Origami Warriors

Origami Warriors
摺紙戰士
Genre	Superhero, Science fiction
Author	Jhou Sian-Zong
Publisher	Ching Win (Taiwan)
Volumes	22

Origami Warriors (Taiwanese translation: Origami Fighters, Chinese: 摺紙戰士) is a Taiwanese comic book created by Jhou Sian-Zong and published by the Ching Win Company. This comic series includes the original series published volume in 1996 and 22 volumes in total, then Origami Fighters G published volume in 2003 and 19 volumes in total, and Origami Fighters A published volume in 2019 and in progress. It also released two one volume side stories Origami Fighters X (2009) and Origami Fighters F (2014), and two independent short stories Origami Q Fighters (one volume) and Origami Fighters W (digital only, it's full color comic).

An animated adaptation, with significant differences, was created by a Korean studio. Reminiscent of 2000's "monster collecting" anime, including a cast akin to the archetypes that would appear in said shows. An English dub for the adaptation was later made by Vitello Productions, and featured voice actors notable for roles in American cartoons. The dub, however, was scarcely distributed.

Plot

The story begins one night, a mysterious archaeologist Dakr Wolf comes to visit Jher's dad, but was attacked by a Origami Fighter who claimed to be a member of Black League, then Dakr also transformed into the Origami Fighter and defeated him. This was the first time Jher and his parents knew about Origami Fighters.

Jher accidentally found a origami manual and some paper left behind by Dakr, and took them to school to share with his friends Lian and Su Dai-Zhi.They summoned the origami spirits, the flower, crane, and dragon spirits, but were chased by a Origami Fighter of Black League. In order to save themselves, Jher made a contract with the dragon spirit and transformed into the Origami Fighter Red Sky Dragon. Later, Su Dai-Zhi and Lian also transformed into Violet Crane and Yellow Flower Fairy, and Pizi, their classmate and Miss Lyu, their teacher were also involved in the incidents. Then Kuang Long, the son of the chief of Black League also join them.

The purpose of Black League is to rule the world through the power of the Spirit World, where the origami spirits live and the magic of Origami Fighters comes from. Therefore Jher and the others fight against Black League. However in the first decisive battle, they were still defeated by the chief of Black League who transforms into Golden Dragon Emperor, and then he went to the Spirit World.

When they woke up a few months later, the world had changed dramatically. A large number of Origami Fighter-turned-monsters appeared on the Earth. They were discovered to have invaded Earth from five ruins around the world. The Black League plan to connect online the Spirit World to the five ruins and trigger the sealing light ball, this will cause large-scale destruction of the ruins and the surrounding areas, with it will also allow the Spirit World to appear on Earth. After a series of arduous battles, Jher and the others successfully traveled from the last ruins to the Spirit World.

They were shocked to discover that the Spirit World is actually located on the moon. The Origami Fighters and related system are actually products of ancient civilization dragon people clan. Because the genetic monsters they were trying to create got out of control, they taking the entire Spirit World to the moon and using the heat of the atmosphere to destroy the monsters, however they ended up staying on the moon and becoming extinct. The Black League plan to bring the Spirit World return to the Earth under the guidance of the five ruins, but this will cause the moon to hit the Earth and trigger mass extinction while they only have days left to stop it.

At the same time they accidentally discovered Stunning Color system, the last product left by the dragon people clan. Through this system Jher successfully transformed into Stunning Color Sky Dragon. With the help of the United Earth Forces, they successfully restrained Black League. However, because they shut down the power reactor of moon, this gave the eight magic gods (six elemental gods and the Spirit God and Demon), who were bound by the dragon people clan to the Spirit World, the opportunity to merge into one and restore their true giant body and memory, Chaos God, and heading straight towards the Earth.

Despite turning off its power reactor, the moon continues to approach Earth. They could only rely on Jher's dad who transforms into Silver Battle Mouse to use special magic to open the dimensional door and use gravity to attract the moon back to its original orbit. This eventually led to Jher's parents disappearing into the dimension.

The Chaos God lurked on Earth for a year in order to reshape human civilization. Jher and Kuang Long fight on the front lines, then the others also went to the front lines to support them after obtaining the prototype Stunning Color armors. They finally broke through the defense line, approached Chaos God's base, and started a fierce battle with Dark Demon Dragon Emperor, who was the chief of Black League was transformed into a cyborg by Chaos God. Finally Kuang Long sadly hit Dark Demon Dragon Emperor's soul storage device, causing him to lose his soul.

Then Chaos God began to absorb the power of the sealing light ball of five ruins and planned to start transforming the world. After everyone fought hard, Stunning Color Sky Dragon's power awakened, which this system was designed to fight Chaos God, and stopped his plan. At this moment, many "Chaos Gods" crossed over from the dimensional space. It turns out that they are spiritual beings from the same dimensional as Chaos God, who is actually a professor and is trying to influence other dimensions with technology, so he is being hunted.

In the end these spiritual beings destroyed most of the ancient civilization ruins including the Spirit World of moon, that Chaos God had left behind. In order to find Jher's parents and restore Lian's memory (Since Lian had been resurrected from the dead before, she lost her memory about Jher), Jher and Lian also went to their dimension. They were told that due to the different flow rates of time, they might not be able to return to Earth in the short term.

Twenty-five years later, Stunning Color Sky Dragon became the legend hero of saving the world. Humanity once again used the remaining data to develop a new origami system. Origami Fighters also moved towards a new generation.

Concept

Origami Fighters in the original series are super fighters formed by the fusion of human and origami spirit when they made a contract. After merging with spirit, they will also become the potential beast human (including plant fighters). Then in Origami Fighters G, Origami Fighters generally refer to people who use origami armor and summon spirit to use magic to fight. Although there is no need to fuse with spirit, the main characters are the descendants of beast humans, or modified beast humans and possess beast human genes.

In the original series, Origami Fighters are divided into twelve levels based on the color of the Origami Transformation Talisman. From highest to lowest are gold, silver, black, grey, white, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. If a low-level Origami Fighter defeats a high-level Origami Fighter, the low-level one will be promoted to the opponent's level.

Colors other than the twelve colors are the Origami Gadget Talisman.These can be used to summon any origami gadgets, weapons, means of transport, or guardians (usually as giant robots), except dragon head origami which only for use with Fighter Transformation Talisman / the origami for summoning spirit. The Gadget Talisman can be disassembled and reused and the Fighter Transformation Origami cannot be changed once it is folded complete.

In Origami Fighters G, since the Spirit World was destroyed, they used the new Stunning Color system (絕色系統) with no color levels.

Characters

Main characters

Wang Zhi-Zher / Wang Jhih-Jher (王志哲)

The main protagonist. His nickname is Jher (小哲 Xiao-Zher). He as a fifth-grade elementary school student at the beginning.

His name 志哲 meaning "ambition" and "philosophy", while is also the inverted homonym of 摺紙 (zher-zhi, origami), and combined with his surname 王 (Wang, king), it's homonym of "origami king".

• Origami Fighter species: Legendary animals
• Elemental power (Magic type): Fire
• Fighter's special ability: Instant acceleration
• Spirit: Sky Dragon (天龍) (Dragon spirit)
• Transformation: Red Sky Dragon (紅色天龍) → Violet Sky Dragon (紫色天龍) → Black Sky Dragon (黑色天龍) → Stunning Color Sky Dragon (絕色天龍^[1]) → Phantom Color Sky Dragon (幻色天龍) (in Origami Fighters A)

Zeng Li-Lian (曾麗蓮)

Jher's childhood friend. Her nickname is Lian (小蓮 Xiao-Lian), meaning "lotus".

• Origami Fighter species: Plants
• Elemental power (Magic type): Wood
• Fighter's special ability: Cures physical wounds
• Spirit: Lily (莉莉) (Flower spirit)
• Transformation: Yellow Flower Fairy (黃色花仙) → White Flower Fairy (白色花仙) → Stunning Color Flower Fairy (絕色花仙) (armor forme) → Stunning Color Flying Phoenix (絕色飛鳳) (in Origami Fighters X)

Su Dai-Zhi (蘇代止)

Jher and Lian's childhood friend. His nickname is Shudaizi (書呆子, meaning "bookworm", a homonym of Su Dai-Zhi)

• Origami Fighter species: Birds
• Elemental power (Magic type): Wind
• Fighter's special ability: Flight and enables others to fly
• Spirit: Bert (伯特) (Crane spirit)
• Transformation: Violet Crane (紫色靈鶴) → Orange Crane (橙色靈鶴) → Black Crane (黑色靈鶴) → Stunning Color Crane (絕色靈鶴) (armor forme)

Bi Zhi (畢直)

Jher and the others's classmate. His nickname is Pizi (痞子, meaning "ruffian", a homonym of Bi Zhi, while it has a bit of a humorous meaning here)

• Transformation: Golden Wandering Dragon (金色遊龍)

Kuang Long (狂龍)

Son of the chief of Black League.

His name 狂龍 meaning "wild dragon".

• Transformation: Black Wild Dragon (黑色狂龍)

Dakr Wolf (達克·沃夫)

His name is a transcription of the word "dark".

• Transformation: Blue Werewolf (藍色狼人) → Green Werewolf (綠色狼人) → Grey Lightning Wolf (閃電灰狼) → Stunning Color Running Wolf (絕色奔狼) (armor forme)

Lyu Mei-Si (呂美斯) / Miss Lyu (呂老師, meaning "Teacher Lyu")

• Transformation: White Off-road Bunny (白色越野兔) → Black Off-road Bunny (黑色越野兔) → Stunning Color Off-road Bunny (絕色越野兔) (armor forme)

Yi-Shan (宜珊)

• Transformation: Yellow Sunflower (黃色向日葵) → Orange Sunflower (橙色向日葵) → Red Sunflower (紅色向日葵) → Plant Beast Human

Bell (貝兒)

• Transformation: Silver Breaking-sky Phoenix (破空銀鳳) → Stunning Color Wonder Phoenix (絕色神鳳) (armor forme)

Others

Wang Dong-Dian (王動殿) / Dr. Wang (王博士)

Jher's dad.

His name 王動殿 is the inverted homonym of 電動王 (dian dong wang, video game king).

• Transformation: Silver Battle Mouse (銀色戰鼠^[2])

Mei-Yu (美玉)

Jher's mom.

• Transformation: Violet Cloud Owl (紫色雲梟) → Red Cloud Owl (紅色雲梟)

Wu Qing (吳擎)

The captain of Police Tactical Unit, later the commander in chief of United Earth Forces / Asia division. He is a character who is both good and evil.

His name 吳擎 is a homonym of 無情 (wu-qing, ruthless).

• Transformation: Silver Fighting Snake (銀色鬥蛇)

Su Bu-Qi (蘇步棋)

Su Dai-Zhi's dad who as a soldier.

Black League

Kuang Yan-Yi-Lang (狂炎一郎, since it is Japanese name, its Japanese pronunciation is probably Kyo Enichiro)

The chief of Black League.

• Transformation: Golden Dragon Emperor (金色龍皇) → Dark Demon Dragon Emperor (闇魔龍皇)

Black Rose (黑玫瑰)

The deputy chief of Black League. She can transform into Black Rose (黑色玫瑰) and use wood magic.

Heliu (希留)

The one of three major bodyguards of Black League. He can transform into White Flying Dragon (白色飛龍) and use water magic.

Bellter (蓓兒特)

The one of three major bodyguards of Black League. She can transform into Silver Breaking-sky Phoenix and use wind magic.

Leo (里歐)

The one of three major bodyguards of Black League. He can transform into Grey Earth Lion (大地灰獅) and use earth magic. Later he can transforms into the multiple experimental subject, combine the power of three origami Grey Earth Lion, Red Hawk and Violet Poisonous Snake, and can use earth, wind and electric three type magic.

Animated adaptation

An animated television series based on the comic book was produced by Dong Woo Animation and debuted in Taiwan in 2004. It aired in Japan on TV Tokyo in 2005; and in 2006, it became the first Taiwanese cartoon shown on South Korean television when it premiered on SBS. The staff include animators from Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea.

Beside borrowing the idea of origami from the comic series, the story and characters of the animation series are greatly altered. Instead of combining with their Genies to become Origami Warriors, the characters simply summon their Genies. Also, instead of the various adventures and the results of world war in the original series, the characters are all competitors of the "Origami Combat Competition". The character designs are also more contemporary of 2000's anime rather than the manhua's style, reminiscient of 1980's manga. The series is also less violent than the original source material.

The first episode was dubbed into English in 2008 by Vitello Productions as a sales pilot, which localized character names, had new music and featured the voices of Rob Paulsen, Kath Soucie and Cam Clarke.^[3] This English dubbed episode was available on Toon Goggles, until 2017.

Characters

Wang Zhi-Zher / Wang Jhih-Jher (王志哲, ワン・ジージェ Wan Jīje) / Rico

Voiced by: Wang Ji-Cheol (Korean), Rob Paulsen (English)

Zeng Li-Lian (曾麗蓮, ゼン・リーリャン Zen Rīrian) / Jasmine

Voiced by: Jeong Yeo-Rin (Korean), Kath Soucie (English)

Su Dai-Zhi (蘇代止, スー・タイジ Sū Daiji) / Atticus

Voiced by: Seo Dae-Jin (Korean), Cam Clarke (English)

Bi Zhi (畢直, ブルタンク Burutanku) / Korean: Toongi (퉁이)

DaKr / Dark (達克, ダーキー Dākī) / Hyeon, Dal-Kook (현달국, 玄達國)

Kuang Long (狂龍, マシュー・クァン Mashū Kuan) / Kwang Yong (광룡, 狂龍)

Staff

• Original work: "Origami Warriors" by Jhou Sian-Zong (周顯宗)
• Production: Origami Warriors Committee
• Setting: Jo Jang Hee/Junki Takegami
• Brochure: Kim Eon Jeong/Yasuo Shizuya, Sakachi Ohashi, Takashi Yamada, Tadashi Hayakawa
• Character design: Wi Hyeon Soo/Hiroyuki Taiga, Matsushita Hiromi/Kazuko Tadano
• Artwork: Jang Yoon cheol/Katsuhiro Hashi
• Color design: Lee Seon ho/Rumiko Nagai
• Technical director: Nam Goong jin
• Marketing: Han Jeong Hoon, Kim Eun Joo, Bak Chung Seok, Kook Yeong Ja
• Advertising: Bae Seon Yeong
• Web-based creators: Yoon Joon yeong/Jeong In Soo
• Design: Song Cheong Hwa/Moon Se Rim
• Creative producers: Lee Kyeong Sook/Kim Jae Young/Kwon Yeong Sook
• Producers: Kwon Ho Jin/Seong Ha Mook/No Jeong Hyeon
• Animation production: Hong Jemina/Kang Seok Woo, Kim Jeong Kyoo/An Yoo Seop
• Directors: Park Woo Hyun/Ami Tomobuki

Music

The opening and ending themes are performed by TVXQ.

"Free your mind"

• Song composer: Kim Yeong Hoo
• Music composer: Kim Yeong Hoo/William Pyeon
• Lab creation: Brian Joo
• Vocals: TVXQ

"Your LOVE is all I need"

• Song composer: Steven "SJ" Lee
• Music composer: JoJo Bee
• Vocals: DBSK

Reception

Origami Warriors won the 2002 award for most popular children's comic from the Chinese Publishers' Foundation and the Comic Artist Labor Union in Taipei.^[4]

References