&KNOW SOMETHING AWESOME&
Everybody has been talking about the TV series, it's awesome, but here is how it all began!
THE RUROUNI KENSHIN OAV IS TOO AWESOME TO MISS!!
(PLEASE CLICK ON THE PICTURES FOR MORE INFORMATION)
Synopsis:
Kenshin
Himura is a young man who had been orphaned early in life. Raised and trained by
a Mitsurugi sword-style master, Kenshin decides to take leave and fight for a
new world when he reaches his teens. Soon, Kenshin becomes one of the most
feared assassins of the Tokugawa era -- for beneath the boyish frame and face
lies a merciless killer of unparalleled skill. But something changes within
Kenshin the day he meets Tomoe, a beautiful young woman who seems to have dark
secrets of her own.
Review:
Whether you've watched the Rurouni Kenshin TV
series or not doesn't really matter. RK the OAV series is awesome to say the
least, and you can enjoy it without any RK background.
The tone is solemn, and there is never a comical moment. This seriousness is reflected from the color schemes and composition of the scenes to the way the characters speak. Even the music reinforces this mood. The fights are virtual bloodbaths. People are slashed left, right, and center. You'll definitely be seeing a lot of samurai action and a whole lot of red. For those who've watched the TV series or read the manga, you'll find that the Kenshin here never lectures his foes to submission. He just kills, kills, kills... and you'll come to understand how he gained the title of "Battousai". You'll also discover how he got that X scar on his cheek.
Characterization is excellent, as is always the case with RK. A lot of insight and depth is provided as to why these people are the way they are. You would really feel as if you knew them personally, which makes it easy to empathize with whatever it is that's happening onscreen. The cinematography is superb. The scenes were obviously composed with a lot of thought as to convey additional meanings and emotions in every frame.
Synopsis:
Many years have passed since the events
chronicled in the Rurouni Kenshin TV
and first OAV
series. Kenshin and Kaoru have been living as husband and wife with their son
Kenji. But the sad truth remains: Kenshin's wandering is far from over... and
perhaps it never will be.
Review:
If you've read the entire Rurouni Kenshin
manga series, you're probably aware that Kenshin and Kaoru ended up together and
had a cute baby boy named Kenji. Unfortunately, Rurouni Kenshin OVA 2: Seisouhen
(the final RK installment), really destroys any picture of happiness you may
have had for our wanderer.
Seisouhen unfolds from Kaoru's perspective. Fifteen years have passed, and Kaoru is all alone... waiting for Kenshin. Kenshin's been wandering throughout their whole life, returning once in a blue moon to visit her and Kenji. Kaoru recounts the things that have happened long ago -- how she met Kenshin, how Kenshin had saved her life numerous times, how Kenshin had fought one battle after another (part of the Jinchuu / Enishi arc is shown). For Kaoru, helping Kenshin get as far as he can on his chosen path is her life and happiness. She hurts like hell every time he leaves, and yet she waits tirelessly for his return with a warm smile of welcome. I really hated Kaoru in the TV series, but watching Seisouhen made me understand how Kaoru can be the only woman for Kenshin on account of her inner strength, utter devotion, and complete selflessness.
I have mixed feelings about Seisouhen. Granted it's a superior piece of work, but somehow I've always wanted Kenshin to ultimately be able to experience a normal, happy life... especially after everything he has gone through. Apparently someone had other ideas and so we are left with this tragic finale instead. I felt some resentment for Kenshin. How could he have been so selfish? He was so absorbed in his personal issues that he had deprived his family of his presence for the most part of their lives. I could not for the life of me see the sense in what he was doing. In the second half of Seisouhen we see Kenshin practically starving to death in a remote part of China, living in destitution by himself. Call me dense but if he was helping others in that or atoning for past deeds I just didn't see it.
The art and animation are superb, and are quite similar in style to the first OAV series. Seisouhen is laden with gorgeous character designs, incredible fight sequences, and magnificent backdrops. Each and every scene is crafted meticulously, making the most of every expression and movement to highlight whatever emotion it is that is supposed to prevail at the moment.
Seisouhen is definitely a must-see for RK fans. It's the saddest and most depressing OAV series I've ever seen but it's also one of the most beautifully portrayed. Yes, I thought Kenshin and Kaoru's married life was pretty pathetic, but their love knew no bounds and they didn't have to be together to be one with each other. At least we get a little consolation and some hope for the future in the end, just make sure to watch all the way through the credits...
