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Dec 21, 2015 10:10 PM

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Jul 2015
332
I dunno what to even say to this. The darker aspects and profound messages that I did enjoy in the original anime get magnified in every good way possible. Have I even seen good anime before this?

That animation was surprisingly well done. I was a fan of the TV-series' soundtrack, and these are just as good.
Jan 23, 2016 4:13 PM

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Aug 2014
1867
Damn , What a bloody opening to the OVA , so much action .
Great Episode .
Feb 20, 2016 10:25 AM

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Jan 2012
31479
That was nice start , sword looks weird.

May 17, 2016 6:09 AM

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Jul 2015
472
Literally the most epic first few minutes to any anime ever.
Oct 29, 2016 6:10 AM

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May 2012
25828
Watching this after the main series and the sequel, while the sequel of the main series definitely had a more mature feel, this one also headed that way!

A more mature and realistic setting, compared to the more comedy like feel of the main series.

I quite liked this first episode and look forward to the next episode as I quite like they decided to actually show Kenshin's backstory!
Feb 25, 2017 2:08 PM
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Oct 2016
149
Wow this looks to be a really good 4 part story, hearing Kenshin talking without emotion is so heartbreaking when you're used to him sounding lighthearted and occasionally goofy.
Feb 26, 2017 11:24 PM

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Sep 2016
155
How didn't I know about this? Looking forward to the bingeing of the next three OVAs. 10/10
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Dec 21, 2017 10:09 AM

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May 2016
6248
This was really original, gotta say I loved everything the animation the art style the atmosphere.
Aug 29, 2018 8:43 AM
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Jul 2018
564084
This episode felt too rushed, trying to cram a lot into a short time period and skipping actual depth. But there were some very good moments.
Sep 23, 2018 8:44 PM

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Jul 2017
1710
Wow gory! Also very nonlinear, a little too much for me, though it also made the story pretty interesting. The bleeding scar indicates a future tragedy of course, which is important. I think the scar was emphasized almost too much, though. I felt really bad for that guy who gave it to Kenshin. Kenshin's master was pretty awesome, wise and strong. Also, this has to be some of the best animation I have ever seen.
Nov 11, 2018 10:53 AM

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Sep 2017
55
Knew nothing about the anime and randomly picked it cause it had good ratings and OH BOI this is absolutely phenomenal! Never expected it to be THAT good!
What a start. And that drama.. That drama!!
Back in the day mangas had real drama dude..
Nov 26, 2018 12:18 PM

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May 2015
6025
Nice first episode. I want to know more. :)
"The future is always blank. Only your willpower can leave footsteps there."

"Ruling over death means ruling over life. Death is the climax of life. To have the best death, you must honor life."
Nov 26, 2019 2:01 PM
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Apr 2016
13217
Watching this right after finishing Gintama feels weird. Well, this is looking good so far! Very dark and beautiful. The ending though, seems like he realized something.
Aug 24, 2020 8:50 AM

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May 2016
12390
I only watched half an episode of Rurouni Kenshin back when it was airing with the local dub nearly a decade ago yet I have decided to give this a try and I certainly did not regret it. It pretty much shows how horrifying it'd be to live in the Samurai Era in general because of how easy it is to kill and get killed there and seeing Kenshin's brutal origins and his initial ruthlessness was shocking to say the least.

I really like how the soundtrack made the scenes all the more dramatic and in a way, more impactful to me.









Sep 17, 2021 6:58 PM

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Aug 2018
41211
I am enjoying this anime so far. The mc seems pretty cool :)

Sep 17, 2021 7:00 PM
Lost πŸ’Ž Diamond

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Dec 2012
75059
Amatniki said:
I am enjoying this anime so far. The mc seems pretty cool :)

The anime is sorta nothing like the ova, but still good nonetheless imo
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Jan 17, 2022 1:06 PM
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Nov 2010
6129
So many people died to forge a new Japan only for it to stumble and fall by 1945. In the grand scheme of things, people of that era killed and died for nothing.
Sep 10, 2022 1:55 AM
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May 2022
55
man the fights and the coldnesss
Sep 13, 2022 3:40 PM

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Mar 2018
245
I knew this was going to be up there but I didn't think I was going to cry twice. The emotion, the grittiness, the physiological questioning of past ways, amazing all around so far
Dec 22, 2022 12:19 PM

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Dec 2018
3885
WOWOWOWOW that was an awesome episode. I wish the series had been more like this. They tried to much comedy in the original that fell flat.
May 17, 2023 1:06 AM

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Nov 2021
68
What a difference! I'm glad I watched Rurouni Kenshin prior to this.
Jul 8, 2023 1:46 AM
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May 2021
2582
Wow Studio Deen, animation is top class
Aug 24, 2023 12:50 PM
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Aug 2023
14
This first episode 1 felt really rushed, to be quite honest. Most of the characters talk to give exposition while giving us very little space to learn about themselves and who they are, and the non-linear storytelling makes the story kind of hard to follow at times. The animation is really gorgeous, though. I hope it'll get better in the following episodes.
Aug 25, 2023 1:23 AM

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Jan 2017
6096
IvanTheWalker said:
Most of the characters talk to give exposition while giving us very little space to learn about themselves and who they are


Well , you are supposed to already know a few of them , as they appear in the main series. (That you were supposed to watch before these OVAs)
As for the others , most are based on real-life personalities from the Bakumatsu era , and the series expect you to already have a small background of that. (Of which some were also given in the main series.)
"Genius lives only one storey above madness."
– Arthur Schopenhauer.

"Stupidity is a talent for misconception."
– Edgar Allan Poe.

"I'm tired... and hungry."
– Alexioos95.
Jan 18, 1:45 PM

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Jul 2017
6750
Absolutely breathtaking episode, and honestly reminded me just how much battle shounen anime peaked with this particular 4 episode anime entry right here. The direction and animation with the fights, the drawings and overall level of detail with every frame, the music and cinematography, the atmosphere.... all just incredible and sets the tone so well for the remainder of the arc. In a way, this episode alone makes it so worth rewatching the original anime after so long. Even in 2024, this looks absolutely sublime.
Feb 9, 7:57 AM
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Jun 2021
28
Everything here is very well done, the direction and animation stands out for the time and knowing Shitai "Kenshin"'s past with his master and his ambitions made me like this first OVA.
Oct 6, 12:25 PM
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Aug 2024
120
I went in completely blindfolded, knowing nothing about Rurouni Kenshin as I saw another season is premiering in October, so I wanted to give it a shot. This is the best first episode I have ever witnessed. I loved everything about this. Have to say I was caught off guard by the raw violence, contrasting with moments of quiet reflection. Felt like the beginning of a tragic tale, leaving me eager to understand more about the characters and their fates. I'm hooked. I know this wasn't released first and that the anime was first, but I decided to watch it chronologically.
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