Rurouni Kenshin

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Cartoon Network (ended 2003)
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Show Summary

  • Ended
"140 years ago in Kyoto,with the coming of the 'Black Ships', there arose a warrior called Hitokiri Battousai. Felling men with his blood stained blade, he closed the turbulent Bakumatsu era and slashed open the age known as Meiji. Then he vanished, and with the flow of years, became a legend. In the 11th year of Meiji, in the middle of Tokyo this tale begins..."

Rurouni Kenshin (the OAVs and Movie are known as Samurai X) tells the story of a wanderer named Kenshin, who used to be called Hitokiri Battousai (Hitokiri means Assassin) during the Japanese civil war, and is now trying to make up for his past and all his murders by helping those in trouble with his reverse-blade sword and by using his powerful technique called Hiten-Mitsurugi Ryu to battle oppressors of freedom and justice, yet struggling with himself and his own murdering self.

During the series Kenshin joins others in his quest: Kaoru Kamiya, a young orphan girl who became tutor of the Kamiya-Kashin Ryu Kendo; Sanosuke Sagara, a mercenary who used to bear the name Zanza and fights just with his incredibly powerful fists; Yahiko Myojin, a young boy who was rescued by Kenshin from mafia and now a pupil on Kaoru's dojo; and Megumi Takani, a female doctor who was rescued by Kenshin from a band which forced her to make a lethal drug. Together they all fight those who oppress the weak while they seek their destiny as well happiness and redemption.

The series is based on a homonymous manga created by Nobuhiro Watsuki, which was first published in 1994. The anime adapts the manga until a cycle called Legend of Kyoto, later featuring new story arcs which were not featured in the manga.moreless
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Episode Guide

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S 6 :  Ep 2
S 6 :  Ep 1 Aired 12/20/97
S 5 :  Ep 2 Aired 12/3/01
S 5 :  Ep 1 Aired 12/3/01
S 4 :  Ep 4 Aired 1/1/99

Cast & Crew

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Fan Reviews (118)

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  • Rurouni kenshin is a good anime. It has drama, action and a very good story.

    8.0
    "Great"
    By Mauro_PB, Nov 27, 2009
    Rurouni kenshin is a good anime. One of the best samurai show I ever watched, but I don't watch too many to put that as a true statement.
    It has drama, action and a very good story. The anime story is one of the best I've ever seen, but I'm talking about the background story, not the character story, which lacks better development. The characters are very good, specially some of the villains. Sometimes I get myself cheering for the villain to win, since the anime don't rotulate the characters as a pure black or white. And I'm not talking about skin color but spiritual color. The anime rotulates most of its characters as a gray color,for an example, even Kenshin has a very dark past.
    What I don't like are the humour parts. Sometimes they are right, but sometimes they are too childish. And this anime isn't an anime made for children.
    Just because of this fact and the fact that the best episodes are in the serie middle (Legend of Kyoto cycle), after that the show loses its power, I can't give it a better note.moreless

  • One of the best anime out there...

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By nephayugi, Feb 21, 2009
    It is a very good anime, one that it's worth to watch. With the combination of action, comedy, and romance, the story line is one of the best. A very good action and great character build up are some of good aspects of the anime. However the ending is a little disappointing. I also like the fights because they are very detailed, good and realistic to some point. The animation is very good, considering the time that the anime was made.

    The soundtrack in my opinion is very good and the sound effects are also very good.

    I really enjoyed Rurouni Kenshin and my score to this anime is 9.5/10.moreless

  • One of the very best samurai aniem shows that you will ever see.

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By drdan2410, Jan 30, 2009
    Set durring the Meji Era of Japan the show follows a wandering samurai known as Kenshin. Durring the days of the Meji Revolution Kenshin was a skilled warrior who was blessed with exceptional sword skills and he was known as the Hitokiri Battousai. When the revolution was over Kenshin swore that he would never again take another life and thus he started caring a reverse edge sword and wandering Japan to atone for his crimes.

    This is a brilliant show with great characters and an excellent plot. It is however a shame that they did not stick to the manga for the final story arc nd sadly that lets the show down somewhat.

    This is however a truly epic show and well worth a watch.moreless

  • A whole new class of samurai!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By LeahHimura24, Sep 17, 2008
    Rurouni Kenshin, the brain child of Nobuhiro Watsuki is one of the best Samurai manga/animes out there! With the combination of action, comedy, and romance, who couldn't love it? Short Summery:
    During 1867 in Japan a man name Kenshin Himura an ex-samurai wanders Japan when he runs into a girl named Kaoru Kamiya, who eventually lets him stay at her dojo. More characters come along becoming either friends or enemies. Awesome battle scenes and great story lines for each character it's hard not to like Rurouni Kenshin

    Pros of the show:
    ~Awesome story line ~a balance between comedy, action, drama, etc...
    ~pretty good animation ~great voice actors

    Cons of the show:
    ~whole 3rd season is filler
    ~the ending is kinda disappointing.(if you read the manga)moreless

  • Kenshin is a very fast paced, action packed anime

    10
    "Perfect"
    By kitty7_1, Sep 08, 2008
    Kenshin is a very fast paced, action packed anime. This anime is about a soldier from the Meji revolution of japan. During the war he as a Battosi, a legendary man slayer. Now, 10 years later, he wanders the country to repent for his actions. He met a young lady, Kaoru, and has since lived in her dojo along with samurai's son, Yakito, and a fighter for hire, Sano. The titular character has a sort of 'split personality' that is the main part of the plot. While comedic at times, the writers and animators make each change from wander to man killer very obvious. They way he acts and talks changes drastically. The underlying love story between Kenshin and Kaoru is always there, but doesn't take away from main plot line.moreless
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