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In a futuristic and wild west-inspired Japan, there are only two rules: the Number 1 rules the world and only the Number 2 can challenge him; these ranks are worn with pride in the manner of headbands. In these harsh times, Afro is a samurai who is on a mission for revenge – an evil gunman killed his father to become the Number 1, and it’s up to Afro to take him down in a shower of blood and entrails. He has mastered the art of the sword and become Number 2, but many others want to hold his title and the title of Number 1 for themselves. With competition and sword fights at every turn, can Afro finally exact his revenge?
In the wake of a rebellion that shook Japan twenty years prior, Togame Hida, general director and strategist for the army, seeks to obtain the 12 "deviant blades" created by master swordsmith Shikizaki Kiki to help add stability and security to the Bakufu government. To aid in this endeavor, she looks to enlist the help of Yasuri Mutsune, head of the Kyotou-ryu school and hero of the rebellion. But when she arrives on the island where he lives in exile, she finds him dead, succeeded by his skilled yet slightly daft son Shichika. Undeterred, the two set off from the island in search of the swords armed only with Togami's sharp strategic mind and Shichika's powerful, swordless Kyotou-ryu.
The interesting characters and animation style of Katanagatari is built upon its predecessors in the samurai genre. Fans of its action may enjoy other well animated entries.
In present-day Japan, Toshihiko Momota is member of a secret warrior faction called the Kifuuken. The Kifuuken is dedicated to destroying Shokujinji - humans that turn into man-eating monsters when hunger takes them. However, to fate's chagrin, Momota meets and quickly falls for Yuka, a Shokujinji herself! Will their love be able to overcome Yuka's insatiable appetite for human flesh, or will the couple be destroyed by the bestial tendencies of humanity?
Dark settings, unconventional worlds, ultra-violence, adult themes, interesting and psychotic characters... if you like these in an anime and enjoy an intense experience, then be sure to pick up Afro Samurai or Kemonozume. The art styles and plots may be very different, but both these shows share enough features for me to recommend one for those who like the other.
The hillsides of feudal Japan are no longer safe; men are being brutally murdered by mysterious, grotesque ninjas that don't seem to die, leaving a wake of terror in their path. In the midst of the chaos, a young girl named Rangiku wanders the land with a ninja named Manajiri, searching for the man who murdered her family and stole their most prized possession: a doll that has the ability to move on its own. With gruesome enemies to conquer and revenge at hand, Rangiku must use her skill of controlling her wooden dolls to destroy everything in their path, or die trying!
These two series are nearly two of one kind. Both feature samurai who fight mechanical beings and have a lot of dark and noir about them. The main difference between the fighting in both series is that while Puppet Princess only involves swordplay, Afro Samurai has more modern weapons and technology like swords and bazookas, but also cell phones.
Besides the fighting, the main difference between the two series is the characters. Where there is actually some humor in Puppet Princess, Afro Samurai is bitter and sadistic, rather than a bit lighthearted.
