It’s been a while since we heard from the new Rurouni Kenshin series, hasn’t it? Our favorite Hitokiri Battosai is set to return to anime on July 6th. Any fan will easily recognize the numerous action-packed scenes that the trailer below highlights. The ending theme song Kissaki (Sword Tip) by Reol can be heard as well.
For those who missed it the first time, Liden Films has set up a promotional home page and an official Twitter page. There are also Instagram and Tiktok pages to follow. Fans interested in new series updates should keep those sites bookmarked to find key visuals like the one below.
It would also be nice to follow Kaoru’s voice actress Rie Takahashi’s Twitter page, as she has been posting about Rurouni Kenshin.
https://twitter.com/taka8rie/status/1657366112517099521
A Bloody History Revisited
Rurouni Kenshin tells the story of a former hitokiri (man-slayer) who fought during the Meiji Revolution. Leaving behind a mountain of bodies and regrets, Himura Kenshin (voiced by Soma Saito) seeks to wander the land in peace. However, an evil man begins carrying out terrible acts in his name to slander a sword-instructing school. The heir of the Kamiya Kasshin-style school, Kaoru (voiced by Rie Takahashi) accuses Kenshin of sabotage because he openly defies the sword-carrying law.
Kenshin’s first real duel in a long time ends with his victory, and his reward is a new home and two friends. He will also make more than a few enemies, all of whom will try to end his wandering life.
As before, the new trailer highlights early battles in Kenshin’s story. We’re shown the physician Takani Megumi (voiced by Saori Onishi), and her terrible boss, Takeda Kanryu. These two are key figures in the first battle between Kenshin and Shinomori Aoshi (voiced by Yuma Uchida). We’re also introduced to the best brawler around, Sanosuke Sagara (voiced by Taku Yashiro).
Rurouni Kenshin Origins
To give a complete run-down of Nobuhiro Watsuki’s legendary work could be an article on its own. The manga series originally ran from April 25th, 1994 to September 21st, 1999. Shueisha published a total of 28 volumes in their Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. He revisited this work three times so far, in Restoration, which was published between 2012 and 2013, Master of Flame in 2014, and the ongoing Hokkaido Arc in 2017.
Rurouni Kenshin has seen numerous anime adaptations. Of course there was the original series that aired between 1996 through 1998, and there were three OVAs and two movies. Fans were also treated to five live-action movies that were actually good, thus proving that only Japanese studios should adapt anime.
There were also some video games, but they never came to the West.
If you’re looking for another dangerous redhead with some mental scarring, look no further. The Asuka Langley POP UP PARADE Figure from Rebuild of Evangelion shows some good battle damage.
Are you excited to see the new Rurouni Kenshin anime? Did you watch the original anime series? Are you concerned that it might not be faithful to the source material? Let us know in the comments below.
