Shaman King (シャーマンキング Shāman Kingu) is a series was created by Hiroyuki Takei which was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1998 to 2004, when it was abruptly cancelled. During the Jump Festa 2008, Shueisha announced a kanzenban reprint of the entire series.
It has also been adapted into a 64 episode series produced by Xebec which ran on TV Tokyo from 2001-2002. 4Kids Entertainment obtained foreign television and home video distribution rights to the Shaman King anime on May 15, 2003. Fox Box began airing Shaman King in the United States on August 30, 2003.
Overview[]
In the world of Shaman King, people with the ability to communicate and fight with spirits are collectively known as Shamans. The series is centered around Asakura Yoh, a laid-back, easygoing character who is heir to the powerful shamanic Asakura Family, as he enters the Shaman Tournament, a semi-millennial event that draws shamans from around the world to compete for the chance to become the Shaman King and the wielder of the omnipotent Great Spirit. In the process, Yoh befriends and makes rivals of other characters, and gradually learns of the true nature of the Shaman Tournament, and his connection to Asakura Hao, the favorite to win.
Main characters
- Asakura Yoh (麻倉 葉, "Asakura Yō")
- Asakura Anna (麻倉 アンナ "Asakura Anna")
- Oyamada Manta (小山田 まん太, "Oyamada Manta")
- Umemiya Ryunosuke (梅宮 竜之介), A.K.A. "Wooden Sword" Ryu" (木刀の 竜 "Bokutō no Ryū")
- Tao Ren (道 蓮, "Tao Ren")
- Usui Horokeu (碓氷 ホロケウ), A.K.A. "Horohoro" (ホロホロ)
- Chocolove McDonell (チョコラブ・マクダネル, "Chokorabu Makudaneru")
- Lyserg Diethel (リゼルグ・ダイゼル, "Rizerugu Daizeru")
- Johann Faust VIII (ヨハン ファウストVIII世) A.K.A Faust VIII (ファウストVIII世)
- Asakura Hao (麻倉 葉王, "Asakura Hao")
Manga Series[]
Shaman King (シャーマンキング Shāman Kingu) is the original print of the series serialized from 1998 to 2004. It consists of 285 chapters titled "Reincarnations" that were compiled into 32 regular Tankoubon volumes.
Shaman King Kang Zeng Bang (シャーマンキング 完全版 Shāman Kingu Kanzenban, meaning "Shaman King, the Complete Collection") is the reprint of Shaman King and has finally a "true" end. The first two volumes were released on March 2, 2008 and two volumes were released each month afterward. The final one, volume 27 was released on April 4, 2009. This edition adds 16 new chapters.
A reprinted omnibus version of the Kang Zeng Bang volumes was published by Shueisha Jump Remix where it was published from April to October 2011 for 16 volumes. Each volume containing a remix track including a special postcard.
Sequels and Spin-Offs[]
Remix Tracks[]
The Shaman King Remix Tracks chapters are released every two weeks with the third reprint of the tankōbon series, each volume containing a small chapter of 3-7 pages.
Zero[]
Shaman King Zero (
Flowers[]
Shaman King Flowers (
The Super Star[]
Shaman King The Super Star is the official continuation of Flowers, following the series from where it was left. The chapters are serialized in Shonen Magazine Edge magazine. The first chapter was released on May 17, 2018.
Red Crimson[]
Shaman King Red Crimson (SHAMAN KING レッドクリムゾン SHAMAN KING Reddo Kurimuzon) is a spin-off series drawn by Jet Kusamura and published in Shonen Magazine Edge magazine. It follows Tao Jun and Lee Pyron and the conflict with the Red Crimson.
Marcos[]
Shaman King Marcos (SHAMAN KING
& a garden[]
Shaman King & a garden (SHAMAN KING
Omake[]
The series have released several Omake chapters and small Omake series,
- Mappa Doji: A one-shot that takes place approximately 1000 years before the start of the series, it reveals Asakura Hao's past as he learns the ways of a shaman.
- Relax: Another one-shot detailing Hao in his third incarnation as he gathers followers in preparation for the next Shaman Fight.
- Shaman King Funbari no Uta: A five-part epilogue to Shaman King that takes place 6 years after the Shaman Fight ends, it follows the adventures of Asakura Hana and Umemiya Ryunosuke as they search for the Five Elemental Warriors.
- Miki's Life: A two-part side story that occurs approximately 12 years before the start of the series, it recounts the events that surround the first meeting of Yoh's parents, Asakura Keiko and Mikihisa, and the ultimate fate of Mikihisa.
Anime Series[]
In 2001, Shaman King was made into an anime series by Xebec. In total, it ran for 64 episodes before ending, with 3 specials also produced. The anime series, while originally faithful to the manga, eventually deviated from the storyline as the manga was still being serialized. As a result, the later episodes are completely unrelated to the manga, with a separate and definite conclusion created for the series. The anime series has been translated into several languages including Bulgarian French, Deutsch, Polish, Danish, Dutch, Russian, Portuguese, European Spanish, Romanian, Cantonese, Greek, Czech, Hungarian, Serbian, Brazilian Portuguese, and Latin American Spanish. The Latin American, Spanish, Greek, and Brazilian openings basically have the same intro as the Japanese one but their theme is different. The series has also been translated into Italian. The Italian and Romanian versions are very rare.
There was a plan to remake the anime series which supposed to be more faithful to the manga, however the plan was cancelled because Takei and the studio failed to reach an agreement about casts and theme songs where Takei's condition was to re-appoint the original casts and songs.[1]
In June 2020, the remake by Studio Bridge was finally confirmed with a set date for April 2021.
Video game series[]
- Main article: List of Shaman King video games
Shaman King was also adapted into video games, spanning a total of 13 games in all, developed and published by various companies such as Konami, Bandai, Studio Saizensen, Dimps.
References[]
External Links[]
- Shonen Jump's Shaman King - The official site for the Shaman King English manga.
- Official Shaman King Kanzen-Ban website (Japanese)
- Official anime website (Japanese)
- Shaman King (manga) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
- Shaman King (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
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