Shonen Onmyouji

Shōnen Onmyōji (少年陰陽師^?) is a light novel authored by Mitsuru Yūki and its illustrations done by Sakura Asagi. The novel is currently serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's The Beans. The light novel currently has 26 volumes, including 3 short stories and a side story. A manga acting as a gaiden is being serialized in Beans Ace.

There’s also a series of drama CDs, a PlayStation 2 game and a manga adaptation that was announced in 2005 and a musical as well. Moreover, it was announced in August 2006 in Newtypethat the anime adaptation is going to be animated by Studio Deen and the character design was to be done by Shinobu Tagashira. Later, it began its broadcast on October 3, 2006.

The anime also premiered on Animax under the title, Shōnen Onmyoji: The Young Spirit Master. It was aired across its respective networks worldwide, including Hong Kong and Taiwan, also translating and dubbing the series into English for its English language networks in Southeast Asia and South Asia, and other regions.

The anime was licensed for North American distribution by Geneon Entertainment. However, only two volumes of the series have been released, and have yet to receive a full release due to Geneon's departure from the American market. On July 3, 2008, FUNimation announced that it had struck a deal with Geneon to release several of their licenses, including Shōnen Onmyōji.^[1].

Story

The series, set in the Heian era, Abe no Masahiro is the grandson of the great onmyōji, Abe no Seimei. Seimei, who passed his teachings on to his grandson, Masahiro who has lost his sixth sense and the ability to see spirits. Masahiro constantly feels resentful for being in his grandfather's shadow.

Even so, one day, Masahiro meets a fox-like creature which he names Mokkun (もっくん^?) who shows him his true potential powers after fighting a demon. Mokkun is actually Tōda (騰蛇^?), seeTeng (mythology), who prefers to be called Guren. He is one of the twelve shikigami called theShinshō (神将^?), who has pledged his loyalty to Seimei and is helping Masahiro to surpass his grandfather.

Masahiro's dream to surpass his grandfather may not be realised easily as not only does he have to convince the other Shinshō that he is Seimei's true successor, he must also increase his power in order to stop demons coming from China, the other parts of Japan and the Underworld as well as rival onmyōji's who want to destroy Japan. He also has to keep his promise to protect Princess Akiko of the Fujiwara clan.

Story arcs

In the novels, there’re already 5 story arcs. However, the anime only covered two arcs, the Kyūki and Kazane arc.

Kyūki arc

Kyūki Hen (窮奇編^?)

The Kyūki arc starts from episode 1 to 12 in the anime and volume 1 to 3 in the novel. Kyūki, a winged tiger from the West or to be precise, China has been forced to evacuate after being defeated by another demon.

He arrives in Japan and plans to eat Fujiwara no Akiko to replenish his spirit powers and heal his wounds. With him are an army of foreign demons, all unknown to the inexperienced and apprentice onmyōji Masahiro who has started to use his skills.

Kazane arc

Kazane Hen (風音編^?)

The Kazane arc starts from episode 13 to 26 in the anime and volume 4 to 7 in the novel.

A vengeful spirit has been summoned and has cursed Yukinari of the Fujiwara clan. A mysterious woman appears and tries to take Seimei's life.

Someone is trying to open the gate to the underworld, events from fifty-five years ago reoccur, and Guren as well as Masahiro must undergo the ultimate test.

Main characters

Abe no Masahiro

(安倍昌浩^?) Voiced by: Yuki Kaida

Masahiro is an onmyōji in training and the grandson of the legendary Abe no Seimei. When he was young, his spiritual sight was so strong that Seimei temporarily sealed it away until he was old enough to properly use it. After meeting Mokkun, Masahiro regained his spirit sight and embraced his destiny as an onmyōji in service to the emperor.

He is friendly and kind to both yōkai and people whom he seeks to protect from evil demons that had taken up residence surrounding the imperial capital.

He also has a relationship with Akiko.

Abe no Masahiro (left) and Guren (right)

Mokkun/Guren

(もっくん^?) , (紅蓮^?) Voiced by: Katsuyuki Konishi (as Guren) Voiced by: Junko Noda (as Mokkun for TV anime and side story drama CD)

Guren is one of twelve shikigami in service to Seimei, who gave him his current name, after he pledged his servitude. His original name is Tōda (騰蛇^?). However, the other shikigami still addresses him by original name. Only Seimei and Masahiro call him Guren.

The form he takes most of the time is a mononoke, whom Masahiro named Mokkun. Because he's invisible to anyone without a spirit sense, Mokkun frequently plays tricks on people who annoy him, much to Masahiro's chagrin. It was also shown in the anime that Guren dislike babies, because according to him, babies often cry for no reason.

Abe no Seimei

(安倍晴明^?) Voiced by: Mugihito Voiced by: Akira Ishida (young)

The greatest onmyōji in the history of Japan Abe no Seimei is the grandfather of Masahiro. He has twelve shikigami called the Shinshō under his command and is able to project his soul, which takes the form of his younger self, outside of his body in order to aid Masahiro in combat.

Internal Links

List of Shonen Onmyouji Characters