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.

Quick Links

Edited by Upasya Bhowal
Sportskeeda logo
Close menu
WWE
WWE
NBA
NBA
NFL
NFL
MMA
MMA
Tennis
Tennis
NHL
NHL
Golf
Golf
MLB
MLB
Soccer
Soccer
F1
F1
WNBA
WNBA
More
More
bell-icon Manage notifications