Samurai X: The Motion Picture
Synopsis — from MyAnimeList
The war against the Tokugawa Shogunate ended years ago. But there are some who are not happy with the outcome. Shigure Takimi watched his friends and family get slashed down in the name of freedom and prosperity. Now he and a band of desperate rebels have sworn to settle one final score. Only one man stands in their way: Kenshin Himura. But when Shigure discovers Kenshin's true identity as the Hitokiri Battousai, his fight becomes a personal vendetta.
Audience Consensus
Audience reception is divided, with many fans appreciating it as a nostalgic continuation of the Rurouni Kenshin series and enjoying the familiar characters and themes. However, a significant portion criticizes it for being a forgettable filler episode that retreads old ground with cliché storytelling and underdeveloped new characters, despite acknowledging some production merits.
Strengths
- The story fits well within the Rurouni Kenshin universe and captures the spirit of the series.
- Features returning characters and introduces new ones that adequately fill their roles.
- Animation and art style are generally considered good for its time and comparable to the series.
- The depiction of characters making wrong choices but not being inherently bad is convincing.
Weaknesses
- The story feels like an extended filler episode and a rehash of previous arcs, lacking originality.
- The plot is often described as cliché and bland, with new characters lacking depth.
- Sound design is criticized for being synthetic and not realistic.
- Voice acting in the dub is considered terrible by some.
- Some feel the animation sacrifices realism for aesthetics, and character designs differ from the series.