Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
AlyoshaKora
Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal is gorgeous.
The animation, together with the atmospheric music, pull the viewer into every background, every sunset, and every detail until, ultimately, everything blends into one hypnotic work of art.
There is a graceful mastery to the storytelling and the pacing, one that is all too apparent in the flowing shots as the protagonist slashes through his enemies. Rarely do I enjoy the rendition of violence in multimedia, particularly when it is carelessly aestheticised, yet here, I not only forgive it, but indulge in it.
There’s no melodrama, no ADHD-riddled attention-grabbing, it remains grounded and purely expressive, all the while infusing every shot with beauty.
In short, it’s poetic.
Read at the sourceJastereich
Watching Rurouni Kenshin Meiji Kenkaku Romantan Tsuioku-hen feels less like watching a typical anime and more like watching a beautifully crafted historical film. What stands out is the tone. This OVA goes all in on a dark, tragic atmosphere, and personally, that’s one of the things I liked the most about it. The story doesn’t try to soften the brutality of the era or the emotional weight of Kenshin’s past. Instead, it embraces that darkness, which makes the entire experience powerful and mature than most anime.
Visually, the OVA is stunning. The animation and direction are cinematic, with detailed backgrounds and carefully composed shots that make every scene deliberate. The sword fights are memorable, not because they’re flashy, but because they are brutal and realistic. When characters…
Read at the sourcerallyntando
This 4-part OVA has excellent reviews here, and an overall good reputation online. I have never seen any Rurouni Kenshin, but I'm always willing to give something new a try. Imagine my surprise then when I actually watched this and discovered some very mediocre animation quality, and very weak storytelling. The style is also very fugly at points, with strangely drawn faces, and genuinely not-excellent atmospheric nature shots. The plot is extremely dramatic and somewhat cringe-worthy, but more importantly it's just poorly crafted and poorly-paced. Even accepting that we are seeing things through Kenshin's (an immature and socially challenged character) POV there is zero weight or meaning to almost anything that is said, and little relation between the dialogue and what actually happens in…
Read at the sourcenurBeL_xelA
I don’t really have much to say except that it makes the original show look like pussy shit in comparison to this. In fact it might be better than the entirety of the original show. Yeah, I’m not kidding. This is violent, tragic, and beautiful. I was literally in silence watching this because if I started taking notes on what I liked and didn't like, I feel like I would be ruining the experience. So I gave this OVA my undivided attention the entire way through.
Really the only issue I have is I wish I saw this first before I watched the original show. And based on the title, you kinda know what’s going to happen. But it also has something that the original show didn’t really have a lot of-subtly. And the thing is, I love the original Rurouni Kenshin. I'm just so nostalgic for it. It’s no…
Read at the sourceadrianwhy
Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuioku-hen stands as an undisputed masterpiece in the anime world, offering a spellbinding narrative that transcends the boundaries of the samurai genre. This four-episode OVA, also known as "Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal," is a stunning testament to the power of storytelling, character depth, and visual excellence, making it a must-watch for anime enthusiasts and fans of Rurouni Kenshin alike.
At the heart of Tsuioku-hen's brilliance is its masterful storytelling. The narrative unfolds with a poetic elegance, expertly tracing the origins of Kenshin Himura and the events that shaped him into the iconic and enigmatic swordsman fans know and love. The storytelling is not merely an exploration of Kenshin's past but a profound examination of the societal upheavals and person…
Read at the sourceLERAGEUXENAMARRE
I can only attribute that the work of studio deen is really not as bad as we thought and that's who proved us with this ova which became an instant classic
really I am impressed by the work behind visually it is magnificent breathtaking never seen such an irreproachable quality I want to say that I am really passionate about the edo era especially since I watched gintama which allowed me to learn more about this dense, hollow and cold period.
next, kenshin and tomoe are probably the most adorable and mysterious couple i have seen in a while. tomoe touched and impacted me enormously during my viewing I was destroyed and in deep regret for his atrocious and frustrating past after I find that these feelings which join with kenshin allowed me to deduce that this ova is really a joy but w…
Read at the sourceNoahTheLiberator
10/10 Masterpiece.
A must-watch. I haven't watched such a beautiful masterpiece in a long time and this really made it all the way to my heart. I was able to connect on a mental and emotional level with the characters in this series, and that is something that rarely happens with most animes that are out these days.
The characters are very well thought of, along with the story, given the total runtime is only around 110 minutes (excluding the end credits). The art is surprisingly great for the time of its release (1995). Character building is also fluent along with the story. Time leaps feel natural to the plot and you never feel any disconnection with the characters.
Read at the sourceitchy0o
Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan - Tsuioku-hen means a lot to me not only as an anime, but as a brilliant example of narrative structure and storytelling. While the main series and the character of Kenshin himura have become iconic, it is this origin story which really stands the test of time. With remarkable music and screenplay, deep characters believable motifs and outstanding animation, this 4 part OVA which really is a 2 hour movie is everything i could've wished for and more.
While the story and character of Kenshin lives on in countless adaptations and retellings, i strongly recommend this OVA to anyone, even without any interest in the main series. A perfect 10/10. A masterpiece
Read at the sourcetenkenkid
Sorry but I can't give it anything lower than a flawless 10 in all categories. It is simply the quintessential anime masterpiece!
I have watched these at least like a dozen times and I always end in awe. It is such a delicate work of art and storytelling, and that might sound strange as it is very gory but it is a gore with class, with tact, with taste; something that no other anime has ever matched. The art, the music, the storyline, the characters, the conflict, it all interwines in an exquisite way from beginning to end.
You can watch it as a standalone story but trust me, the impact of it all is simply a million times stronger for us that love the Rurouni Kenshin manga and/or anime
Read at the sourceekimrellik1
Samura X Trust and Betrayal is the greatest samurai anime ever made. It's a prequel to Rurouni Kenshin. It's not necessary to watch Rurouni Kenshin before or after you watch Samurai X.
Story: The story is about Himura Kenshin's past. It shows how he was raised and takes you through his early life becoming a samurai. The story takes place during the Tokugawa regime in Japan. It is historical and realistic throughout but it is not based off a true story. It takes itself very seriously and has no comedy. It also has explicit content with excessive gore. The way it blends action, romance and drama seamlessly into a 4 episode OVA is extremely impressive.
Art: The art and animation are top notch. The fact that it's an OVA allowed them to put more resources into making it. It came out in 1999,…
Read at the sourcekaeeeeee
This 4 episode prequel reveals a weighty depth in Kenshin's past that was never achieved through the long and blithe 94 episode main series. It is only in the the darkest ravine where light can shine with its brightest color and beauty. In the same way, this story about Kenshin lusters as a masterpiece because it accentuates the brilliance of romance and life in the darkness of bitterness and death.
The stability of Meiji era seen in the mellow main series of Ruroni Kenshin was founded only after a warring period of political strife and economic crisis: civilians were impoverished, bloodshed was commonplace, and assassins were abundant. Himura Kenshin, as one of the trained assassins, embarks on his journey to become a human cutting legend (Hittokiri) during the dark and bloody Bakumatsu…
Read at the sourceShinMegami13
Bringing back memories of Himura Kenshin as Hitokiri Battousai. Along with the dark side of his journey that surrounded him. Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuioku-Hen. The story was pulled back to complete piece by piece of history which exist in the main anime Rurouni Kenshin. It made seriously and very complex plot to follow. Tensions and Intensity of the mess could be felt straightly started from the first episode.
In this prequel. The story carried out seriously, involving bloodshed and cruelty at that period. Fighting scenes was made without jutsus but using pure sword skills that in my opinion supported a horrific situation in every part of its episodes. Scratches wound, Sword Puncture, incison were made not too exaggerating therefore we could imagine it in real life.
The art and designs of the…
Read at the sourceA7MD224
Pre-review:
I’m currently reading the manga and reached ch.163 (prior to the events which this OVA covers from the manga). Words can’t express how disappointed I was as I watched this. I wanted to experience Kenshin’s past in anime format w/out spoiling myself from the manga because I generally prefer anime over manga as it is more immersive and engaging. Most of my criticism will be due to the short length of this flashback. (I know it’s like 15 ch.in the manga, which is short also, so the manga isn’t excluded from this critique)
Before going any further I will SPOIL some of the chapters featured in the manga and the ENTIRETY of this OVA:
Characters and their motivation:
Every character featured in this OVA –aside from Kenshin- are bland and uninteresting. Now, let’s talk about the main…
Read at the sourceSipi
After 14 years of watching anime my this is still my definite #1 anime. Usually OVAs don't offer anything special but in this case the OVA tells an important story from the manga that wasn't in the original anime because of it's early cancellation. I have been interested about history for years now and Japanese culture and history especially have been appealing to me (big surprise). So it's no wonder that the whole rurouni kenshin series was very interesting to me. The main series happens 10 years after the bakumatsu (japanese revolution), but this OVA tells about the series main character Kenshins history when he was still a child and how he ended up being Hitokiri Battousai during bakumatsu. Now my biggest problem with the main series was Kenshins vow to never kill again. In Tsuiokuhen t…
Read at the sourceSigmazyal
Very intense and very brutal, giving us the historic context of feudal Japan, the social consequences and the interesting, dramatic stories of fictional characters. The art, the OSTs and the BGMs are outstanding, the characters are complex, conflicting and interesting, I had a good time watching and the quality of the work is very good.
The animation is very good, very brutal, emotional and expressive, the new style suited these OVAs really well, they're more intense, more serious, more dense, sad and violent, and all those elements are well used, it's not random violence for no reason, it has a special role in character development and historic approach.
Read at the sourcePlatinuMan
Arguably the most well-known element of Japanese culture and history is the samurai. Wielding a katana while maintaining allegiance to the honor code of bushido, they are known for their honor skill and skill at fighting. As such, many manga and anime have references to these swordsmen, whether it be for comedic purposes or to serve as a piece of historical fiction. With how many of these samurai stories are out there, what makes one stand out from the rest? What are the elements to make a successful samurai story? Trust and Betrayal answer those questions with ease, making for an enjoyable OVA series that aims to tell a story of romance and violence in under 2 hours.
The year is 1864 and rebellion has bubbled against the military government of the Tokugawa shogunate. In the midst of this…
Read at the sourcePentagramShogoki
The words "magnum opus" are a latinism that stands for something socially accepted as "the best of the best" or "among the greatest achievements of humanity". We all have heard something being called a "magnum opus": when we talk about architecture or tourism, everyone recognizes the Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal or the Mount Rushmore to be the best examples of beauty and perfection. Talking about music, I could say that Death is close from being the pinnacle of extreme music, or if we refer to cinema, Blade Runner being one of the most underrated but great movies of all time. So well, what Studio Deen did with Kenshin Himura's backstory in these 4 OVA's called Tsuioku-hen could not be called less than a magnum opus in anime history.
As always, I will divide this review in five different fi…
Read at the sourceOptigisa
Battle shonen has always been a genre that is mostly frowned upon by the Anime community. Many fans tend to disregard most of the shows in that particular genre as something that is both unrealistic and imitative of one another. Add in to the fact that samurai Anime in particular always miss the point when it comes to their narrative, from the unnecessary hip hop style found in Samurai Champloo, to the redundant, hit and miss comedy that is prevalent throughout Gintama’s long run – it fails to work most of the time and it’s not hard to see why it does so. That is why going into Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal is like going to the lottery and winning the grand prize. It had all of the odds stacked up against it, yet it managed to stun the majority of those who unwillingly gave it a try, mysel…
Read at the sourcenexoscore
Rurouni Kenshin: Trust and Betrayal one of the highest artistic peaks within anime. The amazing background art and sound design make this world feel real. Another reason this feels so real is the characters. The characters of this world feel grounded and there intentions make them all relatable. This is most apparent with Kenshin & his tragic past that makes his struggles feel so much potentate. The action of this OVA id near perfect with not need for animation tricks such a action lines. The fact that this can work as a stand alone work and set up this background for the Rurouni Kenshin series is perfect. While This definitely is not for every anime viewer, I would still urge anyone who is even slightly interest to try it.
Read at the sourceeogo
I believe the word that best describes Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuioku-hen is simply flawless. Tsuioku-hen grabbed me within the first minute of screen time and didn't let go until the credits rolled. Reasons why Kenshin is an assassin are not dwelt upon for excessive amounts of time, and the series primarily focuses on Kenshin's character as he develops during the time of the war. I would be remiss not to mention the uniquely gorgeous art style and the delightfully detailed animation that fits the extremely lived-in world of 19th century Japan. A hauntingly beautiful soundtrack accompanies these visuals. The sheer emotion that is felt during parts of this series is unparalleled. The pure tragedy portrayed was moving, but never felt forced. The action sequences are fast paced and exhilarating. Ea…
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