Urotsukidōji

Urotsukidoji

Cover of the 2004 reprint of the first manga volume
超神伝説うろつき童子
(Choujin Densetsu Urotsukidouji)
Genre Horror, Action, Paranormal, Erotic, Science Fiction
Manga
Written by Toshio Maeda
Published by Wani Magazine
English publisher

‹See Tfd›

Demographic Seinen
Magazine Manga Erotopia
Original run 1 December 1986 – 1 April 1989
Volumes 6
Original video animation
Directed by Hideki Takayama
Written by Shō Aikawa (as Noboru Aikawa)
Music by Masamichi Amano
Studio West Cape, Team Mu
Released 21 January 1987 – 21 February 1994
Episodes 6 series (16 episodes)

Urotsukidōji (Japanese: 超神伝説うろつき童子 Hepburn: Chōjin Densetsu Urotsukidōji) is a Japanese erotic horror manga series written and illustrated by Toshio Maeda[1] and a series of original video animation (OVA) anime releases.

Urotsukidōji was created by Toshio Maeda[1] in 1986 and was a huge departure from his earlier works in that it mixed erotica with dark humor and the supernatural. He was commissioned to do the series for Manga Erotopia, a pornographic manga magazine published by Wani Magazine that deals mostly with avant garde stories. Maeda was picked because of his artistic style which paid incredible attention to detail and for his ability to tell rather good stories with complex plots, unlike most erotic manga artists at the time.

Although the manga would grow a cult following, it was the anime which became notorious. Hideki Takayama took great artistic liberties with the Urotsukidōji story, mixing elements of horror, violence, and sadistic scenes of rape not present in the original work. Maeda himself stated in an issue of Playboy Japan that he found the anime to be repugnant, cruel and sadistic, yet brilliant. He also said he admires Takayama's take on his vision. The anime series is most famous for being the first in the tentacle rape genre, though only one scene in the first OAV actually contains any tentacle rape. Tentacle rape was not present in the Urotsukidōji manga but was featured in a series that he would publish years later called Demon Beast Invasion. Takayama was incredibly influenced by this work of Maeda's but thought that the Urotsukidōji story was stronger.

In an interview as to why Hideki Takayama chose to tell such a violent and sadistic story he said "There is nothing that arouses a stronger response in human beings than either sex or violence. A mixture of the two is very powerful indeed." Today Urotsukidōji, as well as its later sequels, are infamous, not just in Japan, but in the rest of the world as well. According to The Erotic Anime Movie Guide, it is the most recognized adult anime in the world. It was number 72 in Channel 4's 100 Greatest Cartoons.[2][3]

Overview of the manga

Jyaku (the eponymous wandering kid) is a beast/human hybrid who has been banished to Earth for his great misdeeds, mostly involving the Elder and his daughter Mimi. The Elder sends Jyaku to the human world to find the Chōjin: the unbeatable god of the demon world who is hiding within the body of a man.

A group of reptilian demons want to find the Chōjin and use his power on behalf of the Queen of Demons. Under the leadership of Suikakuju, the Elder's rival and lover of his estranged wife, the Queen of Demons, they hatch a series of plots to try to capture the Chōjin, most of which go horribly wrong.

Jyaku is sent to protect the Chōjin, but after his lecherous friend Koroko and then later his nymphomaniac sister Megumi come to find him, this proves to be more difficult.

Overview of the anime

Every 3,000 years the human world (人間界 Ningenkai) is united with the demon world (魔界 Makai) and the man-beast world (獣人界 Jūjinkai) by the revival of the Super God (超神 Chōjin), known as the Overfiend in the English version). The saga follows Jyaku Amano—a man-beast—and his quest to find the real Chōjin and to ensure the safe future of all three worlds. However, he finds his beliefs put to the test when he encounters numerous demons, who plan to destroy the Chōjin and prevent the three worlds from joining.

Characters

As the Urotsukidōji saga spans over a number of years it incorporates a wide variety of characters. Below is a list of the main characters, which are split into their races:

Ningen ("Humans")

Tatsuo Nagumo (南雲 辰夫 Nagumo Tatsuo)
The human through which the Chōjin will be reborn. He is shy and lecherous. Fated to become the Demon of Destruction who decimates the world to pave the way for the birth of his "messianic" offspring
Akemi Itō (伊藤 明美 Itō Akemi)
In the anime, she is presented as a young, innocent, naive girl, and the idol at Myōjin University. In the manga, she is far more sexually adventurous and lecherous. She becomes Nagumo's girlfriend, and the mother of the Chōjin.
Takeaki Kiryū (桐生 武明 Kiryū Takeaki)
An anime only character; Nagumo's cousin, whom Münchhausen uses to resurrect the Kyō-Ō. He commits a series of rapes and murders under the control of the German diabolist, who contorts his mind against those he loves. He falls for Megumi Amano, only to be killed by her in the battle against Münchhausen atop the Shinjuku skyscrapers.
Yūichi Niki (仁木 勇一 Niki Yūichi)
A school nerd who loves Akemi and jealously hates Nagumo. He is later used by Suikakujū as a vessel to destroy the Chōjin, with the aid of a demonic phallus which he promptly substitutes for his own. He meets his end at the hands of Nagumo, who tears out his organs. In the manga version Niki's story is much more similar to the story of Kiryu, which was used as the basis for the second Urotsukidoji series.
Norikazu Ozaki (尾崎 則一 Ozaki Norikazu)
The jock all the girls fall for in Myōjin University. He is a major character in the manga, though is only seen in the first volume of the OAV series. Jyaku mistakes him for the Chōjin, which ultimately leads to his demise.
Yoichi Oba (大場洋一 Oba Yoichi)
A character that only appears in the manga, he is Niki's bodyguard and childhood friend. Although he appears to be morbidly obese, he is very strong and attacks anyone who bullies Niki.

Jūjin ("Beast-men")

In the manga there are only two worlds: the world of demons and the world of humans. However, in the anime there is a third world, the world of the "Man-Beasts". In the manga, Jyaku is a half breed, born of a human and demon, while Megumi is a human who has been given powers. Koroko, The Great Elder and Lady Mimi are all considered demons in the manga.

Amano Jyaku (天邪鬼 Amano Jaku)
The anti-heroic main protagonist of the saga, he has been searching for the Chōjin for three hundred years. In the manga, he is an unsympathetic and lecherous character, who tricks women into having sex with him by claiming his sperm has demon repelling powers. His character in the anime is much more noble. Holds to his stringent belief in the Chōjin and his Land of Eternity, until events play out in a way totally contrary to what he hoped for.
Megumi Amano (天野 恵 Amano Megumi)
Jyaku's nymphomaniac sister, she believes Tatsuo to be the Chōjin from the start. In the manga, she becomes Akemi's rival. She uses a brand of "sexcraft" that was later used in Maeda's La Blue Girl series. Later in the manga, she falls for Niki after his transformation. In the anime, she falls in love with Takeaki.
The Great Elder (長老 Chōrō, Eldest)
One of the wisest elders in the man-beast realm. In the manga, he banishes Jyaku from the realm of demons for constantly fooling around with his daughter Mimi. In the anime, he helps Jyaku discover the truth behind the legend of the Chōjin. According to his own words in the second episode of the first OVA, The Great Elder has lived in the Man-Beast world for 993 years.
Mimi Tenno (ミミ Mimi)
The Elder's granddaughter and lover of Jyaku Amano. Her orgasm has the power to project visions of the future.

Majin ("Demons")

Suikakujū (水角獣)
Jyaku Amano's rival, and the Demon Queen's champion. His quest is to destroy the Chōjin in order to keep Makai (the "Demon-World") intact.
Kohōki (虎鵬鬼)
A demon who was banished to Hell for having an affair with Megumi, he later becomes Münchhausen's lackey. He is mortally wounded in battle with Amano and dies after rescuing Megumi. He is not featured in the manga.
Togami (栂見)
In the manga, Ms. Togami is a nymphomaniac teacher who gets possessed by an iguana demon. The demon then tries to seduce Akemi, until Jyaku manages to drive the iguana demon out. He later tricks her into having sex, so that his magical sperm can protect her from the lizard demons. In the anime it is not explained whether or not she is possessed or a demon in disguise; a demon sent to Earth to hunt out (and presumably destroy) the Chōjin. Despite her mission, she still finds time to rape Akemi, but Jyaku Amano intervenes and destroys her.
Yoenki
An anime only character. She is Suikakujū's sister, who attacks Jyaku in Osaka. In the anime, she is manipulated into attacking Jyaku via Münchhausen II's mind control powers.
Goki, Yoki, and Sekki
Three demons searching for the Chōjin, who are later killed by Tatsuo. They appear only in the manga.

Makemono ("Demon-Beasts") (anime only)

Buju
A key character in the post-apocalyptic chapters of the saga. Starts off as a raping, pillaging marauder, only to find some semblance of purpose and redemption in becoming the Kyō-Ō's guardian on his long journey toward Osaka to confront the Chōjin.
Gashim
A kindhearted, elderly makemono who accompanies Buju, Himi, Jyaku et al. to Osaka, following his release from Caesar's captivity.
Ruddle
Another makemono spared from the devastating effects of Kyō-Ō's Light of Judgment at Caesar's palace. Joins Jyaku and the other makemono in their journey toward Osaka.
Idaten
A pure-hearted makemono youth who takes the high road to Osaka with his fellows. He develops an unrequieted crush on Himi.

Other characters

Kuroko (黒子 Kuroko)
One of the Kuroko tribe. Holds deep respect for his boss, Amano Jyaku.
Münchhausen II (ミュンヒハウゼン二世 Myunhihauzen-nisei)
An anime only character. A sorcerer following the footsteps of his father who died in the service of Adolf Hitler, he is the son of a mad Nazi German scientist, hell bent on resurrecting the Kyō-Ō and dominating the world. Having survived most of the saga, Münchhausen is finally killed by Himi when she unleashes her power.
Mizuchi (蛟 Mizuchi)
An anime only character. A supernatural being created by the Chōjin as part of a new race to both replace and exterminate the humans, man-beasts and demons. It has the ability to change its own gender whenever it wants, and it can also created other living beings and control the minds of other living beings into doing what it pleases. It appears in Urotsukidoji V: The Final Chapter.
The Overfiend (超神 Chōjin)
The Super God. His legend reveals that every three thousand years he will be reborn into the human realm. In the anime it is to unite the different worlds into a world of peace.
The Lord of Chaos (狂王 Kyō-Ō, The Mad King)
The nemesis of the Chōjin, in the anime he is born from the congealed blood of Takeaki at the Gokumon shrine. Münchhausen desperately wants to resurrect her to take over Earth.
The Sea Demon King (海の魔王 Umi no Maō, Demon King of the Sea)
The demon that Suikakujū summons from the sea to kill the Chōjin.

Anime cast

Character Role Original Japanese version English Dubbed version
Jyaku Amano Tomohiro Nishimura Christopher Courage (I-II)
Mark Blackburn (Inferno Road)
Christopher Stalken (New Saga)
Kuroko Tsutomu Kashiwakura
Nobuyuki Hiyama 		Sonny Weil
B.G. Good (New Saga)
Tatsuo Nagumo Hirotaka Suzuoki Bill Timoney
Jake Eisbart (New Saga)
Norikazu Ozaki Kenyuu Horiuchi Bick Balse
Tom Wilson (New Saga)
Takeaki Kiryū Yasunori Matsumoto Jake La Can
Akemi Ito Youko Asagami Rebel Joy
Rebecca Miram (New Saga)
Megumi Amano Maya Okamoto
Yumi Takada 		Lucy Morales
Suikakujyu Norio Wakamoto Jurgen Offen
Yuichi Niki Kouichi Yamadera Bill Timoney
Münchhausen II Demon Kogure
Ken Yamaguchi 		Bick Balse
Great Elder Daisuke Gori Greg Puertolas
Alector Yumi Takada
Buju Yasunori Matsumoto
Idaten Tsutomu Kashiwakura
Caesar Ryuzaburo Otomo
D9 Kazuhiro Nakata

Anime saga

There are four main chapters in the original Urotsukidōji saga, along with an unfinished fifth chapter that has so far only been released in Japan and Germany, as well as a complete remake of the first chapter.

Legend of the Overfiend (1987–1989)

  1. "Birth of the Overfiend" (January 21, 1987)
  2. "Curse of the Overfiend" (March 21, 1988)
  3. "Final Inferno" (April 10, 1989)

The first OVA series was named Legend of the Demon God Urotsukidōji (超神伝説うろつき童子 Chōjin Densetsu Urotsukidōji). These three episodes were adapted from the original manga but skip over much of humorous sub stories and sub plots and instead shift the focus to the apocalypse and the battle between Suikakuju and Jyaku.

The three OVAs were later edited into a western theatrical version known as Urotsukidōji: Legend of the Overfiend, with much of the more explicit material being removed (continued in the UK and Australia by the BBFC and OFLC, now the ACB, who also removed some of the more 'shocking' material).

Planet Earth is not all it seems. It is revealed that humans are not alone and that there are unseen realms running parallel to our own: the realms of the Demons (Makai) and the Man-Beasts (Jyujinkai). To further that, there is a 3000-year-old legend that foretells the coming of the Overfiend (Chōjin)—a being of unimaginable power that will unite all three realms into a land of eternity.

The story follows the exploits of the protagonists—man-beast Jyaku Amano, his nympho sister Megumi and their companion Kuroko—as their 300-year search for the Overfiend takes them to a high school in Osaka, Japan. Their discoveries led them to two students: shy, lecherous Tatsuo Nagumo and school idol Akemi Ito. But as the film plunges deeper into the dark and macabre, Jyaku discovers that the Legend of the Overfiend is not what it seems and that the future of the three realms may be strikingly different from what he is led to believe.

DVD releases

  1. Perfect Collection (Anime 18)—2:26:06
  2. Special DVD Edition (Manga Entertainment)—1:42:55
  3. Movie Edition (Kitty Media)—1:45:20

The Perfect Collection from Anime 18 is the only English friendly uncut version of the first OVA available outside Japan. Other versions such as the one on the "Hell on Earth" boxed set and the Australian Madman release with both Legend of the Overfiend and Legend of the Demon Womb have been cut for 45 minutes total, which included a total of 24 minutes of sexual-oriented scenes. The U.S. DVD releases are now out of print. The Movie Edition, licensed by Kitty Media in 2010 and released in 2011, is the first time any of the anime has been released on Blu-ray.

Legend of the Demon Womb (1990–1991)

  1. "A Prayer for the Resurrection of the Lord of Chaos" (December 1, 1990)
  2. "Battle at Shinjuku Skyscrapers" (April 10, 1991)

The second OVA series was named The True Legend of the Demon God Urotsukidōji: Connections with the Devil (真・超神伝説うろつき童子 魔胎伝 Shin Chōjin Densetsu Urotsukidōji: Mataiden). This series was not based on the manga, but elements from it were used. With Tatsuo's cousin Takeaki taking on a character similar to the character of Niki in the manga and Münchhausen II taking after the character of Suikakuju.

The second part of the saga created an ongoing controversy among Urotsukidōji fans as to where it fits into the saga as a whole. One main theory is that the two chapters happen between "Birth of the Overfiend" and "Curse of the Overfiend" of the first OVA. Another main theory is that since the characters and tone are fairly unfaithful to the first three OVAs, it ought not to be considered part of the canon in the first place.

The two OVAs were again later edited into a theatrical version for western cinema, known as Urotsukidōji: Legend of the Demon Womb, again with much of the more explicit material removed and new animation created.

Unbeknownst to Jyaku and Megumi, in 1944, the Nazis attempted to summon the Overfiend's nemesis: the Lord of Chaos (Kyō-Ō). Top scientist Dr Münchhausen and his son invented a perverse death-rape machine to summon the Lord of Chaos—but the machine overloaded; and helped to destroy half of Berlin—leaving Münchhausen II alive, but psychologically scarred.

During his adolescence, Münchhausen II discovers his father's journal and tries to uncover the secrets of the Jyujinkai and the Makai. He finally succeeds and reawakens Kohoki—a demon banished to hell for eternity—into the human realm and the two form an infamous partnership.

Cut to the present day and Münchhausen II is trying to fulfill his father's work—to summon the Lord of Chaos—but to make sure it will work this time, he needs a human sacrifice. And it just so happens Tatsuo's cousin Takeaki Kiryu is on the next plane to Osaka...

DVD releases

  1. Perfect Collection (Anime 18)—1:37:33
  2. Special DVD Edition (Manga Entertainment)—1:23:32

The Perfect Collection from Anime 18 is the only uncut version of the second Urotsukidōji OVA available outside Japan. Other versions such as the one on the "Hell on Earth" boxed set and the Australian Madman release with both Legend of the Overfiend and Legend of the Demon Womb have been cut for 14 minutes total, which included a total of 7 minutes of sexual-oriented scenes. The U.S. releases are also now out of print.

Return of the Overfiend (1992–1993)

  1. "Birth of the True Overfiend" (October 1, 1992)
  2. "The Mystery of Caesar's Palace" (January 21, 1993)
  3. "The Collapse of Caesar's Palace" (May 21, 1993)
  4. "Journey to an Unknown World" (August 21, 1993)

The third OVA series was named Legend of the Demon God Urotsukidōji: The Future (超神伝説うろつき童子 未来篇 Chōjin Densetsu Urotsukidōji: Mirai-hen). This is where the saga begins to focus less on the remaining central characters and introduces other secondary characters, none of which are present in the manga. The four parts were edited for western audiences as Urotsukidōji: Return of the Overfiend, in some cases cut into a pair of films.

At the end of "Final Inferno", we discover that the Chōjin is the offspring of Tatsuo and Akemi and of Tatsuo's horrific transformation into the Demon of Destruction—who needs to "destroy the old to make way for the new".

Twenty years have passed and the Chojin has been prematurely born. He summons Jyaku Amano to protect him and to help to discover what has happened, sending Jyaku forth to search for the evil born in the east. Unfortunately a new race called the Makemono (Demon Beasts) have arisen following the apocalypse, ruled over by the fanatical cyborg Caesar and his mysterious comrade "Faust". It is apparent they are the cause behind these events and intend to resurrect the Kyō-Ō.

Jyaku, along with the Makemono Buju and Caesar's traitorous daughter Alector, need to stop the two dictators from ruling the land of eternity. The question is, who will succeed?

Inferno Road (1993–1995)

  1. "The Secret Garden" (December 21, 1993)
  2. "The Long Road to God" (March 21, 1994)
  3. "The End of the Journey" (May 20, 1995)

The fourth OVA series was named Legend of the Demon God Urotsukidōji: The Wandering (超神伝説うろつき童子 放浪篇 Chōjin Densetsu Urotsukidōji: Hōrō-hen). Forgetting plot and some characters entirely for the self-contained storyline of the first two OVAs, they gained such notoriety for their gratuitous and explicit nature that they were banned outright from many countries (including Britain). They were edited again for the west under the title Urotsukidōji: Inferno Road.

Continuing straight after the climax of Return of the Overfiend, Jyaku and the survivors head for Osaka to help the Overfiend after his climatic battle. On the way they find a kingdom where children cruelly dominate adults (OVAs 1 and 2). Jyaku's problems are furthered when an old nemesis shows up at the wrong time (OVA 3).

The third OVA in this series, "The End of the Journey", stands alone plot-wise (wrapping up the story arc from Urotsukidoji: Return of the Overfiend, on which the first two OVA have no bearing), and was originally intended to be a theatrical release. It is based on the final chapters of Maeda's New Urotsukidoji.

NOTE: Inferno Road was originally to have another ending, which was fully completed but ultimately discarded. This ending was to have revealed that the apparent Chōjin as seen at the start of Urotsukidoji: Return of the Overfiend was not in fact the real Chōjin, but yet another Makai. This alternate ending was to have set up the abandoned The Final Chapter.

The Final Chapter (1996)

  1. "The Final" (December 28, 1996)

The fifth OVA series was named Legend of the Demon God Urotsukidōji: The Final Act (超神伝説うろつき童子 完結篇 Chōjin Densetsu Urotsukidōji: Kanketsu-hen), also known as Urotsukidōji: The Final Chapter in the west. Only one episode of this was partially completed, the released version containing numerous examples of animation that is missing in-between frames. The story, as such, concerned the arrival of the real Chōjin who creates a new hermaphrodite race to wipe out all remaining life on Earth.

After giving birth to the Chōjin, Akemi reawakens in hospital, along with Jyaku, who had barely survived a recent confrontation with the Chōjin (whose form constantly changes between male and female). Destroyer God Tatsuo also reappears (after supposedly being killed by Kyō-Ō in Urotsukidoji: Return of the Overfiend) and continues his ravaging of Earth. Still in love with Tatsuo, Akemi runs out to find him.

Meanwhile, Jyaku is confronted by some of the Chōjin's new 'children', and engages them in battle. However, his efforts prove almost futile, as they are constantly regenerated by the Chojin. Akemi eventually finds Tatsuo, still in God form, and pleads with him. He clutches her in his hand (similarly to the end of the first episode) and prepares to kill her. However, she is rescued at the last minute by Jyaku, although she condemns him for doing so.

The episode (and the series thus far) ends with Jyaku making a final glance at Tatsuo, and then at the Chojin's utopia, as he vows to put an end to them once and for all...

New Urotsukidōji: New Saga (2002)

  1. "The Urotsuki: Part I" (May 3, 2002)
  2. "The Urotsuki: Part II" (August 9, 2002)
  3. "The Urotsuki: Part III" (November 19, 2002)

This series was named The Urotsuki (ザ・うろつき Za Urotsuki), also known as New Urotsukidōji: New Saga in the west. Released in North America on March 9, 2004. This three-disc collection is a retelling of the first episode in The Legend of the Overfiend. It has the same basic plot as "Birth of the Overfiend"

New Urotsukidoji manga

After the popularity of the anime version of his work, Maeda sought to redo the Urotsukidoji series. Inspired by the post-apocalyptic story in the anime version, Maeda fleshed out the story and also took it into the realm of the post apocalyptic.

The Urotsuki video series and the Urotsukidoji horror film are the only anime works which have borrowed from this series.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Urotsukidoji Manga Creator to Attend London MCM Expo in October". Anime News Network. July 25, 2012. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  2. ↑ "listology: channel 4s 100 greatest cartoons by popular vote". Retrieved May 29, 2016.
  3. ↑ "IMDb - Channel 4's 100 Greatest Cartoons". Retrieved May 29, 2016.
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