Saiyûki (1994) (TV)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Cast

John Area	...	Monk 5 / Demon 5 (voice: English version)
Christine M. Auten	...	East Sanbutsushin (voice: English version)
Greg Ayres	...	Goku (voice: English version)
Marcy Bannor	...	Aunt Han (voice: English version)
Vicki Barosh	...	Black Widow (voice: English version)
Rick Burford	...	Chin Yisou (voice: English version)
Shelley Calene-Black	...	Yaone (voice: English version)
Mandy Clark	...	Meihu (voice: English version)
Karen Coffer	...	Merciful Goddess (voice: English version)
Kaytha Coker	...	Gyokumen (voice: English version)
Adam Conlon	...	Monk 8 / Demon 8 (voice: English version)
Kevin Corn	...	Kouryui / Kid (voice: English version)
Kelli Cousins	...	Shunrei (voice: English version)
Jason Douglas	...	Homura
Tommy Drake	...	Dr. Ni (voice: English version)
Brazil Joseph Grisaffi III	...	Fei III / Heaven's Soldier (voice: English version)
Illich Guardiola	...	Sha Gojyo (voice: English version)
Hilary Haag	...	Lirin (voice: English version)
Jay Hickman	...	Shuei / Rikudo (voice: English version)
Hiroaki Hirata	...	Sha Gojyo
Soichiro Hoshi	...	Son Goku
Braden Hunt	...	Cho Hakkai (voice: English version)
Akira Ishida	...	Cho Hakkai
K.C. Jones	...	Demon / Monk / Brawler (voice: English version) (as Kyle Jones)
Allison Keith	...	Kanan (voice: English version)
Jason Konopisos	...	Gojun
Mike MacRae	...	Monk 3 / Demon 3 (voice: English version)
Riho Makise
Kelly Manison	...	West Sanbutsushin (voice: English version)
David Matranga	...	Genjo Sanzo (voice: English version)
Ty Mayberry	...	Monk 4 / Demon 4 (voice: English version)
Andy McAvin	...	Soushi / Father (voice: English version)
Jason Miesse	...	Dokugakuji (voice: English version)
Vic Mignogna	...	Kougaiji (voice: English version)
Geoffrey Mueller	...	Demon Kid / Yo (voice: English version)
Rob Nash	...	Monk 1 / Demon 2 / Cheek (voice: English version)
Tony Oller	...	Prince Nataku
Todd Pace	...	Monk 9 / Demon 9 (voice: English version)
Chris Patton	...	Komyou / Fake Goku (voice: English version)
Ted Pfister	...	Grey Sanbutsushin (voice: English version)
Ben Pronsky	...	Monk 7 / Demon 7 / Scar (voice: English version)
Monica Rial	...	Houmei / Poker Groupie (voice: English version)
Don Rush	...	Demon / Monk / Brawler (voice: English version)
Toshihiko Seki	...	Genjyo Sanzo
Randy Sparks	...	Demon 10 (voice: English version)
Spike Spencer	...	Shien / Monk 6 / Demon 6 / Silver (voice: English version)
Alex Stutler	...	Fake Sanzo (voice: English version)
John Swasey	...	Farmer / Monk 2 / Demon 1 (voice: English version)
Noboru Takachi
Shawn Taylor	...	Merciful Goddess (voice: English version)
Lew Temple	...	Monk / Village Chief (voice: English version)
Stanley Thomas	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Kira Vincent-Davis	...	Chinpu (voice: English version)
Todd Waite	...	Jiroushin (voice: English version)
Shingo Yanagisawa

Produced by
John Ledford	....	executive producer (english version)
Mark Williams	....	executive producer (english version)

Sound Department
Cesar Inserny	....	sound designer
Cesar Inserny	....	sound mixer
Stanley Thomas	....	adr engineer: English version (as Stan Thomas)

Distributors

• ADV Films (2003) (USA) (DVD)

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Quotes:

Homura: This is the way it should be. You should have been able to hear Kougaji's soul cry out. That's why you are the only ones who can save him. I cannot. I cannot hear the voices, even if I wanted.

Journey to the Max!

Saiyuki is based on Kazuya Minekura's manga based loosely on the Chinese legend of Xiyouji. The keyword there is loosely.

There are several elements of the old legend present in this particular retelling: a band of four, a monk and his three demon companions, must travel to the west, overcoming enemies that would like to stop their progress. The original legend has the quartet fetching sutras, the point of Minekura's story is to stop the resurrection of the sealed demon Gyumaoh. However, Minekura also gave the story a few updates, so look for things like jeeps, ATM cards, and modern clothing set in what looks like it should be ancient China. This makes the story a little easier to understand, especially if the viewer isn't all that familiar with ancient China.

The characters are also tweaked. Gone are the family friendly versions that tend to populate the re-tellings. Instead the four pretty-boy heroes are rough and tumble - with the mouths and habits to match. Genjo Sanzo is a chain smoking, hard drinking, rouge priest with loads of charisma, drooping purple eyes and golden hair. Sha Gojyo is a a womanizing half-demon who smokes like a chimney and drinks like a fish. Cho Hakkai is a demon whose kind smile and dry humor hides a dark and painful past. Lastly Son Goku is a mischievous heretic born from a rock with an appetite that can't be filled.

Visually, Saiyuki is stunning. Mostly done with computers, the animation quality is high end, and compliments Minekura's character designs. The score is an eclectic mix of bad 80's rock, southern bluegrass, and Buddhist chants.

Perhaps Saiyuki's best quality is that it is one of the rare animes where the dubbed version is actually better than the original Japanese. The dialogue represents the humor of the original tenfold. As Japanese humor and American humor isn't the same, the translation of the jokes into American humor make for a much more enjoyable time, and the story comes to life as never before.

This is the Journey to the Max!