Anime Reviews (2000s): Saiyuki Complete Collection (a Neo-Tokyo 2099 Anime on Blu-ray Disc Review) (2000-2001)

As Saiyuki continues to be a popular anime and manga series in Japan, especially with manga, OVA sequels and numerous TV series, the storyline of “Saiyuki” is still ongoing and continues to be a fan favorite over 20-years later. But for anyone who wants to jump into “Saiyuki” and wants to watch the original series, then definitely give “Saiyuki Complete Collection” a try!

TITLE: Saiyuki Complete Collection

ANIME RELEASE DATE IN JAPAN: 2000-2001

DURATION: Episodes 1-50 (1250 Minutes)

BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 480p High Definition (4:3), English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0

COMPANY: Sentai Filmworks

RATED: TV 14

Release Date: March 26, 2019

Originally Created by Minekura Kazuya

Directed by Date Hayato

Screenplay: Sumisawa Katsuyuki, Yokote Michiko

Music by Sakuraba Motoi

Character Design by Moriyama Yuji

Art Director: Ohiwa Rieko, Ikeda Yuji

Anime Production: Dentsu Inc., Group TAC, Pierrot

Featuring the following voice talent:

Ishida Akira/Braden Hunt as Cho Hakkai

Seki Toshihiko/David Matranga as Genjo Sanzo

Hochi Soichiro/Greg Ayres as Son Goku

Hirata Hiroaki/Illich Guardiola as Sha Gojyo

Ishida Akira/Braden Hunt as Tenpou

Hilary Haag as Lirin (Kougaiji’s sister)

Hirata Hiroaki/Illich Guardiola as Kenren

Morikawa Toshiyuki/Jason Douglas as Homura

Jason Miesse as Dokugakuji / Sha Jien

Once demonkind and man lived together in harmony. But when a band of rogue demonic forces seek to resurrect a diabolical monster, a dark spiritual energy begins to cover the land. Now, it’s up to a renegade priest, a monkey king, a lecherous water sprite and a sympathetic demon to stop the resurrection and return harmony to a dangerous land.

Enter the world of Saiyuki! A unique universe of beauty and betrayal. Where sacred scrolls battle enchanted weaponry and where dragons can transform into jeeps. A land where four reluctant heroes are just as concerned about having a good time, a stiff drink, and a beautiful woman as they are about saving the world.

Back in 1997, Minekura Kazuya’s manga “Gensoumaden Saiyuki” made its debut on Enix’s “Monthly GFantasy”.

The manga would be published through 2002 with a total of nine volumes published, while a 50-episode series would air on TV Tokyo from April 2000-March 2001.

A sequal “Saiyuki Reload” would be released on manga from March 2002-2009 (ten volumes published), an OVA titled “Gensomaden Saiyuki: A Sin of Hope” and “Saiyuki ReLoad”, a 25-episode TV series and then “Saiyuki ReLoad GunLock” from April 2004 through Sept. 2004 with a total of 26 episodes created.

While a 2007 3-episode OVA series titled “Saiyuki Reload: Burial” was released, another manga titled “Saiyuki Ibun” was released in December 2009 and is currently still being published with a total of 10 volumes created.

A 3-episode OVA series titled “Saiyuki Gaiden” would be made in 2011, “Saiyuki Gaiden: Tokubetsu-hen – Koga no Sho” was released in 2013 and most recently, a 12-episode anime series, “Saiyuki Reload Blast” was released on July 2017-Sept. 2017.

“Saiyuki Complete Collection” (featuring the first 50 episodes) is now available in North America courtesy of Sentai Filmworks.

The anime series revolves around four anti-heroes: The monk Genjyo Sanzo, the monkey Son Goku, the half-demon Sha Gojyo and Cho Gonou who turned into a demon known as Cho Hakkai.

Genjyo is the priest who brought the group together to travel to the west and was the one who released Goku from his 500-year prison and looks after him and is literally the father figure to Son Goku. While a priest, he smokes a lot, drinks a lot, often swearing and tens to get angry and pissed off at Son Goku, often calling him a derogatory word.

As for Son Goku, despite his age, he is a kid and a cheerful “Monkey King”, who often is hungry, talkative and very loud. He has a very good heart. He also has no memories of what he really is.

The two join Sha Gojyo a.k.a. Sandy, a half yokai/half human and is disliked by general society because his eyes and hair is blood-red. Sha Gojyo keeps having nightmares of his past with an abusive mother.

And the fourth person is Cho Hakkai, the polite and level-headed member of the group. Always courteous and never showing his anger, he has great healing powers but also the ability to create blast of chi and form protective barriers.

Aside fro Cho Hakkai, the three often get into verbal spats with each other and you start to wonder if these four can really work as a team together.

The four have been dispatched by the Sanbutsushin and must travel to India to stop the resurrection of the Ox-Demon King, Gyumaoh. Trying to resurrect Gyumaoh is his concubine, Gyokumen Koushou and a mad scientist named Dr. Nii Jianyii.

“Saiyuki” is an older series (from 2000-2001) about four renegades try to stop four rogue demonic forces who seek to resurrect the evil Ox-Demon King. The problem is, the four are not always on the friendliest of terms. Often ripping on each other, the anime series is no doubt a series that features a lot of action and a lot of humor, but also it’s fair share of violent action.

To be truthful, back when the anime series came out, I wasn’t a big fan of the character design of the characters. Nor did I find myself really getting into the anime series. But this time around, I stuck through the series from beginning to end and the series actually got better overtime. But there are somethings I do have to mention.

What was probably appropriate when the anime was first released, may not go well with anime fans today, especially the gay jokes and one calling the other term which is not politically correct in today’s society. In addition, the acting is something that has an English dub similar to the style of the acting of the ’90s. Not saying it’s bad, but it’s a bit different compared to voice acting of today.

As for the Blu-ray release, as mentioned, this is an older anime series and the anime series is presented in 480p (4:3 aspect ratio) there are some banding issues and artifacts, considering that Sentai Filmworks wanted to fit all 50-episodes episodes on three Blu-ray discs. And for a lot of people, it’s more cost effective to purchase this complete series as a full set versus a volume with four episodes each.

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