Rurouni Kenshin, one of the most beloved Japanese swordsman manga and anime the world over, has been adapted to the silver screen for a series of three thrilling, action-packed movies—and we’re bringing all three to theaters across the US this fall!
Movie 1: Rurouni Kenshin: Origins | August 8 – 10
Movie 2: Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno | September 12 – 14
Movie 3: Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends | October 3 – 5
The three films cover some of the best stories the series has to offer (spanning the early beginnings of Kenshin meeting Kaoru, Sano, and the rest, to the end of the fan-favorite Shishio Makoto arc, if you’re familiar with the original), and you won’t want to miss a single film in the series.
Advance tickets for movie 1 go on sale soon! Sign up to be the first to receive updates at funimationfilms.com/rurounikenshin.
If you have any trepidation about live-action adaptations of anime, don’t—these movies really capture the spirit of the original manga, and the casting so closely resembles the characters that it seems they’ve leapt off the page. But don’t take our word on it; Kotaku, in reviewing the films, proclaims “Rurouni Kenshin may be the single best Japanese live-action adaptation I have ever seen,” and further declares:
“If you like Kenshin, see this movie. If you like anime, see this movie. If you’re curious about how to successfully adapt a work of fiction to film, see this movie. If you like sword-fighting action, see this movie. If you have a pulse, see this movie.”
See their glowing reviews for all three films:
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The Live Action Rurouni Kenshin Movie is a Nearly Perfect Film Adaptation
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The Second Kenshin Film is Just as Good as the First
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Kenshin’s Third Movie Has Action Scenes that Will Leave You Awestruck
If you’re new to Rurouni Kenshin, there’s a reason this manga series still resonates with fans over 20 years after its debut—the series combines a very universal story about personal redemption with a memorable cast of colorful characters and, of course, badass Japanese swordfighting action. These films are packed with intense swordplay action and martial arts, choreographed by Kenji Tanigaki (“one of the world’s top stunt cheoreographers” according to Time Out), who’s made a name for himself in the Asian action movie scene on many impressive action films on both sides of the Pacific, and who regularly teams up on action choreography with martial arts star Donnie Yen of Hong Kong martial arts film series Ip Man fame. Kotaku again comes back with high praise of the action direction of the films as having “some of the most amazing sword-fighting action scenes ever put on film.”
Look out for tickets on sale soon, and don’t miss out on seeing this jaw-dropping action on the big screen in our three-part theatrical event series!
Synopsis:
In the wake of a brutal civil war, Kenshin Himura, once a feared killer, turns his back on bloodshed and vows to carry a reversed-edge blade for the rest of his days. But Kenshin soon finds that the world around him is greatly changed. Rapid modernization has given rise to new villains driven by power and greed—and from the shadows of the past, the famed assassin Makoto Shishio has returned to wreak havoc across Japan. Together, with the beautiful kendo instructor Kaoru and a colorful cast of allies, Kenshin embarks on a quest to protect the innocent from those that would do them harm. In a staggering display of swordplay and martial arts mastery, Kenshin will attempt to survive his promise to face his own blade—before spilling the blood of his enemies!
