Zenki | Kishin Doji Zenki | An ABS-CBN - 90s Filipino Dubbed Anime Retrospective

Zenki was an Filipino dubbed Japanese animated series which first aired in ABS-CBN around the late 90s. Zenki, originally 鬼神童子ZENKI Kishin Dōji Zenki,like many other Japanese anime, Zenki started as a manga series written by Kikuhide Tani and illustrated by Yoshihiro Kuroiwa. The manga was serealized in the Shueisha publication, Monthly Shōnen Jump from 1992 to 1996 and was later adapted into a fifty-one episode anime television series in 1995 by Studio Deen. Let's take the road down memory lane and remember this brat of a child but kick-ass eyeball-eating Demon, Zenki.

Zenki - The Story
Zenki Series Plot

Enno Ozuno, Master of the Enno temple used the demon guardian spirit Zenki to defeat the demon goddess Karuma. After defeating Karuma, he later sealed Zenki away in a pillar until needed again.

Centuries later, his descendant, a school girl named Chiaki Enno (Cherry) was able to free Zenki from his seal because of the return of the forces of Karuma (Karma). The seeds of karma which looks like eyeballs feeds on the greed and desire of humans later turning them into monsters. Zenki was freed because of this and needs to then again to eradicate this menace. Instead of the powerful yet defiant battle-born demon warrior, the freed Zenki has now taken the form of a brat demon child. To transform this extremely defiant demon into the form that made him useful by her ancestor, she was bestowed with a magical bracelet that appeared on her wrist.

After defeating Karuma again, all seems well until a new evil rose, the threat of the Grand Lord with the help of Inugami. This time Zenki acquires a new power. Goki, an old companion joins him to battle this new powerful evil.

Zenki Opening Theme 1
Zenki Series Intro



"Kishin Douji ZENKI" (Demon-God Child Zenki)
Performed by Ogata Megumi & Yokoyama Chisa

* Vajura on! Vajura on!
Vajura on! Vajura on!
Vajura on! Vajura on!

Toki wa ima sennen no jubaku wa yaburareta
Fuku kaze ni tsukiagero jiyuu no Vajura wo
Yomigaeru riyuu sae seigi no imi sae mo
Ima wa shiranai omae da keredo

** Hoero ZENKI ZENKI
Itsu ka deau Kitto
Mune ni sasaru you na
Inori wo kometa hitomi ni
Sou sa ZENKI ZENKI
Sono kagayaki koso
Ai to iu mugen no chikara da

* Repeat

Wazawai ga uchiyoseru jaaku wa hanatareta
Hateshinai yokubou no uzumaku umi e to
Shikkoku no nami no soko yagate hito wa horobi
Sono rekishi sae shizumeru darou

Tatake ZENKI ZENKI
Subete no yami ute
Ten ga kureta sono
Saikyou no ude ni kakete
Sou sa ZENKI ZENKI
Futatabi kono yo ni
Eien no asu wo terashidase

* Repeat
** Repeat
* Repeat

Zenki Opening Theme 2
Zenki Series 2nd Intro



"Chou-Kishin Douji Zenki Raigou Shourin" (Super Demon-God Child Zenki, Coming of Buddha Looking Down from the Heavens)

Yami ni sasaru hito-suji no hikari
Yatsu no me ga gira-tsuku no wo mita ka
Yatsu wa warau tsuyoi teki na hodo
Kiba wo muki "Fuzakeru na" to hoeru

* Oo Jidai wa seikimatsu
Aku wa sakae Chi wo oou
Aa Yatsu nara iu darou
"Hyakuman-nen hayai ze"

** Yatsu wa ZENKI! ZENKI!
Inori no wa no majiwaru tokoro
Raigou! Shourin! Yatsu wa kuru
Kishin ZENKI! ZENKI!
Furikazashita honoo to tomo ni
Raigou! Shourin! Kikoete kuru no sa
"Rajasu" no koe ga

Yatsu wa ikaru Sore wo seigi da to
Yonda nara ano me de furikaeru
Gura-tsuite 'ru kono yo no mashin ni
Ikazuchi wo kureta dake to niramu

Oo Sennen seikimatsu
Megurasareta wana no soko
Aa Yatsu nara tachiagaru
Hyakuman-kai ochite mo

Yatsu wa ZENKI! ZENKI!
Yabou megake tsukawareshi mono
Raigou! Shourin! Toki wa kita
Kishin ZENKI! ZENKI!
Yagate hareta mirai no sora ni
Raigou! Shourin! Hito-kiwa fuku no sa
Rajasu no kaze ga

* REPEAT
** REPEAT

Zenki was probably the most memorable anime character for a 90s kid. He was a brat but packs a lot of power when unsealed to his true form. Not to mention he eats the seeds of Karuma after each kills. I remember getting excited to go home back in grade school to just watch this series which aired every weekdays afternoon on ABS-CBN.

I remember being one of those kids who usually role plays acting like Zenki and shouting "PALAKOL NI DIVA" (Axe of Diva) picking up sticks and swaying it like crazy to my friends acting like Karuma monsters or fellow Zenki themselves, or placing a stick between our middle and ring finger with our hands closed shoutng "KUKO NI DIVA" or "APOY SA KUKO NI DIVA!". This was one of the many definitive anime of the 90s and Zenki was that memorable of a series. Looking back at it now, I can say that the animation and music still rocks.

How about you guys? What's your fondest and most memorable moments, episodes, character, monsters, or merchandise you have of Zenki. Share your memories of Zenki in the comments section below:

Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light | ABS-CBN - 80s & PTV - 90s US Animated Show

Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light was a 1987 short-lived Sunbow Productions animated series based from a Hasbro toyline. Vissionaries: Knights of the Magical Light or simply "Visionaries" has originally 13 episodes and ran from September 21, 1987 to December 14, 1987 on Claster Television, Inc. Visionaries got its Philippine television broadcast via ABS-CBN around the 80s and later on other Philippine Television channels like PTV (NBN Channel-4 for the Greater Manila Area) during the 90s. Let's take a look back on this short-lived kids show with an interesting concept.

Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light - The Story
Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light Series Plot

The inhabitants of a distant planet called Prysmos enjoy the life of convenience brought by science and technology, but like everything else this eventually came to an abrupt end. When the three blazing suns of Prysmos re-aligned signaled the end of the age of Science and technology, and ushered in the power of mystics and magic.



As the world collapsed, a new but primitive order began. A post apocalyptic medieval era began. An era known for its inquisition and wars. Leoric, leader of the Spectral Knights and prince of New Valarak leads and defends their fortress against the scheming Darkstorm of the Darkling Lords. They are both called to for a competition by the wizard Merklynn. After surviving traps, dangerous creatures, and each other, the survivors on both sides are rewarded. Everyone of them is given a different animal totem which appears on the front of their armor, which they can turn into. The animals are selected by Merklynn based on their personalities. Some knights have staffs with them, and these are told to dip them into an energy well. They become magical, each given a different power. They activate these by reciting a special verse. Any staff-wielding knight can activate any staff, as long as he casts the spell properly.

The war for power and supremacy on the two opposing faction heightens after obtaining their new found magical powers.

Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light Opening Theme
Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light Series Intro




It is a time when Magic is more powerful than Science,
and only those who control the magic, control destiny.
...They are the Visionaries.

Visionaries, knights of the magical light,
Visionaries, with magical powers they fight.
Powers of mind and strength, skill and speed,
Powers to accomplish the greatest of deeds.

Visionaries, knights of the magical light.

The Visionaries seems to have left an imprint in my mind. This is probably because the series has an impressive toyline courtesy of Hasbro. I remember having two visionary toys when I was still a kid. The Visionaries toys have those hologramic 3-D-esk stickers which gave kids like me the allusion that they can pop in any time just like the series. I have little memories about the conflict between Leoric and Darksorm and only recalls it after researching and making this post. But still a post-apocalyptic medieval magical era with magic and technology mix is an interesting concept. Too bad is was cancelled. As a kid, the Visionaries was pretty much all eye candy for me. I just watched it for the fight scenes and the cool summoning and transformation sequences.

How about you guys? What are your fondest memories, cool merchandise, favorite character, summons or episode in the short-lived series? Share your thoughts about Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light in the comments section below: