Saiyuki Reload Box Set (DVD)

I never saw the first run of 'Saiyuki' so I don't know how 'Reload' compares, though it seemed a perfectly reasonable place to join the action. 'SR' isn't a complicated anime. Its basic premise is simple enough and follows a path that seems comfortably familiar. It reminded me, in large part, of the original 'Fist of the North Star' series; a long road trip where the journey, not the destination, is what it's all about. What's more, I enjoyed it despite its lack of narrative sophistication and artful story-telling.  And I know that this is not a point of view shared by all!



However, before I press on with this review I should remind the more discerning reader that I am but a humble assistant to our true professor all things anime, Jitendar Canth. In fact, I am merely an Igor to his Dr. Animestein, so I would recommend seeking out his highly informative and detailed reviews of the seven individual discs that make up this hefty set which can be found on this site. (Simply use the 'search' function off the main page).



Apparently, SR was a major hit in its original manga form from Tokyo pop in Japan. It's based on the ancient Chinese legend of a journey to the west where a monk and his followers journey to India to prevent the resurrection of a demon king (Gyumaoh) and to recover some ancient Buddhist scriptures. And if that all sounds familiar, it is. 'Monkey', the hilarious and badly dubbed seventies TV series was also based on the legend, but that is where any similarities between that series and this stop.



What's good about 'SR' is that the pious monk Genjyo Sanzo is, in this incarnation, a cool looking chain-smoking grouch. He travels the lands in a beat up jeep with three gun carrying cohorts (Sha Gojyo, Cho Hakkai and Son Goku) who look like the remaining members of a punk band.

In their world, demons co-exist with humans, but the resurrection experiments for Gyumoah have caused a mysterious change in normal demons, turning them into zombies. (Getting interested yet?).  Yes - there's plenty of shoot 'em up Zombie killin' action here, but the show is more sophisticated than merely that. We get characterisation, for example, that shows a human/zombie struggling with the change and the tragic end that it will bring to his love for a human girl. (A bit 'District 9' actually).  We also see our hardened crew take sympathy with a lost kitten and fall under the bewitching spell of a comforting 'witch'.



Sanzo and his crew must defeat Gyumaoh in order to stop the tirade of demons though no matter where they go, demons appear and it's time for battle. (That's a predictable pattern that remains, for the large part, unabated for the entire season). In fact, there's a bounty on their heads which may account for the constant battling.

Perhaps the highlight of the demonic battling is the encounters with Gyumaoh's son Kougaiji and his faithful side-kicks, Lirin, Dokugakuji and Yaone.



The series is not without humour (with Sanzo's grouchiness providing the lion's share) and, although the series is intellectually un-demanding, it provides a pleasant enough ride.

Picture quality is very good, though 4:3,  and the US dub very reasonable too. I must confess that I didn't bother with the Japanese at all.

In truth, despite the obvious and fair critique about its lack of narrative substance, this light-weight, entertaining adventure could provide a simple point of entry for those about to dabble in anime.