Alakazam the Great
Theatrical poster to the 1961 US release of Alakazam the Great
西遊記 (Saiyuki)
Genre	Adventure, Fantasy
Anime film
Director	Daisaku Shirakawa Taiji Yabushita
Studio	Toei Animation
Released	August 14, 1960 July 26, 1961
Runtime	88 min. 84 min.[1]
Anime and Manga Portal

Alakazam the Great (西遊記, Saiyuki^?, lit. "Journey to the West") is a 1960 Japanese anime film, based on the Chinese legend Journey to the West, and was one of the earliest anime films to be released in the United States. Based on the manga My Son Goku (ぼくのそんごくう, Boku no Son Gokū^?) by Osamu Tezuka, he was named as a director of the film by Toei Company. However, Tezuka later stated that the only time he was in the studio was to pose for publicity photos.^[2] His involvement as a consultant for the adaptation of his manga, and in promoting the film, however, led to his interest in animation.^[3]

Contents 1 Plot 2 Characters 3 U.S. release 4 References 5 See also 6 External links

[edit] Plot

Alakazam is a young and brave monkey who has been encouraged by all the other monkeys to become their king. After attaining the throne, he becomes rude and arrogant and does not believe that human beings are greater than he is. Then he starts to learn magic from Merlin the magician. Alakazam was so wicked he abused his magic powers and chooses to go up to Majutsu Land to challenge King Amo. He is defeated by King Amo. For his punishment, he was sentenced to serve as the bodyguard of Prince Amat on a pilgrimage in order to learn humility, mercy, and to fight with wisdom.

[edit] Characters

• Alakazam/Son-Goku
• DeeDee the Monkey/RinRin
• Sir Quigley Broken Bottom/Chohakkai
• Max Lulipopo/Sagojo
• Prince Amat/Sanzo-hoshi
• King Amo/Shaka-nyorai
• Queen Amass/Kanzeon
• Filo Fester/Shoryu
• King Gruesome/Gyu-Mao
• Queen Gruesome/Rasetsu-jo
• Herman Mcsnarles/Kinkaku
• Vermin Mcsnarles/Ginkaku

[edit] U.S. release

The film was released in the United States on July 26, 1961. For the American release, bandleader Les Baxter was hired to compose a new soundtrack. Teen idol Frankie Avalon supplied the singing voice of Alakazam (the speaking voice was done by Peter Fernandez), and Sterling Holloway provided English-language narration. Despite a large marketing budget and heavy promotion, the movie did not do well in America.

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Journey to the West
• List of animated feature films
• List of Osamu Tezuka anime
• List of Osamu Tezuka manga
• Osamu Tezuka
• Osamu Tezuka's Star System

[edit] External links

• Alakazam the Great at the Internet Movie Database
• Son-Goku the Monkey manga at TezukaOsamu@World (English)
• Son-Goku the Monkey manga at TezukaOsamu@World (Japanese)
• Alakazam the Great anime at TezukaOsamu@World (English)
• Alakazam the Great anime at TezukaOsamu@World (Japanese)
• Son-Goku is Coming: Chapter of Kou-fu Daioh pilot anime at TezukaOsamu@World (English)
• Son-Goku is Coming: Chapter of Kou-fu Daioh pilot anime at TezukaOsamu@World (Japanese)
• Goku's Great Adventure anime at TezukaOsamu@World (English)
• Goku's Great Adventure anime at TezukaOsamu@World (Japanese)