Completed Anime
Rurouni Kenshin

“Ex-assassin Kenshin Himura vows never to kill again while protecting the innocent during Japan's Meiji era.”

Rurouni Kenshin

8.28
350 rank · 526,057 viewers · 10,418 favorites
Action Comedy Romance Historical Samurai Shounen
94 episodes · 25 min per ep min · Winter 1996 · Gallop · PG-13 - Teens 13 or older
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Episodes · 94 94/94 aired
EP 01 ~2 ep / stripe EP 94

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Based on your preference for character-driven stories with layered emotional arcs, this title's exploration of identity and belonging would deeply resonate. The pacing mirrors series you've rated highly, and its thematic depth aligns with your appreciation for nuanced storytelling...

However, the slow initial episodes might test your patience given your history of dropping shows that don't hook you early. The art style shift in the middle arc could also be a concern...

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Synopsis

Ex-assassin Kenshin Himura vows never to kill again while protecting the innocent during Japan's Meiji era.

In the final years of the Bakumatsu era lived a legendary assassin known as Hitokiri Battousai. Feared as a merciless killer, he was unmatched throughout the country, but mysteriously disappeared at the peak of the Japanese Revolution. It has been ten peaceful years since then, but the very mention of Battousai still strikes terror into the hearts of war veterans. Unbeknownst to them, Battousai has abandoned his bloodstained lifestyle in an effort to repent for his sins, now living as Kenshin Himura, a wandering swordsman with a cheerful attitude and a strong will. Vowing never to kill again, Kenshin dedicates himself to protecting the weak. One day, he stumbles across Kaoru Kamiya at her kendo dojo, which is being threatened by an impostor claiming to be Battousai. After receiving help from Kenshin, Kaoru allows him to stay at the dojo, and so the former assassin temporarily ceases his travels. Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan tells the story of Kenshin as he strives to save those in need of saving. However, as enemies from both past and present begin to emerge, will the reformed killer be able to uphold his new ideals?

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

What people say

Community consensus

Derived from 98 sampled reviews

8.4 /10

What 98 viewers settled on.

97% recommend
Score distribution
median 9 mode 9 σ 1.57
1510
Agreement

Mostly aligned

σ 1.57 · some divergence

mixed
The polarity gap

5.6 pts

Recommenders 8.9 · others 3.3

Yes
No
Score over time

↓ 0.57

Running avg · Jun 2007 → Sep 2025

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Production slate

A Tv Production · Winter 1996

Gallop.
in association with

Aniplex · SME Visual Works

  • Format 94 × 25′ eps × min
  • Total runtime 39h 10m all episodes
  • Aired Jan 1996 – Sep 1998 Winter 1996
  • Source Tv media type
  • Rated PG 13 - Teens 13 or older
  • Ref. BS-0027 catalog

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