Product Details

• Format: Animated, Box set, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English, Japanese
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 10
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Section 23
• DVD Release Date: October 31, 2006
• Run Time: 1250 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000HDR89Q
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #54,404 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The long-running animated series Saiyuki (2000) is based on Minekura Kazuya's manga adaptation of the landmark Chinese novel "Journey to the West." But little remains of Cheng'en Wu's original tale of a spiritually powerful monk traveling to India to obtain the Buddhist sutras, attended by three supernatural beings. Instead, rogue monk Sanjo Genjo is dispatched to India prevent the resurrection of the demon-lord Gyumoah by his former mistress, the evil Gyukumen Koushu. Her efforts have destroyed the peace that reigned in Shangri-La, causing the demon inhabitants to attack the humans and vice-versa. Genjo takes three obstreperous demons with him as companions/assistants: chain-smoking womanizer Sha Gojyo; Cho Hakkai, whose pet dragon turns into a jeep; and eternally hungry Son Goku. (The Dragon Ball continuity is also loosely based on "Journey.") The quarrelsome quartet travels from place to place, fighting demons and helping people.

  Their adventures offer lots of action and slapstick comedy, but little in the way of sustained storytelling or character development. Unlike Inu-Yasha and other picaresque anime adventures, the relationships among the characters in Saiyuki remain fixed. The animation clean-up artists did very sloppy work on this series: Genjo's features change noticeably from scene to scene. But these problems don't deter the show's many fans: Saiyuki ran for years in Japan, and spawned three direct-to-video sequels and a theatrical feature. (Rated TV 14 VL, suitable for ages 13 and older: violence, profanity, risqué humor, tobacco and alcohol use) --Charles Solomon

Product Description

SAIYUKI:COMPLETE SEASONS 1 & 2 - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars No Extras, November 2, 2006

By 

D. E. Haynes "l" (Southern Mississippi) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Saiyuki: Complete Seasons 1 & 2 (DVD)

Saiyuki is one of my favorite anime series, but I was disappointed in this collection for one reason -- none of the extras from the earlier release have been included. This is particularly unfortunate for the Cultural Notes which add a lot to the viewer's understanding of the legend that the series is based on. The collection does include all of the 50 episodes in a box that won't take up much room on your shelf and for a very reasonable price. But I would have been willing to pay a little more and have the extras included also.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed the Journey, May 17, 2007

By 

K. Bagneski "Kei Usagi" (Saint Paul, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Saiyuki: Complete Seasons 1 & 2 (DVD)

OK, this is the first anime series I ever purchased, so I am a bit biased. Only after seeing other series - and a few episodes of Saiyuki Reload, do I think my bias is not entirely misplaced. Rumor has it that women are the biggest fans, so I guess, I'm guilty. I understand why women like the program. The plot is pretty simple: 4 somewhat flawed, handsome young men with attitude trying to save the world. And the whole concept of the "bad guys" being sympathetic is something I agree with and rarely see. The characters are interesting.

I've read some other reviews that say Sensomaden Saiyuki does not have enough character development. I would somewhat disagree. My flippant answer would be to say, "It's a lightweight action, comedy series, how much do you need?" Then I would ask, "Did you not listen to the Merciful Goddess who points out continually that no matter how many times these souls are reincarnated, they do not change? They continually live their lives as they choose." Here's a hint though, there are some small changes in "Reload". Spend these 50 episodes enjoying the journey and look at the subtleties in the relationships between characters.

Visually the first two or three episodes are a little rough, but things smooth out before you get to the second disc.

Since it was my first series, I am guilty of watching them over and over. I find I can take them seriously or view them as fluff. It has inspired an interest to read "Journey to the West", which I think should be a compliment.

Seasons 1 and 2 were Dubbed in English by ADV Films. While the translation may not be perfect, the voice casting was excellent. I happened to have purchased Saiyuki Reload Vocal Album V.2 that aside from the music has two scenes from the series. I could identify the characters speaking Japanese simply because I knew the ADV English versions so well. The voice tonal qualities are so close. I never noticed it when I just watched the shows in Japanese with subtitles.

I look forward to the continuing journey in Japanese with Reload and Gunlock. I am not as sure I like the English dub as well. Only time will tell.

I do also recommend Gensomaden Saiyuki: Requiem if you cannot get enough. It's a nice expanded episode with the last of the ADV production. The English cast interviews were a nice surprise.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars nicely packaged but some flaws, December 28, 2006

By 

Jason Adams "Rogue Artist" (Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Saiyuki: Complete Seasons 1 & 2 (DVD)

Having watched a few episodes of this series we became intrigued. I purchased from a seller associated through Amazon here, but got the product brand new, unopened for less than half the price. Shipping was prompt.

The quality of the DVDs seem very good. Sound a picture are excellent. The thin packaging is a boone! However, it has only 3 language settings and every one displays subtitles! We attempted to change the settings on multiple DVDs and still could not rid ourselves of the subtitles which is incredibly distracting and ruins the enjoyment of watching the show.