Why I love Rurouni Kenshin

Rurouni Kenshin is an anime by Nobuhiro Watsuki. It features all the elements of every other anime and manga: fighting, love, romance, and so forth. But why is Rurouni Kenshin important to me? Why did I spend money to make a website based on it? I have often faced these questions from other webmasters and friends. There are loads of anime out there, they say, that are much better. I strongly disagree with that statement. Why do you ask? Let me start out by stating the obvious and then work my way up to my perspective of it all.

Basics

Rurouni Kenshin is a very original anime. Although it features what seems to be a very common element in Japanese Animation; samurai, Nobuhiro Watsuki develops a twist in the plot that is unlike any other. As the first episode/ chapter begins, we are faced with questions about Himura Kenshin and why he has become a rurouni. Unlike many other anime, this samurai refuses to kill and he seems to be following his own ways of living. The plot itself falls into play from the beginning and keeps you entertained till the very end. This proves to be very surprising as the anime itself is not based on fantasy elements like transformations or silly non-realistic humor, but it has some truth to it and many times it relates to real Japanese historical facts and people.

Personally, I find this element itself to be a proof of Watsuki’s genius. Keeping towards reality and keeping the audience entertained at the same time is very hard and almost impossible. Although there are a few tweaks here and there, like Kenshin’s “godspeed”, the attacks can be very much realistic as can the people. As I watched/read, I learned many things about science, history, and humanity that I had never though of before. For example, as Kenshin attacks Shishio in his final battle he creates what seems to be a black hole, but Aoshi quickly refers to scientific elements such as centrifugal force and the pulls on each fighter.

Kenshin himself always seems to be a thinker as he explains his views and actions in understandable ways. An example for this would be when Saitoh, Kenshin and Sanosuke head over to destroy Shishio’s black ship. When Sanosuke states he will swim across and throw the bombs, Kenshin calmly tells him “no,” because even though the bombs don’t need to be lit, the gunpowder will still be wet. Furthermore, although RK’s plot revolves around Kenshin and features a lot of action, it also has a little bit of everything. For the girls, it has romance between series of couples; Kenshin & Kaoru, Sano & Megumi, Yahiko & Tsubame, and Misao & Aoshi (not to mention the very sentimental Tomoe). Anyways, I can’t say much about basics of the series, its pretty much given, the perspective is what really counts. That is how I perceive it all.

Perspective

So I’ve gone over the whole basics, now let me explain why Rurouni Kenshin has impacted me the way it has. Anime/Manga is very deep, it uses artwork to portray emotions and settings. For example, chibi portray extreme emotions like anger and comedy. Why is this important? Because I think Rurouni Kenshin maximizes the possibilities and uses every element that an Anime/Manga offers. The drawings are not simplistic at all, but intricate with designs based on history and the era it is taking place in. The characters themselves are drawn to scale. Even Shishio, who is burnt, is realistically drawn as he is bandaged and burnt to the core. His explanation of insulin itself is very satisfactory, even though I think it’s quite impossible to live after being burnt alive. The poses/attacks are realistic, and the costume design is very researched. The anime itself is very realistic and it always explains itself sooner or later. Furthermore, the story-line is superb.

I think that Rurouni Kenshin is very popular as it relates to humanity. It relates to human emotions and reactions very accurately. I read in an article that once a person kills, they will either go crazy or kill again. Very few times do human beings lack reactions to such drastic measures, unless under extreme circumstances. Rurouni Kenshin follows all of these elements of human nature as it shows Kenshin atoning for his sins and it accurately explains why some characters, for example, Soujirou, do not show the normal characteristics that a human being is born with. This is a very deep story line. The plot itself can be linked to human nature and can perhaps represent every human.

As Kenshin is trying to find his answer in this world, every human being is trying to find their own. I find it truly amazing how Watsuki could represent such things. You might find me weird, but it does make sense, doesn’t it? This is the ultimate reason that RK is loved by me. I love the way it represents humanity, history, and realism. I think that a cartoon that is not realistic might be more entertaining and exciting than listening to Kenshin’s explanations and thoughts, but I think that the realism in Kenshin makes it what it is. It’s relation to human characteristics makes it loved by everyone, especially me. Sure, people might think, “No its not! It’s the fighting”, but honestly can you believe that the fighting is the only thing? Every other anime has fighting, but the way Kenshin tries to avoid his fights and strives to not to kill anyone really makes the fighting more entertaining. It really would not have the same impact if Kenshin wanted to kill and fight. An example of this would be the Saitoh fight. As Kenshin returns to his inner Battousai, we find ourselves at the edge of our seats. Why? Because his inner self is Kenshin’s real battle, the one that will break his oath. If Kenshin did not mind killing and he had no qualms when he became the Battousai, it would not have the same effect as there would be no extreme consequences of breaking his oath. The way Watsuki puts this altogether makes it suspenseful and deep.

One other element I can name is that Watsuki has a reason for all his characters and plots. He uses Tomoe to show Kenshin’s past and how he changed. However, after Tomoe’s death, we never hear about her until he finally relates it to Kaoru. This is very interesting, as Watsuki uses this to introduce Enishi when we least expect it. He uses it as an element of surprise to Kenshin, his friends, and us, the audience. I personally like this because Rurouni Kenshin does not have the same sort of antagonist every other anime/manga has. It has a series of “bad guys”, but the main enemy that Kenshin faces is himself! His past and inner self consisting of the Battousai is what he is fighting towards. This is clearly explained in the last OVA’s ^_^. His multi-personality is a strange and new antagonist that many anime do not feature.

In conclusion, Rurouni Kenshin is a great anime/manga that I love. Although there are many other factors that influence me to love Kenshin, these are my main opinions and views. These are the reasons that I took my time to make a site for Kenshin, buy the DVD’s and support RK as much as I could.

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