Nakoruru: Ano Hito kara no Okurimono

Dedicated to probably the most famous character of SNK’s action fighting game Samurai Shodown, Nakoruru: Ano Hito kara Okurimono is in my opinion, an unfinished masterpiece. Based on the action visual novel of the same name, this spin off was supposed to capture a time gap, starting before the events of the first Samurai Shodown game, right until the end of Samurai Shodown II. Unfortunately the show got canceled due lack of financing and ended up with only a single episode released. Of course if you are interested, you can always check out the visual novel, but your Japanese language skills must be good, since ... the game has not been released out of Japan.

The expression that will probably fit best for this show’s story will be “what a loss”. The single episode still manages to give us enough hints about the potential of this anime. And it strikes me as pretty decent - a well build up story, standing on series issues like person’s inner conflict, personal fights and desires, about all the rules we must obey. It really brings this rare debt we see so little of. Perhaps this show was made a bit too personal, excluding many of the other Samurai Shodown characters and a bit too shoujou, but the atmosphere it carries is really great. Of course, if you do not like Nakoruru, or have never played any of the games, you may not be as excited to see it, as I was.

Expressing a lot, the art performance of Nakoruru: Ano Hito kara Okurimono has the biggest merit to the anime’s amazing atmosphere. I just loved the whole look of the show – landscapes, designs, they were all extraordinary. The particular innocence of character designs creates an interesting mixture between the teenage looks and the adulthood strokes in the story. Things like all the blood and nudity – they all seem at place. The music was also fine, but nothing memorable.

Since I am not familiar with the visual novel, I have no idea whether there are going to be more characters of the franchise appearing later in the story, but as far as the single episode goes, all is focused on Nakoruru and Rera. The other appearing characters are just too much in the background. Even the role of Nakoruru’s younger sister – Rimururu, is minor.

Perhaps its unfinished state is what adds a bit more charm to Nakoruru: Ano Hito kara Okurimono, but I think that when a story based on an action fighting game, is made so well and serious, it deserves the check out. Of course, this OVA is another must have addition to the Samurai Shodown fan collector’s items.