Thunderbolt Fantasy is a Japanese-Taiwanese glove puppetry written by Gen Urobuchi and a collaboration work between Pili International Multimedia, Nitroplus, and Good Smile Company. Its first airing was in 2016. This list includes characters that appear in the work.
Introduction Japanese anime and Taiwanese glove puppetry have a noticeable and distinct visual style, which was described as a "key challenge" by production companies when they were collaborating. For example, in traditional puppetry shows, female characters have smaller eyes and sturdier arms, similar to their male counterparts. It contrasts with anime's traditional style, where female characters have larger eyes and thinner arms. Thunderbolt Fantasy, therefore, alter their character design to a more Japanese anime style. Mainly, there are four to five puppeteers in the work, arranged by their preference and proficiency in characters.
A key feature of traditional puppetry shows is that voice actors usually handle the characters' voice acting and (an inner monologue and spoken dialogue) for each character in Taiwanese Hokkien. While each voice actor has developed their distinct voice acting style, audiences may struggle to accept actors from other voice actors, which affects their willingness to watch works. To address the issue, Pili use voice actors from Japan, letting them handle voice acting and kháu-pe̍h, and thus improving the audience's willingness to watch works from other actors.
Narrators of traditional puppetry often use a unique kháu-pe̍h in Taiwanese Hokkien when introducing main characters or calling their attacks, known as "introducing poem" (出場詩) or "poetic title" (詩號). They serve to highlight the character's personality, identity, state of mind, ambition, and the importance within the story. It is written in a classical style, with a format of or in Classical Chinese. All Poetic titles in Thunderbolt Fantasy are spoken by and his son Huei-Fung Huang (黃匯峰).
Characters Character names are presented in the format of Chinese Personal Name (Chinese Characters, Japanese Romanization, English Translation) / Chinese Art name (Chinese Characters, Japanese Romanization, English Translation). Chinese personal names and their Japanese romanisations are presented with the character's surname appearing first, followed by their given name.
Main characters
Principal puppeteer: Jia-Chang Hong, substitute puppeteer: Jia-Shen Liao (JP), Huei-Fung Huang (Taiwanese Min-Nan) The main protagonist of this series, Shāng Bù Huàn is an enigmatic wandering swordsman. He appears to be cynical towards others, but is compassionate at heart. His inadvertent encounter with Lǐn Xuě Yā had him engulfed within the feud of the Xuán Guǐ Zōng pursuing Dān Fěi's crossguard of the Tiān Xíng Jiàn, and reluctantly joins the journey with Lǐn Xuě Yā and Dān Fěi to retrieve the hilt of the Tiān Xíng Jiàn. Hails from Xī Yōu. In season 2, he is pursued by villains from his past over his possession of the , a scroll that contains many magical swords.
Principal puppeteer: Shen-En Wu (JP), Huei-Fung Huang (Min-Nan) A major protagonist, also known under the alias as , Lǐn Xuě Yā is a beautiful young man filled with immense mystery. Erudite and adept at the art of strategy, he is shown to be graceful and composed. According to Shòu Yún Xiāo, Lǐn Xuě Yā has used several aliases to conceal his identity. He is considered a master manipulator and thief, and has even been called a villain.
Allies in Season 1
Principal puppeteer: Jia-Shen Liao (JP), Wei-De Deng (Min-Nan) One of the Seal Guardians hailing from the Sword Forging Shrine in charge of guarding the Tiān Xíng Jiàn, Dān Fěi takes pride in her heritage as a Seal Guardian, which makes her quite stubborn and tense when it comes to issues regarding the Tiān Xíng Jiàn, but she is also shown to be fairly naïve due to being inexperienced with the world outside of her shrine.
(JP), Huei-Fung Huang (Min-Nan) The elder brother of Dān Fěi, he is also a Seal Guardian who guards the Tiān Xíng Jiàn along with his sister. Dān Héng is responsible for guarding the hilt of the Tiān Xíng Jiàn, while Dān Fěi protects the crossguard of the sword. Dān Héng lost his life at the hands of Miè Tiān Hái when the Xuán Guǐ Zōng invaded their shrine.
(JP), Huei-Fung Huang (Min-Nan) An old acquaintance of Lǐn Xuě Yā, Shòu Yún Xiāo is an archer who made a name for himself for his exceptional marksmanship. He regards Juǎn Cán Yún as his sworn younger brother. He joins the quest of retrieving the hilt of the Tiān Xíng Jiàn at Lǐn Xuě Yā's request.
(JP), Huei-Fung Huang (Min-Nan) The sworn brother of Shòu Yún Xiāo, and a skilled spear wielder, Juǎn Cán Yún looks up to Shòu Yún Xiāo with admiration, and works hard to attain a reputation for himself using his skills. He tagged along with Yún Xiāo on the quest to retrieve the hilt of the Tiān Xíng Jiàn.
Principal puppeteer: Jia-Shen Liao (JP), Hsin-Ya Kuo (Min-Nan) A powerful necromancer who dwells in the Night Devil Forest, and someone Lǐn Xuě Yā wishes to recruit to best the first obstacle of the Demon Spine Mountains. The other party members are wary of her because she is a demon, but Lǐn Xuě Yā assures them she can be trusted. Xíng Hài however is shown to be hostile towards Lǐn Xuě Yā for unknown reasons.
(JP), Huei-Fung Huang (Min-Nan) A notorious and heartless killer, but also a swordsman whose skills are unparalleled. Due to some old enmity, he has set his eye on Lǐn Xuě Yā for revenge, and is obsessed with chasing Lǐn Xuě Yā down. When faced with a strong opponent, he cannot help but step forward in challenge. He thinks very highly of himself. Shā died after challenging Miè Tiān Hái to a duel.
(JP), Huei-Fung Huang (Min-Nan) The mentor of Lǐn Xuě Yā and the original owner of the Soul Echo Flute, he also taught Lǐn Xuě Yā how to create magic items. He died by the blade of Shā Wú Shēng, who then took the Soul Echo Flute.
Antagonists in Season 1
Principal puppeteer: Jia-Shen Liao (JP), Huei-Fung Huang (Min-Nan) Miè is a leader of the Xuán Guǐ Zōng, a group which utilizes the naturally defended mountain fortress, Seven Sins Tower, as its base of operations. He is arrogant and prideful, due to his skill with the sword, and possesses necromantic powers. He is also the foremost antagonist of the story. In order to seize the Tiān Xíng Jiàn protected by the Dān siblings, he uses every means possible to invade the Dān Family's sacred grounds.
Principal puppeteer: Jia-Shen Liao (JP), Huei-Fung Huang (Min-Nan) Subordinate of Miè Tiān Hái, Cán is a Xuán Guǐ Zōng swordsman ordered to hunt down Dān Fěi. He died after confusing Shāng Bù Huàn with Dān Fěi due to the machinations of Lǐn Xuě Yā.
Principal puppeteer: Shen-En Wu (JP), Hsin-Ya Kuo (Min-Nan) Subordinate of Miè Tiān Hái, Liè Mèi ambushed Shāng Bù Huàn after he helped Dān Fěi escape, but was driven off by Shòu Yún Xiāo. She died after attacking Shā Wú Shēng.
(JP), Huei-Fung Huang (Min-Nan) Subordinate of Miè Tiān Hái, he is killed by Shāng Bù Huàn after trying to capture him along with Dān Fěi and Juǎn Cán Yún.
Allies in Season 2 / (JP) First appearing in Thunderbolt Fantasy: The Sword of Life and Death, he is a mysterious, red-haired, young man who carries a demonic talking Pipa named Líng Yá (, voiced by Katsuyuki Konishi). He returns in Season 2 following his old acquaintance, Shāng Bù Huàn, after the latter left him in Xī Yōu. Làng was originally designed as a mascot for T.M. Revolution to promote the franchise, but Urobuchi grew fond of the character and later incorporated him in the franchise's main story. Làng Wū Yáo is the main character in the prequel film Thunderbolt Fantasy - Bewitching Melody of the West.
Antagonists in Season 2 / Voiced by: Tarusuke Shingaki (JP), Huei-Fung Huang (Min-Nan) A magistrate of Xī Yōu, he is tasked in finding Shāng Bù Huàn and retrieving the Sorcerous Sword Index. He is a cruel and cunning man who uses "justice" as a pretense to do villainous things. / Voiced by: Ayahi Takagaki (JP) An assassin from the Order of The Divine Swarm, Xiē is sent to hunt down Shāng Bù Huàn and retrieve the Sorcerous Sword Index. She is a master of deception, dark magic and poisoning.
Voiced by: Shō Hayami (JP) Xiē Yīng Luò's master, he is the leader of the Order of The Divine Swarm, an evil organization seeking the Sorcerous Sword Index. He is an incredibly powerful wizard that is skilled in dark magic.
Voiced by: Akira Ishida (JP), Huang Zhen-Ji (Min-Nan) Lóu is a nihilistic monk on a pilgrimage. When he encounters Xiē Yīng Luò, who threatens him with death, he questions her true motivations and goes as far as saving her from Shāng Bù Huàn and Làng Wū Yáo. Despite being a monk, Làng Wū Yáo has determined he is a character with evil intentions. His evil self is revealed when he takes the Seven Blasphemous Deaths and becomes its new master.
Voiced by: Aoi Yūki (JP) One of the weapons sealed within the Sorcerous Sword Index, it was released by Xiē Yīng Luò. Considered as one of the most dangerous weapons because of its malevolent sentience, it has the ability to control the wielder and when unsheathed, those who see the sword is drawn to it in madness. The sword also draws blood from any person it cuts or kills, further increasing its power as well as its wielder's.
Voiced by: Kenta Miyake (JP) A gigantic dragon living within the Wasteland of Spirits. His wing was sliced off by Shāng Bù Huàn when the latter encountered him on his journey to Dong Li. He is said to have killed and devoured his own kind to survive in the wastelands.
Bewitching Melody of The West Mù Tiān Mìng (睦天命 Mutsu Tenmei, Destiny) Voiced by: Nao Tōyama (JP) Mù is Shāng Bù Huàn's partner in collecting swords across Xī Yōu and the first person to befriend Làng Wū Yáo. Like Wū Yáo, she is a musician who is also talented in the martial arts. Zhòu Xún Yīn (咒旬瘖, Jū Shūn In, Mantra) Voiced by: Kikuko Inoue (JP) Làng Wū Yáo's mother who is blind, she is a former member of the Xī Yōu Imperial Court. Taking pride of her son's singing voice, she brutally trains him in singing and in combat until Wū Yáo fell ill. When Wū Yáo recovers, his pitch is changed, which sends Xún Yīn into a frenzy that led to her death by falling off a cliff. Cháo Fēng (嘲風, Chou Fu, Derision) Voiced by: Rie Kugimiya (JP) Princess of Xī Yōu, she is cruel in that she has musicians perform for her while being attacked by her soldiers as part of her entertainment. After seeing Làng Wū Yáo's performance, he is made court virtuoso and is declared as her 'songstress' for life. She is enraged when Wū Yáo left to pursue Shāng Bù Huàn and Mù Tiān Mìng and later joining them. Tiān Gōng Guǐ Jiàng (天工詭匠, Tenkokishou, Heavenly Crafter) Voiced by: Kentarō Tone (JP) An accomplice of Shāng Bù Huàn and Mù Tiān Mìng, he is the creator of the Sorcerous Sword Index.
Season 3 Wā̀n Jūn Pò (萬軍破 Ban Gun Ha, Myriad Army Defeats) / Bǎi Jī Chéng Yì (百撃成義 Hyakugeki Seigi, Paragon of a Hundred Battles) Voiced by: Akio Ōtsuka (JP) Former comrade of Shāng Bù Huàn, he joined the Order of The Divine Swarm in hopes of overthrowing the current government and establishing a new world order, with Huò Shì Míng Huáng as its ruler. He also works undercover as one of Xī Yōu's highest-ranked officers. Yì Piāomiǎo (異飄渺 I Hyou Byou, Beyond Indistinct) / Shuǐ Yuè Dāo Lang (水月刀螂 Suigetsu Tōrō, Crescent-Bladed Mantis) Voiced by: Natsuki Hanae (JP) A member of the Order of The Divine Swarm, he, along with Wā̀n Jūn Pò, is assigned by Huò Shì Míng Huáng to assist Xíng Hài as part of the alliance between the Order and the Demon Realm. Guǐ Duó Tiān Gōng (鬼奪天工 Ki Datsu Ten Kou, Ghost Seizing Heavenly Crafter) Voices by: Yōji Ueda (JP) A wizard of Xī Yōu, he wishes to open the portal to the Demon Realm to learn and harness its secrets. He is responsible for building a weaponized prosthetic arm for Lóu Zhèn Jiè. Zhào Jūn Lín (照君臨 Shou Kun Rin, Shining Reign)