Rurouni Kenshin (2023 TV series)

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Rurouni Kenshin
File:Rurouni Kenshin (2023 TV series).png
Key visual of the series, featuring Himura Kenshin (left) and Kamiya Kaoru (right)
るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚-
(Rurōni Kenshin -Meiji Kenkaku Roman Tan-)
Anime television series
Directed by Hideyo Yamamoto
Written by Hideyuki Kurata
Music by Yū Takami
Studio Liden Films
Licensed by
Network Fuji TV (Noitamina)
Original run July 7, 2023 – present
Episodes 10 (List of episodes)
Portal icon Anime and Manga portal

Rurouni Kenshin (Japanese: るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚- Hepburn: Rurōni Kenshin -Meiji Kenkaku Roman Tan-?)[lower-alpha 1] is a Japanese anime television series, based on the manga series of the same title by Nobuhiro Watsuki. It is the second anime television series adaptation, after the 1996–98 series. It is directed by Hideyo Yamamoto and animated by Liden Films. It premiered in July 2023 on Fuji TV's Noitamina programming block.

Premise

In the Meiji era in Japan, Himura Kenshin is a pacifist wanderer who is visiting Tokyo. He helps people in need with his skills in swordsmanship. He had previously used these skills during the Bakumatsu, when he earned the title of Hitokiri Battōsai from Ishin Shishi.

Kenshin is requested by Kamiya Kaoru, the current owner of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu dojo, to help her with defending her area. Apparently a criminal started making mayhem in the area, while using Kenshin's title.

Voice cast

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Main article: List of Rurouni Kenshin characters
Character Japanese voice
Himura Kenshin Soma Saito[1]
Kamiya Kaoru Rie Takahashi[1]
Sagara Sanosuke Taku Yashiro[2]
Myōjin Yahiko Makoto Koichi[2]
Shinomori Aoshi Yuma Uchida[3]
Takani Megumi Saori Ōnishi[3]
Saitō Hajime Satoshi Hino[4]

Production

On December 19, 2021, at the Jump Festa '22 event, it was announced that a new television series adaptation of the Rurouni Kenshin manga would be animated by Liden Films.[5] A promotional video was shown at the Aniplex Online Fest 2022 on September 24, 2022.[1] The series will re-adapt the original manga series. It is directed by Hideyo Yamamoto, with scripts written by Hideyuki Kurata, character designs by Terumi Nishii (ja), and music composed by Yū Takami (ja).[1][6] The original manga author, Nobuhiro Watsuki, supervised the character designs and scenario.[7][8][9]

Yamamoto said that he used to watch all Rurouni Kenshin works during his youth, and was in particular impressed by the original video animations for it different artwork. He came think the main appeal of the series was how the series showed people's lives in the Meiji Era and how Kenshin not only fought enemies but also helped them redeem from their crimes while interacting with them. The latter was further noted to make Kenshin as a man every viewer wants to be like. From the beginning, he was thinking that he wanted to show "a way of foreshadowing" but wanted the details to be subtle, similar to the dramas that often air next to Kenshin. In contrast to the more comical original work, Yamamoto aimed to make the narrative more serious and avoid slapstick or superdeformed designs in order to make it more realistic. In animating the work, they used 3DCG with 3-D models of the rooms a fitting for the modern age. Horse carriages were animated through CGI as they were a common vehicle used in the Meiji. In regards to the action, the animation was given a more unique style for fight scene when Tokyo. The designs were made by Terumi Nishii under supervision by Yamamoto and Watsuki. Careful detail was given to the kimono and other clothing featured in the anime.[10]

Among many supervisions of the series, Kaoru Kurosaki (ja) and Watsuki aimed to make it fitting for the Reiwa era as well as accessible to both newcomers and returning audience. The story arc involving Raijuta was revised in order to improved in the 2023 anime. Kurosaki in particular revised the scripts of the Raijuta episodes. Kurata came up with new ideas to revisit Sanosuke's backstory in order to bring further depth to the character.[11] Meetings were done in order to supervise most episodes. While the clothing remained the same, the way bodies are drawn were revised due to improvements from the graphic style from the manga and 1990s version. Soma Saito was chosen because the staff found him fitting to portray both the gentle and rude demeanors of Kenshin. After the musical based on the manga was done, the staff found the manga very comical and wanted to generate different style with the new anime, to the point Kenshin no longer says his expression of "Oro?" meant to sound as comic relief to his reactions in jokes. Nevertheless, there was still a desire to keep some comical scenes.[12]

Kenshin's voice actor, Soma Saito, said he was a fan of the series ever since he was a child and looks forward to creating his own take of Kenshin. Meanwhile, Kaoru's voice actress, Rie Takahashi, was surprised she was selected to voice the heroine and, similar to Saito, wanted to create an appealing version of Karou.[13] Among other main actors include Makoto Koichi who aims to portray Yahiko's high spirits while Taku Yashiro aims to adapt various side of Sanosuke's personality such as his youth and rough attitude.[14]

Release

The series premiered on July 7, 2023, on Fuji TV's Noitamina programming block.[15][16][17][lower-alpha 2] It will run for two consecutive cours of 24 episodes.[4][19] Ayase and R-Shitei (ja) (under the name Ayase×R-Shitei) performed the first opening theme "Hiten" (飛天?),[4] while Reol performed the first ending theme "Kissaki" (切っ先?, "Edge").[17] Masaki Suda and Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra (under the name Masaki Suda×Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra) will perform the second opening theme "Rurō no Katashiro" (るろうの形代?), while Kid Phenomenon will perform the ending theme "Sonzai Shōmei" (存在証明?, "Existence").[20] The episodes will be collected by Aniplex on eight DVDs and Blu-ray sets, set to be released from October 25, 2023, to May 29, 2024.[21][19]

Aniplex of America screened the U.S. premiere for the series at the 2023 Anime Expo on July 3 in the Main Events stage of the Los Angeles Convention Center. A conversation between Aniplex producer Masami Niwa and voice actors Soma Saito and Rie Takahashi followed the screening.[22] Crunchyroll is streaming the series outside of Asia.[23]

Episodes

No. Title Directed by Written by Chief animation supervisor(s) Original air date
1 "Kenshin - Himura Battosai" Hideyo Yamamoto Hideyuki Kurata Masahiro Emoto & Kenji Matsuoka July 7, 2023 (2023-07-07)[24]
Following 10 years after the Bakumatsu's ending, the former assassin "Hitokiri Himura Battosai" wanders around Tokyo where he is attacked by swordsmanship teacher Kamiya Kaoru from the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu tries to defeat him. Himura gives up, claiming his weapon, the sakabato, is unable to wound a person. Just then, a man claiming to be Battosai studying the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu causes riots in the city and Himura escapes with Kaoru after seeing her wounded. In the dojo, Himura learns of Kaoru's values of how a sword can save others and suspects one of her aids, Kihee, might be related to Battosai. After Himura investigates Kihee, the fake Battosai invades the Kamiya Kasshin Dojo, revealing Kihee as his older brother aiming to take place. Himura then reveals his true identity and easily defeats Hiruma's forces with his deadly Hiten Mitsurugi Style that does not kill his enemies as a result of his sakabato. As Himura is about to leave, Kaoru asks him to help her with the dojo as she does not care about his past. He accepts the idea, revealing his true name is Himura Kenshin.
2 "Tokyo Samurai - Yahiko Myojin" Araki Issei Hideyuki Kurata Toshiko & Mamoru Nishimiya July 14, 2023 (2023-07-14)[25]
As he is about to split from Kaoru to buy the food, Kenshin is robbed by a child, Myojin Yahiko, but allows him to take his bag out of pity. This enrages Yahiko and he throws it back, causing Kenshin to remark that he should keep that mature attitude before doing this. Later, Kenshin is arrested by policemen for wielding a sword, but a more ruthless group takes the case sadistically. When Kaoru tries to alert Kenshin about the policemen, Kenshin defeats all of them. He is then spotted by his former ally Yamagata Aritomo, a major politician from the Meiji era who wants him back, but Kenshin denies any privilege as he aims to continue his own way of life. Having seen Kenshin's fight, Yahiko remembers his words and gives up being a thief. However, this causes him to be abused by his superiors.
3 "Kasshin-ryu - Reborn" Nan Hideyuki Kurata Minoru Kanari & Takayuki Onoda July 21, 2023 (2023-07-21)[26]
The yakuza beat Yahiko and mock his late parents until Kenshin reaches the area and intimidates the leader into releasing him. Learning from the child that he wants to be strong to protect his parents' reputation, Kenshin decides to make Yahiko the next student of Kaoru's Kasshin-Ryu. However, following his recovery, he remains rebellious towards Kaoru. When two students appear asking for Kaoru's help due to being involved in a fight with bandits, Yahiko realizes the students were drunk and had caused the confrontation. Nevertheless, Kaoru takes responsibility, earning Yahiko's respect as he decides to fight alongside her. Kenshin then returns to the Dojo, scares the bandits, and tells Kaoru's former students never to wield a sword again. Despite Kaoru and Kenshin's specific thoughts about their beliefs, they change their mind when Yahiko picks up his wooden sword and starts cleaning up the place.
4 "The Fighter for Hire - Sanosuke Sagara" Yoshitaka Makino Hideyuki Kurata Kazuhisa Kosuge July 28, 2023 (2023-07-28)[27]
Kenshin, Kaoru, and Yahiko go to Akabeko restaurant where a trio of drunk men causes mayhem while talking about politicians. As Kenshin is about to face them, he is interrupted by a young man named Sagara Sanosuke who easily bests them. After Kenshin scares them with his sword, Sanosuke explains that he is a fighter-for-hire and is interested in seeing Kenshin's strength. Although Kenshin rejects the offer, Sanosuke later finds the Hiruma brothers, who ask for his help to kill Kenshin. Sanosuke is initially reluctant until learning he is from the Ishin Shishi. Sanosuke once again challenges Kenshin who accepts upon discovering he was hired by the Hirumas. Using his large lance-like weapon zanbatō, Sanosuke tries to kill his opponent, but Kenshin easily dodges his moves.
5 "And Then, Another" Akira Odama Hideyuki Kurata Masaru Kitao August 4, 2023 (2023-08-04)[28]
With his superior skill, Kenshin easily bests Sanosuke, but his anger towards the Ishin Shishi for killing his superior Sagara Sōzō from the Sekihōtai during the revolution pushes him to keep fighting. Kihee takes advantage and tries to shoot Kenshin but he blocks the bullet with his tsuba. His brother then attempts to take Kaoru and Yahiko but Sanosuke stops him with his zanbatō. He and Kenshin engage in another clash in which his sakabatō slices his zanbatō, leaving Kenshin victorious. Sanosuke refuses to give up until he realizes that Kenshin is not like the Ishin Shishi he hates due to his values in regard to the actual revolution. The next day, a wounded but recovering Sanosuke beats up drunken people in the Akabeko and befriends Kenshin, thanking him for testing his values.
6 "Kurogasa" Keisuke Nishijima Hideyuki Kurata Atsuko Yamazaki August 11, 2023 (2023-08-11)[29]
The deaths of several politicians at the hands of a single swordsman cause the police to request Kenshin and Sanosuke's aid as bodyguards. During the night, Kenshin suspects the swordsman might be an old rival based on the supernatural technique he used. At midnight, the killer, former Shinsengumi and hitokiri Jin-e, appears and starts killing bodyguards. He easily paralyzes Sanosuke and the rest with his chi, but Kenshin resists. Attracted by his ability, Jin-e escapes, having decided to target him alone. Despite Kenshin's pleas to fight him alone, Kaoru confronts Kenshin, making him promise not to leave the town until he returns her bow. However, Jin-e kidnaps her, enraging Kenshin.
7 "The Two Hitokiri" Yoshitaka Makino Hideyuki Kurata Atsuko Yamazaki & Masahiro Emoto August 18, 2023 (2023-08-18)[30]
Following Jin-e's instructions, Kenshin finds his enemy's location where he keeps Kaoru. Jin-e easily bests Kenshin as he claims he was stronger in the Bakumatsu when showing a notable thirst for blood. Disappointed, Jin-e paralyzes Kaoru, giving her little time before her death. This causes Kenshin to go back to his Hitokiri Battosai persona and tries to kill him with his titular battojutsu techniques to overwhelm his enemy. Before Kenshin kills his enemy, Kaoru remembers his kind personality and breaks free of Jin-e's control so that Kenshin will not break his vow of not killing. Jin-e kills himself but still taunts Kenshin in his final moments. Returning to the dojo, Kenshin and Kaoru thank each other for preventing a murder from happening but the latter is displeased when seeing her bow now covered in blood.
8 "Beauty on the Run" Kayona Yamada Hideyuki Kurata Hironari Asao August 25, 2023 (2023-08-25)[31]
While gambling with his friends and Kenshin, Sanosuke becomes shocked to hear that one of them has died after becoming an opium addict. They are then spotted by a woman named Takani Megumi who is being pursued by two men and an assassin, Beshimi. After defeating them, Kenshin and Sanosuke learn Megumi too carries opium and tries hiding it from Kaoru. This results in the group being kicked out of the dojo. One of Sanosuke's friends reveals the two men have been executed by Takeda Kanryu, who is responsible for bringing the drug to Tokyo. Kenshin is startled by his bodyguard Shinomori Aoshi, the leader of the Oniwaban forces. As they return to the dojo, Kenshin asks Megumi for further information but she refuses to divulge sensitive material. After apologizing to Kaoru for lying about the current problem, a large man from the Oniwaban, Hyottoko, attacks the dojo.
9 "The Oniwabanshu Strike" Shōhei Yamanaka Hideyuki Kurata Kazuo Watanabe & Toshimitsu Kobayashi September 1, 2023 (2023-09-01)
Hyottoko tries to incinerate Kenshin and Sanosuke but is quickly defeated. A hidden Beshimi tries to kill Megumi with a poisonous bullet but Yahiko blocks the shot. As the poison takes effect, Kenshin tries to attack Beshimi but is interrupted by the Oniwaban Hannya. Kenshin injures him but he escapes with the men. Megumi helps create an antidote to heal Yahiko. It is revealed that Megumi originally belonged to the Takani clan, who forced their children to study occidental medicine. After a conflict in Aizu, Megumi loses her family and is forced by Takeda to produce the opium he distributes. Realizing the guilt she carries, Kenshin requests Megumi to stay in the dojo which Kaoru agrees with. As a wounded Hannya reports to Shinomori Aoshi about Kenshin, his boss becomes interested in the swordsman. In the post-credits scene, Kanryu becomes delighted upon seeing an unknown item on a Western ship.
10 "A Reason to Act" Nan Hideyuki Kurata Kazuhisa Kosuge September 8, 2023 (2023-09-08)
Though Kenshin, Kaoru, and Yahiko accept Megumi, Sanosuke remains resentful. Hannya approaches Megumi while she is alone at the dojo and threatens her to meet with Kanryu. Arriving at his headquarters, Megumi tries to kill him but is stopped by Shinomori and taken prisoner. Kenshin goes to rescue her and convinces Sanosuke to join him. Accompanied by Yahiko, they storm the compound and defeat Kanryu's private army. As they reach his mansion, Kanryu attempts to recruit Hitokiri Battosai as a bodyguard but is refused. Entering the room where she is held, Shinomori returns Megumi's knife and implores her to choose between a peaceful end at her hands or tortured to death by Kanryu. As Kenshin's group enters the mansion, they are confronted by Hannya.
11 "Savage Han'nya - Honorable Shikijo" TBA TBA TBA September 15, 2023 (2023-09-15)

Home media release

Volume Date Discs Episodes
1 October 25, 2023[21] 1 1–3
2 November 22, 2023[32] 4–6
3 December 27, 2023[33] 7–9
4 January 31, 2024[34] 10–12
5 February 28, 2024[35] 13–15
6 March 27, 2024[36] 16–18
7 April 24, 2024[37] 19–21
8 May 29, 2024[19] 22–24

Notes

  1. ↑ "The Epic Tale of a Meiji Swordsman: The Wanderer, Kenshin". The word Rurōni (るろうに?) is the author's altered reading of the word Rurōnin (流浪人?), that means "wanderer".
  2. ↑ Fuji TV listed the series premiere on July 6 at 24:55, which is effectively July 7 at 12:55 a.m. JST.[18]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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