Shigurui
Synopsis:
In the 6th year of the Kan'ei era, people enjoy a time of peace; skilled swordsmen are revered and respected, and their lives are their own. Amidst the tranquility, Lord Tokugawa Tadanaka decides, for his own amusement, to hold a fighting tournament in which real swords are used - though laws forbid their use. In a match to the death two highly-skilled swordsmen face off: the one-armed Fujiki Gennosuke, and the blind Iraki Seigen. As they take their respective stances, flashbacks paint a picture of the duo’s past and battle wounds; and thus, the real story begins...
tags:
applying filters, loading recommendationsrecommendations
Texhnolyze
- TV (22 eps)
- 2003
In an experimental city of despair and carnage, ORGAN will do anything necessary to gain power and wealth. Unfortunately for one underground boxer who was mutilated, a rogue doctor has given him what ORGAN specializes in and he despises: Texhnolyze body parts. Will these cybernetic appendages help exact his revenge upon the one who made him this way?
my anime:
2 people think you'd like this because...
add recBoth anime share the same director, Hirotsugu Hamazaki, and this is massively prevelant to their uniquely shared style:
- Strong use of editing, fast disorientating shots to deliver meaning
- Story in both requires thought and patience, in both cases it is incredibly dark and powerful, complex webs spun together in a masterful manner
- Characters are developed to a limited degree focussing primarily on the 'here and now' as opposed to lengthy background
- Art-wise both are stunning; contrasting dark melancholy shades with sudden vibrant colours, and of course plenty of blood
- Music is abstract and subtle in both, not impeding but reinforcing throughout
Although the genres of these two anime appear poles apart, rightly they are, it is the unique style of narrative delivery which can strongly attract a viewer to one and if that has happened to you, try the other.
Both of these series are completely grim, joyless affairs floodied with a dismally dark atmosphere - and each are directed by Hamasaki, who brings to them the same sort of arty stylistic flourishes. Beyond that they may have little in common - Texhnolyze is a dry mindfuck, Shigurui is an astonishingly visceral and disturbing experience - but fans of this director's style in one work are sure to appreciate the other.
Afro Samurai
- TV (5 eps)
- 2007
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?
my anime:
2 people think you'd like this because...
add recBoth Afro Samurai and Shigurui feature hella-powerful swordsmen who battle hella powerful foes. Both also feature swordsmen who have dark pasts and seek to move forward via continued battles. Both also feature unusual animation, though Shigurui is a much darker series.
Afro and Shigurui are both about Samurai obtaining revenge. Both are gritty and violent, though Shigurui is more explicit. The two animes both have animation with strong contrasts between light and shadows. Also, both don't seem to be finished yet.
Ninja Scroll
- Movie
- 1993
Jubei Kibagami is just a wandering swordsman minding his own business... until fate lands him in the middle of a battle with the terrifying Devils of Kimon! Now the fate of all of Japan lies in the hands of a vagabond samurai, a deadly female ninja and a perverted old monk as they take on an enemy who is, literally, immortal.
tags:
my anime:
1 person thinks you'd like this because...
add recBoth animes have alot of violence as well as the almost ludicrously skilled main charachter, but not so skilled that the fights are completely one-sided and short lived. There is a lot of sword play in both animes as well. They also have a fairly realistic setting in or around the Edo period. So if you like swordsmanship and violence in ancient Japan then you will surely like both of these animes.
You may like the ninja scroll tv episodes as well but I will only strongly recommend the movie since the tv show is much more cartoony(ie. monsters and half men half beasts) than Shigurui.
Angel's Egg
Alt titles: Tenshi no Tamago
- Movie
- 1985
In a dark and largely abandoned city a little girl wanders in search of something – beneath the folds of her dress she carries a mysterious giant egg. While living on the streets, she encounters a lonesome warrior who has forgotten his past and his purpose and, like the girl, travels aimlessly. Now they journey together, mistrustful of each other whilst sharing in the silence of the city. But who is the little girl? Who is the warrior? And what form of creature lies sleeping inside the egg?
tags:
my anime:
Samurai Champloo
Samurai Champloo is all about style, from the dj-style scratching scene changes to the hip-hop-inspired soundtrack to the eclectic character design. Mugen's fighting style is a funky meld of capoeira and limb-cutting, and Jin is the dramatic foil; he is all steel and old-school samurai style. What binds them together is the desire to test each other's abilities, and a promise to a girl named Fuu: to find the samurai that smells of sunflowers, who plays a pivotal role in her past. Together they travel through edo-era Japan, finding battle and comedy wherever they stop.
my anime:
1 person thinks you'd like this because...
add recAwesome sword fighting and techniques are used in both these anime. While Samurai Champloo is more light hearted and comedy filled it has episodes of seriousness that turns deadly just like Shigurui. As you can tell by the name, Shigurui: Death Frenzy is very bloody and explicit. So much so that I only recommend that adults watch it. They both take place in Fuedal Japan were sword fighting samurais were more abundant and wars were started over the mildest of insults
