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Any prior knowledge of Rurouni Kenshin series is not needed to watch and appreciate this one.

Story (8/10):
Will given the premise of the story, one could just assume it’s a character development OVA’s or made simply to please the fans/mill the franchise , in reality this 2 hour long show accomplished way more than that. It’s a work of art in it’s own regard that can be watch and fully enjoy be people who haven’t seen the original. Simplistic yet beautiful and even poetic writing has bless this little gem and made it shine more than most familiar with original series would expect. In a nut ... shell it’s a dramatic story of impossible love, filled with well choreographed action scenes and a little historical twist. On the other hand it could be look at as a life story that has way more to it, a story that made a man what he is.

Characters (8/10):
While despite our two main characters cast is pretty generic and others are there just to be there, to move the plot, to do their work, but not to be interesting or dynamical, this doesn’t take much from the show. It has a running time of a movie and it’s well aware that you can’t make to many strong characters and give them screen time whit that, so the focus is put only on the main two, and while in many cases it could be a bad thing, it’s not the way it’s this time. Chemistry between Kenshin and Tomoe is just amazingly beautiful, every interaction between them is seems quite a silent one, but at the same time so poetic, simplistic, emotional and colorful.

Visuals (9/10):
Studio deen is not always a consistent one, but when they want to make things look amazing they can, and this is one of those cases. Art style is well detailed and realistic, it made to set an atmospheric feeling of Japan revolution, there is not much one could take a way from it, it should be purely because it’s not what one prefers pretty much. The only part that makes this a 9 instead of 10 is animation, while most of the time fluent at what it does, fights even though well choreographed have some still frames here and there.

Sound (10/10):
Soundtrack is there do it’s job, which is to help build already well made atmosphere to new heights, and it manages to accomplish this whit ease. Japanese voice actor also did their job well, which is quite a usual case which Japanese voicing, there is no English dub, which is quite a shame as this show could make his way to the west pretty easily.

Enjoyment (9/10):
I would think it should be quite hard to find someone that would have nothing enjoyable for him in this little gem, it’s a short watch so imho every one should give it a try, you will probably be surprised from the start. As for personal Enjoyment, I did enjoy every part of it to at least some extend, there is really not a dull moment in this show, not a single boring or unimportant fight scene, even dialogues are written whit the same consistent touch of poetry and subtle color from a huge palette.

TL;DR version at the end.

Lets talk about pigs, and American, and how those two correlate with each other.

Story (7/10) :
While story of PR is really a simple one, it's about friendship, love, companionship and other usual stuff like that, it's the presentation of story that shines. Whole thing is pieced together to a beautiful, relaxed, funny and even child plot, you will get what I'm talking about from first few minutes when pig is fighting against bad potato nose people. The flow of it feels natural, there are no real pacing problems or dull moment, every time story slows down there is few comedic moments ... to keep viewer interesting.

Art (8/10) :
Art style is as always with Ghibli works colorful, detailed and a bit westernized, if you looking for usual Chinese cartoon big tits style than you might not like this. It's more realistic but has his own unique, mysterious, kinda even magical twist. Same goes for Animation it's really fluid and insanely focused on small things, like for example starting scene when pig face dude tries to set his engine on. This type of focus on detail is notable in any Miyazaki work.

Sound (8/10) :
Similarly to animation and art style OST is also well put, it never seems out of place. Music tone set for an adventure like it should with this type of show. As far as Dub vs Sub, well both are good, I'm usually a sub person cause, but Ghibli always get insane dubs. The only problem with dubbed is lips movement is way off, but if you can deal with it watch dubs just for Keaton.

Characters (6/10) :
Well characters are simple, not much memorable, besides piggy, well and maybe ginger chick. (Fio) Others besides main two are mostly just there two be there and are not much focused on, and as usually with movies there is not much time for strong development or big well made character pool.

Enjoyment (6/10) :
It was quite fun, a breath of fresh air to be honest, but it's also was a bit lacking and simplistic. If you are in the mood to just chill and watch something not really serious this is a thing you need. Otherwise just wait for that rainy day wheer there is nothing more you want to do and then give it a shot.

TL;DR:
Pigs are beautiful, don't be racist, show pigs some love, watch Porco Roso.