Sword of the Stranger is a movie animated in Japan and produced by the studio Bones. Directed by Masahiro Ando, this animated action is filled with blood, swords and invigorating high quality graphics. This animation encourages friends ideals, honor, and redemption. For sure some of you have heard this title before and Still Calaba, in summary, the point of this movie is that it is beautifully animated and about honor, and does have a plot to go with it. In this review we explore all the factors that make Sword of the Stranger a great animated movie.
Sword of the Stranger: Recap
The film follows a young Japanese boy, Kotaro, who confuses the Ming assassins that are chasing him with the help of his dog, Tobimaru. The Min, sent by the emperor of China, was dispatched to search for him because he’s required to take the blood of a “genius”. Kotaro, now active from the loneliness of his past, became the target of aggressors who compel him to a solitary. His only ally living with him is his unwavering canine companion, who abides the tests they have been through together.
One day, Kotaro meets a wandering nameless samurai who seems to be directionless and has lost all purpose in his life. However, the nameless samurai still helps Kotaro, albeit unwillingly, after Tobimaru is poisoned. Kotaro agrees to pay the samurai if he travels with them to a temple where they will treat Tobimaru. The three thus embark on a treacherous trip, over the course of which the nameless samurai also reduces Kotaro and becomes more willing to protect him.
The film’s antagonists are led by a Chinese warrior Luo-Lang, who is a capable swordsman but an outsider in Japan. Unlike his comrades, Luo-Lang does not care about the Emperor’s custom; all he seeks is a worthy opponent who can be able to measure up to his strength. This pits him directly against the nameless samurai and leads to one of the most iconic battles in anime that has ever been witnessed.
Animation and Direction
The animation is one of the best features of Sword of the Stranger. The animation of this film, made by Studio Bones, is among the most beautiful in action anime movies and is popularly rated among the most fluid animations. The outstanding level of detail in each frame and the fight scenes is spectacular. Psychologically, a lot of emphasis was put on how people moved in battle, and that focus can be felt in the fighting – it is brutal, fierce, and powerful. The movie is mostly known for the final battle between the nameless Samurai and Luo-Lang. The mount’s fighting sequence is claimed to be the finest sword-fighting anime technique owing to its superb choreography and wonderful realization of all the scenes of battle.
Sword of the Stranger is a fascinating film, all thanks to the direction of Masahiro Ando – one of the film’s key highlights. He does a good job Of Chin Yupuy and allows for some intense action scenes, and gives a moment of quiet during those fights so the conflict feels more than functional. The fluidity of the narrative is very good, so there are no issues with action scenes coming one after another.
Sword of the Stranger expresses a multitude of themes even if there is a lot of action within the film. Sword of the Stranger’s main strength is the relationship between Kotaro and the the nameless samurai, two loners who have been scarred by their pasts. Kotaro is still just a child, placed in a perilous environment by forces he cannot comprehend, he is simply the very picture of innocence and fragility. The ambiguity surrounding the identity of the samurai also goes a long way since he is simply a man born troubled due to the sins of his yesteryears, existing within an oppressive sense of guilt and trying to rationalize his existence. The bond forms between the two, however, becomes a shoulder to lean on in times of need, and together they embrace the loyalty that unfolds during their close friendship. The bond allows the nameless samurai to have a greater purpose and hope for redemption, while Kotaro finds togetherness within a person who does not try to plunder what little of him remains.
The potential for honor in a lone warrior’s spirit is another profound theme that runs throughout the work. Luo-Lang, the principal antagonist in the film, yearns to conquer an adversary that is true and worthy – “a true warrior practices combat as if it is his religion and he is the priest of such a great art”. Even the clash with a nameless samurai, who has no reason, is not driven by hatred but rather by the fact that a champion should look for other champions. This creates an interesting multi-dimensional aspect of this character in the film and such multi-faceted characters always stand out from the rest in any given story. Such horizon of ideals is important in regard to the conflict between different clans in the story as well.
Violence is another theme that has been given noteworthy attention in the film. Sword of the Stranger does not hide from the viewer the ugly and brutal aspect of war only to glorify it later, but rather enhances the context with additional realism. Not letting their audience lose focus in pity during battles, the screenplay utilizes a harsh realism as a device to emphasize the depth of the conflicts that the characters involved experience. The brutality of the situation creates a sense of urgency for the viewers as well.
Musical Score and Sound
Something that can also be noted is the soundtrack, composed by Naoki Sato that is elegant in its own style too. The music goes well with the theme of feudal Japan and enhances the pace in action sequences. Sato’s score stands out with its completeness and drama infused in the traditional Japanese tonality with orchestra compositions that are nicely suited into the film. It can also be noted that the sound design especially during the action sequences enhances the film. The sword clashing, the clothing movement, and sound of hits give the realism of each of them and thus add to the interest of the viewers.
Voice Over
Sword of the Stranger should be vividly enjoyed in its Japanese version as much as English as the voice acting for both versions works very well. The voice cast in the Japanese version includes Nagase Tomoya and Chinen Yuri as the nameless samurai and Kotaro respectively and their acting is commendable to say the least. The same can be said for the voice over while dubbing in English, where the performance noticeably lives up to the purpose too. Such successful edits make the viewers believe the characters in both versions of sound and considerably serves the purpose that they speak about regardless the langue the audience chooses to watch in.
Critical Reception and Legacy
Sword of the Stranger was well received not only in Japan, but also outside and has credible attention in the eastern and western sides. Animation, plot, and the dynamic part were the words used to describe the film. Even though the motion picture did not make exceptional box office returns, it gained a devoted audience and is now considered one of the greatest in the genre of anime action movies. The animation of the film is exceptional, which has been the case for over a decade now as its a dominant facet recognized by many critics.
In IMDb’s instance, the movie rating has a good uptake which indicates that both the audiences and critics were well pleased. One cannot contradict the impact it has had on the anime world – it is Cole Porter’s “Come to the Cabaret” for active and samurai-loving anime fans. In addition, the cause of this film can be found in its direct descendants who aim to the same visual performance and pace.
Conclusion
Sword of the Stranger is a unique composition of a variety of genres such as action film, character drama and story based on an acute conflict of several aspects throughout the plot. The slow melancholy of dawn combines magnificently with breath taking landscapes, incredible battles, and philosophical subtleties which makes it a true gem of Japanese animated films. The bond that grows throughout the film between Kotaro and the nameless Samurai serves as a crucial and touching emotional center and makes the film more than just an action one. Themes like reparation, loyalty, and the father-son relationship in a world of war are certainly very deep and can be appreciated by anyone.
Sword of the Stranger is recommended for the anime fans as well as for the action movie lovers and samurai poetry enthusiasts. It is quite unlikely that the viewers will ever dismiss it due to a combination of excellent and technically refined anime.
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