For those who are unaware, this Anime is a "Remake" of the 1996's one(Episodes 01-31). The latter didn't cover the entirety of the Manga, so we hope to get multiple seasons of this one to do so.
This season adapted Chapters 01 to 57 (Volumes 01 to 07), while skipping only Chapter 39 (which contained a side battle, unnecessary to the story). The Author actively took part in the production of this adaptation, and made some minor alterations and add-ons, without changing much of the story already known to the fans.
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In this thread, I'll list which chapters are adapted by each episode, on top of pointing out all altered, skipped, or original content.
But before that, I vividly recommend you to read these few paragraphs : (If you want a quick summarization, you can follow the bold words.)
To begin, there is the Main Manga. (Officially licensed in English by Viz and Manga Plus.)
He's composed of 3 Story Arcs : Tokyo(Volumes 1-6/Chapters 01-47), Kyoto(Volumes 7-18/Chapters 48-151), and Jinchuu(Volumes 18-28/Chapters 152-255).
Tokyo : Kamiya Kaoru, a young owner and instructor of a small dojo in Tokyo, meets Himura Kenshin, a wandering swordsman.
However, this seemingly innocent traveler was in reality once Hitokiri Battosai, Bakumatsu's most feared and respected assassin, who made the vow to never kill again.
Unfortunately, the Meiji era is not as peaceful as it seems, and Kenshin will have to fight to protect the innocents, but will he be able to do so without breaking his vow... ?
Kyoto : During the Bakumatsu, Kenshin was not the only assassin member of the patriots. Among them was a sadistic and drawn-to-power sword genius, considered the equal and successor of Battosai : Makoto Shishio. After the war ended, his superiors betrayed him, and tried to kill him. However, although badly injured, he survived and disappeared...
For more than 10 years, he slowly built an empire in the shadows, and is now ready to openly overthrow the current government!
Kenshin will not only have to fight his greatest battles to stop him, but also question his vow to not kill...
Jinchuu : When a former personal acquaintance of Kenshin appears before him, filled with a deep and visceral hatred because of some of the latter's actions during the Bakumatsu, everyone will finally learn about Kenshin's past. The mysteries as to why and how he became an assassin, how he got his famous scar, and why he no longer wants to kill, will be revealed at last...
The Volumes release also includes the 3 prototypes of the story :
Tokubetsuhen 2 (in Volume 1), a Prologue of the main story in which Kenshin saves a damsel in distress.
Tokubetsuhen 1 (in Volume 3), an alternative version of the story, where the main characters are siblings.
Sengoku no Mikazuki (in Volume 6), the love story of the creator of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, the sword style used by Kenshin.
A few months after its end, 2 Epilogues were published : Yahiko no Sakabatou and Haru ni Sakura, and were later included in the Kanzenban and Bunkoban editions. (Unfortunately, they are not available legally in English, but you can read the fan-translations on MangaDex. (1, 2))
Tokuhitsuban is a re-telling of the Tokyo Arc, made to celebrate the announcement of the first Live-Action Movie in 2012.
Its 1st Volume also includes "Act Zero", another Prologue to the original Manga. (It's licensed in English by Viz under the "Restoration" name.)
To celebrate the release of the second Live-Action Movie in 2014, Uramaku : Honoo wo Suberu, a one-shot telling us more about the antagonist of the Kyoto Arc and his allies, was released. The Volume also includes a short Novel written by the wife of the Author, which is the same story, but told from the point of view of a subordinate. (The one-shot was licensed in English by Viz as "Master of Flame", but it doesn't seem to be available anymore. You can find a fan-translation on MangaDex.)
In 2016, Hokkaido-hen, a Sequel story taking place a few months after the Epilogues of the original Manga, started. (It was licensed in English by Viz, but they dropped it because of the Author's crime. You can find the fan-translations on the site of the translator.)
Yahiko's Battle, a Novelization of some chapters from the Tokyo Arc. (Chapters 31-33, and 09-14.)
Ginmaku Soshi-hen, a Novelization of Tokuhitsuban.
Kamiya Dojo Monogatari, short stories filling the time-skip between the two final chapters of the original Manga.
Voyage to the Moon World was licensed by Viz years ago, but is out-of-print since then.
Kamiya Dojo Monogatari is fan-translated on this Tumblr.
Unfortunately, Yahiko's Battle and Ginmaku Soshi-hen never got translated.
Unlike Mangas, Animes entries on MAL have an "Available at" section in the information, so I won't post the links for it.
If there is no link, or if there is, but they are not available in your region, then it may be time to sail the seas... but I won't help you to.
The original Animeadapted the Tokyo and Kyoto Arcs. (Respectively episodes 01-27, aka. "Season 1", and episodes 28-62, aka. "Season 2".) The Tokyo Arc got many mild alterations and a few fillers here and there, while the Kyoto one was done very faithfully, with only very few minor (but wonderful) alterations and original content. Unfortunately, the Jinchuu Arc was not adapted. Being still ongoing at the time of the release of episode 62, the producer committee did a series of fillers instead(episodes 63-94, aka. "Season 3"), to wait for it to finish. However, the fillers were so badly received that the Anime was cancelled, before it could even touch this Final Arc.
To give a sense of closure to the series, a Special(aka. episode 95) was released a few months after the cancellation.
During the run of the series of fillers, Ishinshishi e no Chinkoka, a filler Movie, was released.
We also got 3 Specials :
Review Special, a little summary of some of the fights of the Tokyo Arc, and also contains a short teaser for the Kyoto Arc.
Special Techniques, an explanation of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu's techniques, used by the protagonist.
Recap, a recap of most of the Kyoto Arc(Episodes 34-56), up to the climax.
Now, let's talk about the big pieces : the 3 OVAs Series.
Even with the cancellation of the original series, the staff got the rights to bring back the franchise a few years later, and made a few OVAs episodes.
Tsuioku-hen, an adaptation of the long flashback shown around the start of the Jinchuu Arc, in which we get to see why and how Kenshin became the terrible Hitokiri Battosai. It was already a very beloved sub-Arc, but the producers really outdid themselves, by removing all the comedy moments originally present in the Manga, on top of making the actions more realistic, and completely changing the color palette and art style of the original Anime. All of that makes the whole story all the more impactfully cruel and violent.
Seisou-hen, an Anime-original end to the franchise, taking a few elements from the Jinchuu Arc, but altering them completely.
It followed the style of Tsuioku-hen, leaving no place for comedy. However, it received very divisive opinions, because of its out-of-character representation of the protagonist, and its tragic ending.
Shin Kyoto-hen, a Remake of the Kyoto Arc with brand new animation from 2011, told from the perspective of a side character following the protagonist. However, this was harshly criticized for its important changes and cuts in the plot.
After all of that, to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the original Anime, a special DVD-Box was released, includingSpecial Ending, a short 3-minutes animation adapting the few last pages of the Manga, which are the real ending of the franchise.
Finally, here we are, with the 2023's Remake of the Tokyo Arc, which is not really a Remake, but more a re-telling. This adaptation followed the Manga more closely, but also greatly reduced the comedy, offering us a more serious and dramatic version of the start of the story. It also includes many short additional scenes, supervised by the Author himself. A 2nd Season, titled Kyoto Douran, adapting the Kyoto Arc, has also been announced.
As for the 5 (good!) Live-Action Movies :
Origins adapted the Tokyo Arc. (Available on Netflix)
Kyoto Inferno & The Legends Ends, the Kyoto Arc. (Respectively on Amazon Prime Video and Funimation. It recently also was added to US Netflix.)
The Final & The Beginning, the Jinchuu Arc, with the latter being about the past of Kenshin, in a similar way as the Tsuioku-hen OVAs. (Both on Netflix)
They all heavily altered most scenes, but kept the spirit and the intention of the original work.
Originally, Rurouni Kenshin was planned to not run more than 30 or so chapters.
The Author had started it to practice his drawings, and had no hope of it becoming a popular Manga. But contrary to his expectations, it got a good portion of support from the readers, which pushed the editor to convince him to do a long-running story, especially with the funny and colorful characters he created. This is what led to the creation of the Kyoto Arc, which is considered the real start of the story, with everything prior being simply a slow-burn setting/Prologue.
That explains the episodic nature of the Tokyo Arc, which is fundamentally a "Villain of the week" type of storytelling.
Hokkaido-hen, the Sequel story started in 2016, was supposed to be part of the Main Manga.
Once the Kyoto Arc finished, the Author planned 2 more Arcs : Jinchuu, and Hokkaido. However, the story was getting more serious and tragic as it progressed through the Jinchuu Arc, and the Author feared not fitting into the Shounen demography anymore. He was also tired of writing the same Manga for 5 years, and hoped to finish it when it was still at the peak of its popularity.
Thus, the Hokkaido Arc was shelved for later, with already a lot of artworks and ideas planned.
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Overall, this adaptation is very faithful to the events of the Manga, and even took the time to adapt one of the Extra Prologue(present in the Tokuhitsuban Manga) and extend the fight scenes, which got an extra level of care put into their choreography and sound designing (they clearly are the good point of this version!). It also uses character designs close to the ones of Hokkaido-hen(the currently ongoing Sequel Manga), and changed how one of the villains acts, to be more coherent with it (probably in the highly possible scenario where it gets an adaptation too).
However, a few scenes were mirrored, and some violent and/or shocking ones have been very slightly censored. The production quality is also just a little bit above average, and the storyboarding and directing are awfully plain throughout the entirety of the series. Unfortunately, that is how most Animes are nowadays, but looking at how extremely popular it was back then (and still is in Japan), we could have hoped better for Rurouni Kenshin.
The only major change made for this adaptation is the drastic reduction of the comedy.
As we go further into the story of the Manga, the Author, consciously or not, used less comedy reliefs, to not discredit the seriousness of the events happening. To make the overall tone more consistent, and attract new fans in search of more mature stories, the numerous typical (often slapstick) 90's gags have been nearly entirely removed. The characters and their interactions are therefore perceived differently, especially Kenshin, who's almost always shown as a goofy and indifferent idiot in the Manga (think Sakata Gintoki or Vash the Stampede), whereas he's more of a cool and silent superhero here.
This will please the ones turned off by this style of comedy, preferring something like the extremely serious depiction of the Tsuioku-hen OVAs (despite the OVAs not supposed to be experienced beforehand), but may disarray old fans, feeling that something is missing. I believe it also made the Tokyo Arc weaker, as it's composed of short and simple semi-episodic stories, which benefit from the very quick and light-hearted breaks caused by the humor. However, some of the add-ons push the characterization of a few characters further, which may counterbalance this problem on certain occasions.
Officially, this adaptation is not a Remake made to replace the adaptation from 1996, but a new re-interpretation of the Manga, with the same story, but depicted differently(which is something very common in the Rurouni Kenshin franchise, as we got it with the Anime from 1996, the OVAs, the Tokuhitsuban Manga, the Live-Action Movies, ...), therefore, if you have the time, I recommend to watch/read all of these versions.
As for my personal opinion, even if I enjoyed a lot each and every episode, I must admit that I was expecting much more from this take on the beginning of Rurouni Kenshin, especially for the last few episodes... I hope the directing will be better for the rest of the project, as we have barely seen what made this work so popular to begin with!
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So, would I recommend the previous adaptation from 1996 or this one as an introduction to the franchise... ? Well, that's actually a very hard question...
Concerning only the Tokyo Arc (Episodes 01-27 for the series of 1996, and Episodes 01-21 for the one of 2023) alone :
While the 1996's Anime is very far from perfect(contrary to what some people try to imply on certain threads/sites), and took a good amount of liberty with the story and characters, the staff that worked on it were truly passionate about the Manga, and did their best to enhance and bring it to life. Almost all episodes have masterful storyboarding and directing, making many scenes dynamic and impactful, even with the obvious low budget.
Honestly, I really don't know which one to generally recommend... I guess it'll all come down to the preferences of the person, who will need to make his own choice.
If not for its lack of comedy and boring directing, the 2023's more fleshed-out and more logical takes on the stories would have been perfect. Aside from the introduction with episode 01 and the end of the Oniwaban-shu sub-Arc, they are all better than their old counterpart, narratively speaking. (Jin-e's sub-Arc with episodes 06 & 07 (!), Raijuta's with episodes 15-17, and Katsu's with episodes 18 & 19, were particularly impressive!)
However, the 1996's series is more engaging, thanks to its very memorable atmosphere. The perfect Rurouni Kenshin series would have been the takes of the 2023's series, but with the directing of the 1996's one!
TLDR : No matter which one you choose to watch first... watch both!
If I had to do a Pros vs Cons for both versions :
1996
Pros :
Incredible storyboarding.
Amazing directing.
Great re-interpretation and iconization of a few characters and/or scenes...
Immersive music...
Cons :
Bad animation.
Amateur-ish voice acting.
... but only a few tracks, all used too repeatedly.
... but sometimes a little bit illogical and/or off the mark; ... thus not faithful to the Manga.
Fillers.
Censored.
2023
Pros :
Solid voice acting.
Additions of a lot of short scenes, fleshing out more characters.
Extension of (flashy) fight scenes.
Epic sound designing.
Adapted one of the extra chapters.
Only very little censorship.
Faithful to the Manga.
Cons :
Bad directing.
Flat storyboarding.
Only slightly above-average animation.
A lot of comedy removed.
Forgettable soundtracks.
Very bright palette of color.
However, where the 1996's one really shined was during the Kyoto Arc (episodes 28-62)!
All the cons the adaptation had previously suddenly vanished, and that, right from the start of the Prologue (episodes 28-31). It still kept a very strong artistical vision, that completely sublimated and iconized many scenes of the Manga.
It will be a real challenge for the new adaptation to equal what was done prior, and looking at the result of episodes 22-24 (lack of iconization, rush of scenes, censorship, ...), it's very hard to be optimistic for the continuation...
For those who want, here is a Google Sheets. (Attention, notes are only vaguely summarized!)
In the notes below, I've put in bold what I think are the most important changes and additions of this adaptation.
Be aware that I haven't listed all of the alterations or original content that are due to the differences in medias (like how Kenshin moves his scabbard in the Manga, or the pictures used to illustrate what the characters are talking about in the animation).
Episode 01 : Chapter 01.
Skipped content :
Through numerous scenes, the funny faces and small gags, as well as the apparent indifference of Kenshin, and some more light-hearted dialogues, have been heavily reduced or removed.(Listing and explaining them all would be way too long. Such alterations and cuts are present in the entirety of the season.)
During the discussion in which Kaoru explains the presence of a dojo full of thugs in the next town, Kaoru mentioning its name, "Kihei-kan", showing her resolve to defend her dojo, and asking herself why Kenshin uses a reversed blade, has been removed.
During Kihei's revelations, Kaoru calls his name aloud in disbelief, but she does so two distinct times throughout the scene in the Manga.
Altered content :
At the start of the episode, a very short introduction to the legend of Hitokiri Battosai has been replaced by an actual flashback of the Bakumatsu, during which Kenshin was still the Hitokiri Battosai.(This whole scene is an extended and slightly altered version of a few panels of Chapter 48.)
Through a few scenes, the hand the characters use to do certain actions was changed. (Kaoru pointing her bokken at Kenshin, Kihei showing the document to Kaoru, Kaoru picking up a bokken to defend herself, Gohei lifting Kaoru, Kihei cutting Kaoru's finger, and Gohei trying to hit Kenshin. Such changes will be present in the entirety of the season.)
In her dojo, Kaoru and Kihei are sitting on a cushion in the Manga, but not in this adaptation. Kihei is also shown using his fingers to apply medicine on Kaoru's wound, whereas he was using a piece of cotton in the Manga.
The kimono of Kaoru was white with red sakura petals in the Manga, but completely blue here. Her ribbon was also originally red, not pink. (This redesign is from the Kanzenban edition of the Manga, in which the Author did new drawings for the cover of the Volumes. This alteration will be effective for the entirety of the season.)
Kenshin's distrust of the town's police is shown via his gaze rather than a sentence.
The colorful patterns of the clothes of numerous characters were removed. (Such alterations will be present in the entirety of the season, for a lot of characters.)
When he enters the dojo, Gohei still has his mask on, and then removes it, but in the Manga, he already had removed it beforehand.
Kenshin threatens Kihei by pointing the other side of the blade at him, instead of simply verbally threatening to do so.
Anime-original content :
In the sequence where Kenshin explains what Kenjutsu is, there is a very brief glimpse at the two most important moments of his life, revealed in the Jinchuu Arc.
Extra notes :
Kenshin fending off the thugs from Kamiya's dojo has a very different choreography from his Manga counterpart.
The Opening contains several references to the original Anime, including its filler episodes and its first Opening.
Teasing about Hitokiri Battosai and the Jinchuu Arc was present in the Opening and the Ending.
1996 Anime :
Equivalent : Episode 01.
Faithful ? : Not much; The events and characters surrounding Gohei were mildly altered, and original characters were added.
Episode 02 : Chapter 02, half of 03.
Skipped content :
Just like in the previous episode, some funny faces, gags, and the apparent indifference of Kenshin, have been heavily reduced or removed through the episode.
In the Manga, Kenshin hums for a few panels when he walks around town with Kaoru, but not here.
A few words of Kenshin, musing over the strong character Yahiko has shown, have been skipped.
A very short description of the sword-bearing police by the narrator has not been included.
In the scene in which Ujiki points his blade at Kenshin, the former denigrating Kenshin, the latter slightly pushing it back to the side with his hand, and the crowd reacting to this shocking scene, has been skipped.
Yahiko's blood, which was all over the floor after his beating at the end, was removed.
Altered content :
Kaoru is the one mentioning the temporality, but it's the narrator who does so in the Manga.
The scene on the bridge, which introduces Myojin Yahiko, contains a few minor alterations: Kenshin and Kaoru walk side-by-side, but Kaoru is in front of him in the Manga. Yahiko bumps into Kenshin to steal him, but he originally pushes him from behind. Kaoru should have tackled Yahiko to the ground to stop him, but she simply grabs him from behind in this adaptation. Kenshin also picks up and holds Kaoru's stuff with his left hand, but it was his right one in the Manga. Moreover, the whole scene has been moved to a small bridge in town, whilst it was supposed to be on the grand bridge shown at the end of the episode.
Yamagata was smoking a cigar in his carriage in the Manga, but it was removed here.
Here, passersby give way to the sword-bearing police, but in the Manga, they are pushed by them.
The cap of the sword-bearing police has been slightly redesigned.
A few scenes were mirrored from their Manga counterparts. (Ujiki licking his katana, Kenshin and Kaoru walking away from Yamagata, and Gasuke hitting Yahiko.)
The direction of the two sofas in the Commissioner's office has been changed.
Anime-original content :
A lot more of the town is shown, and a remark from Kenshin about the bustle of the city has been added. Kaoru also asks him where he was before their encounter.
The threats Yahiko faces in the alley are entirely Anime-original.
The sword-bearing police officers mentioning their sword styles was not present in the Manga.
Yahiko returning the money to the grandmother, as well as trying to imitate Kenshin with the piece of wood, are both original scenes.
Extra notes :
The entirety of the events about the police (Chapter 02) has been merged to take place on the same day as the events about Yahiko (Chapter 03). It causes many small alterations and original scenes in this episode and the next, that I didn't list. (Like the order of certain scenes and dialogues, or the different clothes of Kaoru.)
1996 Anime :
Equivalent : Episode 03, and a few minutes of 02.
Faithful ? : Almost, yes; The temporality of the two chapters was swapped, a lot of original content was added, and events were slightly altered.
Episode 03 : Chapters 03 (second half), 04, two pages of 05.
Skipped content :
In a few scenes, the blood of Yahiko has been removed.
A few funny faces and gags (mainly about Kaoru fighting with Kenshin or Yahiko), and the apparent indifference of Kenshin, have been heavily reduced or removed.
Yahiko displaying his optimistic nature when Kenshin says that he'll become a strong swordsman was skipped.
Short sentences from the narrator, about Yahiko joining the Kamiya's dojo, and mention of the temporality of the events of the Hishimanji, have not been included.
Altered content :
Kaoru witnessed Yahiko's kidnapping from the bridge, but she did so from the other side of the river in the Manga.
The Kanto-shuei's house plaque was slightly redesigned, and the ornaments around it have been removed.
Through a few scenes, the hand the characters use to do certain actions was changed. (Gasuke lifting Yahiko, Yahiko making a fist, Kaoru holding her shinai while searching Yahiko, Kaoru stopping Yahiko from attacking the Hashimanji, and the post-credit guy knocking out a thug.)
During Yahiko's rescue, a few minor alterations were made: Gasuke's pain is not visible anymore when he's about to kill Yahiko. At the same moment, Kenshin forces his way into the room, but contrary to the Manga, his sword is not drawn out. Once he threatens the Kanto-shuei's boss, the latter should have collapsed under the effect of fear. Kenshin holds Yahiko differently from how he did in the Manga, and finally outside of the Kanto-shuei's house, Yahiko breaks down because of his helplessness, but it happened to him when they were still inside in the Manga.
Kaoru waits for Kenshin in front of her land, whereas she was inside of it, in front of the dojo, in the Manga. We can also observe that she changed her clothes, and that Kenshin puts down Yahiko during the discussion, which both didn't happen originally.
Kaoru is angry at Yahiko because he threw his shinai, but it was supposed to be because he didn't hold it correctly.
Yahiko throws his sandal at Kaoru when she berates him, but what was thrown at her in the Manga was his shinai. A gag about Kaoru's reaction to it was replaced by Yahiko criticizing her more, only to regret it right after.
Here, Yahiko is shown to be skeptical about the two disciples right after hearing their story, but he doubts them in the Manga only once he smells the alcohol when they are running to hide.
After the resolution of the disciples's case, Kenshin, Kaoru, and Yahiko have their discussion in the dojo, but they didn't moved from the gate in the Manga.
The thugs beaten up by the guy after the credits have been replaced by the Hishimanji.
Anime-original content :
Once Gasuke gets up, and after he was sent to the ceiling, one of his friends calls out his name. These shootings were not in the Manga.
During Yahiko's breakdown, a focus is made on a piece of wood, not present in the Manga.
Kenshin and Kaoru greeting each other after the former rescued Yahiko is Anime-original.
Kaoru is worried about Kenshin because of the canon, and shoots out his name. Her shock at his exploit of cutting it is also new.
The reactions of the Hishimanji after Kenshin threatens them are entirely Anime-original.
Extra notes :
Due to the change of temporality in the previous episode, some events and dialogues have been moved to this one.
1996 Anime :
Equivalent : Episode 02.
Faithful ? : Yes and N/A; A lot of original content was added to the events surrounding Yahiko, and Kaoru was also given a more prominent role. The events about the Hishimanji (Chapter 04) have been skipped, although the canon scene was later used for Episode 14, a filler.
Episode 04 : Chapters 05, 06.
Skipped content :
As usual, some funny faces and gags, as well as the apparent indifference of Kenshin, have been heavily reduced or removed.
After Sanosuke helps Tae, the former asking the latter if she's fine, and her flustered answer, have been skipped.
A provocation the drunkard made to Sanosuke at the start of the fight, and the latter saying that he failed his test a few seconds later, have not been adapted.
In the Manga, it's not just the drunkard's finger who's dislocated, but his whole arm. The blood that should also have spurted when he gets knocked out have been removed.
Kaoru mentions the surprising speed of Sanosuke, but Gohei also did the same in the Manga.
Altered content :
When Yahiko sees the painting, he first mentions a scribble, but it was Kenshin who does so in the Manga. A few seconds later, Kaoru is seen hitting Yahiko, but it was originally done off-screen.
A few scenes were mirrored from their Manga counterparts. (Kaoru cuddling the painting, Kenshin and Kaoru positions at the entrance of the Akabeko, Kenshin and Yahiko position once sitting to eat, Sanosuke helping Tae, and the Hiruma brothers watching the fight.)
The Akabeko and its sign were entirely redesigned. It was much more simple in the Manga.
In the Manga, Yahiko always has his shinai with him, but he's shown without it at the Akabeko in this episode.
When the drunkard hits Tae, her handkerchief falls to the floor in the Manga, but not in this adaptation.
During a few scenes, the hand Sanosuke uses to do certain actions (Flicking the drunkard, and holding his zanbato) was changed.
The drunkard notices the state of his finger only once his friend mentions it, but he directly felt it due to the pain in the Manga.
In his house, Sanosuke's zanbato is in a corner of the room, instead of being in front of him.
The Hiruma brothers are hiding behind a wall, but they originally were behind a simple fence.
Anime-original content :
The interaction between Kenshin and Yahiko at the start of the episode is original.
Sanosuke is shown eating at the Akabeko, but in the Manga, he's revealed only once he heroically saves Tae. The drunkards are also seen much earlier.
The brawl between Sanosuke and the drunkard got a few extra scenes: The drunkard asking Sanosuke what he did to his finger, The drunkard's friend asking him if he's fine, and his answer, as well as his second try at hitting Sanosuke.
Extra notes :
The stances of Kenshin and Sanosuke during their fight are not the same as the ones of the Manga's panels.
1996 Anime :
Equivalent : Episode 04, around half of 05.
Faithful ? : Almost, yes; A lot of original content, including a fight, was added. A few scenes were slightly altered.
Episode 05 : Chapters 07, 08, two pages of 09.
Skipped content :
After the flashback of Sanosuke about the Sekihotai, Kenshin's surprise at hearing this name, referring to Sanosuke as the survivor of it, and Gohei's curiosity about all of that, have been skipped.
The many bruises Sanosuke has after the final hit have been heavily reduced (especially his right eye, which he can't open for a few days in the Manga).
A few light-hearted dialogues, funny faces, and gags after the end of the fight have been removed.
Altered content :
In the Manga, Kenshin explains the disadvantages of the zanbato while fighting, but here, he waits to strike down Sanosuke first.
Kenshin talking about the "final act" of the fight has been changed from a provocation before the "second act", to an affirmation after it.
The headquarters room of the Sekihotai has been completely redesigned. (There was originally a table with a lot of documents and maps, with members standing all around. The room was also closed, without any vision on the outside.)
The Sekihotai commander's emotion reporting the annihilation of his battalion was changed from sadness to anger.
In the Manga, Kenshin did not fall while stopping the bullet.
The Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu's technique Kenshin uses to hit Kihei in the Manga (Doryusen, hitting the ground at high speed to send dirt and rocks at the opponent) has been replaced here by a series of simple blows.
In the Manga, when Kenshin fights seriously, his gaze is very much more intense and colder.
Just before Kenshin cuts the zanbato in half, Kaoru is afraid and hides her face with her hands in the Manga, but not in this adaptation.
A note about the scene at the Akabeko taking place the day after has been replaced by a few sentences by Kaoru and Yahiko about Sanosuke.
The clothes of Kaoru at the Akabeko have been changed again. It was originally the same as the rest of this episode.
Anime-original content :
The interaction between Kenshin and Sanosuke at the start of the episode is original.
The slow built-up of the start of the fight's "second act", and the spectators' reactions to its end, are new.
A few scenes about the Sekihotai have been added.(The addition of Katsuhiro, Sagara commanding his troops, mentioning the village he's watching to Sanosuke, joking about the future of the Sekihotai, reacting about the "Sagara Sanosuke" name, and asking the kids to "keep watch".)
A scarf has been added around the beheaded head of Sagara.
Sanosuke standing up again after his flashback, and trying to attack Kenshin again, is a new scene.
Kaoru saying to Yahiko to flee, when they are about to be attacked by Gohei, wasn't present in the Manga.
Extra notes :
None.
1996 Anime :
Equivalent : Bits of the first half of Episode 05, and the entirety of its second half.
Faithful ? : Almost, yes; Due to the alterations of Episodes 01 & 04, more events and dialogues had to be altered. Some original content was also added to the flashback.
Episode 06 : Chapters 09, 10, 11.
Skipped content :
A few funny faces, gags, and the apparent indifference of Kenshin, have been reduced or removed.
Uramura excusing himself for what the sword-bearing police did to Kenshin previously has not been included.
The first thug to get hit by Jin-e got one of his gestures to remove his sweat skipped.
Jin-e belittling Sano, and his surprise at hearing Kenshin, has been skipped.
A rant of Jin-e about the corrupted government was removed from his charge at Tani.
In the flashback frame of Jin-e, a beheaded head in his left hand was removed.
Altered content :
At the beginning of the episode, some very minor details were changed: Sano doesn't have any bandage on his face, Kenshin and Yahiko are sitting on the porch instead of a bench alongside Sano, and Uramura has his cap on his head.
Everyone moves inside the dojo to talk with Uramura, but in the Manga, they stay outside and serve him tea. A few seconds later, Kenshin is surprised at Uramura asking him to stop a murderer, but the reaction should have come from Sano. Uramura also appears calmer while mentioning the murderer.
The house of Tani was slightly redesigned, both outside and inside.
The start of Jin-e's attack, as well as the scene in town after his escape, have been entirely mirrored from their Manga counterparts.
Kaoru is shown to braid her hair to sleep in the Manga, but not in this adaptation.
Kenshin gets injured by Jin-e on his forearm, but he got cut through his sleeves in the Manga.
The explanations of the techniques of the Nikaido Heiho's school were moved from before the fight starts, to after the escape of Jin-e. They also originally were from the narrator, not Kenshin.
After Jin-e uses his Shin no Ippo on Kenshin, Sano is worried about him, but it was Uramura who was supposed to be.
Jin-e holds his katana with his right hand while charging at Tani, but in the Manga, he did so with both.
After Sano explains the situation to Kaoru, Yahiko is shown without his shinai, whereas he always has it with him in the Manga.
In the Manga, Kenshin and Kaoru are sitting on an overturned tree trunk near the river, but they do so on the grass here. Kaoru's tears were also removed during her kidnapping.
Anime-original content :
None.
Extra notes :
The Author was deeply disappointed in the pacing of the previous adaptation for this episode and the next one, but it's not much different this time around...
1996 Anime :
Equivalent : Episode 06.
Faithful ? : Yes; But the explanations of the techniques of Jin-e were removed.
Episode 07 : Chapters 12, 13, 14.
Skipped content :
When Kaoru says that it is not the usual Kenshin who's in front of her, a quick comment about how it's Hitokiri Battosai has been skipped.
Two panels, in which Kenshin holds his arm actively bleeding while on the ground, have not been adapted.
Jin-e's precision about the Shin no Ippo used on Kaoru being a higher level one has been removed.
Jin-e puffing when Kenshin runs to Kaoru has not been included.
Funny faces and gags have been skipped at the end of the episode.
Altered content :
Broken fences have been removed from the entrance of the forest.
The way Kaoru was tied is different. Her hands were in front of her chest in the Manga, but behind in this adaptation. (It leads to a few skip of actions she does, like holding her throat.)
Jin-e holds his watch with his left hand, but he does so with his right one in the Manga. The watch also was slightly redesigned.
When Jin-e uses his Shin no Ippo on Kaoru, Kenshin is still lying down on the ground in the Manga, but he's already up here. Kaoru also starts crying in the Manga.
Kenshin talks to himself about the self-persuasion of Jin-e, instead of directly talking to him like in the Manga.
Anime-original content :
Jin-e explaining his encounter with Hitokiri Battosai during the Bakumatsu is entirely original.
Jin-e's kick toward Kenshin is also a new element.
Extra notes :
None.
1996 Anime :
Equivalent : Episode 07.
Faithful ? : Yes; Original scenes about Sano and Yahiko were also added.
Episode 08 : Chapters 15, 16, half of 17.
Skipped content :
Some funny faces and gags, as well as the apparent indifference of Kenshin and the habitude of Megumi to fingerpoint people, have all been reduced or removed.
Players' curiosity about the sound of footsteps was not adapted.
The Manga reveals Kanryuu's silhouette when he's first mentioned.
Beshimi's precision about Megumi being monitored even when she's in bed, in the bath or toilet, has not been included.
Before a friend of Sano comes in front of the dojo, a panel about Kenshin wanting to learn more about Kanryuu has been skipped.
At the bridge, Sano's curiosity to Kenshin suddenly looking away was removed.
At the very end of the episode, a few panels in which Hyottoko threatens Beshimi for trying to order him around have not been adapted (to end on their entrance).
Altered content :
A few scenes were mirrored from their Manga counterparts. (Yahiko holding his shinai, Sano punching the thug, Kenshin and Sano hitting Beshimi, the entirety of the scene after Kaoru kicks everyone out, and Kaoru trying to take a peek.)
The thug afraid of Sano pointed his knife at him in the Manga.
Two friends of Sano walk in front of Beshimi before getting shot, but in the Manga, they get hit when they are to the left and right of Megumi, not moving.
It's a friend of Sano who remarks that what Megumi dropped was opium, but it was Kenshin who did so in the Manga.
Megumi's fear of Kanryuu at the bridge has been heavily reduced in this adaptation.
In the scene about Kanryuu's forces, a few minor alterations were made: Megumi is standing when talking with Kenshin, instead of sitting with him. In the Manga, Kenshin folded the schema to throw it to Sano, and he's the one asking Yahiko since when he was hidden.
Anime-original content :
The escape of Megumi got extended. It's also shown in a fragmented way, whereas it happens on 2 successive pages in the Manga.
The bullets of Beshimi going through the tatami, but stopped by the scabbard of Kenshin, is a new detail.
Aoshi being doubtful about the identity of Kenshin at the bridge is original.
Extra notes :
None.
1996 Anime :
Equivalent : A little bit over half of Episode 08.
Faithful ? : Yes; But the gambling house's scene was slightly altered to add comedy, and the bridge's scene was skipped.
Episode 09 : Chapters 17 (second half), 18, 19.
Skipped content :
Just before trying to flee, Megumi saying to herself that it's the right time to do so, was removed.
After finishing his barrel, a panel in which Hyottoko breaks it has not been adapted.
Blood spurting from the mouth of Hyottoko after he gets hit by Sano's kick has been removed.
None of the gags has been removed, but some of the funny faces were, with the ones who were not being heavily reduced.
A sentence from Beshimi, about how he does not know why Kanryuu wants Megumi back, has not been included.
A focus made on the old doctor's medicine tools, and a few of his sentences about medications made of stramonium have been skipped.
Altered content :
When Sano first gets hit by Hyottoko, Kenshin and Yahiko cry out his name, but only Yahiko does so in the Manga.
To avoid the fire of Hyottoko, Kenshin literally cuts it, but in the Manga, he simply spins his katana to create wind.
Kaoru's sentence once she sees that Sano still wants to fight has been changed from worrying about his leg, to mocking him for trying to act cool.
Kenshin's sentence after Sano runs into the fire has been altered. In the Manga, he explains that what he did reduced the danger of the fire, but here, he makes a joke about it.
In the Manga, when Kaoru realizes that Yahiko got poisoned, she immediately starts crying, but not in this adaptation. Yahiko also doesn't fall unconscious, contrary to the Manga.
Kenshin holds his katana with his right hand when rushing to Hannya, but it was with his left one in the Manga.
To flee, Hannya passed by the huge hole in the wall instead of jumping over one of the facades. Smoke coming out of his mask has also been removed.
After the old doctor's appearance, Kenshin has a bandage on his right cheek in the Manga.
The room of Aoshi has been slightly redesigned, and the position of his desk changed.
Anime-original content :
The whole post-credit scene, about Kanryuu acquiring something, is completely Anime-original.
Kanryuu is very much more goofy than he was in the Manga or the original Anime.
Extra notes :
Much less comedy has been removed, and some dialogues have been altered to add a little bit more.
Kanryuu's personality has been altered to be more in line with how he's depicted in the rest of the franchise.
1996 Anime :
Equivalent : Second half of Episode 08, and first half of Episode 09.
Faithful ? : Yes; However, the explanation of the Megumi's past was moved later, merged to the events of Chapter 20. The character designs of Hyottoko and Hannya were also slightly changed.
Episode 10 : Chapters 20, 21, 22.
Skipped content :
A few funny faces and gags (mainly about Sano and Yahiko) have been reduced or removed.
Sano patting the shoulder of Kaoru before going with Kenshin to attack the house of Kanryuu, as well as one of his sentences about how he hates grande residences such as Kanryuu's, have not been adapted.
The blood and bruises on Megumi's face and clothes after she was beaten by Kanryuu have been removed.
In the Manga, Sano and Yahiko were not aware that Kanryuu was at the window, and were surprised that Kenshin suddenly looked at it.
Altered content :
This adaptation added a few more books on top of the box of the traveling bookseller's disguise of Hannya.
Kanryuu's height has been reduced. In the Manga, he's shown to be taller than Hannya.
While Kenshin reads the letter left by Megumi, Sano is sitting on the terrace, but he was standing, leaning on the fence in the Manga.
Kenshin's cold and serious gaze when talking to Sano has been softened.
The frame of the trio leaving for Kanryuu's house has been mirrored.
The scene in Kanryuu's office has received a few minor alterations: The armchair has been moved from the middle of the piece in the Manga, to behind his desk here. It also was redesigned, to be less large. Megumi is shown to not be as tense after cutting Kanryuu's arm as she was in the Manga, and Kanryuu then gets cornered to a wall rather than his desk. Finally, Kanryuu punched Megumi with his right hand to knock her out, but it originally was his left one.
In the Manga, Yahiko is surrounded by only 2 gunmen, not 4.
In this adaptation, Kanryuu raises his proposition to Kenshin because he's afraid of his gaze, but it was because the latter was moving forward in the Manga.
Anime-original content :
Sano's scene at the start of the episode is original, just like his few words about his deceased friends during the scene about Megumi's letter.
The reactions of Kaoru and Yahiko to Sano's lack of respect toward Megumi is also a new element.
Extra notes :
None.
1996 Anime :
Equivalent : Bits of the first half of Episode 09, the entirety of its second half, and the first half of Episode 10.
Faithful ? : Not entirely; The events surrounding Sano were mildly altered. He personally tried to stop Megumi from going back to Kanryuu, and had to fight a member of the Oniwaban-shu. Kaoru also joined the group to attack Kanryuu's house.
Episode 11 : Chapters 23, 24, 25, two pages of 26.
Skipped content :
After Sano remarks Hannya's metal gauntlets, a precision by Kenshin, about the martial arts talent of Hannya, has been skipped.
Many funny faces of the trio have been removed.
Hannya presenting himself a second time during the fight has been skipped.
A sentence by Kenshin, in which he says that the clothes of Hannya seem absurd, but are in reality thoughtfully calculated, was not included.
Most (less profound) scars of Shikijo have been removed.
After getting pushed to the wall by Shikijo, Sano telling himself that his enemy is extremely strong has not been adapted.
Altered content :
Nearly the entirety of the fight between Kenshin and Hannya has been mirrored from how it was in the Manga. Kenshin also gets pushed toward the hall, instead of the entrance, where Sano and Yahiko are.
Kenshin blocks the two claws of Hannya, but he does so for only one of them in the Manga.
Kenshin and co. stopped to talk in front of the door before opening it and getting attacked by Shikijo, but in the Manga, they were running all this time.
Shikijo falling from the stairs due to the punch of Sano only happens in this adaptation. In the Manga, he just gets knocked out where they were fighting.
Anime-original content :
Kanryuu and Megumi's scene is entirely original.
The fight between Sano and Shikijo has been extended, by adding the scene in which Shikijo uses his chains to trap Sano.
Extra notes :
None.
1996 Anime :
Equivalent : 3 minutes at the end of Episode 09, and around 5 minutes of the second half of Episode 10.
Faithful ? : Not much; Events and dialogues were mildly altered due to the changes of Episode 09. Hannya's face was also censored, and his past not revealed. Goons were added to occupy Kaoru and Yahiko.
Episode 12 : Chapters 26, 27, half of 28.
Skipped content :
A few funny faces and gags have either been reduced or removed.
When Kenshin makes his speech about the motive of Aoshi, one of his sentences, accusing the latter of being a wrongdoers, has not been included.
During the scene at Kanryuu's desk, one of the sentences of the latter about Aoshi being motivated by a fighting spirit close to craziness, and an interaction with his subordinate about the equipment, has been skipped.
Right after the desk's scene, two panels of Megumi, in which it's implied she thinks of suicide, have not been included.
The number of times Yahiko screams Kenshin's name has been reduced.
The blows Kenshin receives from Aoshi cause him to have a large trail of blood on his face in the Manga, but it was removed from this adaptation. The blood dripping from his hand because of the blade of his katana has also been greatly reduced.
Yahiko's shock at witnessing Kenshin blocking the blade of Aoshi is softened.
After Aoshi warns Kenshin that he will try to kill him again, Kenshin welcoming the challenge was skipped.
Megumi recognizing the sound to be gunshots has not been adapted.
Yahiko asking Kenshin to do something about the gatling gun, and the latter answering back that there is nothing he can do, have been skipped.
Altered content :
Yahiko's position in the hall has been mirrored. Therefore, he's to the right of Aoshi, and Kenshin pats his head from his left, instead of the opposite.
Kenshin's gaze became much colder in the Manga once Aoshi talked about setting Tokyo on fire. The same can be said of Aoshi, once he uses his ultimate technique.
After suffering the heavy blow, Kenshin is shown much more clearly to be out of breath in the Manga.
To block the blade of Aoshi, Kenshin is shown to not even look in his direction, contrary to the Manga, where he accurately predicted his movements.
Kenshin talks about his Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu's technique after blocking the blade of Aoshi, whereas he originally talked about how "there is only one technique to block a blade barehanded".
The gatling gun has been vastly redesigned, and its background is explained by Kanryuu, instead of the narrator.(Some parts of it were skipped though, and the following dialogues of Kanryuu were altered.)
Anime-original content :
The Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu's Ryukosen is Anime-original.
Extra notes :
This adaptation extends the fights by a few exchanges since its first episode, but it incorporated several blows for Kenshin to block the blade, whereas it was clear to be only one movement in the Manga.
A few panels were skipped at the end of the episode, but the next episode rolled back time a few seconds to adapt them.
1996 Anime :
Equivalent : Last quarter of Episode 10, and a little bit over half of Episode 11.
Faithful ? : Yes; But Megumi thinking of suicide was also censored, and Kanryuu's desk scene was skipped.
Episode 13 : Chapters 28 (second half), 29, 30.
Skipped content :
A few funny faces and gags have been removed.
Megumi mentioning Sano's friend when she says people died because of her, and saying to Kenshin that she'll accept the death sentence to expiate her sins, has been skipped.
The noise and multiple dialogues of the police have been muted. A sentence from Sano, threatening to fight them if they arrest Megumi, has also not been included.
In the forest scene, Sano precising that they couldn't do anything against the gatling gun, and Kenshin's one about Aoshi not being able to forgive himself, has been removed.
A few dialogues of the narrator about the destiny of Megumi and Aoshi have not been adapted.
Altered content :
Shikijo's farewells were muted, to be revealed only at the end of the episode.
After killing Shikijo, Kanryuu is heavily sweating in the Manga, but not in this adaptation.
The Oniwaban-shu's blood, dripping after they got hit by the bullets, has been greatly reduced.
Kenshin's fall and Sano's monologue happens when they are still in the room, but in the Manga, they were in a corridor, running toward Megumi.
Due to the panels of Megumi thinking of suicide skipped in the previous episode, her knife is still in its sheath.
The way Megumi tries to kill herself was altered. In the Manga, she tried to cut her arm's veins.
Megumi goes in front of Uramura to talk to him, instead of staying upstairs.
Kenshin returns the medicine to Megumi by placing it in her hand, instead of throwing it at her.
While standing atop the wall, the pupils of Aoshi are compact and cold, but in the Manga, they look empty.
The position of all the characters in the forest has been altered.
The old doctor had a huge box on his back in the Manga, but not here.
The dialogues between Sano and Megumi at her farewells got their orders altered.
Anime-original content :
Shikijo's last sentence, Hyottoko talking a last time with Aoshi, and Hannya's flashback, are all entirely original.(Aoshi also calls out Hyottoko's name, which he originally did not)
Kanryuu's parades about the gatling gun are entirely new.
Megumi getting Sano's blood on her face is a detail that was omitted in the Manga.
The old doctor's name, Gensai, is Anime-original, and never was revealed in the Manga.(This name was already chosen for the previous adaptation too.)
Kenshin questioning Sano about Shikijo at the end of the episode is also new.
Extra notes :
None.
1996 Anime :
Equivalent : Second half of Episode 11.
Faithful ? : Not entirely; The cause of the gatling gun's malfunction was altered, the police and forest scenes were scrapped, and Megumi's farewells shortened.
Don't hesitate to make a post, so that the thread will be bumped, and more people will be able to read it.
If you have any questions about the franchise or some suggestions about this thread, you can @ me.
Alexioos95Dec 23, 2024 2:25 AM
"Genius lives only one storey above madness."
– Arthur Schopenhauer.
"Stupidity is a talent for misconception."
– Edgar Allan Poe.
@Alexioos95 so in the 1997 anime the characters like that old doctor and then his two granddaughters were fillers? also in the 1997 there was no conspiracy to take away Kaoru's dojo but it's there in the 2023 one. so which of one's correct 1997 or 2023?
Many funny faces have been heavily reduced, and a few gags were removed. Yahiko's expression is also shown to be more serious.
When Yahiko gets out of the house discreetly, one of his thoughts, about Kenshin suspecting him, has not been adapted.
Tsubame's master violently gripping her hair, and saying he won't get caught, has not been included.
A few panels, in which we see Yahiko getting out at night to stop the thugs, have been skipped. (His manners of war from there have been moved to the start of his fight in the alleyway.)
Yahiko's flaunting his talent of pickpocket after successfully stealing the keys has been skipped.
The thugs's fear of killing Yahiko in the alleyway is muted, and a sentence from Tsubame's master about their uselessness has not been adapted.
Tsubame questioning Kaoru's identity in the alleyway, and explaining her doubts about the situation, have been skipped.
Altered content :
The main door of Kamiya's residence is shown to be a sliding door in the Manga, but it's a regular one here.
Kaoru is seen in her kendoka's uniform at around half of the episode, and in her casual clothes the rest of the time, but she was in her uniform only at the start of the story in the Manga.
Sano is surprised to see Yahiko going to the Akabeko, but it was Kenshin who was so in the Manga.
The hand Tsubame's master uses to do most actions was changed to the other one. (Holding his katana, asking for keys, and hitting Tsubame.)
After getting tired, Yahiko sits down on the stairs, instead of the ground like in the Manga.
Yahiko loses the first fight because Tsubame's master made him fall, instead of getting hit by another thug from behind.
Yahiko's bruises after his beat-up have been greatly reduced.
Kaoru lectures Yahiko about the essence of the Kamiya Kasshin-ryu, but it was Kenshin who did so in the Manga.
In the alleyway, Yahiko voices his reaction to Tsubame's master understanding his strategy. The latter also asks his subordinates to run Yahiko down, instead of throwing their boukens at him.
Anime-original content :
Yahiko's training scenes, at the beginning and end of the episode, are original.
Sano's small sentence once he sees Tae is new.
Kenshin talking about the reversed blade being pricey was not present in the Manga.
Extra notes :
New Opening and Ending for the rest of the season!
1996 Anime :
Equivalent : Episode 12.
Faithful ? : Only in idea; The key event about Tsubame was there, but everything else was more or less altered. The comedy was toned down, and the romance between Yahiko and Tsubame amplified.
Episode 15 : Chapters 34, 35, 36, 37.
Skipped content :
A few funny faces and gags have been reduced or removed, especially before Raijuta's intrusion. Kenshin's apparent indifference was also heavily reduced.
At Maekawa's dojo, a panel of a disciple guiding his kouhais has been skipped.
Many sentences of Maekawa have also been removed.(Like how he likes to fight strong opponents, his surprise at Kenshin's reaction to his provocations, a mention of the war of Seinan, some taunt toward Raijuta, asking Kenshin to not interrupt the fight...)
Raijuta precising to Yutaro that fighting with shinais is Maekawa's request has been cut out.
Kenshin shooting at Maekawa to dodge has been scrapped.
Yutaro saying that Maekawa should have died after taking the hit of Raijuta has not been included.
Kaoru's strong-willed speech after accepting Raijuta's duel has been removed, alongside Kenshin covering her with his hand to stop her.
Raijuta sweating after his duel with Kenshin, and Yutaro's surprise at it, have both been removed.
After his duel with Kenshin, Raijuta's thoughts about Kenshin joining his school have been skipped.
During his examination of the ground, Kenshin believing that Raijuta could probably cut a diamond has not been included
In the bridge scene, Kenshin questions at Raijuta about the functioning of his school, and the latter saying that Kenshin is wasting his talent, have both been skipped.
Altered content :
At Raijuta and Yutaro's first appearance in the forest, the latter had his hood covering his face in the Manga, but not in this adaptation.
In a few scenes, the hand the characters use to do certain actions was changed to the other one. (Kaoru holding her bokken and counting the points, Yutaro holding Raijuta's katana, Raijuta lifting Maekawa, Yahiko holding the collar of Yutaro, and Sano stopping Kaoru's shinai.)
One of the disciples offering tea to Kenshin has been muted. In the Manga, the latter is also shown drinking it while talking with Maekawa.
Maekawa's dojo has been very slightly redesigned.
Raijuta hits Maekawa on his left shoulder, whereas it was supposed to be the right one.
In the Manga, Raijuta holds his shinai from the end of the handle for his second hit at Maekawa.
The shinai blowing into pieces after Raijuta's third strike is a detail added in this iteration of the story.
Instead of pointing his katana at Raijuta to stop him from killing Maekawa, Kenshin deviates the shinai with his scabbard. Thus, Raijuta doesn't see the reversed blade in this episode.(That causes some dialogues between Kenshin and Raijuta to be altered or removed.)
Kenshin and Raijuta's duel is done with bokkens here, but it was with shinais in the Manga.
Kenshin voicing his acceptance of Kaoru's worries replaced his light chuckle.
Kaoru's thoughts during Kenshin's duel were altered to be a lot shorter.
In the Manga, Kenshin is shown to take a defensive stance to block the final blow of Raijuta before dodging it instead.
Kenshin completely let go of his bokken in this adaptation, but his shinai was blown to piece instead in the Manga.
Kenshin kneels to examine the cut Raijuta made on the ground, whereas he was simply looking from afar in the panels of the Manga.
Yutaro's residence and garden have been vastly redesigned.
Anime-original content :
The disciples of Maekawa trying to stop Raijuta is an entirely original scene.
Raijuta asking Kenshin's name after their duel is also a new element.
Extra notes :
A lot of dialogue has been cut out during this episode(to fit the sub-Arc in 3 episodes).
1996 Anime :
Equivalent : Episode 19. (Episodes 13-18 were fillers.)
Faithful ? : No; Only the personality and goal of Raijuta was kept, alongside Yutaro being his disciple. Everything else has been heavily altered.
At the beginning of the fight at the bridge, a few panels building the tension were not adapted.
Many funny faces have been heavily reduced or removed, and a few gags skipped.
Kaoru saying to Yutaro that he won't progress at all without any training has not been included.
Almost all of Chapter 39, in which 4 disciples of Raijuta invade the Kamiya's dojo and fight Kenshin, has been skipped.
Kenshin and Kaoru asking Tsubame if she still has problems with her master was not adapted.
Right after the surprise attack of Raijuta, Kenshin's thoughts about the determination of the former, and Kaoru's fear toward it have been removed.
Kenshin jumping out to reach Yutaro during his fall has been scrapped.
A few sentences from Raijuta at the end of the episode, about Kenshin still trying to dodge the fight, have been skipped.
Altered content :
The bridge's fight was largely extended.(In the Manga, there was only one exchange. They took advantage of it and placed the dialogue between Kenshin and Raijuta about the reversed blade, that was skipped in the previous episode. Also, Yutaro was not supposed to be able to spectate it.)
Yahiko's shinai is on his back when he leaves Yutaro's residence, but he was holding it with his left hand in the Manga.
Yutaro suddenly comes to Kamiya's dojo late at night, instead of very early the next day.
A large portion of the scenes at Kamiya's dojo have been mirrored. Yutaro is also shown sitting on a ledge to eat, instead of the ground.
In very few scenes, the hand the characters use to do certain actions was changed to the other one. (Yutaro eating at the Akabeko, the thug lifting Yutaro in his flashback, and Raijuta holding his katana after injuring Yutaro.)
When Yutaro asks Yahiko to give him another bowl of rice, the latter is seen clearing a table, whereas he was cleaning the ground in the Manga.
In Yutaro's flashback, the way the carriage is after the crash was altered.
Raijuta's entrance in Yutaro's flashback has been made more imposing, by making him jump out from behind the statue instead of suddenly appearing behind a thug.
In the Manga, Kenshin noticed Raijuta behind them only at the very last moment, unlike here.
After Raijuta's surprise attack, Kaoru is to the right of Kenshin, but she was to his left in the Manga.
The insides of the old doctor's clinic have been slightly redesigned.
Anime-original content :
Yutaro asking the permission of Raijuta to train at Kamiya's dojo is original.
Yutaro playing the gentleman in front of Tsubame is also a new sequence.
The Jizo statue was not present in the Manga.
Everyone's reactions to Raijuta trying to blind Kenshin is a new detail of this adaptation.
Extra notes :
None.
1996 Anime :
Equivalent : Episode 20, and around half of 21.
Faithful ? : No; Only key events of Yutaro training at the Kamiya's dojo, and Raijuta injuring him were kept. Everything else has been heavily altered, and a lot of original content was added.
Episode 17 : Chapters 42, 43, 44.
Skipped content :
While mocking Raijuta for rhapsodizing himself over a very minor injury, Kenshin licking the wound has not been included.
A whole dimension of the fight has been outright scrapped. In the Manga, Kenshin can not fight at his top capacity, because of the anesthetic that was used to treat his arm.(That's why he's taking hits he should have dodged, and had to finish Raijuta off with a Hiryuusen. This detail skipped, a few dialogues had to be altered or removed.)
All the blood Raijuta was supposed to have on his face after the Hiryuusen has not been included, at all.
After Raijuta's defeat, a dialogue between Kenshin and Sano about what they should do with him has been skipped.
Altered content :
Yahiko hears Yutaro falling in his room, but in the Manga, Yutaro was still unconscious at that time, waking up only once Raijuta was defeated.(This change thus causes many small alterations or removal of dialogues, and the additions of other ones, as well as a change in Yahiko's behavior.)
While waiting for Kenshin, Raijuta places both hands on his katana planted in the ground, but in the Manga, he only does it with his left palm.
Kenshin removed the right sleeve of his hakama because of his injured arm in the Manga. His gaze was also more savage and cold.
Kenshin explains how the Izuna of Raijuta works by talking to him during his fight, instead doing so to the old doctor at his clinic, when the latter wanted to warn him about it.
Sano's long monologue explaining the situation of the fight was supposed to be only thoughts, and not spoken out loud.
Once Yahiko is taken hostage by Raijuta, he doesn't point his shinai at him, unlike in the Manga. Raijuta is also shown to be standing, instead of simply kneeling.
Kenshin's last sentence to Raijuta has been altered. Here, he recommends Raijuta to drop his sword, but in the Manga, he taunted him by saying that he would not even be able to beat Yahiko.
After getting mentally crushed by Kenshin, Raijuta fell to the ground in the Manga, but not here.
The decorations of Yutaro's room have been very slightly altered.
Yutaro's father says that his son was deceived by Raijuta, but in the Manga, he's talking about himself.
At the end of the episode, Kaoru questions Kenshin about his serious expression, but in the Manga, he was happy.
Anime-original content :
Due to the alterations of the actions of Yahiko, the latter talking with Yutaro at the clinic, and bringing him witness Kenshin defeating Raijuta, are both original scenes.
Raijuta mocking the uselessness of knowing what Izuna is, is also original.
The two blows of Kenshin following the Hiryuusen are new.
The shinai of Yutaro being present in his room is a little addition of this adaptation.
Kenshin and Kaoru talking about Raijuta at the end of the episode was not present in the Manga.
The whole post-credit scene is entirely original.
Extra notes :
The Author admitted that he made many mistakes during this story, and that Raijuta ended up completely different from what he wanted, but he did not take this opportunity to fix it, even going as far as pushing Raijuta's characterization as a pathetic man further with the post-credit scene.
The screenplay of this episode was personally done by Kurosaki Kaoru, the wife of the Author.
1996 Anime :
Equivalent : Second half of Episode 21.
Faithful ? : Yes, in idea; Even if most scenes were shown differently, with some other altered due to the previous episodes, they still were quite in line with the Manga.
Episode 18 : Chapters 45, 46.
Skipped content :
Quite a lot of funny faces were heavily reduced or removed, and some gags skipped.
Sano puffing just before saying that he'll take two paintings has been removed.
Just after mentioning the war of Seinan, Sano's sentence about how even heroes of the Bakumatsu quickly died there was not included.
Katsu precising that he already got the plans of the ministry has been skipped.
In the scene in which Sano walks at night, some of his mentions of failed revolts have not been adapted. The roads he takes have also been slightly redesigned.
At the end of the episode, Kenshin standing up once it's revealed that he's not asleep, and a few sentences of the narrator about the upcoming attack have been skipped.
Altered content :
The scene at the Akabeko, at the start of the episode, was completely mirrored from its Manga counterpart. Yahiko is also seen clearing a table instead of cleaning the ground like in the Manga, and Tsubame doesn't blush because of her shyness anymore.
The painting seller's cigar has been removed.
Sano takes the painting of Captain Sagara with both hands here, but he did so with only his left one in the Manga. The style of the painting is also way less realistic.
Sano mumbles before assaulting the seller, whereas he was dead silent in the Manga. The worried expressions of Kenshin and Kaoru have also been amplified.
Sano knocks only two times on Katsu's doors, but he does so non-stop in the Manga. Once he opens, Katsu is shown to be worried about someone mentioning his past, instead of being only surprised.
Sano shows the painting to Katsu with his right hand, but it was his left one in the Manga.
Kenshin and Kaoru both spy on Sano from a corner of the street, but in the Manga, it was only Kaoru. Kenshin was waiting farther and was not too interested.
In the Manga, Katsu was shown to be more calm and cold-hearted. Here, his expressions have been amplified.
Katsu hides his bombs hidden under a tatami, but it was in one of his closets in the Manga. (This alteration was made to be more realistic, as only very rich people had closets at that time.)
When faking surprise, Kenshin is shown cleaning clothes, but he was cutting wood in the Manga. The scene is also mirrored from how it originally was.
Sano invites way more people to his party than he did in the Manga. His friends, Megumi, and all the unknown characters were originally not present.
Anime-original content :
Sano's reaction to his presentation by the narrator is original.
Katsu's whole scene after Sano left his house, including his flashback of the Sekihotai, is entirely original.
Due to Sano inviting more people to his party, a lot of original scenes were added to it, including Megumi's apologies to Sano's friends, or Kenshin's talk with Katsu.
Extra notes :
None.
1996 Anime :
Equivalent : Episode 23, and half of 24. (Episode 22 was a filler.)
Faithful ? : Yes; A lot of original content was also added, like Katsu already doing a few attacks with a pseudo-Sekihotai, or the party being largely extended with Megumi present.
Episode 19 : Chapter 47.
Skipped content :
Only two comedic moments were removed from this episode, at the very end: Sano's funny face when he says that he hasn't met Katsu since then, and a gag about Tae and Tsubame who wants the last painting of Tsunan.
Altered content :
Sano runs to the right of Katsu, but he was to his left in the Manga.
Sano presents Kenshin as Battosai to Katsu, instead of Kenshin revealing it himself.
Sano stops Katsu by holding his wrist, whereas he puts his hand around his in the Manga. The scene in which he knocks him out was also mirrored.
Once Katsu wakes up, Sano is seen waiting barehanded, instead of looking at a painting.
The final painting of Katsu has been vastly redesigned.
Anime-original content :
The discussion of the two guards before the attack, and all of them converging toward the gates, are both original scenes.
Katsu noticing Kenshin's reversed blade is a detail that was omitted in the Manga.
The fight scene has been slightly extended, by making Katsu believe that he has successfully beaten Kenshin.
Katsu not wanting to stop after Sano tells him to is new.
Sano asking himself how to get out, and Kenshin showing him the hole in the wall is exclusive to this adaptation.
More than half of the episode, during which Katsu thinks of committing seppuku, is entirely Anime-original.(Thus, there are many new scenes and dialogues. From Katsu believing Sano betrayed him, to their fight with Sano's passionate speech, Kenshin lighting up one of the bombs, or even the flashback of the Sekihotai. Only Sano dialogues about Kenshin's feelings, and a portion of the one about the Sekihotai's honor were present in the Manga.)
Finally, the whole post-credit scene, teasing the Kyoto Arc, is entirely Anime-original.
Extra notes :
None.
1996 Anime :
Equivalent : Second half of Episode 24.
Faithful ? : Yes; But Sano takes Katsu's side, and fights Kenshin himself. This change leeds to an original discussion between Kenshin and Katsu at the end of the episode.
Episode 20 : Half of Tokuhitsuban's Extra Chapter.
Skipped content :
Many funny faces and a few gags were either heavily reduced or removed.
Kenshin calling out Dankichi while he fights has not been included.
Altered content :
Dankichi removes his hat before running toward Kenshin, but in the Manga, he does so only when he presents himself.
The little girl is seen kneeling next to her mother, instead of standing up.
The suitcase of Dr.Elder got its red cross's logo removed.
In the Manga, Dankichi was grabbed from his back by the thug, but here, he was pushed. Some of the onlookers also choose to leave the scene on their own.
Dankichi criticizes Deian, but it originally was onlookers whispering it among themselves.
Once at the hotel, the little girl was sleeping in the Manga, but not in this adaptation. (Therefore, her thanks to Dr.Elder are original.)
Dr.Elder is shown to be very much taller than in the Manga.
Kenshin gets the message through the hotel's staff, whereas he simply found it on a table in the room in the Manga.(Thus, his exchange with him is also original.)
A few scenes and dialogues surrounding Deian, the old man, and Espiral were altered and their order changed, with some moved to the next episode.
Deian precises to the old man that it's risky to kill a foreigner, but it was the old man who did so in the Manga.
Anime-original content :
Kenshin narrating the story of this episode as a flashback is an Anime-original setting.
The explanations of the narrator about Yokohama, are all entirely new.
Dankichi's discussion with the onlookers is also a new addition.
The fight has been slightly extended, by showcasing Kenshin beating up more thugs.
Deian asking his subordinate to search for the hotel of Dr.Elder is original.
The whole tea party, and visit of Yokohama are entirely original.
Kenshin asking Dr.Elder her reasons for disguising herself, and the latter allowing him to enter her room, are also new.
The old man being aware of Kenshin's identity is original. In the Manga, only Espiral knew, and he did not mention the name of Battosai in this discussion.
Extra notes :
This episode and the next one both adapt "Act Zero", a Special Prologue of the Manga, that was created in 2012 for Tokuhitsuban, a short re-interpretation of the Tokyo Arc.(Act Zero is officially Canon to the Main Manga, and not to Tokuhitsuban.)
The screenplay of this episode and the next were personally done by the wife of the Author.
1996 Anime :
Equivalent : None.
Faithful ? : N/A.
Episode 21 : Second half of Tokuhitsuban's Extra Chapter.
Skipped content :
A few funny faces and gags have been reduced or removed.
After Kenshin's last sentence in his flashback, a panel, in which the silhouettes of the two most important moments of his life can be seen, has not been included.
Espiral's vocal provocations toward Kenshin were entirely removed.
After the inhabitants realize that Dr.Elder is a woman, a few jokes about her beauty were not adapted.
Altered content :
The bottle containing the virus of the smallpox has been redesigned.
Espiral kept his sword in his scabbard to fight Deian's subordinate in the Manga.
For their discussion, Kenshin and Dr.Elder are both in the living room, whereas the latter was on her bed, with Kenshin standing in front of her in the Manga.
The road on which Kenshin gets his flashback has been vastly redesigned. The flashback itself was also nearly entirely mirrored from its Manga counterpart.
Kenshin's last sentence in his flashback (which was extremely close to the one of Dr.Elder about nourishing hope), was replaced by a flashback of the one of Dr.Elder.
Dankichi's wounds have been greatly reduced, and the blood entirely removed.
A few sentences of admiration for samurais by Espiral were replaced by a duel's challenge.
Espiral's mention of the soul of samurais has been moved from after the reveal of the name of Battousai, to right before the duel.
The fight between Kenshin and Espiral has been vastly altered, and got a lot of original content added.(such as the ultimate technique of Espiral, or his last dialogue about Kenshin's soul.)
Anime-original content :
The narrator's explanation about the virus of the smallpox is original.
Deian's sentence about the uselessness of cheap medicine and bodyguards, his surprise at Espiral's sword, as well as the few dialogues said when Espiral fights the subordinate, are new.
During their discussion, Kenshin saying to Dr.Elder that he's surprised that she's in reality a woman and that he's amazed by her change of voice, and Dr.Elder mentioning that she always liked theatre, and plays a short sequence of Romeo and Juliet, are all original passages.
The dialogue between Deian and his subordinate after Espiral destroys the rickshaw is new, alongside the presence of the old man and his explanations of the techniques of Espiral.
Espiral briefly mentioning the career of Battousai is exclusive to this adaptation.
Espiral presenting excuses to Dr.Elder is also new.
Dankichi and the old man's sentences during the fight between Kenshin and Espiral are all new too.
The smallpox scene was largely extended, and made tenser from how it originally was.(Like Dr.Elder failing to catch it two times, the subordinate of Deian catching it, and Espiral saving everyone. In the Manga, Deian throws it, and Dr.Elder simply catches it.)
The scene about Espiral and Dr.Elder at the hotel is original, just like his presence and dialogues during the farewells of Kenshin.
Extra notes :
This episode and the previous one both adapt "Act Zero", a Special Prologue of the Manga, that was created in 2012 for Tokuhitsuban, a short re-interpretation of the Tokyo Arc.(Act Zero is officially Canon to the Main Manga, and not to Tokuhitsuban.)
The screenplay of this episode and the previous were personally done by the wife of the Author.
This episode marks the end of the Tokyo Arc, the first out of the three Story Arcs of the Main Manga.
1996 Anime :
Equivalent : None.
Faithful ? : N/A.
Episode 22 : Chapters 48, 49, 50, half of 51.
Skipped content :
Kenshin voicing his surprise to be called as such after waking up has not been included.
A few funny faces and gags were reduced or removed.
Kenshin's shock at realizing he talked a lot about his past, and his pensive expressions, were heavily reduced.
Saitô's gesture of licking his katana to provoke Sano was removed.
The fight between Sano and Saitô lasted a few more exchanges, but it was completely skipped here. Saitô actually injuring Sano was also done off-screen, and revealed only later.
A few sentences of the narrator, about the temporality and the state of Sano, have not been included.
Saitô precising to Akamatsu that Kenshin probably doesn't have any idea of his mobile was skipped.
During the fight between Kenshin and Akamatsu, Akamatsu insulting Kenshin, and telling him that he's not on par with speed, but that he is on strength, as well as Kenshin voicing his surprise at the hidden chains, were skipped.
Altered content :
Kaoru calls Kenshin two times before he wakes up, but in the Manga, she does so only one time. The position of Kaoru and Yahiko were also swapped, and the latter is shown with his shinai in his back, instead of holding it on his shoulder with a bag just like Kaoru.
The trees around the road were changed from Sakuras to Wisterias.
The hairstyles of some of the members of the Shinsengumi were vastly changed.
In two scenes (Saitô taking out the medicine, and Sano catching his hand), the hand the characters use to do certain actions was changed to the other one.
Sano stands up to catch the hand of Saitô, but he did so earlier in the Manga, when saying that Kenshin and co. were absent.
The place Kenshin and co. come across Megumi has been entirely redesigned.
Kenshin smells blood only when he's in front of the door of the dojo, but he does so the moment he sees the hole in the wall in the Manga.
The signs of Shibumi's restaurant and the lamp in the room have been entirely redesigned.
Saitô's prostration, and Kenshin's serious gaze were both heavily softened.
Kenshin's thoughts the first time he notices Saitô's hints were muted.
Akamatsu's gauntlets no longer have metal protections of it.
Yahiko going out to get Tofu instead of Kenshin was done off-screen in the Manga.
Saitô's second visit to the Kamiya's dojo has been moved to the next episode.
Anime-original content :
None.
Extra notes :
This episode marks the beginning of the Kyoto Arc, the second out of the three Story Arcs of the Main Manga.
1996 Anime :
Equivalent : Episode 28, and half of 29. (Episodes 25-27 were fillers.)
Faithful ? : Yes; The flashback about the Shinsengumi was also largely extended.
Some very few funny faces and gags have been removed, especially around the start of the episode.
Akamatsu saying that absolutely every politician are implicated in suspicious activities has not been included.
During their discussion, a few sentences of Kenshin and Saitô were skipped. (Kenshin saying that Jin-e always was crazy but that Saitô was not that kind of person, and the latter precising that Kaoru didn't doubt him because of his uniform, and mentioning the names of Jin-e and Kanryuu.)
A few sentences that should have been said during the fight between Kenshin and Saitô have been removed. (Kaoru worries about Saitô using his gatotsu a second time, Yahiko desperation, and his shock to see Saitô still trying to use his gatotsu despite his katana being broken, Sano thoughts about Kenshin winning for sure once he successfully pary the throw of Saitô, and then realize Saitô will win if Kenshin can't retrieve his katana.)
Right before Saitô says that he changed his opinion and will now kill Kenshin, his precision about only being tasked to test him has been skipped.
Saitô pointing out that Kenshin now uses the other side of his katana after he breaks his has been skipped.
A few panels, in which Tsubame almost gets into an accident with Okubo's carriage, have not been adapted.
Altered content :
During their discussion with Saitô, Kaoru is to the right of Kenshin, but she was to his left in the Manga.
The hand Saitô's uses to do certain actions was changed to the other one. (Holding his katana during his first discussion with Kenshin, and unbuttoning his uniform.)
Both Kenshin's and Saitô's murderous gazes were heavily softened, alongside Kaoru's expressions.
Kaoru tries to hold back Kenshin before he starts fighting Saitô with his right sleeve, but it was his left one in the Manga.
Through the fight, the blood has been severely reduced.
The way the two katana clashes when Kenshin tries to break Saitô's has been vertically mirrored.
The second half of the fight continues outside of the dojo, but in the Manga, Saitô comes back inside of it.
The order of the few sentences of Sano was swapped.
Anime-original content :
None.
Extra notes :
Contrary to nearly all previous fights (including the one against Akamatsu), the one between Kenshin and Saitô did not get extended.
1996 Anime :
Equivalent : Bits of the first half of Episode 29, the entirety of its second half, and the first half of 30.
Faithful ? : Yes; The fight between Kenshin and Saitô was also extended, Saitô got very short extra scenes to make him more badass, and Kenshin is seen using his battojutsu several times.
Episode 24 : Chapters 55, 56, 57.
Skipped content :
A few funny faces and gags were either heavily reduced, or removed.
The reactions of the Kenshin-gumi about the identity of Makoto Shishio were removed.
During the discussion with Okubo, a few sentences were skipped.(Okubo saying that Shishio wasn't as cooperative as Kenshin, and that they had no choice but to kill him, Sano warning Okubo, and preparing himself to fight Kawaji, and Kawaji's protestations after Okubo orders him to stop.)
A dialogue between Akamatsu and Shibumi about the possibility of blackmailing Saitô has not been included.
The decapitated head of Akamatsu has been hidden.
Kaoru's thoughts about Okubo's upcoming visit have not been adapted.
When Sano talks with Kenshin on May 14th, his mention of the Sekihotai has been skipped.
More explanations of the narrator about Kiozaka were not adapted.
Okubo thinking of his long meeting has not been included.
A short dialogue between Kenshin and Saitô about the sadness of Kawaji has been skipped.
During his farewells, a pacifist sentence from Kenshin was skipped.
Altered content :
Sano is seen already being able to stand alone during Okubo's introduction in the Manga, but not here.
Saitô puts his uniform on his right shoulder, but it was his left one in the Manga.
Kenshin having a bandage on his right cheek is a new detail.
Okubo's cold and serious expression when mentioning Shishio has been heavily softened.
Once in the dojo, Kawaji is standing to the left of Okubo, but he was to his right in the Manga. Okubo is also shown without his coat here.
During the explanations of Okubo, the face of Shishio is completely hidden, and the silhouettes of his subordinates are not clear.
The seriousness of all the Kenshin-gumi, and Megumi's anger, were heavily toned down after Okubo asked Kenshin to go to Kyoto.
Sano and Kawaji grab each other with their right hands, but it was their left ones in the Manga.
Kaoru opens the door once she hears Kenshin's talk with Sano, but in the Manga, she was there from the beginning.
For his visual representation, Saitô is shown with his bandana, unlike in the Manga.
Okubo's surprise at hearing the kid mentioning Shishio's name has been muted.
The blood on Okubo's corpse has been very heavily reduced. His corpse also falls out of the carriage, unlike in the Manga.
The offices of Kawaji and Okubo were both redesigned.
The bridge scene was originally split in the Manga, with one part before the office's scene, and one after.
The kid requesting Megumi's help was completely panicked in the Manga, whereas he appears calm in this adaptation.
Anime-original content :
Kaoru's worried gaze after Okubo leaves the dojo is Anime-original.
The post-credit scene, teasing the continuation with a few sentences of new characters, as well as the reveal of Makoto Shishio's face, is original.
Extra notes :
None.
1996 Anime :
Equivalent : Second half of Episode 30, and the entirety of 31.
Faithful ? : Yes; A few scenes were also extended, such as Kenshin reflecting on the bridge. The farewell scene was also iconized, by adding fireflies in the background, extending the dialogue, and making Kaoru completely break down once Kenshin leaves.
much appreciation for this thread its informative and easy to read!
i was a huge fan of Kenshin and i watched every entry but i forgot everything because i watched it almost 20 years ago, i'm excited for the new remake so thank you for refreshen my memory :D
I'm curious of how many episodes of the first adaptation, the first episode of the 2023's version adapted... and how many manga chapters. that would be nice to see in this topic, too. Just bookmarked this topic as a huge Rurouni Kenshin fan.
Sarah-Sama said: much appreciation for this thread its informative and easy to read!
Happy to hear that , i had some trouble making it easy to read.
I tried tables thinking it would be nicely arranged , but it was extremely weird with some notes added , and it's completely bugged on smaller devices. (And the code was awful to maintain...)
I ended up going for plain text with spoilers tags , but i fear it'll be a little bit too long and/or not ergonomic when i'll hit the 20th episode.
AxShinigami said: I'm curious of how many episodes of the first adaptation, the first episode of the 2023's version adapted... and how many manga chapters. that would be nice to see in this topic, too. Just bookmarked this topic as a huge Rurouni Kenshin fan.
The equivalent of episode of the Original is a good idea.
Do you think it fits in the extra notes , or should i do a separated section ?
As for how many chapters it adapted , if you talks about this Remake , i already do so. (It's next to the episode number , not in the spoiler tag.)
Or you meant that for the Original Anime ? I could try , but i need to find a good way of putting it without taking too much characters...
Edit : Or should i do a complete breakdown of it in a different thread ?
Alexioos95Jul 7, 2023 2:57 AM
"Genius lives only one storey above madness."
– Arthur Schopenhauer.
"Stupidity is a talent for misconception."
– Edgar Allan Poe.
Alexioos95 said: For those who are unaware, this Anime is a Remake of the 1996 one.
The latter didn't completely adapted the Manga, so we hope to get multiples seasons of this Remake to do so.
This season will run for 24 Episodes, but we don't know how many content they plan to adapt. The Author actively took part in the production of this adaptation, and did a few alterations on top of adding some elements to the story, that he wished to do but couldn't during the publication of the Manga.
________________________________________________________________
In this thread, i'll list which chapters are adapted by each episode, on top of pointing out all altered or skipped content.
But before that, here is a tour of the Rurouni Kenshin franchise, explaining every entries :
To begin, there is the Main Manga. (Officially licensed in English by Viz and Manga Plus.)
He's composed of 3 Arcs : Tokyo(Volumes 1-6/Chapters 01-47), Kyoto(Volumes 7-18/Chapters 48-151), and Jinchuu/Revenge(Volumes 18-28/Chapters 152-255).
The Volumes release also include the 3 prototypes of the story :
Tokubetsuhen 1 (in Volume 1), a Prologue of the main story in which Kenshin save a damsel in distress.
Tokubetsuhen 2 (in Volume 3), an alternative version of the story where the main characters are siblings.
Sengoku no Mikazuki (in Volume 6), the love story of the creator of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, the sword style used by Kenshin.
A few months after its end, 2 Epilogues got published : Yahiko no Sakabatou and Haru ni Sakura, and were later included in the Kanzenban and Bunkoban editions. Unfortunately, they are not available legally in English anymore, but you can read the fan-translations on MangaDex. (1, 2)
Tokuhitsuban is a re-telling of the Tokyo Arc, made to celebrate the announcement of the first Live-Action Movie, in 2012.
Volume 1 also include "Act Zero", another Prologue to the Main Manga. (It's licensed in English by Viz under the "Restoration" name.)
To celebrate the release of the second Live-Action Movie in 2014, Uramaku : Honoo wo Suberu, a one-shot telling us more about the antagonist of the Kyoto Arc, and his allies, was released. The Volume also include a short Novel written by the wife of the Author, which is the same story, but told from the perspective of a subordinate. (It's licensed in English by Viz under the name of "Master of Flame", but it doesn't seems to be available anymore.)
In 2016, Hokkaido-hen, a Sequel story taking place a few months after the Epilogues of the original Manga, started.
This time, the Author co-write the story with his wife. (It's licensed in English by Viz, but they dropped the translations after Volume 3 because of the Author's crime. You can find the fan-translations on MangaDex.)
Yahiko's Battle, a Novelization of some chapters from the Tokyo Arc. (Chapters 31-33 : The Yahiko helping Tsubame sub-Arc, and 09-14 : The Kurogasa sub-Arc.)
Ginmaku Soshi-hen, a Novelization of Tokuhitsuban.
Voyage to the Moon World was licensed by Viz years ago, but is out-of-print since then.
Unfortunately, Yahiko's Battle and Ginmaku Soshi-hen never got translated.
Unlike Mangas, Animes entries on MAL have an "Available at" section in the informations, so i won't post the links for it.
If there is no link, or if there is, but they are not available in your region, then it may be time to sail the seas... but i won't help you to.
The original Animeadapted the Tokyo and Kyoto Arcs. (Respectively episodes 01-27, aka. "Season 1", and episodes 28-62, aka. "Season 2".) The Tokyo Arc got a few fillers here and there, while the Kyoto one was done extremely faithfully, without any filler or highly altered material.
Unfortunately, the Jinchuu/Revenge Arc was not adapted. Being still ongoing at the time of the release of episode 62, the producer committee did a series of fillers instead(episodes 63-94, aka. "Season 3"), to wait for it to finish. However, the fillers were so badly received that the Anime was cancelled, before it could even touch this Final Arc.
To give a sense of closure to the series, a Special(aka. episode 95) was released a few months after the cancellation.
During the run of the series of fillers, Ishinshishi e no Chinkoka, a filler Movie was released.
We also got 3 Specials :
Review Special, a little summary of some fights of the Tokyo Arc, and also contains a short teaser for the Kyoto Arc.
Special Techniques, an explanation of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu's techniques, used by the protagonist.
Recap, a recap of most of the Kyoto Arc(Episodes 34-56), up to the climax.
Now, let's talk about the big pieces : the 3 OVAs.
Tsuioku-hen is an adaptation of the long flashback shown around the start of the Jinchuu/Revenge Arc, in which we get to see why and how Kenshin became the terrible Hitokiri Battosai.
It was already a very beloved sub-Arc, but the producers really outdid themselves, by removing all the comedies moments originally present in the Manga, on top of making the actions more realistic, and completely changing the color palet and artstyle of the original Anime. All of that makes the whole story all the more impactfully cruel and violent.
Seisou-hen, an Anime-Original end to the franchise, taking a few elements from the Jinchuu/Revenge Arc, but altering them completely.
It followed the style of Tsuioku-hen, letting little to no place for comedy, offering us a tragic end to an epic story. (Note that the Author absolutely hated this OVA.)
Shin Kyoto-hen, a Remake of the Kyoto Arc with brand new animation, told from the perspective of a side-character following the protagonist.
However, this got harshly criticized for its important changes in the plot, and it's decision to add scenes who doesn't make a lot of sense, even in the universe of Rurouni Kenshin.
Finally, to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the original Anime, a special DVD-Box was released, includingSpecial Ending, a short 3-minutes animation adapting the few last page of the Manga, which are the real ending to the franchise.
As for the 5 (good !) Live-Action Movies :
Origins adapt the Tokyo Arc. (Available on Netflix)
Kyoto Inferno & The Legends Ends, the Kyoto Arc. (Respectively on Amazon Prime Video and Funimation)
The Final, the Jinchuu/Revenge Arc. (On Netflix)
The Beginning, the flashback of the past of Kenshin shown in the Jinchuu/Revenge Arc, similar to how Tsuioku-hen did. (Also on Netflix)
They all changed how most scenes happens, but keeps the spirit and the intention of the original work, which makes them good adaptations, despite being Live-Actions Movies !
For those who want, here is a Google Sheets. (Attention, notes are summarized and not hidden !)
Episode 01 : Chapter 01.
Skipped content :
Through numerous scenes, the funny faces and small gags have been reduced or removed, as per the Author's request.
Listing them all would be too long.
Altered content :
When Kenshin flees from the police with Kaoru after being attacked by Gohei, Kaoru is struggling to break free, and yell to Kenshin that Battosai is using the name of her Dojo, unlike in the Manga, where she beats Kenshin while explaining him, before getting knocked out.
The kimono of Kaoru was white with red sakura's petals in the Manga, but completely blue here.
Kenshin's distrust of the town's police is shown via his gaze rather than a sentence.
When Gohei enters the dojo, he still has his mask on, when he already removed it in the Manga.
The one ordering the thugs to attack Kenshin is Gohei, while it's Kihei in the Manga.
Anime-original content :
The episode begin with a flashback of the Bakumatsu, during which Kenshin was still the Hitokiri Battosai.
This whole scene is an extented and altered version of a few panels of Chapter 179.
Note that those alterations were already present for the Tsuioku-hen OVAs of the old Anime.
Extra notes :
Teasing about Hitokiri Battosai and the Jinchuu Arc was present in the Opening.
PS : If you have any questions, or some suggestions about this thread, don't hesitate to @ me.
And don't hesitate to make a post either, like that the thread will be bumped, and more peoples will be able to read it.
keep it up buddy....it's a tough work but I guess you are a fan!! so it's easy for you
I read the manga and watched the old anime years ago, thanks for making this for I have few memories of RuroKen, this will be a fun read all throughout the anime run
Its been a LONG time since I read the manga, I was watching this and thinking they altered Gohei's past, when in reality it was the previous anime that had done so.
Sarah-Sama said: much appreciation for this thread its informative and easy to read!
Happy to hear that , i had some trouble making it easy to read.
I tried tables thinking it would be nicely arranged , but it was extremely weird with some notes added , and it's completely bugged on smaller devices. (And the code was awful to maintain...)
I ended up going for plain text with spoilers tags , but i fear it'll be a little bit too long and/or not ergonomic when i'll hit the 20th episode.
AxShinigami said: I'm curious of how many episodes of the first adaptation, the first episode of the 2023's version adapted... and how many manga chapters. that would be nice to see in this topic, too. Just bookmarked this topic as a huge Rurouni Kenshin fan.
The equivalent of episode of the Original is a good idea.
Do you think it fits in the extra notes , or should i do a separated section ?
As for how many chapters it adapted , if you talks about this Remake , i already do so. (It's next to the episode number , not in the spoiler tag.)
Or you meant that for the Original Anime ? I could try , but i need to find a good way of putting it without taking too much characters...
Edit : Or should i do a complete breakdown of it in a different thread ?
Maybe under the remake number of the episode and manga chapters comparison, would be nice to show the equivalent of episodes from the first adaptation (1996)
AxShinigami said: Maybe under the remake number of the episode and manga chapters comparison, would be nice to show the equivalent of episodes from the first adaptation (1996)
I just tried to do that , but it doesn't feels right.
It hinders the reading when the notes are closed , especially because it's a little bit too long compared to the Episode : Chapter above...
It could be even more problematic if they keep including events from the Tsuioku-hen OVAs.
And if i indicate the equivalent in the old Anime , i would very much like to make a small sentence on how faithful that was too...
So i'll let it under a special section of the notes , and see how it goes.
"Genius lives only one storey above madness."
– Arthur Schopenhauer.
"Stupidity is a talent for misconception."
– Edgar Allan Poe.
Tomislavr7 said: So far, the episode 1 changes seem like really good improvements.
I'm not entirely sure about that , to be honest.
The few changes made here are totally not important , aside from one : the reduction of the comedy.
Kenshin is supposed to be very goofy , and even a little bit idiot.
It create a huge contrast with his past , and confirm him to be an hidden master.
It's also what other characters think , which makes them question themselves : "Is THAT guy really THE legend ?". (Similar to Vash The Stampede , from Trigun.)
That's also why the Author made him seems very young , with a petit and feminine body/face.
I totally understand what they are trying to do : Making the story a tad more mature to appeal to the viewers of nowadays.
However , i felt that it makes Kenshin lose a bit of his charm , and i fear it'll make the Tokyo Arc a little bit weaker.
Because , to be honest , the Tokyo Arc consist of simply "nice" short stories. (The Manga started to get a reputation with the Oniwabanshu sub-Arc , and really became a behemoth only with the Kyoto Arc.)
But well , we'll see how it goes.
At the very least , this Remake won't totally render the Original Anime irrevelant , they will just be 2 different interpretation of the same story.
"Genius lives only one storey above madness."
– Arthur Schopenhauer.
"Stupidity is a talent for misconception."
– Edgar Allan Poe.
My guess is this season will end with the first fight of the Kyoto arc, and Maybe the Trust and Betrayel flashback in the end(something like Hajime no Ippo did with one of it's seasons)
You really love Rurouni kenshin huh.
Anyway this was a really neat thread and I feel that this adaptation is pretty good.
We'll have to see how they handle music during some of the important parts cause the old anime did it fantastically. Also, Kenshin's new voice feels weird because the old kenshin sounded kinder than this version.
VERY nice thread! I've watched basically everything but have not delved into the manga. I knew the anime felt filler like after the Kyoto Arc. Good to know I was right. Hoping the final arc of the manga gets adapted.
Thank you so much for making this thread, it's incredibly helpful and illustrative.
I was really happy and excited when they announced this new adaptation, but I was also a little worried that they would try to get to the Kyoto and Jinchuu Arcs as soon as possible, rushing the story. However, judging from the pacing of this first 2 episodes and Watsuki's involvement in the production, I think it's safe to say that this season is probably only going to focus on the Tokyo Arc, with the hypotheticals upcoming seasons adapting the rest of the manga. That would be great.
William_san said: @Alexioos95 so in the 1997 anime the characters like that old doctor and then his two granddaughters were fillers? also in the 1997 there was no conspiracy to take away Kaoru's dojo but it's there in the 2023 one. so which of one's correct 1997 or 2023?
The doctor and his granddaughters indeed were fillers.
They were good characters tho.
As for the Dojo of Kaoru , the 2023 Anime is the one who's right.
In the Original Anime , they replaced the conspiracy with a revenge.
damn, for "filler" characters, the doc an his grand daughters stayed around for awhile
and in the first episode, may be 1997 version only, but as kenshin would say "i much prefer" how they had kaoru figure out who the fake is and confront him herself, than be some damsel that needs saving, sure the end result is effectly the same, but it showed that she was a character that could think on her feet, so to speak, in episode 1 of the 1997 version, even if it was only due to liberties being taken, the original is always best, i just hope not too many more liberties were taken and ends up ruining the story i remember from only watching the anime
Andan210
69531565
Thank you so much for making this thread, it's incredibly helpful and illustrative.
I was really happy and excited when they announced this new adaptation, but I was also a little worried that they would try to get to the Kyoto and Jinchuu Arcs as soon as possible, rushing the story. However, judging from the pacing of this first 2 episodes and Watsuki's involvement in the production, I think it's safe to say that this season is probably only going to focus on the Tokyo Arc, with the hypotheticals upcoming seasons adapting the rest of the manga. That would be great.
I doubt they'll get to kyoto, at least in season 1. Judging by the opening, and whos in it, I have a fair idea of where it will end. I don't expect pacing to be an issue. also apparently the characters to the left of this are counted as "0" characters? way more than 15, but 0? what has mal come to these days. edited this post to add it, maybe it was due to this previous post? i dunno... its late for me
I see that you keep going with the comparisons. :) Regarding the ones that you listed for episode 2, I am mostly positive about them, except for the shouting of the sword styles, which felt a bit weird with everyone doing it at once.
Edit : Also, i fear to hit the character limit before the final episode...
I will probably moves the explanations of the entries to my blog when i hit the limit.
Alexioos95Jul 26, 2023 2:06 PM
"Genius lives only one storey above madness."
– Arthur Schopenhauer.
"Stupidity is a talent for misconception."
– Edgar Allan Poe.
I think the biggest difference here is that how Kenshin at the start of the story "took in" "that event", which plays around on how Kenshin is represented as a person.
The Kenshin of the 1996 Anime was a kind man who lives in regret due to his sins in the past, and he was looking for a direction. He is always trying to be kind and down-to-earth not only because of his upbringing, but also because of his wish that this direction is the way to more peace. It was the peace he wanted "because of that person". "Both the good things and the bad things that person did to him."
The Kenshin of this anime is both a hero and a killer. He said he was wandering, but in his heart he is still the killer he is. That "event" from the past and "that person" don't seem to live much mark on him as a person, albeit I'm sure they'll include her anyway.
I don't know if this changes are done bcs that's how the author wanted it in the past, or he just changed his mind due to newer adaptations (this Kenshin is closer to the live adaptation version than the manga, let alone the 1996 adaptation. despite the obvious differences in the story, ofc.)
or was it just because the preference and art direction of the director/somebody in the anime SC.
but it will change the meaning of Kenshin's romance with Kaoru, and the overall relationship between Kenshin and the cast.
btw: great thread. I'm looking forward to following this thread.
just ask a mod to allow you to add post just under you/just make a new thread where you book the next 6 replies for yourself, if you fear you'll run out of char limits.
thanks for your hard work bro.
The Kenshin of the 1996 Anime was a kind man who lives in regret due to his sins in the past, and he was looking for a direction. He is always trying to be kind and down-to-earth not only because of his upbringing, but also because of his wish that this direction is the way to more peace. It was the peace he wanted "because of that person". "Both the good things and the bad things that person did to him."
The Kenshin of this anime is both a hero and a killer. He said he was wandering, but in his heart he is still the killer he is. That "event" from the past and "that person" don't seem to live much mark on him as a person, albeit I'm sure they'll include her anyway.
I'm not sure to follow you on this...
All you said about the '96's Kenshin is also valable for his Manga's counterpart , and also most probably will be for this one.
About the part where you says that this Remake's Kenshin is still a killer... well yes , just like how he was in the Original Anime or the Manga.
That's what's shown in the Jin-e sub-Arc , and at multiples times in the Kyoto Arc.
He wants to believe that he won't need to kill again , and made a vow on it , but peoples just won't let him be happy.
In the Manga , his scar his used as a symbolism for his regrets.
Revvie-chan said: just ask a mod to allow you to add post just under you/just make a new thread where you book the next 6 replies for yourself, if you fear you'll run out of char limits.
Oh , i didn't knew mods could manipulate replies like that.
I'll definitely ask one when the time comes.
I wouldn't really like to create another thread tho , it'll mess up with the watched thread , and the history in the profile.
"Genius lives only one storey above madness."
– Arthur Schopenhauer.
"Stupidity is a talent for misconception."
– Edgar Allan Poe.
3 episodes in and I like how the adaptation is going, they showed yahiko getting beat up which is a plus considering how modern anime don't really show this, even urusei yatsura censored kid ran and ten twerp getting beaten.
Keep it up, man.
The Kenshin of the 1996 Anime was a kind man who lives in regret due to his sins in the past, and he was looking for a direction. He is always trying to be kind and down-to-earth not only because of his upbringing, but also because of his wish that this direction is the way to more peace. It was the peace he wanted "because of that person". "Both the good things and the bad things that person did to him."
The Kenshin of this anime is both a hero and a killer. He said he was wandering, but in his heart he is still the killer he is. That "event" from the past and "that person" don't seem to live much mark on him as a person, albeit I'm sure they'll include her anyway.
I'm not sure to follow you on this...
All you said about the '96's Kenshin is also valable for his Manga's counterpart , and also most probably will be for this one.
About the part where you says that this Remake's Kenshin is still a killer... well yes , just like how he was in the Original Anime or the Manga.
That's what's shown in the Jin-e sub-Arc , and at multiples times in the Kyoto Arc.
He wants to believe that he won't need to kill again , and made a vow on it , but peoples just won't let him be happy.
In the Manga , his scar his used as a symbolism for his regrets.
Revvie-chan said: just ask a mod to allow you to add post just under you/just make a new thread where you book the next 6 replies for yourself, if you fear you'll run out of char limits.
Oh , i didn't knew mods could manipulate replies like that.
I'll definitely ask one when the time comes.
I wouldn't really like to create another thread tho , it'll mess up with the watched thread , and the history in the profile.
nah I mean only for the representation of Kenshin as a character, in relation to the narrative of each version of adaptation.
it's like "focus on the aspect that is the killer" vs "focus on the aspect that is the humble rurouni looking for a sanctuary for his soul"
it changes on where the starting point of the story for him as a character is (which obviously will change how the journey should be seen)
maybe I should say it like this: this version feels more like John Wick than as Ezio Auditore at the final part of his trilogy.
both still killer? yes
both are not allowed to get out of that life throughout the story? yes
both are weary? yes
but the former's whole journey throughout the story was him finding reprieve as he mentally goes through those stages of grief
vs
the latter is griefing, yes, but while he carries that regret all of his life, he's done with the stages of grief before, and now his journey is about fixing those things that he either did, or was forced to do. So it's like: okay so what? it's not like the sacrifices were pointless, and it's not like the good times weren't there or the good times now only leave regret, and only regret.
to me, it feels like that the 96 anime seems to try to potray by making Kenshin's starting point as a character "more humble".
while the current remake, since it wants more grit (thanks to Kenshin's starting point being a killer), the comical gags are reduced.
The manga for me feels more neutral, in this sense, as it tries to portray Kenshin's reality of life and the salvation he receives by meeting Kaoru and basically getting to spend the 2nd half of his life with her.
(I don't know. Maybe this is what the author originally wanted but couldn't portray that well, back then? publishing schedule for manga was and is still mad, after all.)
the words don't change, but some of the order of the dialogues do. some action changes, some are more faithful, some are simply cut out.
those changes each respective adaptation took change how the meaning of the delivery is.
Mod: I think they do? just ask, really. Good luck, bro.
Alexioos95 said: For those who are unaware, this Anime is a Remake of the 1996 one.
The latter didn't completely adapted the Manga, so we hope to get multiples seasons of this Remake to do so.
This season will run for 24 Episodes, but we don't know how many content they plan to adapt. The Author actively took part in the production of this adaptation, and did a few alterations, on top of adding some elements to the story, that he wished to do but couldn't during the publication of the Manga.
________________________________________________________________
In this thread, i'll list which chapters are adapted by each episode, on top of pointing out all altered or skipped content.
But before that, here is a tour of the Rurouni Kenshin franchise, explaining every entry :
To begin, there is the Main Manga. (Officially licensed in English by Viz and Manga Plus.)
He's composed of 3 Arcs : Tokyo(Volumes 1-6/Chapters 01-47), Kyoto(Volumes 7-18/Chapters 48-151), and Jinchuu(Volumes 18-28/Chapters 152-255).
The Volumes release also include the 3 prototypes of the story :
Tokubetsuhen 2 (in Volume 1), a Prologue of the main story in which Kenshin save a damsel in distress.
Tokubetsuhen 1 (in Volume 3), an alternative version of the story where the main characters are siblings.
Sengoku no Mikazuki (in Volume 6), the love story of the creator of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, the sword style used by Kenshin.
A few months after its end, 2 Epilogues got published : Yahiko no Sakabatou and Haru ni Sakura, and were later included in the Kanzenban and Bunkoban editions. Unfortunately, they are not available legally in English, but you can read the fan-translations on MangaDex. (1, 2)
Tokuhitsuban is a re-telling of the Tokyo Arc, made to celebrate the announcement of the first Live-Action Movie, in 2012.
Volume 1 also include "Act Zero", another Prologue to the original Manga. (It's licensed in English by Viz under the "Restoration" name.)
To celebrate the release of the second Live-Action Movie in 2014, Uramaku : Honoo wo Suberu, a one-shot telling us more about the antagonist of the Kyoto Arc, and his allies, was released. The Volume also includes a short Novel written by the wife of the Author, which is the same story, but told from the perspective of a subordinate. (The one-shot was licensed in English by Viz as "Master of Flame", but it doesn't seems to be available anymore. You can find a fan-translation on MangaDex)
In 2016, Hokkaido-hen, a Sequel story taking place a few months after the Epilogues of the original Manga, started. (It was licensed in English by Viz, but they dropped it because of the Author's crime. You can find the fan-translations on MangaDex.)
Yahiko's Battle, a Novelization of some chapters from the Tokyo Arc. (Chapters 31-33, and 09-14)
Ginmaku Soshi-hen, a Novelization of Tokuhitsuban.
Kamiya Dojo Monogatari, short stories filling the time-skip between the two final chapters of the original Manga.
Voyage to the Moon World was licensed by Viz years ago, but is out-of-print since then.
Kamiya Dojo Monogatari is fan-translated on this Tumblr.
Unfortunately, Yahiko's Battle and Ginmaku Soshi-hen never got translated.
Unlike Mangas, Animes entries on MAL have an "Available at" section in the informations, so i won't post the links for it.
If there is no link, or if there is, but they are not available in your region, then it may be time to sail the seas... but i won't help you to.
The original Animeadapted the Tokyo and Kyoto Arcs. (Respectively episodes 01-27, aka. "Season 1", and episodes 28-62, aka. "Season 2".) The Tokyo Arc got a few fillers and alterations here and there, while the Kyoto one was done extremely faithfully, without any filler or highly altered material.
Unfortunately, the Jinchuu Arc was not adapted. Being still ongoing at the time of the release of episode 62, the producer committee did a series of fillers instead(episodes 63-94, aka. "Season 3"), to wait for it to finish. However, the fillers were so badly received that the Anime was cancelled, before it could even touch this Final Arc.
To give a sense of closure to the series, a Special(aka. episode 95) was released a few months after the cancellation.
During the run of the series of fillers, Ishinshishi e no Chinkoka, a filler Movie was released.
We also got 3 Specials :
Review Special, a little summary of some fights of the Tokyo Arc, and also contains a short teaser for the Kyoto Arc.
Special Techniques, an explanation of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu's techniques, used by the protagonist.
Recap, a recap of most of the Kyoto Arc(Episodes 34-56), up to the climax.
Now, let's talk about the big pieces : the 3 OVAs.
Tsuioku-hen is an adaptation of the long flashback shown around the start of the Jinchuu Arc, in which we get to see why and how Kenshin became the terrible Hitokiri Battosai.
It was already a very beloved sub-Arc, but the producers really outdid themselves, by removing all the comedy moments originally present in the Manga, on top of making the actions more realistic, and completely changing the color palette and art style of the original Anime. All of that makes the whole story all the more impactfully cruel and violent.
Seisou-hen, an Anime-original end to the franchise, taking a few elements from the Jinchuu Arc, but altering them completely.
It followed the style of Tsuioku-hen, letting little to no place for comedy, offering us a tragic end to an epic story.
Shin Kyoto-hen, a Remake of the Kyoto Arc with brand new animation from 2011, told from the perspective of a side-character following the protagonist. However, this got harshly criticized for its important changes in the plot.
Finally, to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the original Anime, a special DVD-Box was released, includingSpecial Ending, a short 3-minutes animation adapting the few last pages of the Manga, which are the real ending to the franchise.
As for the 5 (good !) Live-Action Movies :
Origins adapt the Tokyo Arc. (Available on Netflix)
Kyoto Inferno & The Legends Ends, the Kyoto Arc. (Respectively on Amazon Prime Video and Funimation)
The Final, the Jinchuu Arc. (On Netflix)
The Beginning, the flashback of the past of Kenshin, similar to how Tsuioku-hen did. (Also on Netflix)
They all heavily altered most scenes, but kept the spirit and the intention of the original work, which makes them good adaptations.
For those who want, here is a Google Sheets. (Attention, notes are summarized and not hidden !)
Episode 01 : Chapter 01.
Skipped content :
A very short introduction to the legend of Hitokiri Battosai has been skipped at the starts of the episode.
Through numerous scenes, the funny faces and small gags have been reduced or removed, as per the Author's request.
Listing them all would be way too long.
During the discussion in which Kaoru explains the presence of a dojo full of thugs in the next town, her mentioning its name, "Kihei-kan", and asking herself why does Kenshin use a reverse-blade, has been removed.
Altered content :
When Kenshin flees from the police with Kaoru, the latter is struggling to break free from Kenshin, and yells to him that Battosai is using the name of her dojo, unlike in the Manga, where she beats Kenshin while explaining him, before getting knocked out.
The kimono of Kaoru was white with red sakura's petals in the Manga, but completely blue here. Her ribbon was also supposed to be red, not pink.
Kenshin's distrust of the town's police is shown via his gaze rather than a sentence.
When Gohei enters the dojo, he still has his mask on, when he already removed it in the Manga.
Kenshin threatens Kihei by pointing the other side of the blade at him, instead of simply verbally threatening to do so.
Anime-original content :
The episode start with a flashback of the Bakumatsu, during which Kenshin was still the Hitokiri Battosai.
This whole scene is an extended and altered version of a few panels of Chapter 179. (Those alterations were already present for the Tsuioku-hen OVAs.)
In the sequence where Kenshin explains what Kenjutsu really is, there is a very brief glimpse at the two moments that changed his life, revealed in the Jinchuu Arc.
Extra notes :
Teasing about Hitokiri Battosai and the Jinchuu Arc was present in the Opening and the Ending.
The Opening contains several references to "Sobakasu", the first Opening of the original Anime.
Original Anime :
Equivalent : Episode 01, a few seconds of the end of Tsuioku-hen 04.
Faithful ? : Events and characters were mildly altered.
Episode 02 : Chapter 02, few pages of 03.
Skipped content :
Just like in the previous episode, the funny faces and gags have been reduced or removed.
In the Manga, Kenshin hums for a few panels when he walks around town with Kaoru, but not here.
The cigar that Yamagata was supposed to smoke in his carriage has been removed.
In the scene in which Ujiki points his blade at Kenshin, the latter slightly pushing it back to the side with his hand, has been skipped.
Yahiko's blood, which was all over the floor after his beating, was removed.
Altered content :
Kaoru is the one mentioning the temporality, but it's a narrator that does so in the Manga.
On the bridge, Kaoru and Kenshin walks side-by-side, but Kaoru walks in front of him in the Manga.
The introduction of Yahiko is done on a small bridge in town, but it happens in the grand one shown at the end of the episode in the Manga.
Yahiko pushed Kenshin from behind to steal him in the Manga, but he bump into him from the front here.
The haori of Yahiko has been modified, to remove the patterns it had on it.
In the Manga, Kaoru tackles Yahiko to the ground, but she simply grabs him from behind in this adaptation.
Here, passersby give way to the armed police, but in the Manga, the police do not hesitate to bump into them to move forward.
The location of the door to the Commissioner's office has been changed. It's on the wall behind a sofa, and not to the side anymore.
Anime-original content :
A lot more of the town is shown, and a remark of Kenshin about the bustle of the city has been added.
Just after, Kaoru asks Kenshin where he was before their encounter, but does not dare in the Manga.
The threats Yahiko faces in the alley are fully Anime-original.
The armed police officers mentioning their sword styles was not present in the Manga.
The whole scene during which Yahiko returns the money to the grandmother, and the short one where he picks up and waves the piece of wood, is new.
Extra notes :
The entirety of events about the police (Chapter 02) has been merged to take place on the same day as the events about Yahiko (Chapter 03). It causes many small alterations, that i didn't list. (Like the order of certain dialogues, or the clothes of Kaoru.)
Original Anime :
Equivalent : Episode 03, a few minutes of 02.
Faithful ? : Temporality of the 2 chapters was swapped, lot of original content was added, and events were slightly altered.
Episode 03 : Chapters 03, 04, a page of 05.
Skipped content :
When Gasuke is holding Yahiko by his collar, the latter's blood dripping on the floor was removed.
When Kenshin threatens the Kanto-shuei's boss, a panel where the latter collapses under the effect of fear, has been skipped.
Again, funny faces and gags has been reduced or removed.
Once Kenshin says to Yahiko that he'll become stronger, the latter replying that it's a given, was skipped.
Some little boxes from the narrator explaining that this is how Yahiko joined the dojo, was not adapted.
Altered content :
In the Manga, Kaoru sees Yahiko getting kidnapped from the other side of the river, but she does so from the bridge in this adaptation.
The Kanto-shuei's house plaque looks different. Some decorations have also been removed.
When Yahiko talks about how his parents died, we see blood dripping from his left hand, but it was his right one in the Manga.
When Gasuke is about to kill Yahiko, his face is clearly showing that he's still in pain in the Manga, but not here.
At the moment where Kenshin forces his way into the room, he should have already drawn his sword.
The way Kenshin holds Yahiko is different. He puts him on one of his shoulders here, but he simply holds him by his collar in the Manga.
When Yahiko breaks down because of his helplessness, he's still in the Kanto-shuei's house in the Manga, but he's already outside here.
In the Manga, Kaoru waits Kenshin outside of the dojo, but still inside her land. However, she's waiting him outside, in front of it in this Remake.
At the exact same scene, we can see that Kaoru already changed clothes, but she didn't in the Manga.
Still at the same scene, Kenshin puts Yahiko down, but he continues to hold him throughout it in the Manga.
In the Manga, Kaoru is angry at Yahiko because he doesn't hold his shinai correctly, but here, it's because he throw it.
Yahiko throws his sandal at Kaoru when she berates him, but it's a shinai thrown at her, originally.
The thugs beaten up by the guy after the credits, has been replaced to be the Hashi Manji.
Anime-original content :
Once Gasuke gets up, and after he was sent to the ceiling, one of his friends calls out his name. These shootings were not in the Manga.
When Yahiko says that he wants to become stronger, a focus is made on a piece of wood. This is Anime-original.
When Kenshin brings Yahiko back to the Kamiya's dojo, Kenshin and Kaoru greeting each other, is Anime-original.
Yahiko criticize Kaoru a little bit more, and seems to regret it just after.
Yahiko is shown having a skeptical gaze about the story of the two disciples.
Kaoru is worried about Kenshin because of the canon, and shoot his name. Her shock when he cuts the cannonball is also new.
After Kenshin threatens the thugs of the Hashi Manji, their reaction is entirely Anime-original.
Extra notes :
Due to the change of temporality in the previous episode, some events and dialogues has been moved to this one.
Original Anime :
Equivalent : Episode 02.
Faithful ? : Lot of original content was added, and events about the Hashi Manji (Chapter 04) has been skipped.
Don't hesitate to make a post, like that the thread will be bumped, and more people will be able to read it.
If you have any questions about the franchise, or some suggestions about this thread, you can @ me.
I'm reading it when every EPISODE AIRS so keep it up bud
tough work but your work is APPRECIATED by the FANS
WVM said: I'm reading it when every EPISODE AIRS so keep it up bud
tough work but your work is APPRECIATED by the FANS
Thanks !
But can you please stop to quote the whole post ?
It makes the thread longer , and harder to read.
You can simply post without quoting anything , i have this thread on watched. (You can also @Alexioos95 , to ping me.)
matias067 said: this thread should be definitely pinned...i hope MAL has that function...
Pinned threads are for extremely important threads only , made by mods. (Rules , warnings...)
You can "watch" this thread tho , it'll save it in your panel , and ping you when someone post in it.
Alexioos95Jul 23, 2023 1:19 AM
"Genius lives only one storey above madness."
– Arthur Schopenhauer.
"Stupidity is a talent for misconception."
– Edgar Allan Poe.
@Revvie-chan i asked a forum mods, and they can't manipulate the replies like that. (It's a time-based system, so it can't be modified)
I think i'll just move the explanations of entries to one of my blogs, and link it here. It'll also permit me to detail a little bit more too.
"Genius lives only one storey above madness."
– Arthur Schopenhauer.
"Stupidity is a talent for misconception."
– Edgar Allan Poe.
Alexioos95 said: Updates : Notes for Episode 04 has been added !
@Revvie-chan i asked a forum mods, and they can't manipulate the replies like that. (It's a time-based system, so it can't be modified)
I think i'll just move the explanations of entries to one of my blogs, and link it here. It'll also permit me to detail a little bit more too.
I haven't picked the anime yet, but after a quick glance of this info it seems the anime is too much differ from the source material; I wonder is it really worth to watch the anime?
nishant0 said: I haven't picked the anime yet, but after a quick glance of this info it seems the anime is too much differ from the source material; I wonder is it really worth to watch the anime?
Absolutely every Animes makes some minor alterations , they can't do a perfect 1:1 adaptation of all details.
In reality , all alterations here are extremely minimal and almost unnoticeable , i'm just very meticulous.
As of Episode 04 , there is only 2 important changes.
#1 - They modified the timeline of events in Episodes 02 & 03.
It's not too much of a change , and it actually makes more sense like this.
#2 - They greatly reduced the comedy aspect.
This one is extremely important , as it completely changes the viewers perception , which is why i'm doubtful , even if i still love it.
I already talked about that in one of the reply : https://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=2104576&msgid=69497992#msg69497992
But it's important to know that this Anime is not expected to be a 100% faithful adaptation of the Manga anyway , but a re-interpretation of it.
The Manga , the 96 Anime , and this one , are all the same story but told differently.
The Manga is a balance of Comedy/Action , the 96 Anime added more Comedy , and this one almost removed it.
No matter what , each version doesn't render the previous one useless/irrevelant. You can always try them all.
"Genius lives only one storey above madness."
– Arthur Schopenhauer.
"Stupidity is a talent for misconception."
– Edgar Allan Poe.
nishant0 said: I haven't picked the anime yet, but after a quick glance of this info it seems the anime is too much differ from the source material; I wonder is it really worth to watch the anime?
Absolutely every Animes makes some minor alterations , they can't do a perfect 1:1 adaptation of all details.
In reality , all alterations here are extremely minimal and almost unnoticeable , i'm just very meticulous.
As of Episode 04 , there is only 2 important changes.
#1 - They modified the timeline of events in Episodes 02 & 03.
It's not too much of a change , and it actually makes more sense like this.
#2 - They greatly reduced the comedy aspect.
This one is extremely important , as it completely changes the viewers perception , which is why i'm doubtful , even if i still love it.
I already talked about that in one of the reply : https://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=2104576&msgid=69497992#msg69497992
But it's important to know that this Anime is not expected to be a 100% faithful adaptation of the Manga anyway , but a re-interpretation of it.
The Manga , the 96 Anime , and this one , are all the same story but told differently.
The Manga is a balance of Comedy/Action , the 96 Anime added more Comedy , and this one almost removed it.
No matter what , each version doesn't render the previous one useless/irrevelant. You can always try them all.
I see, if there is less comedy then ig it is more focused on the plot, that is a good thing for me. Lesser the comedy, more the better, but yeah only if the story is engaging.
Thanks for the thread!
I’ve one question about the 4th episode: to prepare for the fight with Kenshin, Sano did some research about his past even by going to Kyoto. But…
in the kyoto arc Sano didn’t know how to get there, in this aspect he is like Zoro from One Piece (or the other way around)
So, because i don’t quite remember the first part of the manga, there is some difference in it or is just a little continuity/characterzation error?
