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Rurouni Kenshin

Original title: Rurôni Kenshin - Meiji kenkaku romantan
  • TV Series
  • 1996–1998
  • TV-14
  • 24m
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
20K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,195
290
Rurouni Kenshin (1996)
Home Video Trailer from Media Blasters
Play trailer1:40
6 Videos
99+ Photos
AnimationActionAdventure

The adventures of a young wandering swordsman who stumbles upon a struggling martial arts school in Meiji era Japan.The adventures of a young wandering swordsman who stumbles upon a struggling martial arts school in Meiji era Japan.The adventures of a young wandering swordsman who stumbles upon a struggling martial arts school in Meiji era Japan.

  • Stars
    • Mayo Suzukaze
    • Dorothy Elias-Fahn
    • Richard Cansino
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    8.5/10
    20K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,195
    290
    • Stars
      • Mayo Suzukaze
      • Dorothy Elias-Fahn
      • Richard Cansino
    • 66User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Episodes95

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos6

    Rurouni Kenshin: Wandering Samurai
    Trailer 1:40
    Watch Rurouni Kenshin: Wandering Samurai
    Rurouni Kenshin: Legend of Kyoto
    Trailer 1:31
    Watch Rurouni Kenshin: Legend of Kyoto
    Rurouni Kenshin: Tales of Meiji Boxset
    Trailer 2:29
    Watch Rurouni Kenshin: Tales of Meiji Boxset
    Rurouni Kenshin: A Shinobi's Love /87-90
    Trailer 0:57
    Watch Rurouni Kenshin: A Shinobi's Love /87-90
    Rurouni Kenshin: Wandering Samurai Premium Box Set
    Trailer 2:29
    Watch Rurouni Kenshin: Wandering Samurai Premium Box Set
    Rurouni Kenshin: End Song
    Trailer 2:26
    Watch Rurouni Kenshin: End Song

    Photos212

    Rurouni Kenshin (1996)
    Rurouni Kenshin (1996)
    Rurouni Kenshin (1996)
    Rurouni Kenshin (1996)
    Rurouni Kenshin (1996)
    Rurouni Kenshin (1996)
    Rurouni Kenshin (1996)
    Rurouni Kenshin (1996)
    Rurouni Kenshin (1996)
    Rurouni Kenshin (1996)
    Rurouni Kenshin (1996)
    Rurouni Kenshin (1996)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Mayo Suzukaze
    Mayo Suzukaze
    • Himura Kenshin…
    Dorothy Elias-Fahn
    Dorothy Elias-Fahn
    • Kaoru…
    Richard Cansino
    Richard Cansino
    • Himura Kenshin…
    Rebecca Forstadt
    Rebecca Forstadt
    • Kori Kamiya (Sony Samurai X dub)
    Fuminori Morisada
    • Gonzou…
    Mîna Tominaga
    Mîna Tominaga
    • Yahiko Myôjin
    Lex Lang
    Lex Lang
    • Sanosuke Sagara
    Derek Stephen Prince
    Derek Stephen Prince
    • Sanosuke Sagara (Sony Samurai X dub)
    Brianne Brozey
    Brianne Brozey
    • Yoshi (Sony Samurai X dub)…
    Yûji Ueda
    Yûji Ueda
    • Sanosuke Sagara
    Dean Wein
    Dean Wein
    • Shikijo (2000)
    Dina Sherman
    • Ayame
    Dan Lorge
    Dan Lorge
    • Gonzo…
    Mika Doi
    Mika Doi
    • Megumi Takani
    Richard Epcar
    Richard Epcar
    • Seijuro Hiko…
    Wendee Lee
    Wendee Lee
    • Yumi Komagata…
    Miki Fujitani
    Miki Fujitani
    • Kaoru Kamiya
    Norihisa Mori
    • Police Man…
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Rurouni Kenshin: Trust and Betrayal
    8.6
    Rurouni Kenshin: Trust and Betrayal
    Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection
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    Rurouni Kenshin: Requiem for the Ishin Patriots
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    Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins
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    Rurouni Kenshin: New Kyoto Arc
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    7.5
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    Rurouni Kenshin: Final Chapter Part I - The Final
    7.2
    Rurouni Kenshin: Final Chapter Part I - The Final
    Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends
    7.5
    Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends
    Rurouni Kenshin: Final Chapter Part II - The Beginning
    7.4
    Rurouni Kenshin: Final Chapter Part II - The Beginning

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      One of the main characters, Hajime Saitoh, was a real person. Saitoh was a swordsman for the Shinsen Gumi throughout the last days of the Bakufu (Shogunate) government and the fighting leading up to the Meiji Restoration. After the defeat of the Shogunate, he did obtain a job in a provincial police organization, where he spent his days before this death near the end of the century.
    • Quotes

      Hajime Saito: I'll kill you now.

      Kenshin Himura: "I'll kill you now"? That's my line.

    • Crazy credits
      The USA Region 1 Media Blasters DVDs have overlays over the Japanese credits.
    • Alternate versions
      There is a alternate English dub version called "Samurai X" which aired in various Asian countries.
    • Connections
      Edited into Rurouni Kenshin: Volume 6: The Flames of Revolution - Outtakes (2000)
    • Soundtracks
      Freckles
      (Opening theme)

      Original lyrics by Yuki Isoya

      Original composition by Kaito Onta

      Original Japanese version Performed by Judy and Mary

      English Version Performed by Sandy Fox

    User reviews66

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Samurai Action at it's Best
    If you're looking for a great samurai story it doesn't get much better that Ruroni Kenshin.

    Kenshin is just about the best samurai to ever pick up a blade, but now that Japan has settled into the peaceful Meiji period guys like him are no long needed. In fact, ex-samurai are scorned by the public in general. So Kenshin sets out to try and find a normal life for himself. In time Kenshin finds a home and friends in a Tokyo dojo but ghosts from his past keep popping up as do people out to destroy the new government. Kenshin, who has vowed never to kill again, isn't about to let anyone disrupt the new life he's built for himself. So such times come he reluctantly heads out to knock some heads.

    I really just can't get over how great this show is. Richly draw characters, great action, compelling stories, romance, humor and more all set against a very real felling backdrop of late 1870's Japan. RK works not only as a good anime, but historical show as well.

    One other thing I like about the show is the villains. RK's creator (whose name escapes me at the moment) is an admitted fan of American comics and you can see that in some of the villains. Psycho killer Jin-E bears an (pardon the expression) uncanny resemblence to Gambit from the X-Men. I've also seem elements of characters like Spawn, Wolverine, Omega Red, the Absorbing Man, the Incredible Hulk and Daredevil in some bad guys. Really cool.

    In short, Kenshin is a show that belongs on the shelf of anyone who calls themself an anime fan.
    helpful•11
    2
    • Skyrcket
    • Mar 31, 2001

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    FAQ2

    • Is Rurouni Kenshin is based on a manga series?
    • Is there a light novel?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 17, 2003 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Rurouni Kenshin: Wandering Samurai
    • Production companies
      • Aniplex
      • SME Visual Works
      • Shueisha
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      24 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo

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