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[ café reviews ]

Zenki in minor form

Zenki
Episode 1: Kishin Genlin


Distributed by: (Japan), Software Sculptors (North America)
Length: 25 minutes
Rating: NR
Format: Subtitled (VHS)


[ plot summary ]

vhs jacket

An unknown force of great evil is on the move awakening the seeds of possession which have been scattered throughout the world. Once awakened, the seeds bring forth a great monster capable of much chaos and destruction. Enno Chiaki is the 55th generation child of Enno Ozunu - a great mage who lived in Shikigami-cho 1200 years past, who lives at the family shrine making ends meet by doing exorcisms and showing people about town. The family shrine however also holds the seal to one of the seeds of possession. Two of Karma's minions travel to Shikigami-cho in order to release the seal on the seed. Chiaki faced with a possession beast needs help and fast, if only she could break the seal holding Zenki - the family's protector demon and summon him forth.


[ capsule review ]













Definitely meant for kids, specifically for young boys, Zenki is very typical shonen stuff. Lots of mindless action with typical TV quality animation, this series features lots of property damage, minor nudity, and lots and lots of fighting. The music is pretty typical for a TV show as well, good opening and closing themes which have a habit of sticking in your mind if you're not careful. This first episode introduces us to the primary characters of the series, Enno Chiaki - the girl who is to become Zenki's errr keeper, Zenki - the family protector demon, Chiaki's grandmother Saki, Jukai-oshou - Saki's younger brother and the monk in charge of the Buddhist temple in town, and Kuribayashi one of the initiates in the Buddhist temple. The primary evil is still unknown although we have a name - Karma, and the primary means of spreading the evil are the "seeds of possession" - hiyoi no mi.

The story in this first episode is simple; introduce the main characters and break the seal on Zenki and call him forth. Of course, what they end up with is doji Zenki or his little form. A rather startling and rather disconcerting discovery that your family protector is a little bratty kid who can't do anything... until you break the other seal on him that is. Then you get kishin Zenki or the Demon Lord. Of course, who's to say exactly what sort of control you'll have over Zenki when you call him forth? Zenki's primary motivating factor in fighting the posession beasts seems to be, interestingly enough, his stomach - he loves the taste of the seeds of possession. (Combined with the scene where Jukai-oshou senses great evil moving only to go running off for dinner... I wonder if there's a common theme here? Nahhh...) More fun than anything else, this is great for mindlessness of the hack and slash variety. Not much substance but good for a break of a childish nature, this episode features some amusing tidbits and some satisfying action and violence without being particularly graphic. - JYN



[ café rating ]

Original: Subbed: Dubbed:
Story: N/A 2 stars N/A
Direction: N/A 3 stars N/A
Acting: N/A 3 stars N/A
Animation: N/A 2 stars N/A
Music: N/A 3 stars N/A
Translation: N/A 5 stars N/A
Overall Rating: N/A 3 stars N/A



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