Synopsis
1600 AD at the Battle of the Sekigahara in the Mino Province, the name of the slayer of a thousand men, Demon Eyes Kyo, became a legend. On that day, the 21st of October, the match against his greatest opponent, Mibu Kyoshiro, ended unexpectedly as a meteorite landed straightway between the two fighters changing the face of history. Four years later, Mibu Kyoshiro, who survived and now earns his living as a pharmacist, learns of a terrible fate. Demon Eyes Kyo is alive inside of him.
Review
Samurai Deeper Kyo can be classified as historical fiction. Sekigahara no Tatakai was a decisive battle in the rise of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who lead the eastern warriors, to the shogunate. More than 100,000 men were committed to the battle. The second aspect involves Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582), the nemesis of the anime series who the Mibu Clan is trying to resurrect. He was the prime mover of Japan’s 16th century reunification after a hundred years of strife, subjecting Japan to one governing authority, himself. He was known as a brutal warlord for dealing ruthlessly with those that opposed him. He died in June 1582 when his general Akechi attacked taking Nobunaga by surprise at the Buddhist temple of Honnoji. Another historic figure is Sanada Yukimura (1567-1615), initially allied with Ieyasu’s forces switched sides to the western army during the Sekigahara while his brother Masayuki remained loyal to Ieyasu.
Because of Kyo’s existence in the first place and the destructive landing of the meteorite, history has changed from its predestined course. Major historical leaders are killed off before their time, and Yukimura takes the opportunity to secure more power for the Sanada clan. Migeira, the one with the megaman gun on his right arm, has seen a vision of the true future, and is attempting to return everything to their correct history by collecting all five mythical Muramasa weapons.
The Breakdown
Not groundbreaking as Kenshin was, but an enjoyable anime series nevertheless.
» The Pros
Samurai Deeper Kyo is blessed with an abundance of characters. The good guys range from the arrogant Kyo, Yuya with her revolver, the scheming Yukimura, Migeira a seeker of justice, Benitora who would like to be called Yuya’s lover, Sakuya the Miko, the loyal Saizou, to the youthful Sasuke and faithful Mahiro. Enemies are close to double if not more, the Juunishinshou and the Mibu clan each composing of their elite army of warriors. Not only that, you see good guys turn bad and bad ones become good. My favorites are the two Mibu girls, Saisei and Saishi and how they taunt Benitora and Migeira. Never a dull moment.
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» The Cons
The story can get confusing at some times, a little fast pace. Scenes quickly change between different settings even different times through flashbacks.
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» Animation
9.0 |
Nice colorful animation characteristic of modern anime. What I didn’t like was the excessive recycling of frames given to Kyo’s Mumyou Jinpuu Ryuu Satsujin Ken (Dark Wind of God Murdering Sword Technique) as if it was his only special move to finish off every enemy he encountered in the series. That’s where the line You heard it too, didn’t you? The voice of the wind! refers to. |
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» Sound
9.0 |
Opening Ao no Requiem - Blue Requiem is upbeat but for some reason reminded me of the series Hikaru no Go. For the tense action scenes there is a throbbing rock almost punkish beat. The ending Love Deeper has cool guitar strings, although the lyrics are a bit silly: Hey, you’re doing pretty good, Intruders are also please welcome, and If this love were the battlefield, I love it to you baby! Baby, baby, baby, baby! Horie Yui is one of my favorite female voice actresses who stars as Shiina Yuya but most renown for her role as Narusegawa Naru from Love Hina (Shiina’s personality does resemble Naru-chan, even complains like her). |
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» Story
8.0 |
Samurai Deeper Kyo has been compared wrongly to Rurouni Kenshin. The first few episodes start of fresh and are nearly as hilarious as Kenshin. But as it settles down, it becomes serious with only Benitora with that squeaky voice of his providing comic relief. Kyo fully envelops the Kyoshiro from episode 1 and you never see him in that form again. Even when Kyoshiro returns briefly in the last episodes he has cast aside his playful nature for a solemnity. True the title is not Samurai Kyoshiro but rather Samurai Deeper Kyo. Samurai Deeper Kyo had potential but lacks to fulfill that promise. The final rounds of the tournament involving Kyo, Yukimura, and Migeira were never finished to achieve a victor. Kyo’s apprentice Akira, a master of ice, never had that match with Kyo. It basically comes down to killing ken-you (sword demons) every episode more along the lines of Inuyasha and youkai killing. The ending has you guessing whether it was Kyo or Kyoshiro who survived. |
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» Recommend
8.0 |
Kenshin owns in sword fighting but Samurai Deeper Kyo does have beautiful animation, a full cast of characters, and music to complement the mood. Spans 26 episodes in length. |
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» Other Information
Language: English dub or Japanese with English subtitles
Extras: Trailers, collector’s box
Package: The famous Demon Eyes Kyo in the body of Kyoshiro. Not to be mistaken for the series animation. |
Friday, September 3, 2010
