Details Title:
Release Date:
Pros:
Cons:Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuioku Hen
Unknown date, 1999 (JP)
Superb animation, beautiful music to match the OVA, well told story.
Can be too violent for fans expecting Kenshin slap-stick humour, political side of the series may be confusing for viewers new to Kenshin.
Review The Rurouni Kenshin Original Video Animation (OVA) explains the background of the main character, Kenshin and how he came to become the ruthless Hitokiri Battousai (Sword wielding assassin) before becoming the rurouni who helps those in need.
A young boy named Shinta, witnesses the deaths of all the female slaves he was traveling with, before a Master Hiten swordsman saves the boy and avenges the deaths of the women. A day later, the swordsman returns to find that the boy buried everyone that was massacred the previous night, including the bandits that attacked them.
Seeing great potential in the boy, the swordsman takes him in to teach him the ways of kenjutsu. More specifically, Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu. It was then that Shinta was to be re-named Kenshin.
Several years later, Kenshin has now become a reformist, helping the Ishinshishi overthrow the rule of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Little does Kenshin know, that an enigmatic woman will change his life forever...The OVA obviously focuses around Kenshin, and by watching the OVA, you realise that the Hitokiri Battousai isn't the villain that he was made out to be in the TV series when Kenshin's past is mentioned. You see a child, who's fighting for what he believes is right, yet doesn't realise the consequences involved in his actions.
The series also includes the important people in his life. A younger Seijuro Hiko, who teaches Kenshin the ways of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, yet he discusses his philosophies with Kenshin; Hajime Saitou of the Shinsengumi who becomes Kenshin's rival, which carries on to the TV series; and the most imporant character that had a big impact on Kenshin's life: Tomoe Yukashiro who emboddies the qualities that Kenshin doesn't have, which is discussed metaphorically throughout the series. Other important characters involved Kogoro Katsura, the head of the Choshu domain for the Ishinshishi, who had taken Kenshin to perform assassinations; and Shinsaku Takasugi, who recruited Kenshin in to his Kihei Tai training grounds.All music played is orchestra, but nonetheless it does a great job at accompanying the series. All the fighting that happens throughout the night, is matched with haunting music, and you know that someone's going to die. Throughout the day, you can expect to hear peaceful music that makes you think that this is really a great series to watch. Some particular tracks I liked were the opening scene to the OVA, playing it's tribal-like beat at the beginning, where the bandits are waiting to strike, just like hunters, before it changes to a saddening mood where one of the surviving women who is protecting Shinta (Kenshin) tells him to live, and then it changes to a more heroic tune where Hiko kills the bandits before Shinta is killed. Even for those that aren't a particular fan of orchestra will admit that the music fits the OVA perfectly.
The animation for the OVA is different from the TV series (obviously since the OVA was done after the TV series), and bears some resemblence to the animation in Serial Experiments Lain. Personally, I prefer this style of animation over the TV series, but it's understandable that a lot more money was put into the making of the OVA. Also, for those that are expecting the Kenshin slap-stick comedy in the TV series, will be in for a shock.. The feel of the OVA is serious and dark from the very beginning, and there's killing left, right and center (though not as much compared to the manga).
Finally, the OVA has been split into two chapters: Trust, and Betrayal, all of which should be watched in one sitting, to get the best out of it.This is a great OVA, despite the plentiful amount of violence involved. Also, previous Kenshin knowledge isn't required for the most part, which is a good thing for people new to Kenshin, though the political aspect may be a bit confusing for most new viewers. However, the OVA concentrates more on the development of Kenshin and his involvement with the key figures in his life, giving the Kenshin series justice.