Xi-You Strings
Thunderbolt Fantasy: Bewitching Melody of the West (Thunderbolt Fantasy 西幽玹歌 Seiyū Genka, Xī Yōu Xuán Gē) is a 2019 Taiwanese hand-puppet-based film in the Thunderbolt Fantasy franchise, created by nitro+'s Gen Urobuchi, Good Smile Company, and Taiwan's Pili International Multimedia. It's the Backstory of Thunderbolt Fantasy season 2's new character Lang Wu Yao and how he came to be a powerful fighter, musician, and ally to Shang Bu Huan.Important Note: For the convenience of editing, all personal names in this work use a simplified version of the Chinese pinyin romanization scheme, which is used in the English language editions released by Crunchyroll; further comparison between languages of character names are all listed in their character page.
Spoiler Warning: Due to the film incorporating both a prequel and a sequel to a released work, unmarked spoilers will be present.
This film provides examples of:
- Abusive Parents: Lang Wu Yao's mother treated him very bad during his childhood by pushing his limits.
- Animate Inanimate Object: Ling Ya is a talking Pipa.
- Backstory: The film serves to flesh out the character of Lang Wu Yao and how he came to be one of Shang Bu Huan's most powerful allies.
- Dishing Out Dirt: The power of the Dark Phantom - Myriad Generations Divine Humbling (幽冥・萬世神伏 Yōumíng Wànshì Shén Fú/Yūmei Mansei Shinpuku); unsheathing it is enough to make the ground tremble, and a full swing of the sword is enough to open up a massive chasm.
- Disney Villain Death: After Lang Wu Yao developed puberty and his voice changed, his blind mother wasn't able to recognize him. Her fear that her son was murdered and the murderer was after her next led her to fall off a cliff out of fear.
- Magic Music: Lang Wu Yao's music has a bewitching effect on anyone who hears it. He can also use it as a weapon.
- Stinger: The film's epilogue has Lin Xue Ya teasing the fate of Mu Tian Ming and why she was absent from Shang Bu Huan's original adventures in season 1, and her possible introduction into the show's upcoming third season.
- Talking Weapon: While technically being an instrument, Ling Ya still counts since the music can be used as a weapon.
