Finished the first OVA
I would have written this last night right after i finished it, but chelsee was already in bed, and I was actually tired, too. I did write down some notes and whatnot.
bottom line: it is an epic OVA. If i were to ever find it to purchase, i just may do so. it is that good. the animation is fantastic, and the sword fights aren't too over the top, as some tend to be in anime. it is very realistic, especially because there was a lack of the repeated action sequences; you know the ones with the colorful backgrounds and whatnot. This OVA was truly a work of art in every sense.
As i was watching part III, I started to notice a change in Kenshin's character. Tomoe shows him how simplistic life can be, when he's not an assassin. His whole body language changes because of that. his eyes begin to sparkle, he starts to smile more, and his voice seems very relaxed and actually full of feeling. I liked that a lot. At this point I think he was around sixteen or so, so Tomoe really helped him grow.
Tomoe... What a very interesting character. in the beginning, we are shown one of Kenshin's epic assassinations, where he kills a man who just became engaged to his childhood sweetheart. During that fight, Kenshin's left cheek is sliced open very delicately, making a diagonal cut from his cheekbone to his chin. A year or so later, he brings home Tomoe and all that occurs. She knows that he is the hitokiri who killed her betrothed, but he does not. However, she doesn't hate him; in fact, she falls in love with him, and he with her. He "destroyed her old happiness, and showed her a new happiness." A beautiful sequence follows, one that hints at them having sex, but it is done very tastefully, and is in no way, shape, or form vulgar. No nudity, just hints of, which is fine with me. (I'm 20 years old, for Pete's sake!)
anyway, a traitor is in Katsura's group and they need to find out who it is. the person is revealed to the audience--his name escapes me--and he tricks Kenshin into going after Tomoe, who was indeed conspiring against him, despite the fact that they fell in love with each other. Kenshin, at the traitor's request, reads a portion of her diary, and finds out who Tomoe is, and who her betrothed was. He is so sad, too; en route to the mountain where Tomoe is, he fights off several ninja-looking dudes, and becomes very wounded. BLOOD.
meanwhile Tomoe finds out that she in turn was being used by the traitor and his accomplices, and is very distraught about it. She wonders why and how she fell in love with Kenshin in the first place, and sees an image of her betrothed. Outside, in the snow, Kenshin and Accomplice Dude for Traitor are fighting--well, it's more of a one-sided fight because Kenshin is losing spectacularly. Just when the final blow, the final strike for the both of them--they are charging at each other with katanas drawn--Tomoe appears out of freakin nowhere between the two of them, brandishing a dagger into Accomplices' chest. However, Kenshin also struck--he struck Tomoe, unable to halt his movements. He kills her. i was very shocked; I knew she was going to die, but.... not that way. very sad. Kenshin holds her in his lap as she dies, and with her dying breaths, she completes his trademark cross-shaped scar with her blade. Story-wise, it is brilliant, Tomoe completing the famous scar that her husband-to-be started, and adds so much more depth to both of their characters. Kenshin obviously bears that scar for the rest of his life as a constant reminder of what endless and merciless killing can do. it is because of Tomoe's death that he makes his vow to never kill again, once the Meiji Restoration is complete.
Also, Shishio Makoto is mentioned and gets a cameo, as he fills in Kenshin's place for Katsuro. Katsuro has a different role he wants Kenshin to fulfill
I wouldn't mind seeing Kenshin's prowess during the actual Restoration. I bet he was a fearsome beast. i mean, he is known during and afterward as Hitokiri Battousai. Also, I would like to see an AMV of this OVA (LETTERS!!11!!one!) to the song 'Raining Blood' by Slayer. the imagery of raining blood was a recurring theme throughout the movie, and it came up n my iPod's shuffle mode a little bit after i finished it. IRONY!!
bottom line: it is an epic OVA. If i were to ever find it to purchase, i just may do so. it is that good. the animation is fantastic, and the sword fights aren't too over the top, as some tend to be in anime. it is very realistic, especially because there was a lack of the repeated action sequences; you know the ones with the colorful backgrounds and whatnot. This OVA was truly a work of art in every sense.
As i was watching part III, I started to notice a change in Kenshin's character. Tomoe shows him how simplistic life can be, when he's not an assassin. His whole body language changes because of that. his eyes begin to sparkle, he starts to smile more, and his voice seems very relaxed and actually full of feeling. I liked that a lot. At this point I think he was around sixteen or so, so Tomoe really helped him grow.
Tomoe... What a very interesting character. in the beginning, we are shown one of Kenshin's epic assassinations, where he kills a man who just became engaged to his childhood sweetheart. During that fight, Kenshin's left cheek is sliced open very delicately, making a diagonal cut from his cheekbone to his chin. A year or so later, he brings home Tomoe and all that occurs. She knows that he is the hitokiri who killed her betrothed, but he does not. However, she doesn't hate him; in fact, she falls in love with him, and he with her. He "destroyed her old happiness, and showed her a new happiness." A beautiful sequence follows, one that hints at them having sex, but it is done very tastefully, and is in no way, shape, or form vulgar. No nudity, just hints of, which is fine with me. (I'm 20 years old, for Pete's sake!)
anyway, a traitor is in Katsura's group and they need to find out who it is. the person is revealed to the audience--his name escapes me--and he tricks Kenshin into going after Tomoe, who was indeed conspiring against him, despite the fact that they fell in love with each other. Kenshin, at the traitor's request, reads a portion of her diary, and finds out who Tomoe is, and who her betrothed was. He is so sad, too; en route to the mountain where Tomoe is, he fights off several ninja-looking dudes, and becomes very wounded. BLOOD.
meanwhile Tomoe finds out that she in turn was being used by the traitor and his accomplices, and is very distraught about it. She wonders why and how she fell in love with Kenshin in the first place, and sees an image of her betrothed. Outside, in the snow, Kenshin and Accomplice Dude for Traitor are fighting--well, it's more of a one-sided fight because Kenshin is losing spectacularly. Just when the final blow, the final strike for the both of them--they are charging at each other with katanas drawn--Tomoe appears out of freakin nowhere between the two of them, brandishing a dagger into Accomplices' chest. However, Kenshin also struck--he struck Tomoe, unable to halt his movements. He kills her. i was very shocked; I knew she was going to die, but.... not that way. very sad. Kenshin holds her in his lap as she dies, and with her dying breaths, she completes his trademark cross-shaped scar with her blade. Story-wise, it is brilliant, Tomoe completing the famous scar that her husband-to-be started, and adds so much more depth to both of their characters. Kenshin obviously bears that scar for the rest of his life as a constant reminder of what endless and merciless killing can do. it is because of Tomoe's death that he makes his vow to never kill again, once the Meiji Restoration is complete.
Also, Shishio Makoto is mentioned and gets a cameo, as he fills in Kenshin's place for Katsuro. Katsuro has a different role he wants Kenshin to fulfill
I wouldn't mind seeing Kenshin's prowess during the actual Restoration. I bet he was a fearsome beast. i mean, he is known during and afterward as Hitokiri Battousai. Also, I would like to see an AMV of this OVA (LETTERS!!11!!one!) to the song 'Raining Blood' by Slayer. the imagery of raining blood was a recurring theme throughout the movie, and it came up n my iPod's shuffle mode a little bit after i finished it. IRONY!!