The appeal and evaluation of "The Legend of the Immortals": A grand story and the depth of the characters

"The Legend of the Immortals": A spectacular animation depicting ancient Chinese mythology

"Senkaiden Houshin Engi" is a TV anime series that aired in 1999 and is based on the manga "Houshin Engi" by Fujisaki Ryu, which is based on ancient Chinese mythology. This work depicts an epic story of gods and humans intersecting, deeply moving and exciting viewers. Below, we will introduce detailed information and reviews of this anime, as well as recommended points.

Overview

"Senkaiden Houshin Engi" was broadcast on TV Tokyo every Saturday morning from 7am from July 3rd to December 25th, 1999. It consists of 26 episodes, each 30 minutes long. It was produced by Studio Deen and TV Tokyo and directed by Junji Nishimura. It is based on the original work "Houshin Engi" by Ryu Fujisaki, translated by Tsutomu Anno.

story

The story is set in the late Shang Dynasty of ancient China. The protagonist, Taigong Wang, is given the "Fengshen Plan" by the gods and must fight to maintain the balance between the human and divine worlds. Together with his companions, he must gather heroes to join the Fengshen list while confronting the evil Daji and Shen Gongbao. The story unfolds on an epic scale, blending human drama with mythical elements to draw viewers in.

character

The main characters include the following:

• Taikobo (voiced by Hiro Yuki) - The protagonist. He receives the Houshin Plan from the gods and fights to maintain the balance between the human world and the divine world.
• Sifu Xiang (voiced by Yoichi Masukawa) - Taigong Wang's loyal subordinate. He has high combat abilities and is an important character who supports Taigong Wang.
• Daki (voiced by Kakazu Yumi) - An evil fox spirit who manipulates the king of the Yin Dynasty and plunges the human world into chaos.
• Shen Gongbao (voiced by Akira Ishida) - Taigong Wang's rival. He uses the power of the gods to oppose Taigong Wang.
• Wen Zhong (voice: Takashi Matsuyama) - A general of the Yin Dynasty. He has great power and stands in the way of Taigong Wang.
• Yang Jian (voiced by Chiba Susumu) - A companion of Taigong Wang. A brave warrior.
• Huang Feihu (voice: Tanaka Kazunari) - Originally a general of the Shang Dynasty, he becomes a companion of Taigong Wang.

staff

The following staff members are involved in the production of this work:

• Director : Junji Nishimura
• Character design and animation director : Masashi Kojima
• Screenplay : Masashi Togawa
• Art director : Mitsuharu Miyamae
• Sound Director : Shigeru Chiba
• Animation production : Studio Deen

episode

The subtitles for each episode are as follows:

• Episode 1: Taigong Wang is given the plan to seal the gods
• Episode 2: Taigong Wang becomes the first deity
• Episode 3: A treasure man appears at Chentang Pass
• Episode 4: The Lotus Peach Battle at Chen Tang Pass
• Episode 5: Princess Xibo escapes from the palace
• Episode 6: Raishinko, Kifu Raisensu
• Episode 7: Empress Jiang is imprisoned as a traitor
• Episode 8: Taigong Wang is put to the test by Yang Jian
• Episode 9: Huang Feihu decides to rebel
• Episode 10: A handsome young man appears at Lintong Pass
• Episode 11: Taigong Wang meets Huang Feihu
• Episode 12: Huang Feihu and Wen Zhong face off on the highway
• Episode 13: Taigong Wang meets Xibo King Jichang
• Episode 14: The Xiqi army marches north
• Episode 15: The Four Saints' Fierce Attack
• Episode 16: The Four Saints
• Episode 17: Gen and the Castle
• Episode 18: Brothers return to the wilderness
• Episode 19: Asaka goes up in flames
• Episode 20: The Fall of the Yin Dynasty
• Episode 21: The God of Daki
• Episode 22: The Battle of Kunlun Mountain
• Episode 23: Taigong Wang is at a loss in the Jade Palace
• Episode 24: Yuanshi Tianzun shows Taigong Wang the future
• Episode 25: Taigong Wang casts his fishing hook into the River of Memories
• Episode 26: Taigong Wang shows the way

Evaluation and Impressions

"The Legend of the Immortals" is highly acclaimed for its epic story based on ancient Chinese mythology and the drama woven by its fascinating characters. In particular, the portrayal of Taigong Wang's growth and the relationships surrounding him deeply moved viewers. In addition, the power of the battle scenes and the expression of mythological elements are also superb, and the quality of the animation has also been highly praised.

However, some viewers said that the story was too complicated and difficult to understand. Also, since it was difficult to cover everything in the original work within the short broadcast period of 26 episodes, some fans of the original work felt it was lacking. Nevertheless, the series received high praise overall and became a work loved by many fans.

Recommended points

The reasons why we recommend "Senkaiden Houshin Engi" are as follows:

• An epic story : Based on ancient Chinese mythology, the epic tale has the power to draw viewers in.
• Fascinating characters : The human drama of the characters, including Taigong Wang, deeply moves viewers.
• Powerful battle scenes : The battle scenes between gods and humans are worth watching.
• Mythological elements : This work is full of mythological elements, making it a must-read for fantasy fans.

Related works and information

"Senkaiden Houshin Engi" is based on the manga "Houshin Engi" by Fujisaki Ryu. This manga is based on the translation by Anno Tsutomu and is an epic tale of ancient Chinese mythology. The original "Houshin Engi" was published by Shueisha and is loved by many fans.

The anime version of "Senkaiden Houshin Engi" was produced by Studio Deen and TV Tokyo and directed by Junji Nishimura. Character design and animation direction was by Masashi Kojima, screenplay by Masashi Togawa, art direction by Mitsuharu Miyamae, and sound direction by Shigeru Chiba. Copyright belongs to Tsutomu Anno and Ryu Fujisaki/Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Houshin Project 1999.

How to watch

"The Legend of the Immortals" is now available on DVD and Blu-ray. It is also available on some video streaming services, so we recommend using those. This is a must-watch for fantasy fans and those interested in ancient Chinese mythology.

Conclusion

"The Legend of the Immortals" is a spectacular story based on ancient Chinese mythology, and the drama of the fascinating characters is fascinating. This anime gives viewers deep emotion and excitement, and is especially recommended for those who like fantasy and those who are interested in ancient Chinese mythology. Please watch it once and experience its charm.