Legend of Heavenly Sphere Shurato

Infobox animanga/Header
name = Legend of Heavenly Sphere Shurato


caption = Promotional image for "Shurato"
ja_name = 天空戦記シュラト
ja_name_trans = Tenkū Senki Shurato
genre = Action, FantasyInfobox animanga/Anime
title =
director = Toshihiko Nishikubo
studio = Tatsunoko Production Co
network = flagicon|Japan TV Tokyo
first = April 6 1989
last = January 18 1990
episodes = 38Infobox animanga/OVA
title =
director = Toshihiko Nishikubo
studio = flagicon|Japan Tatsunoko Production Co
episodes = 6
released = August 16 1991 - March 16 1992

Nihongo|"Legend of Heavenly Sphere Shurato"|天空戦記シュラト|Tenkū Senki Shurato was a Japanese anime television series, created by Tatsunoko Production. It ran 38 episodes on TV Tokyo from April 6 1989 to January 18 1990 and also spawned a 6-episode OVA series, that ran from August 16 1991 to March 16 1992. It was the #1 Shōnen series of 1989 and one of the earliest examples of Henshin anime.

Set in a parallel world called "Tenkūkai", which exists alongside Earth, evil forces known as the Asura Gods threaten to overcome the forces of good, causing the magical leader of this realm to transport warriors from Earth to their world. It was heavily based on Hindu and Buddhist mythology, and covered a range of topics, including brotherhood, reincarnation, camaraderie, Interdimensional travel, destiny, and spirit magic.

Plot

The plot revolves around two non-hereditary brothers, Hidaka Shurato and Kuroki Gai, lifelong best friends who are polar opposites of each other in appearance and personality. While fighting each other in a martial arts tournament, they are suddenly encased in a beam of light and transported to a parallel world, Tenkuukai, where modern technology does not exist and instead the people rely on Sohma, a form of spirit energy, similar to Chakra.

Shurato discovers he is actually the reincarnation of an ancient king of the same name, who once ruled this world, and one of the "Hachibushu", a group of eight legendary warriors with large quantities of Sohma, and was brought here along with Gai to fight the Asura Gods, a legion of destructive warriors. However, for unknown reasons, Gai attempts to kill Shurato repeatedly, confusing Shurato as the real Gai is a pacifist and the most compassionate person he knows.

Things quickly go wrong when Shurato and another of the Hachibushu, Ten-Oh Hyuga, are framed for the petrification of Lady Vishnu, a powerful divinity and the leader of the people of Tenkuukai. The actual culprit, Vishnu's highest advisor and Asura spy Indrah, and the corrupted Gai manage to convince the remainder of the Hachibushu, as well as all of Tenkuukai's warriors and soldiers, that Shurato and Hyuga are evil and must be killed.

Although at first reluctant to get involved, Shurato eventually resolves to aid Hyuga in uncovering the conspiracy and cure Vishnu. They are accompanied by the young Tenkuukai spirit priestess Lakshu, and two others of the Hachibushu, Ryu-Oh Ryouma and Karura-Oh Reiga. Along the way, they engage in battle with the other four of the Hachibushu, sinister Asura agents in league with Indrah, and the majority of Tenkuukai's population.

Characters

Hidaka Shurato (Shura-Oh Shurato):The main character and protagonist of the show. Shurato is a hot-headed, reckless, and impatient 16-year old. He is depicted as having low tolerance and understanding of Tenkuukai's laws and inner workings, but is strong and pure-hearted. Like Gai, he is a martial arts master, and eventually becomes the most powerful of the Hachibushu and their de facto leader. His shakti and armor are both modeled after the lion, and his weapon is a vajra.

Kuraki Gai (Yasha-Oh Gai):A primary character and one of the main antagonists of the show, Gai was Shurato's best friend on Earth, but became his greatest enemy in Tenkuukai when he was put in a spell by Indrah. Unlike Shurato, he is cool, collected, and highly intelligent. He was a martial arts master, depicted as Shurato's equal, even though he was also a pacifist. His shakti and armor are both modeled after the wolf, and his weapon is a sword.

Lakshu:Based on the Hindu goddess Lakshmi, Lakshu is a young native of Tenkuukai and a fledgling spirit priestess. She is the first person to find Shurato after he is teleported to Tenkuukai, attempting to wake him up with a kiss. She then accompanies Shurato and Hyuga on their journey, and becomes a major asset to the team when her latent Sohma powers manifest.

Media

Anime

The TV series premiered on TV Tokyo, where it ran for 36 episodes between 1989 and 1990. Following its success, it was dubbed for French, Chinese, Portuguese, and Filipino releases.

Theme songs

Opening themes

*"Shining Soul" by Satoko Shimizu
*"Truth" by Satoko Shimizu

Ending themes

*"Sabaku no Meizu (Desert Labyrinth)" by Satoko Shimizu
*"Caravan" by Satoko Shimizu

OVA

The 6-episode OVA series began release on August 16 1991, and ended on March 16 1992.

Theme songs

Opening theme
*"Keep Your Pure Love" by Satoko ShimizuEnding theme
*"Glass no Shōnen" by Satoko Shimizu

Other media

Aside from the TV series and subsequent OVA, Shurato's popularity also spurred the release of a myriad of related merchandise, including books, trading cards, action figures, pencil boards, school notebooks, and drama CDs.

ee also

*Tatsunoko Production Co
*Henshin

External links

* [http://www.tatsunoko.co.jp/ "Tatsunoko Production Co., Ltd"] (Japanese)anime-links
title = "Tenku Senki Shurato"
ann = 2038
annfo = 801,klqyuz,heaven_wars_shu
imdb = 0433740
* [http://www.tenkuukai.com "Arcadia's Shulato Shrine"] Unofficial fansite