It was first broadcast on 17 March 2006 in China and subsequently broadcast in other Asian countries such as South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore.
Summary
Adapted from the novel by Jin Yong, this is a sequel to Legend of Condor Heroes and a prequel of sorts to Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre. The story concerns the adventures of Yang Guo, an orphaned boy in a mid-13th Century China.
From his humble beginnings, the street wise Yang Guo gets passed around from one prestigious master to another but none of them will teach him any martial arts. While escaping from a tortured experience under Quan Zhen Sect's Zhao Zhi Jing, he meets Xiao Long Nu, the girl who will become his martial arts master and eventually the love of his life.
Publication Information
- Title : The Return Of The Condor Heroes
- Chinese : 神鵰俠侶
- Also known as : Condor Hero, The Saviour of the Soul, Condor Heroes, Love of the Condor Heroes
- Genre : Wuxia
- Written by : Louis Cha (original story), Liu Yi, Wang Xuejing, Tan Lan, Lang Xuefeng
- Directed by : Yu Min, Zhao Jian
- Presented by : Ma Zhongjun, Pu Shulin, Chi Chenxi, Tie Fo
- Starring : Huang Xiaoming, Liu Yifei
- Theme music composer : Johnny Chen
- Opening theme : Tianxia Wushuang performed by Jane Zhang
- Ending theme : Jianghu Xiao performed by Wakin Chau, Zhang Jizhong, Huang Xiaoming, Hu Jun and Johnny Chen
- Country of origin : China
- Original language(s) : Mandarin
- No. of episodes : 41
- Executive producer(s) : Du Daning, Xu Lu, Zhou Li, Zhang Huijian
- Producer(s) : Zhang Jizhong, Song Yaping, Que Xin
- Location(s) : China
- Cinematography : Yu Min, Ye Zhiwei, Gu Qiming
- Running time : 45 minutes per episode
- Production company(s) : Ciwen Pictures
- Original channel : CCTV
- First shown in : 17 March 2006
- Preceded by : The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2003)
- Followed by : The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber (2009)
- Huang Xiaoming as Yang Guo
- Liu Yifei as Xiaolongnü
- Yang Mi as Guo Xiang
- Wang Luoyong as Guo Jing
- Kong Lin as Huang Rong
- Dali as Hong Qigong
- Chen Zihan as Guo Fu
- Wang Jia as Cheng Ying
- Yang Rui as Lu Wushuang
- Zhao Liang as Zhou Botong
- Di Naishe as Ouyang Feng
- Yu Chenghui as Huang Yaoshi
- Guo Jun as Wang Chongyang
- Wang Weiguo as Yideng
- Jessey Meng as Li Mochou
- Kenny Bee as Gongsun Zhi
- Ge Shimin as young Lu Wushuang
- Wang Jiayi as young Cheng Ying
- Xie Yunshan as young Yang Guo
- Chen Yalun as young Wu Dunru
- Ye Qile as young Wu Xiuwen
- Chen Anni as young Guo Fu
- Chen Zihan as Guo Fu
- Wang Ning as Wu Dunru
- Zhao Jintao as Wu Xiuwen
- Huang Xiaolei as Shagu
- Chen Jiming as Qiu Chuji
- Liu Naiyi as Zhao Zhijing
- Jiang Yi as Ke Zhen'e
- Li Yu as Qiu Qianren
- Ba Yin as Jinlun Guoshi
- Gao Hu as Huodu
- Cheng Haofeng as Yin Zhiping
- Fu Miao as Gongsun Lü'e
- Sun Lihua as Wanyan Ping
- Zhao Hongfei as Yelü Qi
- Tian Zhong as Lu Qingdu
- Li Mingqi as Granny Sun
- Liang Li as Yinggu
- Xiu Ge as Yin Kexi
- Zhang Hengping as Lu Youjiao
- Zhang Jizhong as Yelü Chucai
- Li Ming as Qiu Qianchi
- Yuan Yuan as Kublai Khan
- Liu Kui as Möngke Khan
- Su Mao as Wang Chuyi
- Zhou Haodong as Lu Liding
- Heizi as Feng Mofeng
- Zhao Dandan as Hong Lingbo
Shooting began in October 2004 and ended in May 2005. Locations include Zhejiang, Chongqing, Shandong, Guangdong, Liaoning, Beijing and Sichuan Jiuzhaigou Valley. Scenes from The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2003) were featured as flashbacks including the scene depicting Yang Kang's death. Zhou Jie makes a cameo appearance as Yang Kang.
International broadcasts
- 17 March 2006 - China - CCTV - Condor Heroes
- 1 May 2006 - Philippines - GMA-7 - Love of the Condor Heroes
- 10 July 2006 - Hong Kong - TVB - The Saviour of the Soul
- 12 July 2006 - Taiwan - CTV - Condor Heroes
- 9 September 2006 - Canada - Omni.2 - Condor Hero
- Japan - Channel Neco
- January 2007 - V-Paradise - TV - (Neco)
- March 2008 - (VPTV) Condor Heroes
- 17 March 2007 - Thailand - TV3
- 28 April 2007 - Singapore - Channel U - Condor Hero
- 30 January 2012 - Indonesia - Indosiar - Kembalinya Pendekar Pemanah Rajawali
The music for the series was taken from motion picture scores of films such as Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow, Van Helsing, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Harry Potter (film series) and Batman Begins. The chorus from Iwasaki Taku's Shades of Revolution, a Rurouni Kenshin OVA musical score, was used in a minor fight scene between Yang Guo and Li Mochou (episode 30). The melody of the song Dearest by Ayumi Hamasaki, famous for being in InuYasha, can be heard in the background on episode 15 during the scene where Gongsun Zhi is talking to Xiaolongnü at the Passionless Valley.
Soundtrack
The original soundtrack was released on 13 May 2006 from Rock Records Co., LTD. There are two versions of the soundtrack. The mainland Chinese release contains a total of 15 tracks while the Taiwanese release includes two bonus tracks. The original score was composed by Chen Huanchang (Xiaochong).
The Return of the Condor Heroes - Original Television Drama Soundtrack
- Soundtrack album Audio CD/Digital downloads by Various artists
- Released - May 13, 2006
- Length - 1:10:23
- Label - Rock Records Co., LTD
- Track List:
- Shuangfei - Flying Together - performed by Huang Xiaoming and Dingdang - 5:01
- Tianxia Wushuang - Unrivaled - The opening theme song of the TV series - performed by Jane Zhang - 5:13
- Fuyun - Drifting Clouds - composed by Xiaochong - 0:48
- Jianghu Xiao - Jianghu Laugh - The ending theme song of the TV series - performed by Wakin Chau, Hu Jun, Huang Xiaoming, Zhang Jizhong and Xiaochong - 4:44
- Longnü Zhi Sheng - Voice of the Dragon Maiden - vocal performed by Fan Zhuqing - 2:58
- Luohua - Falling Flowers - performed by Pan Yueyun - 5:58
- Hen Cangtian - Affection - performed by Xiaochong - 4:56
- Lutu - Road - composed by Xiaochong - 4:48
- Wen Shijian - Ask the World - performed by Zhang Xin - 4:24
- Yilian Youmeng - A Curtain of Nether Dream - performed by Chen Xiuzhou and Xiao Manxuan - 2:39
- Shuizhong Yue - Moon in the Water - composed by Xiaochong - 4:10
- Gufeng Canying - Solitary Wind Blur - composed by Xiaochong - 4:56
- Biyi Shuangfei - Connubial - composed by Xiaochong - 5:14
- Xingguang - Starlight - composed by Xiaochong - 4:25
- Zhanwu - War Dance - composed by Xiaochong - 2:02
- Lianzhe Duo Xihuan - Loving Love - Taiwanese edition bonus track - performed by Fish Leong - 3:53
- Ni Hai Jide Wo Ma - Do You Still Remember Me - Taiwanese edition bonus track - performed by Fish Leong - 3:54
- The Return of the Condor Heroes (HK 1976}
- The Return of the Condor Heroes (HK 1983)
- Return Of The Condor Heroes 95' (HK 1995)
- The Return of the Condor Heroes (TW 1998)
- The Return of the Condor Heroes (SG 1998)
- The Return Of The Condor Heroes (CN 2006)
