Ogre Slayer
Cover of the first manga volume
鬼切丸
(Onikirimaru)
Genre
Manga
Written byKei Kusunoki
Published byShogakukan
English publisher
Magazine
  • Shōnen Sunday Zōkan (1992–1995)
  • Shōnen Sunday Super (1995–2001)
English magazine
DemographicShōnen
Original run1992 – 2001
Volumes20
Original video animation
Directed byTakao Kato
Written byKenji Terada
Music by
StudioPastel
Licensed by
  • NA: Viz Media
Released September 9, 1994 – July 21, 1995
Runtime30 minutes each
Episodes4
Manga
The Legend of Onikirimaru
Written byKei Kusunoki
Published byLeed Publishing
English publisherCrunchyroll Manga
Magazine
  • Sengoku Bushō Retsuden [ja] (2013–2016)
  • Comic Ran Twins [ja] (2016–2018)
  • Pixiv Comics (2018–present)
DemographicSeinen
Original runAugust 26, 2013 – present
Volumes18

Ogre Slayer (Japanese: 鬼切丸, Hepburn: Onikirimaru) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kei Kusunoki. It was published in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Shōnen Sunday Zōkan (later Shōnen Sunday Super) from 1992 to 2001, with its chapters collected in 20 tankōbon volumes. It was adapted into a four-episode original video animation (OVA) released from 1994 to 1995. Both the manga and anime were distributed in North America by Viz Media, publishing only two volumes of the manga. Another series, titled The Legend of Onikirimaru, started in 2013. It takes place in the Sengoku era and features a different lead character

Synopsis

The series follows an unnamed young man (voiced by Takeshi Kusao in Japanese and Jason Gray-Stanford in English)[3] who hunts ogres (oni (鬼)). The young man was born of an ogre's corpse, like the ogre born of human's body, making him pure ogre blood. Though he was born like an ogre, he has the appearance of a human. Instead of being born with horns like traditional Japanese ogres, he was born with a sword called Onikirimaru (鬼切丸), the Ogre Slayer.

Media

Manga

Written and illustrated by Kei Kusunoki, Ogre Slayer was first published as a one-shot short story, which proved to be popular among readers, and eventually turned into a serial as Kusonoki drew more sequels,[4] being published in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Shōnen Sunday Zōkan (later Shōnen Sunday Super) from 1992 to 2001.[5] Shogakukan released 20 tankōbon volumes from February 18, 1992,[6] to April 18, 2001.[7]

In North America, the manga was licensed by Viz Communications, publishing it on their Manga Vizion magazine,[8][9] and releasing the first two volumes in 1997 and 1998, respectively.[10]

Volumes

No. Japanese release date Japanese ISBN
1 February 18, 1992[6]4-09-123011-3
2 March 18, 1993[11]4-09-123012-1
3 July 17, 1993[12]4-09-123013-X
4 April 18, 1994[13]4-09-123014-8
5 December 10, 1994[14]4-09-123015-6
6 June 17, 1995[15]4-09-123016-4
7 December 9, 1995[16]4-09-123017-2
8 February 17, 1996[17]4-09-123018-0
9 April 18, 1996[18]4-09-123019-9
10 September 18, 1996[19]4-09-123020-2
11 December 10, 1996[20]4-09-125131-5
12 May 17, 1997[21]4-09-125132-3
13 September 18, 1997[22]4-09-125133-1
14 April 18, 1998[23]4-09-125134-X
15 September 18, 1998[24]4-09-125135-8
16 February 18, 1999[25]4-09-125136-6
17 July 17, 1999[26]4-09-125137-4
18 January 18, 2000[27]4-09-125138-2
19 October 18, 2000[28]4-09-125139-0
20 April 18, 2001[7]4-09-125140-4

The Legend of Onikirimaru

Kusunoki published a one-shot, titled The Legend of Onikirimaru (鬼切丸伝, Onikirimaruden), in Leed Publishing's Sengoku Bushō Retsuden [ja] on August 26, 2013, with a serialization planned for future issues;[10][29] the serialization started on December 26 of that same year.[30] Unlike its predecessor, it takes place in the Sengoku era, and features an entirely different lead character.[10] The magazine published its final issue on June 27, 2016,[31] and the series moved to Comic Ran Twins [ja] on September 13 of that same year.[32] It was published in the magazine until June 13, 2018, and moved to the Pixiv Comics website in July of that same year.[33][34][35] Leed Publishing released the first collected volume on September 30, 2014.[36] As of November 28, 2023, 18 volumes have been released.[37]

Crunchyroll Manga started publishing the manga digitally in English in 2014.[38] The service ended in December 2023.[39]

Original video animation

A four-episode original video animation, produced by OB Planning [ja], KSS, and Tokyo Broadcasting System, and animated by Pastel,[40][41] was released from September 9, 1994,[42] to July 21, 1995.[43]

In North America, Viz Video released the four episodes on two VHS (each containing two episodes) in October 1995 and February 1996.[44][45]

References

  1. ^ Ledoux & Ranney 1995, pp. 2.
  2. ^ a b Karahashi 1997, pp. 118.
  3. ^ "Ogre Slayer Voice – Ogre Slayer (TV Show) - Behind The Voice Actors". Behind The Voice Actors. Archived from the original on January 29, 2024. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  4. ^ Karahashi 1997, pp. 121.
  5. ^ 大人気！不朽の名作『鬼切丸伝』(楠桂)11巻 5月29日発売！ (Press release) (in Japanese). Leed Publishing. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2024 – via PR Times.
  6. ^ a b 鬼切丸 / 1 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on February 21, 2005. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  7. ^ a b 鬼切丸 / 20 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on November 11, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  8. ^ Sevakis, Justin (January 4, 2016). "Why Did Shonen Jump Succeed In America? – Answerman". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  9. ^ Toole, Mike (December 9, 2018). "Jump-ing Ship – The Mike Toole Show". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c Ressler, Karen (July 11, 2013). "Kei Kusunoki's Ogre Slayer Manga Returns". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  11. ^ 鬼切丸 / 2 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on November 11, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  12. ^ 鬼切丸 / 3 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on November 11, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  13. ^ 鬼切丸 / 4 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on November 11, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  14. ^ 鬼切丸 / 5 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on November 11, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  15. ^ 鬼切丸 / 6 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on November 11, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  16. ^ 鬼切丸 / 7 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on November 11, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  17. ^ 鬼切丸 / 8 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on November 11, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  18. ^ 鬼切丸 / 9 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on November 11, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  19. ^ 鬼切丸 / 10 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on November 11, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  20. ^ 鬼切丸 / 11 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on November 11, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  21. ^ 鬼切丸 / 12 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on November 11, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  22. ^ 鬼切丸 / 13 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on November 11, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  23. ^ 鬼切丸 / 14 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on November 11, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  24. ^ 鬼切丸 / 15 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on November 11, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  25. ^ 鬼切丸 / 16 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on November 11, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  26. ^ 鬼切丸 / 17 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on November 11, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  27. ^ 鬼切丸 / 18 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on September 25, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  28. ^ 鬼切丸 / 19 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on November 11, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  29. ^ 戦国武将列伝に島津四兄弟の物語、「鬼切丸」の新章も. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. August 26, 2013. Archived from the original on June 18, 2015. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  30. ^ 楠桂「鬼切丸伝」＆森秀樹「戦国自衛隊」戦国誌でW始動. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. December 26, 2013. Archived from the original on September 10, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  31. ^ 戦国を題材にした時代劇誌「戦国武将列伝」が休刊、「セキガハラ」など完結. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. June 27, 2016. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  32. ^ 上田秀人の小説「破斬」をかどたひろしがマンガ化、幕府の勘定吟味役を描く. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. August 12, 2016. Archived from the original on May 27, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  33. ^ 楠桂「鬼切丸伝」がpixivコミックに移籍決定、本日発売の乱ツインズで発表. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. June 13, 2018. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  34. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (July 2, 2018). "Manga Briefs Roundup: June 2018". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  35. ^ Kusunoki, Kei [@keikusunoki] (July 26, 2018). 拡散希望❗pixivコミックにて完全新作こま姫ネタ更新されました！ぜひとも読 でみてくださいませ〰😃 鬼切丸伝 - 楠桂 https://comic.pixiv.net/works/4788 #pixivコミック (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved January 29, 2024 – via Twitter.
  36. ^ 鬼切丸新シリーズ1巻、楠桂サイン色紙を進呈. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. September 3, 2014. Archived from the original on June 18, 2015. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  37. ^ 【11月28日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. November 28, 2023. Archived from the original on January 29, 2024. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  38. ^ Loveridge, Lynzee (August 24, 2014). "Crunchyroll Manga Adds Bokura wa Minna Kawaisou, The Legend of Onikirimaru". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 15, 2024. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  39. ^ Hazra, Adriana (November 11, 2023). "Crunchyroll Ends Digital Manga App on Mobile, Web on December 11". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 17, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  40. ^ Clements, Jonathan; McCarthy, Helen (2015). The Anime Encyclopedia: A Century of Japanese Animation (3rd ed.). Stone Bridge Press. p. 282. ISBN 978-1-61172-018-1. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  41. ^ 作品実績・OB PLANNING (in Japanese). OB Planning. Archived from the original on November 20, 2022. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  42. ^ 鬼切丸(1)～小角の章～ [VHS]. Suruga-ya (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 29, 2024. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  43. ^ 鬼切丸(4) 第四章怨鬼哀歌の章 [VHS]. Suruga-ya (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 29, 2024. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  44. ^ "Viz Video: Ogre Slayer – Please Save My Earth". Viz Communications. Archived from the original on February 8, 1997. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  45. ^ "Viz Video Title List". Viz Communications. Archived from the original on February 19, 1999. Retrieved January 29, 2024.

Bibliography

Further reading

External links

Shōnen Sunday S series
Categories