The excitement is mounting with the recently announced news on the official “Shaman King Flowers” anime website: the series will make its debut on Japanese television on January 9th. This adaptation of Hiroyuki Takei‘s acclaimed manga not only promises to be an exhilarating sequel but has also piqued fans’ interest with the release of a new and dynamic trailer. In this preview, the song “Turn the World,” performed by the talented Nana Mizuki, takes the spotlight as the anime’s opening theme, adding a touch of excitement and anticipation.
The direction of this new series is in the capable hands of experienced Joji Furuta, who has directed notable projects like “The Seven Deadly Sins: Revival of The Commandments” and “Uta no Prince Sama Maji Love Kingdom.” Furuta, who previously helmed the 2021 “Shaman King” series, returns to lead the team at Bridge Studio, promising continuity in quality and narrative style.
Source: KING AMUSEMENT CREATIVE YouTube Channel
The production team is comprised of both veteran and new talent in the world of anime:
- Director: Joji Furuta
- Screenplay: Shoji Yonemura (known for his work on “Pokémon” and “Nami yo Kiite Kure”)
- Soundtrack: Yuki Hayashi (famous for compositions in “My Hero Academia” and “Haikyu!!”)
- Sound Director: Masafumi Mima
- Character Design: Mayuko Yamamoto, who takes over from Satohiko Sano in this crucial role.
Soul Designers: Toshiumi Iizumi and Satoshi Mutsuda, each contributing their unique touch to the anime’s spiritual world. Yuji Shibata is in charge of object design, adding details and depth to the environment. Regarding art, Jin’ya Kimura takes the helm, while Natsuko Otsuka brings her expertise as a color designer. Visual capture is overseen by Teruyuki Kawase as director of photography, and Kumiko Sakamoto contributes her editing skills to ensure narrative flow.
The voice cast is an ensemble of talented and experienced actors:
- Hana Asakura and Yoh Asakura: Yōko Hikasa
- Amidamaru: Katsuyuki Konishi
- Alumi Niumbirch: Sumire Uesaka
- Yohane Asakura: Shun Horie
- Gakko Ibuki: Michiko Kaiden
- Tao Men: Romi Park
- Tamao Tamamura: Nana Mizuki
- Ponchi: Takumu Miyazono
- Konchi: Noriaki Kanze
- Ryūnosuke Umemiya: Masahiko Tanaka
- Tokagerō: Wataru Takagi
- Anna Asakura: Megumi Hayashibara
- Hao: Minami Takayama
- Luca Asakura: Ami Koshimizu
- Daikyо̄ Oboro: Kentaro Ito
- Ryūji Ichihara: Kenta Miyake
- Namaha: Chihiro Ueda
The original “Shaman King” series, aired between 2021 and 2022, fully adapted Hiroyuki Takei‘s work into 52 episodes, leaving an indelible mark on fans’ hearts. Previously, in 2001, Xebec studio had produced an adaptation with 64 episodes, setting the stage for future adaptations.
The “Shaman King Flowers” manga, published in Jump Kai magazine from 2012 to 2014, was compiled into 6 volumes by Shueisha. The original “Shaman King” manga ran from 1998 to 2004 in Weekly Shônen Jump, initially concluding in 34 volumes but later receiving a “true ending” reissue. Kodansha acquired the franchise rights in December 2017 from Shueisha. Aside from “Shaman King” and “Shaman King Flowers“, Takei has worked on “Shaman King Zero“, “Shaman King The Super Star“, “Shaman King: Red Crimson“, and “Shaman King: Marcos“.
A Dash of Lore
The original narrative begins when Manta Oyamada, a high school student, decides to take a shortcut through the local cemetery. There, he encounters an enigmatic youth stargazing, known as Yoh Asakura. This mysterious individual extends an invitation for him to join him and his “companions,” but Manta becomes frightened and flees upon discovering that these beings are actually spirits. Over time, Yoh reveals himself as a “shaman,” a bridge between the world of the living and the world of spirits, and he proves to Manta that a friendship has blossomed between them.
Yoh‘s mission is to find a spirit partner and prepare for the “Shaman Fight” which takes place in Tokyo every 500 years. In this tournament, the winner becomes the Shaman King, the only one capable of communicating with the “Great Spirits” who guide the world’s destiny. The story takes a turn when the antagonist, Hao Asakura, appears, sharing a destiny with Yoh and seeking to win the tournament to fulfill his ambition of eradicating humanity and establishing a utopia exclusively for shamans.
As the plot unfolds, both the manga and anime present distinct developments, and while their endings differ, they maintain a connection with each other. The anime spans 64 episodes and concludes with certain similarities to the manga’s conclusion.
Shaman King Flowers
16 years have passed since the Shaman Fight. Asakura Hana, the son of Yoh Asakura and Anna Asakura, has grown into a boy who is both fierce and lazy, showing no interest in his studies, skipping classes, and getting involved in gang fights. He’s quite bored with everyday life.
The change he yearns for comes in the least expected way: Asakura Luca and Asakura Yohane, members of the royal family, arrive to challenge and defeat Hana and his father Yoh, aiming to take their place in the main house. Additionally, KJ Styles enters the scene, the former Shaman King successor to Hao Asakura. Styles is a gifted young man capable of defeating even Yoh, and his main advantage is the wisdom gained from his experiences. In other words, he’s a tough nut to crack, having effortlessly dealt with entire armies.
The plot will lead us to an unexpected alliance and a journey of learning that will intertwine the destinies of Hana and KJ Styles.
So…
Are you a fan of Shaman King? Personally, I’m quite excited about all the goodness coming in January! Let us know in the comments if you’re a part of the franchise’s fanbase and if, like me, you have high expectations for Shaman King Flowers! I’ll be reading your comments 🙂
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