Shadow Skill

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Shadow Skill

Cover of the first manga volume
影技 SHADOW SKILL
(Shadō Sukiru)
Genre Martial arts, Fantasy, Drama
Manga
Written by Megumu Okada
Published by Fujimi Shobo (tankōbon), Kodansha (aizōban)
Demographic Shōnen
Magazine Monthly Dragon Jr.
Original run 1992 – 1998
Volumes 5 (tankōbon), 3 (aizōban)
Original video animation
Directed by Hiroshi Negishi (epi. 1)
Yasuhiro Kuroda (epi. 2-4)
Written by Mayori Sekijima
Music by Toshiro Yabuki
Studio Zero-G Room
Licensed by United States Manga Entertainment
Released 1995 – 1996
Runtime 45 minutes (epi. 1)
30 minutes (epi. 2-4)
Episodes 4
Anime film
Shadow Skill: The Movie
Directed by Pat Griffiths
Produced by Laurence Guinness
Written by Kaoru Mfaume
Music by Toshiro Yabuki
Studio Zero-G Room, CTV Studios
Licensed by Manga Entertainment
Runtime 85 minutes
Notes

* Shadow Skill: The Movie is the American compilation film of OVAs 2 to 4.
* Episode 1 of OVA series was later released in North America as Shadow Skill: The Origin

Anime television series
Shadow Skill - Eigi
Directed by Tsukasa Sunaga
Written by Koji Ueda
Music by Ozamu Tezuka
Studio Studio Deen
Licensed by ADV Films
Network TV Tokyo, Anime Network
Original run July 2, 1998 – December 24, 1998
Episodes 26
Manga
Written by Megumu Okada
Published by Kodansha
Demographic Seinen
Magazine Afternoon
Original run 2001 – ongoing
Volumes 9
Original video animation
The Secret of the Kurda Style
Directed by Kazuya Ichikawa
Written by Kurasumi Sunayama
Music by Hidenori Chiwata
Studio Tandm
Released October 2, 2004
Runtime 65 minutes

Shadow Skill (影技 SHADOW SKILL Shadō Sukiru) is a manga series with anime adaptations, produced by Studio Deen and aired on TV Tokyo in 1998 and has been released in the United States by ADV Films in 2005. The series is based on the manga by Megumu Okada. Shadow Skill is a shōnen series which features Styles of combat, such as martial arts. In addition to having a 26 episode television series three separate OVAs were made which have been released in the United States by Manga Entertainment. The television series, which has a different storyline to that of the OVAs, is distributed by ADV Films.

Plot

Main article: List of Shadow Skill characters

Shadow Skill takes place in the warrior kingdom of Kurda, where the main character Elle Regu has recently become the 59th Sevaar, a title awarded to their most elite warriors. She often leaves a trail of destruction when she fights and along with a drinking habit. Elle is constantly followed by debts and throughout the series takes on jobs to work off these debts. One of these such jobs leads her to the Green Octopus Inn on an island outside the city, which eventually becomes the protagonists' base of operation.

Throughout the series, Elle travels along with her adopted younger brother Gau Ban, who is studying Elle's fighting skills so that one day he could become the greatest Sevaar in Kurda. Also in Elle and Gau's life is Faurink Maya (Faury), a Sui Rame talisman sorceress, and Kyuo Lyu, a Septia beast-catcher and grandniece of Eva Stroll, the king of Kurda.

Warriors in Kurda fight using the Kurda-style Kōsappō (交殺法, lit. "combining kill methods", ADV "Annihilation techniques") which has two general divisions: Hyōgi (表技, "open skills" or "bright skills"), which emphasize punches and throws, and Eigi (影技, "shadow skills"), which focus on kicks and the user's footwork.

Media

Shadow Skill manga was originally created 1992 by Megumu Okada.[1] In 1995 it was adapted as a one-shot OVA series then in 1996 followed up by a three-episode OVA sequel. In 1998 the OVAs were remade as a 26-episode television series called Shadow Skill - Eigi (影技～えいぎ Shadō Sukiru ei-gi).[2]

Reception

Anime News Network praised the series' Japanese and English voice acting, saying they did a good job capturing the light-hearted tone of the series. However, they felt the series stuck to the conventions of the martial arts genre with the plot focusing on fight scenes and the elaborate named moves being shouted aloud as they "powered up". As such, they thought that Shadow Skill appeals primarily to fans of the genre, but it was unlikely to appeal to viewers outside that fanbase.[2] THEM Anime Reviews described the OVA series as "well executed" and "fun to watch". But they advised that Shadow Skill would mainly appeal to fans of the martial arts genre and that it lacked the story development and characterization needed to truly become a great anime.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Brett Barkley (20 December 2006). "Shadow Skill TV Vol. #5". Mania.com. Retrieved 22 February 2010. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Martin, Theron (15 November 2005). "Review: Shadow Skill - Eigi". Anime News Network. Retrieved 21 February 2010. 
  3. ↑ Jason, Bustard (2003-2004). "THEM Anime Reviews 4.0 - Shadow Skill". THEM Anime Reviews. Retrieved 4 March 2011. 

External links

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