Shin Ikki Tousen Review: The Appeal and Evolution of the 8th Series

Shin Ikki Tousen: The Opening of a New Chapter and Its Appeal

"Shin Ikki Tousen" is the latest work in the popular manga "Ikki Tousen" series by Yuji Shiozaki, and its anime adaptation has been eagerly awaited. The series, which aired from March 27 to May 31, 2022, depicted a new battle between fighters from Kansai and Kanto, providing fans with new excitement. In this article, we will take a detailed look at the story, characters, production background, and appeal of "Shin Ikki Tousen". We will also touch on recommended points for viewers and related works.

story

The setting of "Shin Ikki Tousen" is modern-day Japan, but in the background are the "Magatama," ornaments that contain the souls of heroes from the Three Kingdoms period of China. As those who inherited these ornaments fight as "fighters," the struggle for supremacy in Kanto finally begins to show signs of settling down. However, Himiko, the head of Yamato Academy, which controls Kansai, begins a "Magatama Hunt," targeting the magatama of Kanto's warriors.

Meanwhile, a new fighter, Sun Quan Zhongmou, transfers to Nanyo Academy in the Kanto region. Sun Quan is to be baptized at the academy in the absence of his sister, Sun Ce Bofu, but assassins sent by Himiko, Yamada Choemon and Indara, invade the school, putting Sun Quan in dire straits. The story unfolds in new ways, revealing what secret Sun Quan is hiding, and what awaits him at Jofuku-in, the legendary site of asceticism where Sun Ce heads.

character

"Shin Ikki Tousen" features many unique characters. The main characters are introduced below.

Sun Ce

He is the head of Nanyo Academy, but after his magatama was stolen by Himiko, he lost his water dragon spirit and his confidence as a fighter. In order to save the life of his younger sister Sun Quan, who only has vague memories of her childhood, he sets off on a journey to Jofuku-in, a legendary place of asceticism. He is the type of person who takes action immediately once he has an idea in mind, and often does not listen to what others say to the end.

Sun Quan Zhongmou

She is a candidate to become the next leader of Nanyo Academy, and she transfers there because she admires her sister, Sun Ce. She goes to Nanyo hoping to make a splendid debut as a transfer student, but she fails on the first day, showing that she is even more of a wimp than her sister. It is said that her potential easily surpasses that of an S-rank fighter, but her true abilities are still unknown.

Lu Meng Ziming

He is one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Nanyo and is a master of joint locks. He heads to Kansai with other volunteers to recover the magatama of Sun Ce, which was stolen by Himiko, but is transported by a mysterious power and wakes up in Yomi Hirasaka, which spreads underground at Jofuku-in Temple. There, he encounters the ghost of his former enemy, Lu Bu, and wins a deadly battle, which reaffirms the meaning of his own fighting.

Guan Yu Yunchang

A third-year student at Seito Academy, he is the strongest fighter who uses the Blue Dragon Sword and the Cold Gap Saw. He achieves S-Rank awakening, but is shocked by the sword fight with Shinmen Musashi in the mountains of Atagoyama in Kyoto, and retreats to the mountains alone to train day and night. He tries to imitate Musashi's sword movements, but fails, and is made to realize his own immaturity and suffers.

Zhao Yun Zilong

He is a second-year student at Chengdu Academy and is ranked special A. He is a master of the enchanted sword Zanryu, and it is rumored that his skills surpass even those of Guan Yu. When the head of Nanyo Academy was absent and was attacked by Kansai fighters, he appeared dashingly and saved Sun Quan from peril. He crossed swords with Yamada Asaemon at that time, but he became a worthy opponent.

Zhuge Liang

He is a genius military tactician who belongs to the middle school division of Chengdu Academy. He never loses his cool and is skilled at reading ahead. When the Kansai fighters attacked Nanyang, he appeared with the Three Gods of Xuchang to try to stop Sun Quan's rampage. He realized that it was essential for Sun Quan to awaken in order to deal with Himiko, so he ordered Zhao Yun to transport the Hundred Blades and Magatama to Kansai.

Himiko

He is the head of Yamato Academy, which controls the Kansai region, and the mastermind behind the attack that stole Sun Ce and Cao Cao's magatama. He communicates with the grudge of Himiko, who has now become a corpse, and acts on her behalf. His goal is to collect all three sacred treasures, including the magatama, and to revive the golden seal engraved with the characters for "King of Wa, Kin-Wei," a title that is said to have been given to Himiko by the Emperor of Wei.

Yamada Asaemon

He is a second-year student at Rokuhara High School and is ranked special A. He was one of the Kansai fighters who received orders from Himiko and attacked Nanyo Academy in Sun Ce's absence. He has a ruthless personality that is so despised even by his peers, and he has always lived a lonely life, but when he crossed swords with Zhao Yun, he felt a connection with him, even though they were enemies, and they parted ways, vowing to fight again.

Indara

He is one of the Twelve Divine Generals who operate in the Kansai region. He likes to manipulate poisoned cards to drag his opponents into a hallucinatory space and then cut them into pieces to kill them brutally. On Himiko's orders, he attacked Nanyo to capture Sun Quan and the Hundred Blades, but was counterattacked by the awakened Sun Quan and was seriously injured.

Ganryu Sasaki

He is a sword genius whom Sonsaku met when he visited Jofuku-in Temple. He values ​​beautiful melodies and will mercilessly strike at anyone who plays an unpleasant melody. He once fought against Shinmen Musashi, but was defeated by the overwhelming difference in his ability. He still treasures the long sword, Choko, that was given to him at that time, and longs for the day when he can fight Musashi on an equal footing.

Tamonmaru Kusunoki

Since the Age of the Gods, the Thousand Rocks have dammed up the flow of the dead from the spirit world. This warrior was born with the destiny of being its guardian. He has challenged warriors who come to Jofukuin Temple half-heartedly to a test of skill, and has hunted down countless swords. He has a secret crush on Sasaki Ganryu, the only one who recognizes his strength.

Background

Shin Ikki Tousen is based on the manga Shin Ikki Tousen by Yuji Shiozaki and was produced by the animation studio ARMS. It was directed by Rion Kujo, with series composition and scriptwriting by Masaya Honda, and character design by Rinshin and Tsutomu Miyazawa. Miyazawa Tsutomu was also in charge of animation direction, with prop design by Yoshiteru Kuga, color design by Fusako Nakao, direction by Taiji Kawanishi, art direction by Li Shujiu, art setting by Mihyang Kang, director of photography by Shigeki Asakawa, editing by Akane Shiraishi, music by Koji Takanashi, and sound direction by Katsunori Shimizu. It was produced by GENCO and produced by Shin Ikki Tousen Partners.

Broadcast information

"Shin Ikki Tousen" was broadcast on AT-X from March 27 to May 31, 2022. The first episode was broadcast on March 27 as a pre-broadcast, and regular broadcasts began on May 17. Each episode aired every Tuesday from 20:30 to 21:00, with a total of three episodes. It was also distributed online, with unlimited viewing sites such as d Anime Store, ABEMA, GYAO!, Hikari TV, Animehodai, and U-NEXT, and pay-per-view sites such as Rakuten TV, Niconico Channel, DMM.com, music.jp, Video Market, HAPPY! Video, FOD, Crank-in! Video, Movie Full Plus, J:COM On Demand, TELASA, and Miru Plus.

subtitle

The subtitles for each episode are as follows:

• #1 Return (March 27, 2022)
• #2 Jofukuin (May 24, 2022)
• #3 Melody (May 31, 2022)

Theme songs and music

The opening theme "PROUD STARS" was written by Hotaru, composed and arranged by Tsubasa Handa, and sung by Konomi Suzuki. The song features a powerful melody and lyrics that symbolize the fight and growth of the fighters, and left a strong impression on viewers.

Related Titles

"Shin Ikki Tousen" is one of the "Ikki Tousen" series and includes the following related works:

• A warrior worth a thousand men
• Ikki Tousen Dragon Destiny
• Ikki Tousen Great Guardians
• Ikki Tousen XTREME XECUTOR
• Ikki Tousen: Bloody Chronicles of the Collected Sword Fighters
• Ikki Tousen Extravaganza Epoch
• Ikki Tousen Western Wolves
• Ikki Tousen Dragon Destiny: The Great Battle at Sekibe Hot Springs
• Ikki Tousen Great Guardians Battle Tour Club Sexy Cosplay ♥ Dangerous Part-time Job ♥
• Ikki Tousen XTREME XECUTOR ~Six Dream Scenes~

Evaluation and recommendation points

"Shin Ikki Tousen" is a long-awaited new chapter for fans of the series, and has been praised for its story and characters. Here are some points to recommend it:

New story development

It depicts a new battle between warriors from the Kansai and Kanto regions, providing a fresh experience for existing fans. In particular, the appearance of Sun Quan Zhongmou and the departure of Sun Ce Bofu add new depth to the story.

Unique characters

The background and growth of each character is carefully depicted, allowing the viewer to empathize with their battles and struggles. In particular, Sun Quan's growth and Sun Ce's determination leave a strong impression on the viewer.

Beautiful animation

ARMS' high-quality animation realistically depicts the battle scenes and character expressions, enhancing the visual appeal. The combat scenes between warriors are particularly impressive and have the power to draw the viewer in.

Powerful theme song

The opening theme "PROUD STARS" by Konomi Suzuki features a powerful melody and lyrics that symbolize the fight and growth of the fighters, leaving a strong impression on viewers. This song is an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the story.

Series History and Background

For viewers who are familiar with the history and background of the "Ikki Tousen" series, "Shin Ikki Tousen" can be enjoyed as a sequel, while for fans of the series, the new exploits of existing characters and the appearance of new characters are a major attraction.

summary

"Shin Ikki Tousen" is a new chapter in the "Ikki Tousen" series, depicting a new battle between warriors from Kansai and Kanto. It is full of many charms, including unique characters, a new storyline, beautiful animation, and a powerful theme song. It is a work recommended not only for fans of the series, but also for viewers who are new to the "Ikki Tousen" series. Please watch it and experience its charm for yourself.