Random Rant - Rurouni Kenshin

A few of the guys at work are into Naruto and Bleach and, as I seem to have something of a reputation as an anime nut (can't imagine why), they asked me if I could recommend anything similar. Rurouni Kenshin immediately came to mind, as it's one of my favourite series and a fine example of the shonen genre. The trouble is, it starts off a bit slow, and doesn't get really good until about thirty episodes in, and after another thirty suddenly turns crap. When it's good, it's bloody amazing, but for people brought up on newer, slicker anime it might feel like a bit of a chore to sit through - particularly as it's now ten years old.

If you've never heard of it, it's the story of a swordsman named Kenshin, formerly one of Japan's most renowned of assassins during the civil war. Once the war was over, he swore to never again take another life, and so wanders the country with his reverse-bladed katana, righting wrongs and searching for a way to atone for all his sins. The manga was created by Nobuhiko Watsuki, originally published in 1994, and has since acquired rather a large fanbase around the world due to its tight story, interesting characters and cool swordfights.

While the majority of the first 26 episodes (known as the Tokyo arc) is largely true to the manga, with a lot of scene setting and character building, it does also have a number of filler episodes, generally well below par. It's this slow start that seems to put most newcomers off (because, let’s face it, kids today have the attention span of a gnat. Much like myself). The Kyoto arc is what everyone remembers, and really is shonen anime at its best. After that though, and things just go straight to hell. Because the manga was still going at that point, there wasn't enough material to continue adapting, and so they decided to make stuff up until the manga was complete. The trouble is, the 30 or so episodes of filler that they came up with was so bad, that everyone just lost interest, and the series was cancelled before the final arc (Jinchuu, or Revenge) of the manga could be animated. Which is a terrible shame, as it is great stuff.

Here in the UK, we've had the best, the worst, and the distinctly average of the animated Kenshins, released under then name Saumrai X (I won't go into why, or how much I dislike the name here). Although I'd love to see a domestic release of the series, I can't see it happening for a variety of reasons. For one, it's damned long - the whole thing clocks at 95 episodes, and even though the last third is dire, it would still have to be brought out for the completists. For another, it's a bit dated, and doesn't have the same immediate impact as more recent and shinier releases, and it'd take a very brave company to take such a risk with it now. But anyway, here's what we have got:-

• Trust and Betrayal (TsuiokuHen) is a direct adaptation of one of the best sections of the manga, set before the series and detailing how Kenshin became one of Japan's most feared assassins. The long and short of it is that it's simply amazing, boasting incredible animation, a brilliant soundtrack, and excellent direction, and should be on every self-respecting anime fan's Big List of Stuff to See. Near the top.

• Samurai X: The Motion Picture is your typical anime spin-off movie deal - that is to say, it takes the characters you know and love and sticks them in a standalone story that never quite lives up to the originals. It's entertaining enough, but as a Kenshin story it's rather weak, and is often seen as a feature-length filler episode. Treat it as such.

• Reflection (SeiosouHen) is utter garbage. Supposedly the true final ending to the Kenshin saga, it's essentially a glorified recap epsiode, with newly animated takes on familiar scenes, and some new bits set after the manga has finished. Thing is, if you haven't read all of the manga, you're not going to have a clue what's going on, as it jumps around so quickly and randomly that it's difficult to keep up. Bits of the Jinchuu arc pop up, including Kenshins final fight with Enishi - but if you haven't read it, you won't know who the hell he is, or the significance behind their battle. It also completely undermines the ending Watsuki-san gave it Although it looks and sounds great, it is a massive missed opportunity and a huge let-down for the very fans it was created for.

If you want the complete story though, Viz have been releasing the Rurouni Kenshin manga in the UK, and it's arguably one of the best titles currently available. If you want to experience Kenshin in its purest form, this is where you want to go. At 28 volumes, it’s quite a commitment to make, but it can be found even in large chains such as Waterstones for around £5 a book.

So, I hear you cry, where do I start? The short answer is; it depends. If you want to see Rurouni Kenshin at its best and most complete, read the manga. All twenty-eight volumes of it. If you want to watch the animated stuff in the truest order, watch the first 62 episodes of the TV series (there are a few filler episodes here and there, but most of it is true to the source material), then watch Tsuikohuen. Ignore everything else. Some will suggest watching TsuiokuHen first, as it’s set before the series, but I feel that doing so sort of destroys the mystery behind Kenshin’s background.

Oh, and yeah, the guys at work loved it – even though they found the first arc a bit of a struggle to sit through, the Kyoto Arc more than made up for it. I dunno, kids today, eh?