Fans of the original road trip "bros" will be happy to know that the "Saiyuki Reload Blast" anime will soon premiere later in 2017. The "Saiyuki" franchise, which spawned manga, anime, Original Video Animations (OVAs), live-action musicals and even a video game, features Genjo Sanzo, Son Goku, Cho Hakkai and Sha Gojyo on a road trip to save the world while occasionally battling the bad guys.

Anime News Network recently announced that the latest follow-up to the Saiyuki franchise will air in July 2017. Kazuya Minekura created the "Saiyuki manga, which ran from 1997 to 2002. "Gensomaden Saiyuki," an anime based on the manga, ran from 2000 to 2001. She also created the "Saiyuki Gaiden" manga which ran from 1999 to 2009.

The series, which is very loosely based on the Chinese novel "Journey to the West," was followed by the "Saiyuki Reload" manga which ran from 2002 to 2009. The "Saiyuki ReLoad" anime then aired in 2003 to 2004, and was followed by a second anime series called "Saiyuki ReLoad Gunlock." The third anime season aired in 2004.

Minekura also created "Saiyuki Ibun," which follows Genjo's master Koumyou Sanzo. It began its run in 2009 and is currently ongoing in Comic ZERO-SUM special edition WARD. Minekura often had to take breaks from creating the various "Saiyuki" manga due to health concerns in 2013.

The original Japanese voice actors of the four main characters will be returning in "Saiyuki Reload Blast." Toshihiko Seki will once again voice Genjo Sanzo, Souichiro Hoshi will portray Son Goku, Hiroaki Hirata will voice Sha Gojyo and Akira Ishida will voice Cho Hakkai.

Unlike the previous "Saiyuki" anime that was animated by Pierrot, Platinum Vision ("Servamp") will take the helm for the upcoming "Saiyuki Reload Blast" anime. Hideaki Anno will direct and Kenji Konuta ("Library War," "Blood Lad") will write the scripts for the anime. The first promotional video which highlighted the cast, staff and July premiere of "Saiyuki Reload Blast" was shown at the "Saiyuki FESTA" event at the Makuhari Messe event hall in Chiba.