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Rurouni Kenshin - Reminiscence
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Animation - 9.6 |
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Sound - 9.5 |
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Story - 9.6 |
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Character - 9.6 |
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Value - 9.5 |
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Enjoyment - 9.6 |
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Average - 9.6 |
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| Average |
10.0 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Es lo mejor en anime que he visto en toda mi vida y seguro lo mejor que veré en todo el animé.
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0 of 3 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
9.2 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
| Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal is a 1999 released 4 episode prequel to the popular Samurai X anime series. It is very different compared to the anime series, as its genre is more like a romantic tragedy or drama, than an action anime.
The style of graphics and animation of Trust and Betrayal is rather unique. It frequently blends real life footage with drawn animation, providing scenes with a life-like feel. The blending is carried out in a highly accurate way, so it not unusual to fail to notice or mistakenly identify those moments. I include mistakenly identify, as Trust and Betrayal does contain highly detailed foregrounds and backgrounds for its time. The animation is less impressive in Trust and Betrayal. Action scenes are rather infrequent, most of which only last a very short amount of time. Furthermore, a number of action sequences are choppy, which will damage the enjoyment of the anime for viewers expecting Trust and Betrayal to be geared more towards action. However, as a romantic drama, Trust and Betrayal is very good to watch.
Music in Trust and Betrayal is scarce, but there is a lot of dialogue. The dialogue is also where a key difference lies in the different regional versions of the anime, as the English dub of Trust and Betrayal is awful. Unlike the English dub, the original Japanese version sounds realistic and convincing. A lot of poetry is also present, which are all lost during the verbal translation to English by ADV. In addition to the infrequent background music, there are also no theme songs in Trust and Betrayal. This is not all bad however, as it fits in well with the dark and tragic mood of the storyline, in addition to enhancing the various sound effects in the anime. Overall, simply avoid the English dub to prevent disappointment.
The storyline is where Trust and Betrayal stands out, especially to fans of Samurai X. It explains a significant number of events which directly influenced the storyline of Samurai X. Even to those who have not watched Samurai X, Trust and Betrayal features a well developed story with an excellent twist halfway through, and a solid conclusive plot. Remember that Trust and Betrayal is not to be watched as a pure action anime, but instead as a drama, and it will not let you down.
A rather impressive factor with Trust and Betrayal is how it manages not to frustrate viewers with its characters, something rarely achieved in a romantic drama. The actions of most characters are believable and rational, a factor most anime of this genre forfeit in an attempt to create a dramatic atmosphere. As an OVA to the anime series, Trust and Betrayal greatly improves the character development of Samurai X. As a prequel, it sets the foundation for anyone wishing to watch Samurai X by introducing and developing a solid cast.
It is needless to say that Trust and Betrayal is a must watch for anyone who has enjoyed Samurai X. It is also excellent for viewers who wish to be introduced to the anime series. As a stand alone anime, Trust and Betrayal features impressive graphics, an intriguing storyline, and a well developed cast. As long as you watch the original japanese dub, Trust and Betrayal will be enjoyable, especially to viewers who prefer romantic dramas.
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1 of 2 people found this review helpful.
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No
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| Average |
10.0 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Rurouni Kenshin shows to the world that it is a formidable franchise. And it shows when the series spun off into a miniseries that is unlike the TV series. This one, Rurouni Kenshin - Reminiscence, feels like the Rurouni Kenshin that should have been the TV series.
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0 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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No
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| Average |
10.0 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Bloody brilliant! This has got to be the first worthwhile anime I've seen in the #1 spot on the mainstream anime sites. Some of the others are just hype, but this one's stood the test of time for a few years.
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0 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Krosta |
(2007-12-04 16:38:04) 2007-07-01 19:20:45 |
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| Average |
9.7 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| This is the first OAV I watched, certainly one of the best aswell. My review isn't too far in detail, because I haven't seen it in a while, when I rewatch it in the near future I'll be sure to re-review it.
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0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
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No
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| Average |
9.5 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
| I'll keep this short being that it is currently rated #1 of animenfo.com's top 200 anime...and I agree with this rating.
Reminiscence easily accomplishes something that not many animes come even close to. Watching it, you completely lose yourself in the story, and forget that you are watching Japanese Animation. It becomes a story that seems so close to real life it's unbelievable.
The animation is superb, the sound and music set an unforgettable tone, and the story and characters create an environment so positively abysmal that you'll WANT to become part of it over and over again.
Simply put: just a tremendous movie
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0 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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No
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| Average |
9.7 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| This is my all time favorite Anime and I promise not to use that title for any other anime ever.
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0 of 2 people found this review helpful.
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No
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| Average |
9.7 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Sexy, dark, violent and sad. That's just my way to sum up Rurouni Kenshin Tsuiokuhen. Originally, I disliked the OVA because I watched it dubbed (a huge mistake), but I watched it in Japanese and just fell in love.
This OVA is definitely a must seen for any Rurouni Kenshin fans, even die-hard manga fans like myself can appreciate it because it is lifted almost exactly from the pages of the manga's Jinchuu Arc (with a few minor deviations that are forgivable since this OVA must exist as a stand-alone story).
This OVA can be enjoyed as part of the overall saga of Rurouni Kenshin or as its own sad and beautiful love story. It has a strong enough story to be loved either way.
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0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
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No
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| Average |
10.0 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Masterpiece
This OVA does in 120 minutes what many anime's fail to do which is to make a decent samurai anime. It is a very mature title with much blood and gore thanks to Kenshin Himura who is the samurai assassin which the story follows in a political power struggle in Japan. Kenshin takes care of assassinations of currupt politicians and is confronted with the occasional ninja battle. As the story progresses one must watch this OVA to fully realize the satisfaction of watching this reenactment of the revolution in Japan. But keep in mind that this anime is about Kenshin and the dramas of love, war, betrail, and the weight of those he's killed. One must watch this anime to experience the amount of emotions it expresses especially in the end so expect some teary eyes. Conclusion - MUST HAVE - Too many good things too say about this anime
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0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
9.7 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| To get things started, I think that it is important I establish my ignorance towards anime. I don’t watch much of it, nor do I plan to, but I found “Rurouni Kenshin: Reminiscence” in my old pile of memories and decided to watch. What overcame me in the following hours was an experience of fulfillment and chilling inspiration unlike anything any film (animated or not) has ever provided.
From the opening prologue to the concluding crescendo there is little doubt in the audience’s mind that Watsuki Nobuhiro and Furuhashi Kazuhiro have created a memorable work of heart-wrench. Darkness runs freely - an epitome of sadness and an antithesis of humanity that is always satisfying.
This darkness serves as an anchor to several subtle anecdotes, each building up ever so gradually until everything is amplified to contribute to one of the most off-kilter endings to a film I’ve ever seen. You’ve got the love story, which is slightly clichéd and predictable, but the characters redeem the obvious flaws and help direct your focus on what matters. You’ve got the classic internal battle, several key members discovering who they are while the world around them collapses and all signs lead to further questioning of individual decision. Finally, you’ve got the villains, sitting in the backdrop and just waiting to pounce on our hero.
That hero is Himura Kenshin, once Shinta, who was raised by master swordsman Hiko Seijūrō. The two are separated, the break-up fueled by Kenshin’s desire to save the people and create a balance in Japan, and the consequences are dire. This is the story of how Kenshin becomes the Manslayer, and the famous cross shaped scar he paid for his actions.
One of the many reasons I stray away from animated features is that much of the time animations look dull and uninspired. This is not the case here, with nearly every single movement and capture penned flawlessly. There are a few segments throughout that look sloppy, and many real-life snippets are blatantly pasted in, but overall the general look of this marathon is grand.
The sound is very congruent, although many of the musical themes composed by Taku Iwasaki are impudently similar. At times the repetitive theme becomes too much, as nearly all variations of composition don’t stray far enough to stand on their own. Still, when needed the soundtrack always comes through and helps give way to some of the best sequences all film long.
Our characters are some of the most memorable and most relating beings laid to script in recent memory. Just like the great American pictures, “The Godfather”, “Taxi Driver”, “Star Wars”; each and every character is performed with vintage grace which helps contribute depth to a widened scope. Yukishiro Tomoe is mysterious and predictable, an oxymoron that could not be more accurate. You start off wondering what is going on in her mind, but as things unravel, you know her better than you know Kenshin. Equally as impressive are a slew of supporting characters that while not as important in the long run, are invaluable.
“Rurouni Kenshin: Reminiscence” isn’t something you need a knowledge of anime for to enjoy, but I’d probably guess that having some sort of knowledge of anime would change your perspective. Vocal performances shine, animation dazzles, the story enters a realm of perfection, and the characters mesmerize – everything comes to together. More important is the ingenious use of metaphor, the pristine use of flashback, and the direction everything goes in that is ultimately breathtaking. I highly recommend this one, not as an anime, not as an OVA, but as a standalone two hour journey that is sure to capture your heart and own your soul.
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1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
8.0 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Story |
7 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
8 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
| For the longest time I've avoided Reminiscence. Despite how much I've heard heralding it as better than winning the lottery three times in a row, for some reason I hadn't any desire to see it for myself. Aside from seeing a few scattered episodes of Kenshin dubbed many years back, I figured this OVA must be over-hyped by the fanboys, as I never really considered Kenshin all that great. Something clicked after I watched Haibane Renmei, though, and for some odd reason it inspired me to finally check this out. This decision, much to my fortune, is not something I regret. While not the best series I've ever seen, it's probably the best OVA by a large margin, and definitely deserves a substantial amount of praise.
For its time, the animation for Reminiscence is outstanding. Character designs are particularly well done, as emotional expressions (or lack thereof) are given a strong emphasis. Though Kenshin's emotional evolution throughout the OVA is somewhat minimal, all of the subtleties are captured in his expressions. Backgrounds help accentuate this and add to the overall dark and foreboding mood of the OVA. The animation quality is fairly consistent to boot, though there are times when it could have been improved.
Not much to say about the sound score other than it's above average. For the most part the music fits, but there were a few times where it felt out of place. The majority of the flute pieces are done quite well, however, and did a particularly good job at providing emotion to the scenes over which they were played. Top notch Seiyuu to boot, though Kenshin's voice seemed slightly too young at times. Regardless, the emotions of the characters were all captured with finesse, so I have little to complain about. Probably the worst aspect of Remiscence, and considering its above-average quality, I've little to complain about.
For a four episode OVA, the story is fleshed out surprisingly well. The violence, bloodshed, and chaos of the era are all presented realistically and aren't glossed over in any fashion. From the getgo you're introduced to a horrific and traumatizing massacre where Kenshin is left as the sole survivor, and immediately you feel for him. His life as a heartless assassin becomes believable, as from a very young age murder and death are the only parts of the world he knows. When love interferes with his world and breaks his mindset, Kenshin's life slowly begins to change, and the OVA traces these changes in an interesting and emotional fashion. You're pulled into the story within the first thirty seconds and it doesn't let you go until the very end.
The characters are certainly the highlight of the OVA, however. The amount of character depth many anime series spend twenty-six episodes to achieve is done here in one. Considering that there's four episodes worth of such growth, it's easy to see what makes Reminiscence so enticing. The relationship between Kenshin and Tomoe is both touching and tragic, as it blurs the lines of love and hate together surprisingly well with no tinge of artificiality. Tomoe especially carries an incredible amount of depth, and I couldn't help but feel for her from start to finish. It's hard to really say too much without spoiling, as there are so many twists and turns in the characters throughout the OVA it's impossible to pick out details.
Overall, Reminiscence definitely deserves a lot of the hype given to it. For a four episode OVA it's stunning, boasting an enticing story and depth-driven characters. You don't need any background with Kenshin to enjoy it (I didn't), so its a great standalone. While I wouldn't call it a classic, it's definitely in the top 10% of all anime and shouldn't be missed.
Highly recommended.
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0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
9.8 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| It is the OVA to beat. As shown by its position in the Top 200. It is the OVA of the well known anime: Rurouni Kenhsin, it serves as a prologue to the main character's life. This is the tale of a boy who lives his early life as an assassin during the Meiji Revolution. He Is known originally as Shinta until he is saved by his master Hiko Seijuro, who dubs him Kenshin. It shows the boys transformation to a small, happy boy, to a ruthless killer. The Anime is undoubtedly, one of, if not my favorite anime.
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0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
10.0 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal has got to be among the best movies released for an anime series. After watching the whole Rurouni Kenshin TV series, this was an excellent follow up, and view into Kenshin's past. How he got the scar and such an emotional burden that he carries on until he dies. Trust and Betrayal are 2 of the movies in a series of 4 (which where also released in episode forms, such as: Trust ep1 and ep2, Betrayal ep1 and ep2. However together they make 2 movies.) Movie 3: Rurouni Kenshin the animated film wasnt as good as Trust and Betrayal in nearly all aspects, but was followed by Reflections (movie 4) which was absolutly excellent as well. I gave this a straight 10 because I loved everything about these movies. The story, visuals and violence, sound effects, music (however the music can be debated, but it would be a shame to ruin such a good art work by saying that the music was bad. It really wasnt bad at all.. just not outstanding.)
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0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
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Seven |
(2007-05-19 22:21:02) 2006-12-10 12:28:49 |
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| Average |
7.7 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
5 |
| Character |
6 |
| Value |
7 |
| Enjoyment |
8 |
| Rurouni Kenshin Reminiscence deixa de lado as situações irreais e cômicas da série e aprofunda-se em um enredo realista e fraco.
-Animação-
Qualidade excelente, cenários e personagens muito bem construidos e uma arte final original e um tanto diferente. A representação do ambiente é fiel a época, e o clima sombrio acrescenta uma certa dramaticidade as cenas. Os momentos de ação são estilizados destacando-se pela plasticidade ao invés dos confrontos em si.
-Som-
Com poderosas sonâncias musicais, o som é grandioso, cinematográfico e épico, adicionando de forma imensurável um clima de suspense e tragédia ao anime.
-Enredo-
Retrata o ano de 1860, conhecido como Bakamatsu, onde um "assassino" - O ocidente tem o péssimo hábito da censura, como se anime fosse algo só de crianças, e concederam inexplicavelmente o título de "Samurai" a Kenshin - procura através de sangue a paz. O enredo encarrega-se apenas em ser um prólogo a série de TV, deixando de lado uma preocupação que anda saindo de moda: a de contar direito uma história.
A trama aplica um conceito realista, com um clima pesado e violento, expondo dilemas como paixão, honra, traição e morte em meio a uma história manjada e previsível.
Por fim, qualidade técnica grandiosa, enredo pífio e personagens pouco marcantes, Reminiscence sofre da síndrome dos "Fan Boys" e as vezes do antígeno "Maria vai com as outras".
Assim, faço das palavras de "Marcelo Reis" as minhas: " A maioria das pessoas que votam por lá (Animenfo) têm a irritante tendência em dar notas máximas a todos os aspectos de todos os animes, o que acaba mascarando o valor real das obras analisadas".
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0 of 5 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
9.3 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| This is very high quality anime. It is done beautifully and has a wonderful story. It is the kind of show that really grips you emotionally. It is one of the greatest anime ever.
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0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
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peachberry |
(2007-05-20 19:10:47) 2006-11-10 01:21:28 |
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| Average |
9.8 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Heart-rending, gut-wrenching, and oh-so-worthy of 1st place on the top animes list.
Excellent story despite a couple of rather-obvious loopholes. The pace is unhurried, and nothing is wasted - every scene had its meaning. The inevitability of Tomoe's betrayal, though completely predictable, had more of an effect than the most ironic plot twists.
Kenshin and Tomoe were both noble characters; and most animes had such characters. But none were as believable and sophisticated the ones in Reminiscence. Katsuraga-san's insight into Kenshin's internal struggle is far beyond the realm of anime. My hat's off to Watsuki Nobuhiro for accomplishing this in such a short time.
The animation is top notch - stunning detail and fluid motion. One could watch Reminiscence just for the swordplay.
A catchy soundtrack which I have only one criticism: too much synthetic/electronic instrumentation doesn't match the elegance and emotion which I felt Reminiscence portrayed.
It's been a while since I've seen Reminiscence. I've tried but I haven't been able watch the Kenshin TV series or the other OVA - they simply pale in comparison to Reminiscence.
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0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
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cain |
(2006-10-09 07:33:11) 2006-10-09 07:32:13 |
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| Average |
10.0 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Watching this OVA made me see the true reason why Rurouni Kenshin is seen as such a masterpiece - because it lives up to a viewer's highest expectations.
Straight from the beginning of the OVA, the storyline is established as something concise, not over-elaborate but still very emotional. The succinctness of the introduction leaves a stunning impression of the OVA from the first instant.
All the characters in this OVA are realistic people, all interesting and all diverse. Mysteriously, I was able to empathize with every single character, no matter how minor and regardless of whether they were good or bad guys. Everyone had a motive, everyone had a reason to be in the show. The OVA wastes no time in unfolding a masterpiece with a set of compelling and powerful characters that are emotional and poignant. Watching all those characters, you realize that you can relate all of them to the real world's values (don't jump to conclusions about a person's nature, for example). I thought that the characters were also designed very well and were drawn very consistently (also consistently with history, with regards to the Shinsengumi). I found that watching TV turned into watching something far more meaningful - values. This OVA impressed me thoroughly in the character department - with quick and concise character development that is (astoundingly) not at all lacking in quality and realism.
With Kenshin and the other characters that wield katanas, there obviously comes in the important animation aspect of the OVA. For something from 1999, I thought the animation was very impressive. The good graphics were able to accentuate the somber mood of the dark surroundings and also make the viewer comprehend a character even when they're not speaking, like you can tell what they're thinking just from looking at their finely drawn and detailed expressions!
The beautiful music in the OVA was emotive and memorable. There were no OP or ED songs, yet the in-anime tracks (though few in number) were compelling and very strong. The songs related strongly to an ancient Japanese setting (very appropriate) and were mostly sad songs that effectively built up all the tension throughout the way. Music played an important part in my enjoyment of this OVA, and the excellent voice acting paved the way to an even more shockingly realistic experience.
There is no question to this OVA's value. It is definitely a collector's item, worth admiring as it sits on your shelf. I'll not forget the action-packed and historical-filled drama that unfolded in Rurouni Kenshin - Reminiscence.
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0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
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|
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| Average |
10.0 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| One of the best OVA's of all time. Everything was beautifully planned and executed, and that made it not only interesting to watch but also captivating. More appreciation to this anime was due to the fact that I watched the TV series first and was intrigued at Kenshin's past. There were a lot of violence and bloodshed (much like Japanese history) but instead of turning things off, it just added to the realism and impact of the show. Overall, the show was a masterpiece, providing much power and impact to the viewers which captivates them.
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0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
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|
|
| Average |
9.2 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
| Ruruouni Kenshin Reminiscence is the #1 series here on animenfo, and if I recall correctly, it's been there for a long time now. I always wondered if it deserves the #1 spot, and so after watching, I can conclude that it's just right for this OVA to be at its position. For me, the other series in the top 5 like Elfen Lied, Kimi ga nozomu eien, and Full metal alchemist, fade away in comparison to Reminiscence. It seems that it really lived up to it reputation, but it's not something which I'll give a perfect score of 10.
The story is a prequel to the series, back when kenshin was still a teenager. It shows Kenshin's past, how his master taught him to be a great swordsman, how he got the X mark on his cheek and how one girl changed his life.
More of my review, please read (^_^)
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0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
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|
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| Average |
10.0 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| This Anime is sooo awesome I fell in love the first time I saw it! The music sexy, story (loved the tv series up to Meji era) so uber-awesome, and the characters were so well drawn that I have rewatched this Anime about 20 times. plus the women all love Kenshin so that makes it even better (allll rrright) If you do not love any of the OVA's then you are, well... (put it nicely), mentally challenged!
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0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
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