"Saiyuki RELOAD GUNLOCK" review: A fascinating story and a reevaluation of the characters

"Saiyuki RELOAD GUNLOCK" - A story of a journey to survive in a chaotic era

Saiyuki Reload Gunlock is a TV anime series based on the popular manga by Kazuya Minekura, which aired on TV Tokyo from April 2 to September 24, 2004. The series is an epic adventure set in a utopia, the source of civilization and faith, where humans and monsters coexist. It follows the journey of the four main characters to stop the resurrection of Gyumaoh and restore peace.

story

In a time of chaos, a peaceful land where humans and monsters coexist, Shangri-La, is hit by a sudden disaster and terror. The monsters who had been living peacefully lost their sense of self and began to run wild. The cause of this disaster was an experiment to revive the great monster, "Gyumaoh." The resurrection of Gyumaoh was about to be achieved by mixing science and sorcery, which are taboo in this world. As a result, negative vibrations covered the earth. The heavens, taking the situation seriously, ordered "Xuanzang Tripitaka" to prevent the resurrection of Gyumaoh. This was the beginning of a journey to the far-off Western region, the country of Tianzhu, together with the three who are not affected by negative vibrations, Sun Wukong, Sha Wujing, and Zhu Bajie.

Meanwhile, in Bodeng Castle in the Kingdom of Tianzhu, Princess Glamour, the mastermind behind the experiment to revive Niu Mowang and Niu Mowang's lover, issues an order to Hong Gai-er to eliminate Tripitaka and his companions. Hong Gai-er is Niu Mowang's son, and in order to rescue his mother, Rakshasa-jo, who has been sealed away by Princess Glamour's curse, he takes on the fight together with his confidant who adores him.

Can Tripitaka and his friends thwart the experiment to revive Gyumaoh and restore peace to the Shangri-La that is heading towards ruin? This epic adventure begins.

Commentary

"Shangri-La", the source of civilization and faith, is a miraculous paradise where humans and monsters coexist. Four men set out on a journey to stop a terrible ambition that would disturb the peace of this land. This is the third installment of the popular series featuring the familiar four characters, Xuanzang, Son Goku, Sha Wujing, and Zhu Bajie. In this installment, in addition to the Hong Hai-er group, a new enemy appears, and the story depicts the feud between people who have a strange commonality but cannot get along with each other.

On their journey to Tenjiku, Tripitaka and his companions encounter a group of mysterious men from a foreign land. The man, who hates monsters and has the ability to resurrect the dead, and his attendant become interested in Tripitaka and his companions for some reason and relentlessly pursue them. This popular series, known for its profound and moving stories, is now even more fascinating with the introduction of an exotic enemy than ever before.

cast

• Xuanzang: Toshihiko Seki
• Son Goku: Soichiro Hoshi
• Sha Wujing: Hiroaki Hirata
• Zhu Bajie: Akira Ishida
• Red Child: Takeshi Kusao

Main Staff

• Original work: Kazuya Minekura "Monthly Comic ZERO-SUM (Ichijinsha Publishing)"
• Director and series composition: Endo Tetsuya
• Screenplay: Miya Asakawa, Toko Machida, Nobuaki Yamaguchi, Hideko Ikeda
• Character design: Noriko Otake
• Art director: Mio Isshiki
• Color design: Iwami Mika
• Director of photography: Shirai Hisao
• Edited by: Masahiro Matsumura
• Recording direction: Hajime Takakuwa
• Music: DIMENSION/Daisuke Ikeda
• Produced by Pierrot
• Produced by: TV Tokyo, Dentsu, Pierrot

Main Characters

Tripitaka Xuanzang<br> Despite being a devout follower of Buddhism and a high-ranking monk, he is a seemingly outrageous monk who indulges in alcohol, tobacco, and gambling. However, he is a handsome man with natural nobility and charisma. In order to thwart the experiment to revive Niu Mowang, he heads for the far west country of Tianjiku accompanied by the demons Sun Wukong, Sha Wujing, and Zhu Bajie. His weapon is a gun called the "Shou Ling Gun." He wears the "Ma Ten Sutra," one of the five scriptures in the world, "Tenchi Kaiyuan."

Son Goku <br> A unique being born from the energy of the earth. He was locked up in a rock prison for 500 years without aging, but was rescued by Tripitaka and set free. However, he has lost all of his memories from before he was in the rock prison. Eating and playing take up most of his thoughts, and his catchphrase is "I'm hungry!" He is like a mascot among the four. His weapon is a "Nyoibou" (a club that can also be used as a three-sectioned stick).

Sha Wujing <br> He is half human, born to a human mother and a demon father. Being half human and half demon is considered taboo, so the child born has red hair and eyes. His rough and careless behavior makes him seem careless at first glance, but he is actually a reliable older brother who cares about his friends. He is also a big womanizer. When he was young, he was nearly killed by his stepmother, who is also a demon, but his half-brother killed her and saved him. His weapon is a sharp, chained "shakujo".

Zhu Bajie <br> Buddha was originally a human named Zhu Woneng. However, when his beloved woman, Huanan, was kidnapped by the Hundred Eyes Demon King's clan, he killed a thousand demons to save her, and became a demon after being covered in their blood. He is usually a gentle, smiling, good-natured young man, but can be surprisingly sarcastic. He does not carry a weapon, but can attack and defend using Qi-kō techniques.

subtitle

• Episode 1: The Temple Where Monsters Live - Nest - (2004/04/01)
• Episode 2: Unleashed Nightmare ~Rabbits~ (2004/04/08)
• Episode 3: Torrent ~against the stream~ (2004/04/15)
• Episode 4: Encounter ~fake~ (2004/04/22)
• Episode 5: Struggle ~the opponent~ (2004/04/29)
• Episode 6: Awakening ~back~ (2004/05/06)
• Episode 7: Cursed Sugoroku ~inevitable game~ (2004/05/13)
• Episode 8: The Woman with the Red Hair ~Stupid Woman~ (2004/05/20)
• Episode 9: Showdown ~Muzzle~ (2004/05/27)
• Episode 10: Buried Dreams ~Snow Drop~ (2004/06/03)
• Episode 11: Hakkai runs away from home!? ~reflection~ (2004/06/10)
• Episode 12: The House of Tricks ~Two Faces~ (2004/06/17)
• Episode 13: The Man from the West ~open your eyes~ (2004/06/24)
• Episode 14: The Miracle's Destination ~Pilgrim~ (2004/07/01)
• Episode 15: At the End of Mourning ~Death Wish~ (2004/07/08)
• Episode 16: Rebirth ~Sympathy~ (2004/07/15)
• Episode 17: Intruder (2004/07/22)
• Episode 18: Doubt ~hesitation~ (2004/07/29)
• Episode 19: Reminiscence ~Deprivation~ (2004/08/05)
• Episode 20: Crack ~Misunderstanding~ (2004/08/12)
• Episode 21: The Resurrected Man ~Desperado~ (2004/08/19)
• Episode 22: Strategy ~checkmate~ (2004/08/26)
• Episode 23: Breakthrough ~Battle Royal~ (2004/09/02)
• Episode 24: Deadly Battle ~Sunny Day~ (2004/09/09)
• Episode 25: What we must protect ~Truth~ (2004/09/16)
• Episode 26: Lamentation ~Close Your Eyes~ (2004/09/23)

Related Titles

• Gensomade Saiyuki
• The Movie: Gensomaden Saiyuki Requiem: Requiem for the Unchosen
• Saiyuki RELOAD
• Saiyuki RELOAD -burial-
• Saiyuki Gaiden
• Saiyuki Gaiden Special Edition: Fragrance Chapter

Theme songs and music

OP1
Don't look back again
Lyricist: WAG
Composer: Akihito Tokunaga Arranger: Akihito Tokunaga Singer: WAG

ED1
Lyrics: Morihei Ozaki Composition: Shotaro Mitsuzono Arrangement: Minoru Toyoda Vocals: flow-war

ED2
White Spell Lyrics: Akihito Tokunaga Composition: Akihito Tokunaga Arrangement: Akihito Tokunaga Vocals: doa

Ratings and Recommendations

"Saiyuki RELOAD GUNLOCK" is a work that brings out the charm of the original work to the fullest while beautifully blending the anime's unique development and character in-depth. In particular, the episodes that depict the personalities and growth of the four main characters deeply move viewers. In addition, the appearance of new enemy characters and contrasts with existing characters add depth to the story.

The appeal of this work lies in the humanity and growth of the characters. Xuanzang's charisma and leadership, Sun Wukong's purity and strength, Sha Wujing's reliability and past sadness, Zhu Bajie's gentleness and inner conflict. These elements enrich the story and draw the viewer in. In addition, new characters such as Hong Hai'er and Princess Gyokumen also breathe fresh air into the story.

The animation quality is also high, and the powerful battle scenes and beautiful backgrounds are visually pleasing. The music is also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the work, and the opening and ending songs are particularly impressive. "Don't look back again" makes you feel like the adventure is about to begin, while "I Want to See You" and "The White Spell" leave a deep impression at the end of each episode.

This work is recommended not only for fans of the original work, but also for those who like action and drama, and those who want to enjoy a deep story and character development. In particular, you will be able to feel the importance of friendship, trust, and self-discovery through the journey of the four main characters. Also, do not miss the epic story development throughout the series. "Saiyuki RELOAD GUNLOCK" is a worthwhile entertainment work that will be loved by many viewers.

Furthermore, you can gain a deeper understanding and be moved by watching this work in conjunction with other related works. By following the entire series, such as "Saiyuki: The Legend of Saiyuki," "Saiyuki Reload," and "Saiyuki Gaiden," you can get a full picture of the characters' backgrounds and the story. In particular, the movie "Requiem: Requiem for the Unchosen One" is a must-see, depicting an important episode in the series.

Finally, "Saiyuki RELOAD GUNLOCK" conveys many messages to viewers as a story of a journey to survive in a chaotic era. The courage to stand up to difficult situations with friends, the importance of reexamining yourself, and the fight to protect peace. These themes will resonate with people in modern society and make them think deeply. Please watch this wonderful work and experience its charm for yourself.