The appeal and reviews of "Shinpachikenden": A thorough analysis of the story of the legendary swordsmen

A comprehensive review and recommendation of Shin Hakkenden

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Broadcast period

April 3, 1999 - September 25, 1999
April 3, 1999 - September 25, 1999 Every Saturday 8:00-8:30
26 episodes, 30 minutes each

■Broadcasting station

TV Tokyo

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 26

■Original Story

・Original story and script: Yasushi Hirano

■ Director

・General Director: Katsuyoshi Yatabe ・Director: Ittoku Tanahashi

■ Production

Animation production: Public & Basic Production cooperation: Lifework, Studio Bogie Production: TV Aichi, team MSCD

■Works

©1999 Public&Basic/teamM.SCD・TVA

■ Story

The year is 2588 in the Age of the Gods. The Earth has been destroyed, and humanity has migrated to eight planets to live on. A young boy named Kou Yagami lives on one of these planets, Hyoten, and his hometown is suddenly attacked by an army led by Kai Owari. In order to face the enemy, Kou unsheathes his sword, but the jewel on it has the character "Zo" written on it. In order to discover the secret of the jewel, Kou decides to go on a journey to find the truth.

■Explanation

This is a science fiction fantasy inspired by Bakin Takizawa's novel "Nansō Satomi Hakkenden." The names of the eight swordsmen are based on the characters for "benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, faith, filial piety, and brotherhood," but in this work they are the eight characters for "space, light, earth, steel, flame, shadow, water, and tree." While it incorporates the setting of "Nansō Satomi Hakkenden," the world view is completely different, and it is an advanced story set in the future universe.

■Cast

・Kou Yagami/Masami Suzuki/Ruthie Onmyou/Shiho Kikuchi/Chuuji/Naoki Tatsuta/Noble Kongou/Riga Komatsu/Gyo Enjo/Tomohiro Nishimura/Rei Yozora/Yu Asakawa/Tomoka Taiga/Ryutaro Okiayu/Jinrai Hazuki/Toshiyuki Morikawa/Kai Owari/Takehito Koyasu

■ Main staff

・Planning, animation production: Public & Basic ・Original story, script: Hirano Yasushi ・General director: Yatabe Katsuyoshi ・Director: Tanahashi Ittoku ・Character design: Ishida Atsuko ・Mechanic design: Teraoka Gen ・Sub-mecha design: Moriki Yasuyasu ・Art director: Sakamoto Nobuhito, Miyamae Mitsuharu ・Color design: Funada Keiichi, Sakai Miharu ・Director of photography: Okino Masahiko ・Editing: Tsurubuchi Tomoaki ・Music: Warlter Alen
・Sound ending: Ogawa Takamatsu ・Sound director: Takahashi Hideo ・Production producer: Tsuchiya Takahiko ・Assistant producer: Iwata Kazuhiko ・Producers: Okimoto Yukikatsu, Matsuura Kimiki, Kawabata Katsumi ・Cooperation: Tokyu Agency, Yoyogi Animation Academy, DBS Entertainment, Gonshiro Garp, N Project, Dream Project Okinawa ・Production cooperation: Lifework, Studio Bogie ・Production: Television Aichi, team MSCD

■ Main Characters

Kou Yagami is the protagonist of this work, possessing the "Zo" gem. He wields the sword Murasame, entrusted to him by his father. After learning that his mother, whom he thought was dead, is alive and holds the secret of the gem, he leaves Hyouten and sets off on a journey.

Ruti Onmyou: A girl who lived in Tomorrow. She has an ocarina with a "Morning" bead embedded in it.

A womanizing cyborg dog who lives in Chuji Kokuten. He has an Earth gem embedded in his fangs.

Noble Kongou A woman who lives in the Koten. She is a warlike person who was active as a member of the rebel group. She uses a knife with a "steel" bead embedded in it as a weapon.

Rei Yozora: A woman who infiltrated Kiten as a spy. She doesn't trust people and lives a life of lies. She has a "Shadow" gem in her pistol.

Tomoka Taiga is a gambler who only trusts money. She has a dice with a "water" bead embedded in it.

Jinrai Hazuki is a kind-hearted man who lives in Ryokuten. He has a giant shield with a "tree" bead embedded in it.

■Subtitle

Episode 1: Kou bursts into tears (1999/04/03)
Episode 2: Chuuji picks up Kou (1999/04/10)
Episode 3: Noble punches Kou (1999/04/17)
Episode 4: Kou learns his destiny (1999/04/24)
Episode 5: Kou is arrested (1999/05/01)
Episode 6: Gyo attacks Kou (1999/05/08)
Episode 7: Tomoka Invades (1999/05/15)
Episode 8: Kou falls into a trap (1999/05/22)
Episode 9: Rei approaches Kou (1999/05/29)
Episode 10: Kou is investigated (1999/06/05)
Episode 11: Gyou achieves revenge (1999/06/12)
Episode 12: Kou and his friends are targeted (1999/06/19)
Episode 13: Ray Shatters the Star (1999/06/26)
Episode 14: Kou confronts Kai (1999/07/03)
Episode 15: Jinrai is Hated (1999/07/10)
Episode 16: Tomoka takes on a big challenge (1999/07/17)
Episode 17: Kou and his friends escape (1999/07/24)
Episode 18: Kou searches for his mother (1999/07/31)
Episode 19: Ruti gets angry (1999/08/07)
Episode 20: Kou and friends run through the past (1999/08/14)
Episode 21: Kou learns of his past (1999/08/21)
Episode 22: Kou and the others fly to the sky (1999/08/28)
Episode 23: Noble forgives Jinrai (1999/09/04)
Episode 24: Chuuji invites Fuse (1999/09/11)
Episode 25: Kou and the others protect Fuse (1999/09/18)
Final episode: Ruti creates tomorrow (1999/09/25)

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・Period: 1 to 26
・Memories
Lyrics by atsuko
・Composer: ANGELA
・Arrangement: Katsunori-H
・Song: ANGELA

・ED1
・Period: 1 to 13
・Surely in the same star・Lyrics by Tokiko
・Composition: HAPPO
Arrangement: HAPPO & Nagayuki Shimizu Vocals: Friend of mine

・ED2
Period: 14-26
・New Days Shinpachikenden Special Mix ・Lyrics by RIZ”CO
・Composer: Tessy
・Arrangement: Tessy
・Song: RIZ”CO

■Detailed evaluation

"Shin Hakkenden" is a TV anime series that aired in 1999, and is unusual in that it is based on an original story. It aired from April 3rd to September 25th, 1999, every Saturday morning for 30 minutes from 8am, and consisted of 26 episodes in total. It was broadcast by TV Tokyo, and was produced by Public & Basic, with production cooperation from Lifework and Studio Bogie, and produced by TV Aichi and team MSCD. Copyright ©1999 Public&Basic/teamM.SCD・TVA.

The story is set in the future, in the year 2588 of the Divine Century. In this era, the Earth has been destroyed, and humanity has migrated to eight planets to live on. The protagonist is a young boy named Kou Yagami who lives on one of these planets, Hyoten. When his hometown is ambushed by an army led by Kai Owari, Kou draws his sword to face the enemy, and the character "chu" (sky) appears on the jewel on his sword. In order to discover the secret of this jewel, Kou decides to go on a journey to find the truth.

This work is based on Bakin Takizawa's novel "Nansō Satomi Hakkenden." The names of the eight swordsmen are based on the characters for "benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, faith, filial piety, and brotherhood," but in this work they are changed to the eight characters for "space, light, earth, steel, flame, shadow, water, and tree." While incorporating the setting of "Nansō Satomi Hakkenden," the world view is completely different, and it is an advanced story set in the future universe.

The cast includes a number of impressive voice actors, including Suzuki Manabu as the main character Kou Yagami, Kikuchi Shiho as Ruty Onmyou, Tatsuta Naoki as Chuuji, Komatsu Riga as Noble Kongou, Nishimura Tomohiro as Gyou Enjo, Asakawa Yuu as Rei Yozora, Okiayu Ryutaro as Tomoka Taiga, Morikawa Toshiyuki as Jinrai Hazuki, and Koyasu Takehito as Kai Oowari.

The main staff includes Public & Basic, who were in charge of planning and animation production, Yasushi Hirano, who was in charge of the original story and script, Katsuyoshi Yatabe, director Ittoku Tanahashi, Atsuko Ishida, character designer, Gen Teraoka, mechanical designer, Yasuyasu Moriki, art directors Nobuhito Sakamoto and Mitsuharu Miyamae, color designers Keiichi Funada and Miharu Sakai, director of photography Masahiko Okino, editor Tomoaki Tsurubuchi, music composer Warlter Alen, Takamatsu Ogawa, sound director Hideo Takahashi, production producer Takahiko Tsuchiya, assistant producer Kazuhiko Iwata, producers Yukikatsu Okimoto, Kimiki Matsuura, Katsumi Kawabata, and cooperation with Tokyu Agency, Yoyogi Animation Academy, DBS Entertainment, Gonshiro Garp, N Project, Dream Project Okinawa, production cooperation with Life Work and Studio Bogie, and production by TV Aichi and team MSCD.

The main characters are Kou Yagami, Ruthie Onmyou, Chuuji, Noble Kongou, Rei Yozora, Tomoka Taiga, and Jinrai Hazuki. Each of them has a gem of "Space", "Light", "Earth", "Steel", "Shadow", "Water", or "Tree", and they play an important role in advancing the story.

The subtitles for each episode are centered on the actions and emotions of Kou and other characters. For example, episode 1 "Kou bursts into tears" and episode 2 "Chuuji picks up Kou" are episodes that depict the growth and change of the characters.

The theme songs and music used are the opening theme "memories" (lyrics by atsuko, composition by ANGELA, arrangement by Katsunori-H, sung by ANGELA), the ending theme "Kitto Same Hoshi no Naka de" (lyrics by Tokiko, composition by HAPPO, arrangement by HAPPO & Shimizu Nagayuki, sung by Friend of mine), and "Atarashii Hibi Shinpachikenden Special Mix" (lyrics by RIZ"CO, composition by Tessy, arrangement by Tessy, sung by RIZ"CO). These songs are important elements that add to the atmosphere of the story.

■Recommendation details

"Shin Hakkenden" is a sci-fi fantasy story set in a future universe. The story centers on the growth of the main character Kou Yagami and the bond he forms with his friends, drawing viewers in. The secrets of the gems each character possesses and each character's background are explored in depth, making it a very worthwhile work.

Here are some reasons why I recommend this work:

1. **Unique worldview**: The setting of the Earth being destroyed and humanity moving to eight planets provides a unique worldview not found in other works. The culture, customs, and lives of the people living on each planet are depicted realistically, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in the world.

2. **Charm of the characters**: The main characters, including Kou Yagami, are all unique and attractive. Their growth, change, and the bonds they form with each other enrich the story. Also, don't miss the process in which their pasts and inner lives are revealed through the journey to discover the secrets of Tama.

3. **Story Development**: Each episode has a subtitle, and the episodes are centered on the actions and emotions of the characters. This allows the audience to feel the growth and change of the characters in real time. The story development is unpredictable, so the audience will not get bored.

4. **The power of music**: The opening theme "memories" and the ending themes "Kitto Same Hoshi no Naka de" and "Atarashii Hibi Shinpachikenden Special Mix" are important elements that enhance the atmosphere of the story. These songs stir the emotions of the viewer and increase their immersion in the story.

5. **Voice Actors**: The cast is full of talented voice actors, whose performances bring out the charm of the characters. In particular, the performance of Suzuki Manabu, who plays the main character Kou Yagami, resonates with viewers. The performances of the other characters also shine, making the most of their individual personalities.

As mentioned above, "Shin Hakkenden" is a work that draws viewers in with its unique worldview, attractive characters, unpredictable story development, powerful music, and gorgeous voice actors. It is recommended not only for fans of science fiction and fantasy, but also for those who want to enjoy the growth and change of characters. Please give it a watch.