Updated October 7, 2022 by Ernie
One of my childhood anime got to be Rurouni Kenshin. I remember waiting in its afternoon time slot with an X drawn on my cheek, covered in a red blanket, as if it was a kimono. Boy, how time flies!
Table of Contents
And with its upcoming Rurouni Kenshin series this 2023, I think now’s a good time to catch up to this series!
But you’re wondering where to start? Well, you’re in luck! Because we have a Rurouni Kenshin Watch order just for you! You can follow its release order but if you want something of a coherent or continuous narrative, you can follow the chronological watch order!
HOW TO WATCH RUROUNI KENSHIN
Anime Release Watch Order
- Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 (1996)
- Rurouni Kenshin Season 2 (1996 – 97)
- Rurouni Kenshin Season 3 (1997 – 98)
- Rurouni Kenshin: The Motion Picture (1997)
- Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal (1999)
- Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection (2001 – 02)
- Rurouni Kenshin: New Kyoto Arc (2011 – 12)
- Rurouni Kenshin Recap (1997)
- Rurouni Kenshin Special (1998)
Anime Chronological Watch Order
- Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal (OVA)
- Rurouni Kenshin: Season 1
- Rurouni Kenshin: Season 2
- Rurouni Kenshin; Season 3
- Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection (OVA)
- Rurouni Kenshin: The Motion Picture
- Rurouni Kenshin: New Kyoto Arc
Live Action Film Release Watch Order
- Rurouni Kenshin (2012)
- Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno (2014)
- Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends (2014)
- Rurouni Kenshin: The Final (2021)
- Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning (2021)
Live Action Film Chronological Watch Order
- Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning
- Rurouni Kenshin
- Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno
- Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends
- Rurouni Kenshin: The Final
History of Rurouni Kenshin
Rurouni Kenshin started as a manga written by Nobuhiro Watsuki. Its run started from 1994 to 1999, totaling 24 volumes. It was then adapted to an anime in 1996 by Studio Gallop and Studio Deen which ran from 1996 to 1998. In its run, it spawned three seasons, two OVAs, art books, light novels, video games, and live-action adaptations.
Presently, it is considered as a classic anime and would no doubt be a must-watch for long time fans.
Story of Rurouni Kenshin
Set in the Meiji Era, wanting to leave the life of assassins, Hitokiri Battōsai now living as Himura Kenshin chooses to live a life as a wanderer. His reverse blade katana offers only help and not killings, as a way to atone for his sins.
He vowed never to take anyone’s life ever again and his blade would only serve justice.
You might be interested: 33+ Best Samurai Anime You Can BINGE!
Characters
Kenshin Himura
The titular character of the series. After leaving his assassin identity behind, he had spent his new life as a pacifist vowing never to kill anyone ever again. He is humble and soft-spoken and would put others first before himself. Regardless of the person he is talking to, he always refers to them with a noble honorific and a polite tone.
He always maintains his patience. Might be a part of his new pacifist life.
Though he is skilled with the art of swordsmanship, he still prefers to settle things in a diplomatic way.
This kind of Kenshin is far from his Hitokiri Battōsai past.
Kamiya Kaoru
She is the young instructor of the Kamiya Kasshin-ryū kenjutsu dojo and the female lead of the series. She takes pride in her samurai lineage and she is strong-willed. As a successor of a samurai lineage, she would do everything to protect what her father and his predecessors worked hard for.
As if an opposite of Kenshin, she has a short-temper that holds no bar.
Though her relationship Kenshin started as mutual and out of gratitude, it slowly developed into a romantic one.
Myōjin Yahiko
A child of a low-ranking samurai, at such a young age, he was orphaned. Because of an unpaid debt his dead parents incurred, he was forced to settle it. Having no job, he resorts to pickpocketing for a living.
He was then saved by Himura Kenshin, freeing him from his debt and lived with him in the Kamiya Dōjō, There he slowly grew to be a competent samurai and learned swordsmanship.
Takani Megumi
She serves as the team’s physician, quite fitting as she is from a family of doctors. Though her parents died and were left alone, she became proficient in the field of medicine! She was an assistant to Takeda Kanryū, helping him make drugs. A past she is not proud of.
She may come off as flirtatious, especially towards Kenshin, but if the situation is serious, she drops the act and focuses, especially if it is about her patients.
Shinomori Aoshi
Accomplished at such a young age, he is the leader of the Oniwabanshū onmitsu. He is also well-known for his skills in combat, stealth and reconnaissance and is considered the best.
He takes pride in himself, with his skills and achievement, why would he not be? At first glance he can be quite cold and stoic. He only smiles when he wants to intimidate his enemies with his confidence.
He can be very calculated as he cannot bear to make any mistakes. He expects himself to be the best at everything.
Makimachi Misao
She is the youngest member of Oniwabanshū and an admirer of Shinomori Aoshi. She left her home in search of her hero only to stumble upon Kenshin Himura. Regardless, she tags along with the guy.
She is bright and vivacious. She expresses how she feels, may it be joy, sadness, or anger! She is not afraid to show how she feels to everyone. Even though she is supposed to be stealthy, she can easily be detected. This also may lead to her acting with no inhibition- impulsively.
Saitō Hajime
He was the previous captain of the 3rd Unit of the Shinsengumi and is currently a special agent for the Meiji government.
He has a long living rivalry with Kenshin Himura, but despite that he still respects the person. Even with the rivalry, he has aided Kenshin in many battles and even served as a voice of reason.
He strictly follows his Shinsengumi code, Aku Soku Zan (translates to Swift Death to Evil). Because of this he can be very ruthless and morbid. It seems he has low-regards to human life.
Conclusion
And that’s about it for our Rurouni Kenshin Watch Order! You still have time to check it out while its release is still next year! But if you want to binge watch more series, check out more watch orders from us!
