A detailed review of the story of the abyss and its appeal

"Miroku: The History of the Void": A grand story where history and fantasy intersect

■ Public Media

OVA

■ Original Media

comics

■ Release date

January 10, 1989

■Release and sales

・Publisher: Tokuma Japan

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 6

■Original Story

Ken Ishikawa

■ Director

Director: Hiroo Takeuchi

■ Production

・Production: Animate Film ・Production cooperation: JCSTAFF

■ Story

In the first year of the Genna era, when Tokugawa Ieyasu defeated the Toyotomi clan in the Summer Siege, the defeated general, Sanada Yukimura, was beheaded by Hattori Hanzo. However, Yukimura was resurrected as King Ajara and began his revenge against Tokugawa. Sensing this from afar, Mugen Daigon summoned his son, Mugen Miroku. Miroku learned of the power of the "dragon" behind Yukimura and resolved to fight against King Ajara and the Sanada forces who had turned into demons.

■Explanation

This is an OVA adaptation of the manga of the same name by Ishikawa Ken, which was serialized in "Monthly Shonen Captain" (Tokuma Shoten). It is a series of 6 episodes set against the backdrop of a spectacular worldview. "Kyomu Senshi Miroku" is a work that skillfully combines historical events with fantasy elements, and is characterized by its captivating storytelling and beautiful visuals. This work can be said to be a symbol of the OVA boom in the anime industry in the late 1980s, and its influence has not faded to this day.

■Cast

・Mugen Mireku/Kazuki Yao ・Yashahime/Maria Kawamura ・Mugen Daiken/Ichiro Nagai ・Hattori Hanzo/Koichi Yamadera ・Tokugawa Ieyasu/Kenichi Ogata ・Sanada Yukimura/Yusaku Yara

■ Main staff

・Original story/Ishikawa Ken・Director/Takeuchi Hiroo・Screenplay/Takayashiki Hideo, Kaikawa Noboru, Hiyoshi Megumi・Direction/Ohga Shunji・Character design and animation director/Motohashi Hideyuki・Art director/Miyamae Mitsuharu・Director of photography/Moriguchi Yosuke・Sound director/Matsuura Noriyoshi・Music/Kato Michiaki・Producers/Yoshida Shozo, Seki Masahiro・Production/Animate Film・Production cooperation/JCSTAFF
・Publisher: Tokuma Japan

■ Main Characters

・Mugen Mireku The young lord of Kowloon City. He sends his spirit into Edo Castle and discovers Yukimura's true identity. Mireku is the central character of the story, and his growth and struggles are the axis of the work. Mireku's character is portrayed as a hero who combines courage and wisdom, and deeply moves the audience.

・Mugen Daikoku The elder of the "Kowloon Clan," a group of superhumans hiding in the remote mountains. Mugen Daikoku is a character with deep knowledge and great power, and his presence gives the story a sense of depth. Mugen Daikoku's character can be said to be a symbol of modern society, which is torn between tradition and new values.

After being beheaded, Yukimura Sanada is resurrected as King Ajara. He attacks Tokugawa with his subordinates, the Ten Braves of Sanada. Yukimura is a historical figure, but the addition of fantasy elements gives him a new appeal. Yukimura's character is depicted as being torn between revenge and salvation, evoking deep sympathy in the viewer.

■Subtitle

Episode 1: The Resurrection of King Ajara Episode 2: Deadly Battle! Kowloon vs. Sanada Episode 3: The Chosen One!
・Episode 4 / A New Battle ・Episode 5 / Kowloon City Burns ・Episode 6 / The Road to the Galaxy

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・STOP THAT!
Lyrics: Saiki Kutsumu, Composition: Hiroaki Sei, Arrangement: Michiaki Kato, Singer: K-Chan

・ED1
・FOR YOUR DREAM
Lyrics: Saiki Kutsumu, Composition: Hiroaki Sei, Arrangement: Michiaki Kato, Singer: K-Chan

■Detailed evaluation

"Kyomu Senshi Miroku" is a grand story that combines history and fantasy, and its appeal is manifold. First of all, the story development is extremely ingenious. Set against the backdrop of the Summer Siege of 1618, it depicts the revival of Sanada Yukimura and the subsequent battles, but it also subtly incorporates fantasy elements such as the existence of the Kowloon clan and the power of the "dragon." This allows viewers to experience historical events from a new perspective, adding depth to the story.

The portrayal of the characters is also excellent. The inner thoughts of each character are carefully drawn, leaving a strong impression on the viewers, such as the growth and struggles of Meng Gen Mi Le, the profound knowledge and power of Meng Gen Da Quan, and the conflict between revenge and redemption of Sanada Yukimura. In particular, Meng Gen Mi Le is portrayed as a heroic figure, endowed with both courage and wisdom, and his story of growth will leave a deep impression on the viewers.

Visually, "Miroku: A Chronicle of a Void War" has also been highly praised. The beautiful character designs by character designer and animation director Hideyuki Motohashi and the spectacular background art by art director Mitsuharu Miyamae greatly enhance the visual appeal. Additionally, the camerawork by cinematographer Yosuke Moriguchi also effectively heightens the tension of the story.

The music is also an important element that enhances the appeal of this work. The music by Michiaki Kato perfectly captures the atmosphere of the story and stirs the emotions of the viewer. In particular, the opening theme "STOP THAT!" and the ending theme "FOR YOUR DREAM~Kimi no Yume e~" combine with K-Chan's powerful singing voice to leave a strong impression of the theme of the work.

■Recommendation details

I highly recommend "Miroku: A History of the Void" to anyone who enjoys history and fantasy, and who enjoys deep storylines and character development. It is a must-watch for anyone with an interest in late 1980s anime and OVAs. I also recommend this work to anyone who enjoys visual beauty and musical splendor.

Furthermore, the work offers new insights to viewers by adding a new perspective to historical events. History buffs will be interested in the way real people such as Yukimura Sanada and Ieyasu Tokugawa are depicted blended with fantasy elements. Fantasy fans will be fascinated by the elements such as the Kowloon Clan and the power of the "dragon" that add depth to the story.

"Miroku: The History of the Void" is a work that provides viewers with deep emotions and new perspectives, and its value has not faded even today. Please watch this work and experience its charm for yourself.