Saiyuki (manga)

Saiyuki (manga)
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kazuya Minekura. It was originally serialized in Square Enix's shōnen manga magazine Monthly GFantasy from 1997 to 2002, and Ichijinsha later published it in nine tankōbon volumes from October 2002 to June 2003. The story, which is loosely based on the 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West, follows a monk named Genjo Sanzo who receives a mission to travel to the west with a group of three yōkai (demons) to stop anyone reviving the evil god Gyumao.
Minekura's manga includes two sequels titled Saiyuki Reload and Saiyuki Reload Blast, as well as two prequels titled Saiyuki Gaiden and Saiyuki Ibun. The series has spawned a media franchise that includes five anime series. Pierrot produced a 50-episode anime television series titled Gensomaden Saiyuki that aired from April 2000 to March 2001, and won the twenty-third annual Animage Anime Grand Prix Award. The same studio developed an anime film adaptation and two anime sequel series titled Saiyuki Reload and Saiyuki Reload Gunlock, which were broadcast together in Japan from October 2003 to September 2004. Two other animes were produced; Platinum Vision made Saiyuki Reload Blast in 2017 and Liden Films made Saiyuki Reload: Zeroin, in 2022. Three original video animations (OVAs), nine stage musicals, a light novel adaptation, numerous video games, and drama CDs have also been made.
As of July 2017, the Saiyuki franchise has sold 25 million copies in circulation worldwide, making it one of the best-selling manga series of all time; it has become a mainstay of manga/anime culture, and its entries have continually garnered critical praise and accolades.
Plot
Shangri-La is an earthy paradise where humans and youkai (demons) cohabit peacefully. The world is invaded by "Minus Waves", which are created by the mixing of scientific research and magic in an attempt to resurrect an ancient, powerful and evil god named Gyumao. The youkais return to their bestial habits, killing and devouring humans. Goddess Kanzeon sends Buddhist monk Genjo Sanzo and his acolytes Son Goku, Sha Gojyo, and Cho Hakkai to Tenjiku (India) to stop the curse and prevent Gyumao's resurrection.
Media
Manga
The manga Saiyuki consists of five series whose release depends on the author's health. The original nine-volume series was serialized in the manga magazine Monthly G-Fantasy from September 1997 to February 2002. Ichijinsha reprinted the series from October 26, 2002, to June 25, 2003; and published a new edition in 2015.
Tokyopop licensed the English translation, which it published between March 2, 2004, and July 12, 2005. Madman Entertainment released all nine volumes from October 3, 2007, to October 9, 2008. From February 20, 2020, to January 23, 2021, Kodansha republished the newly translated main series in North America in 400-page, hardcover volumes.
A prequel titled Saiyuki Gaiden was serialized in Enix's Monthly GFantasy magazine in 1999, although it continued serialization in Ichijinsha's magazine Comic Zero Sum WARD from 2002. Saiyuki Gaiden spans four volumes that ended in 2009. A special edition titled "Saiyuki Gaiden memorial" was released on July 16, 2009. In September 2012, a new, one-shot story titled "Saiyuki Gaiden Heavenly Ants" was released.
In 2002, the josei manga magazine Monthly Comic Zero Sum began serializing a sequel to the Saiyuki series titled Saiyuki Reload, finishing in 2009 with ten volumes. Tokyopop published Saiyuki Reload in North America in nine volumes from 2005 to 2009. Madman Entertainment then published the series in nine volumes from 2009 to 2010.
The fourth series, Saiyuki Reload Blast , started serialization in Ichijinsha's josei manga magazine Monthly Comic Zero Sum since December 2009, After a hiatus that begun in September 2010, the manga resumed in March 2012, with the first volume being released in July later that year.
On July 27, 2013, publication of Saiyuki Reload Blast slowed due to Minekura's health. Ichijinsha published the second volume in July 2014. In April 2016, publication again paused. Initially, the third volume was planned to be released in August 2017 but was postponed until October that year, when it was published alongside a special edition. The series went on hiatus in October 2017 and resumed 18 months later.
The fifth and final series titled Saiyuki Ibun was published from 2009 and was serialized in Monthly Comic Zero Sum. In November 2012, it resumed after a 28-month break, and a single volume was released the following April before going on an indefinite hiatus. In January 2021, Ritsuhiro Mikami released a one-shot for the series.
Anime
The anime adaptation of Saiyuki consists of five series, three of which Studio Pierrot produced. The series are titled Fantasy and Magic Legend (50 episodes), Most Travels Reload (25 episodes), and Most Travels Reload Gunlock (26 episodes). Studio Pierrot also produced OVAs Most Travels (two episodes), Most Travels Burial -burial- (two episodes), and Most Travels Biography (three episodes). In addition, a theatrical version called Fantasy and Magic, the Most Travel Notes Requiem's Requiem for the Losers was released.
Saiyuki was first animated in a two-episode OVA series that was produced by Tokyo Kids and premiered on April 23, 1999. The second OVA episode was released on February 29, 2000, and was followed by the premier of the 50-episode anime television series Gensomaden Saiyuki, which Studio Pierrot produced. The series aired on TV Tokyo from April 4, 2000, to March 27, 2001. Enoki Films holds the US license to Gensomaden Saiyuki under the title Saiyuki: Paradise Raiders.
Saiyuki proved sufficiently popular for the production of a theatrical motion picture titled Saiyuki: Requiem, which was released in Japan on August 18, 2001. It was produced by Studio Pierrot, directed by Hayato Date, and written by Katsuyuki Sumisawa. ADV films licensed an English version of Saiyuki: Requiem in 2004.
Saiyuki ReLoad was adapted into a 25-episode animated television series that aired from October 2, 2003, to March 25, 2004. A 26-episode sequel titled Saiyuki Reload Gunlock aired from April 1, 2004, to September 23, 2004. ADV Films licensed Gensomaden Saiyuki and the movie. The other two series are licensed by Geneon in North America.
In February 2006, Geneon and Tokyopop agreed to cross-promote several properties. Tokyopop's translation of Saiyuki GunLock was advertised on Geneon's DVD releases for the same series, and vice versa. In April 2007, Studio Pierrot released Saiyuki Reload: Burial, a new OVA series that adapts the "Burial" arc of the Saiyuki Reload manga.
In November 2009, it was announced an OVA titled Saiyuki Gaiden had been green-lit. The OVA is based on the eponymous manga series Kazuya Minekura wrote and illustrated, and it is a prequel to the manga series Saiyuki, which ended in Ichijinsha's Monthly Comic Zero-Sum magazine in 2009. Saiyuki Gaiden was licensed from Sentai Filmworks and premiered by Anpro Studio from March to November 2011, and a special edition titled Saiyuki Gaiden: Kouga no Shou was released on Apr 26, 2013.
An anime television series adaptation of the Saiyuki Reload Blast manga series aired from July 5 to September 20, 2017, on Tokyo MX, TV Aichi, BS11, and Sun TV. It ran for 12 episodes. Crunchyroll licensed the series and Funimation released it on home video as part of the two companies' partnership. Muse Communication licensed the series in South and Southeast Asia; it was aired on Animax Asia and later released on its YouTube channel.
In January 2021, Liden Films announced a new anime series titled Saiyuki Reload: Zeroin, which was directed by Misato Takada, and scrpted by Michiko Yokote and Aya Matsui. Noriko Ogura designed the characters and served as chief animation director, and Yūsuke Shirato composed the music. The main cast members reprised their roles. It aired from January 6 to March 31, 2022, on AT-X and other networks. Granrodeo performed the opening theme "Kamino Hotokemo," while Shugo Nakamura performed the ending theme "Ruten." Sentai Filmworks licensed the series outside Asia. In South and Southeast Asia, Muse Communication licensed the anime.
HIDIVE streams the English dub of Saiyuki Reload: Zeroin''', which premiered on February 24, 2022, in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Latin America, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Scandinavian countries, and the Netherlands. The show premiered on January 6 on AT-X, Tokyo MX, and BS11. Sentai Filmworks licensed the anime, and HIDIVE streamed the series as it aired in Japan. The four main cast members of the previous Saiyuki, Saiyuki Reload, Saiyuki Gunlock, and Saiyuki Reload Blast television anime reprised their roles.Saiyuki Reload Sanzo's Song collection was released on October 24, 2007, and was published and distributed by Frontier Works. Frontier Works released Saiyuki Complete Vocal Song collection on August 27, 2014.
Home media
The complete collection of Saiyuki, containing all 50 episodes, was released on Blu-ray on March 26, 2019.
On November 30, 2021 Discotek Media released Saiyuki Reload on Blu-ray containing all 25 episodes in standard definition. This collection also includes the original Japanese-language soundtrack, English subtitles and the English dub. On September 27, 2022, Discotek Media released Saiyuki Reload Gunlock; this release contains all 26 episodes of the anime in standard definition on a Blu-ray disc.
A Blu-ray of all three volumes of "Saiyuki Reload: Burial (OAV)" based on Kazuya Minekura's manga "Saiyuki Reload" was released on December 21, 2018.
On September 28, 2018 Frontier Works released all four volumes of "Saiyuki Gaiden" OVAs in a Blu-ray box set.
On July 24, 2018 FUNimation Entertainment released Saiyuki Reload Blast on Blu-ray and DVD; this box set contains episodes 1-12 of the anime. The same company also released Saiyuki Reload Blast [Essentials] on Blu-ray on January 28, 2020.Saiyuki Reload: Zeroin was released in two Blu-ray box-set volumes; Volume 1 was released on April 27, 2022, and volume 2 was released on June 29, 2022.
Stage musicalsSaiyuki has been adapted into several stage musicals, beginning with its first show Saiyuki Kagekiden: Go to the West, which was performed at Tennozu Galaxy Theater in Tokyo from September 13th to 21st, 2008, and has continued for more than ten years. Saiyuki Kagekiden: Go to the West DVD was released on January 25, 2009. The story takes place three years before the journey of Sanzo and his group to the West and the Rikudo arc. Since Saiyuki Kagekiden: Go to the West in 2008, the musical Saiyuki Kagekiden has been performed in nine works.
The musical Saiyuki Kagekiden: Dead or Alive ran in 2009.
Saiyuki Kagekiden, Go to the West and Dead or Alive, had the same cast and a man playing the role of Kanzeon Bosatsu.
A limited-edition DVD reissue of the 2009 stage plays Go to the West and Dead or Alive was announced for May 10, 2017, coinciding with the 20th Anniversary of the manga series.
In 2014, the third musical staging of Saiyuki Kagekiden was performed for the first time in about five years since the previous work titled Saiyuki Kagekiden: God Child, from May 2 to 7, 2014. The story is based on Saiyuki: Kinkaku Ginkaku Hen and Saiyuki's Kami-sama arc from Saiyuki Volumes 6 to 9.
In 2015, the stage musical Saiyuki Kagekiden: Burial ran from September 17 to 23, 2015; the story takes place in the Burial Arc. The musical Saiyuki Kagekiden: Reload ran from September 17 to 23, 2015. By July 2015, in the event of Saiyuki Kagekiden, cast members Included Hiroki Suzuki and others, who sang the theme song "Go to the West" from Saiyuki Kagekiden: Burial in the background of the DVD video based on Kazuya Minekura's "Saiyuki".Saiyuki Kagekiden the Movie: Bullets starring Hiroki Suzuki was screened at Saiyuki FESTA 2017 from January 7 to 8, and was released on DVD and CD on June 28, 2017. The film is based on a short story featuring the cast of Saiyuki Kagekiden, and was produced to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Kazuya Minekura's manga Saiyuki. In January 2017, a memorial talk by the cast of Sanzo and his group was held at Saiyuki FESTA. The 2014–2015 stage cast were also involved in a compilation of eight original short stories that were dramatized for a film release; it was shown in three screenings, two of which included cast appearances, at the SaiyukiFESTA 2017 event at Makuhari Messe International Convention Centre on 8 January, commemorating 20 years of publication of the manga. A behind-the-scenes documentary titled Saiyuki Kagekiden: Over the Bullets for the event includes cast insights on their experiences with the show; it was broadcast on Tokyo MX1 and online via mcas on December 25, 2016.
IN September 2018, Saiyuki Kagekiden: Ibun Stage Reveals Cast ran from September 4 to 9 in Tokyo Dome City's Theatre G-Rosso. Ibun is directed and written by Hideaki Nakano. IN January 2019 two more stage musicals based on Saiyuki, titled Saiyuki Kagekiden: Darkness and Saiyuki Kagekiden: Oasis. Saiyuki Kagekiden: Darkness ran at the Hulic Hall in Tokyo from June 6 to 14, 2019; and Saiyuki Kagekiden: Oasis ran from February 2 to 9, 2020. Both musicals were directed and written by Kaori Miura.
In February 2021, Saiyuki Kagekiden: Sunrise, which follows "Darkness" and "Oasis", which will be the final chapter of the Hazel Arc, play ran from February 11 to 14, 2021, at Cool Japan Park Osaka WW Hall; and from February 18 to 24 at "Shinagawa Prince Hotell Stellar Ballo".
In April 2022, it was announced Saiyuki Kagekiden would return in 2023 with a new stage musical titles Saiyuki Kagekiden: Gaiden. In March 2023, it was announced the musical "Gaiden" would be staged that fall and the main cast was also announced.
Other media
Drama CDs
A large number of Saiyuki drama CDs have been released. Frontier Works has released three drama CDs of the anime series Saiyuki Reload Blast on September 27, November 29, and December 20, 2017, respectively. The drama CDs includes original stories of all three episodes, and the comments of the actors Toshihiko Seki (Genjo Sanzo), Sōichirō Hoshi (Son Goku), Hiroaki Hirata (Sha Gojyo), and Akira Ishida (Cho Hakkai).
A CD box set called "Saiyuki" Premium Collection that includes 19 audio drama series from 1999 to 2012 was released by Frontier Works on June 26, 2019.
The first character CD of the "Saiyuki" series was released on September 27, October 30, November 27 and December 27, 2013, respectively. It includes an interview with the voice actors.
Light novels
The first official novel of Saiyuki was written by Misagi Hijiri, illustrated by Kazuya Minekura, and published by G-Fantasy / Square Enix. The first volume was released on April 1, 1999. The second and third volumes were published on April 1, 2000, and February 1, 2001, respectively. Ichijinsha Zero-sum Novels republished the three volumes in a new edition on July 1, 2005. Novel version of Saiyuki: Requiem film was published by G-Fantasy / Square Enix in October 1, 2001. Saiyuki Omnibus, an omnibus edition novel anthology consisting of five short stories written by five authors, was released July 22, 2010, by Ichijinsha. Saiyuki Korotengi was written by Yukiko Uozumi and published a day earlier on April 25, 2011 by Ichijinsha.
Kazuya Minekura wrote an extra 39-page novel called Saiyuki Crossroaders, which was published by Zerosum Online Book.
25th anniversary
On October 27, 2022, it was announced Saiyuki manga would travel to three cities for a 25th Anniversary Exhibition, which began in Osaka at Namba Marui from December 30, 2022 to January 15, 2023; followed by Yurakucho Marui in Tokyo from May 12 to May 28; and Hakata Marui in Fukuoka from August 11 to September 3. Additional events in other regions were also planned. The original painting of "Saiyuki 25th Exhibition" commemorating the 25th anniversary of the serialization, started on May 12, 2023.
Reception
Sales and popularity
The Saiyuki franchise has become a mainstay of manga and anime culture, and its entries have continually garnered critical praise. Gensomaden Saiyuki won Animage magazine's Anime Grand Prix Award in 2000 and Genjo Sanzo won the best male character category. On January 17, 2001, "Gensomaden Saiyuki" was ranked second on Animage list of 100 most-important anime ever published. In May 2002, Gensomaden Saiyuki was ranked fourth as chosen by Animage reader's poll of Top 20 Picks Best of 2001, and in August 2001, the series was ranked ninth in Newtype website's poll of top 10 Anime, and Genjo Sanzo was sixth in the top ten male characters.
On October 8, 2004, It was reported research has shown in recent years, Saiyuki anime has become extremely popular among Japanese young women. In September 2005, Japanese television network TV Asahi broadcast a popularity poll based on a nationwide survey in which Saiyuki was placed 96th of the channel's Top 100 Anime. In 2007, a large-scale survey by TV Asahi voted Gensomaden Saiyuki as the 27th-most-appreciated anime in Japan. On August 2020, Japan’s biggest ranking site Goo Ranking published its list for the most popular anime that debuted in the last 20 years. Among these titles, Gensomaden Saiyuki was ranked eighth.
During the third quarter of 2003, Saiyuki ranked at the top of ICv2's Top 50 Manga Properties. On March 30, 2004, Saiyuki was in the top 10 of Shōjo manga's series on the ICv2 website. Saiyuki manga was top Manga Publisher of the Year in the "ICV2 2004 manga awards", and came a very close second for the 2004 award. On January 16, 2005, Saiyuki Vol. 6 ranked at the top of ICv2's top-10 best-selling manga, and Saiyuki Volume 8 was ranked eighth in the top 10 best-selling manga of Tokyopop on June 13, 2005. During its premiere as a television series, the first six volumes of Saiyuki manga had sold over 3.2 million copies. In 2004, at the 26th Anime Grand Prix Awards, Saiyuki Reload was the fourth-most-popular Anime title, and Genjo Sanzo was ranked the seventh-best Male Character.
In 2005, at the 27th Anime Grand Prix Award, Saiyuki Reload Gunlock was ranked the seventeenth-best anime title. Saiyuki Gaiden and Saiyuki Reload manga remained in the top 10 weekly Japanese ranking chart whenever a manga volume debuted. Saiyuki Gaiden manga volumes were frequently ranked the top manga[Japanese Comic Ranking, July 27-August 2], Anime News Network, Retrieved June 16, 2022. like the Saiyuki Reload manga.[Japanese Comic Ranking, July 29–August 4], Anime News Network,Retrieved June 16, 2022.[Japanese Comic Ranking, November 2-8], Anime News Network,Retrieved June 16, 2022. In 2006 ' PUFF (also known as Manga Oscars) listed Saiyuki Reload was listed by many fans as one of the definite study guides for those who appreciate manga, as number 10 on its list of long story mangas.
The series Saiyuki Reload Blast was ranked third among the top 20 anime during mid 2017 among Japanese fans. The series was among the top-three most-acclaimed anime of July 2017. In the third quarter of 2017, the series was ranked fifth on Goo Ranking website's poll of top-20 favorite late-night anime of mid 2017. Saiyuki Reload: Zeroin series ranked 18th on Filmarks website's poll of top 20 "must see anime of winter 2022".
As of July 2017, the manga franchise had sold 25 million copies in circulation worldwide.
Critical response
Manga
The manga has received critical praise and accolades. In his review of volume one eduardo m. chavez of Anime on DVD said that he found the story to be enjoyable with having a moving plot, and overall a good twist on the fantasy genre with a popular story mixed in. He describes its characters as a special combination of science and magic and superior to other versions of the novel Journey to the West, which combines the series with good humor and entertaining action. Thinks that the four members of Sanzo's team are stereotypical guys and described them as those who fall victim to their own vices and become a great team of unlikely heroes - youkai saving humans. In the second volume he criticized Minkura's art called it erratically, The interaction shown in the characters of Sanzo and Hakkai with other secondary characters is considered an interesting technique. Modern concepts with an old story with a very dark, funny and surprising mood. as of volume three, Minkura's art received mixed reviews, Chavez gave a very good grade to Story content described the relationship between Sanzo and Goku as unique, similar to a parasite and its host on the surface, but very deep and cherished by both. the writer were impressed with Goku's character, describing it as touching and almost inspiring, and calls Sanzo's character rather poignant.
Jeanne of Aestheticism.com praised Minekura's Saiyuki, described the manga art as energetic and the story as a daring reconstructionist vision of the novel that references it in clever and refreshing ways; she also said it is fast and interesting, entertaining, and its pages are littered with anachronisms. Maria Lin of Animefringe.com praised Saiyuki's plot that filled with action-packed stories which contains violent themes and is very serious on occasion and humor to prevent from being heavy. she consider the manga as a Shōjo, which is regularly filled with extra material. NiDNiM of Manga News gave an above-average score to the first volume of the series; the author praised the manga art and called it pleasing. NiDNiM also gave a 17-out-of-20 score to the second and third volumes, and called the manga very entertaining and surprising, and described the pages as beautiful and accurate. Later volumes were given an above-average score, as of final volume, the reviewer describes Kazuya Minkura's special attention to the charisma and psychology of her characters as commendable and stated: "Saiyuki may be a quest, at its core, but it acts more as a motor for humor and development. atypical charisms. Against the backdrop of a mythological story, not very innovative, the author indeed plays a lot on flashbacks, which give depth to the characters while bringing the essential dramatic side, and the experience accumulated by our heroes."
Spartans of Manga Sanctuary rated the manga 9 out of 10; they described the drawings as magnificent, stating: "The fights are very dynamic and with a lot of humor. Saiyuki is a very pleasant series to read and follow." Chris936 of Manga Sanctuary gave it a 7-out-of-10 grade, praised Minekura's graphic style, and described the characters as "an excellent look in addition to having an interesting character" and called the manga "a pretty good, very pleasant to read and above all full of humor". Michelle Smith of Soliloquy in Blue reviewed the first three volumes, gave the a B grade, and praised the art and story progression. Irene salzmann of Splash Comics praised the first volume of the manga, and described the characters as charming and lovable with a wealth of dark secrets, and the story as exciting, humorous, sometimes deep and full of ambiguities. salzmann praised Later volumes and describes the story with a mixture of ancient exoticism and familiar modernity. Manga Xanadu gave a 5-out-of-5 score, praising the manga and describing its story as sad and emotional, and fun and enjoyable.
Sarah of Anime UK News praised the first volume of Resurrected Edition of the manga graded Saiyuki'' 8 out of 10 described manga as landmark, the story is full of raw and convincing energy. Glimpses of the tragic backstories of each protagonist described "attractive" for readers. In the character of Sanzo, she finds an irresistible charm and described the deep sense of camaraderie between the heroes convincingly and truly affecting.
References
External links
Official Studio Pierrot Gensomaden Saiyuki website
Official Studio Pierrot Gensomaden Saiyuki: Requiem For the One Not Chosen website
Official Studio Pierrot Saiyuki Reload website
Saiyuki Reload Gunlock website
Official TV Tokyo Gensomaden Saiyuki website
Official/ "Saiyuki" CD official website
"World is Mine -mine- website
"Saiyuki RELOAD BLAST website
"Saiyuki Reload: Zeroin website
OVA "Saiyuki Gaiden" official website
"Minekura.net website
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