Romance of the Three Kingdoms (2009 animation)

Chinese-Japanese anime television series

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" 2009 animation – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (June 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Romance of the Three Kingdoms

三國演義
Genre| Historical fiction
Anime television series
Directed by| Zhao Huayong
Studio| Beijing Huihuang Animation Company
Future Planet
SEK Studio (subcontractor)
Original network| CCTV, TV Tokyo
Original run|  2009  –  2010
Episodes| 52

Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Chinese: 三国演义 Sānguóyănyì; Japanese: 最強武将伝 三国演義 Saikyō bushō-den sangokuengi) is a 2009 animated television series based on the classic 14th century novel of the same name by Luo Guanzhong joint produced by the Beijing Huihuang Animation Company of China and Future Planet of Japan. It was broadcast in Japan starting April 2010.

## Production

[edit]

This is a collaboration between Beijing Huihuang Animation, an animation production company under the umbrella of China Central Television (CCTV), and Future Planet Corporation, a Japanese video planning and production company. The production cost was 650 million yen. Takara Tomy releases figures for the Japan-China joint production of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms: The Strongest Generals". The production period was 25 months (although some articles claim it was four years), and a total of more than 2,000 staff members were involved in the production. A Japanese anime director provided the storyboard manuscript, and the Chinese side produced the animation. It was produced in the form of.[1] In mainland China, the series began broadcasting on CCTV-8 (TV Drama Channel) in August 2009.

While many of the film adaptations of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms end with the Battle of Red Cliffs, this work depicts the unification of China by the Jin. For example, the first episode carefully depicts the events leading up to Diao Chan's adoption by Wang Yun, intertwined with the depiction of the turbulent times, while the story moves quickly from the Oath of the Peach Garden to the suppression of the Yellow Turban Rebellion and Zhang Fei's beating of the governor. While some episodes, such as the Battle of Red Cliffs, are depicted over several episodes, many episodes are omitted or shortened, and are done with narration. In the Japanese dubbed version, the characters are referred to by their surnames and given names, perhaps to prioritize clarity.[1]

Takara Tomy, a major Japanese toy manufacturer, also invested 250 million yen into the production costs, and the company is importing and selling merchandise related to the series, such as figurines and card games. To commemorate HoriPro's 50th anniversary, a star-studded cast of voice actors will be cast in the "Sangoku Engi" series, in which heroes compete for supremacy, which will begin airing in April.[2]

Future Planet, the Japanese production company, was already in financial trouble before the series aired, and was unable to pay the production costs it was supposed to cover, so it transferred the rights to the series that it held to another production company. The company dismissed all of its employees on July 31, 2010, and was filed for bankruptcy by its creditors on August 26. It received a decision to commence bankruptcy proceedings on September 29.[3][4] The series cost ¥650 million (US$7.8 million).[5]

## Japanese version

[edit]

The series was exhibited at the 2009 Tokyo International Anime Fair in March 2009, and a promotional video was released in which the Chinese voices of characters such as Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei were subtitled in Japanese.

In March 2010, it was officially decided that the Japanese version would be broadcast, and a press conference was held to announce the program. At the event, it was announced that the program would be called the "50th Anniversary Program of Horipro" in Japan, and that actors and talents affiliated with Horipro would be providing the voices and narration for the main characters, as well as about half of the characters appearing in the work.

With the broadcast of this work, the "Jewelpet (anime)|Jewelpet" series, which had been broadcast in this time slot as the successor to the "Onegai My Melody" series, was moved to a local sales slot produced by TV Tokyo. In addition, the nationally-broadcast anime program produced by TV Osaka|tvo in the same time slot, which had been running for about 13 years since "Magical Stage Fancy Lala", will end with this work, and will be on a 9-year hiatus until "Tomica Kizuna Gattai Earth Granner" starts in April 2020.

There is also a DVD version of this work, [citation needed], and a rental version was sold in all 13 volumes.[6]

## Theme Song

[edit]

### Chinese Version

[edit]

Opening Song "A Handful of Country in Hand" (Earth Chapter)

Lyrics: Wu Xiaotian/Composer: Zhang Junpeng/Singer: Zhang Jia

Ending Song "Continuous Flow" (Water Chapter)

Lyrics: Wu Xiaotian/Composer: Ma Jun/Singer: Wu Wei

Opening Song "Dreams Are Burning" (Fire Chapter)

Lyrics: Wu Xiaotian/Composer: Ma Jun/Singer: Tang Zixing

Opening Song "Fighting" (Gold Chapter)

Lyrics: Wu Xiaotian/Composer: Ma Jun/Singer: Wang Qing

Ending Song "Four Seasons" (Wood Chapter)

Lyrics: Wu Xiaotian/Composer: Li Yongchang/Singer: Zeng Li

[a]

### Japanese version

[edit]

Opening theme "风の会話"

Lyrics: Akuyuu/Composition: Suzuki Kisaburo/Arranger: Yamashita Kosuke/Singer: Sasaki Isao
Published by Columbia Music Entertainment

This song is a combination of lyrics from the collection of lyrics written by Akyuu before his death, "Shuki Shimoroshi Kameku" ("Book of Songs"), and the music.  ; Ending theme of episodes 1-26 "Love is falling from the stars"

Lyrics: Iwasato Yuho/ Composition and arrangement: Sagisu Shiro/ Singer: May'n
Released by Flying DOG (Flying Dog)

Ending theme of episodes 27-52 "Yurali Yurala"

Lyrics, composition, arrangement, singing: Nakajima Takumi/ String arrangement: Kikutani Tomoki
Released by Zetima (ゼティマ)/UP-FRONT WORKS（アップフロントワークス)

## Related Products

[edit]

### DVD

[edit]

* "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" Collector's Edition DVD (Published by China International Television Corporation, upper and lower parts 2-in-1, 10 discs, mpeg-2 pal letter box 16:9)
* "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" Part 1 (DVD-5 1-26 episodes included) ISRC CN-A03-08-407-00/V.J9
* "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" Part 2 (DVD-5 27-52 episodes included) ISRC CN-A03-09-356-00/V.J9

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Hong Kong version opening theme "The Yangtze River Flows East" Lyrics: Chen Shihui/Composition: Yip Zhaozhong/Singer: Tang Jianwang

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Tencent Anime, Watch Anime (2009-08-25). "Animation giant "Three Kingdoms Romance" main author interview". Three Kingdoms in Hand (in Chinese (China)). Retrieved 2023-11-28.Archive link of the original article (only the first page can be viewed).
2. ^ "英雄達が覇を競う「最強武将伝 三国演義」、ホリプロ50周年記念で豪華俳優陣を声優起用して4月から放送中 - GIGAZINE". gigazine.net (in Japanese). 2010-04-22. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
3. ^ "映像企画制作の「フューチャー・プラネット」が破産決定受け倒産 国内倒産 - 不景気.com". www.fukeiki.com. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
4. ^ "严正声明：未来行星株式会社倒闭与《三国演义》毫无关联- 少儿台". shaoer.cntv.cn. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
5. ^ "Three Kingdoms' Future Planet Studio Files for Bankruptcy (Updated)". Anime News Network. 2010-10-06. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
6. ^ "TSUTAYA 店舗". store-tsutaya.tsite.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-06-05.

## External links

[edit]

* Romance of Three Kingdoms (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia

* v
* t
* e

Luo Guanzhong's Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Based on the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period of China

Fictitious subplots|

* Oath of the Peach Garden
* The Three Visits

Characters|

| Historical|

* Liu Bei
* Guan Yu
* Zhang Fei
* Zhuge Liang
* Cao Cao
* Sun Quan
* Zhou Yu

|

Fictional|

* Diaochan
* Guan Suo
* Lady Li
* Zhou Cang

Adaptations and other derivative works

Theatre|

* Jeokbyeokga
* Red Cliff (Peking opera) (2008)

Films|

* Dingjun Mountain (1905)
* The Witty Sorcerer (1931)
* Diao Chan (1938)
* Diau Charn (1958)
* Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon (2008)
* Red Cliff (2008)
* The Lost Bladesman (2011)
* The Assassins (2012)
* Shadow (2018)
* Dynasty Warriors (2021)

TV|

| Animated|

* Yokoyama Mitsuteru Sangokushi (1991)
* Ginga Sengoku Gun'yūden Rai (1994)
* Chūka Ichiban! (1997)
* Ikki Tousen (2003)
* Gintama (2006)
* Kōtetsu Sangokushi (2007)
* Yawaraka Sangokushi Tsukisase!! Ryofuko-chan (2007)
* Sōten Kōro (2009)
* Romance of the Three Kingdoms (2009)
* SD Gundam Sangokuden Brave Battle Warriors (2010)
* Prison School (2015)
* Soul Buster (2016)
* SD Gundam World Sangoku Soketsuden (2019)
* SD Gundam World Heroes (2021)
* Record of Ragnarok (2021)
* Fantasia Sango - Realm of Legends (2022)
* Ya Boy Kongming! (2022)
* The Ravages of Time (2023)

|

Live action|

* God of River Lok (1975)
* The Legendary Prime Minister – Zhuge Liang (1985)
* Zhuge Liang (1985)
* Romance of the Three Kingdoms (1994)
* Guan Gong (1996)
* The Legend of Guan Gong (2002)
* Where the Legend Begins (2002)
* K.O.3an Guo (2009)
* Three Kingdoms (2010)
* Three Kingdoms RPG (2012)
* Cao Cao (2015)
* God of War, Zhao Yun (2016)
* The Advisors Alliance (2017)

Video games|

* Romance of the Three Kingdoms (1985)
* Dynasty Wars (1989)
* Warriors of Fate (1992)
* Sango Fighter (1993)
* Dynasty Warriors (1997)
* Dynasty Tactics series (2002)
* Fantasia Sango (2003)
* Warriors Orochi series (2007)
* Knights of Valour (1999)
* Destiny of an Emperor (1989)
* The Legend of Three Kingdoms (1998)
* Three Kingdoms: Fate of the Dragon (2001)
* Kessen II (2001)
* Dragon Throne: Battle of Red Cliffs (2002)
* Sangokushi Taisen (2005)
* Koihime Musō (2007)
* Heroes of Three Kingdoms (2009)
* Atlantica Online: Three Kingdoms (2011)
* Total War: Three Kingdoms (2019)
* Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty (2023)

Comics and manga|

* Sangokushi (1971)
* Tenchi wo Kurau (1983)
* Ginga Sengoku Gun'yūden Rai (1989)
* Three Kingdoms (1991)
* Ryūrōden (1993)
* Sōten Kōro (1994)
* Chūka Ichiban! (1995)
* Ikki Tousen (2000)
* The Ravages of Time (2001)
* Qwan (2002)
* Dragon Sister! (2002)
* Gintama (2003)
* Lord (2004)
* SD Gundam Sangokuden: Romance of the Three Kingdoms (2007)
* Yawaraka Sangokushi Tsukisase!! Ryofuko-chan (2007)
* Prison School (2011)
* Soul Buster (2016)
* Record of Ragnarok (2017)
* SD Gundam World Sangoku Soketsuden (2019)
* Ya Boy Kongming! (2019)

Card games|

* Portal Three Kingdoms (1997)
* Sangokushi Taisen (2005)
* Legends of the Three Kingdoms (2008)
* Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game : Ignition Assault and Eternity Code

* v
* t
* e

China Central Television shows

Variety shows|

* Sing My Song
* 1
* 2
* 3
* The Great Challenge
* Lucky 52

Drama series|

* Journey to the West
* Dream of the Red Chamber
* Romance in the Rain
* Towards the Republic
* See Without Looking
* Ancient Legends
* The Han Triumph
* Huang Yanpei
* Moment in Peking
* Mad Detective Di Renjie
* The Myth
* Will You Marry Me and My Family
* 1911 Revolution
* Run Daddy Run
* Kong Que Ling
* Melody of Youth
* Twin of Brothers (2011)
* Destiny by Love
* Mao Zedong
* Battle of Changsha
* Deng Xiaoping at History's Crossroads
* Marshal Peng Dehuai
* Amazing Detective Di Renjie
* Taiwan 1895

Documentaries|

* The Internet Age
* Approaching Science
* River Elegy
* A Bite of China
* Travelogue
* News Probe
* Rediscovering the Yangtze River
* The Rise of the Great Powers
* Yuanfang De Jia

Animations|

* A.U
* Black Cat Detective
* The Blue Mouse and the Big Faced Cat
* Boonie Bears
* The Dreaming Girl
* Journey to the West – Legends of the Monkey King
* Little Cherry
* Magic Boy Kitchener
* Romance of the Three Kingdoms
* Shaolin Wuzang
* Wanderings of Sanmao
* The King of Tibetan Antelope
* The Dibidogs
* Tortoise Hanba's Stories
* AI Football GGO
* Fuwa
* Stitch & Ai
* Egg Car

Other shows|

* Lecture Room
* Growing up with Chinese
* Culture Express
* The Same Song
* Tell It Like It Is
* Travel in Chinese
* Xinwen Lianbo
* China Today
* Chinese Characters Dictation Competition (Chinese Poetry Congress)
* Kunlun Fight
* Wumpa's World

Television special|

* CMG New Year's Gala

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template