Reviews

A great many anime have sought to synthesize the iconic Samurai with other aesthetics and genres, most notably the Samurai Western, but Onihei is utterly unique in this regard, representing a bold synthesis which I call Samurai Noir. Focused on crime and human drama, with a smooth, stylized aesthetic that compliments the visual landscape of 18th century Japan, this attempt at something really distinct in the medium is a resounding success. Beginning with the story, the viewer is presented with this highly episodic, human-centered tale of the dramatic struggle between the law and morality, thieve's honor and honorable thieves, and the flames of passion which flicker at the edges of right and wrong. Very little carries over from episode to episode, save for new characters, and the pacing feels rather fast, but as someone who really loves episodic shows, it fit Onihei and its theme really well. The writing also feels like a seamless blend of the old and the new, helping to further integrate the two aesthetics into one in a natural and comprehensive way. The art has a good, strong sense of identity, standing out all its own, even if it does have some flaws. Namely, the occasional use of CG is quite clumsy, and characters sometimes appear ungainly or somehow cheaply drawn. Still, it solidly captures a sense of action and movement, especially when it comes to its combat. The sound is, hands down, the strongest aspect of the show. The voice acting is impassioned and the sounds of life are detailed, but the soundtrack is simply sublime. That word I've been using, synthesis, is best represented by what this soundtrack is. A masterful combination of traditional Japanese instrumentation with Noir Jazz results in a soundtrack which spans the full range of human emotion with clarity and style. It feels pitched and tense at some times, low and mournful at others, and yet still clam and smooth at other times. It cannot be overstated, the music alone is an achievement. The characters are generally good, broadly serving their purposes within the story, though beyond the main cast they begin to get a little two-dimensional. Among the characters, my favorites are Onihei himself, Hasegawa Heizo, and Matsuoka Juubei, a one-off supporting character. Heizo embodies both the focused and honor-driven Samurai ethos, as well as the cool and morals-driven philosophy of the Noir detective, and in this way he's instantly the best character in the show, besides just being a strong character. Juubei, however, is different. He feels engaging in a way other supporting characters fail to be, perhaps because of the unique quality of his writing. Overall, Onihei is a really cool, engaging experience throughout, and I recommend you give it a watch. This still goes even if you don't particularly like crime dramas or the Noir aesthetic, because it's worth it just to see the conceptual feat executed in this anime.