16 Rin's World/February 2015
Since 2003, I've been a huge fan of Rurouni Kenshin anime series. I've watched all of the animated movies and the OAV by ADV Films. So when I heard of a live action movie I was both excited and had a sense of dread. I've only come across a few anime live action dramas, but what I saw completely turned me off from watching anime as a live action film or drama.
However, I have since learned that only some anime live action dramas or done in a particular way, which is humorous from a Japanese standpoint, but not from mine...So I became relieved when I saw previews of Rurouni Kenshin in 2012. I was really wondering who could possibly pull off making such a wonderful iconic character like Kenshin Himura as a real-life person. It soon was announced that Takeru Satoh would be Kenshin Himura.
Now, I'm not knowledgeable about Japanese actors and actresses so I did a little research and found some pictures of him and and the other actors and really couldn't picture them in their roles. But when I got to see some screen shots of the film in progress, I was completely thrilled with what I saw. Every character pretty much matched the anime visuals that are in the manga and anime, even the villans. Now there was the problem of the acting. I wondered how good would these actors be and I got my answer when Rurouni Kenshin was released on DVD in 2013.
When it was announced in 2011 that there would be a Rurouni Kenshin movie, the buzz was every where. However, it was really kept under wraps and the reason is apparent. Rurouni Kenshin is a legendary manga and anime series known both in the Eastern and Western worlds. There would be a lot of judgement about everything, from the actors to the visual of each character. However, director Keishi Ohtomo, really outdid himself as well as the script writer and actors. Takeru Satoh brought Kenshin Himura to real life. All of his actions and mannerisms were truly reminicent of Kenshin. But not only were Takeru Satoh a real version of Kenshin Himura, but Emi Takei (Kaoru Kamiya), Munetaka Aoki (Sanosuke Sagara), Teruyuki Kagawa (Kanryu Takeda), Yu Aoi (Megumi Takani) and Yosuke Eguchi (Hajime Saito) all brought their characters to life. It is an amazing mix of fantasy and history. I really thought that each actor did a wonderful job on their part. And thanks to the director and screen writer the movie went along with the manga and anime series.
So in 2013 it was announced that two more Rurouni Kenshin movies were going to be filmed. This really brought happiness to the Rurouni Kenshin fandom, myself included. I couldn't wait to see who would play the other characters such as Aoshi Shinamori, Misao Makimachi, Seijirou Hiko, Sojirou Seta, Yumi, etc. I was also excited to see how the fight scenes would be this time around. Especially Kenshin's final move.
Both movies didn't disappoint in anyway. And they also released them in theaters only one month apart and the same for the DVD release, which is why I can now write this article. I've seen all of the movies and I must say that I'm an even bigger fan now than I was back when I first learned about Rurouni Kenshin. Now, I'm a fan of the actors as well, especially Takeru Satoh. I also will look for any other movies by Director Keishi Otomo.
character pretty much matched the anime visuals that are in the manga and anime, even the villans. Now there was the problem of the acting. I wondered how good would these actors be and I got my answer when Rurouni Kenshin was released on DVD in 2013.
When it was announced in 2011 that there would be a Rurouni Kenshin movie, the buzz was every where. However, it was really kept under wraps and the reason is apparent. Rurouni Kenshin is a legendary manga and anime series known both in the Eastern and Western worlds. There would be a lot of judgement about everything, from the actors to the visual of each character. However, director Keishi Ohtomo, really outdid himself as well as the script writer and actors. Takeru Satoh brought Kenshin Himura to real life. All of his actions and mannerisms were truly reminicent of Kenshin. But not only were Takeru Satoh a real version of Kenshin Himura, but Emi Takei (Kaoru Kamiya), Munetaka Aoki (Sanosuke Sagara), Teruyuki Kagawa (Kanryu Takeda), Yu Aoi (Megumi Takani) and Yosuke Eguchi (Hajime Saito) all brought their characters to life. It is an amazing mix of fantasy and history. I really thought that each actor did a wonderful job on their part. And thanks to the director and screen writer the movie went along with the manga and anime series.
So in 2013 it was announced that two more Rurouni Kenshin movies were going to be filmed. This really brought happiness to the Rurouni Kenshin fandom, myself included. I couldn't wait to see who would play the other characters such as Aoshi Shinamori, Misao Makimachi, Seijirou Hiko, Sojirou Seta, Yumi, etc. I was also excited to see how the fight scenes would be this time around. Especially Kenshin's final move.
Both movies didn't disappoint in anyway. And they also released them in theaters only one month apart and the same for the DVD release, which is why I can now write this article. I've seen all of the movies and I must say that I'm an even bigger fan now than I was back when I first learned about Rurouni Kenshin. Now, I'm a fan of the actors as well, especially Takeru Satoh. I also will look for any other movies by Director Keishi Otomo.
By Rin Sanada