3×3 Eyes

3×3 Eyes (サザンアイズ - sazan aizu/sazan eyes ) is a Manga of Yūzō Takada ().

With a total of 40 volumes published in Japan of 1988 with 2002, 3×3 Eyes is one of the more long series Manga, and also one of most famous.

This series was then adapted in Anime in the form of 2 series of OAV S.

Short summary of the history

The history starts in 1987, in Tokyo. Yakumo Fujii, 16 years, goes to its work (a bar of transvestites) when it crosses an young girl haillons some who seems to seek her road. Under its eyes, it is made steal its bag and its cane. Yakumo interposes then, recovers the bag, then takes along the young girl on her work place. There he discovers whereas this young girl, Paï, were with her research. It gives a letter to him of her father, professor Fujii, ethnologist specialized in the legends, and teaches him that he has died for 4 years. In this letter, his/her father called to Yakumo that Feeds is the downward last of the people Sanjiyan Unkara, which control immortality. The greatest dream of Feeds is to become human. Not being able to carry out this wish, professor Fujii kindly requests his son to do it in his place. Of the reading of this letter, Yakumo thinks that his/her father completely lost the reason. During this time the robber who took the cane of Feeds, which examined this one, releases Takuhi, bird giant with human head, friendly of Feeds, which, frightened by the city, starts to sow the disorder. That on television gives obviously place to a special flash, and short then Feeds to try to calm his/her friend, followed by Yakumo. But Takuhi is too afraid to recognize Paï and attacks it. Yakumo interposes and is made transpierce the heart by the claws of Takuhi. Seeing that, Paï refuses that Yakumo dies and, under the eyes incrédules of dying Yakumo, a third eye opens on the face of Feeds and he “aspires” the heart of Yakumo which disappears. In fact, Sanjiyan Parvati (the other personality of Feeds) comes to make of Yakumo its wu, warrior immortal with his service. Takuhi, recognizing its mistress finally, returns in her cane. In the morning, Yakumo awakes, unscathed, Paï deadened close to him. On its face a symbol, the character of nothing appeared. As from this moment, Yakumo became completely immortal: no matter what it arrives, and as long as Paï is in life, its body is regenerated. Feeds awaking, it promises to him to make it human. But the capacity of Sanjiyan Unkara attracts many covetousnesses among the monsters and demons of all categories and this is why Paï and Yakumo will have to fight to carry out their dream.

Manga

Volume 1/40

Chapter 1: yakusa

Chapter 2: strange mission

Chapter 3: the clan of the heads in three eyes

Chapter 4: harms and day

Chapter 5: the glance of the princess

Volume 2/40

Chapter 6: perilous rescue

Chapter 7: primates

Chapter 8: the stray vampire

Chapter 9: freedom

Chapter 10: wings of the devil

Chapter 11: ikusa

Volume 3/40

Chapter 12: the new world!

Publication

The manga was initially prépublié in the Young Magazine Pirates Edition, published by Kōdansha, starting from December 14th, 1987, until April 10th, 1989. Starting from April 24th, 1989, the manga changed magazine, and was prépublié in the Young Magazine. The first volume was thus published on October 17th, 1988, and a new volume left on average four months after the precedent.

The series continued thus during more than 15 years to being published, and was completed finally in October 2002, for a total of 40 volumes.

In France, the manga was initially published by fire the editor Manga Player as from 1996 in their magazine of prepublication éponyme, and the first volume left in May 1997. The publication continued until the tenth volume left at the end of 1999, little before the complete stop of the leading activity of Manga Player.

However, Pika Edition took again the series and republished all the volumes already left to begin first, in November 2000. Then the publication continued to follow a rather irregular rate/rhythm, and Pika finally closed the series in May 2005 while leaving fortieth and last volume 3×3 Eyes.

Various parts of the manga

First cycles 1 and 2

This cycle starts in 1986, with the last moments of professor Fujii promising in Paï to make it human. It continues in 1987, with the meeting enters Paï and Yakumo, then the transformation of this one into immortal. This cycle finishes on the disappearance of Feeds, left to fight Bénarès, and the decision of Yakumo to seek it, whatever the time that it will need.

Second cycle: the legend of Seima 3 to 5

This cycle begins 4 years after the end of the first cycle. Yakumo finds finally Paï, but this one completely lost the memory. This cycle finishes out of Holy Land with the destruction of the crowned stone containing the heart of King Kigan.

Third cycle: the era of the king curses 6 to 11

This cycle starts with the return of Feeds, hitherto remained out of Holy Land. It continues with the fight against the Hyoma clan. One learns there also much things on Sanjiyan Unkara, as well as the way of changing them into human. The cycle concludes on the return from Bénarès, in great form, proof that King Kigan is always alive.

Fourth cycle: the legend Trinetra to leave volume 12

In this cycle Yakumo and Paï start to seek means of overcoming Bénarès. For that they go to England to find the descendant of the Maduray magus who, a long time ago, locked up Bénarès.

Characters

/Sanjiyan Unkara feeds

Feeds is the last of Sanjiyan Unkara. However it has two personalities: Feeds and Sanjiyan (Parvati, 4th of the name).
Its only dream is to become human. For that however it is necessary the Statue of the Men for him, coveted by many people. Even if it has two personalities, both communicate sometimes (information exchange in particular).
Paï is of a very merry naturalness, it is not let make.
Par love for Yakumo, and against the opinion of Sanjiyan, it will only leave to fight against Bénarès at the end of the first cycle.
It is of a very strong naivety which makes its charm besides, and is of a very great kindness. Sanjiyan is also in love with Yakumo but anything of it parraitre does not do.

Yakumo

Forsaken by his father Hajimme Fujii, archeologist whom it describes as “insane”, Yakumo lived a long time only, and initially works in a bar of transvestites. The meeting with Paï, which sought it, him it son of professor Fujii, will change his vie.
Become immortal by the magic of Sanjiyan Unkara, he will refuse at the beginning to leave to the adventure, wanting to keep his usual life. But the events force it to follow Paï.
It is only gradually that he realizes that he likes it more than all. He will say " besides; I believe that everyone has, in his life, somebody of more important than itself, not? And for me, this person, it is Paï".
After its disappearance of the latter following the combat against Bénarès, it will leave to survey Tibet and China, seeking without Paï slackening. Then, to fight against Bénarès and King Maudit, it will be obliged, unwillingly, to become more and more puissant.
During its search, he will learn how to control many animal-Masters (creatures giving of the capacities and nourishing energy of their Master, which is not a problem for immortal!).
It should be noted that it becomes particularly powerful when Paï is in danger. Become very powerful, it will even manage to amalgamate with the Maduray magus.

Bénarès

Immortal also, it is the wu of King Maudit Kigan (he also Sanjiyan). Its only goal has been the resurrection of its Master, locked up by Paï in Pierre crowned for 300 years at the end of a terrible combat against its own people whose Paï is only the different surviving one. It has an immense power, and does not move back in front of any trick to arrive at its ends.

Flax Flax

Employed of Yogeki Sha, its only goal in the life seems to be to earn money. She does not hesitate for that to exploit and use without shame those and which she can. However she does not hesitate either to help Yakumo and Paï when need is.

Honnyan

Little girl whose second appearance is Ranpaopao, pitiless and sanguinary. Initially with the orders of an enemy of Feeds, it is then allured by the kindness of this one, and decides suivre.
For Paï she will not hesitate to fight against Bénarès whereas she does not have any chance.
She only speaks little, and very often only by growls.

Takuhi

Gigantic bird with human head, it is the most faithful friend of Feeds, the race of this rather incredible bird resides out of Holy Land: the territory of Sanjiyan Unkara.
It is him which, thrown into a panic, will kill Yakumo and force Sanjiyan to use its magic to make Yakumo immortal. In general it resides, in the form of a small bird, in the cane of Feeds. It will be killed by the Ryôko monster at the time of “the operation” to recover the Statue of the Men.

OAV

Presentation

A first series of 4 OAV S of approximately 30 minutes each one entitled 3×3 Eyes was born in 1991. Then a second series of 3 OAV S one duration 45 minutes each one followed in 1995, entitled this time 3×3 Eyes ~Seima Densetsu~ . They take again the beginning of the manga until the fifth volume.

In France, Manga Video had left in 1991 two 60 minutes VHS taking again the first OAV, then Kaze left a box collector DVD in 2005 the series limited to 6000 specimens including/understanding: 2 DVD containing each one a series of OAV in VF/VOSTFR, ten illustrated charts collector, a booklet of 16 pages on the series, and the first volume of the incomplete manga in special edition.

Summary of each OAV

OAV 1: Transmigration

On the way leading it to its work, Yakumo Fujii, high-school pupil of Tokyo, becomes acquainted with a strange fore-mentioned young girl Paï. It does not suspect then which reflected this meeting will have on him: Feeds is downward direct of the people of Sanjiyan Unkara, and it must help it to become human, thus respecting the promise which Satoru Fujii had made him formerly, the late father of Yakumo…

OAV 2: Yakumo

Become Wu de Paï, Yakumo realizes of the repercussions which its immortality generates in its daily life. More especially as Paï and him are continuellements continued by a horde of demons, which does not arrange the businesses of Yakumo. When a classmate, Natsuko, are taken as an hostage by a demon which seeks to devour the fresh flesh of Sanjiyan, Yakumo is obliged to use its immortal capacities to save his/her friend.

OAV 3: Sacrifice

Of return to HongKong, Feeds and Yakumo are involved in an insane track race for obtaining the statue of the men. Helped of their friend Ling Ling, they manage to find its trace. Certain Long Steve would be in possession of the statue. But this last is in its turn removed by a demon like Ling Ling. During a fierce combat, Yakumo learns the importance from the statue for the god of the destruction, Kaiwan Wang, which needs this statue for ressusciter and to dominate the world…

OAV 4: Straying

Feeds and Yakumo decide to benefit a little the city from HongKong, but it is without counting on the appearance of Benares, Wu of Kaiyan Wan which wants to recover the statue of the men to make return his Master in our dimension. Yakumo then learns the past which binds its beloved Paï and its sworn enemy Kaiyan Wan alias Shiva…

OAV 5: Descent

Four years were passed since the confrontation enters Paï and Benares. Yakumo, without news of Feeds, is involved intensely to become stronger. It finds finally Paï, but this last amnesic, seems to have lost his capacity of Sanjiyan. She lives from now on within a family, actually made up of puppets to the service of a demon. Yakumo then will intervene to try to awake Paï…

OAV 6: The Key

Yakumo and Paï leave in Tibet, on the traces of its old life. They are then attacked by demons and manage to flee of accuracy. At this point in time they become acquainted with a monk who reveals to them the existence of a city lost having an open door on the past… Our two young heroes get under way towards this strange place where Paï will be able to perhaps find the memory…

OAV 7: The Return

Yakumo and its friends reach finally the mysterious city. By opening the door of the past, they find all on the crowned ground, Kunlun, the ancestral ground of Sanjiyan Unkara. It is there that Paï joins again with a forgotten part of its history, but very quickly, the group is made attack by the demons and Bénarès Paï capture…

Animate comics

A version Anime comics colors of the series was published by Kōdansha, in 7 volumes, each volume taking again a OAV of the series. But this version was published only in Japan.

Music

See 3×3 Eyes (Music).

Video games

There exist many adaptations in video games of 3×3 Eyes:

Artbooks

  • Yūzō Takada, Yūzō Takada Artwork - AiEN KiEN- , Kōdansha, 1993,102 p.

It is the very first compiling book of the artworks of Yūzō Takada with being published. With a total of 102 pages for the majority colors, it contains illustrations of 3×3 Eyes, but also of old series carried out by the author before, such as Everyday is Sunday. All the texts are printed at the same time in Japanese and English, and the comments are very instructive.

  • Yūzō Takada, Yūzō Takada Artwork THE LAST ORDER , Kōdansha, 2000,128 p.

This second Artbook with the format 37 X 26 cm covers the period of 1988 to 1999, and includes/understands illustrations of 3×3 Eyes, Blue Seed, Bannō Bunka Neko Musume, Genzo Hitogata Kiwa (Genzo the marionnettist) and Toritsuki-kun. The first volume of 96 pages contains the majority of the artworks, the majority being based on 3×3 Eyes. The format is the same one as AiEN KiEN, but the comments are not bilingual any more. The second book is a collection of 32 poster pages. The two books are sold together in a plastic packaging.

Books dated

  • Yogekisha Shinjuku Branch, 3×3 Eyes No Himitsu , Dated House, 1993,217 p.

This Data book nonofficial entirely in Japanese, whose title means Secrets 3×3 Eyes brings hypothetical answers to the questions that the fans of 3×3 Eyes could be posed. It belongs to the series of books " Secrecies of… " published for full with mangas popular. However, this book covers only the first 15 volumes of the manga, which is explained by its early coming out date.

  • Young Leading Magazine Department, 3×3 Eyes Yōma Daizukan , Kōdansha, 1998,250 p.

3×3 Eyes Yōma Daizukan is the first Data book official Japanese for 3×3 Eyes, with descriptions of at least 63 characters of the manga, and an overall picture of much of other subjects. It also contains 4 stickers color, of the plays like crosswords, and a news Wandering Yōma of the novelist Akinori Endo. It also includes drawings coming from the manga, and owing to the fact that it was published in 1998, it covers the first 27 volumes.

  • Young Leading Magazine Department, 3×3 Eyes Another World , Kōdansha, 1999,228 p.

One year after the publication of 3×3 Eyes Yōma Daizukan arrives new a Data book official. 3×3 Eyes Another World is filled of invaluable information on 3×3 Eyes, like a long interview with Yūzō Takada, an overall picture of advanced creation of the manga, assumptions on various elements of the history, a history of the manga and summaries of the intrigue, descriptions of products, artworks of the manga, stickers, as of the illustrations of in small behavior… Feeds

  • Yūzō Takada and Keiji Matsumoto in Young Leading Magazine Department, 3×3 Eyes Yōma Rittai Zukan , Kōdansha, 2000,131 p.

It makes following 3×3 Eyes Yōma Daizukan , but it is not really a Data book. It is a kraft paper book, which makes it possible to create monsters in 3D starting from seven different models. The monsters all are represented on the cover: Takuhi, K' u-yung, Mugero, Tsou-flax, Ruru, Little Amara, and Fei-oh. A sticker of Feeds large size is also included.

Novels

The novels 3×3 Eyes are written by Akinori Endo, the scenario writer of animates 3×3 Eyes. Each novel is accompanied by a mini-poster and a mark-page. There are scenes of the new series animated printed with the corner of each page, and the scenes " bougent" if one looks them by changing page quickly.

  • Akinori Endo, 3×3 Eyes Seima Densetsu , Kōdansha, 1995,308 p.

It is a novel based on the scenario of volumes 3 to 5 of the manga, similar to that of the second animated series.

  • Akinori Endo, 3×3 Eyes Fūma Gaiden , Kōdansha, 1997,252 p.

It acts of another original history.

  • Akinori Endo, Katsumi Ishitsuka and Shinichi Kusano, 3×3 Eyes Another Story , Kōdansha, 2000,208 p.

In addition to including a " 3D real papercraft Fei-Oh" , probably as a preview with the Yōma Rittai Zukan (cf supra), this book is a collection of seven original news. Here are the titles:
# True Bruises Houasyo " off; White Snake Legend" (Hakujaden)
# The Sorrow off Salaryman Benares
# Yohko and Yoriko' S Ghost Extermination
# Hān' S " This is crazy! Japanese people" (Hān No " Koko ga hen da yo! Nihonjin")
# Demon School
# Feeds off and Yakumo' S Gourmet Day
# Valley Gold

Trivia

  • Sazan is the Japanese word for 3x3 (as in the multiplication tables). It is also the phonetic equivalent for the English word southern (southern) and it is that the group of music preferred of Takada is Southern All Stars.

  • Yakumo is not blind, although it all the time keeps its closed eyes. In fact, Yūzō Takada wanted that Yakumo seems an ordinary boy, and it drew Yakumo like Asian stereotyped, with attached eyes. It only opens them very seldom, when it is surprised or in anger.
  • volume 40, the last of the series, was published in two versions: a normal version, and a version accompanied by a play PC.
  • the idea of a series TV at the end of the manga in 2002 had been evoked, but it was abandoned because of the recent Japanese laws on the censure.

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