Sentai Filmworks licensed a three-partoriginal video animation (OVA) adaptation that aired from March to November 2011. A special edition titledSaiyuki Gaiden: Kouga no Shou was released in April 2013. Sentai Filmworks released in North America a "Complete Collection"Blu-ray edition that compiled the series into a two-hour feature-length motion picture in September 2022.
Heaven, where the gods live, is a world where death does not exist,Konzen Douji spent his days bored but his life begins to change with the introduction of a golden-eyed boy at Kanzeon Bosatsu's side, who is said to have been born of a Lower World stone. Konzen is charged with looking after the boy and begins to sense a change in his life, although he is irritated at being toyed with. Konzen names the boy Goku, who becomes close to Tenpou Gensui and Kenren Taisho of Heaven's Western Army, and makes his first friend.
Goku is shocked when his friend dies and unleashes the power of the Seiten Taisei that is bound by his golden diadem, and with thuis overwhealming power, he massacres those in the area. Kanzeon Bosatsu knocks out the Seiten Taisei, but Konzen Douji stops her from finishing the job. Because they are protecting Goku, Konzen Douji, Kenren Taisho, and Tenpou Gensui are made enemies of heaven. They take hostage the Dragon King of the Western Ocean, Gojun, and attempt to flee to the Lower World.
Comic Zero Sum WARD No. 9 (May 2009) cover, the issue whereSaiyuki Gaiden ended its serialization.
Saiyuki Gaiden, written and illustrated byKazuya Minekura, first was serialized inSquare Enix'sshōnen manga magazineMonthly GFantasy. Its first installment started in the magazine's June 1999 issue, which was published in May,[a] and ran in the magazine until February 2003 issue.[b] Due to the change of manga publisher, it continued serialization inIchijinsha'sjosei manga magazineMonthly Comic Zero Sum[7] from November 2003 issue.[c] The manga was put on hold for one year in 2004,[10] and was then transferred to the publisher'sshōjo mangaComic Zero Sum WARD.[11][12][13] The series finished its final installment in the July issue ofComic Zero Sum WARD, published on May 16, 2009.[d] Ichijinsha collected its chapters in fourtankōbon volumes, released from December 2005 to July 2009.[18][19]
A special edition titled"Saiyuki Gaiden memorial" was released on July 16, 2009.[20][21] On January 25, 2011, Ichijinsha published two new-edition volumes ofSaiyuki Gaiden.[22] In September 2012, a new, one-shot story titledSaiyuki Gaiden Heavenly Ants was released.[23] Ichijinsha released a book titledSaiyuki Gaiden Anthology on July 31, 2017.[24]
In Italy, the manga is licensed byDynit;[25] andTong Li Publishing licensed the Chinese translation, which it published from July to October 2011.[26][27] In April 2023, on the occasion of Saiyuki's 25th anniversary, a new design book box edition ofSaiyuki Gaiden was published in Taiwan by Tong Li Publishing.[28]
In November 2009, it was announced an OVA titledSaiyuki Gaiden had been green-lit.[29][30] The first of three volumes was released in Japan on March 25, 2011.[31] The second of the three OVA volumes was released in Japan on June 24, 2011, and the third volume on September 22, 2011, after being delayed two months.[32][33][34]
A special edition (4th episode) under the titleSaiyuki Gaiden: Kouga no Shou[e], was released in Japan on April 26, 2013,[35]Sentai Filmworks released aDVD calledSaiyuki Gaiden Complete DVD containing OVA episodes 1–3 on January 22, 2013,[36] and later a "Complete Collection"Blu-ray edition that compiled the series into a two-hour feature-length motion picture was released in North America on September 13, 2022.[37][38][39][40]Section23 Films is the home-video distributor ofSaiyuki Gaiden.[41] On September 28, 2018,Frontier Works released all four OVA volumes of "Saiyuki Gaiden" in a Blu-ray box set containing a new, HD digital remastering of the show.[42][43]
TheSaiyuki Gaiden manga remained in the top weekly Japanese ranking chart whenever a manga volume debuted.[44] The fourth volume ranked fourth of the top-selling manga in Japan from July 27 to August 2, 2009, selling 89,565 copies and a total of 135,913 copies.[45] and ranked twenty-second during August 3 to 9 2009, selling 32,366 copies and a total of 167,971 copies.[46] In addition to the volumes, a DVD box set titledThe Monkey Perm 2 DVD-Box Deluxe Edition Gaiden ranked twelfth during the week of December 22 to 28 2014, selling 1,653 copies.[47] andThe Monkey Perm 3 DVD-Box Deluxe Edition Gaiden ranked third during the week of February 1 to 7 2016, selling 1,123 copies.[48]
In his review of the anime DVD, Chris Beveridge ofThe Fandom Post describes the story as very simple and straightforward, sayingSaiyuki Gaiden is a very entertaining miniseries that plays it seriously. He said there are moments of levity that fit the situation, calling the story enjoyable, and the animation and character design lovely.[49] In his review of anime Blu-ray, Beveridge praised the OVA series, said the style used in the anime is relatively good, and stated "Saiyuki Gaiden fully reveals the events that took place in Heaven, which in turn created bonds that eventually shook its pillars so strongly"; he also compares the moments of the anime to a lightness and softness that fits with the situation.[50]
^峰倉かずや「最遊記外伝」アニメ化はクライマックス部分.Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. June 28, 2010.Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. RetrievedAugust 15, 2022.「最遊記外伝」...その後掲載誌をゼロサムWARD（一迅社）に移し、2009年7月号まで連載されていた。
^峰倉「最遊記外伝」が5月完結、作品への質問募集中.Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. March 21, 2009.Archived from the original on July 17, 2022. RetrievedJuly 17, 2022.ゼロサムWARD（一迅社）にて連載中の峰倉かずやの人気コミック「最遊記外伝」が、5月16日発売の同誌No.009にて最終回を迎える。
^峰倉かずや「最遊記外伝」ゼロサムWARD No.009で最終回.Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. May 17, 2009.Archived from the original on October 23, 2022. RetrievedJuly 17, 2022.5月16日発売のゼロサムWARD No.009（一迅社）にて、峰倉かずやの人気作品「最遊記外伝」が最終回を迎えた。
^最遊記外伝 (1) (in Japanese).Ichijinsha. December 28, 2005.Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. RetrievedJuly 19, 2022.
^最遊記外伝 (4) (in Japanese).Ichijinsha. July 25, 2009.Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. RetrievedJuly 19, 2022.
.jpg)
