For years I’ve heard all sorts of things about Rurouni Kenshin. About how it’s so awesome, such a great anime, etc. etc. So finally I managed to see some of it, and though it is good, I do not find myself completely flipping over it the way everyone else seemed to. Maybe it’s because I’ve never seen more than just a handful of episodes from the series, but a part of me always thought it would be best to start from the beginning; learn who Rurouni Kenshin is, where he came from, what makes him tick. Besides, I kept hearing him talk about not fighting or killing anymore, his guilt over being the Hitokiri Battousai (or as the English version goes, the Manslayer), and I wanted to know just what the deal was. That and I’d seen an anime music video with some interesting clips…

Before he was Kenshin, he was just a boy named Shinta. But after he was left alone when a group of men killed everyone he was with, a swordsman took him in and taught him everything he knew. From then on he was Kenshin and became a skilled swordsman himself. From there he became involved with a government overthrow, hoping that by wielding his sword for the right sort of people, things would change for the better. However, in doing so he killed many people, including the fiancee of Tomoe, whom he later meets in a rain of blood. She begins to make small changes in Kenshin even as he continues his work with the group challenging the current government.

These are the first two episodes in the OVA (original video animation) series that describe Kenshin’s former life. The pace is very slow, so if you are a fan of the Kenshin series, which I am familiar enough with to understand it can be funny, casual, and action-packed fun, this is politics, soft speaking, and slow passing moments punctuated by fierce and nasty fights between Kenshin and other men. However, now you can finally learn his origins, from his sword skills to the scars on his face.

I really wish more than ever that the right Japanese history class had been available during my time at college because even though Kenshin and other characters are all fictional as is their story, the times and things they are doing are in fact based on real events that occurred in Japanese history. I’m sure that knowing would make a bigger difference in knowing what was going on because I’m a bit fuzzy on the details.

But you still get the big picture even without the history lesson. You can begin to understand the sort of person Kenshin is and what he really wants to see in the world, even if he is going about doing so in a less than diplomatic manner. I like how the effect Tomoe has on him is slow – it helps make things more realistic instead of just that kind of instantaneous love that other series tend to have.

The animation is very clear with bright colors and plenty of details. The kind of animation that makes any anime viewer happy to see. The same can be said for the music, even if it will get used over several times. But it goes well with the scenes and can be quite dramatic when necessary, which makes for a nice touch. No problems with the voices either. Watch whatever suits you.

Still, despite all the good things this OVA has to offer, I don’t quite get why so many people rant and rave about this anime. Is it the human interest? The combination of story and skill? I don’t know. Sure, as it is it’s a fine anime and gets five stars from me, but I don’t think I’m going to be super-jazzed about watching it again anytime soon. Maybe after a while when I remember I have it…

Oh, and beware of letting the kids watch this – it can get pretty violent at times. Kenshin spares no one the taste of his sword and the human body is in no way short on blood.

NT

Finish Kenshin's history with Samurai X: Betrayal

If you like Rurouni Kenshin, try Samurai X: The Motion Picture

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD