Saiyuki is one of several anime series based loosely—very loosely in this case—on Wu Ch’êng-ên’s Ming Dynasty novel “The Journey to the West,” sometimes called “Monkey” in English. The book chronicles the misdeeds of the Monkey King, Son Goku. (Akira Toriyama’s hit series Dragon Ball is also derived from the novel.) Goku’s antics disturb even the Jade Emperor of Heaven until the rambunctious warrior is tamed by the monk Tripitaka, who takes him, Pigsy and Sandy on his sojourn westward.

Many American readers are surprised to learn that for the Chinese author and his audience, the West meant India. Tripitaka’s journey is a pilgrimage to obtain Buddhist sutras to help spread the religion in China and East Asia.

Saiyuki has remained popular since it debuted in 1997 as a manga by Kazuya Minekura. In addition to the five manga series, there have been three live-action musicals, several video games and numerous animated incarnations, beginning with two OAV’s in 1999. The 12-episode Saiyuki Reload Blast, directed by Hideaki Nakano, aired in 2017.

Like Dragon Ball, Saiyuki preserves only a few elements of the original novel. The wise, patient Tripitaka has become the very secular monk Genjo Sanzo (David Matranga), who smokes, carries a magic pistol and seems to want a nap more than enlightenment. Grumbling, red-haired half-demon Sha Gyojo (Ian Sinclair) lusts after women and chain smokes; Cho Hakkai (Micah Solusod), a man who turned into a demon, is the brightest of member of the group, although that’s not saying a lot. Upbeat, energetic Son Goku (Greg Ayres) is always hungry.

The four comrades set out from the ancient Chinese capitol of Chang’an (now Xi’an) to obtain the sutras and to prevent the possible resurrection of the Ox-Demon King Gyumaoh. Cho Hakkai has a small dragon that conveniently turns into a Jeep, enabling to them travel through the land of Shangri-La. The efforts of evil sorcerers to raise the Ox-Demon King has stirred up the demon population, resulting in attacks on humans and their settlements, even in areas where the two groups have co-existed in relative peace. As the quartet wanders from village to village, they rescue a lot of humans and kill even more demons, using halberds, guns and the Asian equivalent of quarter staves.

The problem with the Saiyuki series is that characters don’t really grow or change. Goku remains friendly, excitable and eager; Gyojo complains endelessly about him, calling him a “damned monkey.” Despite their formidable powers, the guys remain broke and in need of food. The villagers they rescue put them up for a night or two, then they move on. But these limits don’t seem to bother the many Saiyuki fans, who’ve been happily watching Genjo Sanzo, Sha Gyojo, Cho Hakkai and Son Goku kick demon butt for more than two decades.

Saiyuki Reload Blast
Crunchyroll/Funimation: $64.98 4 discs, DVD and Blu-ray

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Charles Solomon

Internationally known animation historian and critic, Charles Solomon has written over 15 books books including Enchanted Drawings: The History Of Animation, The Art of Disney's Frozen,The Making of Peanuts Animation, and Tale as Old as Time: The Art and Making of Disney Beauty and the Beast .

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