The appeal and reviews of "Jyushin Enbu": A must-see anime guide

All-round evaluation and recommendation of Beast God Demonstration - Juushin Enbu -

Overview

"Jyuushin Enbu" is a 26-episode anime series that aired on TV Tokyo and other networks from October 8, 2007 to March 31, 2008. The anime is based on an original story by Ogon Shu, directed by Sekita Osamu, produced by Studio FLAG, and produced by the Jyuushin Enbu Production Committee. The series is known for its character designs by Arakawa Hiromu (Fullmetal Alchemist), and is depicted as the ultimate Asian fantasy with a diverse cast of characters running around.

■ Story

It is a time of turmoil. As the empire falls into disarray, seven heroes descend upon the land as if guided by heaven. They entrust themselves to the destiny of the stars, and run through turbulent times, hoping for peace in the world. As the boundary between justice and evil becomes unclear, a story unfolds in which the ideals and justice of each clash with "sword" and "fist."

The story takes place at Untsuji, the head temple of the Eight Great Flower Laws and Six Sects, which is highly regarded by the warriors of the empire. Deep within the temple lies a sword unknown even to the emperor. When one hero grasps this sword, the light of the karma of the seven stars begins to shine. The people call these seven heroes chosen by heaven "Two Heavenly Gods" and "Five Gods Warriors." Now, in the name of karma, the fist of justice is raised.

■ Characters

There are many unique characters in "Jyushin Enbu." The main characters are introduced below.

Taito

A character with the mark of the army of destruction, he is the type who generally acts before he speaks. He has a tendency to try to solve everything himself, and would never betray someone he considers a friend. He hates the Empire, and is not happy with the Emperor's rule. He is voiced by Kenichi Suzumura.

Keirou

A military commander of the Ken Empire and leader of the Genrou Party. He has the crest of the Ganrou, one of the two heavenly gods, and believes in his own justice, making any sacrifice necessary to achieve it. He pursues the path of hegemony, trying to usurp the throne of the Ken Empire and take control of the country's politics. He is voiced by Ginga Banjou.

General Crane

A Five God Warrior with the symbol of Lianzhong. As the official physician of Emperor Taiga, he is highly trusted within the royal court. Although he has a gentle expression in public, he does not hesitate to make sacrifices to ensure the continued survival of the Ken Empire above all else. His weapon is the flying sword Gekkeikou. He is voiced by Hayami Shou.

Rinmei

She is a female Five God Warrior with the Kyomon crest, and usually works as a cook at the Rokuka Sect Touyu Temple, and is good at cooking. She hides her weapon, a short sword called "Rinsenka," under her kimono. Her voice actor is Yuko Kaida.

Liu Huang

A monk at the Touyu Temple of the Rokuga Sect, he is one of the Five God Warriors who possesses the martial arts crest. He is skilled in the Gaiden technique of the Spiral Piercing Stick and has a serious personality, but he is also very stubborn and once he has made up his mind, he is not likely to change his mind. He is very strict with himself, and sometimes he even expects that same strictness from others. He is voiced by Sakurai Takahiro.

Phoenix Star

He is one of the Five God Warriors who bears the Rokuson crest. He has a light-hearted personality and seems to be careless about nothing, but in reality he is a hot-blooded man. He is very sensitive on the inside, but he also pretends to be strong and careless to hide that. He fell in love with Rira at first sight, and competes with his brother Daito in many ways. He is an archer, and while searching for his own weapon, the Frost-wrapped Bow, at the command of his master Kouei, he meets Daito and the others on his journey. He is voiced by Taiyuki.

Tiger Yang

He is the leader of the Uzutsu Gang, a group of pirates whose territory is the Great River, and is one of the Five God Warriors who bear the Wenqu pattern. Despite his bold and rough personality, he is skilled with his hands. Having met Sun Ning in the past, he feels uncomfortable around him. After accidentally rescuing Daito and Housei who were floating down the river, they begin working together. He uses the Garyuusen weapon, which is similar to the Bajiegun. He is voiced by Koyama Rikiya.

Shimei

A character who wields the magical sword of clairvoyance, "Bansho Shimei," and manipulates mysterious magic. He is a subordinate of Keirou, but his purpose is unknown. Perhaps because of his demonic nature, he doesn't care at all even if he receives wounds that would be fatal to a normal human. His voice actor is Futamata Kazunari.

Rira

She is the daughter of Cao Rong, head of the Blue Dragon Party, and Daito's younger sister. She practices martial arts and does not usually show her gender, but she also has a feminine side, such as longing for the city. She has never lost an argument with Daito, and sometimes calls him "baka-nii" (idiot big brother). She is also the only person who can restore Daito to normal when he has lost his temper. Her voice actor is Kanda Akemi.

Emperor Taiga

The emperor of the Ken Empire, a 16-year-old boy. Due to his timid personality, he is at the mercy of Keirou's aide, Zhao Xiang, and his senior vassal, Toukaku. His voice actor is Jun Fukuyama.

Cao Rong

A former Imperial soldier, he is now the leader of the vigilante group, the Blue Dragon Party. He is the father of Taito and Laila, and after wandering the Empire, he finds himself at Rentsuji Temple, relying on his teacher, Sun Ning. He is not happy about Taito leaving Taishan. His voice actor is Takayuki Sugo.

Sun Ning

He is the chief priest of Rentsu-ji Temple, the head temple of the Rokuga sect, and is also the teacher of Cao Rong. He was once a master of Gaiden-ho and his fame was known throughout the empire. His only flaw is that he becomes very curious when he sees a woman. His voice actor is Kenichi Ogata.

Kong Chou

He is a subordinate of Keirou, a simple and strong man with unparalleled strength, who is silent and unsociable. He was originally a local prefectural captain (police officer), but when bandits attacked his town he was unable to defend it and was saved by Keirou who happened to be there, which led him to believe that overwhelming violence can be justice. He mows down his enemies with his gigantic Gara sword. He is voiced by Fumihiko Tachiki.

Zhao Xiang

She was originally a ninja from a foreign country, but ended up drifting to the Ken Empire and was picked up by Keirou, who made her his loyalty. She went to the imperial court 10 years ago, and as a lady-in-waiting to the emperor, she manipulates the timid Emperor Taiga to do Keirou's will. Her voice actor is Junko Kitanishi.

Taki

A girl who has entered the palace as a candidate for Emperor Taiga's bride, she is always timid and has a personality that makes it difficult for her to express her opinions. She is Keirou's stepdaughter. Her voice actress is Fumiko Orikasa.

■ Production staff

Many talented staff members were involved in the production of "Jyushin Enbu." The main staff members are listed below.

draft

Golden Week

director

Osamu Sekita

Series Composition

Masayoshi Sekishima

Character Design

Hiromu Arakawa

Animation character design, chief animation director

Naoki Aisaka and Hiromu Arakawa

Prop Design

Takahiro Yamada

Art Director

Kuniaki Nemoto

Color design

Shuichi Sato

Director of Photography

Tetsuji Higuchi

edit

Jun Taguma

Sound Director

Hiroshi Shimizu

music

Tamiya Terashima

producer

Higashi Fushimi, Tanaka Shinsaku, and Kanbe Muneyuki

Production Producer

Makiko Hayasaka

Produced

Genco

Animation Production

Studio FLAG

Production

Beast God Performance Production Committee

■Broadcast information

"Jyushin Enbu" was broadcast on TV Tokyo and other stations from October 8, 2007 to March 31, 2008. The specific broadcast schedule is as follows:

• TV Tokyo: October 7, 2007 to March 30, 2008 (Episodes 1 to 26) Every Sunday 26:00 to 26:30
• AT-X: October 8, 2007 to April 3, 2008 (Episodes 1 to 26) Every Monday 9:30 to 10:00

■ Episode

"Beast God Demonstration" consists of 26 episodes, each with a subtitle as follows:

• Act 1: The Roar of the Defeated Army (2007/10/07)
• Act 2: Takemichi's Destiny (14/10/2007)
• Chapter 3: The Pact of Manipulation (2007/10/21)
• Act 4/Five Gods Warriors (2007/10/28)
• Act 5 / The Sick Empire (2007/11/04)
• Act 6/Crimson Hero (2007/11/11)
• Act 7: The Sorrowful Rokuson (2007/11/18)
• Act 8: Echoes in the Valley... (2007/11/25)
• Act 9: Shadows on the Imperial Capital (2007/12/02)
• Act 10: The Lonely Emperor (2007/12/09)
• No. 11/Hokushinkiki (2007/12/16)
• Chapter 12: Sparkle under the Moon (2007/12/23)
• 1st Sanmaku/Nitenjinson (2007/12/30)
• Act 14/Turn around Touga (2008/01/06)
• The 15th Act / Signpost to the Defeat of the Army (2008/01/13)
• Act 16/Devouring Wolf (2008/01/20)
• Act 17: The bond between father and son (2008/01/27)
• Chapter 18: The Burning of Rentsuji Temple (February 3, 2008)
• Chapter 19: The Parting Star (2008/02/10)
• Chapter 21: The Beginning of Turmoil (2008/02/17)
• Act 21: The White Coat of Sorrow and Indignation (2008/02/24)
• No. 212 / Imperial City Complex (2008/03/02)
• Chapter 23: Clash (2008/03/09)
• Chapter 24: Out-of-Control Destiny (2008/03/16)
• Chapter 25 / The Wolf God (2008/03/23)
• Finale/End of the Demonstration (2008/03/30)

■ Theme songs and music

The theme songs and insert songs for "Jushin Enbu" are as follows.

Opening Theme

• WINTERLONG
• Lyricist: Toru Hidaka
• Composer: BEAT CRUSADERS
• Arrangement: BEAT CRUSADERS
• Sung by: BEAT CRUSADERS

Ending Theme 1

• To an irreplaceable person
• Lyricist: Mai Hoshimura
• Composer: Mai Hoshimura
• Arrangement: Suzuki Daichi Hideyuki
• Sung by: Hoshimura Mai

Ending Theme 2

• Song of the Trees
• Lyricist: Marky & Yusuke
• Composer: Yusuke
• Arrangement: HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR
• Sung by: HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR

■ Evaluation and recommendation

"Beast God Martial Arts" has gained support from many viewers due to its unique worldview and attractive characters. Below we will explain the evaluation and recommended points in detail.

Story and worldview

The story of "Beast God Demonstration" is set in a turbulent empire, and depicts seven heroes struggling to fulfill their respective destinies. The story is a mix of complex human relationships and political maneuvering, and has the power to draw viewers in. In addition, the world view centered around the concept of the destinies of the stars has a unique charm not found in other works. In particular, the conflict and cooperation between the Two Heavenly Gods and the Five God Warriors adds tension to the progression of the story.

character

Each character in "Juushin Enbu" is unique and charming. In particular, the characteristics of each character, such as Daito's drive and sense of justice, Keirou's ambition and cold-heartedness, Shoukaku's calmness and readiness to sacrifice, Rinmei's kindness and strength, Ryuko's seriousness and stubbornness, Housei's light-heartedness and passion, and Huyang's boldness and dexterity, enrich the story. In addition, the voice actors' performances are excellent, bringing out the charm of the characters to the fullest.

Visuals and Music

Hiromu Arakawa's character designs provide unique and beautiful visuals. The animation produced by Studio FLAG is visually appealing, with extremely beautiful depictions of battle scenes and backgrounds. Furthermore, Tamiya Terashima's music plays an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the story. The opening theme "WINTERLONG" and the ending themes "To the irreplaceable person" and "Kodorebino Uta" are also wonderful songs that enhance the worldview of the work.

Recommended points

"Beast God Demonstration" is especially recommended for the following viewers:

• People who enjoy action and fantasy
• People who like complicated human relationships and political maneuvering
• People who like unique characters
• People who want to enjoy beautiful visuals and music
• People who are interested in Hiromu Arakawa's character designs

■ Summary

"Jyuushin Enbu" is a worthwhile anime that combines a unique worldview, attractive characters, beautiful visuals and music. Set in a turbulent empire, the seven heroes struggle to fulfill their destinies, drawing viewers in. It is especially recommended for those who enjoy action and fantasy, those who like complex human relationships and political maneuvering, and those who like unique characters. The character designs by Hiromu Arakawa and the animation produced by Studio FLAG are also not to be missed. Please give it a watch.