Saiyuki Reload Blast (TV Series)

is a Japanese manga sequel to Saiyuki Reload series written and illustrated by Kazuya Minekura. It began serialization in Ichijinsha's josei manga magazine ''Monthly Comic Zero Sum'' since December 2009, with its chapters collected in three ''tankōbon'' volumes as of October 2017. The story follows the adventures of The Sanzo Party after a long journey, the group arrives at the borders of India, their final destination.

An anime television series adaptation produced by Platinum Vision aired from July 2017 to September 2017. Crunchyroll has licensed the TV series, and Funimation released it on home video as part of the two companies' partnership. Muse Communication licensed the series in South and Southeast Asia; they aired it on Animax Asia and later released on their YouTube channel. The series serves as a sequel to ''Saiyuki Reload Gunlock'' and the fourth season of the ''Saiyuki'' anime television series.

Plot

While humans and demons were finally living peacefully in Shangri-La, someone attempted to resurrect an ancient evil demon. As a result, a whole bunch of creatures begin to savagely attack men. Genjo Sanzo, an unorthodox monk, undertakes a journey to the West to stem this evil surge. He is accompanied by three beings with powerful powers, half-men, half-demons. After a long journey, ''The Sanzo Party'' finally have arrived at the border of India. Their battle becomes even more intense in a strange land heavily influenced by strange events. Furthermore, a sad fate from 500 years ago awaits them. What will Sanzo and his group get at the end of their long and arduous journey?

Media

Manga

In December 2009, ''Saiyuki Reload Blast'' started serialization in Ichijinsha's josei manga magazine ''Monthly Comic Zero Sum'', After a hiatus that begun in September 2010, the manga resumed in March 2012, with the first volume being released in July later that year. A limited edition of the first volume which included a mini art book was released on June 25.

On July 27, 2013, publication of ''Saiyuki Reload Blast'' slowed due to Minekura's health. Ichijinsha published the second volume in July 2014. In April 2016, publication again paused. Initially, the third volume was planned to be released in August 2017 but was postponed until October that year, when it was published alongside a special edition. The series went on hiatus in October 2017 and resumed 18 months later. Tong Li Publishing licensed the Chinese translation, which it published a limited edition of the first volume on May 15, 2013 and the regular edition on May 24, 2013; The second volume on July 7, 2015, and the third volume alongside a special edition on January 18, 2019.

Volume list

Anime

An anime television series adaptation of the ''Saiyuki Reload Blast'' manga series that serves as a sequel to ''Saiyuki Reload Gunlock'' aired from July 5 to September 20, 2017, on Tokyo MX, TV Aichi, BS11, and Sun TV. It ran for 12 episodes. Crunchyroll licensed the series and Funimation released it on home video as part of the two companies' partnership. Muse Communication licensed the series in South and Southeast Asia; it was aired on Animax Asia and later released on its YouTube channel. ''Saiyuki Reload Blast BD/DVD Combo Pack'' and ''BD essentials blast'' was published in North America by Funimation on July 24, 2018 and January 28, 2020 respectively. The episodes collected by Frontier Works on four DVDs and Blu-ray released from August 23 to November 29, 2017.

Episodes

Home media release

Reception

Manga

Saiyuki Realod Blast manga individual volumes remained in the top weekly Japanese ranking chart of best-selling manga. the first volume ranked thirteenth of the top-selling manga in Japan during June 25 to July 1 2012, selling a total of 60,545 copies. The second volume ranked twenty-five of the top-selling manga in Japan during July 28 to August 3 2014, selling 32,121 copies and a total of 61,622 copies. Saiyuki Reload Blast third and Special Edition volumes ranked twenty-third and forty-two of the top-selling manga in Japan during October 30 to November 5 2017, selling 34,879 copies and 18,607 respectively.

Anime

The series ''Saiyuki Reload Blast'' was ranked third among the top 20 anime during mid 2017 among Japanese fans. The series was among the top-three most-acclaimed anime of July 2017. In the third quarter of 2017, the series was ranked fifth on Goo Ranking website's poll of top-20 favorite late-night anime of mid 2017. It ranked seventh on ''Kadokawa's eb-i Xpress''s website's poll of top 20 "most anticipated summer 2017 Anime."

In May 2017, The two voice actors of Saiyuki Reload Blast, Toshihiko Seki (Genjo Sanzo) and Sōichirō Hoshi (Son Goku) appeared on the cover of the 22nd volume of Cool Voice magazine. Individual volumes have appeared in Oricon's weekly chart of best-selling anime DVD/blu-ray disc, taking several high spots. The first DVD volume of ''Saiyuki Reload Blast'' anime ranked twentieth during the week of August 28 to September 3 2017, selling 1,992 copies after ranking eleventh the previous week. The second volume ranked eleventh during the week of September 25 to October 1 2017, selling 1,681 copies. The third DVD volume ranked twentieth during the week of October 23 to 29 2017, selling 1,764 copies after ranking sixth the previous week. The The fourth DVD volume of ''Saiyuki Reload Blast'' anime ranked third during the week of November 27 toDecember 3 2017, selling 1,595 copies. The first and second Blu-ray volumes ranked twelfth and sixteenth of the top-selling japan's animation blu-ray disc ranking during August 21-27 and September 25-October 1 2017, selling 2,301 copies and 2,337 copies respectively. The third and fourth Blu-ray volumes ranked seventeenth and ninth during October 23-29 and November 27-December 3, selling 1,995 copies and 2,167 copies respectively.

Olivia Subero of ''Comic Book Resources'' wrote that the series gives historical anime a supernatural twist. she praised the main characters, the powerful demons of the story and the intense fight scenes. Gabriella Ekens of ''Anime News Network'' (ANN) found interest in the relationship between the characters and praised their story, describing it as serious with well-balanced character-based silly behavior and becoming attached to them. On the visual level, called ''Saiyuki Reload Blast'' disappointing, and the show has a distinct art style which is only rarely noticeably off modell, stating that dramas delve into characters' past lives and revisit them in a way That you don't already know about, and it's clearly a next-stage arc in an extended saga, if it doesn't change in a strange way. Fellow (ANN) reviewer Nick Creamer feels that Blast like a perfectly functional hit on its targets and describes the character and background designs as "quite solid." Other Fellow (ANN) reviewer James Beckett describes the combination of the framework of traveling to the west with western styles as a more modern spaghetti and its purpose is very interesting, The action scenes find it short but light and entertaining enough. Also Paul Jensen and Rebecca Silverman of (ANN) sees the first episode as a kind of standalone reintroduction to the main characters, which is somewhat predictable and called a very ordinary and somewhat predictable Western Charles Solomon of ''Animation Scoop'' criticized the main characters for not changing and growing. Marshall Daley of ''Bubbleblabber'' rated the series 9 out of 10, said that the story is great and a huge improvement on the plot, the characters feel strong and deep, and so does the voice acting. He expresses the animation much better so that decides to come out and play, and the art is freaking stylish as usualt, stating: "This story did justice to the raw material and actually enhanced the characters and gives the characters deeper and more internal motivations for their actions and makes their connection in their new life quite natural." In his reviewing of anime Blu-ray, Chris beveridge of The Fandom Post, described the show's plot as more of a flashback and links to the nature of their journey, and described the story as changing in a good way.

References

External links

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''"Saiyuki RELOAD BLAST'' website

{{Platinum Vision

Adventure anime and manga
Epic anime and manga
Fantasy anime and manga
Ichijinsha manga
2017 anime television series debuts
Chinese mythology in anime and manga
Comics set in India
Josei manga
Works based on Journey to the West