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Title: 西遊記
Title (romaji): Saiyuuki
Also known as: Journey to the West
Genre: Comedy, family
Episodes: 11
Viewership rating: 22.82
Broadcast network: Fuji TV
Broadcast period: 2006-Jan-09 to 2006-Mar-20
Air time: Monday 21:00
Theme song: Around the World by MONKEY MAJIK
Website
Cast
Katori Shingo as Son Goku (Monkey King)
Fukatsu Eri as Sanzou Hoshi (Sanzang)
Ito Atsushi as Cho Hakkai (Pig)
Uchimura Teruyoshi as Sagojo (Sand Monk)
Mizukawa Asami as Rin Rin
Ohkura Koji as Roshi
Review
This one is like an adaptation of the 70's japanese adaptation of the novel. Its an adaptation of an adaptation!
The series begins when the journey already started, but it seems that the last one to join the group was Goku, and instead of being inprisioned in the Five Fingers Mountain, he was imprisioned in the Flower Fruit Mountain (where, there's no sign of existence of the other monkeys or the Curtain Cave). This Goku is childish and talks very loud, also he is a very lonely character and trough the series he learns how to become a friend and that sort of emotional stuff. He is the most powerful of the group but he uses his powers rarely (he uses one of his transformations just once in the series). Instead of flying on a cloud, he flyes on a giant feather he calls "Kintoun." His secret dream is to become a human.
As in most japanese versions, Sanzou Hoshi is female. She doesnt have a horse so she does the journey walking. She caries a cane with three jingle bells in it that represents her three diciples. This version of the character cries a lot but doesnt complain much when her diciples use violence. She grew up with her mother, who died when she was just a child.
Sa Gojo is a kappa (a kind japanese river demon) and in this one he is stronger that the pig. He is very
and cleaver, and acts very politely. In the past he was a criminal demon, so he joins the group to make up his bad actions. He is always lusting for beautiful girls. He used to be married with a fellow demon girl and he still loves her. His weapons are a couple of sai.
For me, the worst character in the series. This pig is very boring and coward, he is not very interested in women like the original one, he rather spend the time thinking of food. This one is the weakest of the three demons. He was born as a piglet in a family of boars, so he joins the journey to prove himself. In a point of the series he gets pregnant and gives birth a little baby pig.
There are two completly new characters too.
The first one is Rin Rin, a thief girl who follows the main characters in their journey. She knows a lot about every town they go. Goku and her never get along, but it seems like he has a hidden interest in her. At the end it is revealed that she was the princess of a demon town.
The other one is Roushi, he is like a god or something. He is always lusting for women too, especially for Rin Rin. He doesnt like Goku at all and allways tells Sanzou Hoshi to kick him out of the group. This is a pure comedic character.
Althoug they changed a LOT of things, i liked this series very much, its very funny, and has a lot of drama too. The visual part of the series is really great, but the make up of the characters was mediocre (a pair of sideburns was suposed to make Goku look like a monkey.)
After the series ended, in the year 2007 they released a feature film. That was a very good movie, used way more specal effects and Goku showed his powers a little more.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=aG1Lzdn8iOM