Rurouni Kenshin 2023 has brought back the joy and excitement of my childhood with a modern touch. Words can’t explain the feeling of nostalgia I experienced while watching the anime. I felt an emotional turbulence gripping my consciousness to the point of breathlessness watching Kenshin Himura swing his famous ‘Sakabatou’ ironing through the villains. After the initial burst of feelings and emotions, reality punched me down back to earth.
I wrote a news article on the new Rurouni Kenshin 2023 a few months back and then the anticipation was sky-high. The timeless classic that made millions of fans worldwide was coming back with better animation, stunning visuals, and a promise to adhere to the original source material. The previous anime adaptation was irresponsible in this case as it skipped characters and arcs freely. So, the talks of screenplay strictly following the manga storyline were music to my ears.
The second anime adaptation of Rurouni Kenshin manga by Nobuhiro Watsuki, following the 1996–98 series, is Rurouni Kenshin 2023. It is directed by Hideyo Yamamoto and animated by Liden Films. It premiered in July 2023 on Fuji TV’s Noitamina programming block. It will run for two consecutive seasons of 24 episodes. Aniplex will collect the episodes on eight DVD and Blu-ray boxes, which are scheduled to be released from October 25, 2023 to May 29, 2024.
Is The Reboot ‘Rurouni Kenshin 2023’ Justified?
Rurouni Kenshin makes the most sense of all the series that have had reboots over the years. It’s a genuinely monstrous property, one of the most well-known manga in Weekly Shounen Jump history, with a massively large television series and OVAs. It gave rise to a number of hugely successful live-action films. However, the anime never adjusted the manga’s enormous and adored last circular segment, ‘Jinchuu’, rather straying off into unique and once in a while puzzled bearings.
It ought to have happened quite a while back, sometime before the explanation went along to legitimize why it hadn’t. In any case, here we are presently with Rurouni Kenshin 2023 already released and going strong. There are a few questions hanging around though. Sure, getting what appears to be a faithful re-adaptation is huge in and of itself. However, in principle, 24 episodes have been announced over the course of 2 seasons. Now, that is not nearly enough to cover the whole story.
Nonetheless, we can hope with bated breath that the mentioned 2 seasons are only the tip of the iceberg and surely there is a whole giant to come out from sub-surface realms. Rurouni Kenshin 2023 is definitely a deserving adaptation that has been long overdue. Now, there may be differing opinions from the original fanbase itself on whether this remake was actually needed or not but mark my words it definitely was no mistake. That is what I truly believe and advocate for as a devout fan of the masterpiece that is Rurouni Kenshin.
The Modern Grass Is Greener
Some original cast members are already six feet under. So, new voice artists are hired naturally. Hearing Himura voiced by Saitou Souma is a significant shift from the known alluring tone. I can call Suzukaze Mayo’s performance outstanding. Nevertheless, Kenshin is a man and as a result, the male voice felt more realistic. Furthermore, toward the finish of the episode, I was flowing on Saitou’s voice fine and dandy. Concerning Kaoru, Takahashi Rie is honestly not a major takeoff from Fujitani Miki and it’s fine as the seamless transition.
The direction was absolutely perfect in my opinion. Yamamoto Hideyo has a lot of experience, which shows in Rurouni Kenshin 2023. Kurata Hideyuki is an impressive figure both in variations and firsts. The ramifications of the debut are that this rendition will be more devoted to the manga. The distinctions as far as the plot is concerned are minuscule. In any case, the tone is unique this time – the savagery is all the more unmistakable, and the hints between Himura and Kaoru are more serious and less comic.
Despite the nostalgic allure, the anime is not obsolete and figures out how to mix in flawlessly with contemporary shounen anime. The setting, characters, villains, and inspirations all vibe significant in the present anime scene. As far as creation goes, the liveliness is strong, catching the substance of the original work of art while giving a smoother and more clean visual experience. Rurouni Kenshin 2023 effectively encapsulates the first series while conveying a new and engaging experience. It holds promise for both longtime fans and newcomers alike.
Where There Is Light There Is Shadow
While Rurouni Kenshin 2023 is a promising reboot everything is not fine and dandy. There are some issues that need addressing. The very first problem is that although the new adaptation is visually alluring the story is still the same. So, tweaks are needed to make it truly phenomenal. I’m not asking to change the story but they should try to narrate in a different way than the previous anime and that has not been the case so far which is quite disappointing.
When working on a remake of something so popular without changing the story some engaging aspects are needed to make the project successful. In the case of Rurouni Kenshin 2023, one of those aspects could have been the music. However, both the opening and ending tracks are bad in the sense that they do not relate to the story, its timeline, and its essence from any angle or semblance. Also, the BGM is quite lackluster but this can be improved.
The animation stood out for all the wrong reasons. Perhaps it was on the grounds that I had elevated standards, or rather, I didn’t exactly have the foggiest idea of what was in store. However, I figured they would zero in more on the battle movement or something, yet it depended on some backup stunts. Like simply showing a progression of splendid slices when Kenshin was battling a crowd. This is a serious drawback in the animation department and needs immediate fixing.
Should You Watch?
Rurouni Kenshin 2023 is arguably the second-best (placing behind Bleach TYBW Cour 2) in the current anime season. The characters bring out a feeling of exemplary narration. From the strong yet interesting fighter to the steadily confident courageous woman and, surprisingly, the lively bratty kid, they exemplify when characters felt more real and less like uneven tricks for prudence flagging. This sign of approval for conventional person advancement adds profundity to the story, stressing the worth of balanced and appealing personas.
Audiences will be drawn to the action thanks to the lively and captivating combat. The incorporation of extraordinary blood impacts adds a genuine layer of dirt to the battles, upgrading the effect and underscoring the stakes. These instinctive components add to the show’s capacity to convey invigorating fight scenes that are both exciting and effective. It’s obvious that a ton of thought and exertion went into making thrilling battle successions, making a champion part of the series.
The liveliness of Rurouni Kenshin 2023 presents a charming takeoff from the customary standards. With its unmistakable methodology including thick frameworks around the characters, like AoT or Drifters, it infuses a much-needed refresher into scenes frequently swarmed with nonexclusive movements. This seldom-used style catches the eye as well as improves the visual effect of the account. Based on all these points, I suggest you watch Rurouni Kenshin 2023 and decide for yourself whether to continue or not.
