the initial Kenshin Rurouni The television series was for the most part a marvel, with its humorous and action-packed account of the adventures of Kenshin Himura, a former master assassin who swore to atone for his crimes and never kill again. – Only after the big, drawn-out “Kyoto Arc” did the story start to falter.
The television series was followed by a film, in which Kenshin fights to protect his friends against a revenge-driven rebel, and a two-part OVA, a sumptuous, carefully staged exposé of Kenshin’s origins as one of the cruelest and most feared assassins of Tokugawa-era (1800s) Japan. What then remains to be told?
A lot, especially if you’re a fan fiction author. Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection (Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan – Seisou-hen) fills in some missing details from the overall Rurouni Kenshin story arc, but also adds some exciting new battles and a tragic, noble ending for the contrite, kind-hearted swordsman and his lady, Kaoru. It’s all done in exactly the same style as the first OVA series, meaning that most of the characters seem more detailed than their TV interpretations and less cheerful.
Related: Rurouni Kenshin: the real-life historical figures the characters were based on
The first OVA character design Kenshin was interesting because it depicted his bright pumpkin orange hair as a deep crimson, the same color as the blood he spills. In Reflection, the story flashes back several times to the events of the television series, giving the orange-haired “hero” Kenshin a very exotic and realistic appearance.
In this treatment, Kenshin’s enemies, such as Jin-e, who uses hypnotism, appear less threatening but more human. It’s quite a draw, if you’re a Rurouni Kenshin fan, to see some of the show’s key moments recreated in this beautiful, vivid art style.
Then there’s the portion of the OVA story that covers the “Revenge” arc of the manga. See, in the original OVA series, Kenshin was ultimately forced to kill his own wife, an act that left him consumed by grief and doubt for years.
But his own emotional distress is not the only consequence of the murder; His late wife Tomoe had a little brother, a boy named Enishi. Blinded by his grief at losing his sister and his rage toward Kenshin, Enishi trains for years to prepare to deflect Kenshin’s formidable Hiten Mitsurugi sword technique, and plays his ace by kidnapping Kaoru, the person Kenshin probably cares about the most.
The problem is that Kaoru sympathizes with Enishi, which takes him by surprise. – When Kenshin finally arrives by boat at Enishi’s gigantic Western-style house, his entrance evokes the scene from Hiroshi Inagaki’s Samurai III where Musashi Miyamoto arrives on Ganryu Island to challenge Kojiro Sasaki. Enishi looks very formidable, with rippling muscles and a stylish pair of dark glasses, but Kenshin is at the top of his game.
Most of Reflection’s story, however, takes place long after Kenshin’s days as a reformed hitman are over. He was re-enlisted in the army and went to the mainland to work in a support role in the Sino-Japanese War; Instead of killing people, he will work only to save them.
Meanwhile, back in Tokyo, Kaoru faithfully awaits his return, as she always has. The problem is that Kenshin’s tiredness is really starting to get to him, and both he and his wife are suffering from an affliction that will inevitably destroy them. Will Kenshin and Kaoru meet again under the cherry blossoms? In reality, it is almost a foregone conclusion.
Reflection’s animation and design are just as sumptuous and beautiful as its OVA predecessors. The character designs, while adapted from creator Nobuhiro Watsuki’s rough and handsome work, are realistic in a way that’s quite unsettling when you start to notice how much – and how bad Kenshin has aged since we last saw him.
Taku IwasakiThe bittersweet and melodious string numbers are the perfect choice for a story like this; the music really sets the mood for the story. The battle scenes are also enjoyable, and long-time fans should be delighted to see Enishi portrayed so vividly. Some might complain about the absence of fan-favorite adversaries like Makoto Shishio and Hajime Saito, but the TV series battle featured Kenshin vs. Jin-e – It’s still exciting and surprising.
The reflection is also imperfect in some other respects. The most immediate problem is with the voice cast. Specifically, May SuzukazeKenshin’s voice, he is not a convincing middle-aged man. She’s an oddly appropriate choice as the cheerful young Kenshin, but she really sounds out of place playing him in his old age.
His acting isn’t bad at all, it just sounds really weird to me. As much as the concept of recasting the character seems wrong, I wish they had tried it with the older Kenshin. Although not everything is bad– While Enishi, Nozomu Sasaki growls and smolders during a great performance.
Some Rurouni Kenshin fans will definitely love this OVA because it provides a real sense of closure that many anime series don’t offer. On the other hand, it also does a great job of rushing and glossing over Enishi’s story, a crucial part of Watsuki’s manga story. Overall, I think Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection is worth a watch even for casual Rurouni Kenshin watchers, but I wonder if it couldn’t have been a little better.