Reviews on the movie and second ova to follow as I've only managed to finish the review on the series and first ova. Feel free to contact me if you'd like to comment on these reviews, as well as for any corrections or suggestions you might have. Otanoshimi ni! ^^

A Swordsman’s Legacy
A Review on the Anime Series, Rurouni Kenshin

Rurouni Kenshin is an inspiring tale of how a samurai struggles to come to terms with his past, and the means by which he has chosen to atone for his sins. While many may think that the act of killing is a sin beyond redemption and absolution, and others may have easily chosen death rather than face the reality and consequences of their actions, Kenshin refused to take that route and instead followed his chosen path of repentance. He chose a life of protecting and defending the weak with his reverse-edged sword, upholding peace without taking the life of another. He believed this was the least he could do in order to make amends for his past mistakes. As an assassin who had slaughtered countless people in the name of fulfilling an ideal future, Kenshin carries a burden heavier than anything in the world - the weight of responsibility for all the lives lost by his hand, slain by the hardened resolve of his sword. Images of families mourning for the loss of their loved ones - a loss he was accountable for - remain etched in Kenshin’s consciousness. Yet despite this staggering burden, in spite of the pain and anguish, he has not been embittered by his experience. Instead, he has kept his spirit intact and his heart pure.

This story created by Watsuki Nobuhiro teaches us all to look beyond the layer of filth that may coat the surface and uncover the goodness within our hearts. It tells us that we need only to look inside ourselves and polish the brilliance and shine that’s already there, waiting to be recognized. By Kenshin’s example, we realize that it is up to us to find forgiveness by first forgiving ourselves for what we’ve done in the past, and by being at peace with who we are. While it is true that our actions may lead to consequences beyond repair, the important thing is that we are ready to atone for what we have done and prepared to accept whatever punishment is due. Kenshin shows us that we have to believe in ourselves in order to realize our dreams. He tells us that we all have a remarkable power within - the power to trust and believe in others to bring out the best in them. Most of all, I believe what this story teaches us best is that life is precious, and although living can be a hard and grueling task, that’s how it’s meant to be. It is by conquering the challenges and crises that beset us and helping others that we discover the true meaning of life. Death is such a desperate escape, and one that nobody should take.

Although I believe that we could all benefit from the important message lying beneath the cheerful veneer of this anime, it is in my opinion, more suitable for a mature audience as there are scenes containing bloodshed and death, as well as the occasional profanity which isn’t appropriate for children. The story in itself is captivating as it is, but it isn’t the only notable aspect as you will find out upon watching the series. The anime is skillfully drawn, set amidst beautiful backgrounds painted with vivid colors and picturesque detail. I’m no expert when it comes to animation but I find the movement fluid and smooth enough, although I really think the fight scenes could use more detail instead of the requisite flash of light that obscures the action. Though other anime may be better crafted in terms of animation, I think they’ve done well enough on Rurouni Kenshin. With 95 episodes in total, I think it’s quite inevitable for the drawing style to vary from time to time. It gets better especially towards the middle and end of the series though, wherein the illustrations become sharper, giving a crisp feel to our visual experience. The Kyoto Arc is my personal favorite when it comes to this, not only because the more interesting part of the story has begun to unfold, but also because of the way the characters are drawn. The sharp detailing of the characters’ faces makes them look more serious and mature, definitely fitting for the depth and intensity of the episodes ahead.

The characters are well-thought of and well-drawn with a beautiful blend of fun, extraordinary and complementing personalities that make Rurouni Kenshin an exquisite collage of lives and life experiences. The characters each have their own history to confront, their own fears and demons to overcome. It serves to enrich the interconnection of their lives which ultimately makes for an engaging narrative. The characters are as human as they can get, multi-faceted and profound in their own ways, seeking answers as they struggle to resolve their inner conflicts.

The music is truly brilliant, not just the opening and ending themes, but most specially the background music. My personal favorites being Starless, Departure, Fallen Angel, and Warrior’s Blue to name a few. As in any motion picture or animated endeavor, music is essential as it is largely responsible for steering the mood of the story. Music serves to complement and intensify the emotions and conflicts woven into the story. As far as the series is concerned, many of the themes I like are in the Rurouni Kenshin Director’s Collection. The musical score is beautifully arranged and skillfully composed. With regard to the songs, I think they each have their own unique appeal in terms of both the music and lyrics, but I believe the most fitting vocal theme to the series is Heart of Sword by T.M. Revolution as I find the lyrics to be just perfect for Kenshin’s character. On the contrary, I’m not really fond of fast-paced songs with high-pitched vocals so I’d have to rule out Sobakasu and ½ from my list. To be honest, I think that they’re rather incompatible with the theme of the anime so I’m not really keen on the fact that they’re the opening themes. Although I’ll admit that they have the tendency to grow on you after countless reruns since the anime doesn’t have any other opening song aside from these two. The anime does have its share of funny and light moments calling for such melodies but still, I’d prefer if the opening had a less upbeat theme to it, perhaps a more somber tune befitting the more serious issues underlying the anime. Then again, perhaps it was for this reason that they chose to offset the seriousness with all that pop-singing frenzy.

There are a lot of fillers in the series since the production team had decided not to air the Revenge Arc, the chapter delving into Enishi’s intricate scheme of exacting revenge for the death of his sister, Tomoe. Although the fillers were quite fun and interesting to watch, I couldn’t help but feel that the anime was inexorably stretched beyond its limits. It could no longer sustain the same amount of thrill and anticipation that the Kyoto Arc was able to induce among its viewers. I felt that the excitement over the series significantly dropped as the fillers - as the name suggests - fulfilled their function. The closest to reviving considerable interest if I may say, is perhaps the Shimabara Arc, where Kenshin is faced with a daunting adversary in Shougo Amakusa who unexpectedly wields the same legendary technique - Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu. It would’ve been great to see the Revenge Arc animated instead of having the story excruciatingly drag on as if to no specific direction. Still, I think the production team was able to redeem themselves with the second OVA.

All in all, Rurouni Kenshin is about the struggle to live and realize one’s true potential without losing one’s heart and spirit. It is one of the best stories I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing, and one of the best anime I’ve ever seen. The anime is full to the brim with life’s lessons that are just as poignant as they are real. To me, this is the true legacy of Kenshin Himura, the man with a heart of sword.

The Sheath of a Drawn Blade
A Review on the RK OVA, Tsuioku Hen

Tsuioku Hen is the chapter in Rurouni Kenshin that delves into the life of Kenshin Himura before he gave up the life of an assassin and swore never to kill again. It takes place during the latter part of the Tokugawa Era, a time of escalating political conflicts and military uprisings, which eventually caused the downfall of a dynasty that prospered for over three centuries. It recounts Kenshin’s past as the infamous Hitokiri Battousai, the circumstances and fateful choices that would define him, and the tragic history behind the seemingly innocent cross-scar.

The OVA is composed of four acts or episodes. The sequence of events was tastefully arranged to allow for a bit of suspense and a heightened sense of drama, with elements from the characters’ pasts carefully woven into the current setting of the story. The theme is very serious as it deals with the subject of patriotism, murder, betrayal, death, and revenge at a rather dark and tumultuous time in Japan’s history. There’s hardly, or rather, not a single scene to consider amusing, much less something worth laughing at. You’d have to have a twisted sense of humor to find anything of such nature in this film. It’s a rather dark and depressing story, leaving the audience with heavy feelings of despair and of having a void that cannot be filled.

Along with the inherent gravity of the story line, the way the characters are drawn has also been toned down, with it leaning toward a more realistic imagery. Both the animation and character design are markedly different from the series. The facial features are drawn with more curves and less of the sharp edges we see in the anime, making the characters appear more somber and more ‘Japanese’. The eyes specially are quite lifelike and you can actually see the depth of the irises. The colors are also darker and somewhat pale in comparison, aptly complementing the underlying mood of the story. As with the series, the background illustrations were superbly done, and I believe they also employed computer graphics to make some of the scenery and animation look realistic. It’s really good although I’m not so excited about inserting real-life images into anime. It tends to stand out and I feel that it clashes with the prevailing animation somehow. I’m not really knowledgeable on the matter so feel free to correct me, but I think it has something to do with how they blend it with the rest of the animation. Then again, perhaps that was part of their intention to begin with. Nevertheless, the animation is excellent, with very fluid and detailed movements unlike the anime. It’s definitely better compared to the series specially when it comes to the fight scenes. Here you can see all the action instead of the tedious flash of light, making you realize what you’ve been missing or had been purposely deprived of all this time. Seeing Kenshin at his prime, acting as the Hitokiri Battousai and fighting in all his glory, with such high quality animation was indeed a splendid experience. It’s a shame that they didn’t show more detail on Kenshin and Saitou’s battle though. It would’ve been a great addition to the film, not to mention that it definitely would’ve been well-received and appreciated by the followers of RK.

Most of the characters in the OVA aren’t part of the series, but have likewise been well-crafted. Reinforcing the seriousness of the plot are the personal issues of the characters themselves. Each character has his own past or inner conflict to deal with and resolve, and each takes the course of action they believe to be best, consequently enriching the tapestry which is the story. They present us with issues that are as real and human as they can get, delving into the strengths and weaknesses of man and woman, the intricacies of love and hate, the repercussions of war and peace, and the irrevocable difference between life and death. They all have their own pain to endure, but aside from Kenshin, I feel the most for the anguish that Tomoe had to go through with all the conflicting emotions raging beneath her pensive and composed exterior. Perhaps this is so because I see myself in her somehow, and I think that being unable to express your feelings to the person you deem important and love above all because you feel completely unworthy, is a torment that would be an utter sorrow to endure.

Aside from the plot, characters, and animation, we mustn’t forget the voices that bring life to the story. If there’s one thing I love about Japanese animation, it’s that the voice acting is executed almost always flawlessly, matching perfectly with their characters and done with so much passion and gusto. It enhances the animation, giving dimension and reality to the character being portrayed, and the anime as a whole. The seiyuus did a really wonderful job here as their voice acting and expression really complemented the serious tone of the film, adding gravity to a story that was already melancholic and tragic enough as it is. But the voice acting isn’t the only aspect worth noting here. The music is exceptional and likewise expertly directed. Taku Iwasaki is a genius, and he has composed a musical score that is both dark and filled with anguish and foreboding, and hauntingly beautiful at the same time. It’s an exquisite accompaniment to the scenes, heightening the drama and action to a swell of different and multi-faceted emotions. At some point it’s like an elegy that draws out feelings of pain, regret, desperation, and unbearable sadness, while at others it rings of fighting, relentless pursuit, and the consequent victory, escape or death. The exact words elude me and I can’t explain it very well, but listening to the scores conjures up an image of how it must feel to reach for something with all your might, as if grasping onto dear life, and have that something slip away from your fingers forever. It’s a perfect musical background for the events that take place in the film. It will certainly draw out your emotions, and perhaps, even your tears, as it definitely did mine.

In the end, Tsuioku Hen is not just a story, but a reflection of what it means to be human. It is a heart-wrenching account of a man’s struggle to make a difference, and how his actions and decisions end up leaving him with wounds that would never heal, and a past that won’t let itself be forgotten. It illustrates how even the best intentions can inadvertently cause pain and suffering, and how time can’t always heal our wounds. It’s an emotionally charged tale that shows us that our lives and our actions are not only our own, but that they also affect others in ways which we may not be aware of or be apparent at first. Our choices in life serve to define us and determine the path with which we are to follow. We can never fully envision nor understand the consequences of our actions. They may lead to regret and guilt, and in turn we lament over the decisions we should’ve made and the things we should’ve done but didn’t. Yet for every failure there is hope, if only we’d care to open our eyes and see beyond the ruins of our folly. To err is to be human, but along with it comes the responsibility to learn and be open to unexpected outcomes. Our past is not something we can discard, but rather an essential part of what makes us who we are. With our many faults and mistakes, we reinforce our existence and create our own memories. It may be that we can do nothing about what has passed, but we certainly can do something about the future, and we learn by Kenshin’s example not to be crippled by the gravity of our faults.

There exists a polarity in everything, a yin and yang. A drawn blade can do harm, but we must also see its potential to do well. We all can be likened to such at a certain point in our lives. Akin to a sword, our experiences serve to sharpen us as we carve our own destinies. But amidst the challenges and difficulties we encounter, we must find something to hold on to, something to keep us in check and our spirit intact. So it is that we must find ourselves a sheath to protect us and tame the drawn blade within, lest we end up living with a scar that can neither be erased nor forgotten.