Synopsis

Samurai Deeper Kyo takes place in feudal Japan at a time when the land is being overrun with kenyo. Nobunaga has been resurrected and is rallying all manner of evil to his cause.

Kyoshiro Mibu is a mild-mannered medicine salesman who finds that he shares his body with Kyo, a powerful warrior from the past, and is slowly losing control over himself. Both Kyo and Nobunaga are on a quest to find Kyo?s original body so that they can utilize their full power.

Review

While the back-story is not extremely powerful or original, the characters seemed convinced and keep the show on track, without a lot of side stories or pointless filler episodes. The setting is loosely historical, but a variety of subtle anachronisms cause everything to feel somewhat new.

The cast is composed of mostly enjoyable characters, which the storyline alternates among, keeping things interesting. Having essentially two protagonists also keeps the pace lively and prevents the dialogue from becoming monotonous. They also provide a very interesting contrast for each other, representative of the yin/yang worn on Kyo?s back: the cold killer Kyo and the seemingly-innocent Kyoshiru.

Kyoshiro is initially meek and self-deprecating, but as he begins to recall more about his own past, his true personality begins to emerge and he begins to show a power of his own. Kyo, on the other hand, always seems self-aware and asserts his personality more and more frequently as his power returns. He often takes control in critical situations in order to protect his host body from danger, but later on his consciousness begins to suppress Kyoshiro?s all the time.

The story does a good job of providing revelations into the pasts of both men through chance encounters and flashbacks. It becomes clear that their lives have been an almost symbiotic relationship in the past, making their current situation all the more ironic. This personal aspect of the storyline is far more intriguing than the backdrop of events that are motivating the characters.

The music used does not have a very traditional flavor, but it blends well nonetheless. The soundtrack combines modern guitar riffs with synthesized beats to effectively increase the excitement when appropriate. Not one of my personal favorites, but definitely adequate and rather unique.

As you would expect, action is a large portion of this series, and the animation serves it well, in most cases. The colors are very vivid and crisp, some of the boldest and brightest I?ve seen. The motions are fluid and convincing, with relatively few still frames. CG is incorporated in small amounts and serves to enhance without being obtrusive. Overall, the animation is very high quality for a series, and the character designs are attractive and distinctive.

Conclusion

This series does not seem to have generated a very large following yet, and I wonder why. With above average animation, an engaging cast, and plenty of action, it has a lot to offer.

-Review by Reptile (17 Jun, 2006)

Audio:	Good quality. Unique soundtrack.
Video:	Crisp animation, good action sequences
Plot:	Fairly standard, but with more complex subplot
Style:	Detailed design and stylish characters
Characters:	Intriguing protagonists with a mediocre entourage
Violence:	Moderate
Language:	Mild
Nudity:	None
Genre:	Action
Episodes:	26
Rating:	3.5 of 5
Share

You must login to submit a comment.