Review of "Nurarihyon no Mago: Sennen Makyou": A masterpiece anime that delves deep into the world of monsters

"Nurarihyon no Mago: Sennen Makyou" - A grand story depicting the world of monsters

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

July 4, 2011 - December 26, 2011

■Broadcasting station

Yomiuri TV

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 26

■Original Story

Hiroshi Shiibashi (Serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump)

■ Director

Michio Fukuda

■ Production

Animation Production: Studio Deen Production: NuraMakyo

■Works

©Hiroshi Shiibashi/Shueisha, Nura Makyo

■ Story

The stirrings of darkness --Hagoromo Fox awakens--
At first glance, the boy Nura Rikuo appears to be an ordinary middle school student, but in fact he is one-quarter the bloodline of Nurarihyon, the leader of the yokai! As the third generation successor of the Nura clan, the yokai clan that controls eastern Japan, Rikuo has put an end to the conflict with the Shikoku yokai, but now he is faced with a new nemesis, Hagoromo Fox. What is the "long-cherished wish" of the Kyoto yokai and Hagoromo Fox, who are sweeping Kyoto with their overwhelming power? With the Oshu Tono clan and the onmyoji Hanakaiin family also involved, the fierce battle between the Nura clan led by Rikuo and Hagoromo Fox, who are plotting to achieve their wish from 400 years ago, is about to begin!

■Explanation

The second season of the TV anime adaptation of the popular original work "Nurarihyon no Mago" (by Shiibashi Hiroshi, volumes 1-16 of the comics are currently on sale), which is currently being serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump" and has sold a total of 9 million copies, will begin airing in July 2011! A year has passed since the first season was broadcast, and the second season will see the arrival of new staff and cast members, making the Hyakki Yakou even more powerful! In addition to the star-studded cast from the first season, popular voice actors such as Noto Mamiko, who plays Hagoromo no Kitsune, will also be cast in the second season! The staff has also been further strengthened, with Fukuda Michio as director and Koyasu Hideaki as series composition and scenario writer. The setting has been moved to Kyoto, and the bloody past of Hagoromo no Kitsune and the Nura family, spanning three generations, is gradually revealed, making for a suspenseful storyline that is sure to be a highlight.

■Cast

・Yohime/Kuwashima Houko・Nura Wakana/Mizuno Risa・Mokugyo Daruma/Tsuji Shinpachi・Ushi-oni/Nakata Joji・Gozumaru/Yoshino Hiroyuki・Batomaru/Hoshi Soichiro・Ryu/Sugita Tomokazu・Shingekikage/Hoshino Takanori・Baboon/Tsujitani Kouji・One-eyed monk/Matsuyama Takashi・Three-eyed eight-faced/Hirota Minoru・Gagoze/Hirota Yukio・Red kappa/Miyauchi Atsushi・Namahage/Madono Mitsuaki・Itaku/Kishio Daisuke・Awashima/Yuzuki Suzuka・Amezo/Mizushima Hirotaka・Tsuchihiko/Miyashita Eiji・Cold-blooded/Toyoguchi Megumi・Murasaki/Orikasa Fumiko
・Hagoromo Kitsune/Noto Mamiko・Yodo-dono/Neya Michiko・Ojizo/Chafurin・Kidomaru/Kuroda Takaya・Ibaraki Doji/Tsuda Kenjiro・Shokera/Saiga Mitsuki・Kyokotsu (daughter)/Hikasa Yoko・Tsuchigumo/Kosugi Jurota・Gashadokuro/Kusunoki Daisuke・Shirokurasu/Ito Kentaro・Kairouta/Juku Kazuhisa・Kyokotsu/Ichijo Kazuya・The Great Tengu of Mt. Kurama/Hōki Katsuhisa・Abe no Seimei/Koyama Rikiya・Hanakaiin Hidemoto (13th generation)/Midorikawa Hikaru・Hanakaiin Hidemoto (27th generation)/Akimoto Yosuke・Hanakaiin Koremitsu/Yamura Makoto
・Yura Hanakaiin/Ai Maeda ・Ryuji Hanakaiin/Katsuyuki Konishi ・Mamiru Hanakaiin/Kenji Nojima ・Akifusa Hanakaiin/Shotaro Morikubo ・Hado Hanakaiin/Asami Sanada ・Masaji Hanakaiin/Yuji Nojima
・Haigo Hanakaiin/Toru Inada/Gora Hanakaiin/Takeshi Ooba/Kiyotsugu/Kiyoshi Taniyama/Kana Ienaga/Aya Hirano/Saori Maki/Kana Asumi/Natsumi Torii/Mana Hirata/Jiro Shima/Tetsuya Kakihara
・Nurarihyon/ Norio Otsuka, Koji Yusa, and others

■ Main staff

・Original story by Hiroshi Shiibashi (serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump)
Director: Michio Fukuda Series composition and script: Hideaki Koyasu Character design: Mariko Oka Monster design: Shinobu Tagashira Art: Studio Easter Art director: Junichi Azuma Color design: Shinji Matsumoto Cinematography: Masayuki Kawaguchi Editing: Masahiro Matsumura Sound director: Hozumi Goda Music: Kohei Tanaka, Kazuhiko Sawaguchi, Keiji Iuchi

■ Theme songs and music

・OP
・Where the stars are. -Hoshinoarika-
・Singer: LM.C (Pony Canyon)
・ED
・Orange Smile
・Song: Katate☆SIZE (Kana Naga, Yuki-onna, Yura Hanakaiin (CV: Aya Hirano, Yui Horie, Ai Maeda)) (Pony Canyon)

"Nurarihyon no Mago: Sennen Makyou" - Detailed Review and Recommendation

Nurarihyon no Mago: Sennen Makyou is the second season of the TV anime series based on the popular manga Nurarihyon no Mago by Shiibashi Hiroshi, and was broadcast on Yomiuri TV from July 4 to December 26, 2011. The 26-episode series is set in the world of monsters and follows the epic tale of Nura Rikuo as he faces off against a new enemy: Hagoromo no Kitsune.

Story and Characters

The story of "Nurarihyon no Mago: Sennen Makyou" is about Nura Rikuo, who, after finishing his battle with the Shikoku youkai, faces a new enemy, Hagoromo-Kitsune, and his cherished wish. Hagoromo-Kitsune takes Kyoto by storm with his overwhelming power, aiming to achieve his 400-year-old wish with the Nura Clan. The story depicts a fierce battle involving the Oshu Tono family and the onmyoji Hanakaiin family, and is characterized by a suspenseful development that draws the viewer in.

The main character, Nura Rikuo, is an ordinary middle school student, but he grows up as the "grandson of Nurarihyon," one-quarter of the blood of Nurarihyon, the leader of the monsters. His growth and fighting moves and excites the viewers. In addition, the gorgeous cast, including Noto Mamiko as Hagoromogitsune, brings out the charm of the characters to the fullest.

Animation and performance

Studio Deen, in charge of animation production, has continued to provide high-quality images since the first season. Character design is by Mariko Oka, and monster design is by Shinobu Tadashira, and the unique visuals of the monsters are impressive. In particular, the monsters' power and beauty stand out in the scene of the hundred demons parade.

Director Michio Fukuda and series composer and scriptwriter Hideaki Koyasu were welcomed as new staff members and further deepened the story of season 2. By moving the setting to Kyoto, the historical background and the world of monsters are fused together, resulting in a visually and narratively fascinating work.

Music and theme song

The music was composed by Kohei Tanaka, Kazuhiko Sawaguchi, and Keiji Iuchi, and features a spectacular soundtrack that brings out the worldview of the yokai. The opening theme "Hoshi no Arisa" is by LM.C, and the ending theme "Orange Smile" is by Katate☆SIZE (Kana Ienaga, Yuki Onna, Yura Hanakaiin), and these songs will touch the hearts of viewers.

Recommended points

"Nurarihyon no Mago: Sennen Makyou" is a work that features an epic story set in the world of monsters, attractive characters, and high-quality animation. In particular, Nura Rikuo's growth and the fierce battle with Hagoromo no Kitsune will move and excite viewers. Also, do not miss the powerful story development by the splendid cast and new staff.

This work is recommended for those who are interested in yokai and traditional Japanese culture, and those who enjoy action and suspense. In addition, fans of the original manga will be able to enjoy the visual beauty and music that only an anime can provide. "Nurarihyon no Mago: Sennen Makyou" is a fascinating work that draws the viewer into the world of yokai, so be sure to give it a watch.