Rurouni Kenshin OAV Series


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Name:Rurouni Kenshin OAV Series
Contains:
un-checked Comedyun-checked Mechschecked Drama
checked Violenceun-checked Shoujo 
un-checked Hentaiun-checked Explicit Sexun-checked Brief Nudity
Running Length:~180 mins.
Description:This OAV series is broken up into 3 parts:
Trust, Betrayal (each with two parts that comprised the entire series originally)and Reflection (the conclusion of the story).

Set at the end of the Meiji era in Japan this OAV series tells the story of a legendary samurai making his way in a new world where the samurai way of life has been outlawed.

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Rurouni Kenshin OAV Series
Rurouni Kenshin (also Samurai X) is a historical piece set near the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate. It tells the tale of a man who has lost everything and takes up the life of a swordsman.

The OAV series, in 4 half hour episodes, illustrates that we all have lived in the worst of times. It shows the social decay of the end of an era where political factions wage covert wars on each other, sending assassins into each other's midst. It explores the human side of those who get caught in the cross-fire of such battles; the assassins, and double agents and spies who are played off against each other. The story is one of romance, intrigue and philosophy which is a
difficult proposition for a story about sex and murder.

I think that most of the imagery in the OAV series of Rurouni Kenshin will go straight over most people's heads. There is a lot of imagery to do with flowers that will be missed by people who don't know anything about Japanese culture. Here's a hint for you; the red camellias that are floating around when people are bleeding and dying are representative of death. Unfortunately, a lot of the continual sexual innuendo will be missed by the audience as well. Though the lewd jokes were heavily veiled they had me cracking up through a lot of the plot.

The story is told in a very thoughtful way. People who are watching anime for comedy and fight scenes are probably not going to like it very much as it is a very introspective series, almost to the detriment of its poignance. Because of the themes faced it can make identifying with the characters hard, which can make it difficult to immerse yourself in the plot.

That said the story is complex and attractively presented. It continues the tradition of having the OAV version of a much higher standard of animation than its associated TV series. The characters are gorgeous. The action is easy to follow and violence is graphic where necessary, but not tasteless. My only problem with the animation in the OAV series is that, in a few scenes, real elements have been composited into them. Elements such as water and overhead cherry blossom trees are spliced in from video footage and not rotoscoped. I found it a little jarring.

The soundtrack for the series is unobtrusive and for the most part forgettable. It lent little to the heartfelt parts of the story, except for right at the very end of the story.

Because of the introspective nature of the Rurouni Kenshin OAV series, it will probably be of more interest to older audiences. The plot will go straight over the heads of young children, and the graphic violence probably isn't appropriate for them either. Teens may be interested in the OAVs for the sword fighting and gore but there isn't much, as the plot focuses more on personal motivations. I liked it. It was certainly very pretty and thought provoking, but not a good one for taking in if you are interested in action or comedy.

Overall Rating: 7
Animation:8 Plot:6 Humor:9 Sound Track:6
Weight: 40 (Reputable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=167510


Rurouni Kenshin OAV Series
This series is excellent! Very violent, but otherwise EXTREMELY well written. I haven't seen the entire TV series which I find to be on the silly side, but this OAV is TOTALLY different. It carries a much more realistic tone and the animation is much better -- the TV series is notorious for recycling animation of Kenshin doing aerial acrobatics. In fact, the OAV doesn't portray Kenshin doing any aerial stunts which is inline with it's more realiztic and mature themes.

Overall Rating: 10
Animation:10 Plot:10
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=55445


Rurouni Kenshin OAV Series
I just LOVE it!!

Overall Rating: 10
Animation:10 Plot:10 Humor:10 Sound Track:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=359321


Rurouni Kenshin OAV Series
The animation's a little different, but I loved the landscapes. A very serious anime, lots of blood, and it really makes you think about things. The end is so depressing...

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=20996


Rurouni Kenshin OAV Series
C'mon you have to give props for this....this is sweet...anybody that likes fighting, bloody scenes should look the oavs

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=20990


Rurouni Kenshin OAV Series
An absolutely beautifully made chapter of the kenshin saga. The music was great, the animation was amazing, the art was very realistic, but kenshin fans may be put off by the departure from the cartoony style of art the tv series had. The OAV series follows the "memories" saga closely enough and still delivers a stunning blow at the conclusion. There needs to be follow up to the OAV covering the revenge chapter.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=20989


Rurouni Kenshin OAV Series
I just watched 1-4 at Katsucon. It was breathtaking. Incredible animation and story. Please note, this is a "serious" movie. No Project A-ko comedy here. I can't wait for this to be released on DVD.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=20988


Rurouni Kenshin OAV Series
Perhaps the best Kenshin release of all. The battles are AMAZINGLY done in that they are so smoothly animated and realistic, that you actually get caught up in the realism of the confrontations. There are no over-the-top 30 feet jumps as in the TV series. Rather, the OAVs focus moreso on genuine sword techniques and thus comes off as breathtakingly awesome. Plus, the story is just plain fantastic. Seeing the history of Kenshin as it revolves around real historical events lends the series a great historic atmosphere. An insanely entertaining OAV series that anybody'll love, save for those who can't stomach the high gore factor.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=20987

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