Ikki Tousen (Japanese: 一騎当千, Hepburn: Ikkitōsen; lit. "A Mighty Knight Who Matches a Thousand Knights"), also known as Battle Vixens in the Tokyopop localization (for North America and the United Kingdom) and Dragon Girls in Germany, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yūji Shiozaki. Loosely based on the classic 14th century Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the series revolves around an all-out turf war in the Kantō region of Japan where fighters known as Tōshi (闘士; meaning "fighting soldier") from seven schools battle for supremacy. The story centers on Hakufu Sonsaku, a fighter who transfers to Nanyo Academy, one of the seven schools involved in the turf war.
The manga was serialized in the seinen manga magazine Comic Gum from April 2000 to August 2015. The series was collected in 24 tankōbon volumes released between October 2000 and September 2015. The manga was licensed in North America and the United Kingdom by Tokyopop, with adaptation from Keith Giffen under the title Battle Vixens; and in Australia and New Zealand by Madman Entertainment.
The original manga has inspired four anime television series and three OVAs. A 13-episode adaptation animated by J.C.Staff aired between July and October 2003, on AT-X and other channels. It would be followed by a second 12-episode season, subtitled Dragon Destiny, which was animated by Arms and aired on AT-X between February and May 2007. The third and fourth anime series, Great Guardians and Xtreme Xecutor, would deviate from the manga's plot and feature original storylines and new characters. The third season was animated by Arms, and aired on AT-X between June and August 2008, while the fourth anime season was animated by TNK and aired on AT-X and other channels between March and June 2010, both spanning 12 episodes. The first OVA, Shūgaku Tōshi Keppu-roku, would be released in Japanese theaters on November 12, 2011. The second, two-episode OVA subtitled Extravaganza Epoch was released between December 21, and 28, 2014. A 3-episode OVA, Western Wolves, was released between January and February 2019.
The first anime season was initially licensed in North America by Geneon Entertainment. After Geneon withdrew from the anime market, the season would be re-licensed by Funimation. The second and third seasons were licensed in North America by Media Blasters. Funimation would later re-licensed the third season, while acquiring the fourth.
A sequel manga titled Shin Ikki Tousen began serialization in Shōnen Gahōsha's Young King OURs magazine in November 2015. A three-episode anime adaptation, once again animated by Arms, aired on AT-X in May 2022.
Contents
Synopsis
In the Kantō region of Japan, seven high schools compete in a turf war for territorial supremacy: Nanyo Academy, Kyosho Academy, Seito Academy, Yoshu Academy, Rakuyo High School, Gogun High School, and Yoshu Private School. The fighters of each school bear the sacred jewels called magatama, which contains the essence of warriors from the Three Kingdoms era of Ancient China 1800 years ago, as well as their fates.
Hakufu Sonsaku, the descendant of legendary conqueror Sun Ce, is a fighter who goes to Nanyo Academy where her cousin Koukin Shuuyu attends under her mother's request.
Media
Manga
Ikki Tousen began serialization in the seinen manga magazine Comic GUM. The first bound volume was published by Wani Books in October 2000, with a total of 24 volumes available as of September 25, 2015. The manga was licensed in North America and the United Kingdom by Tokyopop under the title of Battle Vixens, and sold fifteen volumes between April 6, 2004, and April 27, 2010. The manga is also licensed in Australia and New Zealand by Madman Entertainment, in France by Panini Comics, in Argentina and Spain by Editorial Ivrea, in Germany by Carlsen Comics (under the title of Dragon Girls), in Taiwan by Sharp Point Press, in Brazil by Nova Sampa.
In October 2015, Shōnen Gahōsha announced that the sequel Shin Ikki Tousen would be serialized in Young King OURs magazine starting in its January 2016 issue released on November 30, 2015.
Anime
A 13-episode anime adaptation of Ikki Tousen animated by J.C.Staff and directed by Takashi Watanabe aired on AT-X from July 30, 2003, and October 22, 2003, with subsequent runs on TV Kanagawa, Mie TV, Chiba TV, TV Saitama, and Sun Television. The opening theme for the first season is "Drivin' Through The Night" by M.o.v.e while the ending theme is "Let me be with you" by Shela.
Seven DVD volumes were released by Media Factory between November 22, 2003, and May 25, 2004. A DVD box set was later released on January 25, 2008, and a Blu-ray box set was later released on April 27, 2011.
The series was licensed in North America by Geneon Entertainment, who released the series on four DVD volumes between August 10, 2004, and March 1, 2005. The English dub was produced by New Generation Pictures in Los Angeles, California. A box set was later released on July 19, 2005, by Geneon. The series is now licensed by Funimation after Geneon closed its doors to the North American market, and released a box set of the series on May 26, 2009. The series is also licensed in Australia and New Zealand by Madman Entertainment, and in the United Kingdom by MVM Films.
A second season, called Ikki Tousen: Dragon Destiny (一騎当千DD（ドラゴンデスティニー）, Ikkitōsen Doragon Desutinī), animated by Arms and directed by Koichi Ohata, aired 12 episodes on AT-X from February 26, 2007, to May 14, 2007, with subsequent broadcasts on Chiba TV, KBS Kyoto, TV Kanagawa, Tokyo MX, Sun Television, TV Aichi, and TV Saitama. The opening theme for Dragon Destiny is "HEART&SOUL" by Mai Kariyuki while the ending theme is "Glass Flower" (硝子の花, Garasu no Hana) by IORI.
Six DVD volumes were released by Media Factory between July 25 and November 22, 2007, each volume containing an original video animation titled Great Battle at the Red Cliffs Hot Springs (赤壁温泉大決戦, Sekiheki Onsen Dai Kessen), featuring the female cast in a hot spring setting. A DVD boxset was later released on December 22, 2009.
The anime is licensed in North America by Media Blasters, who released the series on three DVD volumes between November 24, 2009, and April 20, 2010. Unlike the first season, the English dub for Dragon Destiny was recorded at Headline Studios in Irvington, New York. A box set was later released on August 31, 2010. The anime is also licensed in Australia by Madman Entertainment, as with the first season. However, due to the series' violent and sexual scenes, the Office of Film and Literature Classification banned Ikki Tousen: Dragon Destiny in New Zealand.
Internet radio show
An internet radio show promoting the Dragon Destiny anime titled Ikki Tousen DDR: Dragon Destiny Radio (一騎当千DDR 〜Dragon Destiny Radio〜) was produced by Media Factory and aired on MediaFac Radio starting November 25, 2006, and aired 31 episodes. The show was hosted by Masumi Asano and Hitomi Nabatame, the voices of Hakufu and Kanu, respectively. A CD of the radio show was released by Media Factory on June 27, 2007.
Another radio show promoting Great Guardians called Ikki Tousen GGR: Great Guardians Radio (一騎当千GGR 〜Great Guardians Radio〜), also produced by Media Factory, aired on MediaFac Radio between March 26, 2008, and March 2009, spanning 23 episodes. Masumi Asano and Hitomi Nabatame reprise their host roles as Hakufu and Kanu. A CD of the show was released by Media Factory on March 25, 2009.
A radio show promoting Xtreme Xecutor called Ikki Tousen XXR: Xtreme Xecutor Radio (一騎当千XXR 〜XTREME XECUTOR RADIO〜) aired on HiBiKi Radio Station between December 25, 2009, and December 3, 2010, spanning 41 episodes. Like the last two radio shows, the show was hosted by Masumi Asano and Hitomi Nabatame reprising their respective roles as Hakufu and Kanu.
Video games
A video game of the series, Ikki Tousen: Shining Dragon (一騎当千 Shining Dragon, Ikkitōsen Shainingu Doragon), was developed by DreamFactory and released for the PlayStation 2 in Japan on July 26, 2007, by Marvelous Entertainment. The game has an original storyline with Hakufu, Ryomou, and Kanu as the main playable characters. The game introduces a new character named Chousen, the Japanese counterpart of Diao Chan. Along with Hakufu, Ryomou, and Kanu, Ryubi, Ukitsu, Chouhi, Choun, Ryofu, and Kakoen also appear as playable characters, with Shuyu appearing as an extra character in Hakufu and Ryomou's story arcs respectively. The game's international release was completed by 2008 but formally cancelled by the distributor in May 2009, with the M rating being listed as the most damaging factor.
A second video game, Ikki Tousen: Eloquent Fist (一騎当千 Eloquent Fist, Ikkitōsen Erokuento Fisuto), was developed by Tamsoft for the PlayStation Portable and released on October 2, 2008, by Marvelous Entertainment. The game is a hybrid between fighting and adventure, and it features 15 Ikki Tousen heroines and a new character named Kanpei, the Japanese counterpart of Guan Ping and the protagonist of the game. New characters include Sousou (Berserk Dragon Ruler Mode), Teni, Shokatsuryo, Ryubi, Saji, and Ouin, along with EX-Hakufu (Berserk Dragon Ruler Mode) and EX-Ryubi (whom technically is the non-Berserk Dragon Mode (as the Berserk Mode was a playable character in the first game)) (Shining Dragon). Eloquent Fist omits the presence of Ukitsu, and new finishing maneuvers and altered movesets have either been buffed, or have been nerfed.
A third installment based on the Xtreme Xecutor anime, called Ikki Tousen: Xross Impact (一騎当千 XROSS IMPACT, Ikkitōsen Kurosu Inpakuto), was developed by Tamsoft for the PlayStation Portable and released on April 28, 2010, in Japan. It features a new character named Ato, the Japanese counterpart of Liu Shan along with the return of Ukitsu as a playable character, and Chinkyu, Bashoku, Kyocho, and Shibai are added as playable characters. The game adds a "Super Arts" bar, tag-team battles and combos, and the addition of the alternate striker system. The gameplay was also revamped to include an aerial pursuit rave and a Finishing Screen.
The characters Sonsaku, Kan'u and Ryofu made a DLC playable guest appearance in Senran Kagura: Estival Versus. However, due to a temporary licensing issue, these characters did not appear in the Western version of the game, until it was announced to be released along with the PC version of the game in March 2017.
