Rurouni Kenshin (2023 TV series)
is a Japanese anime television series, based on the manga series of the same title by Nobuhiro Watsuki. It is the second anime television series adaptation, after the 1996–98 series. It is directed by Hideyo Yamamoto and animated by Liden Films. It premiered in July 2023 on Fuji TV's Noitamina programming block. Premise 
In the Meiji era in Japan, Himura Kenshin is a pacifistic , wandering the country and helping people with his swordsmanship skills. Once a deadly and feared political assassin known as Hitokiri Battōsai, he has since led a path of peace, wielding a reverse bladed  in a vow to never again take another life. Voice cast

Production 
On December 19, 2021, at the Jump Festa '22 event, it was announced that a new television series adaptation of the Rurouni Kenshin manga would be animated by Liden Films. A promotional video was shown at the Aniplex Online Fest 2022 on September 24, 2022. The series will re-adapt the original manga series. It is directed by Hideyo Yamamoto, with scripts written by Hideyuki Kurata, character designs by , and music composed by . The original manga author, Nobuhiro Watsuki, supervised the character designs and scenario. Yamamoto said that he used to watch all Rurouni Kenshin works during his youth, and was in particular impressed by the original video animations for it different artwork. He came to think the main appeal of the series was how the series showed people's lives in the Meiji era and how Kenshin not only fought enemies but also helped them redeem from their crimes while interacting with them. The latter was further noted to make Kenshin as a man every viewer wants to be like. From the beginning, he was thinking that he wanted to show "a way of foreshadowing" but wanted the details to be subtle, similar to the dramas that often air next to Kenshin. In contrast to the more comical original work, Yamamoto aimed to make the narrative more serious and avoid slapstick or superdeformed designs in order to make it more realistic. In animating the work, they used 3DCG with 3-D models of the rooms a fitting for the modern age. Horse carriages were animated through CGI as they were a common vehicle used in the Meiji. In regards to the action, the animation was given a more unique style for fight scene when Tokyo. The designs were made by Terumi Nishii under supervision by Yamamoto and Watsuki. Careful detail was given to the kimono and other clothing featured in the anime. Among many supervisions of the series,  and Watsuki aimed to make it fitting for the Reiwa era as well as accessible to both newcomers and returning audience. The story arc involving Raijuta was revised in order to improved in the 2023 anime. Kurosaki in particular revised the scripts of the Raijuta episodes. Kurata came up with new ideas to revisit Sanosuke's backstory in order to bring further depth to the character. Meetings were done in order to supervise most episodes. While the clothing remained the same, the way bodies are drawn were revised due to improvements from the graphic style from the manga and 1990s version. Soma Saito was chosen because the staff found him fitting to portray both the gentle and rude demeanors of Kenshin. After the musical based on the manga was done, the staff found the manga very comical and wanted to generate different style with the new anime, to the point Kenshin no longer says his expression of "Oro?" meant to sound as comic relief to his reactions in jokes. Nevertheless, there was still a desire to keep some comical scenes. Kenshin's voice actor, Soma Saito, said he was a fan of the series ever since he was a child and looks forward to creating his own take of Kenshin. Meanwhile, Kaoru's voice actress, Rie Takahashi, was surprised she was selected to voice the heroine and, similar to Saito, wanted to create an appealing version of Karou. Among other main actors include Makoto Koichi who aims to portray Yahiko's high spirits while Taku Yashiro aims to adapt various side of Sanosuke's personality such as his youth and rough attitude. Release 

The series premiered on July 7, 2023, on Fuji TV's Noitamina programming block. It will run for two consecutive cours of 24 episodes. For the first cour, Ayase and  (under the name Ayase×R-Shitei) performed the opening theme , while Reol performed the ending theme . For the second cour, Masaki Suda and Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra (under the name Masaki Suda×Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra) performed the opening theme , while Kid Phenomenon performed the ending theme . The episodes will be collected by Aniplex on eight DVDs and Blu-ray sets, set to be released from October 25, 2023, to May 29, 2024. Aniplex of America screened the U.S. premiere for the series at the 2023 Anime Expo on July 3 in the Main Events stage of the Los Angeles Convention Center. A conversation between Aniplex producer Masami Niwa and voice actors Soma Saito and Rie Takahashi followed the screening. Crunchyroll is streaming the series outside of Asia. An English dub premiered in October 2023, although neither Aniplex of America nor Crunchyroll revealed the cast. Notes

References

External links 
  
 

Rurouni Kenshin
Anime series based on manga
Aniplex
Fiction set in 1878
Liden Films
Meiji period in fiction
Noitamina
Samurai in anime and manga
Television series set in the 1870s
Works about atonement