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This OVA series, called "Shinsh," is split into two parts by the anime studio AIC. It was in 1999 that Shin Hakkenden, the TV series sequel, premiered. An epic novel by Kyokutei Bakin, Nanso Satomi Hakkenden, was the inspiration for the anime. 106 volumes make it the longest novel in Japanese literature, making it the longest novel ever written in the country. The Hakkenden is best recognized for its unconventional approach to animation, alternating between a variety of diverse visual styles during the course of the show. It is also notable for its usage of symbolism and ideas, which allows the series to straddle the boundary between animation and art. Since feudal loyalty and devotion are probed thoroughly during many of the confrontations in the novel, it is also noted for providing an updated perspective to a literary masterpiece. The "THE" at the beginning of the title is not merely a translation formality, but an actual part of the title written in English, maybe chosen by the series' writers to purposely give that impression of modernity.