at times, or inconsistent, in other words. However, the anime grows on you. It REALLY does. In which case, I will suggest buying the you know, the whole set and watching it when you have time because you will get so addicted you'd won't be able to stop. ^_~
Another thing. Like I said, the anime is a cleaned-up version of the manga. It's good in the sense it'd appeal to the general public, but in doing so, the anime lacks the grittiness and angst of the manga. Also, the anime and the manga do not follow the same pace. The anime has many extra filler episodes that do not appear in the manga. But overall, still more than worth your time, I'd say!