Rurouni Kenshin OAV Episode 1

Rurouni Kenshin

"The Man of the Slashing Sword"

In the spirit of my usual disclaimers, I should tell you that I've watched the Rurouni Kenshin OAVs more than a few times and feel that it's one of the best--if not the best--anime series of all time.

If you haven't seen this series, then do yourself a favor, ignore my review (and subsequent reviews), get this series and watch it. I'll still be here in two hours.

One of the best things about this series is the consistent tone. While I love my anime zaniness as much as everyone else, it really doesn't belong in every series. In this series, they keep everything serious: the way it should be. There's nothing lighthearted about this story. There should be no super-deformed Kenshin and crew, there should be no oro, no zany eyes, etc. The good news is that it doesn't.

On top of that, you get a great, historical story about the revolution against the Tokugawa shogunate (this show is a prequel to the Rurouni Kenshin TV series, in case you didn't know), with young Kenshin in full Hitokiri Battousai mode. That means he's a ruthless killer that knows how to use his sword. Even better than the TV version, this show does not rely on silly, named sword moves, instead with well-choreographed fight sequences (and they're not light on the blood, either).

Also deserving mention are the exceptional production values. A lot of money was put into this four episode OAV series, and it shows in all categories. Taku Iwasaki's score is great, fitting the on-screen action perfectly, while equally able to stand on its own. Voice acting performances are great, highlighted by the younger, more serious Kenshin. The art and animation is top notch, with no corner-cutting and beautifully rendered scenes that serve as a backdrop to the drama and action of the show.

If for some reason, you didn't take my earlier advice and ran out and watched it, now you have no excuse.

Rating: A+

Posted by Kei at 12:16 AM | Comments (1)