Spiritpact
Chinese manhua adapted into a cross-border animated series.
**Spiritpact** (Chinese: 灵契; pinyin: *Ling Qi*) is a Chinese web manhua created by Pingzi and released through Tencent Comic. It was later turned into an animated series, with Japanese screenwriter Reiko Torii and Chinese director Li Haoling handling the adaptation. The animation was produced by Haoliners’ South Korean branch. The series first streamed in China from June 21 to November 1, 2016, then aired in Japan on Tokyo MX from January 7 to March 11, 2017. Outside Asia, it was available on Crunchyroll.
**Characters**
**You Keika** (Chinese: 杨敬华, pinyin: Yang Jinghua) Voiced by Yūichi Iguchi (Japanese) and Li Lanling (Chinese). He is the heir to a long line of famous exorcists and a direct descendant of You Nei, capable of wielding the sword Rakugetsu. After his parents died, he lived in poverty, working part-time as a fortune teller and computer repairman. One night at a junkyard, he encountered Tanmoku-ki fighting an evil spirit. Shortly after, he died in an accident and became a spirit. Tanmoku-ki then asked him to form a “pact,” making You Keika his spirit shadow. Keika is carefree but occasionally emotional. Initially weak and unable to fight, he later grows powerful and is called the Most Powerful Spirit Shadow. After learning more about Ki, he swears loyalty and vows to protect him at all costs.
**Tanmoku Ki** (Chinese: 端木熙, pinyin: Duanmu Xi) Voiced by Shunsuke Takeuchi (Japanese) and Liu Mingyue (Chinese). He is the 13th Youmeshi and head of the Tanmoki family, the most powerful exorcist lineage, and a descendant of Tanmoku Rakugetsu. Born illegitimate, he was summoned by the main family after his parents died. He formed a pact with You Keika. Ki is fiercely protective of Keika, even ordering that no one may punish Keika, regardless of what he does. He also gives Keika the sword Rakugetsu. His fiancée is Shin Shiyou. Right after Keika’s death, Ki saw Rakugetsu’s spirit appear and made a bet: if he could keep Keika’s soul intact for a year, Rakugetsu would stop. Ki has a cold demeanor toward everyone, including his grandmother (his only ally in the household) and his fiancée, but he cares deeply for Keika. He possesses immense spiritual power. To keep his body pure, he avoids meat and injuries—he cannot receive blood transfusions even if severely hurt. As a child, a scratch from Rakugetsu sealed part of his power, which he regains when t
- type
- Web manhua and animated series
- creator
- Pingzi
- publisher
- Tencent (Tencent Comic)
- release_period
- Animated series: June 21 – November 1, 2016 (China); January 7 – March 11, 2017 (Japan on Tokyo MX)
- medium
- Manhua, donghua (animated series)
- notable_for
- Chinese-Japanese co-produced animated adaptation; story of exorcists and spirit pacts
Lore & Background
The story follows You Keika, heir of an old exorcist family, who after dying in an accident becomes a spirit and forms a pact with Tanmoku Ki, the 13th Youmeshi and head of the powerful Tanmoki exorcist family. Keika becomes Ki's spirit shadow, gaining power over time and eventually being called The Most Powerful Spirit Shadow. Ki, though cold to others, cares deeply for Keika and protects him unconditionally.
Other characters include Shin Shiyou, Ki's fiancée who is jealous of Keika but trusts him; Intetsu, a demon master bound to Mount Ura; and Tanmoku Rakugetsu, Ki's ancestor who became corrupted and was sealed by his servant Shisei using the sword Rakugetsu. The series also features family intrigue, with Tanmoku Jiyun and Tanmoku Jimei plotting against Ki, and Shito Ritsu bearing a grudge against Ki for unclear reasons.
The animated series aired in China online from June 21 to November 1, 2016, and in Japan from January 7 to March 11, 2017 on Tokyo MX. The opening theme is 'MUGENDAI' by Yu Jiaoyan, and the ending theme is 'Endless Stories' by RiyO.
Reader's Guide
Spiritpact represents a notable example of Chinese-Japanese collaboration in animation, with a Chinese director and Japanese screenwriter working with a South Korean animation studio. The series explores themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the bonds between exorcists and their spirit shadows. Its release on Crunchyroll brought it to an international audience outside Asia. The manhua's publication on Tencent Comic, a major Chinese digital platform, underscores the growing reach of Chinese webcomics. The character dynamics, particularly the protective relationship between Ki and Keika, and the unresolved grudges of characters like Shito Ritsu, contribute to the series' narrative depth. The legacy of Spiritpact lies in its cross-cultural production model and its adaptation of a Chinese webcomic into an anime-style series for both Chinese and Japanese markets.
Did You Know?
- The animated series was animated by the South Korean branch of Haoliners.
- Tanmoku Ki cannot eat meat or receive blood transfusions due to the need to keep his body pure.
- The sword Rakugetsu was created from the arm of Shisei, a loyal servant of Tanmoku Rakugetsu.
- You Keika is a direct descendant of You Nei, also known as Shisei.
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