Demon City Shinjuku
Encyclopedia
is a novel by Hideyuki Kikuchi
that was adapted into an original animated video (OVA) in 1988, directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri
. The title has also been translated as Hell City Shinjuku and Monster City.
The film was released in North America
by Central Park Media
in 1994. Portions of the opening fight scene were featured in the 1995 cyberpunk
film Johnny Mnemonic
.
, a part of Tokyo, with a devastating earthquake, the area becomes a demon-haunted wilderness.
Ten years later, the World President, put in place to uphold world peace, is attacked by Rebi Ra indirectly to keep his old master, Aguni Lai (Aguni Rai), as the protector of the president, occupied. However, Rebi Ra did not know that Genichirou had a son who inherited his powers and more. After an emotional plea from the president's daughter, Sayaka Rama, the unlikely hero Kyoya Izayoi follows her deep into the heart of the evil city, finding new allies and terrifying enemies along the way.
Genichirou Izayoi – the father of Kyoya Izayoi, the first to face Rebi Ra – getting himself killed in the process
Rebi Ra – the dark lord who desires to gain power and conquer the world; destroys Shinjuku
Kyoya Izayoi – the hotheaded hero; Genichirou's son; studies the art of Nempo
President Kozumi Rama – the World President, in charge of world peace; father of Sayaka Rama
Sayaka Rama – the daughter of the World President; pleas with Kyoya to save the world
Aguni Rai – the Nempo sensei to both Genichirou and Rebi Ra; protector of the World President
Old Woman – sells information in Shinjuku, for a stiff price only to be devoured by the spider demon
Spider Demon – one of three major demons summoned by Rebi Ra; uses raw physical force
Young Man – a young ally that aids the main characters on their journey
Mephisto – a strange, cloaked man of unknown power who sits idly by to watch fate unfold
Kuro – a mutated, two-headed dog belonging to the young man
Illusory Demon – one of three major demons summoned by Rebi Ra; uses illusions and water
Lady Demon – one of three major demons summoned by Rebi Ra; uses acid and strangulation
s Daniel Wilks criticises the film for having "only vaguely interconnected action scenes punctuated by some rather dull talkiness marred by horrible accents (the heroine is unconvincingly British and the childish sidekick speaks with a mangled Mexican drawl)". Ironically, as the film was dubbed in Britain, the aforementioned heroine is a genuine British person.
Hideyuki Kikuchi
is a Japanese author famous for his horror novels. His most famous works including the Vampire Hunter D series, Darkside Blues and Wicked City. He has been compared to both Stephen King and H. P. Lovecraft.-Biography:...
that was adapted into an original animated video (OVA) in 1988, directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri
Yoshiaki Kawajiri
is a critically acclaimed writer and director of Japanese animation. He is the creator of titles such as Wicked City, Ninja Scroll, and Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust.-Career:...
. The title has also been translated as Hell City Shinjuku and Monster City.
The film was released in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
by Central Park Media
Central Park Media
Central Park Media was an American multimedia entertainment company based in New York City, New York, that was active in the distribution of East Asian cinema, television series, anime, manga and manhwa titles in North America prior to its bankruptcy in 2009...
in 1994. Portions of the opening fight scene were featured in the 1995 cyberpunk
Cyberpunk
Cyberpunk is a postmodern and science fiction genre noted for its focus on "high tech and low life." The name is a portmanteau of cybernetics and punk, and was originally coined by Bruce Bethke as the title of his short story "Cyberpunk," published in 1983...
film Johnny Mnemonic
Johnny Mnemonic (film)
Johnny Mnemonic is a 1995 cyberpunk film, loosely based on the short story "Johnny Mnemonic" by William Gibson. The title character, a man with a cybernetic brain implant designed to store information, is played by Keanu Reeves. The film portrays Gibson's dystopian view of the future with the world...
.
Plot
The movie begins with a battle between fates, the evil Rebi Ra (also pronounced Levi Ra or even Devi Da) versus the short-lived hero Genichirou. Rebi Ra has allowed himself to be possessed in order to gain the incredible powers of evil and plans to summon demons to conquer the world. Defeating Genichirou and destroying ShinjukuShinjuku, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. It is a major commercial and administrative center, housing the busiest train station in the world and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, the administration center for the government of Tokyo.As of 2008, the ward has an estimated population...
, a part of Tokyo, with a devastating earthquake, the area becomes a demon-haunted wilderness.
Ten years later, the World President, put in place to uphold world peace, is attacked by Rebi Ra indirectly to keep his old master, Aguni Lai (Aguni Rai), as the protector of the president, occupied. However, Rebi Ra did not know that Genichirou had a son who inherited his powers and more. After an emotional plea from the president's daughter, Sayaka Rama, the unlikely hero Kyoya Izayoi follows her deep into the heart of the evil city, finding new allies and terrifying enemies along the way.
Characters
((in order of appearance))Genichirou Izayoi – the father of Kyoya Izayoi, the first to face Rebi Ra – getting himself killed in the process
Rebi Ra – the dark lord who desires to gain power and conquer the world; destroys Shinjuku
Kyoya Izayoi – the hotheaded hero; Genichirou's son; studies the art of Nempo
President Kozumi Rama – the World President, in charge of world peace; father of Sayaka Rama
Sayaka Rama – the daughter of the World President; pleas with Kyoya to save the world
Aguni Rai – the Nempo sensei to both Genichirou and Rebi Ra; protector of the World President
Old Woman – sells information in Shinjuku, for a stiff price only to be devoured by the spider demon
Spider Demon – one of three major demons summoned by Rebi Ra; uses raw physical force
Young Man – a young ally that aids the main characters on their journey
Mephisto – a strange, cloaked man of unknown power who sits idly by to watch fate unfold
Kuro – a mutated, two-headed dog belonging to the young man
Illusory Demon – one of three major demons summoned by Rebi Ra; uses illusions and water
Lady Demon – one of three major demons summoned by Rebi Ra; uses acid and strangulation
Reception
HyperHyper (magazine)
Hyper is a multi-platform Australian video game magazine. Australia's longest running gaming magazine, it has been in publication since 1993, and was released the same month as the better known UK magazine Edge...
s Daniel Wilks criticises the film for having "only vaguely interconnected action scenes punctuated by some rather dull talkiness marred by horrible accents (the heroine is unconvincingly British and the childish sidekick speaks with a mangled Mexican drawl)". Ironically, as the film was dubbed in Britain, the aforementioned heroine is a genuine British person.
External links
- AniRec Database entry (with screenshots)