Zenki | ABS-CBN - 90's

Zenki was an Filipino dubbed Japanese animated series which first aired in ABS-CBN around the late 90's. 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



Zenki Opening Theme 2
Zenki Series 2nd Intro

Zenki was probably the most memorable anime character for a 90's 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 90's 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: