Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan - Tsuioku-hen

First of all, I've never actually watched the series Rurouni Kenshin, so everything I write is from a blank slate perspective. :)

Story- This was really beautiful and sad. The plot idea of an assassin who no longer likes being an assassin, though already done, was completely remastered and thought out in a unique fashion. I was completely enthralled from the beginning and wasn't completely sure where everything was going to turn out. I like the fact that they seemed to write this so that somebody who hasn't seen the show could understand and be emmersed. I could definitely see this as a stand alone.

Art- Sometimes ... I wasn't sure if I liked the style of this, or not. They used live shots for water and fire and I really did not like that. Possibly it is a personal preference thing.

Character- I loved the twists and complexities to each character. I did not think that anyone in this was predictable or banal.

Overall I think this was a fantastically done piece and I'm pretty sure this just got me interested in watching the actual show now.

I have a confession to make: I've never seen Rurouni Kenshin. I've known of its existence for a long time, but I haven't seen the 90 episode anime. I did see one episode of it dubbed, but that was because my college anime club showed it for historical fiction week, along with three other shows. It never interested me, and in a way it still doesn't interest me now. I don't think I can commit myself to a 90 episode anime, especially if its full of pointless filler. But one of my favorite bloggers was praising this up the wazoo and said that I didn't ... need to know about the show or manga in order to enjoy it, and I kinda wanted to watch something dark and mature since I hadn't seen any dark and mature shows for a while. I can't believe I'm saying this...but I absolutely adore Trust and Betrayal despite not knowing anything about Rurouni Kenshin at all, neither anime nor manga (I might read the manga when I can. I'll probably just rent it at the library).

On a cold night, a band of warriors kill slave traders, leaving a young boy as the only survivor. A swordsman named Seijuro Hiko takes the boy in, renaming him Kenshin, and teaching him the ways of the sword. Kenshin grows into a killer who kills people in order to defend the innocent in a world infected by corruption, disease, poverty, malice, and greed. One would think that his humanity is as good as gone, but when circumstances force him to pair up with a woman named Yukishiro Tomoe, Kenshin gradually realizes that life without the sword can actually be good for him, and that the world isn't all evil. But the awful truths still remain, and not everyone can be trusted.

I have to admit, the animation, for its time, was absolutely sumptuous, especially in the fight scenes. They are all well choreographed, there are so scenes where characters just fly faster than the speed of light to hit their enemies, the blood and gore (yes, it is very bloody and not for the faint of heart) actually serves a purpose instead of just being there for the sake of being dark and edgy, the gore itself is realistic, and the characters move believably. The anime also takes a lot of care in showing both the good and the bad of feudal Japan, especially in regards to dress, customs, food, etc. I love an anime that does its research. But if there's one thing that bothers me, its the fact that sometimes for no real reason, the scenes switch from 2D animation to live action scenery, such as candle flames flickering, snow falling, sunbeams through the trees, etc. It really doesn't fit well here. I don't get why they didn't just draw those scenes out, as putting in live action scenery just really takes you out of the atmosphere. Also, I have a very hard time believing that someone is actually capable of slicing a person's entire head in half, right through the skull and all, let alone slicing an entire person in half with just a katana. For the most part, the fight scenes are realistic and well animated, but I do think some of the feats Kenshin pulls off, such as the ones I mentioned above, kinda push my suspension of disbelief VERY much.

The music really does its job well. There's no opening theme song, and the ending theme song is mostly an instrumental piece, but I don't really have much to say about the music except that it's plain awesome and the assigned pieces fit their assigned atmosphere well. When it wants to be creepy, the music is creepy. When there's battles and sword fights going on, the music is epic and bombastic. Quiet moments have quiet music. Every single piece of background music is used very well, and they all fit their assigned scenes. It knows when to be subtle and when to really go all out.

The main characters are the ones who steal the show, and since the story is centered completely around them in a span of just four episodes, they develop wonderfully. Even the romance between them is beautifully and subtly executed, and nothing is forced or artificial between them. The side characters, on the other hand, don't have much to go on. Some of them I even hate because of their actions. Kenshin and Tomoe are the stars of this OVA, and the OVA knows it, and it fleshes them all out in great detail. They pretty much make the OVA what it is, a tale of two lovers learning from each other and learning about new sides of life and each other, even in the face of tragedy. I don't think this OVA would be good if they weren't in it.

I have to admit though, I saw the English dub first, and while normally I don't like to be negative about English dubs, as I prefer to be someone who gives things a fair chance as I've seen many good dubs that people hate for no real reason, but...Trust and Betrayal's English dub isn't very good. Granted, the scripting is faithful to the sub, the dialogue fits with the setting and the time period, and the lip flaps match the lines just fine. It's just...the voice acting. Either the characters' voices don't fit or the actors clearly CANNOT emote for the life of them, the worst offenders being Kenshin and Enishi. I may not have seen the TV series in its entirety, but I know that in the show, Kenshin was voiced by Richard Cansino, but in the OVAs, he's voiced by someone named J. Shannon Weaver, who...makes Kenshin sound like an emotionless emo kid who smoked too much crack. And that's not his only problem! During emotional and epic scenes, Weaver absolutely cannot emote or raise his voice enough to make his performance convincing in any way whatsoever, which really kill the moments for me. Everyone else is the exact same way. The actors don't seem to care about their work here, and don't seem to want to give their all in their performances. Say what you want about the Attack on Titan dub and its scripting problems, but at least the actors could emote and put their heart and soul into their performances. Also, Enishi. GOOD GOD, Enishi's voice is the worst in the entire dub! He's supposed to be a preteen kid or something, but he sounds like a 40 year old man who's trying way too hard to sound like Carl from the Jimmy Neutron cartoons, it's THAT bad! I've heard bad voices, but Enishi's...is pretty much the worst voice I've ever heard. You want to know what the sad thing is? Even though ADV licensed this in their early days, they picked Monster Island studios to do the voice casting, and Monster Island is usually known for producing very good dubs for anime such as Nadia and Petite Princess Yucie, among other titles. Clearly, Trust and Betrayal was not one of their better dubbing efforts. And who was the casting director responsible for giving Kenshin and Enishi terrible voices?!

But yeah, if you want a genuinely good story with great build up, intense scenes, and a well executed romance, definitely put this on your list, especially if you're into period-anime. Just don't watch it in English. And there's a lot of blood and gore, so it's not for the faint of heart.

Wow where to begin. This is an amazing anime movie all around. And one of my all time favs! A story about an orphan kid who gets picked up by a samurai master and taught the ways of the sword. A fictional story based on actual Japanese history. Nothing bad to say about it. So I'll give you some reasons to watch it.

I wish I could have seen this movie before the TV series. This is a wonderful start to a long story. The story is so in depth with it's characters. You cant get help but get sucked in. Action & ... Romance! The 2 main things i look for in a anime. This hit it right on the dot. The action bloody but not to the point of overkill. Then the romance. Not some clueless shy boy that never gets the girl. It a true heartfelt romance story that progresses nicely.

If you have seen the tv series yet. I suggest starting off with this movie first. The tv series goes on to the after math of the move. A whole 95 Episodes!! 95! I know right.
But the story goes even more in-depth. And yes after the 95 are up they finish it up with Rurouni Kenshin: Seisouhen. The ending of a great story that brought tears to my eyes.

If you haven't see the series or even if you have and haven't seen this movie then your missing out...So check it out!

This is, without doubt, one of my favorite pieces of animated work. It can be enjoyed equally by anime fans and non-anime fans alike, and it is probably one of the best ways to introduce anime to a skeptic or novice. This show covers deep, powerful themes of love and war, is moving, and has interesting, complex, relatable characters.

This is a prequel to the Rurouni Kenshin TV series, but it can be watched independently, though I would say watching the first two seasons of the TV series will make the experience of watching the OVA better.

Story
The story shows how Kenshin evolves from an ... idealistic teenager wanting to fight in the civil war to help the people of Japan, to a cold-hearted killer swiftly murdering his victims without giving them a chance to scream, and then how he regains some of his humanity and begins his long journey toward atonement. The story makes you think about how killing people for the common good of a nation might be a misguided idea, especially if done under the orders of others and not by one's own judgment. It also speaks about the power of both hatred and love, and how these feelings can be intertwined. However, this anime doesn't judge any of the characters, it shows their stories and allows you to draw your own conclusion on who is right and who is wrong. It shows what each character is fighting for and, as one characters says, that “every man is full of sins”, that everyone gets their hands dirty in a war.

Art
The animation is exceptionally good; I especially liked the way that Kenshin's eyes were drawn to reveal different emotions, such as sorrow, apathy, shock, happiness. The backgrounds are drawn very realistically and are representative for the time period they depict, adding to the general atmosphere. The creators don't shy away from blood and gore, which makes the experience of watching the OVA more emotional.

Sound
The music was beautiful and very appropriate to create an atmosphere. I liked that the music didn't glorify the battles, making clear that the fights weren't about swordsmen displaying their skills, but rather about Kenshin fighting for what he believed in, at the cost of living with the guilt of having killed human beings.

Characters
The characters are interesting, three-dimensional, and flawed. You connect not only with the two main characters, but you also understand the other characters' motivations. In a sense, there are no clear evil characters, everyone does things that can be considered evil or immoral. In a time of civil war and unrest, no one manages to come out with clean hands. Everyone either kills, orders others to kill, or seeks revenge. Even the women at the inn where the Choshu soldiers stay, understand very well the men's job, and silently agree to their agenda. The fact that so many of the characters are real historical figures (such as Saitou, Okita, Katsura), makes this OVA even more interesting because it really feels like this story is not only plausible, but almost probable for such a tumultuous time period in Japanese history. The character development is also very well done. By the end, almost everyone changes significantly (except Saitou, he holds true to his Aku Soku Zan principle no matter what, and there is little, if anything, that can ruffle his feathers).

Enjoyment
The enjoyment comes from having something to think about after watching the OVA. You end up caring about the characters and their stories even though they are all flawed. It makes you think about the power of hate, love, revenge, guilt and redemption. This is a story that will stay in your mind for some time after your watch, and there's a good chance you will have conflicting feelings about Kenshin. At times you will root for him, at others you might disagree with him. This OVA really makes you think if you want to agree with Kenshin or not. The show gives you other viewpoints (such as his master's, Katsura's or the Shinsengumi's viewpoints), but doesn't make it any less obvious that any of them are right either.

Weak points
The only thing that bothered me, and this was true only the first time I watched this (I watched this OVA at least three times), was that some events were not explained very well. It's a bit hard to understand when watching for the first time who all the characters are, and what their intentions or agendas are. I watched the TV series before watching this, so it definitely helped with my understanding, but I was still a little confused at times. I feel a good grasp on the history of the Meiji Revolution would significantly increase the level of understanding. I don't feel like it took away from the emotional involvement in the story though.
Some people may be bothered by the somewhat slower pace in the 3rd part, but it didn't really bother me. I think it was necessary to show how Kenshin's life could have been different had he not become an assassin. In a sense, it adds to the tragedy of Kenshin's fate.
One thing I wish they'd done differently was emphasize more the rivalry between the Choshu group and the Shinsengumi as it is revealed in the TV series. But it does make sense that they wouldn't want to put too much accent on it, as both groups fight for their own ideals, the fact that they are enemies comes second.

Summary
This is definitely an OVA worth watching and I would recommend this to anyone old enough to watch some scenes with blood and gore, even to an anime novice, but especially to any fan of the TV series, or of samurai anime or movies.

Plot 9/10 (because of lack of context for some characters and events) (Great)
Animation 10/10 (Outstanding)
Characters 10/10 (Outstanding)
Sound 10/10 (Outstanding)
Enjoyment 10/10 (Outstanding)
Overall 10/10 (Outstanding)

I am going to start this review with a little history lesson; I apologize for the digression. If you want you can skip it and read the review only, but I humbly request you to read it.
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2300 years ago, a man called Ashoka ascended the throne of the Mauryan Empire in India; he was a vile person, had committed many flagitious deeds, and was especially fond of torturing his enemies in a specially built palace.

8 years after his coronation, he waged war against the kingdom of Kalinga, one of the few regions that were free from the yoke of the subcontinent-spanning Mauryan Empire; a ... sanguinary battle ensued in which over 200,000 souls lost their lives.

The immense carnage wrought by the Mauryan troops and the plaintive wails of the bereaved women and orphans (who were taken as slaves by the victor) brought about a wondrous transformation in the cruel king. Soon after the battle, he renounced war, converted to Buddhism, and became a staunch advocate of peace to atone for his sins. Under his auspices, Buddhist monks carried their teachings and his principles of nonviolence and Dharma (duty and responsibility) to China, Sri Lanka, Japan and South-East Asia, turning a riverine sect into one of the major religions of the world.

The transmogrification of this repugnant emperor into an envoy of peace led the great writer, H.G. Wells to issue this encomium, "Amidst the tens of thousands of names of monarchs that crowd the columns of history, their majesties and graciousness’s and serenities and royal highnesses and the like, the name of Ashoka shines, and shines, almost alone, a star."

When I finished watching Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan, I could not help but compare the eponymous hero to Ashoka. Like the latter, Kenshin’s hands were stained with the blood of myriads and like Ashoka, Kenshin metamorphosed from a murderer into a force for good (a peaceful peripatetic in the latter’s case). But what event could have possibly made Kenshin do such a volte-face?

In Rurouni Kenshin: Reminiscence, we learn about the impetus behind this change of heart. Set in the tumultuous milieu of the ‘Bakufumatsu’ (fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate), Reminiscence is a haunting tale of two star-crossed lovers; the movie also reveals how Kenshin got his trademark cross-shaped scar.

One of the things that I loved the most about Reminiscence is how beautifully it captures the mood of the era it is set in. Keeping in tune with the tumultuous milieu of that time, Reminiscence makes use of a muted color pallet in stark contrast to the bright and upbeat one of the original TV series that reflects the hopes of early-Meiji Japan.

Moreover, Reminiscence ditches the drollery and tomfoolery of the original series and maintains a somber tone throughout the movie in tune with the times. Both these points lend it an air of verisimilitude that enables the viewer to be more connected to the story.

In addition to this, the plangent and melancholic OST (one of these nights, is quite possibly the best track I have ever listened to) further accentuates the gloomy nature of the period and enhances the emotional impact of the many poignant scenes of the movie.

Another thing that endeared me to Reminiscence is that it fleshes out the two main characters: Kenshin and Tomoe, and tells us the story of their doomed love in a highly realistic fashion without resorting to melodrama or seeming mawkish. Their story is incredibly heart rendering and the dénouement of the plot was suffused with pathos so strong that even a person as phlegmatic as I was nearly moved to tears.

Finally, the fluid animation that captures the action scenes in breathtaking detail (for its time), the consummate voice acting, and unique art style give a fillip to Reminiscence which solidifies its place in the pantheon of great movies.

In conclusion, watching Reminiscence truly was a spectacular experience and it stirred my emotions as few movies ever have; in my opinion, this movie is the embodiment of all that animation as an art form is capable of achieving. I advise all readers to give this movie a shot, even if you have not watched the original series, or found it too suffused with wackiness for your taste. Trust me you will not be disappointed.

( PROPER MINDSET )

A good show needs to present and develop the themes and the characters in a subtle way, this way it will make everything more fluid and enjoyable as it feels much more natural

STORY:
Oh yes Samurai X, a show about fate, redemption and acceptance, a show to reflect over and deeply love.
For someone who grow up watching the Transvestite that is the Samurai X 94 eps series, I say this because the manga is much better and DEEN likes to murder good Manga by not covering it correctly, I was much pleased by this 4 eps OVA by the name of ... Trust & Betrayal.
At first we have this premise where it shows a slave boy who wants to protect everyone and create a new world, trained by his master swordsman mentor he will become the hero and get all the harem chicks-- CUT! .. Wait, isnt it like that? - Oh of course I almost forgot that this is not some silly Harem shounen.
Samurai X or Rurouni Kenshin shows us the dark side of being an assassin (well duh) it takes on everything in a very depressive manner that helps cultivate the show atmosphere which is astonishing, and never drifts or tries to implement comedy in it, its depressing, dark and thats whats to be expected from a a show about killing people (get it right, akame ga kill), it is a solid and very well written story, the pace is slow to add to the depressing atmosphere and it doesnt care about its characters while simultaneously showing respect for both the work and the audience which makes it all the better, THIS IS HOW SAMURAI X SHOULD BE, thats all I can say.

After that there is also some sort of philosophy going on which isnt shoved down our throats (parasyte) but developed troughout the story. Thats what it brings us to the "Mindset".. Any sort of media needs subtlety has a way to distinguish the different elements of a work and to introduce them in a way that doesnt make it seem like we were bombardeated with a 1 hour ep of exposition or the constant "remindal" of those very same elements.. Shows like EVAngelion, She and her Cat, Tsukimi no Ie or even a favourite show of mine 5CMPS managed to transpire this very well, wether it was trough dialogue between characters, actions or simply expressions or emotions.. In the end what really matters is how natural and fluid a story can be, of course there are some type of shows like comedies (Nichijou or Kawai-con) or over the top reckless fun (tengen toppa, or Kill La kill) that dont have this kind of subtlety because it wouldnt make sense since its supposed to be extravagant with blood pumping fast pace not subtle and slow has it will lose all its impact and winding up not achieving what was proposed, but a show aiming for something more complex and trying to write good characters should allways create subtlety between the show elements. In the end the OVA´s manage to have a strong and solid realistic story where people die when they are killed and killing is in fact bad.

ART
I am aware that there is a controversity regarding the fact that Deen used cheap budget cuts like live action scenery and towards the end the fights minimaly degrated and well while I agree with that I also commend DEEN on the live action case as while being a budget cut it kept the show´s atmosphere.. It reforced the realism of the show without looking silly like our old friend CGI... About the fights for most part they were well animated and the gore looks amazing, the color palet is much more variated than you think but usually it relied on dark tones of black,red,blue and brown. I could also see the water color background which were pretty nice and the characters designs looked realistic and distinguishable. Making the art and animation pretty good even for a studio like DEEN.



SOUND:
The sound is absolutely beautifull and fitting, it really has the samurai ancient vibe and it had a nice choreography, it fed the great atmosphere it had and it gave more impact to scenes and events. Everything felt rather realistic and I rate it highly taking to account the fact that it was made in the 90´s- great stuff.

Characters


Most of the characters (aside from Tomoe, Kenshin and say I'izuka) had a simple characterization but didn’t felt like plot devices due to their human-esc actions and reactions, they weren’t exactly good but they weren’t there for the sake of plot but simply to reinforce the world building and give a sense of community, I consider Takasugi to be one of the best side characters has he represented idea of auxiliary irregular militia (shotai). He was basically kenshin´s mirror has he was quite similar to him, they were both unseathed swords however Takasugi got a seath (a wife) who served has a device to preserve Takasugi´s humanity, the same function was given to Tomoe by Katsuragi the headmaster concerning kenshin, she accepted this and at some point went to live with kenshin for determined reasons. The amount of subtlety and emotionally powerfull scenes featuring Kenshin and Tomoe make me want to say that this is by far one of the couples with the greatest chemistry, there weren’t any words, just actions, little moments in silence and basic day to day shores.. they felt so natural, it was truly amazing to see that polarized couple interact with each other. The main focus is kenshin and Tomoe, other than those I cant say much.. Izuka is what you can call a great villain, not because of the plot twist but simply because he played a great role in kenshin´s life, he´s basically transmiting to the audience that nobody can be trusted, he wasn’t a maniac villain like those from SAO, he was quite simple but yet he felt like a real person and in this case a great villain, manipulative but sharp. He is without a doubt a great villain, in the end the characters were pretty solid and well done.



Enjoyment:
When it comes down to enjoyment I never Thought I would enjoy a prequel this much, it was beautiful and its in my top 5 at the moment next to Area 88 OVA, which is very good. And now since I have a rating system and stuff I award Story with a A+, Characters with an A-, Art with a B, Sound with a B+, and enjoyment with an A awarding this show with a overall A. for similar shows I recommend you AREA 88 OVA as it’s a great war drama and its also very realistic, and for the romance aspect of the show I recommend you 5 cm per second, this was Half Moon and ill see ya later

I've seen all sorts of anime of different genres, but it's not often I come across one like this. To sum it up, I liked the smooth animation, the serious tone, the fact that there's no humour attempted, and that it wasn't boring.

The story reveals Kenshin's past, which any fan of the series would probably be interested in. I just rewatched these OVAs after several years without reacquainting myself with the series and found this stands on its own just fine. For those that don't know Kenshin, you'll find some kickass samurai action here along with a tragic plot.
The story is rather fast ... paced and you might even miss some details about the war that's going on. There are flashbacks inserted briefly all over the place; they really just throw everything at you. You should be able to piece together what's important, though. As for the war, I think it's good how they sorta leave you out of the loop and stuff. It just goes to show that Kenshin was powerless to change anything, that he had little involvement in it other than the actual killing he did. This story is not about the war; it's about Kenshin and Tomoe.
Kenshin's changes throughout the OVAs are convincing enough. The feelings he and Tomoe develop for each other are also convincing. Sometimes anime relationships are really shallow and basic, but we can see what they go through together and how their lives and feelings are affected. Tomoe's situation becomes very difficult and it sorta makes you question if it'd be worth living or not. She gets driven into a corner where living happily pretty much becomes impossible. It's like... pretty sad.

The art was very modern and nicely done. The animation was as smooth and detailed as you'd expect from an anime movie. The sword fights were especially well done, and there were quite a few of them. They were short, but what can you expect when some random opponent is facing the mighty Kenshin? I like this kinda violence in anime. Not some drawn out 20 episode battle, just some serious life or death attacks that can end a fight quickly and with blood. There were a few small bits that had some 3D or perhaps actual filming, but I've seen much worse in other anime. It wasn't really needed here, but it didn't really bother me either.

There were a lot of times where there was no background music, but I found this fine and felt it just added to the serious tone. There was music at appropriate times and there was no music where there was no need for it.

The characters were good. Kenshin and Tomoe don't talk much about their pasts or even their feelings, but it takes time for them to get to that level, and then they do share such things a bit. As the story progresses, you get to know them and see them change, which is good. Aside from the traitor, the other characters weren't that important. They didn't give any hints about who the traitor was or even focus on it much; it was mostly just foreshadowing that the enemy knew about Kenshin and that something was bound to happen as a result. His character was pretty consistent, though, and his general attitude and behaviour made it work out that he was the traitor.

There are a couple other things I want to touch on more before ending this review... The lack of "anime expressions" such as large sweat drops, chibi faces, slamming into the ground over finding something stupid, and ^_^. Even something as vicious as Hellsing has that stuff... it was nice to see that there was no typical anime stuff here or comic relief. Quite frankly, it's pretty overdone and, more often than not, it isn't amusing. It's nice that this wasn't tainted by that stuff, that it's just some nice, serious samurai story.
The other thing is that this wasn't boring. Lots of serious stories tend to be so with their sluggish pace, but the fast pace and bits of action kept this entertaining the whole way through for me. Oftentimes a "serious story" seems to mean some complex background with overcomplicated dialogue and plans, leaving the viewer to be entertained only after they can figure out what the hell is going on and what the story is even about. Having essentially no attachment to the war, this story is pretty simple and can just be enjoyed as is.

Maybe this story could've been a bit more touching if it wasn't quite so depressing, but that wasn't really a bad thing. I think it's probably because of how Tomoe's situation ended up being. Excuse me for spoiling, but I think it should be fairly clear by the picture of Kenshin holding a bloody Tomoe in his arms that she dies. She no longer felt she could live, so we just sorta have to accept her choice to die. That's where it's just depressing instead of touching; if she had hopes for a brighter future and wanted to live, then it probably would've been cry worthy. Something like that would be impossible with her situation, though. Anyhow, I still found it good and to be a satisfying ending.

I watched Kenshin years ago, for whatever reason, I never ended up watching Tsuiokuhen, which was a big mistake, as it's a very good OVA that explains the events which inevitably led to Kenshin being who he is in the anime itself.

Tsuiokuhen is short, and almost inexcusable to watch if you've seen the main Kenshin anime. With only 4 episodes, it merely takes up a few hours to watch, and it's well worth the experience.

The OVA is separated into "acts". Acts I and II are based a lot around the politics of the era, as well as the fighting. I watched this subbed, and I ... found it difficult to keep the names of all the clans and such straight. So many different words were thrown at me out of nowhere, it really dampened the story for me, even though it was still good. The action however, is absolutely tremendous. All the actions scenes are amazingly crisp and gory, it's jaw-dropping to watch, with the only flaw maybe being that it's a bit too dark for some of these scenes.

Act III is the act that really chronicles how Kenshin changed into the man he ended up being in the anime. This was my favorite act, it had a lot of character development, and was a really strong act overall.

Act IV concludes everything. It's sad and emotional... but not quite on the level I was expecting after all the build up. I enjoyed it, but not as much as I had hoped.

Tsuiokuhen is short and fun. I easily recommend it to anyone who has watched Kenshin, and to people who haven't as well.

Rurouni Kenshin is a fairly well known anime from the mid to late 90s. Studio Gallop began work on it, doing roughly two thirds of it and it was finished by Studio Deen. In spite of its popularity, I haven't seen it. What we're looking at today is an OVA from the tail end of the 90s by Studio Deen, Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan- Tsuiokuhen. Fortunately, it's a prequel. As such, no one can really complain that my lack of familiarity with the series proper means that I'm missing important details.

Story:

Our narrative opens with a group of people marching. You don't know where they're ... going or why, but they don't look happy with their situation. That's when they're attacked by a group of ruffians with swords. Most of the group is cut down save for one young boy. He's rescued at the last minute by a passing Ronin, who easily dispatches the ruffians. The boy buries the dead and tells the Ronin the truth of their sad journey. The Ronin introduces himself as Hiko Seijuurou and asks for the boy's name. The boy introduces himself as Shinta & promptly has his name changed to Kenshin because Shinta is too soft for a swordsman. Several years later, Kenshin is working as an assassin for the Choshu clan, in spite of Hiko's objections, in an attempt to change the world for the better. One night, he kills three men, earning a scar on the cheek as a result. A short time later, the scar still bursts out bleeding on occasion and Kenshin meets a young woman on a rainy night. Her name is Yukishiro Tomoe and she has a foreboding secret.

This OVA has a damn good story. The thematic use of Kenshin's scar is really well done. The theme of retribution is really well handled. The pacing is excellent, with slow moments being utilised skilfully. The non-linear aspects are really well thought out and used cleverly. The romance aspect is really complex and has a lot of weight, although it is a bit rushed, particularly for Kenshin. The ending is really strong too.

Characters:

The characters in this are really well done and complex. Kenshin and Tomoe in particular get really fleshed out. Even the minor characters are well enough developed to seem like actual people and you get a strong sense of what they're like. The exception is a young boy named Enishi who doesn't serve much purpose to the narrative and isn't particularly complex. I'm guessing that he's important during the main series, possibly even developed therein, but he's really not here.

Art:

The artwork and animation are both really strong. The background details are really good. The character designs are well done and the action sequences, for the most part, are smooth and intense. In spite of their short durations. There are some exceptions. They have a couple action sequences with a lot of odd strobe effects that necessitate a seizure warning that look kind of choppy and not very good.

Sound:

The vocal performances are fantastic. Suzukaze Mayo & Iwao Junko both deliver incredibly powerful performances. The secondary characters are well voiced as well with Ikeda Shuuichi standing out from the rest. The music is really good too.

Ho-yay:

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Final Thoughts:

Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan- Tsuiokuhen, is really fantastic. The story is really strong. The characters are compelling. The artwork, exempting a couple action sequences, is stellar and the acting is powerful, giving you a real sense of the characters and their personalities. My final rating for this OVA is going to be an enthusiastic 9/10. If you're interested in seeing a tragic love story or an epic samurai story, I recommend it. Next week I'll go from the past of Rurouni Kenshin to the cyberpunk future of Ghost in the Shall Stand Alone Complex: 2nd Gig.

I can only attribute that the work of studio deen is really not as bad as we thought and that's who proved us with this ova which became an instant classic



really I am impressed by the work behind visually it is magnificent breathtaking never seen such an irreproachable quality I want to say that I am really passionate about the edo era especially since I watched gintama which allowed me to learn more about this dense, hollow and cold period.



next, kenshin and tomoe are probably the most adorable and mysterious couple i have seen in a while. tomoe touched and impacted me enormously during my ... viewing I was destroyed and in deep regret for his atrocious and frustrating past after I find that these feelings which join with kenshin allowed me to deduce that this ova is really a joy but wow i'm just in my deep satisfaction of this beautiful ending



I can't even match such an ova it was so perfect despite having an excellent competitor who dethrones it like Legend of the galactic which is the apotheosis of the masterclass ova of the time, of the decade, but it really remains a wonderful journey and a deep dark adventure that is kenshin



9.5 out of 10

In my interesting way of thinking, I count all OVA parts of a show as if it was one big show. This part of Rurouni Kenshin will be in my mind part of the same show as actual Rurouni Kenshin and the OVA series after that. If only the site allowed me to grade it all as a whole when I finish but that won't happen and I understand the reason of course. I must say I enjoyed this to no end and I can see why it is ranked so damn high on this site, it was phenomenal.

Story- The story was soooo complex and ... dark and I really enjoyed that. It was the most realistic show I've seen to date and that was a nice change for my usual supernatural shows that I have come to love. Whether you're male or female, no one can resist a love story infused with bloody action and betrayal. This is the OVA in a nutshell. It adds all components of genres except comedy and horror making the show so deep and dark that will send shivers down your spine. I love a good tragedy, it adds character development and a emotional connection with an audience that cannot be reproduced. The pacing was perfect, literally perfect. I would not take away one second or add another second it was a great performance.

Art- The art was incredible. Anyone who appreciates good art in an anime would love this to no end. The colors are crisp, the blood is beautiful, and the scenery is exactly what you would expect to see in an animated dream. My personal favorite art work in an anime is FMA Brotherhood and I must admit that this show gave it a run for its money that's how gorgeous the art was.

Sound- The sound really depicted the ear in which the show took place. It had that older feel to it and was extremely appropriate for the show. In the versions I watched there was no opening nor an ending and that maybe a genius idea. Without either of those it adds an even more serious mood even if the songs were dark or ballad like. Very good idea not to add any opening or ending. I decided to watch the show in Sub and the actors nailed it, the performances were so good it's unbelievable. I give a lot of credit to the voice actors that portrayed such serious, dark, complex and sad characters in the manner that they did.

Overall it was a great show. I almost do not like giving anything a 9 or 10; it has to really deserve it and originally I had it at an 8. The last 2 parts of the OVA made me change my mind. The action was brutal and the story got so dark a flash light couldn't help. I give this show a lot of credit, I was skeptical about an anime concerning samurai and now I cannot wait to start the original series. This show is a must watch for anyone who enjoys love, hate, action, death, retribution, betrayal, and a complex set of characters that even when they do something awful, you understand why they did it. A solid 9 out 10 with no regrets what-so-ever.

They took the darkest arc in Rurouni Kenshin, took out all the jokes that author put in there to soften it a little bit and honed all the dark points so that they gleamed with crimson colour on the edge of the blade.
Animation fidelity is outstanding. It made me to look back at how rarely I see such quality.

A rare occasion when an adaptation exceeds the source material.

I don’t really have much to say except that it makes the original show look like pussy shit in comparison to this. In fact it might be better than the entirety of the original show. Yeah, I’m not kidding. This is violent, tragic, and beautiful. I was literally in silence watching this because if I started taking notes on what I liked and didn't like, I feel like I would be ruining the experience. So I gave this OVA my undivided attention the entire way through.

Really the only issue I have is I wish I saw this first before I watched the original show. ... And based on the title, you kinda know what’s going to happen. But it also has something that the original show didn’t really have a lot of-subtly. And the thing is, I love the original Rurouni Kenshin. I'm just so nostalgic for it. It’s not a perfect show and I have my issues with it, but it holds a special place in my heart. But this is just so emotionally gripping and adds more context to Kenshin’s backstory. Like the OVA does a great job making you feel bad for him in a short amount of time. Like, damn. This has to be one of the greatest OVA’s ever made. And I hope that’s not a hot take.

ORIGINALLY REVIEWED ON 01/25/2023

The light-hearted tone of Rurouni Kenshin (the original Shounen series) is jettisoned for a solemn samurai OVA, with no shortage of emotional anguish, or macabre-ladened combat. The juxtaposition can be a bit jarring, but the elimination of tired tropes, and the depiction of realism is a breath of fresh air. While the plot, at times, progress’s in a gradual fashion, no scene feels unneeded, nor superfluous to the essence of the overall story. Every moment builds constructively from the last, forming a beautiful narrative about the harshness of war, love, and friendship.

Kenshin Himura, also known as The Battousai (The Manslayer), decides to ... disregard his master’s advice to fight the Tokugawa Shogunate, and “save” as many innocent people as humanly possible. But in his efforts to “save” people, he must slaughter other samurai who his superiors command him to kill. As a result of living this contradictory lifestyle, a moral dilemma erupts in Kenshin’s heart, as he learns the consequences of his “blind” actions. The OVA does a fairly nice job of obscuring the line between good and evil; however, the ending, much to my dismay, became formula-driven in its approach, using a proxy tournament with a “final boss” waiting at the end.

Be that as it may, it is a visceral story with entertaining fight scenes, and a foreboding atmosphere mixed with colorful symbolism. Those who are apprehensive about the anime medium, need not worry, this story abstains from the faux pas’s that plague the medium, creating a splendid experience for anyone of age to enjoy.

Even though the storyline deviated from the manga a little, it was still well done. Of course, the artwork in this OVA was superb. However, I had a hard time deciding whether the subbed or the dubbed version was better. In my opinion, the voice actors in the dubbed version sounded a whole lot better, but the quality of the dubbed version was hampered by the actors’ mispronunciation of Japanese words, and in some cases, mistranslations. The good news though is that the mistranslations didn't change the overall storyline. The mispronunciation of Japanese words occurred frequently, especially with “key-words” ... within the storyline. For example, everyone consistently mispronounced “Tokugawa” (and other Japanese words) so frequently, it became an irritation. Now, if your knowledge of proper Japanese pronunciation is limited or non-existent, then you probably won’t be bothered by this issue. The subbed version was good; however, I was really turned off by the female voice actress doing the part of Kenshin. To be honest, this really was the only real issue I had with the subbed version. If you can get past the Kenshin female voice actress, then the subbed version wins over the dubbed version, hands down. Overall, I liked the OVA and it flows fairly decently with the Ruro-Ken story line in the anime..

The words "magnum opus" are a latinism that stands for something socially accepted as "the best of the best" or "among the greatest achievements of humanity". We all have heard something being called a "magnum opus": when we talk about architecture or tourism, everyone recognizes the Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal or the Mount Rushmore to be the best examples of beauty and perfection. Talking about music, I could say that Death is close from being the pinnacle of extreme music, or if we refer to cinema, Blade Runner being one of the most underrated but great movies of all time. So well, what Studio ... Deen did with Kenshin Himura's backstory in these 4 OVA's called Tsuioku-hen could not be called less than a magnum opus in anime history.

As always, I will divide this review in five different fields (Story, Art, Sound, Character and Enjoyment), and it won't have spoilers, so, please enjoy my personal vision on Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kentaku Romantan - Tsuioku-hen.

If you have seen the original Rurouni Kenshin anime, you know what it is about: Kenshin Himura, also known as Hitokiri Battousai or Battousai the Man Slayer, was a merciless assassin who worked to establish the Meiji government against the Tokugawa shogunate. After years and years of killing, Kenshin promised himself that he would not take anyone's life with his hands, so he became a beggar and started to wander around Japan armed with a reversed edge sword, or Sakabatō.

Where the original TV anime was heavily oriented to children and comedy, Tsuioku-hen is shown as a dark, dramatic and obscure story about Kenshin's past as one of the most fearless and dangerous assassins in the Bakumatsu period. Here, we are able to know how Kenshin, a suave-talker, peaceful swordsman became one of the most well known assassin of the Meiji era, and the reason for his infamous cross-wound in the left cheek.

The art is perfect, one of the best examples of how an anime has to be made. Again, the comedic effects are left in pursuit of having a more adult and serious atmosphere. Everything has a more obscure / dark / brown tone, and it contrasts the tv show by having a lot of blood. The animation is fluid and orgasmic, nonetheless, and every fight scene is able to start a fire in your throat.

If you have a masterpiece, you can't neglect such an important aspect as music. Some people do not care about the sound effects or voices, but I must say if an anime has bad voice acting or mediocre sound effects, I will notice, and the rating will suffer. But, again, Tsuioku-hen changes its Friends' style music with an orchestral soundtrack that suits perfectly not only into the Bakumatsu era but with Kenshin and Tomoe as well. I only listen to anime music if I like it, and I must say that the Tsuioku-hen OST is one of the best ways of doing things right.

In the character field, we have the Oscar-winner Kenshin Himura, one of the best characters in anime. Not only have the story and the cool-as-hell design, but also an amazing but likable personality. Kenshin is constructed as the story evolves, has its own reasons to be doing what he does and is able to resonate with every single viewer. In Tsuioku-hen, Kenshin is not the peaceful beggar anymore but a brutal killer that will do anything in order to achieve the greatest good. As he works as an assassin, he starts thinking about how he told his master to use the sword only to help people, but he took away hundreds, maybe thousands of lifes with his own hands. We also have Yukishiro Tomoe, a mysterious girl that saw Kenshin commiting an assassination, but refused to say anything. I won't say anything about Tomoe, because you have to find what makes him such an irreplaceable part of the story. Finally, we can get some Hajime Saitou appearance as well, being the best rival Kenshin has ever faced.

In conclusion, Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuioku-hen has to be one of the greatest OVAs ever made along with FLCL and Legend of the Galactic Heroes. It has everything you would want in an anime and more, because you can not take away your eyes from the screen. You will want more Kenshin Himura doing amazing things, you will want more animations like Studio Deen did right here, and I promise you will never forget how Kenshin Himura not only changed Japan but himself.

This 4 episode prequel reveals a weighty depth in Kenshin's past that was never achieved through the long and blithe 94 episode main series. It is only in the the darkest ravine where light can shine with its brightest color and beauty. In the same way, this story about Kenshin lusters as a masterpiece because it accentuates the brilliance of romance and life in the darkness of bitterness and death.

The stability of Meiji era seen in the mellow main series of Ruroni Kenshin was founded only after a warring period of political strife and economic crisis: civilians were impoverished, bloodshed was commonplace, and assassins were ... abundant. Himura Kenshin, as one of the trained assassins, embarks on his journey to become a human cutting legend (Hittokiri) during the dark and bloody Bakumatsu of edo Bakufu. An iconic piece I would recommend to anyone who wants to understand the history that Kenshin often hides through his carefree attitude in the main series.

Story
This is a character-based story revolving around the past of Himura Kenshin. Themes of emotional purity entangled with strength and humanness are often metaphorically alluded to throughout the plot. Every time he cuts through flesh an unconscious emotional toll takes place, slowly chipping away his awareness. The glint in his eyes becomes dull as he plunges away from humanness and becomes more of a killing machine, only to be rekindled by the passion of love. But the highest emotional jumps can also lead to the greatest falls.

Art
The fluid artwork is masterfully montaged into beautiful scenes that consist of exciting battles and exquisite choices in color representing the mood of every shot. The older style art doesn’t detract from the work but enhances it as a timeless piece that is fitting for the series. Quality has not been spared in this work where every aspect of color, shadow, and framing has been used to create mis-en-scene symbolic to the story and character development of Kenshin.

Sound
Great realistic sounds. All episodes employ a good use of silence and the sound of nature at appropriate moments, mixing it up with non-intrusive music that adds to the tension and mood of every scene.

Character
You won't find any major characters that don't have background stories. And you won't find any annoying characters (like Kaoru) - all the important characters are well rounded with realistic and interesting personalities.

Enjoyment
I enjoy dark and bloody stories :D

Overall 10/10

Disclaimer: This review of Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan – Tsuiokuhen (hell of a title), is just my opinion of the show. It was formed after watching it and I would encourage you all to do the same and form you own. The written word is powerful but not to be taken as truth without question. I will also keep this as spoiler free as I can so with that out of the way let us begin.

Rurouni Kenshin or Samurai X as it is known in English is a somewhat classic anime from way back in the 1990’s. It was about a swordsman named ... Kenshin, who served as an assassin during a great rebellion. Meiji Kenkaku Romantan – Tsuiokuhen is the prequel to this long running series that deals with the main characters life before the events of the original. It is like a short clear cut version of the back story that you can watch as a sort of primer so you don’t have to piece everything together over multiple episodes. Even with the limited amount of the original I have seen I can say it cleared up a great deal for me and if nothing else it gives you the origin of that iconic scare sported on Kenshin’s cheek.

Overall the story is paced nicely. Something is achieved in each episode and the tale is moved forward without any excessive leaps or plot holes of note. Characters that are introduced are used to some magnitude never being left completely idle or meaningless. There are a number that lack development but I feel confident in saying this is because they play a greater part in the original series. There were times I found it difficult to follow some of the information as it is oft given in a brief or undetailed fashion. But once again I found this likely due to the prequel nature of the show.

The other honorable mention’s in this are the animation and the action. The pallette used is not what you would call vibrant by any means but the animates have used contrast very well. They also did a splendid job of sowing seasonal change. Granted that the change was from autumn to winter, but the transition was visible and I found it quit well dun. The action was also well animated and the swordsmanship was, to a degree, realistic. There were no laser beam cuts or moving faster than the eye attacks going on. It all had form and weight behind it. You can almost visualize people actually fighting like that and once again I found it refreshing.

So let us now wrap this up. I quite enjoyed this one and as a prequel it has done its job in making me want to watch the original Rurouni Kenshin. Having seen this short series first I now feel I would understand and get much more from it as well. It is not something I would pas up as standalone ether. It was well animated and fleshed out to the point that the story told during this for episode OVA can be judged on its own merits. I will say however that the English voice acting was sub par but you will get over it by the end of the first episode. It’s a good all rounder that everyone will get something from so give it a go.

I have been Kergen and you have been reading. PEACE!

The first two episodes of these ova are great. We see Kenshin’s origins and the beginning of the revolution but most important we learn of Kenshins’s tragic past. Animation wise it looks great, the soundtrack is also very good. But my recommendation is to see the series first, this way you will understand who some of these characters are. The last two episodes are the conclusion to the Rurouni Kenshin saga and in my opinion a very good finale for the series. But the thing of these two last episodes is that it feels more like a summary of the whole series than an ... actual new story. Still is great to see and it is also a great companion to the TV series. In other words a must have for any Rurouni Kenshin fan. And if you are new to the series, seeing these 4 ova episodes might be a good place to start. Many people have said that in “Reflection” most of the characters are out of character and that the story is way too depressing. I don’t think they are out of character I think that they have change for better or worse. Also these 4 episodes are telling a very tragic story and the end to this tragic story so the upbeat style of the TV series is nowhere to be found through the ova therefore giving us what some people called a “depressing story”. It’s true it is sad but it is also good.

Of well first off i havent ever seen a shonen anime that has been developed so much, then an excellent OVA. I never actually got why this could happen. For one the story is the best ive seen, everything about it is just that good. The characters are great, Kenshin as the battosai, the shinsengumi, Tomoe, and Enishi. To see all these things are just almost wierd. Because its so much different. Enishi as a kid, then Kenshin is a top assasin who randomly switches to "oro?" in the series. So a lot of its almost different to see. The action involved in it is ... just so awesome. They made it realistic, because really there is so many anime where a guy gets slashed, and really nothing much happens. In Rurouni Kenshin Trust and Betrayal, everything is what should happened when someone gets stabbed. The art is unnfortunately not the best.

Really for an OVA for anything to be the top anime, you can tell its good, i suggest this for anyone.