Animax on ASTRO 715 – God Sent!

September 11, 2006 in Otaku Corner

I cannot seriously tell you how happy I am that Astro finally has a channel dedicated to Japanese animation 24 hours a day! To someone who is considerably an otaku, it’s a dream channel and I’m so delighted by the daily anime offerings now showing over the channel. So many selections yet so little time to watch it all!

My current favourite one has to be Kyo Kara Maoh (God(?) Save Our King! in English), an epic fantasy full of sorcery, pretty boys and action. It’s a pretty recent anime according to IMDB.com – it was shown from 2004 to 2006. This anime is currently shown on Mondays 7.00pm to 8.00pm with repeats on Tuesdays 1.00pm to 2.00pm and weekends as well. Check your Astro guide for the scehdule!

The story is really quite comical at the beginning but as the story picks up, it actually becomes more action-packed and suspenseful. I just finished watching two episodes of it and I can’t wait for next week’s. But considering that I’ll be away to Japan next week, I think I might as well buy the whole DVD set and enjoy it home without having to fight with my mom over the control of the remote. Haha!

Kyo Kara Maoh begins with an average 15-year-old Japanese schoolboy Yuuri Shibuya who loves playing baseball and just basically trying to get on with life without causing too much trouble. But when trying to save a former classmate from bullies, he ended becoming the victim and got himself flushed, literally, down the toilet!

When Yuuri woke up, he discovered that he’s no longer in the Japan that he knew but in a fantastical medieval-age land of the Demon Kingdom, which is on the brink of a terrible war with the humans. He soon finds himself being hailed as the long awaited return of the Demon King and he must find it within himself to bring order back into the land and prevent the destruction of the world.

Aiding him and assigned to protect him are four typically bishonen (pretty boys in Japanese) warriors Gwendal, Conrad, Wolfram and Gunter. As the anime progresses, more and more is revealed about Yuuri’s true destiny in this strange world.

It’s a wickedly cool and funny anime with a storyline that is not too complex nor too kiddy like some other more popular Japanese animations currently shown on Animax. Not too sure how well the series is doing in Japan and other countries but it’s still going on according to the anime’s Wikipedia entry.

If you’re looking for a Japanese anime that’s comical yet filled with fantastical magic and action without getting too violent, be sure to tune in to Kyo Kara Maoh or God (?) Save Our King! on the Animax Channel on ASTRO channel 715!

Ed: Update – The Animax Channel on ASTRO has switched to Channel 71. Plus, I no longer follow it on TV. Want to know why?? ‘Cos I got the whole darn series on DVD box-set for RM79.90, that’s why!!! Kyo Kara Maoh marathon time!!!