Kenshin Himura is a young man who had been orphaned early in life. Raised and
trained by a Mitsurugi sword-style master, Kenshin decides to take leave and
fight for a new world when he reaches his teens.
Soon, Kenshin becomes one of the most feared assassins of the Tokugawa era --
for beneath the boyish frame and face lies a merciless killer of unparalleled
skill. But something changes within Kenshin the day he meets Tomoe, a
beautiful young woman who seems to have dark secrets of her own.
Review: Rurouni Kenshin Tsuiokuhen
Whether you've watched the Rurouni Kenshin TV series or not doesn't really
matter. Rurouni Kenshin OVA series is awesome to say the least, and you
can enjoy it without any Rurouni Kenshin background.
The tone is solemn, and there is never a comical moment. This seriousness is
reflected from the color schemes and composition of the scenes to the way the
characters speak. Even the music reinforces this mood. The fights are virtual
bloodbaths. People are slashed left, right, and center. You'll definitely be
seeing a lot of samurai action and a whole lot of red.
For those who've watched the TV series or read the manga, you'll find that the
Kenshin here never lectures his foes to submission. He just kills, kills,
kills... and you'll come to understand how he gained the title of "Battousai".
You'll also discover how he got that X scar on his cheek.
Characterization is excellent, as is always the case with Rurouni Kenshin. A
lot of insight and depth is provided as to why these people are the way they
are. You would really feel as if you knew them personally, which makes it easy
to empathize with whatever it is that's happening onscreen.
The cinematography is superb. The scenes were obviously composed with a lot of
thought as to convey additional meanings and emotions in every frame.
The art and animation are very good, and a lot different from the TV art. The
way the faces are drawn in particular reminded me of the style employed in
"Serial Experiments Lain".
The English dubbing is fine; I just can't stand their mispronunciation of
"Tomoe". The original Japanese version features seiyuu Junko Iwao
(also Mima in "Perfect Blue", Ceres in "Ayashi no Ceres"). Rurouni
Kenshin OVA Tsuioku Hen series is easily one of the best OVA's out there, and that's
coming from one whose fave genre isn't even action.
Miscellanies: Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuiokuhen
I don't know why they chose "Samurai X" as the official English title
of the OVA series.
You'll get a lot more out of Rurouni Kenshin anime if you also experience the TV
series. The Samurai X: OVA Collection bundles this together with the final
OVA, Reflection.
Related Articles:
Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuiokuhen (Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan - Tsuioku-hen) | |
| Genre | Action, Drama, Romance |
|---|---|
| Episodes | 4 |
| Status | Finished Airing |
| Aired | Feb 20, 1999 to Sep 22, 1999 |
| Producers | Aniplex |
| Studio | Studio Deen |
| Rating | R - 17+ (violence & profanity) |
| Themes | Adult Cast, Historical, Martial Arts, Samurai |
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