The appeal and reviews of "THE Hakkenden [New Chapter]": Entering a new world of adventure

The appeal and evaluation of "THE Hakkenden [New Chapter]"

"The Eight Dogs [New Chapter]" is a sequel to the OVA series based on Kyokutei Bakin's fantasy novel "Nansō Satomi Hakkenden," and was released in seven episodes between November 25, 1993 and 1994. This work depicts the history of the Satomi family and the adventures of the Eight Dogs, and has attracted many fans with its deep storyline and charming characters. Below, we will introduce detailed information and reviews of this work, as well as recommended points.

Overview

"The Eight Dogs [New Chapter]" is an OVA based on "Nansō Satomi Hakkenden" by Kyokutei Bakin. It was released by Pioneer LDC and is a series of 7 episodes, each about 30 minutes long. It was directed by Ano Takashi and produced by AIC, and the copyright belongs to AIC and Pioneer LDC in 1994.

story

Just before the fall of his castle, Satomi Yoshizane, head of the Satomi clan, says to his pet dog Yafusa, "If you bring me the enemy's head, I'll give you the princess's Fushimi." However, Yafusa really does bring back the enemy's head. Yafusa and Fushimihime end up living together, and Yafusa's spirit makes Fushimihime pregnant. To prove that they had no relationship, Fushimihime commits seppuku, scattering eight jewels. Later, a young man named Hakkenushi, who possesses these jewels, meets him through a strange fate, and they defeat the Satomi clan's enemies. This is the story.

Commentary

"The Eight Dogs Legend [New Chapter]" is a sequel to the OVA "The Eight Dogs Legend," based on the fantasy novel "Nansō Satomi Hakkenden" by Kyokutei Bakin. It inherits the deep story and characters of the original work, while adding new developments and appeal.

cast

The main cast includes a stellar cast of voice actors, including Miki Ito as Fushihime, Noriko Hidaka as Inue Shinbei, Kappei Yamaguchi as Inukawa Sosuke, Akio Otsuka as Inumura Osumi, Minami Takayama as Inusaka Keno, Kouichi Yamadera as Inuyama Dosetsu, Tomohiro Nishimura as Inukai Genpachi, Toshihiko Seki as Inuzuka Shinno, and Tessho Genda as Inuta Kobungo. Other talented voice actors include Chieko Honda and Aya Hisakawa as Hamaji, Hirotaka Suzuoki and Shuichi Ikeda as Aboshi Samojiro, Masao Imanishi as Ashikaga Shigeuji, Tamio Oki as Satomi Yoshizane, and Toshiyuki Morikawa and Naoki Bando as Satomi Yoshinari.

Main Staff

The original work is by Kyokutei Bakin, the director is Okamoto Yukiro, the original character designer is Yamagata Atsushi, the character designer is Okuda Jun (from #2), the art directors are Kamiyama Kenji (#1, #3, #6), Takeda Yusuke (#2), Ota Dai (#4), Arai Ken (#5), Kato Hiroshi (#7), the art setting is Kato Hiroshi (#2, #5), the art board is Takeda Yusuke (#4), the color design is Otsuki Koji, the directors of photography are Konishi Kazuhiro (until #3) and Sato Hitoshi (from #4), the sound director is Iwanami Yoshikazu, the music is by Kudo Takashi, the producers are Morijiri Kazuaki and Hasegawa Yasuo, and the series is produced by AIC and Pioneer LDC.

Main Characters

The members of the Eight Dogs are Inue Shinbei (the youngest and has the benevolence gem), Inukawa Sosuke (Shinno's childhood friend and has the righteousness gem), Inumura Osumi (has the courtesy gem), Inusaka Keno (has the wisdom gem and was disguised as a female dengaku performer), Inuyama Dosetsu (has the loyalty gem), Inukai Genpachi (has the faith gem), Inuzuka Shinno (has the filial piety gem), and Inuda Kobungo (a large man and has the brotherhood gem). Their adventures and growth are the focus of the story.

subtitle

The subtitles of each episode are Episode 2 (1994/01/25), Episode 3 "The Tale of the Demon Cat" (1994/04/10), Episode 4 "The Second Coming of Hamaji" (1994/07/10), etc. Each episode has a different story and depicts the adventures of the Eight Dogs.

Related Titles

"The Hakkenden [New Chapter]" is positioned as a sequel to "The Hakkenden" (OVA). You can enjoy the entire series, including the original "Nansō Satomi Hakkenden".

Rating and Recommended Points

"The Eight Dogs [New Chapter]" has been highly praised as a work that inherits the deep story and characters of the original while adding new developments and appeal. Below, we will introduce the specific evaluation and recommended points.

Depth of story

The original "Nansō Satomi Hakkenden" is a fantasy novel written in the Edo period, and its deep story and complex human relationships are its appeal. "The Hakkenden [New Chapter]" firmly retains the essence of the original work while adding a new interpretation from a modern perspective. It depicts the adventures and growth of the Eight Dogs, the history of the Satomi family, and their battles with enemies, and is characterized by a story development that draws viewers in.

Character Appeal

Each member of the Eight Dogs is a unique and attractive character. Each character's characteristics are well-drawn, such as Inue Shinbei's purity, Inukawa Sosuke's sense of duty, Inumura Osumi's politeness, Inusaka Keno's wisdom, Inuyama Dosetsu's loyalty, Inukai Genpachi's conviction, Inuzuka Shinobu's filial piety, and Inuta Kobungo's strength. Furthermore, the main characters such as Fushimihime and Satomi Yoshizane also have deep backgrounds and emotions, which leave a strong impression on the viewer.

Voice actor performance

The cast of "The Eight Dogs: New Chapter" includes a star-studded cast of voice actors, including Noriko Hidaka, Kappei Yamaguchi, Akio Otsuka, Minami Takayama, Kouichi Yamadera, Tomohiro Nishimura, Toshihiko Seki, and Tessho Genda. Their performances realistically express the personalities and emotions of the characters, adding depth to the story. In particular, the performance of Miki Ito, who plays Fushihime, is powerful enough to move the hearts of viewers.

Visuals and Music

Character design is handled by Atsushi Yamagata and Jun Okuda, and art direction is handled by Kenji Kamiyama, Yusuke Takeda, Dai Ohta, Ken Arai, and Hiroshi Kato. The beautiful visuals and detailed background art express the worldview of the story richly. Additionally, Takashi Kudo's music enhances the atmosphere of the story and enhances the emotions of the viewer. The music in battle scenes and moving scenes in particular leaves a strong impression on the viewer.

Recommended points

"The Eight Dogs [New Chapter]" retains the deep story and characters of the original work while adding new developments and appeal. It depicts the adventures and growth of the Eight Dogs, the history of the Satomi family, and their battles with enemies, and features a storyline that draws viewers in. It also has appealing characters with unique personalities, a stellar cast of voice actors, and beautiful visuals and music. This work is recommended not only for fans of the original work, but also for those who like fantasy novels and historical stories.

summary

"The Eight Dogs [New Chapter]" is a sequel to the OVA series based on Kyokutei Bakin's fantasy novel "Nansō Satomi Hakkenden," and has attracted many fans with its deep story and charming characters. It depicts the adventures and growth of the Eight Dogs, the history of the Satomi clan, and their battles with enemies, and is characterized by a story development that draws viewers in. It also has appealing characters with rich personalities, a luxurious voice cast, and beautiful visuals and music. This work is recommended not only for fans of the original work, but also for those who like fantasy novels and historical stories. We hope you enjoy this work.