Saiyuki (2000)
Plot.
Where to Watch.
Cast & Crew.
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Details.
Release DateApril 4, 2000
Original Name最遊記
StatusEnded
Seasons5
Episodes126
Running Time25m
Genres
Wiki.
Saiyuki (Japanese: 最遊記, Hepburn: Saiyūki) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kazuya Minekura. It was originally serialized in Square Enix's shōnen manga magazine Monthly GFantasy with the chapters collected into nine tankōbon volumes from October 1997 to July 2002; and later republished by Ichijinsha's Shōjo magazine Comic Zero Sum WARD, released the nine volumes with new covers from October 2002 to June 2003; and published a new edition in 2015. The story, which is loosely based on the 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West, follows a monk named Genjo Sanzo who receives a mission to travel to the west with a group of three yokai (demons) to stop anyone reviving the evil god Gyumao.
The manga has been licensed by Tokyopop for English publication in North America. From February 2020, to January 2021, Kodansha republished the newly translated main series in North America in 400-page, hardcover volumes.
Minekura's manga includes two sequels titled Saiyuki Reload and Saiyuki Reload Blast, as well as two prequels titled Saiyuki Gaiden and Saiyuki Ibun. The series has spawned a media franchise that includes five anime series. Pierrot produced a 50-episode anime television series titled Gensomaden Saiyuki that aired from April 2000 to March 2001, and won the twenty-third annual Animage Anime Grand Prix prize for best anime. The same studio developed an anime film adaptation and two anime sequel series titled Saiyuki Reload and Saiyuki Reload Gunlock, which were broadcast together in Japan from October 2003 to September 2004. Two other animes were produced; Platinum Vision made Saiyuki Reload Blast in 2017 and Liden Films made Saiyuki Reload: Zeroin, in 2022. Three original video animations (OVAs), ten stage musicals, a light novel adaptation, numerous video games, and drama CDs have also been made.
As of July 2017, the Saiyuki franchise has sold 25 million copies in circulation worldwide, making it one of the best-selling manga series of all time; it has become a mainstay of manga/anime culture, and its entries have continually garnered critical praise and accolades.