Under One Person
Chinese webcomic adapted into anime, drama, and film.
Under One Person (Chinese: 一人之下; pinyin: Yi Ren Zhi Xia; lit. 'Under One Person'), also known by the subtitle *The Outcast*, is a Chinese webcomic created by Dong Man Tang, illustrated by Mi Er, and released by Tencent. It originally debuted in February 2015 under the title *Yi Ren* (literally "Weirdo") with the subtitle *King of the Weirdo*.
The story follows college student Chou Soran, whose life is upended after a zombie attack at his grandfather’s grave. A mysterious knife-wielding girl named Fu Hōhō rescues him, and Soran soon discovers that the martial arts technique his grandfather taught him—Kitaigen—is sought after by various groups with hidden agendas. He sets out to uncover his grandfather’s true past and his connection to Fu Hōhō.
Key characters include Zhang Chulan (Chō Soran), the inheritor of Kitaigen; Feng Baobao (Fū Hōhō), a youthful Outsider with no formal training but deadly with a knife; Xu San (Jo San) and Xu Si (Jo Yon), employees of the Express Delivery Company that harbors Outsiders; and Liu Yanyan (Ryu Kenken), who can control zombies. Other notable figures include Zhang Xilin (Chō Shakurin), the grandfather who originated the Kitaigen technique, and members of the Zensei organization and Tenshifu martial arts group.
A collaborative Chinese/Japanese anime adaptation titled *Hitori no Shita: The Outcast* aired from July 9 to September 24, 2016. A second season ran from January 16 to June 26, 2018, simulcast in both Chinese and Japanese. The comic also inspired a 2023 live-action drama called *I Am Nobody* and a 2024 movie titled *The Traveller*. An animated film, *The Outcast: The Bloody Battle of Mian*, has been announced for a 2027 release.
- field
- Webcomic / Manhua
- creator
- Dong Man Tang (studio), Mi Er (illustrator)
- publisher
- Tencent
- first_published
- February 2015 (as Yi Ren / King of the Weirdo)
- known_for
- Adaptations including anime Hitori no Shita: The Outcast, live-action drama I Am Nobody, and film The Traveller
Lore & Background
The story follows Chou Soran, a college student who inherits the Kitaigen martial arts technique from his grandfather. After being attacked by zombies while visiting his grandfather's grave, he meets the mysterious knife-wielding girl Fu Hōhō, who helps him fend off the attack. Soran learns that his grandfather's technique is sought after by many martial arts groups, and he sets out to uncover his grandfather's true history and his connection to Fu Hōhō.
The world of Under One Person features 'Outsiders'—people who can control and manifest their Qi to perform superhuman feats. The Express Delivery Company, a front for the Chinese state government, employs Outsiders to prevent disruptions in society. Key characters include Zhang Chulan (Chō Soran), Feng Baobao (Fū Hōhō), Xu San, Xu Si, and others, each with unique abilities and ties to the mysterious organization Zensei.
The anime adaptation, titled Hitori no Shita: The Outcast, aired its first season from July 9 to September 24, 2016, and a second season from January 16 to June 26, 2018, simulcast in Chinese and Japanese. A sixth season has been announced.
Reader's Guide
Under One Person is a significant work in the Chinese webcomic (manhua) industry, notable for its cross-media adaptations that reached both Chinese and Japanese audiences. The collaboration between Chinese and Japanese studios for the anime series marked a notable instance of co-production, with the first season produced by Haoliners Animation League's Japanese branch Emon and animated by Pandanium. The series' popularity led to multiple seasons, a live-action drama (I Am Nobody, 2023), a movie (The Traveller, 2024), and an announced animated film (The Outcast: The Bloody Battle of Mian, scheduled for 2027). The story's blend of martial arts, supernatural elements, and mystery, centered on the concept of Qi and Outsiders, has contributed to its lasting appeal. The franchise's expansion into various media demonstrates its commercial and cultural impact within the Chinese animation and comics landscape.
Did You Know?
- The webcomic was first published in February 2015 under the title Yi Ren (literally 'Weirdo') with subtitle King of the Weirdo.
- The anime adaptation was a collaboration between Chinese and Japanese studios, with the first season produced by Haoliners Animation League's Japanese branch Emon.
- The live-action drama adaptation is titled I Am Nobody and premiered in 2023.
- An animated film titled The Outcast: The Bloody Battle of Mian is scheduled for release in 2027.
More in Chinese animated television series 1-24
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