The Legend of the Four Kings
| Sohryuden: Legend of the Dragon Kings | |
Cover of the first novel of Sohryuden
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創竜伝 (Sōryūden) |
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| Novel series | |
| Written by | Yoshiki Tanaka |
| Illustrated by |
Yoshitaka Amano (Novels), Clamp (Bunko) |
| Published by | Kodansha |
| Original run | August 5, 1987 – present |
| Volumes | 13 |
| Original video animation | |
| Directed by |
Hisayuki Toriumi Kyosuke Mikuriya Norio Kashima |
| Produced by | Masatoshi Tahara |
| Written by | Akinori Endo |
| Music by | Hiroyuki Nanba |
| Studio | Kitty Films |
| Licensed by | |
| Released | 1991 – 1993 |
| Episodes | 12 |
| Manga | |
| Suito no Yonkyōdai Sōryūden Gaiden | |
| Written by | CLAMP |
| Published by | Kadokawa Shoten |
| Magazine | Monthly Mystery DX |
| Original run | February 1994 – April 1994 |
| Manga | |
| Sōryūden | |
| Written by | Megumi Koji |
| Published by | Kodansha |
| Magazine | Magazine Special |
| Original run | June 2004 – January 2006 |
| Volumes | 5 |
Sohryuden: Legend of the Dragon Kings (Japanese: 創竜伝 Hepburn: Sōryūden) is a set of novels based loosely on Chinese mythology.
It was written by Yoshiki Tanaka in collaboration with Japanese illustrator Yoshitaka Amano (Kodansha Novels edition) and manga artist group Clamp (Kodansha bunkobon). It is written with a humorous and satirical tone. It is published to the 13th volume as of 2005.
On July 24, 2008, at San Diego Comic-Con, North American publisher Del Rey announced that they have secured the license to the Sohryuden novel series. This would have been the first work by Yoshiki Tanaka to be released in English. This was projected to be released in 2009, but was seen on online bookstores as having a 2011 release date. Due to the closure of Del Rey, the release has been cancelled.
The story features four divine Dragon Kings, rulers of the four parts of the world according to Chinese myths. The brothers are reborn in the modern world, complete with supernatural powers and the ability to become the Dragons which are their true forms. They are content to live ordinary lives as long as nobody meddles with them.
It becomes the mission of the four brothers to defeat the "Four Sisters", organization headed by four tycoons from America connected with the "Bulls" - enemies of the Dragons who have received ownership of the Western half of the world while the Dragons keep rule over the Eastern half of the world - before they use their control over technology and the economy to take over the world. However, as this battle begins, the four brothers must also find their place in the world as they flee from the destructive will of the "Bulls".
The contents to the 1st through the 6th volumes of an original novel serve as a base for the animation.
Sohryuden has been released as a 12 episode animated series. Each episode is about 45 minutes. In the U.S., Central Park Media has released all of the series on both VHS and DVD. The new releases came out November 22, 2005.
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