Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan - Seisou-hen

The Last arc of Rurouni Kenshin, it's all about the final days of a great man that is Kenshin.

Everything has been decipted well in this OVA, from the stunning sceneries and up to the stunning orchestral score that it has. The story is delivered very well. It contains flashback of some of Kenshin's greatest battles and is remade or should I call it "Remastered", with a stunning animation. It also includes some scenes/events which you won't find in the manga. The OVA itself will give you a timeslip of what has happened to Kenshin through all of the years he has spent ... during his swordsman days.

If you have seen the TV Anime, Rurouni Kenshin. This OVA is highly recommended and should I say that you "must" also see the OVA masterpiece Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuioku Hen for these are the best OVA's of our time.

I'm on a Rurouni Kenshin addiction right now. I've done a review on its prequel, the original story, its two specials which can be technically called sequels and now this so it's safe to say, I enjoy Rurouni Kenshin. Before you have my head I know this does not follow the manga and everyone who has read it wants to shit on this OVA. This review is for people who don't read manga like me (just not a fan) or people who want to watch this anyway.

Story- What's there to say. The first part is 95% flashback that you have already seen from the original ... series but remastered. The remastering is cool the flashbacks though are kinda unneeded. The second part gets way more interesting. There is a villain, from way back (SPOILER if you haven't seen trust and betrayal don't read ahead) Trust and Betrayal that brings the show from its very beginning full circle. There is one problem. WITH THE LONG FLASHBACKS IT MADE THE AWESOME FIGHT AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT WITH THIS ANTAGONIST SHORTER!!!!!!! If they were to spend more time with the fight and less with the freakin flashbacks this OVA would be a hands down 10. After that it gets disappointing and very sad. I won't ruin the ending for those who have read this far anyway but it is sad and this is what got a lot of the manga lovers furious.

Art- Everything was remastered and it looked amazing!!!! The fights were remastered as well in the flashbacks and everything was so crisp it was quite a triumph and I enjoyed the art a lot.

Sound- Same sound from the original show so no complaints here.

Character- This is interesting. Although a lot of people hated the ending I didn't mind it. I thought it was a decent way to end but other than that each character (mostly) had their time to shine one final time. The one villain was so well done and Kenshin goes back to the Kenshin from Trust and Betrayal so that was interesting but it kinda took away from the realism. Yahiko and Zano had their time to shine with Kenshin's old master Kenshin's child and Kaoru of course. One problem is they left some awesome people out and of course the nameless villain didn't have good development thanks to an apparent and once again unneeded time restraint on the OVA but all in all very good.

For all those who want to ring my neck for enjoying this OVA it's just my opinion and I see where you are coming from, there are flaws. But for real Kenshin lovers and those who want an ending but not wanting to read the manga this is a good investment of your time. It is a real tear jerker and finally my Rurouni Kenshin experience is complete, that it is.......

This spoils everything, if you can read subtext, which I imagine you're intelligent enough to do, so consider that a warning.

You're going to die. That fact is beyond reproach. You, the person looking at this review, one day, are going to die. Maybe it'll be of disease, or an accident, or hopefully something peaceful, but it's going to happen. It comes, to everyone. Your life isn't threatened today, nor everyone's because life doesn't have some anime plot where the villain threatens the entirety of the human race to destroy it in one fell swoop. Nor will everyone's life end in a heroic sacrifice in a ... display of manliness. Odds are, our ends will come not with a bang, but a whimper, and when it comes, by disease or some other complication, and you see it closing in, you look back. Reflect on the life that is yours.

Yeah, we reflect in life, in ways both small and large, but there's a significant difference when it's in the closing days of life. Even as you read a book, or watch a play, or show, or film, we can see previous events through an entirely new light knowing how it all plays in the end. But life isn't anime, and it doesn't have some dramatic foreshadowing and satisfying payoff later. This is real life, and within its chaos of circumstances, it leads us in different directions, and moments that are ours. An overwhelming amount of emotion comes into, one final time, looking back upon the deeds we have done, the words we have spoken, the things shared, the people we have met, the joys and despairs and all emotions in-between.

The music, the foley, the art as well as animation, encapsulate this feeling. When art is released into the world, it becomes the property of the world, and so I put aside the fandom and creator's regard. If a work can touch you, make you feel something, then it is significant, even if the rest of the world thinks otherwise. And it does.

There is no "and they lived happily ever after" and then suddenly everything stops, in life. Even after the most significant points in our lives, life still goes on. People will live on- like Kenji, and Sanosuke, and Yahiko, lived on. Knowing the world will go on without me is probably one of the few comforts of passing away I can think of. A protagonist saves the world, the story comes to the conclusion, we stop looking, because that's where the narrative ends, but life will continue when the main events of the story have concluded. There is only one ending, one definitive, sure ending to the story of life, and it is death. Seisou-hen is a story of death, a story not of what has transpired in life, but our impressions and perceptions of what has already transpired.

Kenshin's life was one of violence, trust, betrayal, and atonement. To epitomize his self-loathing and to spend his life trying to apologize by doing the most good he can do, even when he feels he isn't worthy of even being given the chance, was his life and legacy. Even a monster, however, has his desire. He used himself to better the world as best he could until his body literally could do it no longer. At the end of the road, what does he treasure, what was his greatest wish in life? We may not go out in a blaze of glory, we may not sacrifice ourselves to save the world, we may not even be remembered 200 years from now in any form at all, but to see that which we most desire, that which makes us whole- in Kenshin's case, Kaoru- is touching in a way no other work has. A happy ending, in an objective sense. His struggles in life, his agony and despair and joys, and hers as well, go to a powerful reunion, with a sweeping and beautiful score that captures this moment perfectly. An atonement, finally completed. His life, completed.

No film or book has touched my soul the way Reflection did. A work can be structurally unsound, or can refuse to line up with our perceptions of what we desired in an ending, but it can also be redeemed in one way or another if something about it reached you, made you feel something. As the petals of the cherry blossoms fell over the credits, I had felt the indifference and apathy of life give way and push me towards feeling raw, overwhelming emotions. It was joy, it was sorrow, it was overwhelming me to tears, and in that moment I felt truly human. We're all human, and death is a part of the human experience, and our experiences are ours, and they are real. We have the gift of being able to live and reflect upon it, and no greater gift could be given. Seisou-hen, to me, was a reminder of this truth.

Im not a biased jerk. Im not gonna say they screwed up the character, or they made a sad ending. Im writing this review as if i never saw Ruroken or read Ruroken.
This was a story that they needed to add to something, they said lets put it with kenshin.
The story was really great, its about a couple who cant be with each other, almost. Kenshin is a guy who is busy a lot. So he cannot be with his wife. His son hates his guts because of it and along with it he has an STD that will kill him.
The art was a ... disappointment, it looks like they got the naruto artists and mixed it with realism. Which isnt good.
The sound, holy crap, was the best. Everything fit and sounded as good as it could.
If these characters were being told from someone who didnt see Ruroken or watch Ruroken, would be pretty good. If you saw Ruroken, you would say wow, they ruined them, the originals are alot better,

I enjoyed it, cause im not biased and i think that this shouldnt be something i would think of as a REAL Rurouni Kenshin OVA.

I would suggest, but if you dont want Ruroken to end any other way then it did, DO NOT WATCH THIS.
other then that go ahead.

Coming to "Rurouni Kenshin: Seisouhen" after "Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuiokuhen", I had high expectations, as almost anyone would. Some of those were met, but perhaps more weren't.

Lets start with the animation. With "Tsuiokuhen" looking so amazing, I knew it would be hard for "Seisouhen" to match it, yet alone top it. "Seisouhen" still managed to disappoint though, even with the scaled back expectations. The character design changed yet again - it's different from both the character designs of "Tsuiokuhen" as well as that from the "Rurouni Kenshin" main series, and I don't like it nearly as much as "Tsuiokuhen" ones. Also, being set many years after ... series had ended, a lot of the characters have aged, and the way the art tries to reflect this isn't the best.

"Seisouhen" doesn't have much in the way of story. It's more of a scenario where an old Kenshin, having given up the way of the sword, spends most of his time away from his home, tending to the sick as a way of atoning for his blood splattered past. The OVA actually revolves around Kaoru waiting for Kenshin to return to her, and while she waits, she recalls some of the experiences has shared with him.

While the settings in "Seisouhen" isn't bad, it's diluted by tons of flashbacks in the first half of the anime. It's almost like a clip show of moments from the main series, and that feels to me like an excuse to redo some of the scenes. But since the new animation isn't that great to begin with, the flashbacks come across as a bit pointless. The way "Seisouhen" presented its story is also quite confusing in places, and I didn't get what happened early on.

The biggest gripe I have with "Seisouhen" is with Kenshin's characterisation. The impression I get is that the makers tried too hard to create a humourless mood similar to "Tsuiokuhen", and in doing so destroyed the sense of progression with Kenshin's character. In "Tsuiokuhen", Kenshin is a brooding youth, mostly devoid of emotion; in "Seisouhen"... Kenshin is a brooding old man, mostly devoid of emotion; sandwiched in the middle, we have the "Rurouni Kenshin" series, in which Kenshin is a friendly, smiling man who's come a long way since his days as a moody manslayer. See the problem? While the humourless characterisation worked in the case of "Tsuiokuhen", in "Seisouhen" it made Kenshin go BACKWARDS in terms of emotional maturity, and nothing happened during the main series that could have caused the change to happen. If anything, the constant presence of Kaoru should have been helped Kenshin to make peace with himself to a certain extent. What made this worse is that the flashbacks in this OVA are basically events from the TV series but done in this new, serious style, featuring the brooding Kenshin. So, not only did "Seisouhen" do some backward character development, it also tried to destroy the existing character development. Talk about character UNdevelopment!

But after some initial grumbling, I eventually managed to overlook its glaring inconsistency in character development. The reason for this is simple: the key moments in the show really hits home. What really makes the show is its deeply moving drama. What's more, it succeeds in drawing the Kenshin saga to a very emotional close, and if nothing else, that alone is worthy of the attention of Kenshin fans.

A sad closing tale to one of the greatest characters of all-time.

Before I begin, I would just like to say my review speaks from my experience of seeing only the animated series, the movie, and the Trust and Betrayal OVA. I haven't read the manga so I cannot speak in regards to it's accuracy to the manga. I watched all of these in a matter of a week since I had some extended free time to watch it all at once.

First of all, good God this was a depressing watch. From start to finish, this was probably the hardest hour and a half of an ... anime I ever had to sit through. It's hard enough when you grow so attached to a character through 95 episodes of an anime and then learn his back story in Trust and Betrayal, but to see such a wonderful character meet his sad end made for a difficult watch. For those of you who are Kenshin fans, be warned that this will be difficult to get through, especially if you've grown a strong attachment to Kenshin and Kaoru. If you're depressed, I warn you not to watch this.

I felt as though this series focused more on Kenshin's suffering than his life as a whole. Of course, if you wanted to see Kenshin's happier days, you would watch the series or read the manga. This focused primarily on what plagued him all his years of wandering and living with Kaoru. The burden he suffered through his days of being an assassin had taken a toll on his soul. On top of that, this story looked at Kenshin's life not only through his eyes, but Kaoru's as well. The burden she took on when she took Kenshin in her life and Megumi's speech during this OVA was a true testament to the burden she took on when she took Kenshin in her life.

In regards to the actual production, the animation and music is downright gorgeous. Considering that the writers went into this trying to tell the melancholic, yet bittersweet moments of Kenshin and Kaoru's life, they executed the animation and music brilliantly. Taku Iwasaki did a remarkable job with the score. My only problem in regards to the writing is the transition between different sequences in Kenshin and Kaoru's lives wasn't quite handled the best, but I think that's more a problem with Kazuhiro Furuhashi's direction than the writing.

Of course, many people will complain that this isn't Kenshin. He had learned to be happy and live life to its fullest. However, what we learned from this is the physical and emotional scars he had gained over the years had taken its toll on his body, his mind, and his soul. I had wondered as I watched the animated series what this side of Kenshin looked like and man did this ever tell it.

Overall, it was painful to see my Rurouni Kenshin experience end like this, but at the same time, I found it fitting. I watched the character that had a dark and brooding past come forth in this. This wasn't about the flashy fight scenes or the kooky misadventures Kenshin and his friends would get in. This was all about the pain and love Kenshin and Kaoru shared with each other through when they first met to when they met their end, but also brought forth a new beginning in the very end. My biggest complaint is that we didn't get more of Kenji Himura's feelings and experiences. We did get a little exposure to it but I wish this OVA could've done a little more to elaborate on it and help it move on even more so. As I said before, this story is the sad, but bittersweet re-telling of the life of Kenshin Himura and Kaoru Kamiya. It was ambitious of Studio Deen to take on such a project considering the tone of the anime series, but in my opinion, I found it worthwhile...even though I might need a prescription to anti-depressants after watching this.

"I knew then...I knew that the world needed him and that I couldn't change his way of life - that it wasn't mine...it wasn't mine to change. But even though I knew it...even though I knew it, I wanted to chase him, to somehow keep him." Himura Kaoru

Every journey has an ending, and with Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection brings to an conclusion Himura Kenshin's journey of atonement that he has been searching for since his final days as Battousai The Manslayer. Reflection strives to add on to the endings of the anime series Rurouni Kenshin and the manga series as well as giving fans of both ... a visually emotional yet satisfying ending to Kenshin's endless struggle for atonement for all the lives he has taken, which depends on whether you are a fan of Rurouni Kenshin, or have seen or read the anime and manga series.

For those of you who have read the manga know that at the end of the manga series Kenshin and Kauru are married and have a son named Himura Kenji, while Kenshin has given his sword to Yahiko, and Sanosuke has set out on his own journey throughout the world. Reflection picks up over a decade after the end of Rurouni Kenshin the anime series and manga. Kenshin has gone to the continent to help the fledgling Meiji government in the first First Sino-Japanese War, but after the war has ended Kenshin has not returned and is considered missing, yet Kauru who has aged over the years still goes to port every day in hopes of seeing her love. Kauru struggles alone in her and Kenshin's home as their son Kenji who is now a teenager, and who after rejecting his father ran off to train with Kenshin's former master Hiko Seijūrō.

The film follows Kenshin's struggle to get home to Kauru, and Kauru's faith and love of Kenshin. Through flashbacks viewers get are able to see how Kenshin and Kauru got to their points in the film. Viewers are also able to finally see the final arch of the Rurouni Kenshin manga brought to life as Enishi Yukishiro returns to seek vengeance on Kenshin for his sister Tomoe death. Through flashbacks viewers are able to see Kenshin's continuing struggle to find atonement even though he is no longer a swordsman. Viewers see even though Kenshin is content, and in a way happy with Kauru and his young son Kenji, but still wishes to find a way to help people and prevent the loss of life, but his struggle has also taken a toll on his body with an unknown disease. The name of the disease Kenshin suffered from is never named in the film. I have heard different theories with the main one being Kenshin suffered from a form of leprosy, which he passed on to Kauru, but I believe it was something else, and Kenshin's body just broke down from Kenshin pushing his body beyond its limits for so long. Kauru is the real star of Reflection has the film shows how strong a woman is, and how much respect people have for her, and her love and support for Kenshin, and the ending is just truly heart wrenching moment.

The story is beautifully written and emotionally moving, creating one of the saddest yet emotionally satisfying anime OVA's ever. Yet I can see flaws some will have with Reflection. I have heard some say they do not want to see a broken down Kenshin or how he dies, but in my opinion what we are given in Reflection is a fitting ending to Kenshin's journey and struggle to find atonement, peace and happiness. I mean really come on with the way Kenshin used his body how long did you thing his body could hold up. Just look at athletes from boxing, UFC, football, baseball and other sports. There is only so long a person can push their body to its limits a beyond before it starts to break down, and yet even with his body no longer able to perform in battle I can see Kenshin continuing his selfless battle to help people live and survive. Another flaw I have read people complain about is Kauru. She is a strong willed woman who matches well with Kenshin and is not afraid to enter into battle, and people have complained that she would have gone with Kenshin on his journey, and brought him back. It is a flawed criticism. Critics forget that Kauru was a mother as well, and could not just drag her son on her journey with Kenshin or just abandon him. Then as years went by Kauru's health was failing as well, and she could just not just go off blindly searching for Kenshin. That is just ridiculous, instead I can see her instead supporting the main she loves, raising and loving their son, and being the beacon of light in the darkness so Kenshin would always return home to her, and she proves that by the quote above that Kauru delivers in the OVA.

Perhaps the biggest flaw of Reflection is its accessibility. Unlike the OVA Trust and Betrayal, the Rurouni Kenshin anime and manga Reflection takes place in the future, and if you have not seen or read the earlier works you will understand the storylines or connect to the characters as those who are fans of the anime and manga making Reflection simply a love letter meant for fans of the character, and no one else. The story is aided by gorgeous animation done by Studio Deen that rivals any animation that is around today as well as a score by Taku Iwasaki who brought a triumphant yet solemn and uplifting score to Reflection that added emotional impact to each scene.

Reflection is certainly not for everyone. The film is certainly not for viewers who are not fans of the characters, and who have not seen or read the anime and manga, but for fans who loved the characters along with the anime and manga series we get a fitting conclusion to Kenshin's journey as well as the love story of Kauru and Kenshin along with getting a glimpse into the lives of our favorite characters and what their future looks like. Reflection delivers on all of those giving viewers a moving conclusion to the journey of Kenshin one of the best characters ever created along with beautiful animation, and a moving score. I highly recommend Reflection for those who are fans of the character, but if you are not or do not know about Himura Kenshin then skip Reflection for now, and instead I highly recommend you watch Trust and Betrayal, watch Rurouni Kenshin the anime series or read the Rurouni Kenshin manga series. You will not be disappointed, and will be introduced to an amazing character as well as being captivated by his struggle and emotional journey.

This is how the entire anime should have been imo. This style is what drew me in to watching the series in the first place after watching Trust and Betrayal. I love the more realistic way the fights are portrayed and how the atmosphere is more gritty and less lighthearted. The main series is very over the top with the way they get "power ups" and such which just doesn't work with this kind of show. The way Trust and Betrayal and this one are shown are a complete 180 to the series. Some people will like the series more ... and others will like this more, just depends on what you want from this particular story. I would recommend watching all things related to Rurouni Kenshin and decide for yourself which you like more :)

One thing that I need to be clear about with this OVA right off the bat – it is literally the MOST DEPRESSING thing I have ever seen. It leaves with you void in your soul. The entire OVA serves as a requiem for Kenshin Himura’s arduous life. A much different presentation style than the anime series.

If you are sensitive to sad endings or do not like melodrama, you should heed my advice and stay the hell away from this OVA!

Let’s move on.

The gist of this OVA is to show the romance between Kenshin and Kaoru in a more realistic and melancholic manner than the ... original manga through a series of flashbacks. This may immediately raise red flags to somebody who has read the manga and has not seen Reflections. Why? Because this OVA is a far cry from a 1:1 panel adaptation of the manga. I cannot emphasize this enough.


Eventually we get to see a fragment of the Jinchuu arc that involves Enishi and his plan for revenge. This "arc" is extremely compressed into about 20 minutes of screen time, with the actual act of “Jinchuu” being completely omitted from the OVA, which is a huge let down as it is the climax of the Jinchuu Arc in the manga.

Once this segment is finished, we see how Kenshin and Kaoru live after the main series has ends, and unfortunately for the married couple, it does not end well. Their marriage is a disaster as Kenshin is unable to truly accept Kaoru as his lover due to his depression, leaving her as an empty shell (due to being broken-hearted) of a person and forcing her to raise their son on her own since Kenshin decides to wander again throughout Japan, leaving Kaoru and Kenji behind. He does this because he is unable to forgive himself for the atrocities he committed as a Hitokiri, which is ultimately a grave mistake. Kenshin has a disease that can most easily be compared to leprosy, and before he ventures off to wander one last time, it is clear that his days are very numbered, along with Kaoru, who too, has the disease. Over time this leads to their son, Kenji, to learn to hate his father (he is quite cynical), furthering the suffering Kaoru must endure. Kenji eventually disassociates himself from the Himura family, and moves in with Hiko Seijuro in the wilderness near Kyoto. The OVA comes to a very depressing conclusion, but it seems at the end Kenji has turned over a new leaf, and will live a fulfilling life with his spouse, Chizuru.
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Story: 4.5/10

The plot itself is very scattered, and is frankly unwatchable unless you have seen the whole anime series or read the manga. It is essentially just a menagerie of contorted flashbacks. However, the plot somewhat coherent in the second episode, even though half of it is non-canon.
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Animation: 10/10

The art in this OVA is beautiful. Nothing more needs to be said. (my personal favorite animation style)
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Sound: 9.5/10

Taku Iwasaki, the composer, does an outstanding job composing in both OVAs. Extremely beautiful orchestrated music that I wish more anime today had. Emotionally compelling.
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Characters: 7/10

This is most definitely an unpopular opinion, but I think Kaoru really shines in this OVA, for the sole reason of how devoted of a wife she is. It truly is rare to see such a display of unconditional love. Kenshin however was devoid of any personality since it seemed like all of his personality died along with Tomoe in the first OVA, and Koaru was left with an empty shell of Kenshin. Kaoru is madly in love with a brick wall, so to speak. There is no reciprocation. Very depressing.
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Enjoyment: 9/10

Since the Rurouni Kenshin manga is in essence a tale of redemption, you would expect the original source to provide the reader with both more introspective and intimate elements than what were provided in the manga. Some of these needed aspects missing from the original source can be found in this OVA. Reflections also explores the vulnerability of Kenshin, which helps us see Kenshin more as a man, rather than just a sword-wielding god like he is portrayed in the manga/anime. While it is true that this OVA did indeed send a different message than the manga, you cannot overlook the fact that this OVA had some of the missing ingredients that held the manga back from being a masterpiece. Both the manga and this OVA have flaws, but I find them both enjoyable nonetheless.
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Overall: 7.5/10

This is a must watch for any RK fan, but be warned, this is not the same goofy Kenshin you see in the anime. Essentially, this version of Kenshin is just a sad man with a huge wound on his heart forged by a woman who died by his own sword that will never heal no matter how much love and care he receives. There is no redemption for him in this OVA until death. This to me is just a what-if scenario, an original piece of work, so I am able to enjoy it for what it is – a supplement to the manga. Some people hate this OVA because it sends a different message than the manga, and I understand their grievances, but I personally liked it. Watch at your own risk.


If there is anything to take away from my review it would be this:

A) This OVA is completely inaccessible to those who haven't read the manga or seen the other OVAs

B) The ending is more suitable to those who like more realistic conclusions to their anime

C) The message sent in this OVA drastically digresses from the author's original intent in the manga

D) Any puerile or comedic elements are completely averted in this OVA - leaving us with a much darker, melancholic interpretation of Rurouni Kenshin than the original anime

This had so much emotion, and feeling. I loved the art, the voices were ehh alright, but the story is awesome :D Makes me want to cry! every rurouni kenshin OVA makes me wanna cry LOL. but yah go watch it!! NOW!

10/10.

To those complaining that the Kenshin and other Ruroken characters in the OVA are OOC compared to the manga, I understand that. The manga adopts a happy-go-lucky attitude geared towards a younger audience where Kenshin and pals go on wacky adventures and epic fights. But these two OVAs aren't the manga, and they aren't meant to be. They aren't direct prequels/sequels to the manga, they're a standalone series that uses the same characters. It's a different (darker) interpretation, but given Kenshin's dark and tragic backstory that was present in the manga, I totally understand that the story could've gone this way.

Yes, this story is sad, ... but there's plenty of happy-ending animes out there... this one portrays the darker, more realistic side of life. Tragic stories happen in real life, and this OVA gives you a glimpse into those emotions. Here are my ranking breakdowns:

Story: 10
As explained above, this is a perfect example of a tragic story that is masterfully done. I would say it's sad, but it's not depressing. Kenshin's scar disappearing at the end showed that he finally found inner peace through sacrifice, and I think this ending is very fitting for his character, who dedicates his life to sacrifice and atonement after leaving behind his "Battosai" persona. The flashbacks to Kenshin's earlier life are well-timed and executed, and the music enhances the emotions greatly. I especially like that they did not exaggerate fantasy elements and went with a more realistic tone - the closest they came to fantasy was Jineh freezing Kaoru with his gaze, but even that can be interpreted as caused by fear instead of "dark magic abilities" like in the manga.

My only complaint with the story is the very beginning, where Kenshin falls off the ship and drowns. Except he doesn't. Apparently, he survived and washed ashore (not shown on screen) on an island, where Sanosuke later finds him. It would have been fine if the true ending was Kenshin being knocked overboard during a storm on his return from the war, but since it wasn't, this was just confusing.

Art: 9
The art is good, and I think it executes the realistic style well. Unlike in the first OVA, there weren't as many (or as obvious) instances of usage of real life scenes to supplement the animation. I think I can show this to a friend that doesn't watch anime and not receive any comments about how anime is "immature" or "just for kids".

Sound: 10
Without the music, these two OVAs would not be the same. Truly the best score I've seen in any film. "In Memories - KO TO WA RI" captures the essence of the story perfectly.

Character: 10
The mix of flashbacks and present-day scenes enhances the nostalgic feeling. We see glimpses of how great a swordsman Kenshin was during the Bakumatsu, and we see bits and pieces of how his interactions with his past (Saito, Jineh, Enishi, Tomoe, Hiko, etc...) shaped him into the man he is today. My favorite moment was when Enishi saw the spirit of his sister protecting Kenshin right when he was about to deliver the killing blow. This scene combined with the ending music from the first OVA was very powerful and brought me to tears.

Enjoyment: 10
This OVA isn't just about feeling sad or depressed. Tragic stories have existed since the beginning of literature, with examples such as The Great Gatsby, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Of Mice and Men... the list goes on. When done well, a tragic story can bring out deep emotions in a good way. Seisou-hen does it flawlessly.

Overall: 10
For the reasons above, I award this OVA a 10. I am extremely glad that I discovered this OVA series, and I will remember this story for decades to come. If your only gripe against it is that it's non-canon, don't let that deter you. Just think of it as an alternate interpretation.

Okay, right now, I feel absolutely confused, and horribly sad. From the first to the last scenes of this OVA, I was repeating in my mind "this is not canon, even Watsuki told this is not canon..."

First of all, I have no problem with drama. It can be written amazingly, it can be heartwrenching, but beautiful, it can show a good message, an ending, where a hero, who lost too much finally gets to rest. But what I have a huge problem with, is when a story just kicks and hits a character, who suffered in his whole life. We could have seen an old, ... tired Kenshin, who finally got forgiveness, but Kenshin in this OVA is 43 years old! And after all that suffering, after everything he had to go through, he got leprosy, which is a horrible disease. He gone away in a sad and painful way, which hurt him hurt his friends... and Kaoru, but I will speak about her later.

The animation is outstanding, as well as the sound. This makes the highly depressive story of the OVA even stronger. The character portrayals are mostly great. My two personal favourites was Sano and Saito. Sano is an amazing friend, and he really showed it in this story. He saw Kenshin, he remembered, how he was, and when he was so weak, that he could barely stand, Sano never let him go. He stayed strong, and supported Kenshin, having some of the most beautiful scenes in the story. And there was Saito, who finally let go of Kenshin's throat, and I felt so sorry for him. His monologue showed how much he held on to the idea of one day ending their fight, of one day really deciding who is the better... and when he told, that Kenshin is no longer the Battousai, so he accepts his decision, it was obvious, how painful it was for him, how much he had to give up for this acceptance. When he says "I'm the winner, because I survived... how dull victory it is", it has that background meaning that "I couldn't change, I couldn't adapt to the new age, I just stayed the same". It was beautiful, but painful.

And Kaoru... she just... I lost all my faith in her. She was so... stupid, I can't say anything else, that I really got angry. It's not romantic, to willingly catch a disease, your husband is suffering from! It's not romantic, it's crazy! I just... I don't know what to say, I kind of liked Kaoru's character until now, she really loved Kenshin, and she really wanted to help him, but the choices she made in this OVA made her look like an idiot. And I'm more than angry, that Kenshin accepted these choices. He is just... I can't believe he is like that.

All in all, you should watch this story, but I still not consider it canon. It's just not fair... that's the most fitting expression for it. Kenshin deserved a better ending than this.