New 'Rurouni Kenshin' TV Anime Unveils Cast, Staff, 2023 Premiere

by Vindstot
Sep 23, 2022 10:04 PM | 54 Comments

The Aniplex Online Fest 2022 event unveiled the main cast, staff, a character visual (pictured), and first promotional video for the new television anime adaptation of Nobuhiro Watsuki's Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan (Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story) manga on Saturday. The new anime series will premiere on Fuji TV's noitaminA programming block in 2023.

Souma Saitou (Yuukoku no Moriarty) and Rie Takahashi (Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu) are starring as Kenshin Himura and Kaoru Kamiya, respectively.

Staff
Director: Hideyo Yamamoto (Strike the Blood)
Series Composition: Hideyuki Kurata (Made in Abyss)
Character Design: Terumi Nishii (JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken Part 4: Diamond wa Kudakenai)
Music: Yuu Takami (Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin)
Studio: LIDENFILMS

Weekly Shounen Jump serialized the original historical samurai manga between 1994 and 1999. Watsuki and his wife Kaoru Kurosaki launched the Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan - Hokkaido-hen (Rurouni Kenshin: Hokkaido Arc) sequel manga in Jump SQ. in November 2016. Shueisha published the seventh volume on May 2.

The original television anime by Studio Deen and Gallop aired in 94 episodes from 1996 to 1998. Aniplex released a four-episode OVA the following year that served as a prequel to the television anime, followed by a two-episode sequel OVA in 2002.

PV 1

Source: Press Release

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20 of 54 Comments Recent Comments

It has promise. I am glad that some people see past the follies of the author and take the material for what it is.

Oct 7, 2022 10:42 AM by VyseLegendaire

Why not, the new Shaman brought me a lot of happy moments and emotions, and he tested the old feelings for strength. The new version may turn out to be many times better and stronger than it will help not only and not so much yourself, but the original source.

Sep 29, 2022 10:11 PM by Verdandy

Takahashi Rie and Saitou Soma, this will be Genius Prince all over again. I love the dynamic between the two.

Rurouni Kenshin is my childhood, looking forward on this re-adaptation of a beloved classic.

Sep 27, 2022 6:17 AM by OrangeRafi

Having finished the original anime as well as Trust & Betrayal last year, I hope this is a good adaptation. Hopefully they don’t rush the already covered material to cover the Jinchuu and Hokkaido Arcs. It looks to be more gritty, which is is a good thing. I’ll miss Kenshin’s original VA, I thought she portrayed Kenshin’s “peaceful” life a decade into Meiji pretty well. Unfortunately Watsuki will turn away a lot of potential new viewers which is a shame, but understandable. RK is a really great beloved series that is overshadowed by the Mangaka.

Sep 26, 2022 2:25 PM by Zen98

i thought this franchise was dead after the authors scandas, i just wished they animated the remaining arcs instead

Sep 25, 2022 9:06 PM by silversaint

The animation looks really good so far.

Sep 25, 2022 9:04 PM by malvarez1

2 main casts from Orient will play again as love interests (imagine Yuuma Uchida also join in this anime, so we can watch love triangle between them)

Sep 25, 2022 7:55 AM by reny1966nanin

Don't know why but this pick my interest, I like the idea of bringing back an old Battle Shounen so new people can be aware of. I wanted to see the old adaptation, but I guess this would do. The animation looks fine actually and I hope the all series sticks with it or improve it somehow, tho I have my doubts

Sep 25, 2022 4:52 AM by Joshhhp

RedChrome said:
It does look good but why a reboot ?

The last Arc of the original Manga never was adapted , the Sequel Manga is doing good , the recent Live-Action movies were extremely well received , and the old Anime is from 20+ years ago.
So it makes sense that it would be a complete Reboot , even if we were scared they'll choose to only animate the Sequel Manga.

Sep 24, 2022 10:20 PM by Alexioos95

It does look good but why a reboot ?

Sep 24, 2022 6:07 PM by RedChrome

NOT THE RETURN OF THE PEDOBEAR'S MAGNUM OPUS

Sep 24, 2022 5:13 PM by eze_tielve

screw the author for what he did (if you know you know)

Sep 24, 2022 5:09 PM by stella555

I've never watched this anime because it's not from my time, but now that a remake is coming out, I'm going to watch it for sure.

Sep 24, 2022 11:24 AM by Kinyoubi

Hope it has enough episode count and is a full adaptation.
Aside from Kyoto arc, i don't like the previous anime adaptation (even those ovas). So i hope it is made faithful to manga (don't mind rushing Tokyo arc a bit). But what worries me is for its to be complete and faithful adaption it requires like around 80 episode (or atleast 3 season).

Also pv looks good, but LIDENFILMS makes me fear it won't have good enough animation

Sep 24, 2022 11:03 AM by Adampk

So excited for this. Love how close it looks to the originals.

Sep 24, 2022 7:42 AM by jorel262

Looking forward it and hopefully it will be a full adaptation this time.

Sep 24, 2022 7:17 AM by AddaeAkono

ZXEAN said:

JizzyHitler said:
I adore the trend of older series with bad to troubled adaptations getting more faithful or complete ones, the original Rurouni kenshin is a series absolutely bogged down in filler and poor pacing during its actual adapted parts this could be potentially great if it alleviates those problems.

That'd be awful, the only reason trust and betrayal works is as a contrast to the tone of the story and building up Kenshin as a goofy well-meaning guy keeping his past vague throughout the series till its eventually revealed and we get to see the monster he used to be. Its at the direct midpoint of the series for a reason.

I watched trust and betrayal OVA before watching the original series may be that the reason my opinion differs from other. Moreover I only watched first 27 ep of the TV currently it's on hold.

yeah that'd explain it, the ova is great as a standalone experience but it really doesnt work as part of the series as a whole when seen out of order, the bad adaptation that adds alot of comedy filler does not help that early arc. If im not mistaken the anime only faithfully adapts the middle arc where the trust and betrayal arc is told right after and I remember the pacing being pretty padded out there anyway.

I think its always important to remmember being a prequel doesnt mean its actually an entry point, if anything they usually carry as much baggage if not more than sequels and potentially spoil a ton of mystery or things meant to be left vague in the main product.

Sep 24, 2022 7:13 AM by JizzyHitler

ZXEAN said:

Hopefully this remake doesn't focus to much on comidy lol. Rurouni Kenshin is best when it's serious and dramatic just like it's 4 episode OVA.

I watched trust and betrayal OVA before watching the original series may be that the reason my opinion differs from other. Moreover I only watched first 27 ep of the TV series currently it's on hold.

Sep 24, 2022 7:06 AM by ZXEAN

I adore the trend of older series with bad to troubled adaptations getting more faithful or complete ones, the original Rurouni kenshin is a series absolutely bogged down in filler and poor pacing during its actual adapted parts this could be potentially great if it alleviates those problems.

ZXEAN said:

Hopefully this remake doesn't focus to much on comidy lol. Rurouni Kenshin is best when it's serious and dramatic just like it's 4 episode OVA.

Sep 24, 2022 6:57 AM by JizzyHitler

RobertBobert said:

Kuma said:

oh, i see. it shouldn't be. seem to be full remake since start.