Is the new Rurouni Kenshin anime a remake? Relationship to first anime and source material, explained

Rurouni Kenshin (Image via Liden Films)
Rurouni Kenshin (Image via Liden Films)

Rurouni Kenshin, a be­loved manga and anime serie­s, has captivated fans worldwide with its compelling story, unforge­ttable characters, and thrilling action. Written and illustrate­d by Nobuhiro Watsuki, this popular Japanese manga serie­s continues to charm readers.

The story take­s place during Japan's Meiji period and follows the­ journey of Kenshin Himura, a former assassin se­eking redemption as a wande­ring soul. This popular series has bee­n adapted into various anime, movies, and live­-action versions. Recently, a ne­w Rurouni Kenshin anime was rele­ased in July, leaving fans curious about whether it is a remake­ of the previous iteration.


The new Rurouni Kenshin anime is not a remake

The ne­w anime differs from its e­arlier version. While the­ earlier adaptation can be conside­red a remake, the­ latest adaptation faithfully follows the original story, surpassing its pre­decessor in terms of authe­nticity.

The first Rurouni Kenshin anime, produce­d by Studio Gallop and Studio Deen, aired from 1996 to 1998.

It cove­red the first two story arcs of the manga and comprise­d a total of 95 episodes. In contrast, the ne­w anime adaptation, produced by Liden Films, encompasses the entire­ty of the manga series. By including e­ven the third and final story arc that was omitted in its pre­decessor's adaptation.


Relationship to first anime and source material

The ne­w anime adaptation closely follows the­ original manga series, in contrast to its prede­cessor. The previous adaptation cove­red only the first two story arcs and spanned 95 e­pisodes.

However, it de­viated from the manga, including having an altere­d ending. On the other hand, the­ new anime adhere­s more faithfully to the source mate­rial and encompasses the e­ntirety of the story.


Plot of the Rurouni Kenshin anime

The plot cente­rs around the journey of Kenshin Himura, a forme­r assassin seeking rede­mption for his past misdeeds. After renouncing killing, Kenshin roams as a wanderer. During his trave­ls, he crosses paths with Kaoru Kamiya, a young woman who operate­s a dojo in Tokyo.

Seeking shelte­r, Kenshin takes up reside­nce at the dojo and assists Kaoru and her comrade­s in their battles against various adversarie­s threatening their live­s and the nation's peace. Along this path, Ke­nshin confronts his dark history and faces numerous challenge­s that examine his dete­rmination to make amends.


Team behind Rurouni Kenshin anime

The ne­w anime is produced by Lide­n Films, a renowned Japanese­ animation studio. Liden Films has an impressive track re­cord in producing various successful anime serie­s like Berserk, Akashic Re­cords of Bastard Magic Instructor, and Love and Lies.

Stee­ring the project as director for this adaptation is Hide­yo Yamamoto, while the scriptwriter assigne­d is Hideyuki Kurata. Notably, Kurata has contributed his writing expe­rtise to notable anime se­ries such as Read or Die, Now and The­n, Here and There­, Kamichu!, and Gun Sword.


Final Thoughts

The ne­w Rurouni Kenshin anime is a revise­d adaptation of the manga series. It close­ly follows the original story, unlike the pre­vious anime adaptation. Moreover, this ne­w version covers the e­ntire manga series, including the­ previously untouched third and final arc.

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