Shigurui | Anime Review | Pinnedupink.com

Shigurui

On the lookout for a very serious anime, which is no jokes and all business? If you are a fan of Japanese history and culture, then a Historical, Psychological, Drama, and Seinen genre anime might be just the right pick. Series of this caliber are prime examples of “Anime is not just for kids” as they portray plenty of adult themes along with blood and gruesome deaths.

Shigurui, also known as Shigurui: Death Frenzy or Crazy for Death, is a 12 episode TV anime series that started airing on 19th July and concluded on 11th October as a Summer 2007 series. Geneon Universal Entertainment, WOWOW produced the anime, and Akita Shoten, licensed by Funimation and brought to life by Studio Madhouse.

The primary staff behind the series include Cook Justin as Producer, Ueda Yasuyuki as Producer, Honda Yasunori as Sound Director, and Honda Yasunori as Director and Storyboard. The series features a myriad of genres like Action, Historical, Psychological, Drama, Martial Arts, Samurai, and Seinen.

The title is rated R+ for its mild nudity, gore, blood, violence, and sex scenes. The series is adapted from the Manga of the same title, which consisted 15 Volumes in total, that ran from 19th June 2003 until 17th July 2010. The manga was serialized in Champion RED, created by Author Nanjou Norio and Artist Yamaguchi Takayuki.

The story is set at the beginning of the Edo Era when people enjoyed much peace. The sadistic daimyo Tadanaga Tokugawa decides to host a fighting tournament, Japan's first martial arts competition. By doing so, he appalls even the most loyal of his retainers. It only gets worse from there, as the first match of the competition is held between the one-armed Gennosuke Fujiki and the blind and lame Seigen Irako.

In the past, these matches were fought with wooden swords, but real swords are to be used this time. The spectators, too, are appalled, and even those with the most forceful objections declare this fight to be nothing but a farce and the combatants' deformities an affront to their station.

But what most of these attendees are unaware of is the deep-seated hatred Gennosuke, and Seigen hold for each other. This hatred stems from each of their struggles to become the heir to the insane samurai Kogan Iwamoto, the famed leader of the notorious Kogan-ryuu dojo. Both of them are Iwamoto’s disciples, who are well renowned as Japan's greatest swordsman.

Their once-cordial rivalry for Kogan-ryuu and for the affections of Kogan's daughter, Mie Iwamoto, quickly turns quite violent when one of the young warriors angers their master. What starts this way causes a chain of unfortunate events to unfold, eventually leading to their now severe injuries. In the present day of the series, each of them is still determined to prove himself the successor of Iwamoto's school. However, it is still evident that there can only be one champion.

Shigurui is the story that chronicles the decisions that led the main characters Gennosuke and Seigen, to their desperate points. They are not the only ones whose lives were ruined by the brutality of samurai culture either, as many others fall along the way. Thus begins a tale of intertwining fates, conflicts, cruelty, and strange destinies.

First off, do not drop this anime at the initial stages; it is essential to endure a few episodes to get to the point that everything gets good. But of course, be prepared for plenty of gore, blood, and gruesome violence. It had a truly remarkable story, every single scene was woven into the series for a reason, and each of them paints a part of the bigger picture. Factors like this make Shigurui seem severely underrated.

Historically speaking, Japan's Tokugawa or Edo period wasn't about fancy clothes and cool samurais at all; on the contrary, it was a time when only honor and loyalty ruled a man's world and determined his fate.

Women were treated as mere objects and held little to no power, having no purpose other than to tend to household tasks and bear children. Being formal with one’s enemies was common practice and wielding a blade was a given. Thus the story of Shigurui follows the “not-so-pretty” trials and tribulations of two warring clans, rife with sex, violence, and deceit.

Shigurui isn't a completely historically accurate show, but it comes very close to portraying what life was like back then. The story itself can be a hit and miss depending on the viewer, primarily because of the “Tarantino effect” working for the main story.

After a few episodes, it's normal even to forget the main story momentarily. However, the creators skillfully use art, sounds, and voice acting in each episode so that the viewer is more drawn to the current situation than what transpired a few episodes ago.

This gimmick can be intriguing for some but off-putting for others. The details and accuracy portrayed in each scene is something to marvel at and should be given due credit. The viewer needn’t be an expert in the Tokugawa period or Japanese history, in general, to appreciate this series either.

When it comes to the Art and Animation of Shigurui, from the onset of the opening credits itself, it is blatantly apparent that the viewer is in for a unique visual treat. Anime of this artistic style are rare indeed, and it's so lovely to see one like this amidst the generic types. Almost every scene in this series is so artistically beautiful, with such attention to detail in every little subpart. The background art is magnificent, reminiscent of art from a historical text or a museum. It is that much immaculate.

Even the camera angles are handled with precision and beauty. To further express the historic feel, the color palette is limited to neutral tones, like browns and greens, reminiscent of tapestry paintings of that era. The character designs and art, too, are handled with an immaculate level of beauty and uniqueness not typically seen in any show. Every character is fully drawn with the utmost care and precision, with incredible levels of detailing as seen in wrinkles, shadows, and beards, all crafted in full glory. Each person looks unique from other characters, be it their eyes, hair, face, and clothes.

The clothing boasts unique patterns and colors as well, accompanied by sandals. Once again, the story is rife with adult situations, including violence and sexuality, but all with solid reasoning and backing. It plays a pivotal part in portraying how difficult and harsh yet elegant the Edo period was.

When it comes to the Sounds and Music of Shigurui, they are handled very well, in a fitting way at that. The music is reminiscent of Japanese stage operas and successfully sets the mood and pace perfectly for the show. It’s like experiencing a Japanese play unfold before one’s ears, which is very enjoyable. Even the eerie chill silence of some scenes invoke a feeling unlike any other.

The sound effects are also very play-oriented. It is typically silent, with the actors playing their respective roles, but they’re very subtle and environmental when the sound effects occur. Prime examples are the effects of the wind rustling, flames snapping, and the sound of gravel being undisturbed beneath the warriors’ feet.

Overall, the sounds manage to immerse viewers in this intriguing drama. The voice acting was top-notch as well. All voice actors play their parts with passion and seriousness, and they deliver such an outstanding and different performance overall.

Overall, this anime is seriously not for the faint of heart, looking for a chill and happy anime. This series is highly recommended for anyone who is prepared for and can handle what this show throws at its viewers. Shigurui is a prime example of an artistic and historical anime.

Do not expect much from its pace, instead pretend you are watching a Japanese stage play. As a closing note, be well prepared to experience the cold, harsh, and brutal reality of the Japanese Edo period.