Genre: Action/comedy/adventure

Creator: Watsuki Nobihiro

No of Episodes/Volumes of Manga: 94 episodes, 1 special episode, 1 movie, 4 OAV, 3 recap episodes, 200+ manga

Reviewer: Misao

Review:

Rurouni Kenshin, better known as Samurai X to the Western World, is an anime brought to you by Watsuki Nobihiro. One thing about this anime to note is that it's based on historical Japan, with many of the key figures leading the Meiji Period being characters in this anime.

Rurouni Kenshin is about Himura Kenshin, a gifted swordsman who shaped the way for the Meiji Government through killing (known then as the Hitokiri Battousai), and who now lives by the code of protecting the innocent with his sword and no killing. Something that is strange about Kenshin's character is that he uses a Sakabatou (reverse-blade sword). Since Kenshin's techniques are very powerful and deadly, having a reverse blade for a sword ensures that Kenshin can live his life as a 'Rurouni'. While wandering through the streets of Tokyo, Kenshin befriends a girl named Kaoru, and he begins to live his life with her and his friends at Kaoru's dojo.

Rurouni Kenshin TV series follows the adventures of the Kenshin Gumi (Kenshin and his friends) and is divided into 5 main seasons, each season having a different story, and offering lots of fun as well as conflict. One of the main seasons in this surrounds Kenshin's past life as a killer, and this part is also based on a little of history with the Shinsengumi.

The character designs are very well developed. Many of the characters such as Sanosuke and Saitou are actually based on a few of the Shinsengumi members, so the anime is really brought to life. Not only that, but the characterisations of all of the characters in this anime (there's a LOT of characters) are well done, each one of them being unique.

The animation is also quite good. Some of the fighting scenes in Kenshin are great, so is the philosophy of Kenshin's fighting. Sometimes it is quite hard to tell the truth from the fiction, that's how well this anime has been set out.

The series also has a lot of comedy within it. Kenshin's infamous 'oro's' are a trademark as well as Saitou's action of comparing every girl he meets with an animal (u'll understand when you see it). There are also very serious moments within the anime, so it's very well balanced.

The OAV is quite different, having different artists drawing it. There is much more blood and fighting within it as it focusses on Kenshin's former life as the Hitokiri Battousai fighting for the Meiji Government. This OAV also introduces the audience to his wife, and how he came to be the man we see in the TV series.

There is debate as to which is better, the OAV or the TV series, however, in my opinion, the TV series is better and Rurouni Kenshin is a must for any anime fan out there.

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