"Ikki Tousen" Season 1: A look at the hot-blooded battles and beautiful characters!

The appeal and evaluation of the first season of the Ikki Tousen series

"Ikki Tousen" is a TV anime series based on the manga by Yuji Shiozaki, and was broadcast on AT-X and UHF stations from July 30 to October 22, 2003. This 13-episode series features a unique setting in which busty high school girls inherit the souls of heroes from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms and fight in a modern-day high school. Below, we will take a closer look at the first season of the "Ikki Tousen" series, its appeal and reviews, as well as related works and recommended points.

Story and setting

"Ikki Tousen" is set in the modern-day Kanto region, where seven powerful high schools compete for supremacy and battles are waged daily. The main character, Sun Ce Bofu, is a busty high school girl who transfers to Nanyo Academy and inherits the soul of Sun Ce, the minor overlord of Jiangdong. While she grows as she fights one powerful enemy after another, she also becomes embroiled in a conspiracy. The story is set against the historical backdrop of the Three Kingdoms, but it also has a unique appeal as it depicts the youth and battles of modern-day high school students.

Of particular note is the setting that the characters inherit the souls of heroes from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Historical figures such as Sun Ce, Lü Meng Ziming, Zhou Yu Gongjin, and Lü Bu Fengxian appear as modern high school students, and the way their souls affect modern battles is a highlight. Also not to be missed are the unique character designs and battle scenes. In particular, Sun Ce's huge breasts are a feature that draws the viewer's attention.

Characters and cast

Each character in "Ikki Tousen" inherits the soul of a hero from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms and has their own unique charm. Below, we will introduce the main characters and their cast.

• Sun Ce Bofu - Voice actor: Masumi Asano A busty high school girl who transfers to Nanyo Academy. She inherits the soul of Sun Ce, the minor overlord of Jiangdong, and is characterized by her innocent personality. Her growth and battles are at the center of the story.
• Ryomou Shimei - Voice actor: Yuko Kaida One of the four heavenly kings of Nanyo Academy, she is an expert in joint locks. She is usually calm and collected, but when she fights, her personality changes. In her previous life, she was a military commander of the Wu Dynasty and defeated Guan Yu.
• Zhou Yu Gongjin - Voice actor: Hino Satoshi A cousin and childhood friend of Sun Ce. He has feelings for her and is determined to protect her so that the mistakes of 1800 years ago are not repeated. In his previous life, he was a great contributor to the state of Wu and had a deep bond with Sun Ce.
• Wu Rong - Voice actor: Kikuko Inoue Wu Rong is the mother of Sun Ce Bofu, and the person who encouraged her to "take over the world." Although she looks beautiful in a kimono, her abilities surpass even Sun Ce Bofu's.
• Zuo Ci Genfang - Voice actor: Morikubo Shoutaro One of the four heavenly kings of Nanyo Academy, he is a mysterious man. His strength as a fighter is unknown, but he is highly regarded by the other four heavenly kings. He was a guru in his previous life and is said to have been a sage who lived for 300 years.
• Lu Bu Fengxian - Voice actor: Watanabe Akino He wears a blazer over his bare skin, and his strength overwhelms other fighters. He is an old friend of Zuo Ci, but is now his enemy. In his previous life, he was a traitor and an assassin for Dong Zhuo.
• Kanji - Voiced by Yumiko Kobayashi A fighter who leads Kure High School, he is known as "the genius Kanji." He always trains with weights on both his hands and feet. In his previous life, he was a highly respected mentor who led Sun Ce to his death.
• Dong Zhuo Zhongying - Voice actor: Daisuke Namikawa The top student at Rakuyo High School who rules over the fighters in the Kanto region. He has a habit of self-harming and is the mastermind behind the "Grand Fighter Tournament." In his previous life, he was a dictator who caused the collapse of the Later Han Dynasty.
• Rakuju - Voice actor: Hajime Iijima One of the four heavenly kings of Nanyo Academy, he defeats the new transfer student Sun Ce Bofu with one blow, but is reprimanded by Yuan Shu for his actions and punished by Ryomou. He has a scary face, but he is a good man at heart.
• Gan Ning Xing Ba - Voice actor: Ueda Yoji One of the four heavenly kings of Nanyo Academy, he is a dangerous man who is always angry. He receives an imperial decree from Yuan Shu and launches a surprise attack on Sun Ce Bofu. In his previous life, he was a young warrior who always rushed through the battlefield.
• Taishi Ci Ziyi - Voice actor: Miyake Kenta A powerful man who is said to be the strongest in Yangzhou Academy. Although he looks scary, he likes to fight with dignity and never breaks a promise he has made. In his previous life, he was a famous general who was highly praised for his bravery, and when his lord Liu Yao and Sun Ce clashed, he challenged Sun Ce to a one-on-one duel.

Each of these characters has their own unique charm, and the voice actors' performances are superb. In particular, Masumi Asano's voice as Sun Ce Bofu expresses her innocent personality well, while Yuko Kaida's voice as Lu Meng Ziming also conveys her calmness and fierceness in battle.

Production and staff

Ikki Tousen was animated by JCSTAFF. It was directed by Watanabe Takashi, with series composition and scriptwriting by Yoshioka Takao. Character design was by Hasegawa Shinya, animation director Wada Takashi, and action supervision by Nakaya Masaki. Art direction was by Hirose Yoshinori, color design by Ando Tomomi, directors of photography Fukuyo Shingo and Suzuki Yohei, editing by Nishiyama Shigeru, and music by Motokura Hiroshi and Project IKKI. Sound director was Takahashi Tsuyoshi, production producers were Tanaka Shigehiro, Ando Setsu, and Kuroiwa Hideyuki, and producers were Osawa Nobuhiro and Matsukura Yuji. It was produced by Genco and produced by Ikki Tousen Partners.

Thanks to the cooperation of these staff members, Ikki Tousen has achieved high-quality animation and story. In particular, Nakaya Masaki, who was in charge of supervising the action in the battle scenes, made a great contribution, and there are many visually appealing battle scenes. In addition, the designs of Hasegawa Shinya, who was in charge of character design, also bring out the individuality of the characters.

Theme songs and music

The opening theme of "Ikki Tousen" is "Drivin' Through The Night", with lyrics by motsu, music and arrangement by Puertronic, and vocals by move. This song expresses the intensity and speed of the story well, and has the effect of raising the tension of the viewer. The ending theme is "Let me be with you", with lyrics and music by F.Thomander, arrangement by Cobra Endo and Kurt Howell, and vocals by shela. This song has a beautiful melody that brings out the emotional scenes of the story.

Broadcasting and Media

"Ikki Tousen" was broadcast on AT-X and UHF stations from July 30th to October 22nd, 2003. It consisted of 13 episodes, each 30 minutes long. A revised version with less exposed skin was broadcast on terrestrial TV, but the original version was broadcast on AT-X. Viewers have mixed opinions about this broadcast format, but you can enjoy the work more deeply by watching the original version.

Related Titles

In addition to the first season, there are many other related works in the "Ikki Tousen" series. Below, we will introduce these works.

• Ikki Tousen Dragon Destiny
  The second season, which aired in 2007, depicts Sun Ce's growth and battles with new enemies.
• Ikki Tousen Great Guardians
  The third season, which aired in 2008, depicts the characters' growth and fights against even stronger opponents.
• Ikki Tousen XTREME XECUTOR
  The fourth season, which aired in 2010, features new characters and new battles.
• Ikki Tousen: Bloody Chronicles of the Collected Sword Fighters
  The fifth season, which aired in 2012, depicts the characters' new challenges and growth.
• Ikki Tousen Extravaganza Epoch
  The sixth season aired in 2014 and can be considered the culmination of the series.

By watching these related works, viewers can gain a deeper understanding of the world of "Ikki Tousen" and enjoy the growth and battles of the characters. In particular, viewers will be delighted to see Sonsaku's growth throughout the series.

Evaluation and recommendation points

"Ikki Tousen" has been popular with many viewers due to its unique setting and attractive characters. In particular, the setting in which busty high school girls inherit the souls of the heroes of the Three Kingdoms and fight in a modern high school is an element that attracts the interest of viewers. In addition, the action of the battle scenes and the individuality of the characters are also highlights.

The recommended points are as follows:

• The appeal of this series is that it depicts the youth and struggles of modern high school students, while being set against the backdrop of the unique setting of the Three Kingdoms. In particular, the setting that the characters inherit the souls of the heroes of the Three Kingdoms draws the interest of viewers.
• The characters, including Son Ce Bofu, each have their own unique charm and capture the hearts of viewers. The voice actors also perform brilliantly, conveying the emotions of the characters well.
• High-quality animation
  The high-quality animation by JCSTAFF has resulted in visually appealing battle scenes and character designs. In particular, Masaki Nakaya, who oversaw the action scenes, has made a great contribution, catching the viewer's attention.
• In addition to the first season, there are many other related works in the "Ikki Tousen" series, and you can enjoy the growth and battles of the characters throughout the series. In particular, watching Sonsaku's growth will be a great pleasure for viewers.

As mentioned above, "Ikki Tousen" is a work that has been supported by many viewers due to its unique setting and attractive characters. It is especially recommended for those who are interested in the history of the Three Kingdoms and those who want to see the battles of busty high school girls. It is also recommended for those who want to enjoy the growth and battles of the characters throughout the series.