Search - Saiyuki - Storms (Vol. 4) on DVD

"I don't chant sutras for the dead."

Marc Ruby? | Warren, MI USA | 10/28/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This series continues to be a surprise. Unlike much 'adventure' anime, it does not depend on a steady stream of overdeveloped women who need rescuing to bolster its plot. Neither does it rely on 'pretty boy' heroes. Or violence, or... In other words, it creates a new genre simply by ignoring the 'rules' and focusing instead on telling a good story on multiple levels.The first two of the four episodes focus on Cho Hakkai, whose current appearance as a quiet, congenial intellectual are blied by a past where he became a demon by slaying a thousand demons himself, and then promptly turned on humans as he continued to pursue revenge. We learn of his first meetings with both Sha Gojyo and Genjo Sanzo, as well as a bit of byplay with Son Goku. The result is a deeper understanding of all the main characters and a stronger sense of why they are a working team.Next the team runs into a demon trap, a city where the demonic inhabitants have been turned to stone to avoid having to deal with the call which has created chaos across the countryside. Timelessness, Sanzo demonstrates, is not necessarily next to godliness. Or peace of mind either.And, finally, Sanzo finds himself in a direct confrontation with a small army of demon hunters who are scouring the country killing anyone that is pointy eared. As usual, the story takes an unexpected turn, delving into the meaning of friendship just when you expected it to turn into another shrine to violence. Despite strong language and an off color sense of humor, this story is atypical of the standard 15+ rating fare. It deals with real human issues in the context of a retelling of one of China's most popular legends. The quest for the secret sutras that will stop an impending evel is deftly turned into an introspective journey into the minds of four travelers whose sensitivity far outweighs their violence. And this is accomplished without bogging down the plot or typecasting the characters.The artwork has developed considerably over the series as well. We find ourselves peering from unusual angles at scenes that are framed in unexpected fashions. Color work is also varied, giving the feeling of tight artistic control without any sense of rigidity."

Excellent episodes

chiefraz1 | Watervliet, NY United States | 10/04/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Being a Saiyuki addict, I very much enjoyed the retelling of how the Sanzo-ikko met. I liked the ecomomy of movement and use use of stills and voice overs. All together a must have."