Search - Saiyuki Reload - Volume 1 + Series Box on DVD

Good Anime, Lousy DVD

Wendy J. Goodman | Briarwood, NY | 03/08/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I wish that I could give different ratings for this DVD. The episodes themselves were great and if you're a Saiyuki fan like me, it was good to see this refreshed view of the characters. Those of us who watched the original series would be the first to admit that the animation was nothing to write home about. Thankfully the animation seemed better this time around, with more attention paid to detail (like Goyjo's haircolor - finally it's proper blood-red). The action was tight and the re-introduction of all the characters went smoothly.

The storylines at first were mostly rehashing of what we'd seen in previous eposides, but they quickly improved for Episodes 3 & 4. There were quite a few humorous moments (like when Goku, Hakkai and Goyjo broke off from battle just for the chance to beat on Sanzo's dopleganger), and hopefully the plotline with continue to tighten up.

I can't critique the American voice actors since I never watch the dubbed verious, but the Japanese voice actors seemed to be the same from the original serious and the subtitles were accurate.

As for the DVD itself, it was more than dissapointing. I never heard of Geneon Entertainment before, but there were none of the extras that we were accustomed to seeing on the original series DVDs. I really missed the cultural notes and fold-outs that came with each DVD. For those who don't have a strong background in Asian mythology and the original text of the Journey West, the notes were very helpful in explaining some of the stuff going on and why certain things were important. The Urasai bits at the end of each episode were serious giggles, but not enough to make up for the loss of the other extras.
"

My Opinion of Saiyuki Reload

A. Mebane | California | 02/11/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The artwork was beautiful and the opening and closing songs I can probably get used to, but the voice actors are simply put, LOUSY. Especially Sanzo and Goku. I'm so used to the voice actors in the previous series that this series does not even compare. There's no personality with these voice actors. It seems as though they are reading the script without feeling or thought which makes the characters boring. I've waited so long for this series to be released only to be disappointed by the poor job done by the voice actors in this DVD. They don't hold a candle to the first series or the movie. I've got all 12 volumes of the first series and I'm in love with that particular series, but this DVD was quite a let down for me. I don't know whose idea it was to choose such unfeeling, boring voice actors, and not use the same voice actors from the first series. Geneon just ruined a very good anime series by this unjust change. I think they should give the rights to ADVfilms and let them do it right before they ruin this series beyond repair."

Saiyuki Actors Need Acting Lessons

Mary Ellis | Savannah, Ga USA | 02/16/2005

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Ok,

So I'm with everyone else on this. For those of you SUPER anime fans out there who LOOOVE watching anime only in japanese, you won't have a problem with this series, being as nothing on the subbed side has really changed.

I, on the other hand, am a serious ADV fan, because, if none of you has ever watched the amazing dubbing abilities of the ADV company, you would see they have some of the best English actors in the anime industry. I don't know how you qualify English actors as overrated and such, but to me ADV does great for comedy anime in an English language.

As for saying that, This Saiyuki series is utterly horrid. The acting voices have ALL been replaced by people with horrible acting skills (maybe this is why so many people are so avid about subbed shows) and poor ennunciation.

Simple and common names we are all so familiar with, such as "Hakkai" and "Gojyo" now sound like "Hawkeye" and "Go-joe" And small phrases we were all so fond of often hearing, like "Stupid Monkey!" and "Pervey Water Sprite!" are now replaced with "Creepy Monkey" and "Louse Sprite"

The show itself in the English version has also seemed to have been toned down from a hilarious, witty comedy in Saiyuki, to a moreso meledromadic drama in Reload. It's almost not even funny at times, you see the funny facial expressions you know are common, but all that comes out are dull phrases.

As an added bonus, the soundtrack to the series (or the songs I have heard so far through this first DVD) are a major letdown and dissapointment compared to the other 2 Saiyuki volumes.

Saiyuki is probobly my all-time favorite anime, and if you are looking into getting Saiyuki or Saiyuki:Requiem, I would suggest them both 100% but if you are looking for that same nostalgic feeling from this series, then I wouldn't buy it.

Even as much as I greatly enjoy Saiyuki, I myself will not be buying the second DVD of this series. This series has been VERY poorly done, and I am very displeased with how Geneon has turned such a fine anime into such poor, second rate material."

NOT the Saiyuki you were expecting!

psychojenn | USA | 02/13/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"now everyone has probably heard this already but i say it again... they screwed the voices up BIGTIME! in Saiyuki requiem on the commentary the voice actors said it was their last saiyuki now that geneon has taken it over. but i never expected THIS!

VOICES
Sanzo: no friggin way!!! AAAHHHHH! so horrible! the voice is killing me! the voice is more "manly" and deep. not the "scrathcy-ish" voice we all know him as. when he says his lines they just sound so .... blah.

Goku: yes i am aware of the fact that in the old ones the english version sounded like an "old man voice" but i actually liked it and now it IS more kiddish and not so gruff. it is imensely saddening to hear his voice.

Goyjo: ok this one's not so bad. not as seductive... sounding... o come on! you know that his voice really defined him! ahh! it's not that bad. it's about the closest matchup voice going.

Hakkai: ....he sounds stuck-up at times. sometimes there isn't much of a difference but you can definetly tell there is a bit of an "accented i'm better than you" in there. especially during the fights.

Kougaiji: once again, the gruffness of the voice.. gone. he's a friggin demon! he's supposed to sound gruff! his new voice actually sounds alot like sanzo's new voice.. hmmmm.

Lirin: ok this one's fine. no big differences.

Dou: he never had a MAJOR part in anything but the voice is different. not very strong sounding.

Yaone: not much of a difference. in fact i may like this one better than the old voice. it sounds more educated.

Ni (Dr. Ni): NOT HIS VOICE WHATSOEVER! he doesnt sound creepy anymore. eh. but still is creepy

The evil Koshu lady i forget her name: voice pretty much the same. i hate her anyways.

CLOTHES, HAIR, ETC
Sanzo: no big change. he has more hair in the back.
Goku: ripped pants, that's all really worth noting.
Goyjo: completely different outfit. now wears a jacket and jeans. his hair is better thou. it is actuallt red! and not fakey pink like before.
Hakkai: longer shirt/top thing. it looks more chinese. and his sash that i never quite understood, is now grey.
Kougaiji: oH they ruined his hair! saddness. it is also oddly colored. and his outfit is.... entirely.... white....aahhhhh! the horror! the old outfit was better in my opinion.
Lirin: no major changes
Dou: no major changes. at least he wears a shirt now.
Yaone: no major changes.

did anyone notice: all the characters look... heavier... or bulked up or something? no one is lanky looking anymore.

OPENING/CLOSING
...well its very different...
the opening is rappy. like they were trying to... geez i dont even know! "jump it up wild rock".......lol it sounds funny. my first thought was WTF?! the closing isn't bad. music is kind of sad.

EXTRAS
no there are no more character sketches or cultural background notes.
there are only 3 previews of other animes.
and clean opening/closing animations

I gotta say though.. the Ura-Sai joke things at the end of each episode are HILARIOUS!

overall, if you were expecting the old anime... this is soooo not it!
"